Branding continuity creates a powerful tool

          Twitter recently added a large masthead.

          As a result of working with that, we started to play with the images used in our branding.

          We ended up pulling the logo out of the inset and uploaded one of the website photos to our Facebook page. 

          We also uploaded that photo to the profile for LinkedIn and other social media.

          This small change gave the brand a huge lift emotionally.  

          We often tweak our brand to keep up with social media changes and to make it better.

          Because it is so important, every business should have a document that spells out all details of the graphic art used for the brand. 

          That means the PMS color for every part of the logo and masthead, including the background color.

          Lay-out choices, font, font colors and sizes—including print choices such as card stock and color—also need to be part of the guidelines.  

          Branding continuity helps create a recognizable and powerful image that is essential in today's world.   

          For more information, visit our website: www.dellrichards.com.  

The Internet for research and fun...

How long has it been since you picked up a Yellow Pages to find a phone number or used an encyclopedia to do research?

If it’s been more than a year, join the club.

Wikipedia’s main search page had nearly 280 million hits in December 2012 and that’s not counting people like me who google the subject, scan what’s available and usually click the Wikipedia page.

In fact, there are nearly 700,000 Google searches every minute.

Which is nothing compared to, 2.8 million emails sent every second.

But more than 10.5 million pictures uploaded to Facebook every hour.

When you say that of the 2.4 billion Internet users every day, 172 million of them visit Facebook, it sounds like a lot, but it’s a small percentage.  

Still, 400 million people post tweets on Twitter, every day, the most-read ones being about entertainment.

It’s been less than 20 years since the Internet took off.

In the next 20, maybe the phone book dropped at the door will be just a memory.     

For more information, contact Dell Richards Publicity at (916) 455-4790 or visit our website at www.dellrichards.com.

The little things make a big difference in customer service

In the past, when someone was unhappy with a business, they told 10 people.

Not anymore. When someone is unhappy now, they post it on facebook, twitter tons of followers, rail about it in a blog and visit a website specially designed for complaints that hundreds, if not thousands, of people see.

If you think that service has to be really bad for someone to get riled up, think again.

A series of little snafus can cause as much anger as a big one--the work order that doesn't go through, so the system crashes almost as soon as it goes up. Or the tech guy who doesn't know there will be downtime during the transition.

Or take doctors. At most offices, you sign your name and wait until called 10-15 minutes later.

The receptionist who doesn't look up, smile or even acknowledge your presence is taken for granted in healthcare.

Nevertheless, I left a dentist who ran late for one who doesn't. Quite frankly, the new dentist may not be as good as the old, but I don't care.

My time is as important as my teeth. When they say it will take 30 minutes, I can plan on spending 30 minutes there--and no more.

In the end, it's the little things that make all the difference.

For more information, please call Dell Richards Publicity at 916-455-4790 or visit our website at http://www.dellrichards.com/.