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It’s important to take pride in your home and use what it has to offer as a catalyst for growth. Our favorite local spots reflect a piece of who we are and what we stand for, and it also never hurts to spotlight a local business. Join us in highlighting our favorite Cincy locales that we’d love to work with, and visit all the same.  

1. MADTREE BREWING

The first on our list of Cincinnati’s local jewels is MadTree Brewing, a perfect concoction of relaxation and fun. Their earthy tones and aesthetic give their establishment and brand a certain coziness that isn’t captured anywhere else. We had multiple team members identify this as their favorite!

Explore Madtree

2. FRETBOARD BREWING

Another one of our favorite local breweries, Fretboard Brewing is a rustic dream right in our backyard. Always a courteous host to local musical talent, Fretboard’s passion and devotion to quality is what makes us gravitate toward them. 

Explore Fretboard

3. CITYBIRD

A local favorite, Citybird specializes in tasty and light-feeling fried chicken sandwiches and tenders. With their sleek and sharp designs, Citybird walks the line between rustic and minimalist.

Explore Citybird

4. DEWEY’S PIZZA

A Cincinnati mainstay, Dewey’s Pizza is a homespun looking pizza chain that has since expanded well beyond its hometown. Dewey’s brand voice has that air of confidence our team has come to love so much while offering a simultaneously down-to-earth feel.

Explore Dewey’s Pizza

5. FAB FERMENTS

Fab Ferments makes a splash on this list with its mix of explosive style, color, and spirituality. A brand that believes in keeping in touch with their roots, and embracing the simple things, Fab Ferments has a style all their own. That’s something that definitely speaks to us.

Explore Fab Ferments

6. CINCY PARKS

A somewhat unconventional pick that some may not consider a “brand,” Cincy Parks makes an appearance on our list. Cincy Parks has a clear objective and their brand conveys that. They simply want more people visiting the various parks around our great hometown!  

Explore Cincy Parks

7. GHOST BABY

One that struck a particular chord thanks to their elegant and effervescent style is Ghost Baby, a unique lounge often teeming with live music. Ghost Baby understands their identity as a refined establishment while also utilizing a tongue-in-cheek brand voice.  

Ghost Baby

8. GRIPPO’S

Moving into the snack space, we have Grippo’s, a brand that many baseball fans are assuredly familiar with! For over a hundred years, Grippo’s dominated the Cincinnati snack market. Their brand reflects that history, with an old-fashioned but tasteful style reminiscent of the years the brand was conceived.  

Explore Grippo’s

9. SKYLINE CHILI

It was only a matter of time before Cincinnati’s famous chili chain joined our list, and we’re of course talking about Skyline Chili. An iconic Cincy brand for years, Skyline has created a powerhouse of a brand by leaning into their diner-like aesthetic and attributes. Their signature cuisine and wholesome brand voice contribute to their wild success.

Explore Skyline Chili

10. THE BAGELRY

It seems as though every big city has a famous bagel chain, and ours is The Bagelry. With their straightforward style and hometown feel, The Bagelry is a rising franchise to watch out for in Cincinnati. 

Explore the Bagelry

11. THE EAGLE

Another great restaurant, The Eagle flies onto our list because of its rustic American feel. With the classic cuisine you’d expect for a restaurant like The Eagle, they add an additional layer by maintaining a consistent brand look that ties it all together.

Explore the Eagle

12. TIRE DISCOUNTERS

Our final brand is another brand many might not associate with Cincinnati, and that’s Cincinnati-based Tire Discounters. With their sleek, NASCAR-like branding, Tire Discounters lets you know what they do before you read a single word on their site. That kind of consistent identity is exactly what makes a brand stick out to us.  

Explore Tire Discounters

CLOSING

Cincinnati is clearly a melting pot of different small businesses, full of their own brand voices and styles. Each brand covered here speaks to our team members not just because of their local ties, but because they are brands we have come to know and appreciate through our exposure to them.  

