We’ve been asked about certain topics so often that we decided to address them in writing. (Believe it or not, we got tired of hearing ourselves talk.) Help yourself.

ALUMNI MAGAZINES

Alumni Magazines in a Time of Transition | download PDF
Your magazine offers one of the most effective ways to engage with your alumni, yet the landscape for alumni magazines is changing rapidly. We present an overview of the challenges you face, and some solutions.

BEFORE YOU START A PROJECT

Before You Speak with a Web Development Firm | download PDF
Before you interview potential Web-development firms, there are a number of issues—technical and not—that you should consider.

Choosing a Design Firm | download PDF
Before you look for a design firm, here’s a little homework you should do first.

Color Proofing and Printing | download PDF
A basic understanding of color output and color proofing can help you get printed pieces that look the way you want.

Branding | download PDF
Branding is not simply a logo or a tagline. What is it, and why do we spend so many of our waking hours thinking about it?

Branding for the Rest of Us | download PDF
This is a talk that John has delivered to small businesses about branding for smaller organizations. Never mind Nike and Coca-Cola. What does branding mean to the rest of us?

Your Brand Rollout | download PDF
It's time to launch your brand, so be prepared and take advantage of it.

Copyrights and Trademarks | download PDF
Trademarks, patents, and copyrights are often confused with one another. What does each one do?

Logos | download PDF
A logo represents your organization, event, product or service. What should you strive for—and how can you get one?

Naming Your Organization | download PDF
It’s an organization’s most important branding decision. Why is it so often the biggest mistake?

CREATING CONTENT

Copywriting, Copyediting, and Proofreading—Nitpicking or Necessity? | download PDF
Nearly every adult knows how to write, so it’s easy to assume that you’d be the best person to write about what you want to promote. Sometimes that’s true, but more often collaborating with an outside writer produces the most effective communications.

E-Newsworthy | download PDF
Putting together great content for your e-newsletter. You want people to read your e-newsletter, right? Engage your audience. This article is not about the technical aspects of building a successful e-newsletter.

Writing for Web 2.0 | download PDF
The proliferation of cool new communications devices and formats can make it easy to forget the fact that for most businesses, “the medium is meaningless—the message is the thing.” (NewMedia magazine, May 1995.)

Create and Deliver Compelling PowerPoint Presentations | download PDF
You rarely see a presentation that isn’t accompanied by a PowerPoint slide show. Audiences have become accustomed to them, but all too often, they are poorly done. This article will outline the steps needed to create and deliver an effective PowerPoint presentation.

MARKETING

Cohorts | download PDF
The concept behind marketing to a “cohort” is simple: most people in the same age group—that’s what determines a “cohort”—tend to share a significant number of experiences, goals, and values. This information can help you make smart choices about how to market products and services.

Strategic Communications | download PDF
We see too many companies approach marketing in a piecemeal way. To be blunt, our most successful clients approach marketing in a more systematic, comprehensive manner. Here is an overview of that approach.

PLANNING YOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Communications Plan | download PDF
A communications plan is the road map for all your communications projects: here’s how to plot it out.

Capital Campaigns | download PDF
What materials are needed for a typical capital campaign? Find out what they are and how they are used.