Small Business Marketing Guide - DIY (do-it-yourself) BRAND MARKETING STRATEGIES to HELP YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS

In this Web 2.0, user-generated, Open-Source, social-networking world, it’s so easy to forget that just because something can be done doesn’t mean it should be done. All branding, no matter whether it’s on a billboard, blog, website, or Twitter, should adhere to these simple principles. Here are nine keys to the art of branding.

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Gut reaction to Direct Marketing ~ makes me think of the things that appear in my physical mailbox and my digital one. In trying to figure out what to tell you this week, i noticed something when i went to grab a glass of orange juice from the fridge… the BEST random mailers i get seem to end up on my fridge. In from the mailbox, played with a bit at the table, and then either trashed/recycled or there they go ~ magnet grasped onto the fridge like works of art (keep in mind i’m 26 and kidless, so the fridge is more filled with tetris magnets and random snippets that inspire me versus fingerpainting masterpieces).

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Springwise writes about new businesses, most of which are spotted by our network of 8,000+ Springspotters, who submit concepts they think are smart and innovative. Since those businesses can be anywhere in the world, our first point of entry is usually a website. Which means we look at hundreds of small business sites every week. Some of them tick all the right boxes: easy-to-find information, appealing design and an engaging tone of voice, all working together to showcase a product or service and brand.

Others… Well, they seem to have missed a few fundamentals. So before you dive into online branding and join the social web, make sure you’ve covered the basics:

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For many businesses, direct marketing involves mail campaigns, phone calls, e-mails, and landing pages aplenty. While these tried-and-true tactics are still met with success, direct marketing campaigns that use Web 2.0 tools like social media have quickly gained ground. In this post, you’ll read about Twitter, one of the major players in the social media universe, and how you can leverage a Twitter account to direct marketing success.

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All companies and products have names.
But not all names are good. And few are great.

Well-chosen names benefit the customer.
They stand out, are easy to remember,
and differentiate from the competitors.

Bad names blend in, are forgettable,
and create ambiguity about the benefit
of your company or product.

How do you find a good name?
Here’s a process to get you started:

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