Showing posts with label marketing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marketing. Show all posts

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Top 5 Most Trusted Buying Sources


Where do people go for an informed buying decision? Here are the top five answers:

1) Friends and family come first. When needed, most consumers use their friends and family for product and service information because they trust their opinions. This probably comes as no surprise.

2) Customer reviews. This trust is bigger than you might think. Customers interested in making a “correct” purchase, particularly for online shopping, use this kind of powerful information to help them make their decision. Simply put, reviews work when they are done properly. In some cases they rank higher than influencers or celebrity endorsements in terms of credibility and the closing of a sale.

3) Company websites. Many online shoppers trust business/service websites for their research and/or purchasing decisions. Many visit the website of the brand they are interested in first before they search for other competitors.

4) Print and online articles. Many customers place trust in the author’s reporting as a source of important brand information, which is only slightly ahead of those trusting in blogs.

5) Social media. Last, but not forgotten. Fewer everyday are trusting social media sources for brand information. However, it’s still an important form of communication. For brands looking to develop trust among the younger crowd make sure your response time is super nova. This will help build brand loyalty.

Friday, October 5, 2018

4 Steps to Successful Word of Mouth Marketing (Hint: It's More Than Just Being "Liked.")


According to Nielsen, 92% of consumers follow recommendations from friends and family more than ALL other forms of advertising. According to the American Marketing Association (AMA) in a recent study, 64% of marketing executives indicated that they believe word of mouth is the most effective form of marketing. However, only 6% say they have mastered it.

So, if marketers really believe Word of Mouth Marketing (WOMM) is so effective, then why aren’t they implementing it more?

In short, many brands are too caught up in collecting numbers (any kind of fan) instead of collecting AND connecting with fewer, but more passionate fans (a specific kind of fan). And if you didn’t know already, “passion” is exponentially more effective than the former.

Being “loved” wins over being “liked” every time.

4 STEPS

1) Identify
Who and where are your influencers? This will be your basis for building a long term relationship, NOT pitching them on a one time deal. Your “friends” are the ones who will take your WOMM to another level.

2) Listen
What are they saying about your brand? Turn “I” into “WE”. Be part of their conversation and respond accordingly.

3) Provide
Give them reasons to talk about your incredible products and outstanding service. Go even further and share insider knowledge and exciting (sharable) stories and facts. By really listening you’ll learn to understand your customer’s likes (what drives them) and then be able to provide them what they need.

Your end goal? Create trust.

4) Enable
Engage them by letting them know that their opinions are important to you. Develop experiences that are actionable: Give them ways to share through innovative campaigns, creative incentives, and participatory events. Be sure to remember to always use the 90/10 rule. 90% is about them and 10% is sharing your brand message. This will enable them to become your personal brand evangelist, paving the way for your cause.

Winning the battle of Word Of Mouth Marketing by making your brand “the most recommended” requires not only a commitment to a creative strategy, but an aggressive implementation plan, and the wait time it takes to grow it.

And remember...“If people aren’t talking about you, they’re forgetting about you.” - Unknown

Contact Hornsby Brand Design at info@hornsbybrandesign.com today and learn more about how you can start your own WOMM campaign.

Source: www.AMA.org.

Monday, April 23, 2018

Trade Shows: 7 Tips to Increase Traffic



Gone are the trade-show-yesteryears of folding tables and chairs, blue draperies, and stale marketing gimmicks...at least we hope so.

As a tactic of a larger branding strategy, today's trade shows offer more substantive, real-time, qualitative information AND purpose with profit. Smart exhibitors are listening to and solving customer needs, not manning a run-of-the-mill-flea-market-offering.

Challenging? You bet. (According to www.stateofinbound.com...)
  • 63% of marketers say their top challenge is generating traffic and leads.
  • 30% of salespeople say prospecting is the most difficult part of the sales process.
  • 38% of salespeople say getting a response from prospects is getting more difficult.
  • 63% of prospects are somewhat or not at all knowledgeable about a company before a sales rep makes the first contact.
In light of these stats, how can a your business' trade show presence overcome these issues? The first step in qualifying a prospect is mostly done for you given the fact that he/she is already on premise. It's the perfect opportunity to engage, initiate, and evaluate the buying process and your prospect. It's a natural environment where one-on-one human conversations with immediate responses can take place. These comfortable conversations will provide the forum for education and potential relationship building.

To prepare for these interactions, make sure your trade show marketing strategy is in place beforehand in order to run your victory lap afterwards.

