Branding Defined …
June 25th, 2010
A brand is a set of perceptions, experiences and expectations that people have and hold about working or doing business with an individual, a company, a community, a region or an organization. It is entirely subjective on their part and it is based on experience, exposure and interpretation. Strong brands are clear, confident and consistent and they communicate clearly, confidently and consistently — online and off. They claim a position of value in the prospect’s mind and work tirelessly to build and maintain top of mind awareness. They inspire trust and confidence always.
Successful brands have thoughtful branding strategies directing their growth. A positioning statement is at the core of every branding strategy. Branding is the execution of the positioning statement. Effective brands make a clear promise and provide a clear and believable ‘reason why’. The effectiveness of everything that follows relies on the success of the positioning effort and strategy. Absolutely everything …. Lori Martinek, Branding Expert & Author
Tags: branding, Herlife Publishing, Lori Martinek, MindingHerBiz, positioning, presentation plus, target marketing
Posted in branding, marketing | No Comments »
MindingHerBiz Helps Female Entrepreneurs Shine!
June 25th, 2010
The MindingHerBiz team met with Benedict’s Cafe/Catering owner Dawn Kennington Bejar this week. Here’s what Dawn had to say (write!) about the input that she received:
“I recently met with Lori and the women from MindingHerBiz. What an awesome experience! It can be tough being a small business owner due to the fact there are few qualified people to share ideas, answer questions and help navigate the road. The MHB team helped me to clarify my path to growth with constructive feedback and actionable ideas. These women are smart and qualified with tremendous experience. Their objective approach and input was beneficial to me. I highly recommend MHB for anyone who desires success!” — Dawn Kennington Bejar, Benedict’s Catering, http://benedictscaterers.com
Visit the MindingHerBiz website at http://mindingherbiz.com if you or some smart, savvy female business owner you know could benefit from a (free!) session with the MHB team. Remember: If you want someone to agree with you, ask your family and friends. If you want someone to help you get ‘unstuck’, ask MindingHerBiz ….
Tags: branding, business development, female entrepreneurs, Lori Martinek, marketing, MindingHerBiz
Posted in Entrepreneurship | No Comments »
The Advice You Need, Three (Free) Ways
June 3rd, 2010
MindingHerBiz Seeks Candidates for June, July …
MindingHerBiz works with female entrepreneurs to help them confront and move past the challenges of startup and growth. We are a 100% pro bono, pay it forward project headquartered in Phoenix, AZ. Each month, we work with one candidate to power brainstorm one or more issues and provide input that she can use to make good strategic choices. It’s a free 90-minute session that participants tell us works wonders for helping them approach their ventures with fresh eyes. Visit our website at http://mindingherbiz.com to download the forms or email me at lori@mindingherbiz.com if you are interested in becoming a candidate.
FREE Power Workshop: Branding for Social Media Success ….
Friday, June 18 from 1 - 2 p.m. at the Kierland Westin Conference Center, where the Greater Phoenix Chamber will be hosting its Spring Business Expo. Learn how to be smart AND social with branding expert Lori Martinek. Free admission to expo and workshops. Details at http://tinyurl.com/loritalksbranding
SBDC Provides Free Ongoing Counseling
Brainstorm with MindingHerBiz one time … and then get the ongoing counseling and support that you need, for FREE, from SBA-funded SBDC (Small Business Development Centers) nationwide. Find the location nearest you at http://asbdc-us.org . In Arizona, check out the Arizona statewide network at http://azsbdc.net . There are 20 locations across the state.
Let us know if you or some smart, savvy female business owner whom you know could benefit from the help of the MindingHerBiz team. We’re on a mission – and it’s to help other women succeed. … Lori Martinek, Branding Expert & Author, http://pplusonline.com , http://lorimartinek.com
Tags: brainstorming, branding, entrepreneurs, female business owners, female entrepreneurs, Lori Martinek, marketing, MindingHerBiz, phoenix chamber, sbdc, social media
Posted in Entrepreneurship, Social Media Marketing | No Comments »
Event Helps Entrepreneurs Start and Grow A Business
May 14th, 2010
Looking to Start or Grow a Business?
Be sure to check out the YOB (Your Own Business) Fair … which will be held from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. on May 21 at Deer Valley Airpark. Organizations including the AZSBDC and the Maricopa SBDC … ASBA … Phoenix Chamber … City of Phoenix … Business Journal … Wells Fargo and more have teamed up to provide information, resources … and the assistance you need to make starting — or growing — a business a fulfilling reality. Top notch advice and resources and … it’s all free!
