Category Archives for Branding
Kablam! Now it’s a marketing blog
KellyHobkirk.com is now a marketing blog. I’ll still be writing about brands and branding primarily on my branding and advertising firm website, trainofthought.net. Inevitable it is that some talk of brands and branding will still be here because marketing and … Continue reading
What’s big?
Big is your dream or vision. Big is unconcerned with size. Big is branding with integrity. Big is your passion. Big is marketing with honesty. Possibilities are big. Creating is big. Thinking is big. Acting is the bigger next step. … Continue reading
My forced break, and the start of a revolution in branding
I had to take a forced break from writing this blog last year due to health reasons. I was struck down twice in 2009 by painful, humbling illnesses. A certain kind of clarity occurs when you’re in that much pain. … Continue reading
People love advertising
People like to complain about advertising. They see it on the internet, on the tele, on billboards, in magazines, and in the mail, and it annoys them. People would prefer to have their entertainment cakes and just stare at them … Continue reading
Branding touches high school students
I had the opportunity to speak about branding at a local Seattle high school a couple weeks ago. It came as no surprise to me that some of the students feel manipulated by the branding efforts of large corporations. What … Continue reading
How to Start Up With a Professional Logo, On Budget and On Time
Should you start your business without a professionally designed logo? The answer is a resounding No! There is absolutely no valid reason or excuse to shortchange your goals and dreams by starting your business without a professional logo. Here’s why: … Continue reading
Why the Customer is Always Right (or 10 Ways to Keep Your Customers Happy)
This is an updated version of an article I wrote on Biznik, which inadvertently started a heated discussion. Designers really jumped on it, but the article is applicable to many types of businesses. How do you make your customers feel … Continue reading
How to Choose the Right Printer for High-Impact Marketing Communications
Learn the essential questions to ask printers prior to hiring them. Learn what to look for, what to expect, what to ask your designer, and how to get the maximum return on investment. I get sample packets all the time … Continue reading
How to Shred a Strong Brand in 10 Minutes Flat
Imagine you have very particular taste when it comes to clothing (or any type of product). Imagine there is a clothing store that you like which sells shirts or pants that really connect with your personal aesthetic. Call it your … Continue reading
How To Keep A Squirrel From Eating Your Nut
I looked out to the back yard, yesterday, just in time to see a blue jay burying a hazelnut in the ground. It hopped around in the loose soil, searching for the right spot, then set the nut down and … Continue reading

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