7 tips that will help get you in shape:
  1. Review your existing brand targets, strategies, and objectives.
    • Who?: Demographics
    • What? #1 - Pick the best trade shows to attend. Ones that connect with your demographic.
    • What? #2 - Develop your 60-second elevator speech for your company's products/services.
    • When? Decide on the best time/season of need to reach your target.
    • Where? Chose the right demographic density; the location of your booth in retrospect to foot traffic; travel distance from your company (for logistics); and distance from trade show hubbub.
    • Why? The reason you are exhibiting and the goals you hope to accomplish.
    • How? Your product/service differs from your competitors and best meets your prospects need.
  2. Consider what your content focus for each specific trade show will be. 
    • Are you featuring a new products and/or service?
    • Will you offer give-aways and/or tie-in events for promotion?
    • Are you building your company's brand along with individual products/services?
  3. Ensure that all your exhibit touch points echo your company's brand objectives with some added dynamics to draw interest. You have about six seconds to capture the attention of a prospect, so bland won't cut it. Create a multi-sensory experience that will stick in your prospects gut long after they encounter your exhibit. How are your visuals? Can they hold your product or engage kinetically somehow? What's your message? Can they taste or smell something connected with your product or service?
  4. Support sales with trade show specific marketing materials. Extend the sales dialog by getting the right materials into the right hands.
  5. Tie-in PR. Capitalize on your presence with speaking engagements, special demonstrations, press releases, and news conferences. Ask event organizers for the media list and use it! If you have a new product, grab a reporter at the event and tell them about it.
  6. Socialize on social media. Encourage attendees to engage on your company's social media outlets. Post frequently and take photos of interactions.
  7. Scope out the competition. Use this opportunity to meet and research your competitors. Gather intel...because you know they'll being returning the favor.
Need trade show expertise? Contact info@hornsbybrandesign.com

Public Transit Branding Guide: 6 Stops to Success



"If you can sell transit, you can sell anything."
– A Hornsby Brand Design client.

Transit agencies, like all organizations, have their own brand. Unfortunately for many, that brand perception is not very good. To be blunt, it's horrible! Creating appeal for riding public transit is--quite frankly--an uphill battle (pun intended). However, the opportunity is bright. With the onset of nightmare traffic, increasing commuter expenses, and sweat-of-the-brow stress, public transportation is gaining momentum and popularity, especially in large urban areas.

So how can transit agencies better "toot their own horn", increase their ridership, and most of all, piggyback on to this new momentum? Glad you asked.

6 brand strategy stops:
  1. Identify your riders. As you may already know, understanding your demographic and leveraging that knowledge to create an effective marketing campaign is paramount. In general, there are three types of transit riders:
  • Those who rely completely on transit. These riders are the main core of transit passengers and may include workers, students, low-income families, older adults, and persons with disabilities. They typically are limited in the mode of transportation they use.
  • Those who need transit temporarily. These riders may include tourists; people who normally drive, but have a preventative injury or a suspended license or their car is "in the shop."
  • Those who choose to ride transit. These choice riders are usually environmentally- or economically-conscious commuters, or people who just find transit more convenient than dealing with the hassles of traffic and automobile maintenance and expenses.
  1. Introduce riders to a new way of thinking about public transit. Promote the strength of community building through transit. Encourage buy-in and civic responsibility through positive campaigns. Put your best foot forward with cleanliness, courtesy, timeliness, and responsiveness. Have each employee with public contact trained in conscientious engagement, and be sure to reflect this in all touch points.
  2. Highlight stories from people who come from different walks of life. The human connection...people love and identify with great stories, so connect with a diverse public by communicating a wide variety of transit tales that personify the agency, its employees, and its riders.
  3. Use relevant copy and visuals. Many government agencies are guilty of government-speak and acronyms wrapped in dry, boring government visuals. Step away from the government mindset and embrace the elements that bolster relevant, positive messages.
         Know that a marketing professional understands the true essence of your brand. He/she will incorporate your brand's values and unique selling propositions, all essential to defining your creative identity. Whether you’re developing a brochure, a website, or a full brand identity, this strategic process executed properly will ensure that all visuals tell the right story for the brand. It is no exaggeration to state that neglecting this key ingredient will lead to a disconnect with the consumer.
  4. Promote cutting-edge technology. Constantly champion the latest services and technological features that will appeal to new riders such as onboard wifi, bike racks, online ticket purchases, transit apps, trip planners, SMS alerts, etc.
  5. Head It off at the pass: Communicate transit projects, road/bridge construction, weather conditions, quickly and concisely. Have a "PR damage control" plan in place with all key personnel on board before something happens in order to ensure a smooth and professional communications plan. Shining a light on your transit agency's proactive problem solving skills will go a long way to alleviating rider stress and it will build trust to boot.
Hornsby Brand Design has extensive experience in public transit branding and marketing. Let us help. Contact: info@hornsbybrandesign.com. See our portfolio here of award-winning work.



Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Messaging: The Key to Winning More Deals

Sure, sales representatives want more qualified leads, but what else can their companies do to help them succeed?

According to a new survey by Televerde, better messaging is the key ingredient. They surveyed more than 200 sales representatives who sell B2B products/services, with companies who have $50 million+ in revenues. The respondents were asked “What can marketing do to help them win more deals?” Interestingly, “better messaging” was cited by more respondents as a top-5 assist (even more than “more qualified leads”). Sales wants the ability to deliver a distinct point of view that uniquely positions their company as THE solution provider.

Sales reps were looking for...
  • better messaging,
  • better marketing materials,
  • more case studies & testimonials, and
  • vertical and segment targeting and materials.

Sales reps said...
  • Content marketing has emerged as an important sales tool
  • Industry events are one of the most useful marketing activities
  • Value propositions are needed (something again tied to messaging.)
  • Case studies and sales presentations are also very important marketing assets. (The B2B buyers believe that the sales presentation is the most important content asset.)

In the end, most sales representatives felt fairly confident about their relationship and alignment with their company’s objectives and marketing goals.



Source: Marketingcharts.com

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Millennials, Millennials, Millennials! That's all I ever hear. But what about...

Millennials are receiving more and more attention. Companies are developing marketing plans to target this demographic; the news media constantly features the sometimes erratic and wild behavior of this demographic; politicians tweet to influence; while the education system caters to their emotional needs.

It's easy to understand why everyone is clamoring: Their size is bigger than the Baby Boomer generation and they're on the cusp of becoming the generation with the most spending power and influence. What's not easy? Figuring them out. According to Goldman-Sachs, "Millennials have grown up in a time of rapid change, giving them a set of priorities and expectations sharply different from previous generations." Point taken.

But what about...the GenXers? It almost sounds like the middle-child (Jan Brady) syndrome, where the GenXers is often forgotten, being sandwiched between Baby Boomers and Millennials. According to AdWeek, "The numbers tell the story. Last year, CNBC analyzed a large sample of companies' earnings calls with Wall Street analysts. In 17,776 transcripts reviewed, companies mentioned Generation X just 16 times. While executives gave millennials plenty of love, the network noted, 'companies do not seem to pay much attention to Gen X at all.'"

Interesting facts about the GenXer:
  • Born between 1965 and 1982 (they are in the mid-30s to around 50)
  • Have a sense of doom
  • Have been called the "Latch Key Kids," the "New Lost Generation," and the "Why Me Generation."
  • Only 49% think they are unique.
  • Only 41% associate themselves as Xers.
  • It is a smaller group than Boomers (77 million) and Millennials (83 million) at only 65 million.
  •  
Even more interesting facts as to why marketers should NOT ignore GenXers.
  • They have $125 billion in spending power.
  • 31% of the income dollars are in America.
  • They have the highest brand loyalty.
  • 81% are "moderate" to "extreme" brand loyalists.
  • 81% shop online, spending over $1,900 per Xer on average per year.
  • 75% are happy with their lives.
Given these facts, marketers will do well not to be distracted by the hype of Millennials and the demands of Baby Boomers, and pay a lot more attention to the "middle child."

Sources:
http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/5-reasons-marketers-have-largely-overlooked-generation-x-170539
http://www.goldmansachs.com/our-thinking/pages/millennials/



Thursday, November 17, 2016

Talking Turkey. Not Thanksgiving...Budget.


So you want to digitally gobble up the competition? With a little know-how and planning, you'll be able to feast your eyes on a great bottom-line and maybe even enjoy a little gravy. But where do you start? Well, where you always start, with the budget.

What is a realistic digital marketing budget? Your marketing budget really depends on the size of your business, the industry it’s in, and saturation (by your competitors) within the targeted digital space. On the small end it could be as little as $100 per month. On the higher end, and depending on how much your company wants to "move the needle," a small- to medium-sized company could spend $2,000 to $10,000 per month.

