All posts by Jay

Tagline for Training/Staff Development

Hi! I’m starting a Training/Staff Development business focusing on health care workers but not restricted to it. My last name is Anchor so I’m naming it “Anchor Training and Development”. I need a tagline though! I was thinking of something like “Superior professional development services”, or “For all your staff training and development needs”. Any suggestions? Thank you!

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Jay’s Answer:  A great tagline needs to convey what makes you special to your target audience. Your “Superior professional development services” doesn’t tell me what makes your business unique in the eyes of prospective clients. For example, any of your competitors is likely to be able to say the same exact thing.

Sacred Illuminations Inspired By Ancient Heritage

Searching for a perfect tagline that targets the high-end customers that appreciate fine art. My artwork is rich in detail and craftsmanship, inspired by the Slavic manuscript illuminations, ancient spiritual symbolism such as the Tree of Life. the Light of the Spirit.
For examples, visit the gallery in my website: www.sacredilluminations.webs.com

I use gold leaf, gold and metallic paints, and jewels in my originals. The prints are also custom made on gold metallic paper with jewels. Until now, having trouble reaching the religious and spiritual seekers. Now, trying to create another market that includes more affluent clients with discerning taste of unique, ancient, spiritual art and craftsmanship.

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Jay’s Answer:  It sounds like you’re guessing who will like/buy your artwork. Who specifically has purchased your art, and who specifically has expressed an interest in it? Why? What did/do they like? Why would they want to hang it in their workplace or home? Why would they want to show it to their friends? Why is it meaningful to them?

While you’re thinking about the paper, the paint, the colors, etc. – your prospective customers are thinking about what your image invokes in them. It may be something spiritual, it may be something vastly different.

Also, if you’re targeting high-end clientele, you’ll need to overhaul your website, since high-end clients would want a higher-end website than what you have today. Much higher quality images, presented more appealingly, with better wording would be a good start.

One Name To Cover Multiple Areas In Graphic Design

 Ok, I have interest/experience in SEVERAL areas of graphic design. I want to start a small online business that will cater to all of these areas:

  • Invitation, flyer’s, brochures, business cards etc.
  • Personalized graphic gifts (shirts, mugs, blankets, etc.)
  • Photo touch-ups (removing blemishes, smooth skin, background replacement, etc.)
  • Photo Repair (old, torn, worn, faded, ripped etc.)
  • Photo manipulation

These are just the basics of the things I want to do with a single business. But I am having a difficult time coming up with ideas that I like, and if I like them, they are already taken in some form. I want something that sets me apart from the rest.

I have brainstormed some words that I like which are: design, refined, graphic, customize, personal, personalize, custom, graphic, unique, and refine. But the ones I really liked (Refined Design, Artistically Yours, Personal Touch) are all already being used by other businesses, in one form or another. (I don’t want to be confused with the company who offers massage, or another company offering similar services to me.)

I had considered using my name, (Angela Green) but I honestly HATE being called Angela, I prefer Angie, and it just seems too simple. And my last name, being Green, I do not want to be confused with the new “go green” slogan, or that I only design with the color green.

I had considered using my daughters middle name somehow, which is from an old video game (Celes) because it is very unique. So that is another option I am considering.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

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Jay’s Answer:  Why not simply “Celes Graphic Design”? There’s no reason to focus on what specific things you offer in your name – just target those that are likely to need your services. Also, while a name matters to some extent, it’s ultimately about how your clients feel about your services. If all your marketing is professionally done, and you exceed your clients expectations, they won’t care if you operate from a spare bedroom or have a large office suite.

Name For Elderly/Sick Free Window A/C Project ?

Hi- I am concerned about the high temps and how the elderly and sick will survive. I want to rally some resources and get 100 homes with A/Cs this summer. Its all for non profit, volunteer effort. If successful in future years I would ask for a salary to manage. I doubt if there will ever be any extra money so probably will never see a salary. I’m a christian so I’ll get my pay in other ways. Thank you for any help in getting this off the ground quickly. I plan to solicit electric companies, A/C stores, repair guys, installers, etc..

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Jay’s Answer:

  • Cool Seniors
  • Cool Senior Citizens
  • Seniors Beating The Heat

“A Solution” vs. “The Solution”

The Right Marketing Solutions
(Photo by Northern Ireland Executive)

There’s a world of difference between “a” and “the“. When you’re marketing your business, are you positioning yourself as “a solution” or “the solution” to the challenges your prospective client is facing?

If you are “a solution“, you are stating that your offering is interchangeable with any of your competitors. In some cases, that’s a good thing. It means that you’re following some best practices, likely using the industry standards for achieving your clients’ goals. But that also means that you need to find something that makes you stand out from your competition. After all, if you’re interchangeable, then what’s the big difference between what you and they are selling?

If you are “the solution“, then that means that you’ve carefully identified your niche, deeply understand the problems they face,  gotten to the crux of their needs, and have a unique way of solving the problem. You’re the leader, you’re confident, and everyone else is second best. There’s also a huge bonus for this positioning: online searches. The better you can articulate the problems (and your answers) the easier will it be for people who are searching for answers to find YOU.

