Corporate Branding presents a challenge...companies need to convey a clear, concise imprint of what they do, and yet hopefully do so in a unique and memorable way.

This hydro company found a brilliant way to extend its service to an elevated brand promise.  Their truck, emblazoned with the tagline "ultra high pressure, even higher standards" ironically appeared in the Pennsylvania Avenue plaza in front of the White House, ostensibly to do some high-pressure cleaning. This happened to coincide with the news of the moment, with Obama just signing a couple executive orders to address the ethical issues around lobbying and influence peddling when high-level execs leave their federal posts to cash in on their connections as lobbyists.  

While any PR firm could recite and opine about the value they bring to early stage companies and start-ups, how credible would that be?  Who better to listen to than an entrepreneur and now VC?  Mark Suster, an entrepreneur turned VC and General Partner at GRP Partners wrote the following, which was featured on Business Insider: 

"One of the most frequent questions entrepreneurs ask about when they raise a little bit of money or are getting close to launching their first product is whether they should hire a PR firm.

There is obviously no black-or-white answer, but I’ve tried everything from working a large international agency, to hiring in-house people to doing it myself.  This post is a short guide to what I’ve learned:..."

The Merovingian, the stylish antagonist in the Matrix Reloaded, responds to Neo and group after they rebuff his invitation to sit and relax with a drink: “Ah, yes, but who has time?  But if we don’t make the time, then we won’t have time.”

While everyone can recite a handful of the most popular social media sites, this infographic puts in perspective how many different sites and sharing platforms there are. If nothing else, it gives companies a way to view the “Conversation Prism” aptly coined by Brian Solis, who may be the foremost thought-leader.

Heraclitus, Greek philosopher, 500 BC, knew a little something about the future of communications and email, with his maxim “You never step into the same river, as new waters flow on to you.”  Nothing truer given the unending flow of messages that cascade through our inboxes today.

Dear Mr. CEO of Tech-Widget Corp: 

No longer will you just make widgets, you will also be a publisher. With the the attrition of the news media – the closing of magazines and newspapers – you’ll find fewer remaining reporters to tell your story. In essence you’ll have an even smaller keyhole to pass through to get your story delivered. The good news is: you now also have the opportunity to take control of your own narrative – to go directly to your audiences through any number of social media channels.