Making You Smile

Here’s the logo of Eclosia, the bilingual Montessori school whose brand we at Making You Smile helped reimagine from scratch. Without the tagline (copy) "Where Children Shine," the design wouldn't have come together as it did. Creating this copy gave us a clear direction for the logo. And this copy was one of the many things born from thoroughly-defined messaging and positioning. In other words, the right order of brand-building is this:👇 1. #Positioning = How you want to be perceived (and differentiate) in the market 2. #Messaging = How you communicate your positioning 3. #Copywriting = How you turn your messaging into persuasive content* 4. #Design = How you visually evoke the right emotions, amplifying the message If you skip any of the steps here☝️, you risk wasting a lot of money, time, and efforts because your brand communication will lack clarity and focus. Way too many companies and entrepreneurs are being misled by the common misconception that branding is only about design. Reach out to me to discuss how we can build together a unique, solid, and irresistible brand for your business—the right way. *Another common misunderstanding is that copywriting is only about creating punchy taglines. Wrong. Any content writing is copywriting as long as you keep the intention of being persuasive.

Never start with design. If you’re building a brand, articulate first your answers to the following questions: 1️⃣ What unique value do you (aim to) bring to the market? ( ▶ Don't play it safe. Differentiate.) 2️⃣ For whom? ( ▶ Be specific—you can't sell to everyone.) 3️⃣ How do you create that value? ( ▶ Make this point clear; otherwise, you're just bluffing.) Unless you clarify those things☝️, your brand will lack purpose and differentiation in the marketplace. Logo, fonts, colors, look & feel? These are to visually « express » your differentiation. They’re TOOLS, neither strategy nor your brand itself. Learn more about this critical topic by reading my article, « Never Start With Your Logo: How to Build a Powerful and Solid Brand. » Here’s the link👇 https://lnkd.in/dMw2qmAW Making You Smile #brandstrategy #contentwriting #design #digital

Positioning → Messaging → Copywriting → Design 1. #Positioning = How you want to be perceived in the market 2. #Messaging = How you communicate your positioning 3. #Copywriting = How you turn your messaging into persuasive content 4. #Design = How you visually evoke the right emotions, amplifying the message Brands that prioritize design over messaging risk sacrificing clarity and effectiveness in communicating their positioning. Reach out to us to discuss how we can help you rise above the rest by getting this process right. Making You Smile #BrandingAgency

😄 I’m thrilled to share these new customer testimonials about our work: "They have lifted our branding and messaging to a whole new level.” – Tom Debus, CTO, Ferris Solutions AG “You stood out for your ability to transform our complex high-tech company into a clear, simple, and appealing brand. Even my wife finally understands what we do!” – Marco Selva, CEO, Ferris Solutions AG "More than anything else, our impression of the Team at Making You Smile was, and is, that they are an exceptionally talented group of people, with a great human factor. The ability to listen, absorb and translate our company DNA into a website and message that truly reflect who we are has been a revelation. Working with Eva, Jamie and Taehee was equally fun, educational and rewarding!" - Felix Caprez, COO, Ferris Solutions AG + Reto Isenegger Frank Kaminsky A wholehearted thank you to the entire Ferris team for your trust, great sense of humor, and exceptional drive! https://ferris.ai Making You Smile #branding #copywriting #design #digital

Hey, tomorrow I'm sending out an email about the 3 things that have been most useful to Making You Smile and our clients for turning audiences into customers—and even advocates—by understanding THIS fundamental human need. Enter your email address right here👇 to make sure you receive it, too. https://lnkd.in/e3engMhe (And find out what made us burst into laughter! 😆) Making You Smile #branding #copywriting #design #digital #marketing #CustomerEngagement #MYSInsider #newsletter

Learn how to nail targeting, messaging, and storytelling from Scarlett Johansson. In this month's MYS Insider newsletter, I break down the brilliant pitch given by her character in the recent movie "Fly Me to the Moon." Sign up for our email list today (link in the comments👇) not to miss out on Johansson's marketing magic formula, arriving in your inbox this Friday. Making You Smile #branding #copywriting #design #digital #newsletter #targeting #messaging #storytelling

