If you’re running a professional services firm, a manufacturing company or a nonprofit with an operating budget up to $35 million, you already know the truth about having a partner.

You’re carrying a lot. You’re managing operations, people, budgets, compliance, customer expectations and the never‑ending swirl of “urgent” things.

And somewhere in that chaos, you’re also supposed to build a brand, create marketing that actually works, modernize your digital presence, generate consistent demand among other things branding and marketing. That’s usually when leaders look up and say: “We need a marketing partner.”

Then we have to swoop in and define what a true partner is. Working together is a two-way street. And we don’t work with everyone. We are only as good as our Clients. They have to truly want to grow, learn, collaborate and let go of marketing strategy and execution.

But most leaders underestimate the real value of partnering with a branding, marketing and advertising team. It’s not just outsourcing tasks. It’s unlocking clarity, growth and momentum that changes the trajectory of your organization. Let’s get down to it.

A Marketing Partner Gives You More of Your Most Expensive Resource

Professional services firms and manufacturers run lean. Nonprofits run leaner. You don’t have extra bandwidth sitting around waiting to be used.

A strong marketing partner gives you:

• Time back in your day
• Relief from the constant “we should be doing more marketing” guilt
• Confidence that your brand is being managed with intention

This isn’t delegation. It’s about freedom!

It is Not Random Acts of Marketing. You Get Seasoned, Proven, Strategic Partners

Most organizations under $35M operate on instinct, urgency or habit. A post here. A brochure there. A campaign when someone remembers.A real partner brings structure and strategy:

• Clear brand positioning
• Defined audiences and messaging
• A marketing roadmap aligned to revenue or fundraising goals. This map must also be something leaders understand and follow.
• A consistent rhythm of initiatives and communication

When your marketing is intentional, everything becomes more effective and more predictable.

Partners Give You a Full Team Without Hiring a Full Team

Branding, content, design, digital advertising, SEO, analytics and storytelling are all different disciplines. And no single hire can do them all well. A marketing partner gives you fractional access to an entire team of specialists.

For professional services firms, that means stronger thought leadership. With manufacturers, that means better product storytelling and sales enablement. For nonprofits, that means donor‑centered messaging and campaign consistency. It’s the smartest way to scale without adding headcount.

You Get Outside Perspective From a Partner — the Kind You Can’t Create Internally

When you’re inside your organization, everything feels urgent. Everything feels important. Everything feels like it needs to happen right now. A partner brings clarity and objectivity:

• What actually matters
• What’s noise
• What’s missing
• What’s possible

Professional services leaders often need help simplifying their message. Manufacturers often need help modernizing their brand. Nonprofits often need help telling their story in a way that moves people. Fresh eyes change everything.

From a Partner, You Get Accountability That Drives Momentum

Marketing only works when it’s consistent. A partner keeps the rhythm:

• Deadlines get met
• Campaigns get launched
• Content gets published
• Strategy stays on track

Momentum is the difference between “we’re trying” and “we’re growing.”

You Get a Brand That Actually Represents Who You Are

Your brand should feel like you — your values, your personality, your promise.

A strong partner helps you:

• Clarify your identity
• Strengthen your messaging
• Modernize your visuals
• Show up consistently across every channel

For manufacturers, this often means elevating a brand that’s been neglected. In professional services firms, it means standing out in a crowded market. For nonprofits, it means inspiring donors, volunteers and partners. Your brand is your reputation. It deserves to rock.

You Get a Partner Who’s Invested in Your Success

The best marketing partnerships feel like an extension of your leadership team. We celebrate your wins. We push you when you need it. Sometimes too much, too be honest. We protect your brand like it’s our own. We show up with ideas, solutions and energy.

The melody and rhythm that make a marketing partnership:

1. Let your marketing team do what they do best.
2. Share your goals, challenges and data. Be transparent.
3. Keep the communication stream steady.
4. Be collaborative. Engage.
5. Be willing to evolve and modernize.
6. Marketing is a system, not a magic trick. Have realistic expectations.

When both sides show up fully, the results are electric. Grow faster, communicate better and build a stronger brand. Ready to stop being a one-person band and start growing? The porch is open. Pull up a rocking chair. Let’s build something unforgettable. When strategy meets storytelling, your brand will rock.