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU

W.Bradford takes pride in good design and branding, no matter where it comes from, but it’s important to keep a finger on the pulse of what’s going on in our backyard. It’s easy to look up at brands like P&G, but it’s equally as valuable to have a keen eye on the budding businesses around us.

HubSpot’s integrated CRM platform makes skyrocketing your business easier than ever before. Its inbound marketing, sales, operations, and website tools bring unity and clarity to marketing strategy. Because the platform is becoming so critical to the success of new and emerging businesses, we’ve put together five ways HubSpot will benefit your brand.

#1. DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MARKETING-QUALIFIED LEADS

Marketing-qualified leads unfortunately don’t fall out of thin air. Lucky for your brand, HubSpot marketing tools can accelerate leads to marketing-ready with ease. HubSpot benefits your team by making it easy to nurture and qualify leads automatically, weeding out some of your less-qualified candidates. HubSpot also helps connect the dots between marketing and sales, expediting the time it takes to convert leads to customers. When both marketing and sales have access to leads, your team can circle back often to keep leads and definitions up to date.

#2. SYSTEMATICALLY ENGAGE EXISTING LEADS WHO HAVEN’T HEARD FROM YOUR BRAND IN A WHILE

HubSpot’s powerful CRM knows which of your consumers are regularly engaged and which consumers might need a friendly reminder of your brand. With automation tools, customizable messaging, and traceable interactions, HubSpot marketing allows your business to reach existing leads at just the right time. 

#3. CREATE A TRUE OMNICHANNEL EXPERIENCE VS. ONE-OFF COMMUNICATION

Your consumers are constantly getting bombarded with emails and other loud marketing messages. HubSpot’s marketing automation tools allow you to reach customers at pivotal points in the buyer’s journey across multiple channels and continually engage. By using the automation tools and workflows in Hubspot, your brand can take care of top priorities while leads continually interact with your business.

#4. ENABLE LEAD ATTRIBUTION, DEMONSTRATING ROI FOR MARKETING EFFORTS

Knowing where winning customers come from is crucial for the success of your business. Start putting your marketing dollars in the places that make the most sense for your business by using HubSpot’s lead management tools. HubSpot benefits your business by creating custom attribution reports that help demonstrate and improve ROI.

#5. PLACE YOUR BRAND’S MARKETING ACTIVITIES IN A BEST-PRACTICE ECOSYSTEM

Keeping track of all your marketing strategies in a hodgepodge of spreadsheets can only go so far. By implementing and tracking all marketing activities under one roof, your business is automatically more organized, more focused, and more lucrative. HubSpot’s beneficial platform factors in hundreds of marketing best practices. This creates guardrails for your business and allows your entire team to be on the same page with the same goals.

Mastering the art of marketing for franchises and multi-location brands takes intentionality and practice. Unlike other brands, franchise marketing must account for varying demographics and preferences while still maintaining a cohesive brand image. Read on for our top five tips to optimize your franchise marketing efforts.

TIP #1. ENSURE STAKEHOLDER ALIGNMENT AT ALL POINTS IN THE PROCESS, AT ALL COSTS.

Imagine you and a friend plan to meet up for dinner at a chain restaurant, but neglect to specify which address. There’s no way to ensure you’ll arrive at the same location if all drivers aren’t completely on board with the details. The same is true in franchise marketing. All decision drivers must be on the same page, or the brand will arrive at varying destinations—ultimately confusing consumers and weakening trust in the business.  

TIP #2. CONSTANTLY COMMUNICATE WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO SHOW NETWORK VALUE.

As changes are made to the business, all stakeholders should be promptly included in the conversation. The key to successful franchise marketing is creating and maintaining synchronous brand assets. By consistently keeping stakeholders looped in, you’ll create credibility for the business. 

TIP #3. REPORT AND OPTIMIZE YOUR OVERALL PROGRAM FREQUENTLY.

Monitoring how your brand is doing is crucial to business success. Run reports on individual locations’ lead and brand performance, as well as the collective lead and brand performance. Consider how the two reports may be correlated. How can you improve success in individual businesses? How can you improve success of the overall franchise?  