If your target audience is risk averse, then it makes sense to be “a solution” – with some clear differentiation. However, it’s always better to be perceived as the leader. Your competition will inadvertently help market your business by comparing themselves to your company, strengthening your leadership status.

When marketing your business, it’s all in the details.

The Priority 5

Prioritize Your Marketing

(Photo by Richard Summers)

With all your various tasks, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. At best, you over-stress yourself and over-deliver your services. At worst, you over-stress and under-deliver. Before you start a new project, make sure to develop a checklist to ensure you don’t forget any key pieces and ensure you sequence your sub-tasks appropriately:

1) Deadline. What are the real-world constraints facing you? Are there other people who will take your work and then use it to start their workflow? Are there submission deadlines (for publication) that need to be respected?

2) Estimates. Overconfidence in scheduling is highly dangerous. If you’ve done this same work hundreds of times, and can crank it out with a high degree of certainly, that’s great. For the rest of us, guess how long something will take and double it.

3) Constraints. Is there: a sequence to getting the work done, a fixed budget, or specific resources required? Hidden constraints generally show themselves at the least opportune time. Be sure to double check your assumptions.

4) Reward. Extrinsically, what’s the reward for achieving your goals (money or fame)? Intrinsically, how important is it to you to achieve the goals (satisfaction, confidence, or education)? To keep nourishing your business, find something intrinsically valuable in every project you work on (and be sure to remind yourself of it when frustration is high).

5) Risk. What’s the chance for failure? Whatever part of the project worries you the most schedule the earliest. If there’s a big obstacle, you want the most time to be able to focus your attention on it. Too often people schedule the hardest for the last, assuming that things will work out. You don’t want to sound a last-minute alarm to your clients.

If you prioritize, you’re not guaranteed smooth sailing. But you will be guaranteed that you’ll arrive at your planned destination.

Name My Exhibition/Expo Events Company

I am starting a company that would currently focus on exhibitions and expos and eventually graduate to corporate events over a period of time.

I wanted an ‘out of the box’ name for the same (snooze box/brain marrow/Dune drops etc – weren’t very much appreciated by industry people and friends) and was hoping that the tagline could define the concept and wondering if you could direct my efforts in the right direction.

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Jay’s Answer: Congratulations on your new business endeavor.

I generally don’t advise startups to pick a “highly creative” name for their business, because the name by itself doesn’t mean anything. That means it’s a lost opportunity for people to quickly understand what you’re offering and for who. Also, “highly creative” names require a big budget to educate people – something that most startups aren’t blessed with.

The #1 mistake I see people making in creating a business name is that they’re creating something that THEY like, rather than a name that appeals to their target audience. People are bombarded with marketing messages all day, and many people assume a quirky name will help the name either “stick” or invoke some “curiosity”.  The fact is that if people don’t quickly “get” the name, they’re more than likely to move to the next marketing message and forget about you.

Name & Tagline for Interior Decorating Store?

I need a catchy name and tag line for a new interior decorating/refinished and re-purposed furniture store. We will also be  offering home services, such as cabinet and furniture refinishing, window treatments, staging, etc. Our location is in an old building on our historic main street. Any ideas?

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Jay’s Answer: A name & tagline’s first goal is to make it obvious what you sell and to who. Otherwise, you’ll be spending a lot of time & money trying to educate people what your “clever” name really means. For example, Apple is a great business name, but only because they have spent hundreds of millions of dollars defining their niche.

While you could build a name based on your location in an old building, if you ever want/need to move from that location, then your name may no longer apply.

The services you offer are likely not to be included in your name/tagline – since they may change over time, and really don’t help to distinguish your services/products from others in your region.

Wellness Program Name

Our company is going to be starting a employee wellness program soon and we need to come up with a tagline for the program. The program will be for employees only. It will be a basic program offering incentives for health goals met by employees. We are starting off small and expanding later depending on how well it is received. Our company’s name is Community Bridges, Inc. We provide mental health and substance abuse counseling for the public. We are just looking for a name for the program itself. The name of the company does not have to be included in the program name but it would be interesting to have some sort of tie in.

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Jay’s Answer: How about simply, “Bridge To Health”?

How To Market Online Forum?

I have recently started a forum MD – Modern Dignity Forums and am stuck in marketing it. could you give me ideas on what to do to get more visitors and high traffic?

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Jay’s Answer: It all starts by knowing specifically who would be interested in your forum. Where are they located? What are they interested in? What information/knowledge can only be found on the forum? How are you better/different from your competitors? What’s the “culture” of the site like – why is it a fun/good place to spend time?

If you’re trying to monetize traffic, then your best bet isn’t to try to get a lot of 1-time visitors. Your best bet is to ensure you have a site that encourages people to return, and invite their networks. This isn’t a short-term quick strategy – it’s a long-term key to having your business/site flourish.