bethalloftheabove

Let's talk about something I see more and more every day: brands that are starting to look exactly like everyone else. You know the look. Soft beige backgrounds. Muted earth tones. Clean sans-serif fonts. A smiling person holding a coffee cup. Maybe a few tasteful leaves, an abstract blob or a sunburst for good measure. The headline says something like, “Elevate Your Experience,” “Empowering Your Journey” or “Where Purpose Meets Possibility.” It is polished. It is professional. It is also...

Think about the last time you needed a plumber. Did you immediately open Google, scroll through 47 sponsored listings, compare 12 websites, read 86 reviews, and carefully analyze each company’s brand positioning? Or did you text your neighbor and say, “Hey, who did you use when your water heater decided to ruin your week?” Chances are, you asked someone you know. Need a great restaurant for dinner? You ask a friend. Looking for a new physician? You ask your family, your coworkers, or that one...

How employee culture and customer experience can become your most powerful marketing—or your biggest missed opportunity. How do you treat your employees? Do you train them? Develop them? Give them the tools to succeed? Do they understand the experience you're trying to create for your customers? And perhaps most importantly: Do they believe in the brand they're representing? I found myself thinking about those questions after a recent lunch at Olive Garden. I was there with my aging parents,...