marketing - MIFA Media

The Benefits of Working with Women-Owned Businesses

March 18, 2024/0 Comments/in Blog/by Mary Skomial

It’s National Women’s History Month. I don’t know about you, but I love following the stories about remarkable women and girls and what they have accomplished. And it’s a dream come true to be among those who are running successful businesses of their own – and doing work they are passionate about.

Woman-owned is a wonderful thing.
As the marketplace becomes more diverse, the number of women-owned businesses in the U.S. is growing. There are a number of certifications available to businesses that are primarily owned, controlled, operated, and managed by women. Acquiring any of these certifications requires a lengthy and intense vetting process. At MIFA Media, we decided to become a certified women-owned company in the State of New Jersey. Having gone through the process, I understand why being certified is valued so highly – by both businesses and those who hire them.

Partnering with a woman-owned business offers a boatload of benefits.
When you’re looking for new partnerships, there are plenty of reasons why it’s beneficial to hire a certified woman-owned business. For starters, you can be assured that you’re working with competent business owners who are committed to providing exceptional products and services.

Working with a certified women-owned business also encourages the kind of innovation and creativity that will give your company an advantage in a competitive marketplace. Studies have shown that diverse teams are more inventive and come up with better solutions to complex problems.

By working with a woman-owned business, you can tap into the unique perspectives and ideas of experienced women entrepreneurs. MIFA Media is among a surprisingly small number of women-owned creative agencies, and we’ve earned a reputation for our award-winning, out-of-the-box solutions for clients across a range of industries. We love getting to know our clients, and they love knowing we’re hands-on, nimble, and way more responsive than bigger, fancier firms.

Diversification is good for (your) business.
Partnering with a certified women-owned business shows your company’s willingness to work with diverse markets – and to put your beliefs into practice. It can lead to bigger opportunities with other companies that support business diversity, allow you to connect with new, socially-conscious consumers (including female consumers), and differentiate your business in the community.

Women-owned businesses often prioritize creating diverse and inclusive workplaces, which often helps improve employee morale and productivity for your business as well as theirs. Looking to attract high-quality talent? Showing that you work with diverse or minority-owned businesses is critical. A majority of job seekers today consider diversity when evaluating companies and job offers.

There are tax incentives for working with minority-owned businesses.
The government has passed laws that encourage companies to work with minority-owned businesses. There are federal and state programs that offer corporate tax reductions for hiring diverse suppliers, including women-owned businesses. This can help reduce overall taxable income and tax liabilities for projects funded with federal or state grants or loans when the supplier is women-owned. And supporting supplier diversity makes your business more attractive to corporations that are seeking second-tier sourcing suppliers that work with women-owned businesses.

From tax incentives to greater productivity to fresh thinking, working with women-owned businesses benefits your company, your customers, and your community. MIFA Media is proud to partner with kick-ass clients who want to create positive and meaningful change – in both the workplace and in their branding!

Why Branding Matters

January 28, 2024/0 Comments/in Blog/by Mary Skomial

Why is Branding Such a Big Deal?

Simply put, your brand is what separates you from your competition – and is arguably the most powerful tool your business has for developing the trust and loyalty of your clients or customers.

Your brand absolutely must set your business apart.

Between the challenging economy and the tsunami of information people are bombarded with, it’s never been more important – or more difficult – to stand out from the competition. But companies that successfully express their values, culture, and personality through their branding are able to not only capture the attention of potential clients or customers – they build genuine connections that last.

Clients often think their brand is their logo – but it is so much more than just your visual identity. It’s your voice and your message. It’s why you exist and how you can help your clients or customers. Ultimately, your brand defines what people think, and how they feel, about your business.

At MIFA Media, our approach to branding is unique for each client.

But our process is consistently strategic. Whether you are developing your brand from scratch or considering a refresh of your current branding, we always do a deep dive into your market, your competitors, and your products/services.

We ask tons of questions so we can understand your purpose, passions, and people. And we encourage you to answer them from your customers’ point of view. This will give you greater insight into why your business matters, and the chance to ask yourself whether your existing branding – and your customers’ perceptions – are aligned with your mission and goals.

Then we create unique and compelling brand assets that convey who you are and what you deliver to your customers. This can include everything from generating ideas for your business name and tagline to designing your logo and crafting your messaging.

Building a strong brand isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition.

