Building a Lasting Impression: Unraveling the Importance of Branding for Your Business
In the dynamic realm of business, where first impressions matter, the concept of branding stands tall as a cornerstone for success. At its core, branding is not just about logos and colors; it's a strategic effort to shape perceptions, establish identity, and foster customer loyalty. Let's delve into why understanding and investing in branding is paramount for your business.
Identity and Differentiation: A strong brand creates a distinct identity for your business. It's not just about what you sell but how you present it. Effective branding sets you apart from competitors, helping customers recognize and remember your business in a crowded marketplace.
Trust and Credibility: Consistent and well-crafted branding builds trust. When customers see a familiar logo or messaging, it instills a sense of reliability. Trust is the foundation of customer relationships, and a solid brand contributes significantly to establishing credibility.
Emotional Connection: Brands that resonate emotionally with their audience leave a lasting impact. Through storytelling, visual elements, and messaging, branding allows you to connect with customers on a personal level, fostering loyalty and turning customers into brand advocates.
Customer Recognition and Loyalty: A memorable brand is easily recognizable. Think of iconic brands, and their logos instantly come to mind. This recognition breeds customer loyalty – the holy grail of sustainable business growth. Customers are more likely to choose a brand they recognize and trust.
Consistency Across Platforms: In the digital age, your brand exists beyond physical storefronts. It permeates websites, social media, and marketing materials. Consistency in branding across these platforms reinforces your identity and makes your business easily identifiable, regardless of where customers encounter it.
Financial Value and Growth: A strong brand has tangible financial value. It attracts investment, fosters partnerships, and often allows for premium pricing. As your brand grows, so does the perceived value of your products or services, contributing to overall business growth.
Adaptability and Longevity: A well-thought-out brand is adaptable to evolving market trends while maintaining its core identity. This adaptability ensures your business remains relevant over time, transcending short-term fads.
In conclusion, the importance of branding for your business cannot be overstated. It goes beyond aesthetics; it's a strategic investment in shaping perceptions, building trust, and creating a lasting connection with your audience. At the heart of every successful business is a brand that not only speaks but resonates with its customers, standing the test of time in an ever-changing business landscape.
Unleashing the Power of Social Media: Why Your Business Needs a Social Media Strategist
In the digital age, an effective online presence is crucial for businesses striving to stay ahead of the competition. One key player in achieving this is a dedicated social media strategist. At JMC Strategic Consulting, we recognize the paramount importance of having a skilled professional steering the ship through the dynamic seas of social media. Here's why investing in a social media strategist can be a game-changer for your business.
Strategic Planning for Brand Visibility: A social media strategist understands the nuances of various platforms and crafts a tailored plan to elevate your brand's visibility. From content calendars to targeted campaigns, they ensure that your business remains at the forefront of your audience's minds.
Audience Engagement and Relationship Building: Building a loyal customer base requires more than just posting updates. A social media strategist excels in creating engaging content that resonates with your audience, fostering a sense of community, and building lasting relationships.
Staying Ahead of Trends: Social media landscapes evolve rapidly. A strategist keeps a pulse on the latest trends, ensuring your business is not only current but also ahead of the curve. This adaptability is key to maintaining relevance in an ever-changing digital environment.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Leveraging analytics, a social media strategist interprets data to guide informed decision-making. This includes understanding what works and what doesn't, allowing for continuous optimization of social media efforts.
Crisis Management and Reputation Protection: In the age of instant communication, addressing issues promptly is vital. A social media strategist is well-equipped to navigate potential crises, safeguarding your brand's reputation through effective communication strategies.
Maximizing Advertising ROI: Social media advertising is a powerful tool when wielded correctly. A strategist knows how to allocate resources effectively, ensuring that your ad spend generates tangible returns and reaches the right audience.
In conclusion, the role of a social media strategist at JMC Strategic Consulting goes beyond just posting updates; it's about creating a holistic digital strategy. By investing in a social media strategist, your business not only survives but thrives in the competitive digital landscape. It's not just about being present on social media; it's about making an impact.
Black. History. Month.
