Building a successful brand – like the business it represents – is not unlike training for a race. It’s more of a marathon than a sprint. You’re not going to break out of the gate at top speed. Instead, you’ll build a steady, sustainable pace that gets you closer and closer to that finish line so that when the time comes, you can finish strong.
There’s no doubt about it, it’s been another unusual year. In this time for missives, musings, reflections… whatever you call them, I’ve been thinking a lot about pausing, purpose, awareness, and intentionality. So pardon me while I ramble.
The last 12 months have made many of us masters of remote working. Our marketing materials should reflect mastery, as well. Most of us are relying a bit more on PowerPoints and electronic presentations. How do yours stack up? With the promise of spring (and vaccinations well underway), now is the perfect time to make a fresh start. To do a little spring cleaning on your marketing or your website look and feel, perhaps? Here are four areas that you might want to clean up or refresh now, so you’re ready to roll when we’re all meeting in person again.
Back in January, the insight180 team was excited for the promise of 2020. No, really! We were busier than ever, exhilarated by the work we were doing, and making plans to celebrate our 20th anniversary in business this year! Woo hoo! In late February, I personally experienced the trip of a lifetime traveling to Costa Rica for what was truly an epic business/connection retreat. I returned home on March 3rd and by March 13th, Maryland was in lockdown. My team, our clients, and basically everybody we know were thrust into new territory, making huge adjustments to the way we lived and worked. Fear and uncertainty became part of the daily narrative.
Your website looks great. You’ve spent a lot of time, energy, and resources to develop a wonderful, purpose-driven business that is making a positive impact in the world. You have a track record of helping those that you serve. You’ve developed a beautiful product. You’re ready to go. But when it comes to reaching out to your network, you freeze. What’s happening here?
Actual physical networking is NOT happening right now due to the coronavirus pandemic that is keeping us all physically distant. We are all — regardless of where we are on the introvert/extrovert spectrum — adapting to how we are social. We recently refreshed a
The calendar in our office still marks our last day in the office, before the great pause. Since Friday, March 13th our hearts have been broken in so many different ways. A global pandemic and the struggle of so many in their final breaths. Loved ones being separated during that time. Parents trying to do their day job while educating and parenting and sharing their devices and “office space,” and maybe finding a moment of peace. Physical and social distancing. Divisiveness on social media and in our country. And then Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, dear Lord not again… struggling in their final breaths. Racism is also pandemic. We’ve made a mess of things. It’s difficult. It’s uncomfortable. We have gotten so much wrong.
Insight180 is celebrating 20 years in business this year. Wow! Twenty years of working with some truly great organizations to create great brands and have more impact in the world. Twenty years of curiosity, listening and discovery. Of beautiful design and smart strategy. Of amazing people, teamwork, resilience, generosity, and opportunity.
Okay, let’s think outside the box for a moment. It’s a no-brainer, right? At the end of the day, everyone understands that these jargony phrases, frequently used as convenient shortcuts, ultimately muddy the waters in communicating. You guessed it! This post is about communicating clearly, avoiding jargon (everyday and business), and simplifying stale catchphrases. Why? There are a few good reasons.
I’ve been wanting to write this blog for a long time. It’s been on my list for months… no years. It’s taken many forms and had a few false starts. Sometimes spurred by a client who wants to fill every inch of the page in their annual report, or use every millimeter in an ad or when their logo must contain specific, literal elements to help visually describe their business. Sigh.
Hard to believe the first month of the new year has come and gone. One-twelfth of the year is over. Have you set your big WOW goals for this year? Are you well on your way to meeting them or are you still working on setting up your vision?
