The Charlotte based company uses a spectrum of media tools including SEO – search engine optimization, websites, blogging, newsletters, news and media releases, and logo conception.

A memorable logo is a vital part of a strong image.
Notice the well known iconic logos that have been a part of mainstream, sustainable, marketing and one pattern almost always stands out- simplicity.

A logo represents a company or organization’s ‘at a glance’ image. It conveys meaning and has come to symbolize a foundational position.

Kyle Whitford Media and Marketing has played a role in the creation of logos for many companies and organizations over the past few decades.

There are three main areas of consideration when designing or refreshing a logo for your company or organization.

One- Meaning- what does your logo mean? Will it convey your intended meaning to the target audience?

Two- Simplicity- Will your logo stand the test of time? Is it simple enough, yet, recognizable and can it stand alone in various scenarios?

Three- Association– Closely related to ‘ meaning’,the mental association that goes with a logo is an important part of it’s overall effectiveness. What does the shape and size convey? Are there negative implications that need to be understood and changed? Are there unintended cross promotions with an already established logo that need to go?

It is a good idea to try your logo over a test period. Living with it for awhile can help you process the various layers of consideration needed to decide on your final logo. It will likely be around for some time.

Kyle Whitford- Charlotte SEO and marketing professional.

• You take a typical archetype or topic and
• contrast it with something out of its typical value range ( for shock, and the mind tends to follow.)

These kinds of headlines engage the brain to force meaning of two contrasting items.

I call these Nun on a Harley Headlines. They grab attention like crazy. Check these out-

Monk Leaves Heavy Metal Rock Band 11/15/09

4 Year Old Takes Mom’s Car for Midnight Spin

10 Year Old Goes to College

UnKnowing Twins Marry Each Other

Actress Turned Nun Revisits Hollywood

Driver Hits Truck, Is Killed Checking Tragic. Sad. But the headline uses that twist.

Turning Wine Into Water ( Did you really do this CNN?)

A Human Billboard ( I think this headline could be better but it worked. This was sent in by a reader. Thanks.)

98 year old kills 100 year old roomate ( wish some of these were not so morbid)

Homeless Brothers in Line to Inherit Billions

Boy 4 Drinks Beer, Wants to Go to Jail

Pastor- OK to Shoplift (a couple of days before Christmas this one from MSN)

Surfer Dude Stuns Physicists with Theory of Everything

Monks Serve Up Booze, Hip Hop ( OK that’s it, I think I’ve made my point. )

Update– Still see these daily– like this ( note the sensitive subject is serious- the headline actually gets attention for good.)

Homeless in the Shadow of The Happiest Place

OK here is another as I update this batch of content once more

Tony Robbins tweeted this as a headline and it’s good- doesn’t get much better than this

48 Year Old Grandmother Breaks World Record with 40 Hour 68 mile Swim in Shark Infested Waters

It’s interesting to watch for these kinds of headlines. They are everywhere.

This letter has very little to do with Charlotte, or Search Engine Optimization , or even being a marketing strategist.  On the other hand, it has everything to do with these things.  I wanted to share it because it has meaning-

It is from Warren Buffett-

In 2006, I made a commitment to gradually give all of my Berkshire Hathaway stock to philanthropic foundations. I couldn’t be happier with that decision.

Now, Bill and Melinda Gates and I are asking hundreds of rich Americans to pledge at least 50% of their wealth to charity. So I think it is fitting that I reiterate my intentions and explain the thinking that lies behind them.

First, my pledge: More than 99% of my wealth will go to philanthropy during my lifetime or at death. Measured by dollars, this commitment is large. In a comparative sense, though, many individuals give more to others every day.

Millions of people who regularly contribute to churches, schools, and other organizations thereby relinquish the use of funds that would otherwise benefit their own families. The dollars these people drop into a collection plate or give to United Way mean forgone movies, dinners out, or other personal pleasures. In contrast, my family and I will give up nothing we need or want by fulfilling this 99% pledge.

Moreover, this pledge does not leave me contributing the most precious asset, which is time. Many people, including — I’m proud to say — my three children, give extensively of their own time and talents to help others. Gifts of this kind often prove far more valuable than money. A struggling child, befriended and nurtured by a caring mentor, receives a gift whose value far exceeds what can be bestowed by a check. My sister, Doris, extends significant person-to-person help daily. I’ve done little of this.