Over the last few weeks of my internship this past summer, I learned that one of a marketer’s main objectives is to build a positive brand reputation. Not only does a good brand reputation ensure a high client retention rate, but it is also essential to attracting new clients. Arguably, the most instrumental factor in brand reputation is the element of trust.  Enter word-of-mouth marketing through in-person conversations.

Which source are you more likely to trust with your money: a random billboard off the highway or your close friend? Most people would answer a close friend, and it doesn’t take rocket science to figure out why — friends have our trust. In a society where it’s becoming increasingly more common to stumble on random billboards, whether it’s a literal billboard or online brand presence, how do companies distinguish themselves as the trusted friend? One simple answer is to build trust through in-person conversations.  

Why In-person Conversations?

Many people may disregard the role of word-of-mouth marketing in building positive brand strategy for several reasons. One of the most legitimate concerns is that it wastes time. For many business owners, time is their most valuable resource. Especially if their company already has a loyal network of clients, these owners may think taking the time for a conversation is not enough value added for the time they would dedicate to it – instead, they would rather focus on implementing client feedback or researching a competitive brand.

Don’t get me wrong, listening to clients and seeing where your company stands in the larger market are both excellent uses of your time. However, so are in-person conversations. If done correctly, in-person meetings and conversations not only expose the listener to your brand and pique their interest, but they also have an edge through face-to-face connection. When humans see the real person behind the message, they are much more likely to care because they see how much you care. The question is: how exactly do you get there?

How to Present Yourself

The first step is knowing how to present yourself. Before you even introduce yourself, many people will infer various facts about you based on your appearance, so making sure your appearance aligns with your message is crucial to in-person conversations. Two main components of presentation to focus on are attire and body language.

Attire

While many people focus on selecting appropriate business outfits, accessories are also key in attire. For instance, while heels are suited for nicer occasions, flats are more practical in casual or quieter environments. Bags are another noticeable factor. If there are papers sticking out of your bag or you have to search around for your business card, you could come off as disorganized. Giving your bag a quick clean before entering an important conversation can help you be more polished and find materials more quickly. Jewelry also reflects parts of your personal life – like relationship status, religion, or causes you endorse – which can either help or harm an initial impression. While many people probably don’t give a second thought to slipping on that wedding ring or cross necklace – it could be beneficial to give them a second glance before walking into a room.

Body Language

While body language is one of the greatest advantages of in-person communication – because it can establish credibility and trust – nonverbal cues like your posture, facial expressions, and fidgeting habits can easily undermine your message. While it is obvious to many people that standing up straight is better than slouching, a smile is better than a scowl, and keeping your hands still sends a good signal, there is a happy medium to be reached. If it’s perfect posture and picturesque smiles all the time, the listener may believe the conversation is more superficial than genuine. By being conscience of your body language, but also making sure there is authenticity behind your communication, your listener will leave the conversation with a greater sense of trust in the person behind the message.

How to Talk About Yourself

After the appearance is down, the next aspect to focus on is what you say. Even the most confident, polished business leaders will lose trust if they don’t handle the conversation in a professional yet engaging way.

A main aspect to focus on is clarity. While passion is positive to display, there are other ways to show it besides rambling for too long about too many aspects of your business. To drive home your brand, your message should center around a few main points so your listener can remember the majority of the conversation after they leave. You also want to make sure you present your message in a way that’s easy to understand for your listener. While there are a time and place for highly intellectual conversations, meeting someone for the first time is probably not one of them. Steer away from using terms that aren’t natural in daily conversation and limit phrases that may not be familiar to someone outside your profession. It is good to show your expertise in the field but make sure your listener can follow what you say.

After clarity is out of the way, have confidence in your brand. Show your listener why you care about the company, why does your listener need your service or product in their life, how will it add value, and what credibility do you have in your field? Hitting on all these points will leave a listener with a more vivid depiction of your service or product and why they should invest in it.

How To NOT Talk About Yourself

At the end of the day, the purpose of an in-person conversation is not about the business owner but about their consumer. One big mistake that a speaker can make is giving an elevator pitch, handing someone their card, and walking away. Even if you have a “wow” pitch, there is an opportunity for trust missing in the interaction. A listener may walk away passionate about your idea, but they don’t have the relationship factor that will lead them to choose your idea over another promising product or service. That is why it is crucial to engage with the listener by asking questions and giving them a chance to talk.

