Brand loyalty in products themselves probably died a long time ago. What people are really searching for are brands that listen and respond to their needs. Today, brand loyalty is about focusing on the customer and making them feel valued.

When you make a positive difference in a customer’s life and do something unexpected, they will say great things about you. Of course, the opposite is true if you mess things up and create a negative experience. In our word-of-mouth driven economy, price is only one part of the equation.

Online product or service endorsements made by friends, co-workers, or others you know and trust is a very effective way to build a loyal following. Although, word-of-mouth is very valuable it should not be relied on as the only way to build loyalty and find new customers.

Good old-fashioned direct mail, websites, targeted emails, brochures, events and ads still have their place in today’s advertising mix. So, where does that leave advertisers?

It can be difficult to work across multiple advertising channels and decide which is most effective for a particular target audience. No matter the channel, businesses must work harder than ever to build relationships with their customers and convince them to become brand advocates.

Consumers expect businesses to be trustworthy and transparent which isn’t always easy. Let consumers take the lead and ask for their feedback. You’ll be amazed at the level of trust you earn and what you learn.

Conversations are two-way so listen to the good and bad then respond honestly! That’s how businesses grow today.

Those that share their core values using technology and social media to engage audiences are the ones that will be rewarded with brand loyalty. Online tools allow corporations to immediately respond and connect with people giving them exactly what they want, when they want it.

Creating an exceptional customer experience is irreplaceable and something Charene Creative strives for. We don’t always hit the mark, but we try incredibly hard with every interaction and project. No one can ever reach perfection because there’s always room for improvement, isn’t there?

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Meeting face-to-face and having real conversations with customers can be difficult in our virtual world. Planning corporate functions for product launches, training sessions or simply to meet with customers who you interact with only online is a wonderful diversion from our always-connected digital lifestyle.

The key to any successful gathering is offering something unexpected which helps build a fan base of peeps and brand loyalty. Hosting an on-brand corporate party is very much like building a company’s brand identity. It needs to align with your audience and cater to a specific brand and business objective.

What better way to get people interested and create a buzz than with an unique event logo which can help establish and enhance the credibility of a themed party. This is where you can get really creative and generate excitement, but make sure the design is compatible with the theme so your event becomes an affair to remember.

Use this logo on your invitations, decorations, website, social media, email, print communications and set a mood through the use of color and design to get customers to your event. Promote the event like crazy and ask supporters to help any way they can.

As long as your event is on-brand and you create a compelling reason why people should attend, you’ll have a successful turnout and reach your goal! While you’re at it, reward attendees with a discount or special gift.

Charene Creative has produced a wide variety of eye-catching logos for corporate ID programs and special events. Below are just a couple of examples. Let us know which is your favorite.

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What started out as a network exclusively for college students, has grown into one of the largest social platforms in the world, bridging generations and connecting over a billion people. Since going public in May of 2012, the company has been forced to change. Or have they?

Has greed overcome Mark Zuckerberg and distorted the true meaning of why he originally created Facebook in his dorm room? There’s no way to know his true heart, but he still owns 57% voting stock and it looks like innovation is still a priority.

It appears he won’t step down anytime soon to please the shareholders who would prefer Facebook generate more cash for them. Maybe Mr. Zuckerberg still cares more about Facebook and his original social mission than serving shareholders or Wall Street folks.

Charene Creative helps many small businesses and executives with their social media. We often hear a lot of negative things about it including the fear and anxiety of giving up control. It’s very interesting to imagine the typical Facebook investor. Do you think they even have a Facebook account?

I would bet they are not fans of Facebook and simply wish it would go away. I know for a fact they worry about their privacy and the power Facebook yields over corporations with just one negative shared comment. Media and the free market, as they know it, has changed forever with the advent of social media.

As regular folks, Facebook has changed our daily lives as well. We are connected to people that we might never have been able to connect with before. Facebook has given entire countries a voice and been a tool to inspire change and connect the world on a deeper more meaningful level.

For now it appears, Mr. Zuckerberg’s idealistic approach still is to make a positive impact on the world and we’re all in it for the ride, investors and users alike. Best of all, Facebook is still free!

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One of the first things we do when meeting with a new client about a website is to ask them whether they want a content management system (CMS) or a traditional HTML site. There is no right or wrong answer and everything depends on how much control a client wants over the website once it’s done.

We often need to explain the pros and cons of both to help them decide what is best for their needs and budget. Since budget is always one of the big factors, we always let them know that changing anything with a traditional HTML site requires them to call us when they need updates.

We still run into clients who don’t have the time or staff to handle site updates themselves. In cases like this, a traditional HTML website might be a better fit.

