Back to the Basics
March 8, 2010
- Being on social media doesn't make your brand interesting. Being interesting makes you interesting.
- Social media is an amplifier. It takes what you truly are and makes it louder and more prominent. This is great unless your off-line brand sucks.
- If you treat social media like advertising, your audience will treat it like advertising.
- The best brands feel comfortable having their people talk to other humans. This means they embrace being transparent and don't block the use of social media.
- Great brands already have a community; they just use social media to facilitate those existing conversations.
- If you have made someone really, really happy or really, really mad then you are already on social media.
- At some point in the very near future, if you aren't on social media (as an organization or a person), then you won't exist.
- As with all things branding, be simple, unexpected, and consistent.
- Lead by example: if an organization's top executive isn't using social media then what does that say about listening and relevance?
- Spending money on how to use social media is stupid. Spending money to learn why is smart. In other words, once you know why, social media is a do-it-yourself project.
Blog: http://fosterunfiltered.com/
Twitter:http://twitter.com/brandmilitia
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JustinFoster
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/agencyunderground
SlideShare: http://www.slideshare.net/brandmilitia
Why Rock Bands Sell More
March 7, 2010
- Rock bands are cool. A key driver of self-interest of most people is to be cool - and be perceived as cool. But a rock band actually has to be cool - otherwise you end up on a reality show with eye-liner left over from the 80s (Yes, I'm talking about you, Bret Michaels)
- Great rock bands are forever relevant. Who doesn't want to be relevant? A thousand years from now, Elvis, The Beatles, and Nirvana will still be relevant.
- Rock bands are quirky. This means they stand out. As I have loudly proclaimed, conformity is not a brand strategy.
- Rock bands are interesting. Why do you think they have groupies? And what brand doesn't want groupies?
- Rock bands are good at what they do - and know it. Some purists bang on Green Day for being sell-outs but you don't last 20 years and sell millions of albums by sucking.
- The best rock bands work really hard to earn respect rather than purchase it. They tour constantly, interact with fans, and consistently produce great music - see above.
Like a bolt right out of the blue
The sky's alight with the guitar bite
Heads will roll and rock tonight!
Blog: http://justinfoster.posterous.com/
Twitter:http://twitter.com/brandmilitia
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JustinFoster
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/agencyunderground
SlideShare: http://www.slideshare.net/brandmilitia Remember: conformity is not a branding strategy!
The What and Why
February 23, 2010
The What and Why of Branding
The WHAT
Branding is something different. It is not marketing in the traditional sense. It is not graphic design or logos. It is not reaching a target audience with a perfected politically correct message. Branding at its core is real, maybe perfectly raw and transparent. It is spherical, not linear.
It starts with an individual brand (person, idea, organization) and it reaches out to the next sphere. If the idea, person or organization is good enough then it will continue to reach further and further with an exponential effect. A great brand will last a thousand years. It breaks barriers and transcends generations. Disney is one of these brands. Apple is becoming one of these brands.
The WHY
Great brands offer something unique. They offer a connection. Which brands do you identify with, about which you find yourself saying “I fit here”? It may be a coffee shop, a computer or a car. That feeling of “I fit here,” is a deep connection in the heart of an individual, contributing to a sense of identity.
Branding is about the individual, never the masses. Think of your customers by name, by face. When a customer is treated like an individual, they feel valued. Because of this, they can’t help but to talk about the brands that reach out to them in this way. The great brands start with the individual.
5 Stupidly Simple Ideas
November 18, 2009
5 Stupidly Simple Ideas for growing your brand without spending money on marketing!
- Look good. Every detail matters so focus on first impressions - logo, building, web site, personal appearance, how your phone is answered - any area of your brand that people first come in contact with.
- Be interesting. This is not about pretending to be interesting in order to attract attention. This is about having an actual story about being creative, different, bold, innovative - whatever you truly are.
- Tell stories. Tell the stories of the people that are connected to your brand - customers, employees, vendors, etc. Get a flip camera, a web platform and get started.
- Listen. It is stupidly easy to ask for feedback if you are willing to listen to your audience. This can be a simple survey that prompts dialog - or just asking “how are we treating you?”
- Make a deal. Offer something that is such a good deal that it would be stupid for people to ignore it. This can be a great price, a limited offer, added value - or a combo of all three. Example here.
Notice how none of these ideas mention marketing? This is because no one cares about what you are marketing, but they do care about who you really are and how you can help them!
“One Audience” Initiative
November 18, 2009
Who can you sell to right now? Every company has under-utilized audiences; pockets of potential customers that would buy from you if they heard the right message and were made the right offer.