The main reason why we trust our friends is because friendship isn’t one-sided. Having a true friend means both parties have interest in each other’s life and want to help without expecting something in return. By building a personal relationship with your listeners, a business owner can highlight not only the care they have for their company, but also their consumers. By preparing your physical presentation, content of your speech, and questions to engage the consumer, business owners can more successfully establish trust in their listener and help their company stand out.  

As a journalism student working in marketing this past summer, I initially viewed them as two completely separate career paths. While they have individual goals and objectives for the most part, the core idea and approach have shocked me with how alike they really are. I believe the skills I developed studying journalism are actually the same ones required to become successful in marketing. Here’s a breakdown of the top five. 

1. Understanding Your Audience 

Understanding your audience is one of the first points they teach us as we begin writing journalistically. This means not only knowing who your audience is, but what they value and what matters to them. I found myself applying this same skill during my internship. As I learned more about customer insights, I began to better understand how knowing your audience made it easier to develop content that felt meaningful. Whether writing a news story or assisting in a campaign, knowing your audience is essential to effectively communicating your message. 

2. Storytelling 

Storytelling has proven to be the heart of both journalism and marketing. As journalists, we are taught to take information and facts and turn it into a story that captures an audience’s attention. In marketing, storytelling serves a similar purpose by allowing brands to connect with the audience on a more personal level. During my internship I learned that marketing isn’t just promoting a product or a service. It’s finding the story behind a brand and telling it in a way that their target audience can engage with. The ability to create a meaningful connection is a language spoken by both industries. 

3. Research and Accuracy 

Research and accuracy are essential to quality journalism and are just as important in marketing. Journalists are taught to research their topics and to verify information before it reaches their audience. Marketing also requires that attention to detail. During my internship I conducted competitive research, explored industry trends and gathered information to help in marketing strategies. While the research that goes into marketing might look different from a journalism story, they both require you to get every detail right. 

4. Writing With Purpose 

Every word you write matters, no matter the profession. I have, however, seen the importance of word choice and reason in marketing and journalism specifically. Whether the goal is to inform, explain, or bring attention to a current event or to write a blog post, email, or caption, every word should have meaning behind it. 

5. Curiosity 

The mindset of curiosity is what makes a good journalist. I have come to learn it makes a good marketer too. The more curious you are, the more you learn about your audience, ultimately leading to better communication with them- a desired outcome of both journalism and marketing. 

Both Journalism and Marketing Offer Valuable Skill Experiences

My experience this past summer has shown me the value of bringing skills to the table that you may not think initially apply to marketing. The ability to understand an audience, tell meaningful stories, write with intention and stay curious has helped me become a more thoughtful marketer. As I continue to grow in my career, I know these skills will continue to shape my work and the way I communicate with my audience — whoever that may be!

Quickly developing technology and an infinite number of daily distractions are making it considerably harder to capture consumer attention. The solution? Using composition methods like balance and visual guides to captivate viewers so the storytelling can begin.

Why Do We Need to Enhance Content?

Technology has a way of both engaging and disengaging society. As new entertainment and services become increasingly more accessible and convenient, people learn to expect immediate gratification and quickly lose interest in activities that require patience, sustained attention, or effort.

One of the most widely cited examples: scrolling on social media. Since the algorithms use strategically personalized content to trap users in dopamine-driven reward loops, other daily tasks can’t compare. AI, one of the newest inventions to society, poses similar issues. Why would someone dedicate hours to writing emails, brainstorming designs, or researching topics if it can be done in 5 minutes with minimal work required? The same is true for delivery services. With groceries, meals, clothes, and products at people’s fingertips, it’s hard to see the appeal of going places in person.

However, technology doesn’t only disengage people from society, it also disengages them from the technology itself. As novelty wears off, people come to expect optimized convenience and speed – minimum effort for maximum reward. Although social media may captivate someone’s attention for hours, the longer they scroll, typically the more bored they become. When AI doesn’t generate a satisfactory response, people who expect instant, high-quality results become easily frustrated. Delivery app customers grow impatient with wait times that previously seemed remarkably fast.

Enter marketing. It’s here, in all this noise, that marketing has to compete for consumer attention. What poses an even greater challenge is that one of marketing’s greatest strengths is storytelling. As people become even more particular with what they deem is worth their attention, how do you convince them that your story is worth it?  My suggestion: using a combination of the composition techniques described below to enhance your content.

