Aglow Marketing's Blog

Do Good For Indiana unveils its first project: Seeds of Hope Annual Report

Last October Aglow and Creative Roots teamed up and dreamed up the Do Good For Indiana program, where we would help smaller non-profits better define their strategies and messaging both visually and in written format.

Our first project was to help Seeds of Hope set the tone for 2011 with their year end 2010 Annual Report.  We began by Aglow taking updated headshots of Father Glenn and Executive Director, Marvetta Grimes.  We also took a new picture of the Seeds of Hope home.  Having clear, bright pictures really make a difference. 

Then Creative Roots established a color palette of green, orange and blue to complement the Seeds of Hope logo and new website.  These colors will also be carried through in all upcoming materials.  Their ability to both create a presence with color coupled with organizing dense content into a visually appeallng end result has been nothing short of miraculous.  (Coming soon are the 2011 Annual Campaign, business card, letterhead and brochure!)

Aglow was also proud to create new messaging alongside the Seeds of Hope logo. Across the top it now reads, "A Women's Drug & Alcohol Recovery Program".  Across the bottom the new tagline reads, "Where a life of addiction ends and a life of hope begins."

 

We are so honored to be trusted to help Seeds of Hope "find their voice" and to work alongside the passionate staff and volunteers that have brought this program to life over the past 11 years.  To learn more about the Do Good For Indiana program, visit our website at www.DoGoodForIndiana.com

 

Marketing That Moves Us: I Was Born Green

Lily and I were chatting today about a new blog series entitled "What Marketing Moves Us" - because even though we are marketers, we're also consumers and buyers of goods and services. In fact, I'll be the first to admit I'm any great markete'rs dream.  I will buy new products, shop at new stores, and eat at new restuatuants based upon marketing alone.   So...the idea is that we'll be doing a regular post on marketing that moves us, makes us want to buy, and pass that insight along to you.  Our hope is that we can learn a little something from these examples that can be applied right away.  

THE CONCEPT:    A simple sticker on a Chiquita bannana that proudly states "I was born green."

WHAT GOT ME:   Such a clever play on words, especially with Green Marketing & Green Iniativies being one of the hottest  topics right now. (Interested in learning more about Green Marketing? -Join Indy AMA for a special luncheon focused on this very topic this April.)

WHY I THINK IT WORKS:    It's smart, it's  humourous -- plus it's worth passing along to a friend in conversation.  Also, when checking out Chiquita's web site I noted that they actually have an section dedicated to Being Green - so it's more than just a fun slogan, it actually is part of their culture and value system.

WHAT WE CAN LEARN:     When you are thinking of how you position your product or business, don't think quite so literally.  Expand your mindset. Think about how can you position yourself that evokes a sense of humor in a clever, thought provoking way that makes people think, remember you...and smile.

Making Time for Marketing: How To Make Sure Your Marketing Isn't an Afterthought

Is it just me, or has the beginning of this year gone by in a flash?  Between snow days and sick days, it's been difficult to get into a solid work groove.  As a result, the Aglow Marketing team has been keeping up with our clients' needs but (as is the case for many small business owners) not carving out time to work on our own marketing.  It's the same old "the cobbler's children have no shoes" conudrum. 

Many of our potential clients face the exact same issue - they know they should make time for marketing, they believe in the value of marketing, but as duty calls they simply don't make time for it.  As a result, their efforts become reactive or - worse yet - non-existent.  So how do we make sure that marketing isn't an afterthought and that it becomes a part of our daily activities?  Here's a few quick steps to get going:

1. Get A Plan -  It's difficult to make marketing a priority when you don't know what you are supposed to be doing.  Sounds like common sense, but so many people wish to bypass this important step and jump straight into tactics without an integrated plan.  Think through what you are trying to accomplish, who you are hoping to reach, what will move them to act, and how you will measure success.  Take the time to formulate a solid marketing plan rich with well-thought-out strategies to reach your goals - you will never regret it.  
2. Timelines & Calendars - Move your marketing plan into action by plotting out your tactics on a calendar.  Assign due dates and reminders - whatever it takes to engrain marketing your business into your daily life.
3. Be Accountable - By meeting with your marketing team on regular basis and reporting back on your progress, you will ensure your marketing activities are getting done.  Don't forget to track your success through analytics or whatever other metrics you have established in your marketing plan.

Lily and I recently spent a half-day working through our own marketing plan, and although it's not yet complete we are making sure we practice what we preach in 2011.  Stay tuned for some fantastic marketing efforts for Aglow yet this year.

Are you suffering from "Check In" addiction? And is mine going to get worse?

As I awoke dreary eyed at 2:30 am to stand (or sit, actually) in virtual line to pre-order the Verizon IPhone at 3 am (I actually ordered at 2:45 am so camping out early did pay off), I was killing time and caught up on some articles from http://the99percent.com/ where as they say, "It's not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen."

Their article on How to Control Your "Check In" Addiction was timely as I move away from the already aptly named Crackberry/Blackberry to Wonderful World of Apps IPhone.  Will my need to "check in" be worse than ever?  I'm already trying to be better at disconnecting myself both mentally and physically from my hell phone.  Now will all the shiny newness and more information to absorb will I have taken 1 step forward and 12 steps back?  Only time will tell I suppose.

If you're in the same boat and want to get more in tune to why we feel the need to "check in" so much, check out the How to Control Your "Check In" Addiction article.  (Yes, you can read it from your phone if you must.)  Here's the intro, which definitely make my face turn red as I felt completely called out on my "Check In" addiction.

"Have you ever been caught sleeping with your mobile device? Perhaps checking your email first-thing in the morning when you’re still in bed? Given what we know about the emotional voids that are fulfilled by our electronic devices - the search for thrill, the alleviation of anxiety and panic - our intense attachment makes sense. When we wake up we want to be greeted. When we fall asleep we want to do so knowing that all is well. The mobile phone has become the security blanket of the 21st century."  Read the full How to Control Your "Check In" Addiction article here.

Take care of your employees and you take care of your business. A lesson from John Mackey.

This morning I was reading my newsletter from the Harvard Business Review and a new interview title caught my eye, "What Is It That Only I Can Do?".  I took the bait and clicked.  The article highlights the co-founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods, John Mackey.  I watched the short video (included above) and really resonated with what Mackey has to say about management's job at Whole Foods.  Even if you're a solo business owner, this still applies to you!  Mackey says it's to:

- Hire Good People

- Make sure they are Well-Trained inTheir Work

- So That They Flourish in the Workplace and Give Great Customer Service

Seems like common sense. right?  I thought so until I recalled the traditional jobs I've had (working for someone else) where every time it was "sink or swim".  As in, you figure it out and see if you can make it work here.  Also, that it's up to you to determine what makes this place unique and better than our competitors.  Both of those, in hindsight, were a big no-no. 

One of our favorite tasks at Aglow is doing a strategy session for this very reason.  It gives us a chance to help businesses (of any size) really see who they are in the marketplace and what they plan to accomplish while there (and yes, you need to be specific).  Then we really encourage our clients to share and implement these ideas with their team.  When your team can better speak to what you do (and it should be the same message no matter who tells it) and know what you're looking for (rockin' clients that can't wait to use you), they can spend more time building your business rather than trying to figure out exactly what it is you do.