In very general terms, for a company just getting into digital marketing, putting 20% of your revenue towards marketing can go a long way. If you hire a digital marketing firm, they can handle a company’s entire digital marketing program, or they can focus on specific portions of a digital marketing plan. The scope of work—as well as specifics like your location, industry, and existing digital marketing assets—will determine the price you pay.

Hiring a marketing firm is a big decision for small business owners. Take stock of your resources (both time and money) as you decide whether to contract or DIY. Below are a few helpful questions to ask yourself if you are considering doing it yourself:
  1. Do I have the time to train and supervise a person to work on my digital marketing?
  2. Do I have the time to learn an entire field of expertise with its constant changes?
  3. Am I willing to devote myself to keeping up with these changes in SEO, SEM, and website design, much less learn the dozens of specialized tools and channels?
  4. Would DIY take me away from my core leadership and business-building activities?
However you decide to handle your digital marketing, budgeting and planning correctly are necessary starting points. For more help, send us a note at info@hornsbybrandesign.com.


Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Micro-targeting



The first question you need to ask yourself when creating any new advertising campaign is who will I be speaking to?

Micro-targeting is a marketing strategy that uses consumer data and demographics to identify the interests of specific individuals in order to influence their thoughts or actions. The goal is to know the target audience so well that messages get delivered through their preferred communication channel. Below are a few tips on what to do and what not to do when selecting a target audience.

  1. Market to everyone. Really? You’d be surprised how many businesses think this is true. While understanding that some products/services have broad appeal, not having a specific focus is NOT a plan for success. A bland brand is probably a good example of one trying to appeal to everyone and yet in reality appealing to no one.
  2. Market to Millennials. NOT! I know you’re thinking this can’t be true, but it is. This group is too broad and diverse. To be successful you’ll have to be more specific and add sub groups here. Besides, it’s much more beneficial to target a moment in life (getting married, graduating, having a baby, starting a new job, etc.) as opposed to the date on a birth certificate. See #3.
  3. Market to “Micro moments” in peoples lives. YES! “Consumer behavior has changed forever. Today’s battle for hearts, minds, and dollars is won (or lost) in micro-moments—intent-driven moments of decision-making and preference-shaping that occur throughout the entire consumer journey.”1  This is a very interesting way to reach the people you want to speak to. By finding these relevant moments, you’ll create a deeper connection to your products/services and in return find the right mix for achieving profitable and sustainable results.


Friday, October 9, 2015

5 Ways to Set Your Brand on Fire

Nothing successful in business happens without a plan, especially when it concerns branding. A branding plan is essential to the lifecycle of your business. Here are five reasons why:
  1. Information & Analysis: You gain valuable insight when researching market positions and trends. You find out where you stand in the marketplace, where you stand with your customers, where your competitors stand, what’s the climate like for your product, and what are the market projections. It’s vital to know where you are before you can map out where you’re going.
  2. Differentiation: In gathering the research, certain qualities about your product will begin to rise to the top. You’ll discover differences between your brand and your competitors’. This will form the essence and launching pad for your message. If you’re not different, then you are white noise, and no one will be able to distinguish you from your competitors. Differentiation is key to a brand’s viability.
  3. Leadership alignment: With a brand plan, you will form common objectives for growth and direction, meaning everyone in the company will be using the same map. Everyone, regardless of his or her role, will be on the same page with the same goals in mind.
  4. Appeal, Action, Achieve: A brand plan should include implementation strategies with the end results meeting your objectives. Implementation defines how to appeal to your target, how to speak your target’s language and where they will hear you, thereby giving your brand the tools to achieve its objectives.
  5. Evaluate & Adjust: Brands live and breathe. The plan should as well. It should include measurable benchmarks and tests to see if you are reaching your business objectives. See where the needed growth areas are and make adjustments to strengthen those areas.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

4 Steps to Successful Brand Planning



We believe consistent branding, advertising, and marketing are the keys to enjoying short and long-term, sustainable public awareness and participation. Below are our 4 steps to get you there:
  1. Create, gather, and analyze research for strategic meaning. 
  2. Select the factors that will most likely influence your marketing. 
  3. Make a distinction between goals, strategy, and tactics. Goals are desired results systematically achieved through the implementation of the strategy and tactics. Strategy is a big picture view of the entire forest, not the individual trees, of how a goal should be achieved. Tactics are actions you take to execute the strategy. 
  4. Implement these distinctions and heighten your ability to succeed. 