According to Carl Jung, the 12 archetypes are believed to reside in our collective unconscious, deeply rooted within it. These archetypes offer personalities and traits that effortlessly resonate with the human psyche. Think about Chandler, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Rachel, and Ross from 'Friends,' the much-loved American series from the 1990s-2000s that has now become an undeniable classic. Each of these characters represents a mix of archetypes, making them universally attractive, familiar, and relatable.   The same applies to branding. Have you ever noticed some brands build connections with people better than others? How about Lego, Disney, Nike, or Unicef? By defining an archetype, you can create a brand narrative that’s not only impactful but also builds a deeper emotional connection with your target audience. ▶ The Innocent – Pure, optimistic, and loyal (Dove, Innocent Smoothies, Petit BamBou) ▶ The Everyperson – Approachable, inclusive, and connects with others (Airbnb, Gap, Ikea) ▶ The Hero – Courageous, masterful, and honorable (Accenture, Nike) ▶ The Outlaw – Rule-breaking, risk-taking, and inspiring (Virgin/Richard Branson) ▶ The Explorer – Adventurous, authentic, and pioneering (Jeep, National Geographic, Patagonia) ▶ The Creator – Innovative, daring, and imaginative (Apple, Lego) ▶ The Ruler – Authoritative, brings control, and leadership (Microsoft, Mercedes, Mont Blanc) ▶ The Magician – Creative, idealistic, and transformative (Disney, Ciaté London) ▶ The Lover – Romantic, passionate, and intimate (Victoria’s Secret, Chanel N°5) ▶ The Caregiver - Caring, maternal, and compassionate (Unicef, Johnson & Johnson, Pampers) ▶ The Jester – Fun, joyful, and light-hearted (Ben & Jerry’s, M&M’s) ▶ The Sage - Knowledgeable, wise, and an expert (BBC, The Economist, Philips) At Making You Smile, we often leverage this highly-effective concept for our clients to help them build an authentic brand positioning, messaging, and visual identity. When you understand how to identify the “right mix” of 2 or 3 archetypes and master the art of deploying this method, you can create a unique and emotionally powerful brand that none of your competitors can imitate.   Also, by keeping your Brand Archetypes in mind, maintaining your brand’s consistency across different customer touchpoints and over time becomes much easier. It's actually game-changing how simple it becomes. By the way, can you guess which of the 12 archetypes we've been using to build our own brand, Making You Smile? (A hint: we've been experimenting with a subtle blend of two 😉) Making You Smile #branding #copywriting #design #digital #BrandArchetypes

Stand out from the crowd, even in a saturated market. But how? In our next MYS Insider newsletter, discover how to make your brand the only choice for your ideal customers, not just a better choice than your competitors. Not an MYS Insider yet? Sign up here NOW. The newsletter goes out tomorrow morning (CET). https://lnkd.in/e8N-abTA Making You Smile #branding #copywriting #design #digital #newsletter

My 1:1 brand-strategy #coaching package is specifically designed for #solopreneurs and #smallbusiness owners. It’s for those who believe a better brand means a more successful business but don’t have the budget to hire an entire branding agency. This summer, embark on a fun yet profoundly fulfilling journey to build a brand that... ↗ No one can imitate ↗ Engages the right people ↗ Delights and inspires your target customers ↗ Helps your business (and yourself) grow healthily ↗ Empowers you to deliver your pitch with more confidence than ever before It’s a 1:1 workshop between you and me, which consists of 4 x 1h15 online coaching sessions and 2 x follow-up calls. The work can be done in English, French, or Korean. Your call. 😉 For all the nuts and bolts of this program, check out our dedicated webpage. https://lnkd.in/ewD5CWwK Making You Smile #branding #copywriting #design #digital

'What should we write or show?' 'What should its design be like so it creates a good user experience?' 'How can we stand out amongst the competition even though the market is absolutely saturated?' We know how overwhelmed many people feel when they set out to create a new #website. In addition, statistics* show around HALF of website visitors don’t even bother to navigate beyond the first page. Not only web users form an opinion about a website in 0.05 seconds, but also the average time spent by a website visitor on a single page is only 54 seconds. Those findings mean that all the verbal and visual elements should be conceived and curated thoroughly so they're extremely captivating, engaging, and easy to process. Not a simple challenge indeed, but fear not. This is why we created the free guide, 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲. Here's the link.👇 It's free. Go get it delivered to your email box today. 💌 https://lnkd.in/eZEQNGYJ I hope your mind will shift from “I just have no idea what to do” to “I’m ready to create a powerful website our customers will be delighted about!” Making You Smile #branding #copywriting #design #digital #freebie