Our “One Audience” Business Growth Initiative is a 30 day program to help you uncover that one audience that is most likely to buy from you. The “One Audience” initiative includes:
- Assessing market potential.
- Reviewing your current offerings.
- Finding the ideal audience to market to.
- Creating the perfect message and value proposition.
- Determining the best and most cost-effective tactics.
- Establishing roles, timeline, and sales goals.
- Coaching and accountability sessions throughout the process.
Our standard fee for this type of program is $3000. However, we wanted to take our own medicine by being creative and bold, so here is our offer:
$1500 for the 30 day program +
If we help you exceed your sales goals, we receive an agreed-to performance bonus.
This offer is limited to the first 10 companies that sign agreements with us. Of course, we are honoring exclusivity on a first-come, first served basis.
To order the “One Audience” Business Growth Initiative go here. The “One Audience” offering is at the bottom of the product page.
If you attended the November Ultra Clean Smoke Out, ask for your code for an additional discount.
EVENT: Staying Relevant?
November 5, 2009
Change Happens Fast, Are You Staying Relevant?
On a quarterly basis George Fox University’s Boise Center hosts an event that opens a dialogue regarding pressing issues and solutions of our day. These events are open to the community and are supported by the university’s alumni and friends. At each event, we honor an outstanding leader, or panel of leaders, from business to serve as distinguished speakers on topics of pressing concern.
GFU-Boise Center’s next speaker series event will host Justin Foster!
Justin will be presenting “Relevance 2.0 - Five Must-Know Trends to Stay Relevant.” This thought-provoking, insightful presentation highlights trends such as the influence of Gen Y on business, how everyone is now part of “The Media”, the rise of personal brands, how social media is redefining networking and relationships, and the 6 must-have technical tools for business professionals. This presentation will inspire the audience to embrace change, continue learning, and use these trends to create a competitive edge.
Justin Foster is the co-founder of Tricycle, a Boise, Idaho-based firm that works with organizations to build bold, creative, and disciplined brands. Justin consults and speaks on branding and marketing trends; with expertise in generational shifts, personal branding, social media and creating customer-driven brands. Justin has conducted more than 250 workshops as far away as Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In addition to consulting and speaking, Justin is a husband, dad, and football coach.
Please join us on November 6th, from 7:30 - 9:00 am at the Courtyard Marriott hotel in Meridian.
Trike Show: J. Hunsperger
October 19, 2009
Justin sat down with Jason Hunsperger, founder/President of The Imagery Lab. Jason is a professional videographer/photographer who has worked with some of the top organizations in the Boise area. Justin and Jason go inside the process of shooting video, first impressions, dealing with client requests, etc. In addition, they talk about Jason’s “written handshake” contract … and Jessica Biel.
Note:
Just a reminder that Justin will be George Fox University’s guest speaker on November 6 from 7:30 - 9:00 at the Courtyard Marriott on Eagle Road in Meridian. Justin’s presentation is called “Relevance 2.0: 5 Must-Know Trends to Stay Relevant”. For more information and to RSVP, go to: http://www.georgefox.edu/business/series.html?source=ABSM
Trike Show: John Foster
September 11, 2009
The Trike Show with special guest John Foster!
In this episode of the “The Trike Show“, Justin is joined by John Foster. John is a political hack for Walt Minnick, the Congressman for Idaho’s 1st District. John has lived all over the world, worked in journalism and politics and is an entrepreneur at heart. Helping to aid and guide the brand of Congressman Minnick, John is very talented. Listen in as Justin and John discuss Idaho and national politics, the new role of journalism and protecting the brand of Walt Minnick.
Trike Show: Thomas Golden
August 28, 2009
The Trike Show with special guest Thomas Golden!
In this episode of the “The Trike Show“, Justin is joined by one of Tricycle’s own, Thomas Golden. This is a special inside look into the Trike garage and a behind the scenes look. Thomas recently graduated from Boise State University in May of 2009. In July, he began working with Tricycle as a brand coordinator. As a BC, Thomas focuses on both internal and external projects. Justin and Thomas discuss what a marketing education actually looks like, phasing out of mass media marketing and personal branding.
Trike Show: Ben Quintana
August 26, 2009
The Trike Show with special guest Ben Quintana!
In this episode of the “The Trike Show“, Justin is joined by special guest Ben Quintana, Director of Public Relations and Leadership Development at Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce. Listen for a great discussion about the leadership in Boise, recommended readings, who you should know, networking and a variety of subjects.
Event Calendar
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