I heard this story the other day about an old man and his wife. These two have been married for quite some time. They have two adult children, who have moved out of the house, moved to another city, and have started their own families.
So, one day, the Father calls his son and tells him that something shocking has happened. Deeply concerned and desperate to know, the son urges his father to tell him. After some hesitation, the father decides to blurt it out – They were getting a divorce…
The father explained to his son that since their children have left the house, they just had nothing to say to each other. They felt like strangers, with nothing in common.
The son could sense the earnestness of the situation in his father’s voice and decided to handle it very objectively and calmly – he didn’t really know what else to do.
He had barely hung up the phone, before he started dialling his sister’s number, telling her everything their father told him and how helpless he felt.
Her response was vastly different! They were going to both get on an airplane, tell their parents how crazy they were acting and save their marriage. She was a woman on a mission.
After purchasing their tickets and preparing their luggage, she gives her dad a call. She explains to him how her brother told her everything and that they shouldn’t do anything impulsive, they are both coming home and will discuss this when they get there.
When she hung up the phone, the father turned to their mother and said, “Finally, they’re both coming home for Christmas!”
It’s a funny story and kudos to the parents!
What is the point?
They were not getting a divorce; they lied to get their children to come home. Isn’t that what some companies are doing during this period?
It’s the season of giving and Christmas is around the corner – a wonderful season. However, Black Friday fanatics are trampling each other to get to their coveted items before anyone else; because we can get the things we love at discounted prices!
Don’t get me wrong, I love Black Friday – If you take advantage of it…
The moral of my story is this… Some businesses may use Black Friday as a pure marketing stunt where you pay low prices for cheap things, but continue to pay full price for the expensive things; not getting real value for your money!
Go out, enjoy Black Friday responsibly, and get the best deals you can!
Whether it’s to have a great LinkedIn profile, a team page that creates engagement or even for your marketing material; you want professional pictures representing your business and your team.
Corporate photography is all about the image you create in your viewer’s eyes. It’s important to note that it’s not just about taking photo’s while everyone is suited up – it’s an art and has purpose. There are many different kinds of corporate photography, all of which exist to achieve a specific result. We will look at some of them today.
Studio Portraits
The first one we look at is Studio Portraits. This is by far the easiest corporate shots to take.
Lighting plays an undeniably critical role in any photography, but more so in corporate shots. When you take studio portraits, you have full control of the lighting, making it the easiest way of taking high quality, powerful corporate shots.
Outdoor Corporate Shots
Companies want corporate shots taken, to give clients a face-to-the-name. People tend to feel like they know more about a brand if they have a face they can look at. Because of this, studio shots sometimes fall short where outdoor shots work magic.
By either photographing the offices or a location that resonates with the company’s mission, you create a sense of belonging and identity that normal studio shots don’t create.
Beware, though, because you have much less control on lighting, making your job much more difficult as a result.
Paparazzi in the office
This is a very effective way of giving potential clients a “fly on the wall” experience. Instead of taking a shot of someone’s face, you can shoot him or her in action.
This is perfect for a summary feature of your company. It gives readers insight into what your company does and why you’re good at it.
Team Together
I love group photo’s because we all know that though the big guys on the front line do incredible things, they are often supported but the unacknowledged staff in the back. Those folks laying the groundwork and making sure that all functions smoothly, is a part of the team. Taking a professional group photo shows respect and regard for those people, and tells the world that you are a team working together to provide them with your best.
Common Head Shots
Of all styles and kinds, these are the most common of corporate shots.
We see them on LinkedIn, websites, article bio’s, brochures and much more…
For some, this might seem boring, but if done correctly, the image can be very flattering and powerful in creating and maintaining a brand.
Contact Mirror Marketing today for an expert’s opinion on what kind of styles would best suit your company and the image you want to create.
Have any questions or comments? Leave them down here and I’ll get back to you soon…
This weekend, on Sunday to be exact, my partner-in-crime and I got our golf on.
I love golf.
For those of you who have never played golf, I know that watching it may seem excruciatingly boring. But when you hit your first ball, you will never feel like that again! It is that addictive.
