Article of Interest: What Is the Essence of Your Brand?

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2012

Do you have any great branding principles in place at your business? 

We all know great design has a critical role to play in building a great brand. But how do we go about making that happen?

The author of the article below speaks to three top designers about that very question.

Learn what he discovers here.

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2012, "Apple iPad and iPhone"

Book of Interest: Media: From Chaos to Clarity

Full disclosure first, I have not read "Media:  From Chaos to Clarity" by Judy Ungar Franks so what you are about to read is not a review.

What triggered me to post about her book is a fascinating article I caught in the recent edition (April 19) of the Chicago Reader: "What traditional media can learn from Betty White, Old Spice, and Joan of Arc." 

I was intrigued to say the least by Franks's comments to Michael Miner's (author of the article) questions.  For example, "We need a few simple tools and one big picture," she writes.  And goes on further to say, "We need a great story to tell (across multiple channels), we need an engaged consumer and we need an open media architecture that enables consumers to accelerate content across media channels and social networks."

Sounds like something all business owners should address in order to get and keep digital customers. 

Read the entire article here.  Check out her book where she makes sense of a messy media world here.

Article of Interest: The Way I Work

In just three short years the daily-deal site LivingSocial has:

... more than 46 million members in 25 countries and close to 5,000 employees worldwide, about 900 of them in its D.C. headquarters. Fueled by close to $1 billion in funding from VC firms and Amazon.com, LivingSocial has acquired nearly a dozen companies and launched offerings aimed at travelers and families.

Find out how LivingSocial founder Tim O'Shaughnessy does it. A whole lot of lessons here.

One insight:  "If you're not nervous about one or two decisions every day, you probably aren't trying hard enough."

Illustration credit:  LivingSocial

Article of Interest: Do You Have An F-Commerce Plan in Place?

Yes, you read that right, f-commerce and not e-commerce.

Some entrepreneurs and investors increasingly think "f-commerce" - meaning e-commerce on Facebook - is the answer. Start-ups such as BeachMint, Yardsellr, Oodle and Fab.com are coming up with novel ways to persuade Facebook users to not just connect with friends on the social network, but to shop as well.

The question becomes:  Facebook e-commerce:  the next big thing?  If so, are you ready?  Better keep your finger to the pulse here with potential opportunities for your business.

Rethink your e-commerce strategy and make it more social (e.g., f-commerce). 

Article of Interest: What Matters to Organizations Now

Our friend and colleague, Gary Hamel, has a new book out: What Matters Now (pictured). It is a series of interconnected essays that focus on five key themes beginning with values, which have nearly wilted away in the business world.

He worries that unless there is a moral renaissance, recent lapses will lead to an increased regulatory burden.

Read the entire article to find out what else is on Gary Hamel's great mind.

Hint: Check out this insight of his:

“Unlike Apple, most companies are long on accountants and short on artists. They are run by executives who know everything about cost and next to nothing about value,” he warns.