Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Case Studies Help a Great Deal in Propelling your Brand Image

"If people like you, they will listen to you
 If people Trust you, they will do business with you"
Navid Moazzez


Shopping....This word itself brings in lot of energy and joy in our minds, even if it is window-shopping. Isn’t it? Yes, it might be a scary thing for some thinking about a budget. But, be it ‘online’ or ‘in stores’, no one can deny the joy a shopping experience brings around. 

Ok, tell us now, what is the first thing you normally consider when you want to purchase something? Yes, definitely a ‘BRAND’. As you think of a product or a service, there is one specific brand that flashes in your mind, Isn’t it? The ability of the companies to bring in their products/services to ‘flash’ in our mind are known to have created the right ‘BRAND IMAGE’. For example, TCS, the leading consulting services company uses case studies as a great tool to market their brand by developing knowledge base to the stakeholders. 

Content Marketing helps a great deal to create such brand image. Now, with the same ‘joyful’ mode, read ahead to understand the analogy behind ‘Case Studies’ and ‘Branding’.

3PS MODEL TO DEVELOP YOUR BRAND IMAGE

The Brand Image must always keep up with the standards for better positioning and achieving competitive advantage.  Most of the businesses use 3Ps Model to develop Brand Image.

3P Model Brand Image - Case Study
 
Purpose: 
-          What is the purpose of creating this particular brand?
-          What is the range of customer this brand targets?
-          What are the value prepositions of the brand?

Potential:
-          What are the capabilities of establishing a brand?
-          What does it require to sustain the position?

Promise:
-          What does it take to fulfill what we promised?
-          What are promises to be offered in future?

It is important for an organization to do a thorough research in order to bring up the brand image to new heights. Cash Studies are the best ways to conduct researches and establish themselves as the leaders in the industry.

UNDERSTANDING CASE STUDY

Don’t we all find it easier to understand with examples or real life incidents? Yes, case studies typically offer the same. It involves analysis, application, reasoning and inferences to pinpoint strategies to be adopted for any given situation.  

Testimonials from clients open up and widen the potential new markets to the businesses. Case studies go beyond simple testimonials in branding. By establishing real-life examples of how you were able to satisfy your customer’s needs and help them accomplish their goals, the businesses can win many new customers. With great case studies, you will be able to highlight your success in a way that will make your potential leads to becoming your ideal customers

THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF CASE STUDIES IN BUSINESS BRANDING 

Case study and branding shares a beautiful analogy that flows to explain what it takes to make a customer get interested in that specific brand.

1.       Relate Business Context through Right Content
Once a potential customer reads through the case study, they will understand
  • Industry Standards
  • Specifications  
  • Industry targeted results
2.       Tells a story from Start to Finish
Case study explains the purpose of the brand starting from the mission of the organization, goals, targeted customers and ideas to meet the needs of the customer. This would give the readers an opportunity to understand that the goal is not only to satisfy the current needs but also adhere to the future.

3.      Easy to read format
No one likes to read a big chunk of text. Do you? Case study offers info-graphical methods that adopt headers, sub titles, charts and graphs which make it easier and interesting for customer to read through completely.

4.     Real Time Data
Proving the customers whether the product/service is worth the money they spent with the evidence, that too, real time example, will greatly elevate the brand image. Yes, this is exactly what a case study offers. The customers are provided with tangible results both graphically and pictorially. This picture proof can envision the reader better to understand the worth of the brand.

5.    Testimonial
Still in doubt if a case study could offer what is expected? That’s a reason we recommend including testimonials to prove the authenticity of information provided in the case studies.
Nothing like a word of mouth from another user, right! 

FEW INDUSTRY LEADERS USING CASE-STUDIES

You will find numerous case studies published by the global giants on their websites. Have a look at some….

Few examples of market leaders who use case study as an approach to keep up their brand name. They connect to people through various forms of case study. 

To name a few:
  • Southwest airlines
  • IKEA
  • VISA 
  • NIKE  
  • Starbucks
Are you ready to evolve your brand as a leader? 

Using images while writing a blog, Is it REALLY necessary?

One thing that have always amazes me is looking at people sitting near the ponds and pools for long hours and enjoying their fishing experience. While waiting for a fish to get the taste of the worm inside, they get to enjoy the serenity the experience brings in. Sometimes, they get a lot and other times, not even a single one. But, the experience they get is awesome. Isn’t it?

Blogging is almost similar to fishing. When we leaf through the popular blogs…… doesn’t matter what the topic is about……we can find some undeniable nuts and bolts to hit. Images in blogs and articles create such beautiful experience, Anyone deny that?


One of the promising way to catch viewers is using images while writing a blog. No doubt that the expression of ideas using words are effective. But dressing up in an unusual cosmetic attracts more readers which can become good leads and then a business. Just like in an ice cream shop, a banner of flavours topped with creamy effects along with nuts and chocolate, images pull the readers inside the blogs.  

