Archive for July, 2010

Brand consistency, brand consistency, brand consistency! We can’t stress enough how important this is, especially when launching an integrated effort. Nothing smacks of confusion and lack of clarity than inconsistent branding when launching a marketing campaign of any sort. So what does that mean? Make your messaging, creatives, and execution easily identifiable!

4 Savvy Ways to Reflect Brand Consistency:

1. Define your key messages – Develop your main campaign messages and make sure everything you produce effectively reflects what you want your target market to retain! Remember that those messages will be carried over into everything you do, so make them sharp and clear.

2. Develop your creative brief – Define colors, fonts, feel, tone, and more to ensure that your print, online, and out-of-home advertising are all easily identifiable when you launch each element. Customers should be able to identify your campaign at a glance!

3. Include your logo or wordmark – Unless you have a strategic reason to leave out your logo/wordmark, make sure to include it in all of your visuals so that your customers always know what is yours! That way, no matter what your campaign consists of, your product/service logo is always consistently carried through.

4. Carry over similar imagery – This goes back to your creative brief, but is important enough to warrant its own attention.  If you pick a feel for your imagery, have it carry through all of your launch elements!

Need some help defining your brand consistency elements? Contact info@thecollectivesavvy.com.

“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” ~Author Unknown

And never is that more true than when preparing for a marketing launch of any type! You already know proper traditional and social marketing is key, but this week we want to delve more into the crucial element of timing to make this happen!

3 Savvy Tips for Timing an Effective Launch

1. Give yourself time – and then add time to that! –  Why? Because nothing ever goes as planned. But you can combat that by building in a cushion to your production schedule at each major milestone. So the next time your designer is out sick, your IT person is battling a virus, or Twitter is showing the fail whale for days on end, you are still in good shape!

2. Pick Your Launch Day with Care – While all issues can’t be anticipated, there are some good rules of thumb to follow – carefully plan around holidays and  avoid major tech or political announcements. You’d hate to lose your limelight to something you could have avoided, so check your calendars!

3. Know Your Customers – Most people know their customers well enough to know when they think about your company. Perhaps it’s a Monday in the afternoon, or as they prep for the weekend plans on Thursday after work.  Make sure your launch date resonates with your goals, your customer usage, and has real impact!

Of course, not all things can be anticipated. But with a little planning and consideration for your launch, you should be in pretty good shape!

Want some help launching your marketing strategy or campaign? Let us know! info@thecollectivesavvy.com

July is all about launching your social media and traditional marketing efforts.

Much like a rocket launch, there are many things that have to occur before you blast off your integrated traditional and social media efforts. Everything should be properly prepared, fully synchronized, and perfectly executed; otherwise you can be stuck with a visible mess!

5 Savvy Tips for Pre-Launch Activities:

1. Set aside some time – Don’t launch in a rush because mistakes and missed opportunities are more likely to happen. Designate time prior to your launch to get all of your ducks in a row!

2. Review opportunities – Things change. So make sure you are familiar with all existing opportunities for exposure and launching of integration. And don’t forget to look at upcoming opportunities! You’d hate to miss out by not paying attention.

3.  Lay out a plan - Put your pen to paper – or at least your fingers to your keyboard. You are more likely to stick to your plan if you write it out!

4. Gather the team – Integration and a proper launch are more likely to happen if you have the support and input of your team. They see things you don’t, so use those great minds to launch it right!

5. Prep – Preparation is important. Rarely can you launch an integrated effort without getting a few pre-launch projects done.

Launching an integrated marketing and social media marketing effort can save you a ton of time and resources, but you need to do it right to make it effective. The above tips are just a few of the ways to prepare for a fabulous launch! Have more tips? Leave a comment!

Do you need some help with your integration efforts? Contact The Collective Savvy – we’re happy to help! info@thecollectivesavvy.com.