“It costs six to thirty times more to get a new customer than it does to service and maintain the satisfaction and loyalty of an existing customer. Companies struggle to cut costs without realizing that customer attrition might be the single largest cost they have. Keeping customers happy has the same bottom line effect as […]

If you are a very small business, it might be difficult to pull off a role as a mystery shopper in your own operation. Your colleagues might be on to you and be on their best behavior. However, you can always walk a mile in your customers’ shoes by experiencing your brand from their point […]

by Karen Post aka the Branding Diva
Have you goggled or conducted thorough Web search with the top search engines on your brand name recently? Other people are doing it after they’ve met you or have been given your name as a referral by a friend or colleague. Take note as to what kinds of things […]

Business cards (extremely important) are presented after the bow or handshake. Present your card with its Japanese side facing your colleague. Handle the cards you receive carefully - don’t put them in your pocket or write on them.
Source: getcustoms.com

When you have worked hard to create your brand image, you must always represent it in everything that you do. Consistency is the key to make your brand believable and indelible.
Here is an example of what not to do.
Karen had a car service that she used to take her to the airport when Oddpodz was […]

Young men are the most frequent online video viewers, but US Internet users of all ages are getting into the act.
That is the main finding of BurstMedia’s “Online Insights” report, conducted in December 2007.
70% of users surveyed had viewed online video content. A majority of all age segments had watched online videos, including more than […]

Good, relevant content is king when it comes to appearing at the top of the results list for the big search engines. There are other ways to control your brand image and direct traffic indirectly to your site. Press releases, photos and videos tagged for content keywords and linked to your site can provide other […]

Advertisers are paying up to $2.7 million for a 30-second spot this year, up from $2.6 million in 2007.
Source: The Wall Street Journal

Your email signature can be used to communicate tons of good (and important) stuff. Make sure your name, contact information, phone, fax, email, URL and everything is in there. Make it easy to download into an address book so that people don’t have to go hunting for it. Also include any special credentials, awards, or […]

Blue is America’s first choice for toothbrushes. Romantic lilac is the surprise runner-up. When it comes to appliances, almost two-thirds won’t shell out for a large one unless it comes in their preferred color.
Source: A study published in House & Garden magazine