Ongoing learning is critical these days, and I spend a couple of hours each week taking workshops and attending seminars/webinars from people I trust to keep me current and informed.

 

One of those companies is iStock.com. I buy most of my stock images from them, and rely on their website articles and webinars to stay current on the use of images in marketing and branding.  Their recent webinar on The Yin and Yang of Powerful Brand Stories was simply great. You can watch it also and learn "how to get your brand noticed using strong words and images together to create a consistent and compelling brand story."

It's hosted by the Head of Creative Planning at iStock, Rebecca Swift and the former VP of Brand for Virgin and Founder/CEO of BrandTwist, Julie Cottineau. They know their stuff, and I learned a lot. Whether you just post on Facebook occasionally or you have a long-term strategy for marketing your business, you will greatly benefit from this presentation. Oh, and it's free (and I don't get anything by recommending them, I just think they are stellar).

You will get:

  • Tips and tools to help you create a cohesive brand identity.
  • Info on how to combine your visual and verbal identities into one.
  • Knowledge on how to identify your "brand tone" and why it's important.
  • Skills to achieve word/image balance and make sure they are in sync.
  • Knowledge on how to fix gaps between your promise and the experience.
  • Examples of brands who have mastered it.
  • Skills to search smarter for images, and how to decide which of your own images are best for you to use.
 
Source: http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.ph...
Posted
AuthorRobin Sagara
TagsiStock

Sending personal notes and cards is a great way to stay in touch and build critical work/life relationships. Clients, collectors, business associates, and family will all appreciate the fact that you took the time to send a card. E-cards are nice, and I use them also, but I love it when I get a card in the mail. I remember it, and the person who sent it.

 
Greeting-Cards2.jpg
 

That does not mean you need to spend hours shopping for greeting cards and standing in line at the post office to buy postage. You can buy cards and postage online and have them at the ready. Another easy way is to use a service like Send Out Cards, where you can send a snail mail card and never leave your computer. You can even use your own handwriting after uploading a sample.

Greeting cards are waaayyyy cheaper bought in bulk or ordered online through a service. When you send a card from an online service the cost is about a dollar plus postage. For cards you have and send out yourself, see the cards in the image above. They are so dimensional and are made from nice thick paper with lots of sparkles and cutouts. I got 30 of them for $24 at Amazon. That’s $.80 each, much less than the three or four dollars I’d pay at the store, not to mention it took me about ten minutes to order them and they showed up on my doorstep a couple days later. I do have an Amazon Prime account, well worth the yearly fee for free two-day shipping (for us, because we buy a lot of things online). Just check the non-Prime prices where you might pay shipping for the best deal.

Here are some useful links:  
Buy stamps online from the post office  
The cards at Amazon
Send Out Cards online service

Posted
AuthorRobin Sagara