Ideas Amplified: Recent Episodes
Flink Branding
I'm Brent Flink. A designer, copywriter and marketer who helps turn businesses into brands.
Every episode of “Ideas Amplified” will feature new ideas for improving your marketing both online and off. Subscribe and learn from real-world examples as I try those same things on my OWN business! —It might get messy now and then, but working together, we can make something great!
We've all heard the saying "There's GOOD, FAST and CHEAP. Pick any TWO". And for the most part, that's exactly TRUE. If you want it GOOD and FAST, it won't be CHEAP. If you want it FAST and CHEAP it won't be GOOD. All true.
But it's also true that many clients are paying top dollar for poor work and leaving a trail of frustrated designers in their path. Designers who were never given the opportunity to SOLVE a problem or bring insight. Designers who were relegated to "order takers". If you've ever felt like your designer didn't bring anything to the party, that you didn't get good value or that the work was nothing like what you ACTUALLY need, this is YOUR episode.
This week we'll be discussing the process of working with a designer, how to craft a brief that will help you get better work and more!
We look forward to helping you get better work. We're at www.flink.ca
We know compelling copy when we read it. It makes us want to open our wallet and BUY. It makes the items we want seem fairly priced or even an outright bargain! Descriptive, well-written copy adds value and takes your product out of the "commoditized options" to be considered somehow, special or unique. This week we talk about a few companies who do it well, share a few guidelines for reviewing your own copy and a few warnings about doing it badly too.
At Flink Branding we offer the finest bespoke branding and creative approaches for discerning gentlemen and ladies. We welcome your enquiries at www.flink.ca
Advertising has become more of a conversation than a monologue.
This week's episode discusses some of the ways to better engage customers for the long haul and build rapport through building community, authority, trust and personality for your brand. It's a long game but when customers can shop the whole world, your relationship with them is more important than ever before.
Flink Branding is at www.flink.ca
We look forward to building a relationship with YOU!
A look at the sometimes vexing world of colour. In this episode, we look at different colour modes and ways to better ensure your brand looks the same online, in print (and even on your swag items).
Got a dozen corporate colours instead of one? We can help with that. Branding is what we do. Get in touch at www.flink.ca
The importance of audience segmentation and choosing the right language (as well as medium and message) for your audiences.
Like a little help with this? Get in touch! www.flink.ca
Your USP (or unique selling proposition) is likely the very idea that made you want to get in business for yourself. If not, what IS the reason your company exists? Something your company does (or product offers) is different than your competitors. And this is a great place to start when it comes to developing your unique brand. Like a little help finding and developing your unique branding approach? We'd love to help. www.flink.ca
How well do you REALLY know the people you're trying to sell to?
In this episode, we'll talk about demographics, psychographics, motivations, buying habits and influences and how when it comes to marketing and branding, knowledge is power. More knowledge is always a good thing!
If you’d like help getting to know your customer better and build your brand, craft your messaging or create your next ad campaign, we’d love to help. We're at www.flink.ca
How to create a plan for product naming plus a messaging hierarchy that'll make your packaging more scannable in store, easier to shop, order and remember. Like a little help with YOUR packaging, copywriting and brand development? Get in touch we'd love to help! We're Flink Branding at www.flink.ca
Sometimes we’re simply to close to see things clearly. Objectivity and a fresh look at things are vital for gaining new insights and breaking out of a rut. When did you last welcome some “dumb questions”?
Wondering about some of your corporate branding decisions? Think maybe you could do better? We’d love to bring a suitcase full of insight and objectivity to bear. We're at www.flink.ca
A case study for taking your packaging designs out of the studio to play in the real world alongside your competitors. You'd be surprised at what you learn in the familiar environment of a grocery store and how different you're marketed in one store versus another.
Need a little help, fighting for market share? Getting lost on the shelves? Get in touch we'd love to help!
We're Flink Branding at www.flink.ca
I've had people tell me, and I think I've advised this as well, that people buy from people they know. And presumably, like.
A few weeks ago, I went to a networking event and the speaker spoke about "How To Behave at a Networking Event". Thank God, I thought. I've never felt comfortable or like I knew how to "act like a real business person" at these things. In fact, when I first started going to them, years ago, I was THAT GUY. The one that shakes as many hands and passes out as many cards as is humanly possible in the desperate hopes of landing business right NOW, tonight. Argh. If you met me back then, I apologize. And if you're that guy lately, well, just stop it!
Since taking this advice to heart, my networking style has changed dramatically. I don't meet everyone in the room. Maybe only a handful. But the ones I meet, have my undivided attention and at the end of the night, I feel like I've made some new friends. The work will come or it won't. But being a super pushy sales-guy certainly won't endear me to anyone.
So. With the goal of getting to know each other, I'm sharing my story. And I look forward to hearing YOURS. What issues are YOU facing these days? What do you do for work? Like it? How'd you choose that line of work?
And as always, if I can help. You know where to find me. www.flink.ca
Cheers!
With a little guidance, small business people CAN reinvigorate their brands and make their marketing work HARDER.
In Season One we'll be discussing
- Practical ways to analyze our marketing effectiveness
- What we can learn from our competitor's marketing
- Ways to sell our products at a higher price
- How to hire the RIGHT type of designer or creative service supplier
- When the CHEAP designer is the RIGHT choice (and when they aren't)
- How to get better work from graphic designers (often for less)
- ... and much more.
We'll also be "in the trenches" WITH you, trying to put Flink Branding on the map.
We've spent far too long working IN the business. It's time we worked ON the business as well. We'll be just a little ahead of you at times, trying new technologies, methods and ideas (like this podcast) and we'd welcome you to follow along and learn as we do. — It'll be fun. And a bit scary. And a lot of work. But mostly FUN.
Subscribe at anchor.fm/flink or on iTunes or Google Play
Or visit Flink.ca for show notes, links and other resources