Can you imagine how difficult and frustrating it would be to build a car without a set of instructions? Even if you knew the difference between a connecting rod and a crankshaft, it would be a tough task. Now imagine trying to put that car together without a design and many of the parts were missing. Impossible, right?

 

Yet that’s how many companies try to build a brand. They don’t have a plan. They don’t have a design. They don’t have all the right pieces. And they don’t have an owner’s manual. So the project either fails or takes forever, and if by some miracle you get to the finish line, no one is happy with the result.

 

At Madison+Main, we look at building brands like building cars. What kind of brand do you need? Economy or luxury? Rugged? Reliable? Sporty? – take your pick. At first, you have to ask yourself ‘where is this brand taking us?’ – all the way to the end or just from point A to point B?

 

So we start with a plan. Then we create a design. Then we build your brand – and all of the pieces. And we also give clients an “owners manual,” so to speak. It’s called a Brand Standards Manual, also referred to as a Brand Style Guide. The Brand Standards Manual gives you all the info on how to build and maintain your brand. It gives you guidelines for all things brand-related; signage, website, ads, business cards, PowerPoint templates, flyers, brochures, e-mail signatures, and favicons.

 

I ask again, can you imagine how difficult and frustrating it would be to build a brand without a set of instructions? If you don’t have a brand, call me. We build some great ones. Our brands really turn heads and they get great mileage. How much further can I go with this car analogy?

On Monday our team spent the day at Richmond Raceway producing a commercial for our friends at DRIVE SMART Virginia. It was a smooth and successful shoot. Overall, the Madison+Main-iacs were thrilled to get paid to tailgate and take laps around the track. Huge thanks to Broadscope Media, all of the extras, and President of Richmond Raceway Dennis “One Take” Bickmeier for his crucial cameo.

 

 

Monday evening I met with the folks from CowanGates at Tazza Kitchen to catch up and talk about future marketing strategies. It was great to see everyone, share the excitement, and eat some good food in-between.

Science Museum of Virginia | Richmond, VA

 

September 22, 2019 | 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Meet representatives from schools and community colleges, tutoring services, financial aid resources, and much more. Attend break-out sessions and learn more about topics such as computer science in schools, saving for higher education, and single-gender education. Explore the Science Museum for free and also enter to win a 2-night stay at Gaylord National Resort & Conference Center, including tickets to ICE! Plus hear Huntington Learning Center franchise owner Larry Frank’s discussion on “A Parent’s Survival Guide” and how today’s busy parents can be empowered to help their struggling child improve homework performance.

A. Smith Bowman Distillery | Fredericksburg, VA

 

September 28, 2019 | 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Westchester Commons | Midlothian, VA

 

October 12, 2019 | 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.