Balance Visual Weight

Arguably, balance is one of the most crucial composition techniques, because if your design seems messy, the viewer’s first instinct will be to look away. Instead, a designer’s goal is to make it easy for a viewer to interpret an image, while also keeping the elements interesting enough to hold their attention.

In total, there’s three types of balance: symmetrical, radial, and asymmetrical. Symmetrical balance typically acts as a crutch for most designers, because it is one of the easiest ways to assess if your design is balanced. Typically, as long as all your elements are center-aligned or mirrored on both sides, the result is an overall pleasing visual. Although it is less familiar to most, radial balance is also very comfortable because it involves arranging elements around a center point, so it naturally has many patterns.

With these two alternatives, many people may steer away from using asymmetrical balance, because it can be less straightforward and more time consuming. To make the process easier, I like to lean on the rule of thirds, which I learned while studying photography. The basic principle of the rule of thirds is to divide an image into a three-by-three grid and align the main elements on the intersection of your lines. Although using the rule of thirds does not guarantee asymmetrical balance, it is often an effective starting point for creating it.

Direct Attention with Visual Guides

After creating a balanced image, you want to draw attention to your main subject using visual guides. Again, there are many ways to direct attention, and this composition technique may be applied through a variety of ways.

Leading lines, framing, and depth of field are three popular visual guide techniques for photography. Leading lines involves using lines found naturally in your shooting location to draw attention toward the main subject. Lines can be horizontal, vertical, diagonal or even curved and include both natural and man-made objects. For example, roads, architecture, and mountains can all act as leading lines toward a main subject. Framing shares a similar concept to leading lines, but instead of creating movement through the image, it uses objects to surround and isolate a main subject. Try to lean into storytelling when using framing, by selecting objects that are relevant to your message.

For example, an ornate door or arch provides a sophisticated look, while elements like branches give a sense of calmness. If a shooting environment doesn’t naturally allow leading lines or framing, depth of field is another great method to use when directing attention. By using various camera settings to blur out the background, a photographer can highlight the main subject by keeping it in focus.

Outside of photography, there are many other ways to draw attention to a main subject. Often, designers will use contrast and scale to make certain elements stand out more than others. For example, a common method is using a pop of color in a black and white design to fixate attention on the object in color. Another method is making one element considerably larger than surrounding objects to emphasize an image or text.

Drive Brand Messaging through Storytelling

Although these composition methods help grab and direct attention, ultimately, it’s the message that turns clicks into customers. While creating aesthetically pleasing designs is an important part of storytelling, it is only one piece of the puzzle. To effectively communicate a brand’s message, marketers must showcase not only a product but also an outcome. When combined with strong content, composition techniques can transform a message from something viewers simply see into something they feel, experience, and remember.

No matter who you are or what you do — from a college intern to a CEO at a large company–we are all juggling multiple priorities. As summer winds down, many people find themselves prepping for the busy fall season. While you can’t magically eliminate everything on your to-do list, as amazing as that would be, you can make it feel more manageable. Here are five tips that have helped me stay organized when life gets busy.

1. Rank Your Priorities

Decide your priorities before  every emergency decides them for you. 

When deadlines pile up and your schedule feels overwhelming, it is often tempting to make everything your top priority. While this is an understandable reaction, trying to make everything equally important often leads to unnecessary stress and does not allow you to do your best work.

Instead, take a few minutes at the beginning of a new project, week, or season to identify where your priorities lie. This helps to shift your response from panicked to prepared when those priorities suddenly clash. 

2. Take the Time to Get Ahead

If you know a busy day, week, or month is coming, prepare for it in advance.

Getting ahead doesn’t take away any of your responsibilities, but it can make them feel less overwhelming in the moment. For me that usually means making a detailed to-do list with reminders on my phone, adding every meeting and event to my calendar, and setting reminders for important deadlines.

It can feel counter-intuitive in the moment because your first instinct is to just jump into doing everything or using time off to simply rest. However, investing a few minutes into preparation can save hours of stress later by helping you stay organized and avoid last-minute surprises.

3. Assign Time Limits to Your Tasks

When your to-do list feels endless, estimate how long each task will take and assign it a time limit. 

