Arts Council board members share their passion for arts and culture in the Greater Lansing region, and talk about why board membership matters.
For more information: http://lansingarts.org
Successfully building your brand is one of the most important tasks for your business. It can allow you to strengthen customer loyalty, increase your sales and help you stand out from your competitors. On top of this, building a well-established brand around your business is by far the most effective way to ensure its long-term success. However, a lot of businesses struggle with establishing a recognizable brand which is significantly hindering their growth potential. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some simple steps to help you better your brand building.
Every successful endeavour starts with a plan, and the first step you should take towards bettering your brand building is just that. Coming up with a plan of where you want your brand to be headed will firstly have you consider the ultimate goals and vision of your business as a whole. Articulating these will give you something to aim at and turn to no matter how difficult the situation is. This will also help you come up with the message you want your brand to send to potential customers, which is one of the most crucial aspects of a successful brand. In today’s world, people value a vision they can stand behind and a message they can resonate with more than anything else. Because of this, getting this part right will be the most challenging part and it may require you to alter and experiment with your message until you get it just right.
Successfully building a brand will mean constantly absorbing the feedback you are getting. So, the next thing to do would be to research and find out who makes up the majority of your customers. Start by doing surveys and gathering any information that will help you better understand your audience. This will give you the ability to tailor your message towards them, making it a lot more effective.
The best way to promote your brands’ message to other people is through their every-day interactions with your business. The way to do this is by focusing on making your customer experience as enjoyable for them as possible. And, while there are a lot of things that go into improving customer experience, there are a few things that will help you really convey your message and build your brand at the same time.
The main point of interaction between your business and the public is your website. In fact, it’s a direct reflection of your company as a whole, which is why you need to make sure it’s representative of what you stand for. It’s important to keep your website accessible, providing only the information a customer may need while at the same time keeping in line with the branding you’ve decided on.
Customer service is another integral part that goes into making top-notch customer experience and at the same time establishes your brand as one that really cares about making their customers satisfied. There are many approaches you can take when it comes to handling customer service within your business, from live chat to call centres and chatbots, it’s only important to choose something that best fits your business’ needs and possibilities.
There are many other areas where you can easily improve your customer experience. For example, you can introduce financing fees allowing your customers to pay for your services on a monthly basis or in whatever way best suits them, allowing you to implement a debtor management system. Or, you can focus on personalizing the interactions with your customers by sending them offers tailored towards their preferences which will make them form a deeper connection with your business. The number of approaches is endless, you just need to choose one and start implementing it.
The final part of the brand building process is sending the message you settled on to the public. The best way to do this is through an effective marketing strategy which will integrate your branding in every aspect of it. This is where understanding and targeting your audience will once again prove invaluable as it will help you determine what platforms of communication to focus on as well as increasing the efficiency of your marketing.
While forming an elaborate strategy of where you want to take your brand, what message you want to send and how you are going to achieve those things is important, at the end of the day, all of it will be without a purpose if the product or service you are selling isn’t the best it can be. So, if your branding isn’t fulfilling your expectations, it may be worthwhile to take a deeper look at the products and services you are offering. With that being said, the only way to find this out is by starting to build your brand right now.
Keith Coppersmith is a business and marketing expert who has experienced both the rise and fall of many businesses. As a regular contributor at BizzmarkBlog, he enjoys writing and providing insight of the marketing industry based on both practice and theory.
The use of opioids is growing, and so are the number of accidental deaths related to opioid overdose. To combat this, the Ingham County Health Department is encouraging everyone to carry naloxone in order to prevent overdose and save lives.
For more on the Ingham County Health Department: http://www.hd.ingham.org
Working professionals are constantly aiming for the “holy grail” of the corporate lifestyle: achieving “work/life balance”. Experts argue back and forth about whether this balance truly exists or if it is a marketing ploy by wellness and corporate bodies to manipulate exhausted employees. Regardless of your opinions of work/life balance as a concept, all you need to know is how to improve your own sense of balance between your work and life. Perfection is elusive, but taking realistic actions to get closer to feeling your best energy levels will pay off in your personal and professional life.
One of the fastest ways to destroy your sense of work/life balance is to compare your own journey and lifestyle to someone else’s. You may not feel like you are missing out on time with your family until you see another parent getting more. You may feel like you have freedom in your job until you see someone else working from home. Comparison to others’ work/life experience is a damaging habit that can easily be broken. All you need to do is get crystal clear on what your ideal lifestyle looks like, and then avoid beating yourself up for anything outside of your vision.
Get clear on what you want by:
Set Healthy BoundariesGetting clear on the exact lifestyle you want prepares you to set healthy boundaries in order to achieve it. If you have been feeling overwhelmed about your work/life balance, there may be specific actions and conversations needed to change your situation. Be confident in these approaches rather than shying away because your lifestyle and energy levels will reward you for advocating for yourself. Learning about boundaries and practicing the conversations will help you be proactive in the future if your work/life balance is threatened.
Examples of setting healthy boundaries include:
Once you’ve established your ideal work/life relationship and practice setting healthy boundaries, you may realize you still need extra support. Mental and physical health play a huge role in your work/life balance including your energy levels, mood, relationships, sick days, and more. Being proactive about your mental and physical health can save you time and money in the long term as you navigate challenges that interfere with your work and personal life. By learning to ask for help when you need it, you set the tone for an interactive support system that can help you function rather than fall behind personally or professionally.
