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That branding seminar

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For the last two years, Bayside City Council run Bayside Business Network have allowed me the great honour of putting on a business seminar for the people of the network. Last year 2010 was vey successful and as an added bonus I was able to gain a handful of clients that have been with me ever since.

The seminar is something I really enjoy putting together. I take honest examples of good branding and bad branding and then dissect them in front of a live audience. I love appreciating good design having a giggle at really really bad choices in branding. I especially love it when the audience has a giggle too at some of the silly mistakes people have made.

Jacqui comparing some branding examples

Jacqui comparing some branding examples

Some networking and discussion time

Some networking and discussion time

Bad choice of graphic design

Bad choice of graphic design

What never ceases to amaze me is how wrong people do get their own branding and think that they get a free pass when it comes to the judging of their brand. Whether it be due to a DIY in ‘word art’, printing off cards on the home inkjet to save money or lack of communication with amateur graphic designers. For new businesses I appreciate that it is a chicken and egg syndrome. They need to make money before they can afford a brand, but no one will do business with them because they don’t look professional. However, surely at the point of starting your business you must have budgeted for marketing expenditure and branding comes under that umbrella. People who are going to spend real money with you, will not look past an amateur look just to give you a chance. I mean would you? Of course dealing with family and friends is a different scenario. I am talking about real clients and real sustainable business for the future.

In the seminar presented last Monday night, I was again amazed to see how many people in the room had bad branding that was not helping them communicate their business to prospective clients. They were happy to have a giggle at some of the bad branding examples I showed, but again this thinking that people are not doing the same to them was prominent in the conversations.

Sam from Freedom Tiger

Sam from Freedom Tiger

Listening in

Listening in

Introduction by Sam

Introduction by Sam

Helen and others discussing their branding

Helen and others discussing their branding

If the participants were to take away anything from the evening, it should be that in todays increasingly competitive SME market, first impressions are everything. Well executed and professional branding allows you to stand out from your competitors and makes you appear a serious business operator. The power of visual representation should never be underestimated!

Here are some less than flattering photos of myself from the night and some great networkers doing their thing too. Thanks to Mackezie from Mackenzie Photography for taking all the pics and Sammy from Freedom Tiger for the introduction. Helping me set up for the night, calm my nerves and general reassurance is exactly what I needed. Thanks girls :)

 

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