Tag Archive for: Blogging

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Horror in Design: The Most Terrifying Branding Mistakes

It’s October, and while you’re getting ready for all things spooky, there’s one type of horror you want to steer clear of—horrific branding mistakes! In the world of marketing, some blunders are so cringeworthy they might as well belong in a horror movie. So, grab your popcorn and buckle up, because today, we’re venturing into the darkest depths of branding fails that left a lasting mark (and not the good kind) on some pretty big companies.

1. Tropicana’s Disastrous Redesign (2009)

Tropicana thought it would be fun to give their packaging a fresh, modern look in 2009. Unfortunately, this well-intentioned makeover turned into a complete horror show. They ditched their iconic orange with a straw poking out for a minimalist design that left consumers scratching their heads. The backlash was swift and brutal—sales plummeted by 20% in just a few weeks, costing the company a whopping $30 million. The horror was so great they had to retreat and bring back the old design. Moral of the story? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

2. The Gap’s Ghastly Logo Change (2010)

Ah, The Gap—known for its classic American style and… a logo change that went down in flames. In 2010, they decided to switch things up with a new logo: plain Helvetica font with a tiny blue square. The reaction? Fans of the brand were horrified! The new design was slammed as cheap and generic, leading to such an uproar that The Gap scrapped it just one week later. A spooky reminder that even a well-established brand can stumble by not respecting its customers’ emotional ties to its identity.

3. Pepsi’s Endless Rebranding Cycle (2008-Present)

Pepsi seems cursed with an insatiable need to rebrand every few years, and the results are rarely a treat. The last redesign—featuring a “smile” on the logo—came with a jaw-dropping price tag of $1 million and was met with a collective yawn. Pepsi has since resurrected one of its old logos, bringing them back from the dead with a bold 2023 redesign. This new look is a clear homage to Pepsi’s century-old logos. As for the lowercase logo, it will be buried alongside the rest of Pepsi’s retired designs in the logo graveyard. And who knows, potentially raised from the dead to walk in the branding world yet again. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has kept a steady, consistent brand image that stands the test of time. The takeaway here? When it comes to branding, sometimes it’s better to be a Coca-Cola than a Pepsi. Consistency is key!

4. The American Red Cross’ Drunken Tweet (2011)

You’d think a venerable organization like the American Red Cross would be immune to social media slip-ups, right? Think again! In 2011, an employee accidentally posted a tweet meant for their personal account, revealing they were “getting slizzered” (a.k.a. drunk) on Dogfish Head beer. Although the tweet was quickly taken down, it was too late—the internet had already grabbed hold of the gaffe. Thankfully, the Red Cross handled the mishap with humor and grace, even partnering with Dogfish Head to turn the embarrassment into a charitable opportunity. Lesson learned: Always double-check which account you’re posting from!

5. Schweppes’ “Il Water” in Italy (1990s)

Sometimes, translation errors can be more horrifying than a haunted house. Case in point: Schweppes. When launching their tonic water in Italy, they didn’t realize their product name would translate to “Schweppes The Toilet.” Unsurprisingly, Italian sales didn’t quite bubble over as planned so they quickly changed the name to Tonica instead. This blunder is a solid reminder of the importance of doing your homework, especially when expanding into international markets!

So, what have we learned from these branding horror stories? Always do your homework—whether it’s testing a new design with your audience, considering cultural and linguistic differences, or simply double-checking before you hit ‘send’ on social media. Branding is not just about looking good; it’s about resonating with your audience, building trust, and standing out for the right reasons. Don’t let your brand be the next one haunting the marketing halls of shame. Remember, a little extra caution can keep your brand from becoming a real-life nightmare!

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Feeling a little spooked about your brand’s direction? Don’t worry, you don’t have to face the marketing monsters alone! At Cloud9 Marketing, we specialize in turning your brand from a scary story into a fairy tale success. Whether you’re worried about a redesign that didn’t quite land or a campaign that’s giving off ghostly vibes, our team is here to help! Reach out to us for a free consultation, and together, we’ll ensure your brand shines brighter than a jack-o’-lantern on Halloween night. No tricks, just treats 🎃👻

Get in touch with us today, and let’s take the fright out of your marketing!

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Is Blogging Just a Big Waste of Time?

When I mention blogging to clients, it’s usually met with eye rolls. I often hear statements like, “Blogging is just a big waste of time” and “how does Blogging actually translate to ROI?”. I can totally understand why people don’t like blogging. If you’re not a writer, and you’re busy with other aspects of the business, making time to blog is simply not a priority. That being said, according to many experts it’s the cheapest and most effective way to increase the search engine optimization (SEO) of your site and get found online by potential customers. If you aren’t convinced about blogging, read on…

Blogging helps with search engine results

Search engine algorithms determine where your website ranks on the search engine results page (SERP), and SEO is the process of optimizing your website for better placement. One of the key factors search engines look for when ranking a website is fresh updated content. There is no better way to add new and relevant content to your site then in a Blog. And if you don’t like the word Blog feel free to change it to Latest News, What’s On My Mind, or some other original description. The purpose of a Blog (or whatever you call it) is to bring that fresh and unique content to your site so it gets indexed by search engines and your page ranks better organically.