Choose one task, set a timer and give it your full attention. When the timer goes off, stop and reassess before moving on. 

This approach helps keep you focused on making meaningful progress and prevents multitasking. It also helps you use small pockets of free time more effectively. Instead of spending five minutes switching between projects, you can complete a quick task that moves you forward in your list.

4. Have an Organized System

Organization is about more than just making lists. It is about creating habits you can rely on to help you through your day. 

When life gets busy the small tasks can easily build up or slip through the cracks. Having a consistent system where you check back on tasks helps prevent that from happening. 

Whether it’s reading and clearing your inbox at the end of the day, checking tomorrow’s calendar reminders, or checking a weekly task list each Monday morning, small routines can make a big difference. A dependable system gives you the confidence that important details won’t be forgotten.

5. Make a List

Sometimes the simplest tools are the most effective.

This can also be a part of ranking your priorities, or can be a daily or weekly part of your routine. Whether you prefer a paper planner, a whiteboard, a digital calendar, or reminders on your phone, find a system that works for you and use it consistently. Writing down your tasks clears your mental clutter, helps you stay focused, and makes it much easier to keep track of everything during a busy season. 

Staying organized doesn’t mean you’ll never feel overwhelmed, but having a plan can make even your busiest seasons feel much more manageable. By identifying your priorities, creating reliable systems, and keeping an organized task list, you’ll be better equipped to handle whatever comes your way this fall.

Those that have been reading our blog for a bit know that what I want on vacation is easy, immersive, escapist readings that let my brain float. Sound of the waves, sand in my feet and mind in a good book. Perfect vacay for me.

This year’s reading list did not disappoint — and, as always, a few provided unexpected sparks of inspiration.

2026 Summer Reading List

This year, I read a mix of fiction, family dynamics, romance, reinvention and two business books that hit harder than expected. My 2026 beach‑bag lineup included:

• Spectacular Things — Beck Dorey‑Stein
• Road Trip — Mary Kay Andrews
• The Shampoo Effect — Jenny Jackson
• For Richer For Poorer — Danielle Steel
• Summer in the City — Alex Aster
• Whistler — Ann Patchett
• Mother‑Daughter Book Club — Susan & James Patterson
• The Night We Met — Abby Jimenez
• The Bookstore Diaries — Susan Mallery
• Chase the Clouds Away — Debbie Macomber
• Weddings — Danielle Steel
• Buy Back Your Time — Dan Martell
• Profit First — Mike Michalowicz

What You Can Get From Summer Reading

Beyond the obvious stress reduction, reading gives me:

Familiar settings, themes and characters that feel like home. This year’s list gave me everything from beach‑town nostalgia to complicated relationships to business strategy disguised as storytelling. Even when the plots were wildly different, there was always something that felt close to my own life.

Characters who make me say, “Yes, you go,” out loud. Every summer, at least one heroine earns a full‑volume cheer from my beach chair. This year, several did — whether they were navigating messy relationships, reinventing themselves, or simply choosing joy in the middle of chaos.

Storylines that blur into my work life and spark ideas I didn’t know I needed. Some books made me think about identity and reinvention (The Shampoo Effect, Summer in the City). Some reminded me how complicated leadership and decision‑making can be (Spectacular Things, Whistler). And a couple — Buy Back Your Time and Profit First — weren’t fiction at all but still delivered the kind of clarity that shows up in my work long after vacation ends.

Truth Be Told: Reading List Insights

All of these books are great. My favorite was Road Trip. The one I have read for the third time and need to read again is Buy Back Your Time.

Spectacular Things provided a ha moments that were not expected. It is better to ask questions than to give directions it reminded me. Also, it asked how do you want to leave the field after the game. Another thing hidden in the novel was: what adversity have you overcome or still grappling with on your quest to become a better player?

The reminders of a winner’s mentality were invaluable. Always be positive. Be poised under immense pressure. There is even more in there. Read the book, it’s so good.

Books as Blessings — Even the “Trashy” Ones

Reading expands vocabulary, reduces stress and boosts cognitive function. But it also does something else: it sparks ideas, reframes challenges and reminds us that inspiration can come from anywhere — even a beach read.

So cheers to the summer of 2026. It was one filled with sunshine, stories and unexpected personal and professional inspirations and learnings. Happy summer reading, y’all.