Learn more at http://yobfair.com … Lori Martinek, Branding Expert & Author, http://pplusonline.com
Tags: asba, azsbdc, sbdc, yobfair
Posted in Entrepreneurship | No Comments »
Best Foot Forward
May 5th, 2010
Always put your best foot forward! In today’s fast-paced world, it has never been more important to make a good first impression. Why? Because that one opportunity may be the ONLY opportunity that you get. Always be on message … customer-focused … and operating at your very best — in person and online. Second chances are very rare these days.
Success is NOT accidental. It comes to the resourceful … the radiant … and the ready. Always be ready to grasp opportunity, to put your best foot forward and to shine. ..
Lori Martinek, Branding Expert & Author, http://lorimartinek.com
Posted in Entrepreneurship, branding | No Comments »
Making It Meaningful!
February 26th, 2010
- WHO are these prospects?
- WHAT is important to them?
- HOW do they get information to make buying decisions?
- WHICH types of media or other information sources do they use and, therefore:
- WHERE will you be able to find them and speak to them?
Then also ask: WHY is your message or offering the best one to fulfill their needs? And WHY should they care about what you have to say or sell? Remember, it has to be all about them, not you, always. … Lori Martinek, Branding Expert & Author
Tags: Add new tag, advertising, branding, Lori Martinek, marketing communication, marketing strategy, message strategy, MindingHerBiz, SWOT
Posted in marketing | No Comments »
Branded, Socially Ready Websites
February 19th, 2010
Now Available: Online Marketing Solutions (OMS) from Herlife Publishing:
Affordable fully-branded, socially-ready online products that are designed especially for Entrepreneurs, Business Owners and Authors, including:
- Branded Website Solutions
- Blog Templates w/RSS
- Online Branding Tools
- Social Marketing Tools
- Branded Social Profiles
- Print Marketing Tools
Herlife OMS deliver a valuable, discernible difference: Expert Branding Strategy, built right in and offering the competitive benefit of 30 years of high-level branding insights and experience. The result? A professionally branded, social media-oriented website that outshines your competition … at off-the-shelf pricing!
Here’s another great benefit: VALUE. OMS package prices range from $1,595 to $2,995, with streamlined production and scheduling. Here’s a great example: Our Accelerated Visibliity Package, which includes a Home Page, Services/Product Page, Who We Are Page, Contact Us Page, PLUS a resident, on-site Blog with full WordPress editing capabilities. All for only $1,995 … including branding elements! See other OMS Packages here.
AND: All OMS website are built in WordPress, to give YOU full editing and updating capabilities. Get the freedom you’ve always wanted … plus social networking capabilities.
Contact us at ljm@herlifepublishing.com to learn more about these affordable, high impact web solutions that can position your brand for success in the coming year.
Tags: branded, Herlife Publishing, Lori Martinek, marketing, small business marketing, socially ready websites, websites
Posted in branding | No Comments »
Be a Window, Not a Wall
January 22nd, 2010
Be a Window and not a Wall in 2010. Look for opportunity and embrace it wherever you find it. Be open to new ideas and strategies and always put your best foot forward, online and off. Prospects who have been waiting on the sidelines are about to come back. Customers who have tightened their belts are beginning to cautiously move forward. Be Visible and Be Ready. Don’t follow the market, Lead It! … Lori Martinek, Branding Expert and Author, http://lorimartinek.com
Tags: arizona small business, Be the Bulb!, branding, business development, Entrepreneurship, Lori Martinek, marketing, prospects, target marketing
Posted in Attraction Marketing, Entrepreneurship | No Comments »
Forget About Your Weaknesses!
January 12th, 2010
We grow and thrive by doing what excites us and by being passionate about everything that we do. Too often, we spend time and money trying to improve in some area where we may not be as strong as we (or the world) would like us to be.
Forget about working on your weaknesses and Focus on Building on Your Strengths! Why spend time forcing yourself to improve in some area that you don’t like in the first place when you can spend time doing what you’re good at … even great at … and becoming even better at it?
Always Be Your Own Life’s Work. Focus on building your strengths and on building a business … and a life … around what excites you and gets you to jump out of bed in the morning. It really is true what they say (and I’m here to prove it): If you build a business or a career around what you love to do, you’ll never work a day in your life …. Lori Martinek, Branding Expert & Author, http://lorimartinek.com
Tags: branding, Entrepreneurship, Lori Martinek, marketing, passion, personal branding, personal development, strength-based marketing, success
Posted in Entrepreneurship | No Comments »
Helping Nashville Bread Sales Rise …
December 7th, 2009
Read how branding expert, author and MindingHerBiz founder Lori Martinek helped a Nashville-based artisan bakery and restaurant plan for the future through better marketing and branding at http://tinyurl.com/LORIonCNN
Tags: branding, CNN Money, Entrepreneurship, Lori Martinek, marketing, small business
Posted in Entrepreneurship | No Comments »