Branding is a complex and intensive process, and doing everything at once can be super-costly. But that’s no reason to try to cut corners. We will work with you to build your brand one step at a time. You can start with a great logo, then slowly chip away at other pieces of the project. That way you can afford to work with experienced professionals – and avoid the added expense of redoing stuff that is poor quality or lacks a cohesive look and feel.

Helping a high-end hair salon shine in a crowded marketplace.

When the owners of Iridescent Suite launched their new salon, they needed to attract high-quality clients. They also knew their branding had to be unique and impactful if they were going to make a splash in a jam-packed market sector.

Our in-depth research revealed that the owners are obsessed with all things related to hair. They also care deeply about their clients, and bend over backwards to make them feel comfortable, confident, and beautiful. Their branding had to convey the luxurious and decidedly Zen experience they were creating in the salon – and resonate with clients who would value their upscale services and products.

We put together an easy-to-execute plan for their brand that they can roll out in stages:

Design an eye-catching logo and use it everywhere. Our bold design embodies the salon’s “high-end hippie” vibe. We added a shimmery glow to a playful shadow font, stacked it on a classic sans serif, and secured it all with a stylized hair pin. Applying the logo to everything from signage to stylist smocks heightens the brand impact, giving it a professional, pulled-together look.
Build a consistent social presence to show they mean business. The salon’s promotion strategy heavily targets social media for two reasons: 1) it connects with their target demographic and 2) it offers numerous opportunities to showcase their team’s expertise and artistry.
Give SEO a boost. Reminding happy clients to leave Google reviews will increase the salon’s ability to be “found” in online searches.
Create a website with a “wow factor.” As the business grows, the owners will invest in a website that is professionally designed, written, and built to reflect their passion for all things hair – and their commitment to making customer comfort and satisfaction a priority.

Cutting through the clutter and connecting with your ideal customer is no small task. But when you partner with MIFA Media to create a meaningful and memorable combination of visuals and messaging – well, this is exactly what effective branding can do for you.

3 Secrets to Creating a Marketing Plan That Works

December 14, 2023/0 Comments/in Blog/by Mary Skomial

Have you started your marketing plan for 2024?

No pressure – but now is the time to be analyzing, strategizing and budgeting for marketing
your business in the New Year. Of course, recent experience has proven that none of us can
predict what might happen over the next 12 months (or 12 hours!) But here are three concrete
steps to creating a marketing plan that will support the goals you set now – and any pivots you
make as the year unfolds.

1. Resist the Urge to Recycle (Last Year’s Plan)
With so much on your year-end plate, it’s tempting to simply look back at what worked in 2023
and plan to do more of it in 2024. But returning to the tried and true is not exactly a “strategy.”
If your company is evolving, your marketing objectives need to support your evolving vision.
Assessing last year’s marketing successes – as well as evaluating what did not work so well – is
an essential first step in developing your new plan. But don’t stop there. Identify what you want
your business and your team to achieve in the year ahead, then consider how to tweak or
revamp your marketing efforts to support these objectives.

2. Map Out the Right Mix
How do you determine what to keep, what to toss and what to add to your marketing mix?
Start by reviewing all of the internal data/metrics you can gather from the past 12 months.
Check in with your customers or clients. What are their current pain points or concerns? Which
of your company’s products or services could address these challenges? And what messaging
and call-to-actions need to be developed?

It’s also important to consider projected trends for your industry or market niche, and be super-
clear about where your target demographic is getting their information. Is it via websites?
Google? Specific social media sites? What they prefer now may be significantly different than it
was a year ago – and it may shift again six months from now.

Many businesses map out their plans by marketing channel, but keep in mind that your
customers don’t necessarily experience your marketing that way. Each interaction they have
with your brand is part of their total user experience. It’s important to spend time evaluating
how your customers are moving through their buyer journey – and designing your marketing
campaign so it resonates with them each step of the way.

3. Build a Realistic Budget
No matter how small or large your business is, your budget needs to allocate specific dollars to
marketing. But exactly how much should you spend on promoting your business?
Industry experts typically suggest calculating your marketing budget based on a percent of sales
or revenue. (Just Google “small business marketing budget” and you’ll see this can range anywhere from 2% to 12%.) But simply using a random percentage doesn’t take into account
your unique challenges and goals.

So, in addition to looking at your current and projected sales, you need to consider the other
key pillars of your marketing plan:

Your target audience
How to reach them
Where to focus your time, energy, and dollars in light of the financial and human
resources that are available.

Once you have all of these components in place – and factor in the reward vs. the risk – then
you can figure out the budget.