Starting my first marketing internship has taught me so much in just a few weeks. While I still have a lot to learn, these are five lessons that have already changed the way I think about marketing—and they’ll stick with me long after this internship.

1. Consistency is Key

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that consistency allows people to learn exactly what to expect from your organization. In order to succeed in marketing you have to deliver consistent branding because inconsistency weakens clients’ faith in your ability to deliver on your promises.

Consistency also makes it easier for clients to find the information they need. Something as simple as posting different event details across different platforms can create confusion. If someone has to check your Instagram for the date of an event, your website for the time, and your Facebook for the location, only the most dedicated clients will show up and your event will not have the impact you want it to. 

2. Know Your Core Values

This is something I have seen our team help our clients to define, and it is so important because your core values form the foundation of your brand strategy. Your values aren’t just words on an “About Us” page, they shape your brand, your messaging, your marketing, and every interaction people have with your organization. 

If everyone on your team– from the founder to the newest member– knows the core values of your organization they can present a united and, most importantly, consistent brand to clients. Better yet, you’ll more naturally attract people who share those same values.

3. Connection Builds Credibility

Another thing that has become clear is that your audience doesn’t just want to know what an organization does. Your audience wants to get to know the people behind the brand. 

Behind-the-scenes videos, team spotlights, polls, or even simple day-to-day moments allow people to connect with the people behind the companies or organizations. This is where social media is a powerful tool to gain viewers, demonstrate your core values, and build client trust.

4. Know Your Audience

In today’s world of algorithms tailored to each individual user, it is all too easy to assume that the same content will work everywhere. 

What performs well on LinkedIn is not necessarily what works on Instagram. Each platform has a different audience, tone, and expectations. Taking the time to understand where your audience spends their time can make your marketing much more effective.

5. Small Steps Lead to Big Results

Some projects can feel overwhelming when you’re only making small amounts of progress each day. Each small step gives you a road map to the next step. Over time, those small steps add up to meaningful results.

Looking back on my progress after a month, it is encouraging to see how much those daily tasks and little wins have added up. Progress rarely happens all at once and every small step moves you closer to your goals.

I’m grateful for everything I have learned so far, and excited to keep growing throughout this internship. I can’t wait to see what the next few months have in store!

When most people think about marketing, they probably think of campaigns, advertisements, slogans or analytics. And while I’ve learned those are all very important to the marketing world, they all revolve around proficiency in one key skill — simply just listening.

As an intern, I’ve quickly learned that effective marketing starts long before content is created. It begins the moment you start to listen, in the very early stages of work. Listening to the client and their goals for their business, to team members who often have years and years of experience, to your feedback — both the good and the bad. The strongest strategies are not created by ideas or assumptions, rather understanding people, and listening to their needs.

Why Listening Matters

Listening is so easy to overlook in a world that’s always focusing on more. More posts. More emails. More ideas. But if we don’t pay attention to what real people are saying they need, these campaigns absolutely miss the mark leaving the client and consumer both unsatisfied. Listening requires slowing down, asking the important questions and being willing to pivot, adapt and change when necessary.

Lessons From My Internship

Through this internship so far, I’ve noticed that great marketers spend SO MUCH time listening and asking questions. They seek feedback. And they are always listening to the language of their clients. Learning the client’s language not only creates strong marketing, it creates a relationship built on trust.

Moving forward, this is an aspect of marketing that I think everyone can benefit from in their day-to-day life. Spend less time focusing on an answer or a desired result, and more time opening our ears to hear what people have to say.

Perhaps the most overlooked part of marketing isn’t having all the answers, it’s the willingness to listen for them.

I think everyone may have something we can learn — not just the intern.

You might have a love/hate relationship with summer when you’re in marketing. Either you’re working six months ahead and now is your busy season ramping up for the holidays. Or, your clients are on vacation, you’re on vacation, your kids are at home with you and it feels like nothing is getting done. Time to manage everyone’s expectations.

If you’re in the latter camp, then you’re probably looking for ways to do less but still be effective while everyone is most definitely not on a regular schedule. At Front Porch Marketing, most of us are this person. So we’ve gotten really good at being efficient AND effective in the summer. So we’ve rounded up all our summertime tips from the past few years for you, and hopefully this will help.