Even though CMS sites also contain HTML code, the way they’re built allows users to make changes on pages quickly and easily through the use of an administration panel without knowing any HTML code.

Only authorized users can login to the control panel with a password and make changes from any computer that is connected to the internet. No specialized software is needed. That’s another big selling point for most of our clients who are on tight budgets.

Above is a screenshot of the administration panel in our WordPress blog site.

We always include training costs when we create CMS sites. That training includes everything they need to know about adding text , images, audio and video to their pages. Plus, we always support them the first few months after the site is launched in case they have any questions or run into any problems.

CMS sites often take less time to develop and have fewer browser issues. We find that these sites work for all types of businesses, but are needed most for websites that will have frequent updates.

In addition to being able to make updates easily, a company can use a CMS site to publish current news, events and educational information about their product or service as it happens. Posting fresh content can influence rankings  on search engines too!

We still build traditional HTML sites, but not many. A majority of clients see the advantages and benefits that come with CMS websites. What about you?

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Over four years ago, Charene Creative launched this blog with the purpose of informing and educating business people about advertising trends and how to grow their business. What started as an experiment with content marketing, has become a valuable asset to our company.

We do not directly promote Charene Creative on our blog, but have placed subtle call to actions inviting readers to learn more about us. It’s worked! Business continues to grow, but sometimes it can be a challenge finding the time to create content for the very blog that has brought so much success.

Below are a few tips we’ve used throughout the years to find ideas and keep the content of our articles interesting.

1. Interviewing friends and colleagues is a great way to help others out and offer fresh content to your readers. If the person who you feature loves what you’ve written about them, they will share the article with their community! Some of our most shared articles on social media are those that have featured clients and associates.
2. Share everyday life and work experiences. Write about your latest project, an interesting conversation at a networking event, or travel experience related to your industry. This type of content is a great way to reveal and build an image of who or what your company is all about.
3. Answer the most common questions or concerns you hear from customers. What conversations are happening around your industry? Write about industry related problems and how your product or service has the solution. Keeping content interesting and informative is a great way to connect with customers and build trust.
4. Ask yourself what content clients would be willing to pay for and then blog about it for free. Giving away content and advice you would normally sell is not taking away from business. On the contrary, customers use your free content to make sure you’re an expert and someone they can trust before they will hire you.
5. Use social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to find and participate in conversations that can give you ideas for content. You can also go to sites like Populs  and scan what is trending for the day. Find something related to your niche that could generate a blog post. Not only will you stay on top of current trends, but you’ll likely find an interesting topic.

If you have a blog, how do you find ideas and creative content for your articles? Let us know in the comments.

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Have you tried to use Quick Response (QR) codes for your business? Are you even familiar with them? QR codes are those strange looking square like barcodes that have been printed on all kinds of stuff over the last few years. Simply point your smartphone at the QR code, scan and you are instantly taken to the web.

Sounds simple, right? Evidently not simple enough. The reality is that QR codes really get in the way of things and go against everything we understand about consumer behavior. Most people are either not motivated or confused about using them.

Recently, at a networking event, an associate was proudly showing off her new business card that included a QR code. She pulled me into the conversation and I was shocked to discover that she had no idea how it worked. I had to download the reader on her phone and demonstrate how to scan the code.

It takes time and valuable printed space to teach people what to do with the QR code. Why are we doing that and how is it a shortcut in connecting the real and virtual worlds? The easier we make things for the consumer, the better and the more likely they are to engage.

The argument is often made that if QR codes are used properly, they are excellent marketing tools. The problem is they are often not used properly. QR codes are just too difficult for the majority of consumers who really do not see the benefit of using them.

There are some good examples of QR code campaigns that work well, but as a tool the QR code is not a solution to a communication problem. It simply becomes a cool tool that if not used properly, looks awkward and fails to meet the intended goal.

Until we convince consumers that there is a benefit for using this technology, you should think seriously about investing in the QR code. What do you think? Do you agree it makes sense to wait a little while longer before investing in this technology? Or have you already used them successfully? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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A New Year means new beginnings, opportunities, a chance to start fresh and set new goals for you and your business. It’s also a great time to think about your advertising strategy for the new year and examine how to become more productive and successful.

It’s much easier to reach your goals and achieve success if a strategic action plan is created. Here are 5 ideas sure to kick start and move your business forward into 2013.

1. Understand and build your brand – Start by writing a paragraph describing exactly what you are gifted at delivering to a customer. What do you do better than most other businesses? Write a short tagline or slogan from this paragraph that will help people remember you. Use this identifiable and creative language in everything you do and say.