Colors and Images


In today’s world everybody wants an extra look in everything. Always, give a nice feel with the appropriate images in your blogs. The business researches and marketers always suggest using appropriate pictures, images, clip arts in corporate documents to gain noticeable results.

Did you know Images improve efficiency, enhance communication and ultimately boost lead generationContent marketing without an image is a delicious meal without salt.

Marketing is not possible without Quality content. It is a strategic tactic of marketing to retain the current clientele and to attract prospective customers. Recently, Researchers uncovered a truth that the coloured visuals cheer up people’s willingness to browse a part of content. Instead of hearing and searching for something that they are very comfortable with, the relevant images with their desired topic acts like an icing on a cake. This is popularly branded as visual content marketing.

Key advantages of using images in content marketing:

Images in Blogs
  • Images Highlights difficult information and expresses professionalism
  • Images make the best impression about the topic
  • Images enhance the reader’s attention level up to the mark so the readers connect with the topic quickly


Most important part is time consumption. This fast-pact and globalized scenario made business to provide information in a crisp and clear manner. Pictorial representations make it simple.

Social Media Images like in Instagram and Pinterest generate more engagements which can become a potential and long term business perspectives.



Saturday, 23 April 2016

Why should I shrink my 15 years of VAST experience into 1-2 Pages in my Resume?

‘CV’ and ‘Resume’
You would have seen these two terms being used interchangeably among professionals. Please remember that 'CV' and 'Resume' are not the same.  SLN Brand Studio have written various articles explaining the differences and whom to use what during which situation.


A gist again here for the new readers.
Difference between 'Resume' and 'CV'

Tuesday, 12 April 2016

LinkedIn Business profile page for my company - does it really help?

Have you heard about ATL? ATL is nothing but ‘Above The Line Advertising.’

ATL is the marketing strategy where social media is involved to support brands. The businesses and corporates are able to reach out to the wider spread of audience.

In recent scenarios, one of the powerful and fastest way to reach mass audience is none other than LinkedIn. Yes, you heard it right. LinkedIn is not only for individuals, the businesses can achieve huge benefits as well.

LinkedIn Company pages are very essential; not only for creating brand awareness but also as a part of sustainability strategy.  Read on.

How to make use of products and services section in LinkedIn Company profile?

You can use this area to showcase your products/services. Make sure that the content is delivered in a way such that readers pulled inside to get to know more about your products or services. At the same time, make SEO friendly keywords and phrases in your content as the social media world revolves around SEO and you are easily noticed in searches.



Using relevant pictures and images in your LinkedIn Company profile page:

“A picture is worth thousand words.” Pictorial presentation makes your LinkedIn Company page visually presentable to the visitors. The probability of lead generation is very high here. To enhance your visibility and improve viewer experience use relevant pictures and images in your LinkedIn Company profile page.

Sharing videos in your LinkedIn company profile page to stand unique among herd:

Adding more videos and visual effects will largely make a difference from your competitor. Single video of a user story will make double the time impact compared to a 50 pages of document. Make use of the opportunity.

Keep your audience engaged in a regular basis:
  • Regularly update the happenings from the company end. It can be a summary from a newsletter, a small appreciation from a client to getting an award from a global committee.
  • Host a contest and announce attractive prizes. Encourage and engage more audience through innovative thoughts and practices
  • Keep linking your company website and blogposts

Yes, managing a LinkedIn Profile sure is time consuming. Engage one of your employees to manage your LinekdIn business profile page. If not, outsource it to the professionals who are good at doing the same.

LinkedIn Business profile page for my company - does it really help?

Have you heard about ATL? ATL is nothing but ‘Above The Line Advertising.’

ATL is the marketing strategy where social media is involved to support brands. The businesses and corporates are able to reach out to the wider spread of audience.

In recent scenarios, one of the powerful and fastest way to reach mass audience is none other than LinkedIn. Yes, you heard it right. LinkedIn is not only for individuals, the businesses can achieve huge benefits as well.

LinkedIn Company pages are very essential; not only for creating brand awareness but also as a part of sustainability strategy.  Read on.

How to make use of products and services section in LinkedIn Company profile?

You can use this area to showcase your products/services. Make sure that the content is delivered in a way such that readers pulled inside to get to know more about your products or services. At the same time, make SEO friendly keywords and phrases in your content as the social media world revolves around SEO and you are easily noticed in searches.



Using relevant pictures and images in your LinkedIn Company profile page:

“A picture is worth thousand words.” Pictorial presentation makes your LinkedIn Company page visually presentable to the visitors. The probability of lead generation is very high here. To enhance your visibility and improve viewer experience use relevant pictures and images in your LinkedIn Company profile page.

Sharing videos in your LinkedIn company profile page to stand unique among herd:

Adding more videos and visual effects will largely make a difference from your competitor. Single video of a user story will make double the time impact compared to a 50 pages of document. Make use of the opportunity.

