Behind the Brand

Krystel Spell photo credit to HMM Portraits LLC

Photo credit to HMM Portraits LLC

By: Bianca Strzalkowski

Krystel Spell’s 100,000+ followers would be surprised to learn that the brand empire, known as Army Wife 101, actually began as a personal video project. The branding expert says she initially started vlogging (video blogging) on YouTube to share cooking videos and document aspects of military life. She never imagined that it would turn into a lucrative business with earnings in excess of $5,000 per month.

“I had no idea that blogging would ever be a business,” Spell said. “I remember the first time another blogger, and military wife, called me for a campaign with Sears and told me I would get a dryer in exchange for blogging. I literally screamed. I felt like I was getting gold, so you can only imagine the feeling of receiving my first paycheck.”

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2016-07-18T15:50:20-04:00July 18th, 2016|CEO Highlight, PowerTips e-newsletter|

DID YOU KNOW?

A brand is more than a logo, and a logo is just a small part of a company’s first impression to potential customers. A robust marketing plan includes branding that defines who you are and what clientele you are trying to reach.

Fact: Color increases brand recognition by up to 80 percent, according to a study by University of Loyola, Maryland. Let Powerhouse Planning assist your company in building a standout brand that increases your followers and draws customers in. Our services include website development, graphic design, and more. Review our full offerings at Powerhouse Planning.

2016-07-18T15:46:47-04:00July 18th, 2016|PowerTips e-newsletter|

Two Peas in a Pod: How Your Brand Affects Your SEO Rank

Concept of coworking

By: Angela Caban, MHRM

When I started building my business online six years ago, I hustled to get my Google ranking up. Consequently, I was so focused on bringing up my search engine rank (and crushing it) that I was neglecting my brand and what potential clients would think of me. In many instances, potential clients care more about the reputation of your brand rather than seeing you rank higher in search results. This doesn’t mean you should give up on raising that ranking; rather, you should focus on both. The two actually complement each other.

What is SEO and why is it important?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of affecting the visibility of a site or page in a search engine’s results. In other words, you didn’t promote or pay for advertisements. Visitors find your site based off of the keywords typed in a search engine. And, as tedious as the process of working SEO can be, this is a vital step in any brand building. You have a golden opportunity to market your brand and build your ranking, especially for those niche brands.

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2016-07-18T15:46:53-04:00July 18th, 2016|Marketing Buzz, PowerTips e-newsletter|

Company Takes the Unknowns Out of Military Moves

By: Bianca StrzalkowskiMillie 2

There’s no place like home—and for military families who are constantly on the go, getting the right home can make or break the experience at their next duty station. That’s where Millie comes in.

Founded late last year, Millie was a collaborative effort of two businesses—AgentHero and Military Property Project—joining forces. The company, owned and operated by veterans and military spouses, does all of the legwork for service members and their families ahead of a relocation.

“We always say that the only thing the military really does is pack your boxes and load it onto a truck. We provide military families with information and support for all the other parts of the move,” Lauren Rothlisberger, Director of Marketing, said. “We believe that anytime a family can make informed decisions about their next duty station, before they even get there, their move will go much smoother. The goal is to keep the transition time to a minimum so that the impact is less on the families.”

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2016-07-20T16:27:01-04:00July 18th, 2016|Business Etiquette, PowerTips e-newsletter|

Client Profile: DLS Engineering

DLS Vector LOGOPowerhouse Planning guides companies toward initiating and instituting high-IMPACT business plans that succeed in the forms of growth, recognition, efficiency, and new opportunities. Small to mid-size companies often struggle to afford full-blown, dedicated teams focused on marketing, company development, and business growth. We serve as an affordable, scalable, and targeted resource to assist companies of all sizes in achieving their goals. We provide business/company development, external/internal communications, and marketing services.

Here’s what a recent client had to say about working with us:

“Powerhouse thoughtfully helped us develop a stronger message and accentuate the differentiating qualities of our company.”

  • Kevin Speers, Vice President, DLS Engineering

Interested in learning how we can help your company grow? Email us at admin@powerhouseplanning.com. We’d love to be on your team!

2016-07-18T15:54:46-04:00July 18th, 2016|PowerTips e-newsletter, Service & Success|

An Extra Set of Hands to Build Your Business

By: Randi Cairns

Talk to the typical business owner and more often than not, one of the most common frustrations cited is the time spent on the “details” instead of the heart and soul of sustaining and growing a business. Your “job” is to move things forward, and yet it’s very easy—too easy—to get stuck in the mundane.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if there were a work genie? Someone who could magically take tasks off your plate so your focus and attention could be on the important things?

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2016-07-18T15:47:12-04:00July 18th, 2016|Business Resources, PowerTips e-newsletter|

Nonprofit Profile: Military Spouse Corporate Career Network

Giving BackBy: Bianca Strzalkowski

Employment continues to be a leading issue among military-affiliated job seekers, with the jobless rate of military spouses continuing to range from 12 to 26 percent, according to reports. It is one of the factors that led Navy wife Deb Kloeppel to launch the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network (MSCCN) in 2004. By 2009, the nonprofit organization was receiving increasing requests to assist the veteran spouses of its clients. With an obvious need to fill, they reworked their strategic plan and added a sister organization called Corporate America Supports You (CASY).

CASY and MSCCN guide applicants through every step of the employment process, from resume preparation to mock interviews to searches for open positions. They also offer continuing education training online, for free, on a range of topics. Since the start of 2016, they have 2,445 verified hires.

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