Branding

This is my beautiful new Brand Name and Business Identity Set (BIS) put together by my talented daughter-in-law Samantha Marie. She also updated my Etsy site and I'd love to have you come see. Click on Cotton Ginnie Studio on the above right or go anytime to http://www.cottonginniestudio.com/ It is a work in progress so come back often!
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I really can't say enough about working with Samantha. She has impeccable taste and can work with the pickiest of customers (ie. her MommaMele!). To see more of her hip style go to http://nestinbloom.com/ .
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Read the following excerpts from an article by Samantha entitles Branding Efforts to see how branding can help your business:
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I wanted to talk to my lovely readers about branding efforts. I don't mean livestock marking. More like human heart impressions. What I mean is - the effort put into making your small business a recognizable brand, a memorable brand, and also a brand that emotionally connects to your clients.
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Wikipedia simply puts it, A brand is a name or trademark connected with a product or producer. Brands have become increasingly important components of culture and the economy, now being described as "cultural accessories and personal philosophies".
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There is an entire psychological aspect of having a brand, and how you use it. There are a lot of words you commonly hear (ie. advertising, subliminal messages, brand recognition, brand image, brand names ... lalala.)
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Even if you are a small business owner, you would be smart to do a little research on what a brand is, and how to use it correctly. You may want to start by reading the small info article on wikipedia: BRAND.
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Key thought: Don't trust your item to do all the work!

One way to get started is to create a business name. After that, create an image or logo. After that, brand your ... everything. Everything your client will receive in their hands, and see online. It's an easy to understand concept. The point is to make your customers feel:
~As if your business is legitimate
~Like you have pride in your products
~Your items are quality
~The money was well spent
~They should buy again
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Let's try this experimental question.
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If you purchased an item online ... let's say it was a small handmade bracelet. You paid $40 for a beautiful item. When you received you item, you immediately knew where it cam from because the packaging had the store's name printed on the back (buy a stamp). When you opened it, you felt as if you were receiving a gift! Your bracelet was in a small gift box wrapped in pretty tissue paper, and dressed with a ribbon and a sticker with the shop's name. Your packaging also came with a thank you card, small invoice, maybe a coupon, and business cards. Hopefully you are feeling pleased with your purchase.
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How would you feel if you received your$40 bracelet simply tossed into a bubble envelope, closed, and stamped? I have had this happen, and in my experience I never went back. I was even tempted to leave neutral feedback due to the care negligence lol.
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Back up your branding with service! This includes opening communication the moment they purchase and completing communication when they are 100% satisfied.
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... I like to hand write personal love notes to my clients. OK, thank you notes with sincerity. I want my clients to know that I put my heart into what I do and that I appreciate them. For this I use my very own hand writing font which I can do for you too!
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A little nudge to get you started:
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Nest In Bloom is my business name. I design logos, business cards, pretty much anything you need printed (but I do not do the printing. VistaPrint is good for this). http://nestinbloom.com/
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Samantha charges $20 an hour for Business Identity Sets starting around $220. With this you get very personal, courteous and timely service. Compare and save!