June 24th, 2010
Early in the second quarter, the content team at MBC finished up a project for a major mutual fund company based in New Jersey. The research and writing project was to support the launch of a new magazine distributed to all of the financial advisors that work with the $40 billion fund company. MBC helped the company write the cover story article that highlighted the firm’s overarching outlook on markets and diversification in today’s environment, as well as contributing a series of product positioning articles for particular funds that make sense for current investment strategies. Topics included alternative investments, new ways to look at diversification, finding non-duration sensitive yield, and the power of income-producing stocks.
Tags: alternative investments, branding, communication strategies, content development, current market trends and volatility, diversify assets, finance magazine, financial advisors, Financial Service Companies, Financial Services, income-producing stocks, investment magazine, Investment Stability, investment strategies, limited buying and investing activity, market outlook, Matt Brunini, MBC Strategic, mutual fund company
Posted in Client Projects, Communications, Investment Marketing | No Comments »
June 24th, 2010
During the second quarter, MBC also revisited and updated an entire program on advisor practice management for one of the largest national networks of financial advisors. The 60+ page, five-chapter series helps advisors reach their peak performance through analysis and hands-on exercises around goal-setting, time management, client relationships, and developing an effective business plan. MBC worked closely with the firm’s leadership to create the concept, provide supportive research, write the content, develop the exercises, and support the art direction and design. The program was distributed to sales leadership in May and will continue to be ramped up through their advisor network.
Tags: advisor goal setting, advisor practice management, business plan, Develop business plan, financial advisors, Financial Service Companies, Financial Services, financial services marketing, financial services sales materials, goal setting, Matt Brunini, MBC Strategic, Practice Management, sales materials
Posted in Client Projects, Communications, Practice Management | No Comments »
June 24th, 2010
MBC Strategic recently embarked on efforts to refresh elements of our own brand. Focusing on the website homepage and the Portfolio of work, the visual update maintains the same color palette and style long associated with the firm’s core identity, while implementing new design elements to emphasize recent work and successes. It is important to periodically revisit your branding strategy to ensure that your visual identity evolves as your company does. Adjustments to your look, when consistent with the overall brand, can highlight new services, features, and technologies, as well as repositioning your firm to reflect current focus, goals, and offerings. A brand refresh can also serve as a new and interesting touch point to reach out to past and current clients and prospects.
Tags: branding, Branding Strategy, communicate brand identity, communication strategies, company identity, company rebrand, differentiate your firm, Marketing, marketing and branding, marketing strategies, Matt Brunini, Online communications, Re-brand, update brand
Posted in Branding Strategy, Communications, Design | No Comments »
June 24th, 2010
The time for alternative investments to differentiate themselves through branding is inarguably here. Once able to rely solely on track record and performance history, the current state of the market and overall investment industry has delivered increased competition, regulation, and demand for some degree of transparency. Investors and institutions both demand consistent materials and messaging when performing more intensive due diligence and alternative investment firms now need to follow suit. This doesn’t mean a breach in advertising compliance; just that hedge funds and other alternatives will need to incorporate a level of branding and messaging that will differentiate and distinguish themselves like other segments of the investment services and asset management. Firms will benefit from branding sophistication that aligns with the investment style and services they offer. For more information on alternative investment branding and multi-tiered password protected websites, visit MBC’s Alternative Investment Services.
Tags: alternative investments, branding, Differentiate from competition, differentiate your firm, financial firm marketing, Financial Services, Investment Marketing, Marketing, marketing and branding, Matt Brunini, MBC Strategic
Posted in Informative Articles, Investment Marketing | No Comments »
March 31st, 2010
Working with an east coast real estate distribution company handling multiple REITs, the team at MBC was approached to design and execute a company website that would convey both the firm’s extensive experience and their diverse array of offerings. In the process of building the website, MBC contributed content development and design efforts, as well as the construction of a custom content management system that would enable the firm to better control and maintain their site, marketing materials and brand identity. The successfully articulated brand and new website is set to launch during the second quarter.
