This is a great post. Logos are a difficult thing to do well. Think of how many logos are completely meaningless and tell you nothing about what the company does. If you are clever enough to design a logo that reinforces your brand message, congratulations.
Every interaction with a customer is an opportunity to reinforce your brand. Does your logo project the image and message you want your customers to hold about you?
25 logos with hidden messages – Amazing Graphic Designing tricks! | Graphic Design Blog
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Beliefs - Roman Catholics’ War Over Abortion - NYTimes.com
Beliefs - Roman Catholics’ War Over Abortion - NYTimes.com
This was an interesting op-ed in the NYTs yesterday. Most people don't think of the catholic church as a business or as a brand. But it is both. And I think the "business model" (if I can say that without getting in trouble) is under attack from scrappy start ups (evangelical churches) that are more nimble and hungrier for success as well as from a sect of brand loyalists (conservative catholics) who seek to define the brand.
The church in the U.S. has been losing more people than it has been gaining for a while. You would think that an organization that has lost as many as half of its customers/clients/members would try to understand the market and figure out why it is not meeting their needs. I fear the Catholic Church has done what many good, but mistaken, companies have done. They have blamed the member..."they don't like to follow the rules; they don't understand; we aren't going to change, they must."
A brand is owned by the customers. It feels to me like the Catholic brand in the U.S. is now being controlled by the most conservative members of the church. I think that the Catholic church, at least in the U.S., is at risk of making some members feel unwelcome. Look at what the pro-life Christians are doing at Notre Dame. I mean, can you find a more conservative, religiously pious community than Notre Dame?
I respect the conservative Catholics' views and their faith, but I fear that I do not fit into their church....nor do I want to. The most conservative are trying to define what it means to be catholic in the U.S. They want stict adherence to church teaching. While I accept the teachings of the church, I do not agree with all of them. So I ask you, should I be allowed to remain in the church?
I am not saying that the Church needs to abandon or compromise on its teachings. But any large organization that has unanimity of opinion on such important issues can not be an intelligent, organic organization. That would be a cult where all personal opinion and reason is taken away.
I like to think that the Church is a big tent organization, not a narrow one with strict rules of who gets in and how they stay there. The current situation in the Catholic Church feels an awful lot like what is happening in the Republican party. It seems, the most worthy and righteous have decided that their organizations are better off being smaller and purer, than larger, more open minded and, yes, a bit messy.
My God is benevolent and tolerant one. That is the church I seek.
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This was an interesting op-ed in the NYTs yesterday. Most people don't think of the catholic church as a business or as a brand. But it is both. And I think the "business model" (if I can say that without getting in trouble) is under attack from scrappy start ups (evangelical churches) that are more nimble and hungrier for success as well as from a sect of brand loyalists (conservative catholics) who seek to define the brand.
The church in the U.S. has been losing more people than it has been gaining for a while. You would think that an organization that has lost as many as half of its customers/clients/members would try to understand the market and figure out why it is not meeting their needs. I fear the Catholic Church has done what many good, but mistaken, companies have done. They have blamed the member..."they don't like to follow the rules; they don't understand; we aren't going to change, they must."
A brand is owned by the customers. It feels to me like the Catholic brand in the U.S. is now being controlled by the most conservative members of the church. I think that the Catholic church, at least in the U.S., is at risk of making some members feel unwelcome. Look at what the pro-life Christians are doing at Notre Dame. I mean, can you find a more conservative, religiously pious community than Notre Dame?
I respect the conservative Catholics' views and their faith, but I fear that I do not fit into their church....nor do I want to. The most conservative are trying to define what it means to be catholic in the U.S. They want stict adherence to church teaching. While I accept the teachings of the church, I do not agree with all of them. So I ask you, should I be allowed to remain in the church?
I am not saying that the Church needs to abandon or compromise on its teachings. But any large organization that has unanimity of opinion on such important issues can not be an intelligent, organic organization. That would be a cult where all personal opinion and reason is taken away.
