What should your business be doing right now?

While this is a tough time for businesses, there are opportunities to be found for creative leaders. I’ve got 5 ideas to help you get started.

Many of us are staying at home and away from work. But for all you business people with a passion for what you do, I want to encourage you—let’s make this time count. This is the time to take a look at your marketing plan your brand and your idenitiy To consider new innovations and production methods.

As easy as it may feel to do, this is not the time to wait it out and do nothing; this is the time to be creative and prepare for when business resumes! Bring out your entrepreneurial spirit and start now so your business will be ready.

5 things you can do now for your business

The building blocks that ensure you stay ahead of the competition are marketing, innovation, productivity, and building a strong infrastructure. Managing and implementing these pillars are the foundation of a strong business.

Many of us have been putting off business improvement projects for a theoretical future when we’ll have the time. We have that time now. So now is the time to do those things you’ve been meaning to do. Let’s break down a few things you could be thinking about for your business right now.

  1. Audit your website. Could you be doing more with your website? Does it tell the story you want it to tell? Sometimes business owners, CEOs and managers suffer from the “curse of familiarity”, and they’re not able to see their website from a customer point of view. You might be missing opportunities to connect with your audience and drive more business. Have you ever asked a customer or client if your website really informed them about your products or services, and what things they like or dislike about your website? Maybe this is the perfect time to ask them, or to consult an expert.
  2. Explore your brand. Go through a brand exercise to really get to know and define your brand. Try asking your employees how they would explain what your company does to a family member. Ask them to describe your products or services, and find out how and why customers buy from your company. Find what is uniquely valuable about your business, and use what you discover to shape messaging for your website, ads, and emails.
  3. Get a fresh look. This goes hand in hand with your brand. Maybe it’s time for a new website as discussed above. Or maybe it’s time to update that old logo, or to refresh your stationary, data sheets, and advertisements.
  4. Reinvent. Take some time to think about and write down new ideas for your business. Could you add new products or services? Adapt your products to new customers or audiences? A brainstorming exercise can be effective whether done on your own, with coworkers, or with like-minded business leaders from your peer group. We’re all going through tough times, and we can tap into each other’s great ideas and encourage each other to reach higher.
  5. Try new mediums. What new directions can you pursue? Is it time to develop or strengthen a social media presence? How about radio ads? Can you make some videos and share them, especially during this time where many of your customers are home and spending more time online? You can do some groundwork now, and there is a lot of leeway for homemade videos right now. You don’t need a fancy studio—even late-night comedy talk show hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert are recording videos from home or streaming live from their living rooms. Maybe you can share something valuable that can help others get through this time.

Even in the best of times, it takes a lot of dedication and hard work to stay ahead in the business world. Now it’s even harder, but there are also huge opportunities ahead as the world shifts and people need different things. I think the best way to be successful is to focus on what you can do now, to tune up your marketing, innovation, and production. Taking action now gives you the best chance of sustaining through this crisis and coming out of it stronger. Work actively to refresh and renew your business so it doesn’t continue to fade away as we weather this economic storm together. I don’t deny that these are difficult times, but by putting your creativity to work now you’ll be giving your business the best chance of success.

If I can help you at all during these times with business advice or a refresh of your website, ads, logo, or any other content, please let me know.

Cheryl Pirih

Pirih Productions Inc.

pirih.com

909.336.4373

cheryl@pirih.com

Russ Cornelius, CEO

BrandSavants, Inc.

BrandSavants.com

619.296.6662

russ@brandsavants.com

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How do you choose the best graphic designer for your business?

So you have a graphic design project and no designer. What should you do? Is it really that important to have a professional graphic designer?

In a pinch, you can DIY your graphic design project or assign it to someone within your organization. But don’t make the mistake of thinking this will be the only time you need graphic design. Why wait to hire an experienced graphic designer, when you can start building a valuable relationship now? A designer will approach your project differently than an employee or intern who is trying to squeeze it in on top of other work. A professional graphic designer will bring experience, focus, professionalism, and strategy to the table.

Ready to get started? Here are our 7 tips for hiring a graphic designer.

  1. Think about your ultimate goal. Make sure you’ve done your homework and fully thought through what you’d like to accomplish with your graphic design project. You’ll get better results, and you’ll make it easier for your graphic designer to get started.
  2. Be as clear and complete as possible about your expectations for the project. Great communication goes a long way! This could be an official document (known as a creative brief) or just a good conversation. Make sure you’ve clearly communicated the who, what, when, where, and why of your project. Look for a designer who is a good listener. You can check understanding by having them state the goals of the project back to you in their own words.
  3. Hire someone with the right skills and experience. Don’t underestimate the value of experience in your industry and in graphic design. Hiring an experienced graphic designer will save you money – they’ll be able to make recommendations about what will work and what won’t.
  4. Look beyond portfolios. Portfolios are helpful, but they don’t tell the whole story. Check out client testimonials, and maybe even contact a client to get direct information about what it’s like to work with the designer. You can also ask about numbers that show the results your designer was able to achieve for other clients.
  5. Look for a graphic designer who also understands marketing. There are designers who can execute your project, and there are those who can elevate your vision. Look for a person or team that understands marketing strategy. Your projects will have a greater impact.
  6. Test the waters. The cost of NOT hiring a professional is often higher than the cost of hiring one—measured in missed opportunities. To ease in, try a small project first to see how it goes. Evaluate your designer’s process, workflows, speed, and professionalism to find a great fit that will add value to your business.
  7. Build a relationship. Chances are, you’ll need more than one graphic design project. Finding the right designer will pay exponential dividends as time goes on. The longer you work together, the better—they’ll learn more and more about your business and you’ll know you have someone you can rely on for professional, timely work.