Summer-fying Your Brand

Maybe you want to change things up slightly for the summer? Make your brand colors lighter and brighter, or brand voice more laid-back? Try this article for tips on making your brand have more summer feels.

And hey, you’ve done A LOT of work, visually and verbally, on your brand this year. So we’re thinking “What can you re-use, re-work and re-up for the summer?” One way to do more with less in summer marketing, is to rework the assets you already have into something fresh, instead of starting from scratch. Who has time for that!

Reaching Your Audience in the Summer

It’s not just you and your clients that are in a summer frame of mind, your customers are too! Whether that’s a B2B customer or a consumer, it helps to put yourself in their shoes when planning your marketing in the vacay months. There’s definitely a psychology to summer shopping so keep that in mind.

If you’re in PR, your audience is the media and believe it or not, this is a hot time to pitch your PR stories. And you’ve probably got more time to do it, and less competition. Fine tune your strategy in the summer time to get the most response from your efforts.

And for service-based businesses, we’ve got a whole cheat sheet of summer strategy tips to keep right on growing your business right through this season and into fall. You can never go wrong focusing on your customers’ needs and answering their summertime questions.

Keep it Steady, Rockin’ the Summer Season

Ready for a successful summer of marketing? Slow down, get done what you have to, and if you need help with any of it, let us know!

In branding, there are many processes that agencies adopt. The foundation of the models that agencies use are often centered on a brand vision or promise. After your brand’s vision and promise comes the personality or character that your brand uses to express itself, as if it were a person. Remember that inconsistency in delivering on the promise dilutes customer or client faith in the competency in your organization. Thirdly, your brand needs positioning. Call me and I’ll be happy to share more detail about this important part of the exercise.

Affiliating With Your Brand

Lastly comes the brand affiliation. What do your clients or customers want others to think about them because they are affiliated with your brand? Affiliation is key and starts with your internal team. After all, they are the closest to your brand. So if you have recently rebranded, and your current marketing partner isn’t telling you to start engaging your internal team first, you should think again about your brand’s priorities.

Branding is Alchemy

These important marketing exercises can seem like a magical process of transformation for a company. An alchemy of sorts. Successful branding makes everything you do make sense, and gives you a clear path of where to go next. So who are we to fight the alchemy?

In order to deliver consistent messaging, business leaders and owners need to remember a few things when they rebrand. First of all, you, dear business owner, cannot create your brand in a vacuum. Context matters. The market matters. And, again, we say this often as a reminder of how to come away from a brand exercise with strong results.

The Three Cs of the Branding Process

Of course, difficult conversations sometimes happen during this process. And, on the Porch, we are here for it. We believe in and practice these three pillars in our marketing: Conviction, connection and consistency. We’ve talked about these before. And we will talk about them again, and again. Because building your brand around these pillars works.

Conviction

We know business owners and leaders have conviction about their company and their brand. It’s the passion, the energy and the will to be successful. It’s a growth mindset. When you are convicted about your brand and absolute about a growth mindset, the magic will happen. When we work with companies, we talk on their conviction as our own. We want the success to happen as much as they do.

Connection

Connection is about building a space where communication is genuine with branding and connection to your audience. It’s about reaching your customers and clients on a 1-to-1 basis. Meeting their needs. Solving their problems.

Remember, you are not your customer or your client. Your personal preferences may not be the needs of your customer. One of the hardest things to do for a business owner is to step out of their own shoes into the shoes of their customers and clients. Recognize and meet their needs. Don’t talk at them, talk with them. Connect.

Consistency

Consistency is where we see sometimes really strong business fall short. The business leaders want to jump in and get hands on. Maybe they LOVE the creative side of the business so they want to design their own logo, letterhead, website etc. And, the result in our several plus years of experience, is that this is a disaster.

I myself love the creative side of the business; however, I am not a graphic designer, so I let the trained professionals do their job. If you’re a business owner thinking about consistency yet trying to do parts of the branding process that are out of your wheelhouse, question yourself: Is this the right way for me to spend my time?

Growing Your Brand

On the Porch, we are so grateful for business leaders and owners who are open to defining their look and their voice with us. We love working with owners and leaders who want to grow their brand beyond their comfort zone, realizing business success comes from this eye-opening, defining process. Together we can accomplish great things throughout the branding process and into all the marketing work beyond that!