In the year of 2021 there are so many milestones that can be celebrated. There are so many accomplishments that have been made by black people. Obstacles that have been overcome leaving our counterparts wondering how and some would even wonder why? There is simply one answer. We are made of Magic. No, not the kind where a card disappears or a coin comes from out behind your ear, but real magic. The type of magic that leaves a legacy.
Black History Month is a moment to remember and celebrate that very legacy that has created such a diverse world. Some may think that diversity only speaks to an individual’s ethnicity but that is not true. Diversity speak to opportunities, education, communities but most of all it is the foundation of our families. If you take a moment and think about your family I’m sure that you all have many differences that each contribute to who you are.
Black History Month provides us with an opportunity to see the magic that has been able to spread throughout the world through music, art, economics and so much more. Our daily interactions are filled with the very legacy that our ancestors have passed down. Who would have thought that we would survive a pandemic while still trying to fight for the very right to breathe, but we have.
Black History Month is a moment to remember that no matter how hard life becomes because of the color of our skin, we are beautiful, resilient and a driving force in anything that we believe in. Do not be fooled while black history is celebrated in a month it is an everyday lifestyle. You are black history, I am black history because we create black history every day that we choose to continue to fight for what is right.
In every moment you have a choice. That choice will vary with different causes and outcomes. A choice that you have every day is what perspective that you will choose to adopt. While we are influenced daily, it is our responsibility to do right by others.
Black history holds many of moments of doing good but also many moments of pain. Through the resilience of our parents, grandparents and so many more, we have developed a moment in time where their legacy can be shared. Inventions, music, art and so much more allow us a peek into the past. While the past may not always be joyful to recall, it is more than important. For us to be able to know exactly where we are going we must know and remember where we have been.
Black History Month has many meanings to many different people but nevertheless it is and forever will be a part of history. Recently, we have seen many negative actions of the past reappear which has been unfortunate. We have also been able to rewrite history with present and future accomplishments. This should stand as a testament to our resilience, motivation but also love as we remember that we are far stronger than we will ever be apart.
https://www.gorockford.com/blog/post/black-history-month/?fbclid=IwAR3XrdKoztaNgAkgpNE6qWu9vIEvanSBUaLL-V1Besp1A2_lQkmIgJNEQjg
Why In The Hell Did I Go To Grad School? : AN INTERVIEW WITH A GRADUATE STUDENT
When I first started graduate school I had a plan, an active ongoing and successful plan that I was absolutely sure would work. It sounded great and worked even better. I utilize my personal story, my networks, and my skills to succeed just as I had been taught but then suddenly I was finished. I had finally finished this hell of a place called graduate school. I had finally walked the stage that everyone practically goes crazy to make it to and guess what? Instead of feeling the gratification I should have I felt stressed, deprived and as if I had lost apart of me that I really enjoyed having... The truth is this…
Grad school was the worst time of my life. Shocking right? You would think that I've been through worse things in my 24 years of living but nope, graduate school wins.
How it began... Why did I go?
The big question is why did I go to graduate school? Well here are two answers that I felt were appropriate: The first answer is what I said in my first ever graduate class when the most qualified professor in my program asked the class why we were there and the second is your normal cliche answer.
1.) I came to grad school because I'm a black woman in America and to be where I want to be in life I'm going to need more than just a bachelor's degree.
2.) A master’s degree will put me ahead of the game
Now, that you’ve read both of these well-prepared answers here’s my real answer;
I went to graduate school because there was a fire in me that burned and had driven me to change the world. I wanted to change the world and the people in it with my influence but I also wanted to be in politics. If you truly understand politics you’ll catch why my mentality was cute but not realistic. I wanted to be in congress. Congresswoman Joyner. While I knew exactly what I wanted to do there was a part of me that could do so much more without limiting myself. I’ve known since I was a child that I could catch the attention of many people just by walking in a room. Whether it be my energy, my smile or just my colorful clothes somehow or someway I would have people staring. With this effect I wanted to change the world because I believe this;
“To change the world you have to affect people's mindsets. Implant the idea & let them claim it as their own.” - Mercedes Joyner
Terms to know:
Grad school: A shortened term for Graduate school.
