My Organized Biz » business promotion

Organize Your Branding for Best Promotional Results

Mary Emma Allen — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:00:09 +0000

In today’s business world, it’s all about “branding,” giving yourself and your business an image that’s attention getting, one that will stick in the public’s mind and bring you to mind when they hear it.

Image: sxc.hu

Have you been organizing your business so that you fit an image or brand? Do you have an image that will linger over time?

Make a list of words that describe you or your business.
What are the best ones that bring vivid images of what you want people to think of you?
Find or take photos that describe you/your business?
How can you develop promotional material that will reflect this idea to your public?

Study other businesses. What do you think of when you hear their name? Does their name create an image? How have they achieved this effect?

At a business conference I attended recently, the idea of branding came up as a strategy the parent company is using to become a household word with the public. So…how can you organize your marketing to do this, too?

Post from: My Organized Biz

Organizing My Scrapbook Party Planning Portfolio

Mary Emma Allen — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 05:00:32 +0000

Scrapbooking becomes more than a way to secure family memories and photos. The techniques utilized in this craft can be put to good measure when planning a business portfolio, I’ve discovered.

Image: sxc.hu

I used a photo album type portfolio when I operated a quiltmaking business. That was before scrapbooking was a big attraction. However, this was ideal for showing off my work at that time.

Now I’m involved in party planning, Not so much the actual hands-on, being present at the affair planning as providing resources for my customers and helping them do their own affair. I also look at ways to keep their costs down, yet enable them to have a memorable time.

So a portfolio, utilizing scrapbooking techniques to showcase the party ideas and resources, seems a good introduction and serve as a springboard to creativity. Once I had a plan set down concerning what I would offer, I started my portfolio. I need to have my mission statement, various levels of involvement, and costs for these worked out.

Then I began planning pages with pictures and resources for the various party options. At first, I chose a scrapbook I had on hand…a colorful green one with snap closing. I then began composing the pages that will be slipped into plastic covers.

This initial portfolio may change. I even may choose a different type of scrapbook, particularly for different occasions. Also, I may create different portfolios for various types of parties.

I’ll also develop a blog to accompany this.

Have you ever utilized a scrapbook type of portfolio for promoting your business? How did you organize it to be effective?

Post from: My Organized Biz

Organizing Around “Down” Times

Mary Emma Allen — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:36:24 +0000

Do you find some seasons are better for your business than others, that there are “down” times when the income isn’t so good? How do you organize and plan for this?

Become aware that some businesses are seasonal or are better at specific times during the year.
Arrange promotions for these times. Some businesses organize sales during “off” seasons.
Plan to adjust your home and business budgets accordingly.
Look for new lines to add that don’t greatly increase your expense but will increase interest in your business and sales.
Find an parttime job that will help bring in income to tide you over. This doesn’t mean your business is failing, just that you need extra capital.
Find another business with which you can coordinate promotions and sales.

How do you organize for coping with “down” times, such as you might be experiencing now?

Post from: My Organized Biz