My Personal Finance Blog » Business Plan http://www.diasmuertos.com Personal Finance information Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:16:37 +0000 en hourly 1 with branding? Design a logo?Brand Strategy: Where do I begin http://www.diasmuertos.com/with-branding-design-a-logobrand-strategy-where-do-i-begin http://www.diasmuertos.com/with-branding-design-a-logobrand-strategy-where-do-i-begin#comments Sun, 20 Feb 2011 09:17:25 +0000 admin http://www.diasmuertos.com/with-branding-design-a-logobrand-strategy-where-do-i-begin

A brand is much more than a logo. It is the roadmap your business uses to define relationships with all stakeholders in a business—from customers to vendors to investors and employees. It helps direct the graphic designer, advertising agency, marketing firm, and PR firm to spread your message with consistency and begin the process of building relationships.

At a very simple level, “branding” is about finding THE RIGHT IDEA, and then GETTING THE IDEA RIGHT.

A carefully considered and designed brand strategy will create value for all stakeholders.

To get the strategic positioning of a brand just right, a thorough discovery is required. A good brand consultant will strive to understand your company: its vision, products, personality and vibe — the intangibles are just as useful to us as the logistics of the business plan when it comes to developing a brand.

The main components of brand strategy include:

Research

Since a brand is about your relationships with all of your key stakeholders, it makes sense to talk to them. The research phase of branding is an in-depth study of how your stakeholders’ define their relationship with you. Through this research, a message can be crafted that speaks directly to the concerns of your stakeholders.

Message Development

Finding the right language to express the unique qualities of your brand helps to create compelling and meaningful consumer experiences. The process of developing architecture around language creates a guiding document that helps keep all brand stakeholders, and especially your customers, “on-message.”

Strategic Planning

A plan for integrating your brand is sometimes referred to as a “Brand Map.” This document identifies all points of contact your business has with it’s stakeholders and defines the best way to reach out to them with your messaging.

Brand Integration

Integration of your brand into every aspect of your business helps all key stakeholders learn to speak about your business the same way you understand it

]]> http://www.diasmuertos.com/with-branding-design-a-logobrand-strategy-where-do-i-begin/feed 0 Creditors Will Accept Debt Negotiations http://www.diasmuertos.com/creditors-will-accept-debt-negotiations http://www.diasmuertos.com/creditors-will-accept-debt-negotiations#comments Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:29:59 +0000 admin http://www.diasmuertos.com/creditors-will-accept-debt-negotiations


Creditors will accept debt negotiation for several reasons.  The first reason is getting something is better than getting nothing.  Debt negotiation is better than forcing a debtor into bankruptcy.  The creditor will receive nothing if the bankruptcy is allowed.  By negotiating the debt, the creditor will receive a percentage of what is owed.  They also will not have to expend more effort and money on trying to collect the debt.

A second reason for creditors accepting debt negotiations is the creditor has already figured it in as a cost of doing business.  As an example, the credit card companies know that a certain percentage of money owed to them will be written off.  The offset for these write-offs is charging a higher interest rate to many customers.  Credit card companies earn billions of dollars a year in profit.  They have accounted for negotiated debt reduction in their business plan.

A third reason, using the credit card companies as an example, the higher interest rates to cover write-offs, allows for more profit from those paying debtors.

Other businesses negotiate debts for basically the first reason.  Getting a debt settled is a means to get some money out of the debtor.  Clearing the books of bad or under performing debts keeps the business clean and is less costly in the long run. 

Creditors will accept debt negotiation or reduction when confronted with the reality of take this offer or get nothing.  The alternative is the debtor files for bankruptcy; it is allowed and the creditor receives nothing.  This is a huge incentive to negotiate.

 



Ken Charnly is a personal finance publisher whose website Online Loans is dedicated to quality information on online loans. For quality information and for all your online loan needs visit and Apply for Loans Online

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