How Did I Ignore My Health?
Throughout my academic career, I remained pretty healthy until I was in grad school. Now, not having a thyroid was completely normal for me. In fact, it was the only way that I knew how to function. I’d take a pill each day and go on with my normal daily routines. I felt normal and didn’t really pay much attention to my health other than regularly scheduled lab testings, blood drawings, and appointments while being in undergrad (undergraduate college).
It wasn’t until my first semester of graduate school that I had blacked out… and it just had to be while I was while driving.
As scary as this may seem I didn’t realize at the time that I had even blacked out. Due to my normal tune outs, I didn’t think anything of it until it began to happen more and more. In my second semester in graduate school, I was at the gym and blacked out again while on the treadmill but somehow my body was able to react quickly and I didn’t get hurt. It wasn’t until my last semester of grad school that I blacked out again while driving but this time I was almost hit by a vehicle. Coincidentally my body reacted and I caught my steering wheel before things went really bad…
With all of the blacking out and I had many moments to realize how my health was being consistently affected by stress. This stress came directly from being in graduate school. Late Nights, long papers and even all-nighters. There were no excuses for me, even if it meant I had to put my health second. Realistically, that wasn’t the best thing to do but I was determined to finish strong. It wasn’t until after one of my blackouts had occurred I had a conversation with my parents about what was going on. My mother who is a nurse reminded me that stress plays a role in effecting my thyroid levels. My father then added in that I couldn’t reap the benefits of all of my hard work if I simply wasn’t here to do so…… That statement HIT Hard.
With that being the case I tried to slow down but the cycle would repeat itself until I finally had slow it down because my body had enough of my back to back all-nighters. Since all of this, I’ve learn to stop myself before my body does so. It’s important to know your limits but most of all know when you need a break. It’s completely okay and necessary to put your HEALTH FIRST, at all times.
The Birth of “JoynHer”
It all begins with an idea.
/Join-Her/
noun
A universal lifestyle vlog/blog that encompasses everyday relatable events, obstacles & truths.
How it all began
JoynHer was officially created in the Fall (November) 2017 and will successfully be celebrating its 3rd year this November. Before the thought of JoynHer being used for a vlog had ever been conceived it was actually used for my undergraduate SGA campaign. I was running for a senator at large position. There were 5 seats for 5 senators and I was determined to be one of those senators. My Campaign tagline was JoynHer. My cousin had helped come up with this because our last name is Joyner. So instead of “Join Her” which is what I originally had, it was then changed to JoynHer.
From there on it had just been sitting after I won the campaign until an idea had been brought about by many friends, family, and peers. The idea was to start a vlog. Many ideas were to include fashion, family, makeup and so much so it became a vlog about my experiences. This later turned into adding the Grad School Truths series.
Grad School Truths
Grad School Truths was created as a safe and interactive outlet for me as a graduate student. This was a way for students to relate and receive information about different topics that are related to graduate school. Why did I need an outlet in graduate school? So here’s the thing… there’s a change that occurs during your transition from being an undergraduate student to becoming a graduate student. This change will occur with or without your permission and it’s okay because it’s natural. Whether you go right into grad school after you graduate as an undergrad or whether you wait until you’re in your career or married with children there will be a need for you to learn the culture of graduate school. The change that occurs is this… Whatever was working before absolutely may not work this time around because the circumstances are different and the stakes are much higher. These are the things that change from being an undergrad student to becoming a grad student;
Undergrad student————————————————————> Grad student
Going out
You’ll probably only go to big events like homecoming, welcome weeks and a few others. It slows down because you either don’t want to be seen or you have limited time. As a graduate student, you'll probably find it more rewarding to watch a new Netflix series or sleep when you have free time because there won’t be much of it. Between doing papers or projects, meeting with your professors, chair of your department or advisor, doing an extensive amount of research, working, remembering to eat/sleep and stay sane all together any moment of silence you’ll take however you can get it.
Drinking
Your drinking will increase substantially. Now what your choice of beverage is to drink will depend on you. It may vary from coffee, energy drinks, wine or even tequila but it increases. Be sure not to get too out of hand when it comes to any of these adult beverages and if needed take breaks away from drinking them.
