Archive by Author
Quick brand naming tip, or how the blue and red Buddhas got a hearty laugh
Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by Kelly Hobkirk.
One of the most important first steps in the branding process is brand naming. It can be a tricky equation. You have to balance your desire with practicality, availability, meaning, the catchy factor, and other considerations. Spelling is kind of important too.
Several years back, a long-time client of mine with a penchant for brainstorming at 1:00 a.m. decided he wanted to create a nebulous product called either Blue Buddha or Red Buddha. He couldn’t …
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Finding a great graphic designer, part 2: Goal Setting
Posted on 08. Mar, 2010 by Kelly Hobkirk.
A wise friend once told me: If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got.
If you have been dissatisfied with the work your graphic designer has done, you probably do not know how amazing it feels to experience outstanding design when it is created just for your business.
Communication is key
If you want a big change in the perception of your business, or a …
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You have a personal brand, even if you don’t know it
Posted on 07. Mar, 2010 by Kelly Hobkirk.
Everyone has a personal brand, whether they know it or not. If you change or define yourself in profound ways you can change how people perceive you. You can also change your own self-perception, which can be an empowering experience.
When you reinvent yourself, you could say that you are rebranding yourself. Your body language, identity materials, behavior, compassion, humor, expressions, contributions, the way you dress, the service you provide – all of these characteristics …
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Finding a great graphic designer, part 1: Budgeting
Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by Kelly Hobkirk.
One of the most common questions I receive at speaking engagements is, “How do I find a great graphic designer?” Finding a graphic designer who fits your needs can be a complex equation, but knowing what you need and having a set of important questions to ask prospective graphic designers can shorten the process by leaps and bounds.
Budgeting for graphic design often draws a question mark for people new to hiring a designer. While …
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Finding a great graphic designer, an introduction
Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by Kelly Hobkirk.
I get the question all the time at speaking events and workshops: “How do I find a great graphic designer for my brand development?” It’s not the kind of question that can be adequately answered in a couple of minutes, so I thought I’d write a multi-part series here on finding a great graphic designer.
I get calls nearly every day from entrepreneurs who know they need to hire a graphic designer for brand development, …
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What is Brand Positioning?
Posted on 01. Mar, 2010 by Kelly Hobkirk.
I gave a talk on branding last Friday at the beautiful new Bellevue City Hall. One topic that spurred many questions was Brand Positioning. It is difficult to explain such an important step of the branding process in roughly ten minutes, so here’s a little more detail. I’ll be visiting this topic often.
Brand positioning is perhaps the most shunned part of branding that exists, especially for small businesses. Creative professionals don’t like it because …
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It’s High Time for a Revolution in Branding
Posted on 01. Mar, 2010 by Kelly Hobkirk.
It’s time to get real, get honest, time to make meaningful connections. It’s time to believe in your brand.
How can I, Kelly Hobkirk, brand development specialist, graphic designer, writer, entrepreneur possibly claim to be starting a revolution in branding? It’s a bold claim coming from a guy who hasn’t the street cred of an Ogilvy, nor the blogger prowess of a Rowse. I lack the notoriety of some of the larger players in graphic …
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