Gratitude, Bad Branding Decisions, and Monthly Workshops
Grateful for you this Thanksgiving! Exciting news about live branding workshops (and a few fun bad decisions to avoid) inside…
Cheers to you and the thousands of awesome people finding value in the All About Branding newsletter. I appreciate you and if you love the content, then think about becoming a paid subscriber. It helps to keep the lights on and the coffee brewing.
Ciao Amici,
It’s Thanksgiving week, and I’m writing to you from cold (but thankfully not snowy) Massachusetts, where I’m spending time with Melissa’s family.
This year, I brought my famous Picanza Lasagna—a family recipe I swear could convert even the most stubborn turkey loyalist. (If you’ve never tried it, you’re missing out!)
This time of year always makes me pause and reflect. Over the past 100 posts on Substack, your engagement—your comments, replies, and ideas—has been a constant reminder of why I do this. So, let me take a moment to say thank you.
Now, while gratitude is in the air, I’ve got some exciting news to share…
Monthly Live Branding Workshops Are Happening!
After last week’s workshop with the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce, I asked if I should host monthly live branding sessions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
The response? Overwhelmingly YES.
Starting next month, I’ll host monthly workshops designed to help entrepreneurs, founders, non-profits, and SMBs make the best branding and marketing decisions possible—because let’s face it, we’ve all seen some interesting choices out there recently (no comment, Jaguar).
Speaking of Bad Decisions…
Here’s a lighthearted (but real) list of branding and marketing pitfalls I’ve seen too often. Patterns that I’m hoping I can help reverse.
“Let’s just wing it!”
Spoiler: Hope isn’t a strategy.“Our nephew designed the logo—he’s 14 and loves Canva!”
Great for a science fair, not so much for your business.“We don’t need a target audience; everyone loves us.”
If you’re for everyone, you’re for no one.“We’ll just run ads—it works for big brands.”
Without a clear message and brand, ads are just expensive noise.“We don’t need a brand strategy. We’ll just focus on sales.”
Without a brand strategy, your marketing is a house of cards.“Let’s stick with this old website—it’s nostalgic!”
If your website hasn’t been updated since the Obama administration, it’s time for a change.“Branding? That’s just a logo, right?”
Nope. Branding is your story, your values, and how you make people feel.
Let’s Fix This Together
These workshops will tackle these mistakes (and more) with actionable strategies and tactics to build brands that connect and grow.
The first session launches next month—details coming soon!
In the meantime:
What branding or marketing challenges keep you up at night?
What topics should I cover?
Reply and let me know—I want these workshops to meet you exactly where you are.
Let’s build something impactful, together.
-Steven ✌️🍕
P.S. Today’s newsletter is brought to you by Clear Digital Labs, a digital marketing training program helping to bridge the gap between talent potential and employer needs. They provide training, mentorship, and job opportunities for aspiring digital marketers. Contact them HERE.
P.P.S.
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