Monday, February 16, 2015

What are Your Customers Really Thinking?

“People don’t buy 4-inch drill bits; they buy 4-inch holes.” --Author unknown

Because people don’t buy products, they buy what they can do with them, we have a suggestion. In your next meeting or on your next advertising project (or for one in progress) ask yourself and team members these three questions:

1) Are we defining our customers the way they think about themselves?
2) Are we looking at life from their point of view?
3) Are we thinking about ways to bring our products and services to them rather than expecting them to come to us?

Your product or service is simply a tool for the customer to get what he/she really wants and needs. Define the customer’s real wants and needs, and tailor your marketing and advertising around it. This is the first step toward developing that all important consumer insight.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Don’t be fooled!

Baby Boomers ARE NOT 

Your Typical Ma and Pa. 

The 77 million people born between 1946 and 1964 are defined as the baby boomer era (U.S. Census) and make up what advertisers call the "Silver Market." The bright side is that the Silver Market is more affluent these days, controlling 70% of the nation’s disposable income and standing to inherit $15 trillion over the next 20 years. So with these numbers, why do so many brands ignore them?

Many advertisers assume if they advertise to the youth, the seniors will come along for the ride. However, that’s a really dangerous assumption to make. Baby boomers are older, but not old. They embrace 55 as the new 35. This presents great marketing opportunities, so seize the day and aim towards them directly.

The not-so-bright flip side of the Silver Market is that those who are old, poor, and sick will likely be in the majority. So businesses need to prepare today for the realities of this market tomorrow, in order to leverage the looming demographic opportunity.

Supporting seniors in their everyday lives and enabling them to grow old in a humane way is a simple way to develop a marketing strategy, not to mention promoting positive public relations. For example, products can have adapted functionalities like foods packaged in smaller servings. The population size ensures that profits can be gained even from sales with narrow margins, because the group’s combined total income is substantial—and growing.

Important facts to know: 

  • The senior age group is now, for the first time, the largest in terms of size and percent of the population in the U.S.
  • Boomers outspend younger adults online 2:1 on a per-capita basis (Forrester Research).
  • Americans over 55 spend 50% of all vacation dollars in America (ICSC).
  • 55-64 year olds outspend the average consumer in nearly every category, including: food away from home, household furnishings, entertainment, personal care, and gifts (US Government Consumer Expenditure Survey).
  • 96% of baby boomers participate in word-of-mouth or viral marketing by passing product or service information on to friends (ThirdAge and JWT Boom).
  • 89% of seniors 65+ have personal email and use it regularly (Nielsen).
  • 72% of baby boomers have broadband Internet in their homes (ThirdAge and JWT Boom).
  • 36% of adults 50+ own a smartphone (Pew).
  • Americans 55+ are the fastest-growing age group among gym members, up more than 266% since 1987 (IBISWorld).

Friday, November 22, 2013

Test Your Advertising and Marketing Knowledge













Test your advertising knowledge by answering the following questions. Answers are found below the test.



QUESTIONS:


1) The purpose of advertising and marketing is to increase sales.
a) True
b) False
Go to the answer.

2) Marketing is the act of targeting specific groups of people based on demographics, i.e. “markets,” prior to and in support of the actual advertising and/or sales program.
a) True
b) False 
Go to the answer.

3) Implementing the “4 Ps” (product, price, promotion, and place) through tactics such as promotions, email campaigns, specials, among others comprise the basic elements of marketing.
a) True
b) False
Go to the answer.

4) Consumers’ perception of quality is the best measurement of good branding efforts.
a) True
b) False 
Go to the answer.

5) Successful ads garner awards such as the coveted Clio Award.
a) True
b) False 
Go to the answer.

6) Defining the various consumers' needs and their product/service usage is the best methodology for market segmentation.
a) True
b) False 
Go to the answer.

7) Defining click-through rates is the best methodology for measuring internet advertising’s effectiveness.
a) True
b) False 
Go to the answer.

8) A collection of brands, products, or services that consumers would consider purchasing is called a “consideration set.”
a) True
b) False 
Go to the answer.

9) Brand extensions allow marketers to enhance brand associations from a brand in one category to a brand in another category.
a) True
b) False 
Go to the answer.

10) Qualifications listed in a disclaimer diminish the brand’s perception.
a) True
b) False 
Go to the answer.