Keep your audience engaged in a regular basis:
  • Regularly update the happenings from the company end. It can be a summary from a newsletter, a small appreciation from a client to getting an award from a global committee.
  • Host a contest and announce attractive prizes. Encourage and engage more audience through innovative thoughts and practices
  • Keep linking your company website and blogposts

Yes, managing a LinkedIn Profile sure is time consuming. Engage one of your employees to manage your LinekdIn business profile page. If not, outsource it to the professionals who are good at doing the same.

Thursday, 31 March 2016

6 Best and Easy to Do Personal Branding Strategies

PERSONAL BRANDING: SIMPLE MISTAKES YOU CAN AVOID TO GET INTO YOUR DREAM JOB


Apart from the word ‘globalization’, in the recent years, ‘personal branding’ is one more term being used widely by the professionals. Branding is one term which is always connected with the corporate, companies or products. Now, connecting it with the individuals has created paradigm shift to the traditional recruitment processes. 

Ok, I can hear you asking why I should build a personal branding. Just read on.

First impression is always the best. The impression created by a job seeker will have an impact on the decision the recruiters make. Due to recession and the global economic turmoil in the recent times, competition has gone too high and in turn personal branding has become one important tool to lead in this race.




Did you know even some simple things can ruin your job search process?

Email Id: Pet name is to be used only among friends and family. You should avoid using such names in the email id used for a job search. Using your full name (first as well last name) in the email id is advisable to create a personal branding. Recruiter will also remember your name very well. Snoopy@gmail.com will look like an email id of your pet doggy.

Mobile Ring Tone: At least until you get into a job, avoid keeping any movie songs, religious songs, animal sounds, baby sounds, or movie dialogues as your mobile ring tones. Recruiter may not want to listen to the songs until you pick the phone and it may create a negative opinion about you. Remember, recruiters work in a busy schedule and do not like their time be wasted. If you want to amuse your friends & family, customize the ring tones, so that recruiters don’t get irritated.

IM Messages: Do not leave nasty, sarcastic, depressive messages in your IM status boxes (G-talk, Skype, Yahoo messenger). When I tried to contact a client while writing his resume, tried reaching him on ‘whats app’. ‘You do not know what I undergo at this moment’ was the status I saw there and the feel was so negative. If the recruiter see this message, he may think that you are undergoing some serious psychological issues and end up doubting your productivity at work. Leaving it blank or a positive message can make a neutral or positive opinion about you.

Blog: If you are a blogger, create blogposts in the relevant field in which you are applying for a job. If you are confident enough, you can also encourage your friends to participate in your blog forums. Remember to include your blog link (url) in your resume.

Social Media Sites: Use your official and full name while creating your accounts in LinkedIn. Do not just ctrl C or ctrl X and ctrl P. Create a profile with unique information and give out the key information in a crisp tone and voice.

Resume: Resume is the primary key to land in any job. Make sure you have a professional written resume with machine readable keywords to search a job in India. If necessary get help from professionalresume writers. Creating an online resume will definitely add a value in creating a personal branding. Resume file name should have your name along a term that shows your skill or qualification. For example Ram resume_MBA or Ram Resume_IT will lead a great way to your dream job.

While searching with your name through search engines, recruiter should be able to find your online resume, contribution in blogs and social media sites that can create a positive impression in their mind. Make sure you understand how to use these tips to build your personal branding.

Thursday, 14 January 2016

The Most Important Tips to use Facebook and Twitter for your Job Search


Unlike LinkedIn, Facebook will help you indirectly to get your dream job. 

How can Facebook help in getting a job?

When you are applying for a job in India, check if that employer has an account in Facebook. You can add your profile with theirs and get to know about the latest happenings and job opportunities. Learning the latest information about the organization will help to get through the interview process. 

Social Media Brand Image 

Get to know what the prospective company is upto and use such information effectively during the interview process.

Using Facebook Page for a Job Search: You may also create a Facebook page to build brand image. Create one which is relevant to your skillset and add value to your profile. Follow recruiter/ business pages to get to know the opportunities and connect with them online. Participate in relevant discussions and share your knowledge to create a positive impact.

Facebook Groups to get into your dream Job: Like Facebook page, you can either create a group or particpate in healthy discussions raised in relevant groups. Create a positive environment through your words and develop a brand image for yourself. 

How to use twitter to land in your dream job in India?

Recruiters in India consider twitter as a great tool for sharing information about their requirements. Make sure you are connected with the professionals and follow organizations through twitter to become their potential candidate quickly. Tweeting the relevant information and latest happenings in the field related to your job search will create the best personal branding and leave an optimistic impression.


Considering the increasing population in the job market in today’s world, receiving information about a job opportunity earlier and using them appropriately by using social media and professional network sites are the most important factors