Custom 32 oz Nalgene Bottles - The Green alternative to bottled water!

I for one have found lately that I am using an inordinate amount of plastic bottles lately as I have made an extreme effort to keep hydrated this summer.  Between the Gatorade and Dasani bottles, it's a bit much to say the least...

So we partnered with Nalgene to start using their BPA free 32 oz Nalgene Bottles, and well not only is the hydration issue taken care of, but I'm not recycling a whole case of plastic stuff a month!

We've done these for the Appalachia Service Project and they have used it for a fundraising gift with great success.

Look to using these for any sports-related promotion or fitness program!

What do Walter White and Steve Jobs have in common?

Hmmm, now that's an intriguing question to ask on a Wednesday.  How can a science teacher turned meth kingpin have anything in common with the Apple guru?

In actuality - quite a bit!  You think about how Apple came on to the computer scene in the 70's, how it's design techniques and customer-driven laser focus created several industries, and then apply that to the drug business, and well you have synergies that can be applied to basic branding principles.

1. Market recognition:  Steve Jobs saw the future of personal computing very early, and recognized the vastness of the emerging market.  Jobs also was able to hone in on what the end user wanted, and simplified it so that it applied to everyday life - i.e. creating the MacIntosh desktop graphical interfaces that, well mimic someone's desktop.  Very simple, yet applicable to everybody's life!  Walter White saw that Methamphetamine was rapidly becoming huge, and took his expertise in chemistry to a new level by developing a better product which his market truly wanted.
2. Product Integrity:  Walter's formula in the show is a 99% pure product - well above anything in the marketplace, and its distinctive blue coloring made it easily identifiable.  To the consumer, it was a mark of drug excellence and created a huge demand for the Blue.  Jobs created a closed product, so that anyone who wanted to create an application or software had to utilize Apple's parameters, thereby ensuring that any software or hardware component worked seamlessly with Apple products.
3. Distinctive Design:  From the branding to the packaging, everything that Apple creates has a distinctively clean and intuitive design.  The iPod/iPad/iPhone have limited product directions as earch are easily implemented - kids can operate them without any real instructions.  Walter White's Blue meth is completely different than anything in the fictitious marketplace, and it's brand name of Heisenberg appeals to the end user, and strikes fear into the competition.
4. Market Dominance:  Apple has revolutionized 4 industries, and in each has been an industry leader, leaving competitors, particularly in the cellphone industry lagging behind.  Walter White's ruthless attention to his marketplace has placed his product as the standard, and his competition has not been able to copy and/or destroy it's way back.

Yes, we're talking fiction vs. reality, but these four principles can be put in to your own branding culture.

Post Office reports loss - again...

The US Postal Service's financial woes continue with losses of $740 million in its 3rd Quarter.  This brings the total loss for the year up to a whopping $3.9 BILLION.

No business can sustain this, and it is an unfortunate situation when the entire country depends upon their Postal Service delivery day in and day out.  The significant problem lies in the legislative handcuffs attached to this service that does not allow it to adapt to today's marketplace.

The good news is that as far as services go - there are no changes forthcoming.  This bodes well for direct mail marketing campaigns and whatnot.  However, marketers need to be aware of this as the mail is a vital part of our everyday marketing plans.

Brand Messaging: Common mistakes that deflate your Message

Any fighter will tell you, if you want to win - you have to come out swinging and make a solid connection quickly.

This is the same with any product or service - you want to make a solid connection quickly with your audience - and that is done with a powerful brand message that empowers action.  Yet, this is a constant struggle with today's marketers.

Brand messaging doesn't have to be all about the Pro's of your product or service - rather it must embody your target audience's core values.  That old adage, sell the "WHY" remains somewhat true in this respect - if you don't zero in on what your audience cares most about in relation to your Brand, then you risk inauthenticity, or basically pissing off your key demo.

Read more to avoid the 5 common pitfalls of brand messaging so that your Brand scores a knockout in its next campaign!

24 oz. Tervis Water Bottle - Great Fundraising opportunities for school!

It's that time of year folks - back to school!  For Parents, well it's a beautiful thing, the kids - not so much...

But, for the schools, it is the start of fundraising time, especially the Private schools.  We have found that a great vehicle for making some extra cash for our schools has been the Tervis brand of products, particularly the 24 oz. Custom Tervis Water bottle.  A lot of schools are allowing kids to bring water bottles to school, but they have to have lids and straws, so as not to make those lovely messes in the hallways.

The Tervis brand of products is great for home and school, as it's pretty much bulletproof, and has a guarantee from the factory.  Plus, the tumblers and water bottles are Made in the ole USA, which is also a nice upgrade.  As a fundraising project, look to sell these at your school for between 20-25.00, with a profit to the school of 4-8.00 per bottle.

Great for showing your school spirit - and raising some extra cash, look at the Tervis Tumbler section on whiteboardpromotions.com

The Umbrella - a timeless brand opportunity

Yesterday was the first day in quite a while here in Atlanta where that big yellow thing in the sky was visible all day.  We had soggy fireworks and the ducks were quite happy for a good long time.

Which brings me to the Umbrella - yes it was a valuable commodity for us in the past week, but I do think it doesn't get the proper branding respect it so deserves.

Originally, umbrellas were made to ward off the sun - not rain.  The Chinese started to apply wax for waterproofing purposes, and the trend migrated over to Europe, where it evolved in to a fashion item for the elite.  Nowadays, you can get one on any NY corner for $5-10.00, but utilizing it to market your brand has now gained a better following.

Yes, it's old school, but at an outdoor event, on the city streets, or in your car, the reliable umbrella is a fantastic brand vehicle.

Keeping your Rep: Your game plan for Brand reputation management

We all had a reputation to protect when we were younger - either being the baddest, coolest, or smartest kid on the block was a big thing back in the day. 

Well, in the brand world, keeping your rep is equally important, especially with the ever-changing social landscape of today.  It's easy to see the downfalls of letting down your Brand Guard - ask anyone at ExxonMobil after the Valdez incident, or recently the disaster at the radio station 790 the Zone here in Atlanta and you'll see what improper Brand reputation management creates.

So, here's a 7 point game plan to keep you on track of managing your Brand Rep!

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