The phrase “link in bio” has become part of our modern lexicon. You, or any creator or small business you know, can say these three magic words and immediately make someone stop scrolling and head to that tiny but powerful link in your social media bio. Because that’s just what a link in bio is: a clickable link in the bio section of a social media profile. This single link usually directs your audience to a landing page with additional content and links relevant to your prospective customer...
27 days ago • 2 min read
My product-based business is international! I’ve expanded my award-winning sensory candle brand to Canada. While this incredible milestone wasn’t on my Bingo card for the business this year, I welcome the growth. I packed the orders and processed the payments. And then. It hit me. First, my e-commerce platform’s 1.5% currency conversion fee on top of the standard 3.6% merchant fee. That’s 5.1% already gone. These fees are on a wholesale order with a 50% markdown on retail value (due to the...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Last weekend, I filed my 7th trademark. I don’t mean to collect trademarks like Pokémon cards. I’m just passionate about protecting my brands (you should be, too) and building a portfolio of intellectual property that can add value to your business. The first six trademark filings have been under the guidance and counsel of a trademark lawyer (which I highly recommend), and I’ve learned a lot. After being sued at the top of this year for a trademark—and needing two lawyers to clear the...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
A top-secret giveaway prize for you, The Brand Bloc readers, is in creative development! I thought I’d take you along the ride—or under the hood—to preview the creative process. You might win this prize, after all 🤩 You can also use the below as a guide for your future creative projects and hires (big or small). I hired a creative freelancer (an illustrator, to be specific) to bring my vision to life; she is absolutely knocking it out of the park, making my creative vision for this prize a...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Ever had that eureka moment where you randomly have an idea for a promotion, product, email, or another business idea? Tell me, what’s usually your next thought? A. I have a great idea and need to buy the domain now. B. I have an idea and need to tell a friend. C. I have an idea and need a logo ASAP. I’m guilty of all three 🙋♀️ But this week, I’m here to share that the next best step is: you need to tell a prospective customer. Someone you think is a good fit for the solution to the problem...
2 months ago • 3 min read
The Brand Bloc is growing! And I couldn’t be more excited to have you here. Since our mini break, The Brand Bloc has grown by 30.6% 🤯 But how? Well, that’s the scoop I want to share with you this week... Business automation tools Summertime invites (arguably, tempts) us to make more time for play, leisure, and adventure. We aren’t as glued to our computers, offices, or workstations. Instead, we’re (ideally) checking email less and enjoying the outside more. But for us small business owners,...
3 months ago • 1 min read
If you or your brand have a presence on the Web, then you should absolutely know (and optimize) what appears when you Google you or your brand. Are your brand name, tagline, and site description accurate and appealing? Someone should be enticed to click. Did a super fan write about you on Reddit or their blog? These queries and reviews can make or break you. Are competitors running ads against your brand terms and, perhaps, outranking you? You should counter that quickly. Is someone else with...
4 months ago • 2 min read
A round of applause for Coca-Cola this week. Its iconic logo and brand color are so recognizably strong that it’s crushing its logo in a global out-of-home campaign to inspire action. Here’s a condensed motion demo of Coca-Cola’s clever logo-crushing campaign: Credit: Coca-Cola® The campaign is first rolling out in Latin America, so the ads will have Portuguese and Spanish translations that ultimately read, “Recycle Me.” And if you think about Coca-Cola’s signature aluminum cans, the...
5 months ago • 1 min read
If you’re reading The Brand Bloc, then you’re probably a brand owner and a _________. a designer a baker a doctor a writer a mother, uncle, or auntie Being a multi-passionate and multi-talented multi-hyphenate is a gift. You’ve identified more than one thing that sparks joy or curiosity enough to build a career, brand, or business around your interests or expertise. But that gift can quickly become a nightmare without the right team, process, and expectations in place. You can fall victim to...
5 months ago • 1 min read