2. Engage your customer through content marketing – It used to be that offering a product or service was enough, but not any more. You need to also offer additional and useful content to customers that will engage them with your brand. You could do this by offering instructional videos, webinars, podcasts, an e-book, whitepapers or weekly blog articles offering tips and advice. Make sure content is optimized for search results, keyword-focused and well-linked.

3. Encourage customers to share your content with others – Consumers are spending more time online, especially on social media sites and on their smartphone. Create a content strategy to connect with your audience via mobile and tablet devices in a way that enhances the user experience instead of invading personal space. Constantly refresh and update your content whenever you see a need for something new.

4. Learn to be flexible and tweak social media campaigns – Social media is not going away nor is it an easy quick fix for failing businesses. It takes time to build strong relationships with your audience through social media. Be patient, experiment and learn to move fast once you understand what motivates your audience.

5. Get involved in your local Chamber of Commerce – This is a great way to meet other businesses and start to make an impact in your local government. Go to as many networking events as you can and consider joining a committee or two so you can make lasting and meaningful contacts with other businesses in your area.

If you need help implementing any of these ideas, give us a call at (330) 995-5401. Let’s get to work and make this New Year the best year ever!

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Have you ever stopped to think what Jesus would say about our wasteful, indulgent consumerism at Christmastime? Peace on earth, good will to men has been replaced by materialism and stress.

Instead of teaching our children about the values of love and sacrifice, we’ve let them become greedy and preoccupied with how many packages they’ll get on Christmas morning.

What if people decided instead to think about what the true Christmas spirit is all about? Love and kindness to others, giving without expecting something in return, making time for friends and family.

The Christmas spirit can belong to all of us, not just Christians. That spirit is inside each of us and it is in our power to focus on love and peace rather than selfishness and materialism. We can focus on the blessings we have received rather than gaining more stuff.

I believe it’s what most of us really desire and it’s shown that revenue goes up for retailers when the word Christmas is added to any marketing campaign. According to a recent survey from Rasmussen Reports, 68% of American adults prefer to be greeted with the traditional Merry Christmas in stores while only 23% like to hear Happy Holidays instead.

We challenge you, in the next couple of weeks, to remember the real reason for the season. Remember that everything Jesus did, from being born on earth to dying for our sins was done out of immense love for us. When we show love to others, we are remembering why Jesus came and what Christmas is really all about.

What do you think?

Charene Creative will be closed on Monday, December 24th and Tuesday, December 25th for Christmas. Offices will open on Wednesday, December 26th then close on Monday, December 31st and Tuesday, January 1st (2013) for New Years. Our office will open on Wednesday, January 2nd 2013 and regular blog posting will resume on Friday, January 18th. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Have you ever wondered what your customer is really thinking? Here is something most customers want you to know, but will never tell you face-to-face.

What they really want to know is what your widget will do for them. They’re interested in themselves and in any product or service that can make their life easier and less stressful. They really want to trust you and can be pretty forgiving as long as they don’t feel taken advantage of.

If they refer someone to you, take good care of them because it makes them look good. They hate feeling embarrassed, humiliated or stupid so please make your website easy to use and don’t ask anyone to learn something new.

Their time’s limited so speak clearly and honestly. No one wants to think things through closely anymore. They also really wish you knew what they needed before they did and could communicate it effectively! When you show them that you care, you make them want to buy from you again.

It really is all about your customer and the quicker you learn that the easier it will be to gain their trust and business. If you have an amazing product and show them some love, gaining and keeping them as a customer will be easy.

It will be much less expensive to get their attention if they feel you have a deep desire to make their life awesome – not yours. Focus on their life and interests, then they will listen.

Selfishness comes naturally to humans which means your customer will be motivated by selfish desires. Never allow any of your marketing to be about you. Instead focus on your customer and what’s in it for them.

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From setting up an account to uploading and sharing pictures, no one likes to look dumb especially when it comes to Facebook. This week’s topic is about a very common frustration stated by many businesses and organizations.

If you’re a business who is trying to get more Facebook “Likes” and your target audience is over a certain age, you may need to explain how they can “Like” you. There is a lot of confusion within this specific demographic just what a Facebook page “Like” is versus a post or comment like.

For those who have been around the block, they understand what it means when you say, “Like my page!” These people know which “Like” to click when they are on a business page.

You may need to create a very specific guide or set of instructions to help navigate a visitor to your business page so they end up at the right “Like.” Experiment with different prizes and offers which will encourage them to find your page.

Below is a sample cover image helping to guide visitors and encouraging their “Like.” Be sure to check Facebook cover guidelines because they have set strict rules, that are constantly changing, for what can and can’t be displayed and communicated on a timeline cover image.

It is easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget that you’re leaving someone out. Help each and every visitor to become your Facebook Page fan, even if they are over a certain age!