Welcome to our blog, Cobalt-60.

The COVID-19 outbreak serves as a great reminder: brands are about human interaction, not logos.

The last time you bought a car, did rational thought or emotions guide your decision? Read on for more on rational versus emotional branding and how it affects consumer behavior.

What makes a slogan so effective? Why do some (think “Where’s the Beef?”) become earworms and others fall flat?

Also called vision boards or inspiration boards, mood boards are tools for communicating a feeling, theme, persona or mood for a design or a style in a way that can be quickly absorbed and understood by those viewing them. Mood boards can be used to confirm that all stakeholders are on the same page or get feedback if not. Join Cobalt Communications Art Director Mark Miller on an exploration of this vital design tool.

Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War, is often regarded as one of history’s greatest military strategists. According to the Chinese general, if you want to defeat your enemy, you must know them as well as you know yourself. The same is true if you’re marketing a brand — to succeed, you must know your competition.

Today, it’s easy to see brand positioning at work in some of the most recognizable brands, such as Netflix and Whole Foods. But even if you don’t have the resources of these big consumer brands, even if you’re a small B2B businesses, you can apply the principles of positioning.

Each September, Interbrand releases its “Best Global Brands” annual rankings. While we wait to find out who will top the 2018 list, let’s take a closer look at the importance of brand consistency to businesses large and small, whether they sell to other businesses or direct to consumers.

Cobalt moved to a new office location in November 2017. It didn’t take us long to realize that Cobalt-branded signage was critical to day-to-day operations — and to our overall brand.

Successful environmental branding creates a physical space that effectively embodies a brand and communicates its attributes, personality and key messages. That space may be in retail stores, restaurants, office environments or even at tradeshows. It is accomplished through intentional design of a space’s atmosphere and carefully considers factors such as color, texture and materials, size and smell.

Call it a slogan. Call it a cutline. Call it a tagline. Whatever you call it, just don’t dismiss it as a piece of throwaway marketing language. A powerful tagline can help you differentiate your business and attract new customers.

So what’s in the DNA of a great name, the unseen coding that makes it look and sound like a million dollars? Our checklist dissects five simple requirements that will help your brand grow into an empire worthy of worship.

As a company owner, leader or manager, you’re not just building a business. You’re building a brand. “Doing business” refers to day-to-day operational stuff. “Building a brand” refers to developing an idea that is worth loving — an idea that will connect what you do with the people who consume it and create a memorable, emotional reaction. And the secret to building your brand? Knowing what’s important and what’s urgent.