When it comes to marketing, MIFA Media is all in on being innovative. But we also know that
customers want to engage with brands that are consistently authentic. If you want content that
connects with your audience and stands out from the crowd, give us a shout!

Color Makes the Season (and Your Branding) Bright

November 27, 2023/0 Comments/in Blog/by Mary Skomial

Color is one of the most powerful elements when it comes to creating an impactful and effective design, branding, or marketing strategy.

Equally as important as factors like font and proportion, color contributes to balance and hierarchy in design. Choosing a cohesive color scheme in the midst of developing your branding – not as an afterthought – ensures a seamless design where all of the elements work together to convey the personality of your company.

Each color has a meaning and feeling that attracts people (or deters them).

Color sets the vibe for your company, so you want to choose shades that are appropriate for your brand. For example, warm colors (think yellow undertones) show excitement and optimism, while cool colors (blue undertones) symbolize calm and harmony. If you are a therapist, you’ll want to steer clear of using bright red for your logo and go with cooler tones to convey a more peaceful ambiance. On the flip side, if competitive brands are all using soft green in their package designs, choosing a notice-me color will help your products stand out on the shelf.

For proof of color’s power to influence customer behavior, look no further than the role it plays in holiday marketing.

The signature colors of each holiday have become so ingrained in our culture and traditions that they communicate layers of meaning without a single word. An orange and black window display tells us it’s Halloween; yellow and brown food packaging symbolizes Thanksgiving; black, red, and green are the colors of Kwanzaa; and a sea of red and green can only mean it’s Christmastime.

Colors stir our emotions, evoking specific feelings and conjuring up memories.

Let’s take a look at the psychology behind a few of the popular color pairs that make this season bright.

ORANGE & YELLOW: Yellow is vibrant and cheerful, evoking feelings of optimism and happiness (the smiley face embodies the power of yellow!) Orange is associated with energy, enthusiasm, and warmth. Together, they mirror nature’s changing leaves and abundant harvest, making them the classic palette for autumn’s biggest holidays – Halloween and Thanksgiving.

RED & GREEN: Red and green have been linked back to traditional winter solstice celebrations, where Celtic people used green holly plants with their deep red berries to welcome the shift in seasons. Today, this iconic color combo is synonymous with Christmas. The energy, passion, and urgency of red, paired with green’s connection to nature, growth, and freshness, instantly lifts our spirits and conjures up joyful holiday memories.

BLUE & WHITE: White symbolizes purity, simplicity, and innocence, while blue is often linked to feelings of reliability and serenity (a blue logo projects a sense of trust and dependability.) The origin of the colors’ association with the celebration of Hanukkah is up for debate. Some say the colors are rooted in theology (the Jewish prayer shawl is white with one blue string), while others believe they were inspired by the Israeli flag.

SILVER & GOLD: There are no “official” New Year’s colors, but silver and gold are the go-to choice for ringing in the new. These classically elegant colors symbolize opulence, luxury, and success. Gold and silver sparkle like the ball dropping in Times Square. They are also the color of money – and isn’t abundance something we all wish for in the coming year?

At MIFA Media, we understand that every element of design plays a role in capturing people’s attention and engaging their emotions. By strategically using colors that align with each client’s vision and values, we help them create a unique brand identity – and memorable customer experiences that drive results.

Why are logo and brand design so expensive?

October 12, 2023/0 Comments/in Blog/by Mary Skomial

At MIFA Media, we understand the importance of knowing where and how your money is being spent. Weighing costs is something that we contend with every day. So we understand the knee-jerk reaction to some logo and brand design costs. It seems expensive for something that…doesn’t physically exist. BUT, and this is a big but (and we cannot lie), it is worth it! Let us break it down for you.

What are you paying for?

Knowledge/Experience

The team at MIFA Media has over 75 years of brand and design experience. We live and breathe design every day of our lives. Not only that, we’re constantly learning as well. As a design firm, our education is continuous in order to provide the best service possible to our customers. Aside from our innate ability, years of experience, and constant striving for perfection, we also keep up with the latest design trends. Simply put, we know design.

Time/Effort

When we’re working on a project, our focus is entirely on the client. We set aside a block of time where our energy is dedicated to one thing. We do this for every project we tackle. Our time is valuable, but you get what you pay for. Good design takes time and focus.