If you know nothing else about golf, the one thing you would know is what a golf ball looks like. Most of us have seen a golf ball before and most of the time the ball is white. Well, for the first time since we started playing together, we played with different color balls: Mine was white and hers was pink.
I hope she won’t be mad at me for telling the whole world about this, but she really had a tough time this weekend. It wasn’t her day at all! Most of her shots went horribly skew…
Being in Africa – which is where I live – the grass is a light brownish color (we call it the bushveld), especially the rough. In my mind, that was excellent, a blessing in disguise even. She had a pink ball, so how hard would it be to find amongst brown grass?
Boy, was I wrong…
The grass is clearly brown, up close. However, when you scan the horizon, it is a rainbow of colors. You see pink everywhere!
Research your target audience
This got me thinking about the importance of proper market research. When you employ marketing to spread the word of your company, who are you hoping to reach?
This is a critical question! For a golfer to find the ball, it has to be on the fairway. In the same way, if you want your perfect clients to find your company you have to hide in plain sight. Be where they are heading.
That is why we refer to it as a target market.
Find the marketing team, who knows how to research your ideal prospect. Who knows how to hook and engage with them.
You don’t want someone who drops the ball in the rough; you want them to place you in your client’s line of sight.
Contact Mirror Marketing today – the grass is greener this side
What are your thoughts about targeting an audience?
Leave me a comment, I’d love to hear from you!
Have you ever had someone sincerely smile at you before? Man, that is a good feeling, isn’t it?
There is something contagious about sincerity – it turns away anger and frustration and it encourages cooperation; but when you mix that with smiling… The whole world can change.
I remember the first time I was considering buying a new car. After doing some research, ‘picture shopping’ through the magazine pages, and treating myself to a test drive, I literally could think of nothing else. Everywhere I went; it was as if everyone was driving my car. I saw it everywhere!
The only other experience I can relate this to, is sincere smiling and all it stands for.
Whether you run a business or buy from a business, you expect that you are going to get what you paid for. Human error, unfortunately, sometimes prevents this and life happens. Nonetheless, in the midst of challenges, you can still make people happy.
Great customer service is a smile we get when things go wrong. These are people who patiently understand and who happily put all other things aside to make sure the problem is fixed as soon as possible.
Does your company have people like that?
We undervalue great customer service. Experts believe that customer service has actually decreased in quality the last few years.
We focus so much on marketing, to build a brand and a business, but all of that is in vain if you cannot maintain it.
Like the time I purchased a car, great customer service brightens up your client’s day! Everywhere they go, they see your company (or at least something that reminds them of you – like a smile!) The mistakes or problems won’t matter anymore because they don’t feel betrayed any longer.
They feel heard, understood, and like your priority.
If you want a more loyal base of customers, sharpen up your customer service. Put the right people in the right positions and make sure your clients know how important they are to you.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this!
Maybe, even some stories of how great customer service changed the course of your day…
Leave me a comment 🙂
A pastime I really enjoy is fishing. It is just such a great combination of good things. The beauty of nature surrounding you; the fact that most of the time, you get to just kick back and relax; the thrill of the catch; and knowing that once you’ve cast in your line, the work has been done, and all that’s left is waiting. I think that is the best part!
That is exactly what happens when you combine marketing with creativity and strategy.
You have probably heard of positive reinforcement. It is rewarding positive behavior with something good.
People LOVE positive reinforcement…And by using it as a marketing strategy, you will too.
There are several businesses all around us (you have probably used one yourself) that have massive banners, or even special days, where you can buy one and get one free. Alternatively, sometimes they have a sale, great discounts on everything!
I even have a loyalty card for my favorite coffee spot (I am sure the card has something to do with it being my favorite); I have to buy like 6 coffees and I will get one free. But, hey! It is a free coffee nonetheless.
These are creative marketing strategies, which lure in clients and hopefully hook them with your company’s awesomeness in the future.
Smart little things like loyalty cards and promotions are things that you get to leave in the water, knowing that eventually, you will have another bite. And clients love to be rewarded!
Check out some of the creative marketing work we have done for our clients (some samples featured in the picture as well) and contact us for more information.
Leave your comment below, we will get back to you in a flash!
