Does Your Brand Have a Brand Book

Brand Book Tutorial: Does Your Brand Have a Brand Book?

By Tisha Oehmen | December 22, 2010
I recently stumbled upon this hilarious brand book from The Quietroom about their Santa brand book, and I'm glad I did for several reasons. First and foremost, it's funny! Having...
Brand Guidelines
Choosing a Target Market: The Key to Effective Marketing

Choosing a Target Market: The Key to Effective Marketing

By Tisha Oehmen | December 20, 2010
Focusing on and choosing a target market is often one of the most complex decisions for a business. The hesitation makes sense—you don't want to exclude potential customers or show...
Ideal Customer & Target Market
Best Advertising Strategies for Small Businesses

Best Advertising Strategies for Small Businesses: Where to Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck

By Tisha Oehmen | December 17, 2010
Lately, I've had a lot of conversations with business owners about finding the best advertising strategies for small businesses. It's a common challenge—deciding where to invest your limited budget for...
Advertising Strategy
Layering Social Media Marketing: 5 Ways to Maximize Effectiveness

Layering Social Media Marketing: 5 Ways to Maximize Effectiveness

By Tisha Oehmen | December 15, 2010
Like any other advertising medium, social media works best when layered. The beauty of layering social media marketing is that it's easy to do, and it amplifies the impact of...
Assessing Your Marketing Efforts: Why Brutal Honesty is Key

Assessing Your Marketing Efforts: Why Brutal Honesty is Key

By Tisha Oehmen | December 13, 2010
I came across a tweet this morning from @DeeBlick that read: "Being painfully honest about where you wasted money on marketing is positive. Don’t repeat the same old lacklustre stuff....
Marketing Strategy
We’ve all heard the advice—you need to be able to describe your company and what you do in the time it takes to ride an elevator from one floor to another. Known as the "elevator pitch," this short and impactful introduction is essential for anyone looking to make a lasting impression. But even knowing its importance, creating an effective elevator pitch can be challenging. It takes time, practice, and careful refinement based on feedback. What Does Your Elevator Pitch Sound Like? Imagine a scenario where you've just been introduced to someone new. What would your conversation sound like? Him: "Hi, I’m Joe. What do you do?" Me: "It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m Tisha, and I’m an owner at Paradux Media Group." Him: "Paradux, huh? What do you guys do?" Me: "We’re a traditional advertising agency that specializes in using social media—Facebook and Twitter—to expand our message and create positive word of mouth for our clients. We manage Facebook and Twitter accounts for businesses." Short, sweet, and most importantly, effective. In just 35 words, I’ve conveyed several key pieces of information: Paradux Media Group is an advertising agency, we have a unique specialty, why that specialty matters, and how we implement it. Structuring Your Elevator Pitch The goal of creating an effective elevator pitch is to communicate critical information clearly and concisely. Think of it as your business's introduction to the world. In my example, I’ve intentionally structured my pitch to spark curiosity, leaving the person wanting to know more. By doing so, I’ve set up the conversation to continue naturally, allowing me to expand on my business without launching into a long-winded explanation. If your business is more mainstream, you may need to work a little harder to craft a pitch that piques interest. But with some careful planning and wordplay, you can create an introduction that encourages follow-up questions and leaves a lasting impression. Steps to Creating an Effective Elevator Pitch Keep it Short and Relevant: An elevator pitch should be brief—ideally 30-60 seconds. Make sure you focus on the most important aspects of your business. Identify Your Unique Value: What sets your business apart from the competition? Highlight your unique selling proposition in your pitch. Craft a Hook: Include a statement that piques curiosity or invites the listener to ask more questions. This keeps the conversation going and gives you the chance to expand on your message. Practice: Practice makes perfect. Recite your elevator pitch out loud until it becomes second nature. The more comfortable you are with your pitch, the more natural it will sound. Listen and Refine: Pay attention to how people react to your pitch. Do they ask follow-up questions? Do they seem interested? Modify your pitch based on their feedback to ensure you’re delivering the most effective message. Building Your Brand with an Elevator Pitch When done well, creating an effective elevator pitch not only informs but also builds your brand. Every time you meet someone new, you have the opportunity to shape the narrative of what your business stands for. Your elevator pitch helps establish your company’s identity and leaves a memorable impression on those you meet. Take a few minutes now to think about how you want to introduce your business. What are the key points you want to convey, and how can you make it compelling enough to prompt further conversation? Practice it until it feels like second nature. Then, refine it over time based on feedback. With the right approach, your elevator pitch will help ensure your message is clear and impactful every time you meet someone new.