Blogging drives traffic to your website

I’m pretty sure you would agree that you’d like more traffic coming to your website. Producing regular blog posts is kind of like fishing; you put the information out there on the web, and wait for somebody to bite. Every time you post a blog and share it on social media, you’re casting your content into a sea of potential customers. The more content you generate the more likely people will find it and visit your site, or link to your content from a relevant website. Companies that Blog receive 97% more links to their website than companies who don’t according to Hubspot. Inbound links are one of the key signals search engines look for when ranking a website.

Blogging generates leads

Correctly curated blog posts can be excellent lead generators. Adding a call to action to every Blog post in the way of a link, form or pop-up will encourage people to take action on your site. According to Huffington Post businesses that use blogs receive 67% more leads than ones that don’t. If you want leads and you don’t want to pay for them, blogging is an affordable and effective way to convert leads into customers.

Blogging establishes credibility

No matter what your industry is, you likely want customers and clients to think you have more credibility, experience or know-how than your competitors. Blogging is a great way to establish this credibility in the online domain. By publishing blogs on your social media, and key industry sites you’re showing potential customers that you know what you’re talking about. As you build authority in your industry or niche through blogging, your brand recognition and trust sky-rockets in the minds of potential clients and customers.

The most important thing to remember about blogging is that results don’t happen overnight. Blogging is a long term plan that must be implemented consistently and strategically for desired results. Many companies who understand the value of blogging, from small family-run business to Fortune 500 companies, choose to outsource their content creation. Blogging is one of the most affordable ways to get people to your website, but it needs to be done right and it does take time. At Cloud9 Marketing we have a team of writers who are experienced at crafting content that drives traffic and brings results. Contact us today and find out how we can help your business with blogging.

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Can Blogging Help Your Business? (Spoiler Alert: Yes, It Can!)

Blogs are often misunderstood. They require a fair bit of work, and business owners can’t help but wonder if they really make an impact.

The short answer: yes, they do.

The long answer goes something like this: blogs can help your business in more ways than you might think. We’ve rounded up some facts to help convince you that a well-written blog can do wonders for your business.

And if you still need convincing, consider the fact that you’re reading a blog post right now!

It Helps Drive Traffic to Your Website (Hubspot)

There’s lots of buzz about SEO, or search engine optimization, and guess what: blogging and SEO go hand in hand. New, original blog posts can drive more traffic to your website, and not just because visitors want to imbibe in your knowledge and wit (although that happens, too).

On the more technical side of things, a frequently updated blog signals to a search engine that your website is active, which can be an SEO booster. Your blog also adds a significant amount of content to your website, increasing the opportunities to pop up in search engines.

It Helps Establish You as an Expert (About.com)

Your blog is just one more way that you can reach out directly to your existing clients and prospects. You can choose to be silent (by posting nothing at all), or you can harness the opportunity to establish yourself as an expert in your field.

By posting accurate, informative, and original content, you’re proving that you know your stuff and that you’re good at it. Your website’s visitors are often seeking additional information related to whatever it is you do, and providing them with helpful blog posts is a major plus – one that can translate to conversions.

It Gives Your Brand Personality (Bloom Tools)

Blogging and social media are excellent ways to build that coveted brand loyalty. Use your blog to let your brand’s personality shine, showing the world that you’re more than a logo on a computer screen. Develop a voice and stay true to it. The result: customers will have no trouble differentiating you from those other guys.

It Keeps You on Top of Your Game (Social Media Examiner)

Whether you post once a week or once a month, coming up with relevant, informative blog content can challenge you to become even better at what you do.

Knowing that you have a blog post to produce will encourage you to stay on top of the latest industry news, technology, and developments – everything and anything is potential material for your blog!

Even more importantly, you’ll learn how to communicate your business concepts to your clients. Writing succinct posts in a compelling matter is great practice for organizing your thoughts and sharing your knowledge in a way that’s easy for others to understand. This will help improve your broader communication skills.

 

 

Blogging isn’t always easy, and we’ve heard the common rebuttals all too often. “I’m so busy and don’t have time to blog!” “I’m useless with computers!” “I always forget to post!” Cloud9 offers customized blogging packages: we’ll work with you to develop an optimal blogging strategy, and we’ll create posts using your brand’s language to keep customers coming back for more. Contact us, and we’ll help you get set up!

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