Student involvement
As a graduate student, your focus becomes sharpened and tailored towards your choice of study. Whether it be music, communication, biology or even political science all of your academic work becomes centered around your emphasis of choice. Therefore you’ll only see it fit to be involved with people or events that are relatable and worth your time. I suggest actively using this time to participate in department events, conferences at your school (as well as other institutions) and especially to network internally ( at your school) and externally (other schools). It’s okay to meet people in different places.
Class schedule
It is very rare that you will have a class less than two in a half hours unless it’s a 400 level G course. A 400 level G course is a course that is offered for undergraduate and graduate students to enroll for college credit. Yes, this means that you’ll be in a course with undergraduate students but more of you may be required because of your status as a graduate student. Most graduate courses during the week are in the range of two in half to four hours. Luckily, this is usually once a week and in the afternoon or evenings. Now, there are some programs where there are weekend courses and they can range anywhere from two to eight hours but that depends on the professors and department.
Your sanity
Expect to lose your mind a couple of times or more throughout your graduate career. It’s perfectly normal and will be needed. You’ll have moments where you’ll cry, drink, question yourself, want to slap your professor and even want to give up but it’s perfectly normal. There are a series of emotions that you’ll go through and feel because there’s just so much going on at one moment. This becomes an important time for “You-time”. You-time is very important for you to survive in graduate school. Learning to take time for yourself and relax will pay off.
Your health
The college experience within itself is a lot to adjust to, especially if you’ve been sheltered. Between studying, being involved and learning who you are all in one it’s a lot to balance. In graduate school, everything has a deadline and time goes by very quickly so it’s important to make time for yourself but especially your health. With staying up late, waking up early and working on all of your work it can become very easy to not get enough sleep and keep up with your health. Your health can be maintained by going to the gym, setting study hours, making sure that you’re sleeping and properly eating but also managing your time. Not every moment needs to be filled with studying but not every moment is meant to be spent relaxing. Finding an equilibrium between both is necessary.
Your sleep pattern
It’s safe to say that you probably won’t have a steady sleep schedule unless you’re diligent about your time management. It’s important to know when to turn it all off so that you can reboot yourself. Having a cut-off study time is a safety net for catching yourself when. You begin to do too much. Often more times than less I overworked myself without even knowing so until my body has naturally reacted or shutdown. Not getting enough sleep seems all fine and harmless until you look up and you’re having serious health problems that interfere with your graduate career when you could’ve just simply scheduled a nap or plan a bedtime.
Anxiety and stress
Throughout your graduate career, you will be stressed out due to many things. These things will range from graduate school, classes, professors, family, relationships, financials, and life but you’ll have to learn a very important word and that word is “No”. Learn to say no because you can’t do everything nor should you ever try. The word “No” can literally save you from so many problems.
Student/Professor interaction
The fun part of graduate school is when you have to play phone tag, email back and forth and practically harass your professors for your work. Taking the time to understand that professors have lived as well as important but they’ve also chosen to be professors. As lifetime students they should understand how it feels to be exactly where you are. With this being the case you will have one of the three types of professors.
The nonchalant professor
The nonchalant professor just honestly doesn’t care. They don’t care about deadlines, they don’t care about the work, they don’t care about most things and tend to reuse the syllabus and reassign. You can get lucky with the nonchalant professor depending on how they are. There’s the positive nonchalant professor and the asshole nonchalant professor.
The realistic and understanding professor
The realistic and understanding professor tends to be pretty cool. They can spot bullshit but they are understanding of real situations with students. Usually, all you have to do is talk to the professor about what’s going on and they’ll be understanding because you took the time to contact them instead of waiting until the last minute or having a ridiculous excuse.
The overachieving professor
The overachieving professor is the professor that is usually at a high level in the department. Published work, awards, accolades, extensive research and takes their field very seriously. This professor often can be seen as really smart or super crazy. There are different types of achieving professors that exist.
Each of these professors operates in very different ways for every different reason. Sometimes they truly mean no harm it’s just how they are and other times they should’ve been fired and know that but because of good ole tenure they unfortunately still have a job.