ANSWERS:


1) False. Marketing and advertising goals are elements of the marketing mix and sales cycle that are better thought of in terms of communication objectives rather than sales objectives. While immediate conversion is possible, it’s primary purpose is to communicate repetitively and frequently through targeted outlets in order to bring the product or service to top-of-mind at the purchase point.

Go to the next question.

2) False. This is actually an archaic definition of marketing. Today, because of the Internet, there are crossovers and blurring of lines between marketing, advertising, and sales departments roles. Marketing is no longer just about demographics and the data accumulated and used prior to the sales and advertising process, but is also now taking on the role of real-time, one-on-one behavioral tracking of an individual’s preferences. For example, if you are shopping online for cars, within days you might receive ads for cars, even if you are visiting an unrelated site.

Go to the next question.

3) False. The 4Ps are the tactical elements of marketing. Before implementing the tactics, you must first have researched the brand’s current position, which includes identifying the brand’s (internal) Strengths and Weaknesses as well as its (external) Opportunities and Threats (SWOT). From there, a marketing plan must be developed, which includes target market, brand positioning statement, goals, objectives, strategies, and tacticals; tacticals being the last item in the plan.

Go to the next question.

4) False. Measuring a consumer’s perception of quality is as varied as the number of people you survey. People have different opinions as well as levels of quality. A more quantitative, and thereby productive, approach would be to learn of specific features and benefits of a brand that consumers like and look for.

Go to the next question.

5) False. An ads success depends on the objectives set prior to implementation, and whether or not those objectives were met. Some goals might include increased brand or company name awareness, increased knowledge, or an increase in positive opinions.

Go to the next question.

6) True. Understanding the various demographics and the psychographics of a market is the best tool for market segmentation as consumers buy according to benefits and needs. Your product may have several benefits that meet different needs in different markets. Market segmentation will allow you to speak the language of a particular demographic without confusing or turning off another demographic.

Go to the next question.

7) False. Internet ads work the same as magazine ads. They provide information and resources to keep your brand top-of-mind when the consumer is ready to purchase. Usually a consumer is online for specific reasons other than viewing advertisements. That's why constant brand awareness--staying in front of the prospect--by implementing Internet advertising can go a long way when the prospect IS online looking for your specific product line or service.

Go to the next question.

8) True. When a consumer is considering a purchase, they first narrow the field to a certain number of brands… the consideration set. This is the first step towards a purchase, and if you want to be the chosen one in the end, you need to be in the consideration set from the beginning.

Go to the next question.

9) True. Brand names evoke certain benefit associations such as reliability, safety, ease, or convenience. Extending the brand to other product categories gives opportunity to infuse those categories with the same brand benefits.

Go to the next question.

10) False. Disclaimers only affect the brand’s perception to the degree of the consumer’s motivation to think about the disclaimer, how explicit the disclaimer is, and the time the consumer invests in thinking about the disclaimer.



Monday, October 15, 2012

Bricolage - Pulling a large rabbit out of a small hat by the power of branding


"Just Do It." Chances are, you know the company behind this statement. Images of sports shoes and apparel, swooshes, and athletes fill your mind. More importantly, though, you know what the tagline implies. "Just Do It" is now a cultural idea, a way of life, a representation of athletic effort, of competition, of sweat and grit and determination to push one's body to its limits.

Stephen Nachmanovitch, famed author, lecturer, and improvisational violinist, discusses the French word bricolage in his book, Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art, and equates it to what engineers call elegance, or a system in which something with a very complicated nature is diluted into a simpler representation. Bricolage may produce "a single line of thought [that] has a great many implications and outcomes."*

Nachmanovitch would label the creators of Nike's famous tagline as "creative chemists." He writes that through the process of bricolage, "we take the ordinary materials in our hands [in this case three small words and a period] and turn them into new living matter - the 'green gold' of the alchemists."**

Just as Nike's brand image is elegantly found in "Just Do It," all great brands are birthed from, bathed in, and interwoven with bricolage (e.g. the Rolex crown, Apple's bitten apple, Ferrari's red.) The goal of the master brand strategist is leveraging simple tools to attain complex feelings - i.e. gut reactions to a company that is forever etched in the consumer's mind. Just as "Beethoven crafted his own music, to an amazing extent, of nothing but scales,"* so the medium of our art, whether a logo, tagline, brochure, or website, works within the whole—through the process of bricolage—to create something far more powerful, the "green gold" of all commerce and industry: the memorable brand.


*p. 86, Nachmanovitch, Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art 
**p.87, Nachmanovitch, Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art