Disrupting the Disruption
Being a ‘Disruptive Brand’ sounds cool. The sound of it can appeal to businesses looking to get themselves noticed, ruffle some feathers and win over customers. All good, right? Maybe. Disrupting can work, and has for many brands. But when someone proposes some disruption, it might be good to briefly disrupt the potentially rapidly escalating […]
What’s in a Name? A lot.
How to come up with a name for your business or product – and start building a brand. There’s a lot in a name but it’s all contained in these two aspects: Our tendency, when starting something new, is to jump ahead to, “What are we gonna call it?” We then bash out some suggestions. […]
What is a Brand?
A brand is not a new invention, and it’s more than that mark burned onto the butt of a cow. Belonging Humans want to belong. We yearn for connection and association. The existence of the brand is almost as old as the human race itself. In fact, the very minute those first few people said […]
Customer Experience: The First Cut is the Deepest
If you own a business or lead a team who deals with new customers all the time, you should do everything you can to ensure the people interacting with first-time customers never get tired of making their first experience wow! This doesn’t mean letting follow-up experiences be any less wow, but it’s crucial because; Maintaining […]
You’re Building a Brand, Even if You’re Not
Everything your business does affects people’s perception of it – either negatively or positively. The average perception held by your total audience (customers, employees, competitors and suppliers etc.) equals your brand. A brand is not a logo, it’s what people believe about your business. This belief or perception is formed by every interaction with your […]
Stop Taking, Start Making
Business is about making money, not taking money. And what that means is creating real value. If you’re struggling to sell, it’s because you’re somewhere in the first 70% of the above scale. Stealing This is the bottom end of the scale. It’s theft in some shape or form – taking something from someone without […]
Logical Thinking vs Creative Thinking
Disclaimer: Logical thinking methods such as analytical, linear and critical thinking are effective, but only when appropriate – which is very often, but not when you’re looking for a solution not yet created. Employ Creative Thinking when it comes to tackling business challenges to achieve major breakthroughs. Our logical mind often does well to explain […]
What’s The Box?
Think outside the box. Great, I’ve heard that before a ton. Let’s come up with a crazy idea and go with it… right? Nope. Constructive creative thinking achieves workable, inspiring solutions. Truly remarkable ideas are also not something mystical or limited to certain individuals who have some genius or creative gift beyond the reach of […]
Know How They Want To Use You
A Guide for Creatives If you’re a creative (designer, filmmaker, developer, musician, copywriter etc.) there is one very important thing, if not the most important, to include in your approach when dealing with clients… KNOWING HOW THEY WANT TO USE YOU. Sounds slightly abusive, right? Well if you don’t determine the answer to this then […]
A Negative Bridge
Creativity: How can I take this major negative aspect and look at it from another angle to find a way to turn it into a positive aspect? I was part of a real estate development team a few years back. There was a huge concrete bridge over the river at one end of the development. […]