ANYONE CAN PUT TOGETHER A PRETTY AD OR DESIGN A COOL LOGO, BUT WITHOUT MEANING—A SOUL, IF YOU WILL—IT IS LIKELY TO DO LITTLE FOR YOUR BUSINESS. THAT’S BECAUSE BEHIND EVERY EFFECTIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGN THERE IS A BULLET-PROOF BRAND.

AUTHOR MARTY NEUMEIER PUT IT BEST WHEN HE DESCRIBED A BRAND AS THE “GUT FEELING OR REACTION” YOUR AUDIENCE GETS WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS. A GREAT BRAND MUST BE TARGETED, HONEST (YOU’VE GOT TO LIVE UP TO IT) AND IT MUST COMMUNICATE THE ONE THING THAT SETS YOU APART FROM EVERYONE ELSE IN THE MARKETPLACE. DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE BRAND FOR YOUR COMPANY IS, HANDS DOWN, THE MOST CRUCIAL ELEMENT IN DETERMINING THE SUCCESS OF EVERY OTHER MARKETING EFFORT YOU DO. THAT’S WHERE I COME IN.