The Growth of Social Media [Infographic]

Published by AYN Brand | Filed under Social Media

By now, the majority of businesses understand that social media is *not* a passing fad. Now, it is a necessity for branding. Social media has augmented traditional methods of advertising and proven that it can be even more effective in targeting potential customers, reaching and engaging audiences, communicating with current clients, and researching potential team members and volunteers.

If you need further proof of the reach and impact of social media on today’s communications landscape, just look at this Search Engine Journal infographic – it can also prove useful in determining where you should focus your online outreach efforts:

Brand New: (Re)Building Your Brand

Published by AYN Brand | Filed under Branding, How To

Over the past few months, we’ve been rethinking our passion and purpose. As the market starts filling up with more interactive marketers and branding junkies, we realize the best way to compete is to differentiate and position more strategically. To continue to grow, we must craft our own niche.

So as we get ready to launch our re-focused strategy and re-designed brand campaign, I thought it would be a great time to revisit what branding is all about.

More than being a graphic or logo, a brand is the clear and consistent promise of value that a company delivers.

Social media may have changed how companies deliver and communicate their brand promise, but the fundamentals remain the same: To successfully build a brand, companies must make their brand stand for something. Companies must ensure their products and/or services provide real value to customers, and marketers must imbue that value proposition into the brand. Furthermore, all of these activities must be integrated and communicated through as many touchpoints as effectively possible to deliver a cohesive customer experience that best influences brand perception and builds consumer loyalty.  Read more... (856 words, estimated 3:25 min reading time)

Getting Started : Minority Business Funding

Published by AYN Brand | Filed under Business, How To

Nearly 3 in 10 business entrepreneurs start with no working capital, making it seriously challenging to survive the first few years of business, according to the US Census Bureau. With the credit and economic crisis still taking its toll, many minority small businesses are finding it even more difficult to get the attention of banks, lenders and investors. According to the State of African American Business Survey supplied by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), African American-owned businesses grew from 1997 to 2002 at the astounding rate of 45%, over three times the national average of 10%. The 2002 survey states these businesses have a total gross receipt of $88.8 billion, and an average gross receipt of $74,000; and they employ 756,000 employees, a 5% increase from 1997.  Read more... (424 words, estimated 1:42 min reading time)