gimme 5


what's this?


Gimme 5! is a recurring feature on theARTofHYPE.com. Contact us with suggestions for future topics through any of the many options on our contact page.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for ... Jake's

September 7, 2013
Promoting a small business isn't about placing ads in the local paper and offering a BOGO coupon or free appetizer with purchase.  It's about building a following and standing out from the crowd.  It's about creating a memorable identity and doing things that people remember and talk about, whether they were there or not.
Located in Atlanta's eclectic Fourth Ward district, Jake's Ice Cream & Sorbets knows all about this strategy.  The shop doesn't have a million-dollar facade or flashy Hollywood interior, but they do have what counts: Great ice cream and a lot of character.  Their latest promotion is just one example of the myriad ways in which they turn customers into fans.

Opening up their parking lot to arts and crafts vendors, bringing in live local talent and using eye-catching graphics, Jake's has created an event out of a 'farewell to summer' weekend and created lots of goodwill in the community, all the while generating tons of word-of-mouth advertising.  Their facebook page has accumulated almost 2,000 fans and [with the help of a few staunch supporters] the event page [https://www.facebook.com/events/403759779726153/] has racked up about 3,000 invitations.  Social media posts have brought the event to the attention of tens of thousands of local residents.  Not too shabby for a shop that would probably fit in your garage.
The moral of this story: Don't be afraid to stand out from the crowd.  Be creative ... and perhaps a little crazy.  You'll be amazed at what it could do for your business ... and your bottom line.
Please feel free to peruse the many posts on this website or contact me directly at wowART@yahoo.com with questions or comments.
 
More blogs at www.theARTofHYPE.com/gimme-5.php and more thoughts on small business atwww.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php.  Local Atlanta info at www.theWOWbiz.com and www.theWOWbiz.info

 

Posted by Think Tank. Posted In : promotions 

 

LOGO 101: Building Your Brand Effectively

August 28, 2013
I have often discussed the topic of brand identity with friends, colleagues and clients alike.  Surprisingly, the most common thought is that this is relevant only to big business.  Yet nothing could be further from the truth.  Indeed, major national and international brands have a lot riding on their image, but small businesses and even individuals can benefit greatly from a well-engineered brand strategy.

In one of my 'Ramblings' [www.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php] entitled Branding Irons I...
Continue reading...

Posted by Think Tank. Posted In : brand building 

 

What's at the End of the Rainbow? SalonLGBTQ, of course!

August 18, 2013

According to their website, "Salon LGBTQ is the first national LGBTQ social media conference, a long-awaited open event for leading voices in the social media world and newcomers alike. Get ready for a catalyzing dialogue between media producers, writers, editors, bloggers, videographers, photographers, designers, curators and marketers. It's us, the real us, together, in real time, for sessions, experiences and conversations that change everything."

And it's about time!  With all that's going...
Continue reading...

Posted by Think Tank. Posted In : onlne marketing 

 

A Very Personal Brand

August 16, 2013
Building a brand is about a lot more than selling carbonated beverages around the world or making your company name a household word.  It's about creating a consistent and identifiable image for your product or service.  Although most people don't equate the term 'brand identity' with the local mom-and-pop market or their neighborhood handyman, anyone who has a business or craft is well-advised to consider the benefits of branding.
Let's briefly examine the situation of artist Clay Hood.  Once...
Continue reading...

Posted by Think Tank. Posted In : brand building 

 

A Sign of [Bad] Things to Come

August 9, 2013
Every business owner on the planet knows the value of a good sign.  Properly placed and visible to passersby, a good sign can make the difference between survival and success.  Often this is one of the first investments a business owner makes when starting out on a new venture.  Nothing new to report there.
However, a bad sign can have the exact opposite effect.  Dingy, poorly lit, hidden signs can be the death of a new business ... or an existing one.  Every time I pass a retail establishment...
Continue reading...

Posted by Think Tank. Posted In : brand building 

 

Brand Building Gone Batty!

August 9, 2013
I have mentioned many times that the building of a strong and consistent brand identity is critical to the success of any venture, no matter how big or how small.  Without a solid image it's easy for a rival to come along and steal your glory ... and your profits.
Over the decades, businesses across the globe have spent endless hours [and countless millions of dollars] perfecting their logos, color schemes and brand personalities.  Consumers identify with the brand, become confident in the int...
Continue reading...

Posted by Think Tank. Posted In : brand building 

 

Wonders of the Web

August 5, 2013
Wonders of the Web

Even the smallest of businesses can benefit from a well-managed web presence.  These days, the internet replaces the phone book for a lot of shoppers.  Every day,hundreds [if not thousands] of potential clients and customers in your area are looking for a business like yours online.  If you're not there, they won't find you.

Your website doesn't have to be an elaborate multi-media manifestation of your brick and mortar location, but it should offer some basic info:  location,...
Continue reading...

Posted by Think Tank. Posted In : onlne marketing 

 

Simple ... Subtle ... Subliminal

July 31, 2013
There are a lot of ways to spread the word about your business, and they don't always involve huge billboards and gigantic flashing signs.  Walking around Atlanta's midtown neighborhood, I recently spotted these signs [pictured below].  They were placed in numerous yards along a main thoroughfare, warning drivers to proceed cautiously through the area.  Undoubtedly the homeowners who placed them streetside have a connection to the cause.

As you can see, the signs are simple and relatively inex...
Continue reading...

Posted by Think Tank. Posted In : guerrilla marketing 

 

Best Crack on Ponce

July 29, 2013
Sometimes you just need a little humor to get some attention.  While many medical professionals use somber images and serious headlines, one Atlanta chiropractor has been pushing the envelope for years.
 Dr. Patrick Greco of Midtown Place Chiropractic, in Atlanta Georgia has been using an edgy catch-phrase to turn the heads of passersby at his Midtown Place office.  The sandwich board [pictured] outside his clinic is practically a landmark in the Midtown area.  And his success is a testament t...
Continue reading...

Posted by Think Tank. Posted In : guerrilla marketing 

 

Gay is the new Green

July 13, 2013
Within the last five or ten years, eco-friendly marketing has become a staple in mainstream media.  Companies the world over rallied to the cause, added recycling messages to their containers and used the word 'green' until the new politically-correct meaning practically supplanted its reference to the chromatic hue.

Similarly, over the last 12 months or so, corporate recognition [and endorsement] of the mighty gay dollar has increased dramatically.  Nike publicly offered a very lucrative endo...
Continue reading...

Posted by ARTofHYPE. Posted In : onlne marketing 

 
« Newer posts
Older posts »
 

 Is YOUR business

on the web?

Let's discuss some simple

and effective ways to

enhance your online image. 

Art Smith

239 850 2728

wowart@yahoo.com


Contact Us

Let Us Know

How many of these posts have you read?




Translate This Page on theARTofHYPE

About Me


another Artrageous idea! One of several times I had the pleasure to share the company of Sir Elton John ... Supporting a great cause and helping out a small business at his Oscars Party in Hollywood. Let's discuss what I can do for YOUR business ... wowart@yahoo.com

Subscribe to my LGBTQ social media list on twitter! 









Web site design ã

Art Smith

727 755 6969

wowart@yahoo.com



theARTofHYPE name and logo copyright 2013 

website content copyright 2013 theARTofHYPE

all other  images copyright by their respective owners


Web site design © copyright 2009, 2013 

Make a free website with Yola