Creating an Effective Elevator Pitch

By Tisha Oehmen | December 10, 2010
We've all heard the advice—you need to be able to describe your company and what you do in the time it takes to ride an elevator from one floor to...
Brand Messaging
Facebook Marketing for Small Businesses: Why You Need to Be There

Facebook Marketing for Small Businesses: Why You Need to Be There

By Tisha Oehmen | December 8, 2010
The other day, I was chatting with someone whose experience with Facebook had been less than stellar. It felt like a meat market or a single scene, so she was...
Facebook Profile Management: Balancing Personal and Professional Lives

Facebook Profile Management: Balancing Personal and Professional Lives

By Tisha Oehmen | December 6, 2010
The worlds of our personal and professional lives are set on a collision course more strongly now than ever before, with the update to the Facebook profile management last night....
Professional Presence & Personal Branding
Fine Tune your Social Media Like your Golf Game

Fine Tune Your Social Media Like Your Golf Game

By Mike Frey | December 5, 2010
Social Media is nothing more than communication. Certain individuals will always be naturally better and more talented than others at communicating. Social media, like life, offers several different forms of...
Online Advertising for Small Businesses: An Affordable Way to Spread Your Message

Online Advertising for Small Businesses: An Affordable Way to Spread Your Message

By Tisha Oehmen | December 3, 2010
Online advertising is an easy and inexpensive way to spread your message to your targeted audience. One of the most significant advantages of online advertising for small businesses is that...
Online Advertising
Pay it Forward in Business: A Simple Act with Big Impact

Pay it Forward in Business: A Simple Act with Big Impact

By Tisha Oehmen | December 1, 2010
Did you know today is the 2nd Annual Pay it Forward Day? This initiative spreads like wildfire on social media, with over 175,000 worldwide planning to "attend." You may be...
Customer Relationships
The Innovative Ducks a Little Like Social Media?

The Innovative Ducks a Little Like Social Media?

By Mike Frey | December 1, 2010
Have you watched the Oregon Ducks play football this year? If not, you're missing out. As I watch how innovative Coach Kelly and the Oregon Ducks are on the field,...
Layers, the more the better

Layers, the more the better

By Mike Frey | November 30, 2010
Today, marketing requires more layers than ever before. Years ago, the business owner could choose one or more of the three traditional media outlets and call it good. With traditional...
Marketing Strategy
Email Marketing for Small Businesses: A Powerful Layer in Your Strategy

Email Marketing for Small Businesses: A Powerful Layer in Your Strategy

By Tisha Oehmen | November 29, 2010
Great marketing is about layering—creating multiple channels of communication that support each other and work together to build your brand. While we've talked about using traditional media to complement social...
Blogging-Like Eating Vegetables

Blogging-Like Eating Vegetables

By Mike Frey | November 28, 2010
I wouldn't say I like blogging. I do find it a necessary evil today, no matter what business category you fall into. Blogging seems to lend credibility to who and...
Content Marketing
Maximizing the Impact of Small Business Saturday: Strategies for Business Owners

Maximizing the Impact of Small Business Saturday: Strategies for Business Owners

By Tisha Oehmen | November 26, 2010
Have you heard of Small Business Saturday? It takes place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, highlighting the importance of small businesses in our communities. Since its launch, Small Business Saturday...
Local Marketing
Building an Authentic Brand: The Power of Being Unselfish

Building an Authentic Brand: The Power of Being Unselfish

By Tisha Oehmen | November 24, 2010
As you work on creating a solid and impactful brand, one significant philosophy to consider is building an authentic brand that is unselfish. While this concept has always been important,...
Brand Personality
Showing Gratitude in Business: Why It Matters

Showing Gratitude in Business: Why It Matters

By Tisha Oehmen | November 22, 2010
As we approach the time of year when our thoughts turn to turkey dinners, family, and friends, it's also an appropriate moment to reflect on who we should thank within...
Customer Relationships
Humanizing Your Brand with Social Media: Why It Matters

Humanizing Your Brand with Social Media: Why It Matters

By Tisha Oehmen | November 19, 2010
I often sit with people who don't understand why anyone would care about trivial details—what someone's drinking, where they had lunch, or the fact that they just got in their...
Brand Personality
Why Customized Marketing Strategies Matter for Your Business

Why Customized Marketing Strategies Matter for Your Business

By Tisha Oehmen | November 17, 2010
You can read as many management and marketing blogs, books, and white papers as possible. You can talk to countless experts, listen to pundits, and attend all the classes on...
Marketing Strategy