Customization/Bespoke

Every project we undertake is crafted to suit the exact needs of the client. We don’t work from templates. We figure out what the client wants and needs and utilize that information to create something bespoke. Unlike some DIY design sites, you can directly interface with us. That means you can change things on the fly or hit us with a new idea altogether. MIFA Media is here for whatever you need when it comes to a project.

My Expenses

Finally, we incur regular costs to keep the business running. We try to keep the overhead low, but we are running a business. Some of that cost has to be passed onto the clients. Overall, the quality of our work more than makes up for the price. And, as an added bonus, these expenses are typically tax deductible!

An Investment In Your Future

Don’t think of it as paying for design. Think of it as investing in your brand. If you want a strong return on you investment, you need to start with high quality work. When it comes to design, MIFA Media is dedicated to making sure your money is well spent. Contact us today for your next design project!

3 Reasons how a blog can benefit you

February 16, 2023/0 Comments/in Blog/by Mary Skomial

1. Drive traffic to your website

This might be the most obvious reason, however, many people seem to overlook this. Adding new content to your blog increases the amount of “fresh” content on your website, which can place it higher than other websites on search engines. This minimal add is an easy and affordable way to boost traffic to your website.

2. Boost your social media

Having extra content to share gives you the opportunity to share it on your social media platforms; and if you don’t have that, it’s a great time to start. Adding content that is valuable to your demographic gives you a higher chance of gaining social shares, which leads to new clients.

3. Showcase your skills

Writing content about what you know and your experiences helps to showcase your talents to the world. Writing about topics you know helps reassure your clients that you are an expert in the field. Another perk is it might tell people about a skill set they didn’t know you had.

Regardless of your industry and where you are, having a blog can be a very beneficial tool for your company. With minimal effort and consistency, you will notice over time the positive effects a blog can have on your business.

Why you need social media for your business

January 23, 2023/0 Comments/in Blog/by Mary Skomial

Whether you are a startup company or have been around the block, it’s important in the modern world to acquire a social media presence. With social media usage being one of the top online activities, it was calculated in 2019 that 79% of the population in the United States alone had a social media profile. With social media being free, it’s a no brainer that you should get your company on the grid. Here are just a few reasons why you need social media for your business.

1. SEO

No matter the field of your business, people always want to increase traffic to their website. If your clients cannot find you easily on the internet, then you will have trouble increasing traffic to your site. Social media helps you to overtake the first search results effortlessly. With millennials spending a vast amount of time on social media, it has been proven to hold value now and will continue to do so in the future.

2. Stay Relevant

Social media helps to create a bond between you and your clients. With simple posts, you are able to keep your clients updated on new launches, store openings, company policies and so much more. Each post helps to share your values and ethics with the rest of the world – but be sure to refrain from unnecessary posting, since this can push away clients.

3. Client Relationships

Hearing that someone does not have a social media account normally arouses a negative connotation and is unusual in contemporary America. Social media has become as important as having a well-designed website. With clients posting reviews to social media, while also gaining influencers for their brand, it becomes another form of publicity that their company needs in order to remain prevalent in the digital world.

With a variety of different channels, whether it be Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, it is vital to jump on the bandwagon. With the right combination of imagery and context along with posting strategically, your business will begin to boost sales and gain new leads more efficiently.

3 Top Reasons to Hire a Boutique Versus Large Agency

January 5, 2023/3 Comments/in Blog/by Mary Skomial

One of the biggest decisions a company must make is the type of agency to hire. There are many factors which contribute to this including location, specialties and past work with other brands.

One of the biggest factors is size. Many people believe that larger agencies are better, however this is not necessarily true. Larger agencies work with more clients and are pulled in many different directions, where, boutique agencies focus their full attention on YOU! Below are a few of the reasons why hiring a smaller agency will be better for you and your company.

1. Access to Specialized Tools

When you decide to work with a boutique over a large agency, you will find that the smaller agency is specialized in specific areas, as compared to larger agencies. Smaller agencies are able to focus more on countless areas- two of them being email marketing and social media. Specialization allows smaller agencies to perfect different divisions of marketing, leading to a happier YOU.

2. Lower Prices

Large companies nickel and dime you just because they claim they have more knowledge and experience than the boutique agency around the corner from you. Small creative agencies have just as much knowledge, if not more. With this being said, they will work with you and your budget to make sure you are happy and satisfied with the final outcome.

3. Faster Results and Flexibility

The larger the agency, the longer the approval process, which translates to longer waiting times for you. If you want to expedite your advertisements, then hiring a boutique agency is exactly what you need for your company. Smaller agencies have the ability to adapt to your needs while also completing your projects with the utmost of speed, meeting any reasonable timeline, proving that they always put you first.