I like to think that the Church is a big tent organization, not a narrow one with strict rules of who gets in and how they stay there. The current situation in the Catholic Church feels an awful lot like what is happening in the Republican party. It seems, the most worthy and righteous have decided that their organizations are better off being smaller and purer, than larger, more open minded and, yes, a bit messy.
My God is benevolent and tolerant one. That is the church I seek.
Posted using ShareThis
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Welcome To The Reputation Economy - louisgray.com
Great post from Louis Gray today. If you don't know Louis Gray, you should. He is a West Coast blogger who is smart and insightful and has an inside line on tech.
He writes today about the importance of personal reputation. In a world where information can be created and distributed by anyone, about anything, you must manage your own reputation. And you must recognize that every action has an impact on your "brand." Every Facebook status update, every photo, every article you post.
Like great brands, the market will ultimately determine what it thinks your brand stands for, but you must do everything you can to make sure the market can see you the way you want to be seen. Your reputation is your brand. Don't mismanage it.
Welcome To The Reputation Economy - louisgray.com
He writes today about the importance of personal reputation. In a world where information can be created and distributed by anyone, about anything, you must manage your own reputation. And you must recognize that every action has an impact on your "brand." Every Facebook status update, every photo, every article you post.
Like great brands, the market will ultimately determine what it thinks your brand stands for, but you must do everything you can to make sure the market can see you the way you want to be seen. Your reputation is your brand. Don't mismanage it.
Welcome To The Reputation Economy - louisgray.com
Sunday, May 3, 2009
How Lehman Got Its Real Estate Fix - NYTimes.com
How Lehman Got Its Real Estate Fix - NYTimes.com
Well, if there was any question that the newspaper business is desperate, check out the article in today NY Times. The article is fine, if not a little sensationalist and focused on the personal. But this has been an increasing trend with the Times and WSJ. They now compete with Access Hollywood, CNN Headline News, and Joe Nobody's blog. So they increasingly go to content they would never have dreamed of running even ten years ago.
But that is not the point of this post. Check out the photo in the Lehman article. I find it offensive, flat-footed and not very clever. Its too easy and ridiculous.....aside from that I have no opinion.
Is it just me? What do you think?
Posted using ShareThis
Well, if there was any question that the newspaper business is desperate, check out the article in today NY Times. The article is fine, if not a little sensationalist and focused on the personal. But this has been an increasing trend with the Times and WSJ. They now compete with Access Hollywood, CNN Headline News, and Joe Nobody's blog. So they increasingly go to content they would never have dreamed of running even ten years ago.
But that is not the point of this post. Check out the photo in the Lehman article. I find it offensive, flat-footed and not very clever. Its too easy and ridiculous.....aside from that I have no opinion.
Is it just me? What do you think?
Posted using ShareThis
Friday, May 1, 2009
Michael Vick in Talks to Become PETA Spokesman - Advertising Age - News
This is perfect. PETA needs all the help it can get. It has become the Taliban of animal rights. And now they find Michael Vick, who is in desperate need of showing remorse if he ever wants to get paid to throw a football again.
Its so crazy it just may work. It will bring PR to both of them. But the question is, what are their objectives. Vick wants to be seen as remorseful that he contributed to the harm of animals. And PETA want to raise awareness about animal rights. Ok.
But this feels too baldly opportunistic for both of them to be truly successful. I could be wrong. Though we should never underestimate peoples ability to dismiss those who are disingenuous are clearly motivated by purely personal reasons.
I guess we'll see.
Michael Vick in Talks to Become PETA Spokesman - Advertising Age - News
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Its so crazy it just may work. It will bring PR to both of them. But the question is, what are their objectives. Vick wants to be seen as remorseful that he contributed to the harm of animals. And PETA want to raise awareness about animal rights. Ok.
But this feels too baldly opportunistic for both of them to be truly successful. I could be wrong. Though we should never underestimate peoples ability to dismiss those who are disingenuous are clearly motivated by purely personal reasons.
I guess we'll see.
Michael Vick in Talks to Become PETA Spokesman - Advertising Age - News
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