TIP #4. STAND OUT AT TRADE SHOWS AND OTHER EVENTS WITH CLEVER ACTIVATIONS.

Trade shows and events allow franchises to generate long lists of leads in single days or weekends. Your business is likely one of dozens doing the same types of things at these events, so go big to stand out and be the center of attention. Consider how your brand may be able to captivate your target audience with a unique booth display, swag activations, or a riveting off-site event.  

TIP #5. DON’T LET ASSETS AGE.

As nice as it would be, your assets cannot withstand the test of time. Your audience needs to be regularly re-engaged and re-excited with new franchise marketing. Refresh copy and creative frequently in campaigns to nurture leads with fresh assets over a long period of time. 

Establishing a solid and cohesive brand identity is central to illuminating a business in any industry. Without assets that draw consumers directly to your ethos, your brand is likely to underperform and be perceived as unrecognizable when pitted against some of the best.

It’s important to develop an unmistakable and distinguished image that follows across all channels in order to stimulate growth within your target demographic. Here are a few ways strong branding and a refined visual identity could increase visibility and profitability for your business.

BRANDING BUILDS A CONSISTENT IMAGE

A brand with consistent and solid imaging increases profits by 33%. When you form a true and recognizable brand identity around your business, you accelerate the consumer’s ability to connect with you, your intent, and the services you provide. 

According to Brandgility, it takes the average consumer around 5-7 experiences with your brand for it to stick, meaning that a striking visual identity could make or break how your business is viewed in the marketplace and beyond. Consumers are often looking for these four factors when considering a purchase: consistency, quality, experience, and cost. 

Don’t be the outlier. Find a way to connect all the dots between yourself and your target audience. 

BRANDING PROMOTES CONTINUOUS GROWTH

Evolution is ingrained in the culture of brand ownership. Maintaining a stagnant and dated brand identity while your competitors are embracing the future will do nothing but reduce consumer interest and push you further from relevancy. An awareness of design and consumer trends as well as an understanding of the role technology and media play in maintaining a solid image can only elevate your approach. 

Though it’s important to set yourself apart from your competitors, you should do so in a way that doesn’t compromise your brand’s relatability. Experimenting with graphics, typefaces, and color schemes is vital to setting your brand up for success, but it has to be done sparingly—too much abstraction and you risk losing the attention and reliance of your consumer. 

Prove to your audience that you have an active interest in bettering your brand’s purpose. Falling into a place of docility and boredom with your brand will only reflect poorly in their eyes. Show them that you’re listening and are devoted to your brand’s growth.

CONSUMER RECOGNITION

There’s a reason why so few brands in the industry are able to stick to the same image over time. Reaching a status of timelessness with iconic branding is an endeavor that requires time, attention, and diligence, but it isn’t impossible—even for the smallest brands. If you can connect to your consumer and forge a lasting relationship with them, success will follow suit. It is ultimately them, along with trends in the market, that decide whether or not your brand identity has the staying power to reach peak recognition. 

We attach ourselves to our personalities and identities as a way to connect with others, so why not do the same between your business, its branding, and consumers?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a digital marketing strategy that aids in securing your website a top ranking in leading search engines like Google. While you may have a stunning web presence that features elaborately constructed content and bold graphics, your prospective audience may miss out on these efforts if you fail to adopt sufficient SEO processing.

Maintaining a coherent and strategized digital presence is vital to growing your customer base and increasing revenue for your business. Consumers aren’t going to labor through pages of search results to find your services. Appearing within the first five listings of a search is essential to capturing the attention of engine users and capitalizing on their interests. Google needs to trust your website and its relevance in order to boost you higher and improve your rank in organic search results. Having an organized website with clear levels of content and services will make it more accessible to Google, thus increasing your web traffic and visibility. By partnering with an agency strong in SEO, you increase the likelihood of your business being seen within an often oversaturated market. 

