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Archive for brand

3 reasons to use Gmail instead of a dot com email.

By Bryan Smith · Comments (4)
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

At BestBreed Marketing & Consulting, when I create new websites for my small business and startup customers I do not setup an email account with the hosting service.  I use Gmail instead.

Why?

1).  Let google do the spam filtering for you.
2). Your new email address stays with you.  If you change providers or your dotcom name you still have the same email address.
3).  Gmail is a respected brand, and looks a lot better for your small business than some small brand like a local host provider, or OMG, something like AOL.  Hotmail is ok, but I  think Gmail is much better.

I always winced when some one had an AOL email.  I thought right away they were small and not in the know, as AOL was not even the world wide web.  It made an impression on me and not the kind you want to create.  You want to look like you are established, so go with the best of breed, and in email, Gmail is it.

Gmail refreshes content automatically, and with Hotmail you have to continually refresh your browser to see new mail.  Gmail has a superior login system, and also your account links easily to other services that relate to SEO, google analytics, adwords and more.

So create a Gmail account, use your personal name and combine it with your company name, or better yet ask me about creating a brand.

Everyone should be thinking branding, when creating a website name, your email name and so on.

I am working with two small business real estate agents in Bend Oregon, and we have started to move into how to create a memorable brand for each of them.  Look for my blogs and upcoming page on branding.

Or better yet, subscribe now to my email newsletter and receive
weekly articles and custom content not on the blog.  If you ever want to remove yourself from the email list it is simple to do, and we do not share email information with anyone or any body.

The email subscription form is on the Bestbreed Marketing.com Home page.  Clicking this SUBSCRIBE NOW link text will take you there.

Comments (4)
Categories : Blog how to., Small Business, Small business start-ups
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Creating a brand, first things first.

By Bryan Smith · Comments (3)
Friday, April 9th, 2010

When I consult with startup and small business clients, in Bend OR, one of the things they ask me about is how to create a brand.

I like to start the conversation with a discussion of marketing versus advertising to make a point about how to “create” a brand.

My definition of marketing revolves around the idea that we look at customer needs and wants.. and then figure out how to serve that niche or client base with a product or service that has a high likelihood of being purchased.

Advertising comes into play after we have determined what kind of product or service we are going to offer.

Branding is about half way in between. I like to be well on my way to determining a product and service mix.. for my client, before we get into the branding area.

As we begin creating a brand or analysis of an existing brand for enhancement, I reach into the discussion of
1). Who are your clients.. what do they spend their time doing.
2). What are you, or can learn to be, an expert at.
3). What kind of image can you emphasize and be comfortable and strong with.

Your brand should concentrate on both of these items as we start moving into the art of projection.

You are what you project.. you are on stage, at all times if you truly want to create a memorable and effective brand.

Trump is a great example.. this man lives branding at all times in his public life. It’s a great show.. and he has been fine tuning it for many years. It is fun to watch.. to see how he milks it.

We like to isolate two or three of our clients primary traits.. and then get to work on designing who you are to become.

If you live in the beautiful and resurgent, Bend, Oregon or Central Oregon area and would like to be part of a case study for branding of your small business, send me an email.

Comments (3)
Categories : Consulting Small business Bend. OR., Small Business Bend. OR., Small business start-ups
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How to react quickly to a media opportunity and link to your webpage

By Bryan Smith · Comments (0)
Saturday, March 20th, 2010

This morning I was reviewing the online site for our local Bend Oregon newspaper.  I clicked on an article that mentioned an article in Money Magazine that is about Bend Oregon. I am always on the lookout for opportunities to promote my small business consulting company at http://BestBreedMarketing.com

This turned out to be a way to promote Bend, and I was able to get my website link published which helps in Google rankings.

The article lists Bend Oregon as a top 10 location to buy a home in 2010 based on a number of factors.  My comments concurred and added that land and lots were a suggested investment as you can buy either right now for about one third of the peak values, and land should be a great currency hedge in an uncertain world.  Bend was noted as a top gainer in market price and population growth percentage during the last 5 years, and that it had most likely bottomed and was heading back up.

I quickly googled for Money Magazine, opened the article and found the post.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_realestate/2010/snapshots/375.html

You can see my post there I think its on page 4 of the comments.

I commented on the article and linked the comments to my facebook page and to this website at http://bestbreedmarketing.com

I went to my facebook business page, where the article was posted in my own page there, and made comments about the post.

I then thought of a local friend and real estate expert Shelly Hummel at SellBend.com and sent her a note, and called her recommending that she do the same.  She quickly picked up on the opportunity and you can see her post just above or below mine.

So I accomplished several note-able things in just a few minutes by being aware of the power of social networking and referrals.

I now have a link in a national publication, empowered a friends site, and added to my own reputation as a brand, and added some to my status as an expert in my own field.

So, think about those key words, add them into your commentaries and post your link to your own site, and one referral site.   You will build connections and business over time.

Another way to get early notice of this kind of opportunity is to build a yahoo pipes filter, to send yourself  articles that you might be able to comment on.

http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/

You can see my previous blog on Pipes here:

http://bestbreedmarketing.com/blog/content-feeds-and-creation/

Comments (0)
Categories : Consulting Small business Bend. OR., Small Business, Small Business Bend. OR., Small business start-ups
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