If your staff followed a strict dress code but spoke to customers in wildly different ways, it wouldn’t be long before management took action to get everyone on the same page. Yet many companies devote volumes to brand standards for logos and graphics without sharing how all employees should live and breathe the brand. Every person in your organization can be a brand advocate, so make sure your internal guidelines include these four essentials. Your...

With digital technology now making it easier than ever to train employees or educate customers using online videos, maybe you’re thinking of doing it too. Follow these seven rules and your training videos will not only be educational, but engaging.   Rule #1: Keep it short. Six to nine minutes is the maximum time an average student can watch educational videos before tuning out or turning off, according to studies cited by Vanderbilt University researcher Cynthia J....

There are many different ways to update your website, but many require serious budget or serious tech skills. If you’re a layperson crunched for time and your site is in danger of going stale, here are eight quick fixes that can refresh your web presence in one hour or less. Quick Fix One: Spruce Up Your Homepage Sites typically get most of their traffic on homepages, so it’s smart to focus your time there. Make sure the...

Over the past year we’ve documented the skyrocketing use of online video by marketers worldwide, including clients of Creative Co-op. But many businesses are hesitant, perhaps because they still think of video in terms of traditional film or tape. If you haven’t considered using video before, it’s time to add this powerful tactic to your toolkit. Let’s start by tackling some old misconceptions: Video isn’t exclusive. It’s no longer limited to big businesses, elite production houses...

Fun is big business here in New Hampshire, and smart resorts know that spirited blogging is a must if you want to generate high search rankings that keep skiers and zipliners streaming in. But even fun can get monotonous – especially in winter, when so many posts come down to weather and snow. Instead, use these tips to keep your content as well groomed as your slopes throughout the year.   #1: Bring in new voices Resort blogs...

Modern digital technology enables financial institutions of all sizes to efficiently create video content and TV spots. But you can still rely on old-school fundamentals to make your content better, and your creative work hard. Follow these best practices for more effective work: Profile your target audience. Don’t aim blindly at vanilla targets such as “small businesses” or “homebuyers.” Be specific about the people who should be hooked by your content. Modern marketers often start...