remembering steve clark

Remembering Steve Clark - On this day in 1960, Def Leppard co-founding guitarist Steve Clark was born in Sheffield (UK). Steve would have been 54 today. Never forgotten! Died January 8, 1991.

apple and the new iphone spot

Ad of the Day: Apple uses Pixies' "Gigantic" in infectious iPhone spot. http://t.co/Y6BJtmPyRq pic.twitter.com/z1SeUdZbaH
— Adweek (@Adweek) April 23, 2014

It uses a reworked version of "Gigantic" by the Pixies—the band's first single from way back in 1988—to show how the iPhone and its apps can integrate into musical performances and the recording process (and do some other neat things, too).

The opportunities are gigantic, the spot seems to say.

The Pixies - 4 NEW SONGS!

vinyl record sales growing

Vinyl record sales are growing at a faster rate than digital album sales http://t.co/znL4tIlIlb pic.twitter.com/yRbF7e52tM
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) April 22, 2014

As part of the "Wiring the World" series, Bloomberg's Jon Erlichman went to check out one of the few remaining factories where records are made. (Source: Bloomberg)

brand reality

Plenty of brands have been built without image ads.
 Reader's Digest comes to mind.

Brand Reality - Brand Presentation - Brand Building

Direct marketing is a better brand building tool than conventional brand image ads.
Focus on brand reality, because there is no substitute! Brand has power. Brand has status.
Make a brand to increase sales. A brand personality needs worked out!

Therefore, think of brands as people. Opinions are formed with information. Interaction creates more information. This creates more reality - brand reality.

This information creates a conversation for your brand. There is a message in the conversation and this conversation gets passed around. This word-of-mouth approach takes more time and is best in the long run. Your story, created by your customers, needs advertised.

Direct marketing by definition involves a company interacting with its customers. Direct marketing is a powerful brand building tool. Brands built this way really deliver.

Following a strategy which interacts with customers drives sales increases.

A marketer's concentration should focus on the reality of their brand and ways to communicate that attribute to the widest possible audience.

Direct marketing and brand reality are "peas and carrots" that create brand value.

Increase your sales (or following, friends, etc.) and boost your brand value with direct marketing.

Contact me at SwordFlameMedia to discuss a direct marketing strategy that develops a conversation, builds your brand, and increases your sales.

blogging

Mix the bowl. Blog for reflection, thought leadership, and sales. Blogging ties interests and objectives together.

First I blog content that is full of personality. The passion of the industry you're in comes to the forefront. This showcases you to those who have an interest too! Your voice in the conversation is heard. This moves you and your product forward.

You might feel as if you're doing the same thing over and over again. We all get that feeling - and that's ok. Just don't project that feeling to your audience.

Think of this.

 We aren't bored. Just in a daily routine. Others might wish to have our routine - think of that too.

I keep on topic - part of my routine - so your message remains fresh and vibrant. I'll create blog content for you. If you need that content often for your creative process, I'll write that into your blog posts. Trends, conversations, and information about you go into the blog. This gets you Social Media traction to establish your brand. Then we'll use it, share it, post it, and email it. I feel blogs are best used for outbound marketing efforts - not just for inbound marketing. I'll make your blog revolve and evolve!

Voice

With blogging, your voice is established, which helps your stature and develops your niche.

Two items come to mind:

1. Search engine rankings become higher as your blog becomes indexed in Google and other search engines.
2. As the same topics are written about multiple times, and are shared, your voice is developed.

Blogging needs to reflect the impact of your daily, creative influence. Yes, I wrote "daily", so you'll always have plenty of content - which can be re-purposed for future Social Media work. That way you create information - you create history.

Catalog

Your blog becomes a catalog of information and therefore an asset of you, for you and your readers. I take an active role in your blog and blogging efforts to establish your online presence. Your voice is your voice. This endeavor creates your knowledge and insight in your industry and creates a better future.

Message

Your blog is your message. I'll work with you to draw-up a marketing department and learn what topics are to absorbed into your organization. You too are involved in the blogging process. You'll make an impact on what marketing creates!

I'll help you go after the initiative to make goals, create, and work for innovation that's relevant to you and your audience. I'll develop sources to enhance the topics we'll promote. This has a greater impact on your career and your online showcase so you'll become an industry authority.

SwordFlameMedia takes you through the process step-by-step, allowing you to be involved in command decisions. Contact me for a content marketing plan and proposal.

5 REASONS WHY YOUR COMPANY OR CLIENT NEEDS A BLOG