Blog | BrandStyle Design

2 / 22 / 12

Erin Ferree

FLAILING is the new failing

I’ve decided.

FLAILING is my new word for failing.

And here’s why.

I used to run about, saying I failed at this, failed at that.

Until I realized how discouraging that was – chalking up all these failures all the time.

That’s no fun.

I’m starting up a “be-my-own-cheerleader” initiative.

Where I’m letting the rah-rah edge out the blah-blah.

I’m declaring that things that look like failure and falling down are actually just me flopping and flailing around a bit.

Being clumsy. Not getting it organized or together exactly right.

And that’s A-OK.

A lot of my flailing recently is coming about because I’m out there on the edge of things, trying new stuff out and having adventures I’ve never had before.

Why wouldn’t I expect these first steps to be a little wobbly and disorganized?

I’m learning a lot as I flail around. And developing those muscles that are getting stronger, bit by bit, and coming together so much more all the time.
Here’s to flailing, never failing.

I’ll leave you with some of my very-favorite lyrics of all time, from R.E.M.’s Losing My Religion.

Consider this, consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this the slip
that brought me to my knees
Failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around
Now I’ve said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

Thanks to http://www.juliegoodwoman.com/rah-rah/ for the freakishly-perfect, spot-on image!

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2 / 21 / 12

Erin Ferree

Categories
Bits About Me
Branding
Launches!
List Building

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Gemini moves in two directions at once: film at 11!

I’m a gemini. (June 11, in case you’re curious.)

And I don’t fully understand into the whole astrology shebang.

Right now, though, I can really feel the twin-fluence + twin-spiration in my day-to-day life.

I bring this up here and now because, as you’ll see, I’m moving in two directions at once again. And I thought you should know about it.

I’ve got the Inviting Branding track established, and I’m still throwing that party. It’s all about creating a brand that’s inviting and not icky by following 10 simple principles to create a brand that’s your style. If you want to learn more about that, here’s your first stop: http://www.brandstyledesign.com

The new thing, though, is pretty exciting and awesome… and I’m going to be rolling it out over the next few days.

I don’t want to surprise or shock you, or make you feel like I’m hopping to yet-another thing and abandoning the old thing. That’s the very last intention I’ve got here.

Here’s what’s going on behind the curtain: I got inspired a bit ago to start mixing things up in my business. To stop following the rules, systems and formulas that I’d been trying to follow. And so I started in on that… experimenting under the radar a bit.

Unexpectedly, I stumbled upon something that really worked and felt perfect and fun!

And I can’t keep it to myself. I want to share it with you and explore how it can work for you, too.

So I’ll be telling you more about this whole new awesome thing… here’s a sneaky-preview, though:

It’s all about interactive, interesting, new, engaging and fun ways to build your list by leaps-and-bounds.

While not doing anything icky at all.

Stay tuned for more…

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2 / 16 / 12

Erin Ferree

Categories
Branding

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Designing Your Very First Brand

We had a great conversation and some interesting questions on the streaming ezine yesterday…

We had some spectacularly fabulous questions this time around:

Barb Cotta asks, “How do I get started? I know I need a brand but I’m not sure what I need to do when? how?”

Karen L Keeney wants to know: “What’s the difference between a logo and a brand? Do I need both? If so, why?”

Summer Deaton says, “At what point do I need a brand for my biz?”

Johnell McCauley wonders, “Is it important to intergrate social media and my website so people remember my brand?”

Johanna McClain worries, “I’m a small business, isn’t this expensive?”

Hear the answers to all of these questions and more on the replay… like why first-time branders are so near and dear to my heart.

(don’t see the video? try refreshing the page!)

Two awesome resources for your very first brand:

Profitable Brand Strategy Home Study

Get your 4 red light questions answered to set the solid foundation for your brand PLUS create a strategy for maximizing all the stuff you create without spending a ton of money.

http://www.brandstyledesign.com/products

Ready to design your first brand?

My gift to you: if you’re ready to talk to an expert about designing your first brand, schedule a complimentary strategy session with me! We’ll talk about your vision, what you want to create and what it will take to get you there. Sign up here:

http://www.brandstyledesign.com/strategysession

What’s happening next month:

Inviting Change: Evolving Your Brand To Keep It Fresh, Engaging and Interesting

Your business is a living, growing, changing thing – it’s constantly evolving. But has your brand been changing with it, or has it been standing still?

Join us here: http://www.brandstyledesign.com/streamzine

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2 / 10 / 12

Erin Ferree

Categories
Brand Planning
Brand Strategy

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Blast from the Past: 15 Reasons Small Businesses Need a Brand Identity System

Business and marketing experts urge small business owners to “brand” their businesses with a logo and a set of consistent marketing materials — a brand identity system. But they rarely explain the reasons behind this advice. A logo and consistent marketing materials can increase your sales and revenue, because they convey the following impressions:

To convey that you are established. A logo and professionally-printed materials show that you are committed to both your business and your clients. It also makes you look like you’ve been around for some time, and that you’re stable.
To attract more clients. Some clients look for a well-defined company, and “look and feel” may be one of their criteria in making a purchasing decision. Others are “wowed” by professional-looking materials, and your logo may impress them into buying.
To increase your credibility. A logo makes you look experienced and professional, and can go a long way towards making your business appear credible. And, if you’d like to be known as an expert in your field, this type of credibility is the first thing you have to establish.
To be more memorable. Forty percent of people better remember what they see than what they hear or read. So having graphics associated with your business and having consistent graphics on your business materials make you more likely to come to the forefront of potential clients’ minds when they have a need for your goods or services.
To stand out in your field. A well-designed logo and an identity system can put you far above the competition, especially if they are paired with a strong marketing program.
To look “bigger.” Home-printed business cards with perforated edges or cards printed with standard designs available through Microsoft software or online business card vendors scream “small-time vendor” to your potential clients—and that is how they will want to compensate you.
To improve your chance of getting venture capital or selling a business. If you present a well-rounded business package, including marketing materials and graphics, your business will look more complete.
To brand yourself. Especially if you are a consultant, you need a logo in order to build an image and a brand that is bigger than your individual identity. If you’re running a larger business, the logo will begin to create a “brand” or “face” for your business, and to personalize the larger business entity.
To give clients a sense of stability. You may not have been in business “since 1908,” but if you have invested in an identity, you are much less likely to fold in the eyes of your customers. It goes a long way toward building that all-important “trust.”
To explain your company name. If your company name contains a little-known word or an acronym, the logo can give visual clues to its meaning.
To endear your company name to your clients. A difficult-to-pronounce or hard-to-remember company name may make it challenging for your clients to hire you. When potential clients have the need for your services, they might not recall who you are. But if you reinforce the name with interesting, compelling graphics, they are more likely to remember you, pick up the phone, and hire you.
To describe an unusual line of business. If your business is nontraditional or in a hard-to-explain industry, a logo can help to explain exactly what it is that you do by offering a visual reference.
To show what practices differentiate you from your competition. A well-designed logo can have many subtle meanings and can begin to tell the story of how you do business, including the special practices that make you stand apart from the competition.
To comply with expectations. In some industries, a logo is just expected. In the creative services industry especially, having a logo is an industry standard.
To show your commitment and for the sense of personal pride it will add to your practice. In other words, do it for yourself. A logo will increase your confidence, and that will show through in all of your business interactions and practices.