What I can do, however, is to take a pile of Berkshire Hathaway stock certificates — “claim checks” that when converted to cash can command far-ranging resources — and commit them to benefit others who, through the luck of the draw, have received the short straws in life. To date about 20% of my shares have been distributed (including shares given by my late wife, Susan Buffett). I will continue to annually distribute about 4% of the shares I retain. At the latest, the proceeds from all of my Berkshire shares will be expended for philanthropic purposes by 10 years after my estate is settled. Nothing will go to endowments; I want the money spent on current needs.

This pledge will leave my lifestyle untouched and that of my children as well. They have already received significant sums for their personal use and will receive more in the future. They live comfortable and productive lives. And I will continue to live in a manner that gives me everything that I could possibly want in life.

Some material things make my life more enjoyable; many, however, would not. I like having an expensive private plane, but owning a half-dozen homes would be a burden. Too often, a vast collection of possessions ends up possessing its owner. The asset I most value, aside from health, is interesting, diverse, and long-standing friends.

My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest. Both my children and I won what I call the ovarian lottery. (For starters, the odds against my 1930 birth taking place in the U.S. were at least 30 to 1. My being male and white also removed huge obstacles that a majority of Americans then faced.) My luck was accentuated by my living in a market system that sometimes produces distorted results, though overall it serves our country well. I’ve worked in an economy that rewards someone who saves the lives of others on a battlefield with a medal, rewards a great teacher with thank-you notes from parents, but rewards those who can detect the mispricing of securities with sums reaching into the billions. In short, fate’s distribution of long straws is wildly capricious.

The reaction of my family and me to our extraordinary good fortune is not guilt, but rather gratitude. Were we to use more than 1% of my claim checks on ourselves, neither our happiness nor our well-being would be enhanced. In contrast, that remaining 99% can have a huge effect on the health and welfare of others. That reality sets an obvious course for me and my family: Keep all we can conceivably need and distribute the rest to society, for its needs. My pledge starts us down that course.

Thanks for the perspective, Mr Buffett.

Views of a

Views of a marketing strategist

The purpose of traditional marketing is to create buzz within a specific community. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, blogs, online news all do exactly that. Same principle different means of distribution.

Traditional marketing has always offered both image building and direct results. Internet marketers have been debating this issue for years. The direct crowd prefers measurable results while the image crowd (social networking) leans toward building overall loyalty and community. Either way the Internet is simply reflecting the same principles that have held true for the past 75 years in traditional marketing.

A diversity of styles is expressed through various values. Some marketers trying to make a quick buck will skim the surface, offer questionable service, and even run scams. Other marketers will cater to the more refined values that earn the applause of mainstream audiences. This traditional marketing concept has transferred itself directly to the Internet.

In general ,potential customers can be reluctant to take action. Internet marketing employs the same tactics as traditional marketing to get people to take action. Limited offers, discounts, up selling, buy one get one free and other tactics designed to inspire action are at work  both on and off-line. It is human nature to avoid taking what is perceived to be a risky action. (I am certainly the same way.) Using these tactics is a simple and effective way to move things forward toward a sales conclusion.

Emotion and sensory devices are the heart of traditional marketing. The Internet has caught on to this form of communication and persuasion very quickly. Appealing spokesmodels, charismatic personalities, a sense of loyalty, membership and all the other mind stimulants are regularly employed for persuasion online and off.

Immediacy has been radio’s trump card since the beginning. In some ways the Internet and traditional media are working together to maintain a sense of immediacy. Twitter has moved to the forefront in this regard. Add mobility with personal handheld devices and today’s now-moment is a far more viable factor than ever.

Even though the Internet has made the world much smaller, localization is  still at the top of the priority list. It’s been said that local marketing using the Internet combined with traditional media is the single biggest lifetime opportunity for marketers. The Internet transcends and includes traditional marketing. There is still plenty of local business to do plus there is more and more global business.

The Internet is a game changer and as an alternative means of distribution has given marketing strategists more choices, to put it mildly.

Like my friends at New Construction Charlotte NC say- Built to last means, it doesn’t change overnight.