Brand strategy, mindset, and solo-business wisdom—choose your path

Insights to Help You Build a Better Brand (and a Business That Works for You).

This is your hub for everything I write—whether you’re growing a brand with The Creative Brief or navigating the business-of-one life with Solo(ish). Explore by topic or follow the content stream that fits where you are now. Both are here to help you work smarter, show up stronger, and stay aligned with what matters most.

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NETWORKING & REFERRALS

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SOLOPRENEUR LIFE

BRANDING & POSITIONING

MARKETING STRATEGY

VISUAL IDENTITY & DESIGN

3+3+3=9 Minutes

3+3+3=9 Minutes

Here are some secrets for planning and preparing for your 10-minute featured presentation. You'll learn about the 3+3+3=9-minutes rule. Please listen to this very carefully: what you put into your featured presentation is what you'll get out of it. Don't use your time...

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Specific is Terrific

Specific is Terrific

Business professionals who want to do business by referral are often far too general in their requests of other people. In referral marketing, it’s crucial to teach others how to refer you. This is why you need to be specific to be terrific. Why? Because sometimes,...

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GAINS profile

GAINS profile

So often, BNI members are frustrated about not getting more business referred to them. After all, isn’t that what business networking is all about? The fact is, it’s not enough that you’re great at what you do and can offer a lot of value to new clients. To win...

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How To Use Social Networks to…Network

How To Use Social Networks to…Network

If you’re like me, you have changed your approach to networking over the last seven months. As we have learned in our chapter, we can all find new clients by watching out for each other on Facebook. But Social networks are multifaceted tools being used to create awareness, promote, and build relationships!

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Networking Virtually…tips for the new normal

Networking Virtually…tips for the new normal

With social distancing becoming the norm, networking has moved to online platforms, but it is still an essential tool for building relationships. To be successful, you must have the right mindset, where you focus on how you can help others, not how they can help you. This approach builds mutually beneficial relationships, which is the goal of networking. You can start by nurturing existing relationships, checking in on close friends, family, and colleagues. To meet new people, you can target specific groups or be open to random connections. Allocating just 30 minutes a day to LinkedIn can be an effective way to network online by skimming your feed, commenting on relevant articles, and sending personalized messages to your connections.

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The Marketing Mix

The Marketing Mix

Even after 40 years (or 60 in the case of the original P’s), the Marketing Mix is still very much applicable to a marketer’s day to day work. A good marketer will learn to adapt the theory to fit modern times and their own business model.

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Don’t Stop Marketing

Don’t Stop Marketing

Rather than stopping all of your marketing, consider instead changing your strategy. Instead of selling, inform. Instead of daily email blasts, send emails weekly (or monthly). Instead of doing the same thing you’ve always done, pivot to something different. Here are some specific ideas for this difficult time.

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40+ Types of Marketing for Your Business

40+ Types of Marketing for Your Business

Like many non-marketers, you might think that marketing is "one" thing: getting the word out about your business and influencing the "buy" decision. There are several types of marketing that a business could use to get customers to make that decision. Marketing has...

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To-Do, To-Don’t, To-Done!

To-Do, To-Don’t, To-Done!

Sometimes it feels like there’s a lot on my plate. I run my own business, sit on two boards, serve as leadership for my referral networking group, and I teach. Most importantly, I’m a husband and father. I have a lot of stuff that needs to get done every day. But I’m never overwhelmed enough to say, “my plate is overfull.”

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6 Ways To Spot Cheap Logo Design

6 Ways To Spot Cheap Logo Design

There’s only one thing worse than a cheap logo, and that’s a cheap looking logo. Even if your average consumer can’t communicate why your logo makes them feel embarrassed, disgusted, or confused, they’re still going to have that reaction anyway.

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A Fresh Start: Rebrand Your Business or Refresh Your Website?

A Fresh Start: Rebrand Your Business or Refresh Your Website?

No business can afford to rest on its laurels. While your company may be keeping up with economic and market changes, is your brand keeping up? Does your website communicate to your target audience how you’re keeping up?
You may be trying to decide if you should rebrand your business, or just update your website. Here are 10 factors to consider helping you make your decision.

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I Went from In-House to Consultant—Here’s What Helped Me Succeed

I Went from In-House to Consultant—Here’s What Helped Me Succeed

By the end of 2015, after nearly eight years as an in-house creative director—and over two decades in the field—I found myself self-employed for the second time in my career. Now, as I enter my fourth year as a brand and creative strategy consultant, I recognize how the lessons I learned in-house have directly contributed to my success as a business owner. Looking back, I can also see that my consulting mindset and teaching instincts played a crucial role in leading in-house creative teams effectively.

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