Consider these resources to help protect your physical and mental health:
Learning how to maximize your time and energy is a skill that will allow you to do more in less time. Growing your productivity skills allows you to achieve more at work while also saving precious time to nurture your personal life. The more you can do to take care of yourself while staying competitive at work, the more sustainable your lifestyle will feel. Balance is less about staying busy and more about cutting corners to increase the time you spend doing what you want. Learning how to organize your tasks and time in a healthy way can also improve your mental health at work, giving you less stress to bring home at the end of a long day.
Practice these productivity hacks to maximize your efforts:
Work/life balance is less about achieving an ideal and more about taking small actions that bring you more joy and relaxation. Feeling fulfilled and setting boundaries in work and life allow you the proper rest and mental health to thrive in both. Consider these ideas the next time you feel like your work/life relationship can use improvement, and remember that the best routine is simply the one you want.
Author Bio: Patrick Bailey is a professional writer mainly in the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. He attempts to stay on top of the latest news in the addiction and the mental health world and enjoy writing about these topics to break the stigma associated with them. Follow him on Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+: @Pat_Bailey80; www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-bailey-writer; https://plus.google.com/112748498348796236865
Working with local Public Safety, Tri-County TRIAD is a volunteer-based organization that assists senior citizens. TRIAD provides senior citizens with resources in order to be independent and feel safe in their community.
For more on Tri-County TRIAD: http://www.tricountytriad.org
Marketing commercial spaces today is hard given the competition and the diminishing number of available properties in the area. Checking online listings are now considered the most viable option with the technology of the present age as you can do and get almost everything with just one click of a button. Today, most potential property buyers also start the hunt by doing a search online.
How do you make the most of your time and your client’s time? Here is where we come in. Invest in Drone Photography and Videography.
If you want to pick the perfect drone for your budget and preferences, I recommend you try this drone searching tool.
Where you can filter some of the most popular drones by range, price, camera and so on.
If you want to get into the action and want a quick choice, just go with the Mavic Air from DJI, a very complete drone for a reasonable price, considering the amazing quality of video it takes.
Here are six ways on how drones can help your real estate business:
These venture sure sounds exciting and fun but here are additional tips before we proceed, to avoid unnecessary fuss and possible lawsuits (yikes).
With all these said and done, still, nothing beats seeing the property with your own eyes and getting a feel of it for yourself. Best consider these tips for reference and start growing your business today.
The author of dronesgator.com, where you can find drone comparisons, buyer guides and even an useful drone searching tool. A part-time drone reviewer and enthusiast on youtube under the channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/dronesgator.
Keith was having a hard time getting his pension, so he turned to Elder Law of Michigan who helped him and many others to get what they need through the Mid-America Pension Rights Project.
For more on Elder Law of Michigan: https://www.elderlawofmi.org/
Heading a business can be a pretty daunting thing. It can be especially daunting for people who are new to the whole concept. If you want to give your brand new business a fighting chance, your first step needs to be to work hard on establishing interest among consumers. There are a various smart techniques that can help you in a big way.
It’s critical to put together a digital marketing campaign that can get people thinking about your business. You need to make people aware of your business in the first place. Digital marketing professionals can help you with all different facets of spreading the word about your company. They can help you get press in the newspaper. They can help you get mentions in blogs that relate to your specific industry, too.
Create an Effective WebsiteA strong and contemporary website can encourage people to pay close attention to your up-and-coming business. You should recruit a capable website designer and website developer to put together your presence. Collaborate with your designer and developer to figure out exactly what your site needs as well. Creating engaging and relevant content is a superb way to start. Think about everything from an exhaustive blog, to rock-solid graphics. The more impressive your website design is, the easier it will be for people to remember your business and its offerings.
Thinking outside the box can do a lot for businesses that want to move ahead. A digital marketing campaign can zero in on tried and tested techniques. You should also think about more innovative options. Utilizing a prominent text messaging service for small business use is a great way help yourself. Text message communications can be terrific for businesses that want to promote themselves and their brand to new customers. People nowadays spend so much time utilizing and thinking about their mobile devices.
Familiarizing yourself with social media can be helpful. Learn the ins and outs of Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The better you grasp social media use, the easier it will be for you to promote your business’ existence, service, and products for a long while. Speaking with digital marketing professionals can give you a lot insight. It’s critical to learn about suitable message posting times, contest possibilities, and so much more.
Consumer interest means everything in the competitive business world. If you want to give your business an edge, you need to explore any and all of your openings. Digital marketing should be one of your first steps.
Bio: Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she isn’t on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @RachelleWilber; https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009221637700
Here is an in depth look at two artists who developed artwork based on survivor stories. Barb Hranilovich and Amanda Grieshop give an insiders perspective on the artists journey through this process. This video was shown at the The Firecracker Foundation’s annual Soulfire Gala in November.
For more on The Firecracker Foundation: http://www.thefirecrackerfoundation.org
The winners of the 7th Annual Deucey Awards have been announced.
They are:
Most Informational: It’s a Breast Thing
Most Inspirational: Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan
Most Entertaining: Arts Council of Greater Lansing
Best Video of the Year: child and Family Charities
Thanks to all who participated! We appreciate the support!