Here are some other surefire ways to grow your digital presence: 

• Include an SSL certificate

• Use backlinks from other websites

• Consistently update your website with valuable content

REASONS TO INVEST IN SEO

Search engines are some of the most valuable tools we have at our disposal. With 93% of online experiences beginning with them, these platforms provide prime real estate for highlighting your business against top industry competitors. By outsourcing SEO to an agency experienced in organic search, your web traffic has the potential to multiply rapidly. Around 90% of people avoid going beyond the first page of search results on Google; don’t allow your business to go unseen. The higher you appear on the results page, the more likely consumers are to click on your web handle. 50-60% of people click on the first three results and, by the end of the page, the clicking percentage drops to around 2.4%. On any given day, 59% of internet users are utilizing search engines, so it’s essential to key in on this demographic in order to bolster consumer attention and retention. 

SEO additionally enhances the trustworthiness of your brand. With 28% of people feeling untrusting towards, and questioning the accuracy of, paid content, it’s important to consistently update your online presence with relevant and current collateral. Adopting the strategy of an agency proficient in SEO can aid in building a more reliable reputation for your business. 

CLICKS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Click through rate is a key metric for your website. On average, the highest ranking results in a search will yield 27.6% of traffic, while also being 10 times more likely to be clicked. There’s no question surrounding the importance of refining your business’s digital footprint: the more accessible your content, the higher your yield of traffic. Enacting a sufficient understanding and process of SEO enables your business the staying power of other top brands in your industry. The further you rise to the top in a ranking, the more recognizable your business and its services will become. With only 10% of people clicking onto the second page of a Google search, only around .63% of them will actually navigate into any of the results. Consequently, if you’re not setting yourself up to be first, you’re allowing yourself to be last—seek out the strategies of a trusted agency that specializes in SEO today to rocket your business’ online presence to the top.

Luxury marketing for goods and fine jewelry requires smart strategy and an eye for aesthetics. Choosing lavish color schemes and classic styles can enhance the brand’s ability to communicate luxury to its target audience. Refine your luxury marketing efforts with these five tips.

TIP #1. LEARN HOW TO SHOOT DIAMONDS AND METALS.

Because diamonds and metals have the unique ability to reflect light, learning how to photograph the materials can mean the difference between communicating a luxury good and the average retail knock-off. Try out these few tips at your next shoot:

• For strong contrast, use darker background colors when capturing lighter-toned pieces.

• Position any natural shadows in a way that emphasizes the luxury good as the focus.

• Chose product positioning based on the product’s most striking characteristics.

• Consider developing a scene around the piece based on its end use.

TIP #2. MASTER THE PERFECT PHOTO COMPOSITION.

Yes, luxury goods are often sparkly, mesmerizing, and the focal point of a product image, but this doesn’t mean the rest of the photo composition should be neglected. Angles, focus, colors, background, foreground, and models should all be balanced to curate the perfect luxury marketing photography.

TIP #3. CREATE A COMPELLING, PROVOCATIVE STORYLINE FOR CAMPAIGNS.

Product imagery can only go so far. At some point, the consumer desires to connect with how a luxury good makes them feel after purchase or wear. To tap into this emotional side of luxury marketing, you’ll want to convince the consumer they’ll benefit from owning the product with compelling and proactive storylines that tap into their desires.

TIP #4. ENABLE RESELLERS AND RETAIL SALES ASSOCIATES.

Consider how you might be able to integrate retail sales associates and resellers into the entire campaign. How will the in-store experience reflect the feelings you want the campaign to evoke in your consumers? In what ways will your online campaign mirror the actual purchasing experience for the consumer?

TIP #5. SHOW THE PRODUCTS INCORPORATED INTO THE TARGET CONSUMER’S LIFESTYLE.

When consumers make purchases of luxury goods, they often do so to contribute to their overall lifestyle. Take advantage of this insight and highlight the end user’s luxury lifestyle within all campaign elements. Showcase their clothing, hairstyle, or career within the luxury marketing creative to add an additional layer of connectivity to the consumer.