Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/The-History-of-Business-Cards-Four-Centuries-of-Introductions.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/The-History-of-Business-Cards-Four-Centuries-of-Introductions.html Today business cards are so ubiquitous that in some countries they are traded with no formality or consequence, serving as nothing more than an internationally recognized way to exchange contact information or a handy bit of paper on which to jot a note. In other nations, however, particularly in Asia, the cards are regarded as an extension of the individual to be treated with honor and respect. The exchange of cards is attended with great ritual and a breech of protocol can give serious offense. How did a simple card, 3.370 x 2.125 inches come to play such a central role in the business cultural of the world? Depending on the sources consulted, the cards may actually have originated in China in the 15th century. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/Of-All-the-Networks.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/Of-All-the-Networks.html The sheer number of social and business networks vying for our membership these days can be overwhelming. A quick search for “business networking” yields over 33 million results. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/Setting-goals--ten-steps-to-success.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/Setting-goals--ten-steps-to-success.html We all know that success begins with setting measurable and carefully considered goals. But setting goals is not enough - you need to devise several roadmaps to reaching those goals, and then follow through. Whether your goals are small or big, following these ten steps will help you on your way. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/How-to-shop-for-a-graphic-design-firm-be-an-educated-consumer.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/How-to-shop-for-a-graphic-design-firm-be-an-educated-consumer.html It is becoming more and more obvious to companies that design plays an enormous role in driving business. Successful business owners already know this, but for those who are just opening their eyes to the concept, how do you get started? What are the considerations when bringing on strategic design services? http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/The-creativitybusiness-conundrum.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/The-creativitybusiness-conundrum.html The concept of creativity is an abstract one, at best. The dictionary tells you that when you ask for creativity, you can expect to see “the ability to use the imagination to develop new and original ideas or things, especially in an artistic context.” This is all well and good if you’re in the market for something astonishing to frame and hang on your wall, but in the context of business design it falls somewhat short of adequate. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/Holiday-networking.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/Holiday-networking.html Holiday networking is more laid back, less aggressive and more casual. You’re there having a nice time with other people who are also there to have a nice time… and if they happen to learn about a company relevant to them in the guise of friendly word-of-mouth conversation, all the better. The aim is much closer to friendly conversation than high-intensity deal closing. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/A-Well-Managed-Suite-of-Business-Materials.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/A-Well-Managed-Suite-of-Business-Materials.html When you’re not around to make a personal impression, your materials are doing it for you. So naturally, you want to be sure that your materials are making the right impression. In this article I’ll go over a few specific bits of advice to ensure that your corporate identity materials are projecting an image of competence and success. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/The-Self-Promotion-Piece--Bringing-a-Graphics-Standard-into-the-Business-World.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/The-Self-Promotion-Piece--Bringing-a-Graphics-Standard-into-the-Business-World.html All business owners are familiar with the corporate brochure, but rarely is it utilized in the same way by companies in non-creative fields. Most corporate brochures end up serving either as extended ads (too obviously self-serving, unless the ad is the purpose), or dry company profiles (which are, well, dry). I often suggest a more creative approach to my clients… a “show” rather than “tell”. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/Whats-up-with-Personal-Branding-and-why-you-should-consider-it.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/Whats-up-with-Personal-Branding-and-why-you-should-consider-it.html In recent years, the concept of personal branding has been getting more and more attention. The basic premise of this is that over the course of your career, you would benefit from creating “Brand You” as a way to differentiate yourself from other jobseekers, business developers, vendors, and people in general. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/A-case-for-rebranding--catalysts-for-brand-revitalization.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Advertising/1644/A-case-for-rebranding--catalysts-for-brand-revitalization.html Rebranding, whether a product or an entire brand, is a serious endeavour. The overall need for rebranding is based on the basic premise that just as people change their style of clothes, hairstyles and home decorating, so brands need to keep up with the times and changing market and consumer dynamics. At the same time, rebranding can be undertaken to fix errors made earlier in a product’s development, to create new consistency across products, or conversely, to take advantage of the benefits of product differentiation and market segmentation.