Tags: American Realty Capital, branding strategies, content development, content development and design efforts, Content Management System, custom content management system, design and execute a company website, distribution company handling multiple REITs, manage website content, marketing materials, marketing materials and brand identity, marketing strategies, Matt Brunini, MBC Strategic, real estate distribution, real estate investments, real estate marketing, Realty Capital Securities, REITs
Posted in Branding Strategy, Client Projects, Design | No Comments »
March 31st, 2010
During the first quarter, the team at MBC updated a past white paper on the active asset allocation product of a major mutual fund company. The paper’s goals were to highlight and differentiate the active process taken by portfolio management as well as analyze the effects that their process and allocations had on overall portfolio performance throughout the history of the product suite. The series of actively managed fund-of-funds have a more than 10-year track record and the piece dissects each calendar year of allocations and results.
Tags: active asset allocation product, asset allocation, communication strategies, content development, fund-of-funds, investment strategies, Matt Brunini, MBC Strategic, mutual fund company, portfolio management, sales materials, white paper
Posted in Client Projects | No Comments »
March 31st, 2010
In the first quarter of 2010, the team at MBC emphasized the many advantages of both simple and complex content management systems (CMS), developing sites based on particular needs and goals of several clients. Currently, there are several options to help companies manage their website content and customization and design are still an important element in development. For a smaller firm looking for a basic branding site, MBC chose a highly extensible and customizable open-source service as a user-friendly alternative to building a system from the ground up. Our team completely customized the user experience and design scheme, integrating key components of their existing brand and site feature needs into this open-source engine. To maintain a high-quality look and feel, the design team completely tailored the site to fully convey the firm’s visual brand identity. In addition, we licensed and customized the much more robust and scalable MBC CMS to an investment distribution company with more advanced needs in terms of site control and design.
Tags: branding, Content Management System, customizable open-source service, customized the user experience, existing brand and site, manage website content, Marketing, Matt Brunini, MBC Strategic, simple and complex content management systems (CMS), smaller firm looking for a basic branding site, user-friendly alternative, visual brand identity, web presence, website development
Posted in Branding Strategy, Client Projects, Design | No Comments »
March 31st, 2010
Markets appear to have settled somewhat, although it still seems likely that we are entering a period of choppy economic and market news and supportive fundamentals. It is during these periods that creative marketing to new and existing client bases and significant efforts at client retention are most important. It is time to look at portfolios and product lines and see where it makes sense to discuss and market new investment themes. Right now, investors are open to new ideas and advisors and firms need to ensure that they are delivering cohesive and actionable messages and solutions to clients.
Tags: choppy economic and market news, client retention, communication strategies, Communications, core messaging, creative marketing, current market trends and volatility, existing client bases, Financial Services, Investment Stability, market new investment themes, market volatility, Marketing during downturns, marketing strategies, Markets settled, Matt Brunini, MBC Strategic, strategic messaging, supportive fundamentals, volatile market
Posted in Industry updates, Informative Articles | No Comments »
December 30th, 2009
As your company moves into the New Year, it is important to review your strategic marketing plan to see how your branding needs have changed in the past four quarters. When updating your brand and initiatives, it is important to assess the overall growth strategy of your firm, pinpoint long and short-term goals, and analyze past successes and failures to ensure that each initiative is tailored to your specific needs. Your re-branding book should include:
- A strategic plan with creative and functional needs and goals for the brand
- Analysis of external factors, such as any changes in your target audience’s needs or buying patterns
- Full competitive market overview to ensure that you identify your competitive advantages and differentiate the brand from other offerings
Using strong web, media, print, and press strategies, your company can effectively communicate and build lasting relationships with its target audiences. With the right combination of strategic thinking, creative insight, and innovation, you can achieve business growth and success in any economic or investment environment.
Tags: analyze past successes and failures, business growth and success in any economic or investment environment, identify your competitive advantages, long and short-term goals, review your strategic marketing plan, target audience’s needs or buying patterns, updating brand and initiatives
Posted in Branding Strategy | No Comments »
December 30th, 2009
This quarter, the team at MBC was contacted to concept and create a retirement presentation for an area wealth management firm. Having previously completed a comprehensive rebrand for the company, MBC focused on building consistent branded design and messaging throughout the presentation while emphasizing the company’s competitive advantages, investment philosophy, and asset allocation strategy. A valuable addition to the firm’s arsenal of materials, the presentation was a success, helping to generate leads and communicate their brand identity and differentiation from its competition.
Tags: brand identity, building consistent branded design and messaging, comprehensive rebrand, Differentiate from competition, emphasizing the company’s competitive advantages
Posted in Branding Strategy, Client Projects | No Comments »