As mentioned above, it has been proven that smaller creative agencies are easier and more reliable to work with. By working with one today, you can help your company to grow and reach new heights, while also forming an everlasting relationship with a company that puts YOU first.

5 Reasons Why YOU Need Email Marketing

December 20, 2022/0 Comments/in Blog/by Mary Skomial

Email marketing is essential for any modern-day business. It is an effective, affordable way to maintain existing clients, as well as gain new ones. With various communication methods, it has been proven that email marketing is more effective than Facebook and Twitter combined. Below are a few top examples of how companies have benefited from email marketing.

1. Generate More Calls and Sales

With email marketing, you have the ability to create customizable emails to be sent to the right client at the right time with the right offer. With excellent timing, this can help a company boost their calls, as well as sales, whether it be online or in-store.

2. Build Your Brand

Like any type of marketing, it is crucial to endorse your name to the public, no matter the size of your business. With easy marketing services, such as emails, it is easier than ever to advertise your name to the public and become instilled in the minds of potential buyers. This helps build a brand internally, as well as promoting your brand to the outside world.

3. Reach People From Any Location

With roughly 2/3 of the population checking their emails instantly on their mobile device, email marketing allows businesses to contact people at any time of the day, no matter where they are.

With so many people having access to phones and computers nowadays, it’s a no brainer to send emails to your clients and remind them about your business.

4. Increase Website Traffic

It is vital to drive traffic to your website, despite what type of business or company you are. Email marketing achieves this. With people having the option to forward your email to their friends and family, email marketing allows you to gain more referrals and potential future clients, without having to lift a finger.

5. Remain Relevant

In order for people to continue thinking about you as a company, it is important to send emails. Emails remind clients about your business throughout the year, during both busy and slow times. Even if a client does not buy or need something at that moment, they can save your information for a later date, and will remember to refer you to someone who does, leading to new consumers.

As you can see, these are only five of the MANY benefits that email marketing has to offer you and your business. In order to see immediate results, begin sending mass emails and learn firsthand on the ways you can help grow your company.

How to fix your website for your small business

6 Signs Your Site is a Snoozefest (and how to fix it!)

December 13, 2022/0 Comments/in Blog/by Mary Skomial

There are an endless number of websites out there. As a small business owner, you need to focus on how to make your website stand out. Here are some pitfalls to avoid in order to ensure your site is exciting enough to entice new business.

You don’t have a blog: “I’m not a writer.” “I’m more of a visual artist.” “I wouldn’t even know where to start.” Is this the sort of reaction you have to the word “blog”? Do you live in fear of the blank page and the blinking cursor? You’re not alone. Blogging isn’t easy, but it’s vitally important to any small business. It gives potential clients a sense of who you are and whether you’d be a good fit for what they need. The best way to start…is to start. Write what you know! It doesn’t need to be perfect.
You don’t have enough pages. You have too many pages.: You don’t want your website to become a chore. But you also don’t want it to be instantly forgettable. So, how do you decide the appropriate length for your website? Research! Find some websites that you enjoy. Find some websites that you hate. Use that as a guide to determine appropriate length.
Poorly designed: Terribly designed sites. We’ve all encountered them – buggy, crash-prone, not secure. A business’ website often serves as a first impression for potential clients. You wouldn’t show up to a face to face meeting looking disheveled, right? Your website should function well and be mobile friendly. Be proud of your website. Be proud of yourself. Be proud of your work.
Your website isn’t representative of who you are: One size does not fit all when it comes to websites. After browsing your site, potential clients should have some sense of who you are. Include photos of yourself! Do you have a mission statement? You should! You’re not a generic business, don’t have a generic website.
Your website isn’t about your customers/clients: Although it’s important that clients understand who you are, you don’t want to overdo it. Think of your website as a conversation between you and a potential client. There needs to be balance. Customers should understand how working with you will improve their lives and business.
Too much going on…or not enough: You don’t want your website to be too busy, but you also don’t want it to look a digital desert wasteland. Aim for clean and concise. Make it appealing to the eye. Don’t bombard potential customers with excessive fonts, an overabundance of photos, or large blocks of text. Find the sweet spot for your website design and lean into it.

And if all of this seems a bit overwhelming, MIFA Media is always here to help! We’ve helped countless small businesses overcome these pitfalls and improve their online presence.

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