Remember, everything your business produces—from a logo to ads to your website—paints a picture of your business to the world. It all contributes to your brand, and intangible asset built through each interaction people have with your business—and anyone or anything that represents it. If you do your graphic design project yourself, the risk is coming across as amateur. You might make a mistake or faux pas that a professional graphic designer would have flagged.

Need help or have questions about a graphic design project? Contact us at Pirih Productions 909-336-4373 or 909-698-1026 and let us point you in the right direction.

Or drop us an email at: info@pirih.com

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Social Media

Does your business need to be on social media?

The social media revolution is here, and maybe you or your company already have a Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,and/or LinkedIn presence. For business owners who haven’t taken the leap, or who are feeling the pressure to be on every digital platform, it’s helpful to consider what ROI you might see from each platform, consider the level of investment you’re willing to make, and decide if it’s a fit for your business or not.

Social media platforms are certainly excellent ways to grow your business and increase exposure. But keeping these accounts current and creating content your followers value is a more challenging task, especially when you may be competing with large companies for the same market share. Having a social media presence that really works requires time, consistency, strategy, planning, and community management. We’re talking editorial calendars, content gathering, and responding to messages in real time. Since time is money to a busy business owner, consider all your options and choose wisely where to invest that time.

Whether you choose social media, print advertising, email marketing, newsletters, or another avenue, make sure you go where your customers are and provide real value. Here are a few ideas of the types of content that can work on social media, but keep in mind that every platform has a unique personality and type of content that performs best.

How to create content that works on social media

1.  Provide value

Social media is all about connection, and you have to know your audience in order to connect with them. Make an effort to understand what your current and potential customers want and need, then share content that delivers what they’re looking for. Provide valuable, bite-sized, shareable tips that help establish you as a trustworthy and helpful resource. When they know they can come to you for valuable content, they are more likely to explore your website and learn more about what you offer.

2. Share what’s new

Keeping customers and potential clients informed and aware of new developments, products, or services is key to growth and building trust and loyalty. It’s essential to make sure that your content is fresh, timely, and informative to potential and existing customers. Have a new service? Talk about it. Hired a new employee? Share it. Moved to a new location? Show it off.

3. Show success

Social media is a great opportunity to feature your customers. Since social media is all about people, content about real people performs well. Share stories of your clients’ success when you can, and tag their social accounts when you do, to get even more shares and increase your reach.

Why social media isn’t the only answer

Doing social media right is a bigger and more labor-intensive commitment than most people realize. And it can often be difficult to determine if it’s actually helping your bottom line.

That’s why social media isn’t the only answer – often there are much more direct and efficient ways to reach real people (and measure your reach).

No matter your industry, there’s a relevant trade publication, magazine, or chamber newsletter to help you zero in on your target audience. Businesses can also consider supporting local sports teams. When you advertise in print, your business is likely to be considered serious, legitimate, and trustworthy, especially by local customers who feel a sense of pride by supporting mom & pop shops and small businesses. Get creative to keep your name and brand in the public eye.

And don’t underestimate the old-fashioned marketing methods: a simple phone call or a personal email or note can deliver stunning results. This could be as straightforward as thanking a customer for a recent order, compliment, or endorsement, no matter how big or how small. In a digital world, the personal touch has become novel again, and will make your business stand out. It’s the kind of thing clients will talk about when they mention your business to others.

Remember, social media is just one of many tools that can help market your company, industry, team, or organization. What works best for you will be as unique as your business is.

Need some help creating marketing materials or deciding how best to reach your customers? Give Pirih a call at 909-336-4373.

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Giving Back

Therapy dogs Wallie & DobbyTeaming up to give back

At Pirih Productions, teamwork is at the heart of what we do. Beyond what we do for our clients, we believe teamwork is also the best way to give back to our community.

We’ve teamed up with our two dogs to create dog & trainer therapy teams that can serve people in unique ways and locations.

As therapy teams, we visit libraries, hospitals, retirement homes, schools, airports and rehabilitation facilities. We participate in community parades and charity fundraisers, sharing our pups and encouraging others to find their own way to give back to their communities.

Research shows that even a brief visit with a therapy dog can significantly decrease stress levels and reduce negative emotions. We’ve seen this magic happen firsthand as we visit with our dogs. Smiles light up all around the building every time we visit.

If you’ve ever thought of giving back, please consider volunteering. You’ll not only see the impact you have on someone but the many benefits to your own life.

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