Recently, Fortune Magazine published its annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. It’s impossible to ignore the fact that the majority of companies that land a spot on the list are big corporations with very deep pockets. More
The ironic thing about your brand’s image is that you can’t actually see it. Image as it relates to your brand is a metaphor, an idea meant to conjure up the assured sense of truth that comes with witnessing something More
We recently came across an interesting article in Accounting Today that examined the expansion of accounting firms, noting specifically the growing trend of “expanding any way you can” across vertical and geographical markets. The industry as a whole seems to More
Pharma companies are especially active when it comes to corporate social responsibility (CSR). According to The Foundation Center’s “Key Facts on Corporate Foundations” Report, the pharmaceutical industry held the second largest share of corporate foundation giving (at 15.2%) in 2009, More
Our Color Series is an exploration of the meaning and connotations of color in culture and business. Blue: the most common color in financial services. A look at fifty top financial services brands found almost half had blue logos and More
Visual icons are deeply engrained in our culture, recognizable in an instant and possessing powerful connotations. To someone from a different culture or time, modern images would mean very little, yet images of a classic Coca-Cola bottle or Che Guevara More
A digital world, one that is highly social and intricately connected, is based on transparency: everyone knows everything at all times. Fast-paced communication means that news, information, and opinions are exchanged constantly. At a moment in time when everyone is More
Recently, we did some research into how investment managers brand themselves. Specifically, we wanted to identify the brand positioning and key messages of industry leaders. In compiling these core brand assets, we were struck by how generically and blandly investment More
Corporate breakups are the new black. And Wall Street is buzzing as company after company looks to spin-off to create greater value for shareholders, despite the weak economy. With all the commotion, it can be easy to forget that breaking More
Achieving the right relationship between a company’s brand and its philanthropic or volunteer efforts is a delicate balancing act. But it’s well worth the effort. This whitepaper identifies four overarching principles that can guide a company in aligning corporate social responsibility activities with the corporate brand for authenticity and impact. More
Me-too brands just don’t cut it anymore in the professional services arena. This whitepaper examines best practices for creating a distinctive and compelling brand position in professional services. More
Picture this. You’re sitting at your desk flipping through a small stack of mail. Most of it is publications, but there are a few direct mail letters, and one is from a bank. You recognize the name: they’ve just bought More
When it comes to maximizing the impact of corporate volunteer programs, a well thought-out branding and communications strategy can be your most powerful tool. This whitepaper shares seven principles for leveraging communications to enhance the long-term success and impact of your employee volunteer program. More
The recent, and arguably hasty, announcement of Meg Whitman taking the reins as HP’s new CEO, ignited a firestorm in the press with everyone weighing in on Whitman’s ability to succeed in turning the ailing technology company around. So much More
The recent market turmoil forced many organizations, including one of our clients, an established association serving the banking industry, to reexamine their brands. The weak economy had hit our client’s members — banks of all sizes — particularly hard, and More
The Wall Street Journal recently published an article about AT&T’s D.C. advertising campaign aimed at convincing regulators and lawmakers of the merits of the proposed T-Mobile USA takeover. The ads focus on how merging the two companies will result in More
Technology companies face a unique branding dichotomy: their complex product or service must “speak” to both the technical buyer (often the CTO) and the financial buyer (typically the CFO). One of our clients, a materials discovery firm with a revolutionary More
The pharma industry is at a decisive inflection point. The New York Times reported in March that drug firms are likely to face billions of dollars in losses due to the pending expiration of numerous patents. Furthermore, the legitimacy of More
