Your Company Deserves to Have a Logo

A logo represents a symbol which is used to create awareness about an entity. It is employed by a wide variety of businesses, enterprises to symbolise their agency, product or even mark certain achievements in its history. However small you believe your enterprise is, there is always a tomorrow and you’re going to need a logo sooner or later.

 

Why create a logo
Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can benefit from the presence of brand logo which would reflect the face of the company. It also enhances potential customers and marks the crucial first impression for the business in front of potential partners and business houses. It narrates the kind of people or the type of company which it is recognised as. Often, logos are designed on the basis of the name or function of a particular enterprise. Designed using graphical codes and symbols, they are made attractive and eye catching. Often, brand recognition and marketing is closely related to the presence of a beautiful logo. The better the logo, the more people will recognise a company; the more the recognition, the better goodwill for the agency.

Elements of a Logo
A logo can be distinctively divided into about three distinct elements, namely pictogram which represents a symbol or icon related to the company, the wordmark which mentions the name of the company and a tagline or baseline which mentions a brief description of the company or product. For example, the brand Nike has a pen stroke representing a check for pictogram with ‘Just Do It’ as the tagline. Considering Nike represents a sportswear brand, the logo reflects its relation to the field of sports.

SMEs can opt for typographic logo such as Kellogg’s or IBM which represent the company logo written in designer text format. Other firms go for figurative logo such as Apple or Shell which have a figure representing their brand. While there are companies such as Adidas or Reebok which have a combination of strokes representing their brands which can be termed as an abstract approach to logo design. 

 Making a logo that stands out
While designing a logo, care has to be taken to keep the design as simple as possible. Too many complicated graphics may turn the design into an eye sour and it may also become a ridicule for the company. Clarity of representation along with that of thought is a must for a successful logo design. The colours to be adapted for the design need to be bright and vibrant reflecting the right blend of brightness and contrast. Bold colours in a messy combination can ruin the design also.

Before designing, the agency also needs to observe trends in the industry and look at logos of competitors. Logos which appear similar could lead to losses for both companies. The logos should essentially reflect the company and hence a presence/mark of the company needs to be a part of the logo. Placement of the logo is also vital and SMEs should emphasize the symbol in all their correspondences and associate it with their various initiatives.

A wide variety of graphic designers and web experts are now churning out logos for upcoming SMEs. Advertising agencies also specialize in logo design although they would charge an exorbitant sum for the same.

Let the logo communicate your company's ethos, values and vision. Let it stand for your company and establish an identity in the market.

Expert Speak: Mr. GK Pramod

Vitality of SWOT Analysis of Microlevel Enterprise

What is SWOT analysis of Microlevel Enterprise?
SWOT analysis of Microlevel Enterprise is to understand all the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats and list them down among the four quadrants of a graph. After categorizing them, we have to convert the weaknesses into strengths, threats into opportunities and opportunities into strengths.

Importance of SWOT of Microlevel Enterprise

• This would help Microlevel Entrepreneur to understand about his organization.
• This would help to increase their confidence level.

Methodology for conducting SWOT Analysis 

Step-1: As a management expert, call selected microlevel entrepreneur to one place, and brief them about SWOT analysis of their organisation. 

Step-2: Ask them to think and list down all the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of their organization on a sheet of paper. This may require 1.5 to 2 hour.

Step-3: Organise a One-On-One discussion with these microlevel entrepreneurs to understand their organisational SWOT. Ask them questions as mentioned below:

• Why do you think these are your organization Strengths?
• Why do you think these are your organization Weaknesses?
• Why do you think these are your organization Opportunities?
• Why do you think these are your organization Threats?

  
Step-4: Facilitate entrepreneurs to think patiently so that SWOT analysis pertaining to their organisation becomes effective. 

Step-5: Ask them to make a presentation about his/her organisation SWOT. Allow them to analyze organisation SWOT.
 

Step-6: Convert organisation’s weaknesses into strengths, threats into opportunities and opportunities into strengths.

Case Study-1:

Charan Singh (Product Business):

Mr. Charan Singh is a Microlevel Entrepreneur from Jalandhar in Punjab. He sells fertilizers.

Details of Charan Singh’s business organization unit:

Here is the SWOT analysis of Charan Singh’s organization post a long One-on-One session with the expert:

 

SWOT Analysis of Charan Singh’s organization

Author’s Key Points:

• Be truthful to yourself when you do the SWOT
• SWOT is a very important activity
• CEOs/Growth Strategists should encourage microlevel entrepreneurs

The blog has been authored by Mr. GK Pramod, Co-founder, The Second Gear - MBA for Non MBA's Mentoring Module Concept.

To contact the author, e-mail at gk@tothesecondgear.com
 

Leave your comments and queries here:

Expert Speak: Mr. GK Pramod

Know Yourself - SWOT Analysis of Microlevel Entrepreneur

What is SWOT analysis of Microlevel Entrepreneur? 

SWOT analysis of Microlevel Entrepreneur is to list down all his/her Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats among the four quadrants of a graph. Once we do this, we have to convert the weaknesses into strengths, threats into opportunities and opportunities into strengths.

Importance of SWOT of Microlevel Entrepreneur

• This would help microlevel entrepreneurs to understand about themselves completely.
• This will increase their confidence level.

Methodology for conducting SWOT Analysis
  
Step-1: As a management expert, have all concepts pertaining to SWOT clear at your end and come prepared with the expected Q&As. Call all selected microlevel entrepreneur to one place, and brief them about SWOT analysis.  

Step -2: Separate all entrepreneur. Make them sit, think and list down all the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats about their individual personality on a sheet of paper. This may require 45 minutes to 1 hour. 

Step-3: After doing this activity, organise a One-On-One discussion of microlevel entrepreneur with them to understand their personal SWOT. Ask them questions like:

• Why do you think these are your personal Strengths?
• Why do you think these are your personal Weaknesses?
• Why do you think these are your personal Opportunities?
• Why do you think these are your personal Threats?

Step- 4: Facilitate entrepreneurs to think calmly so that their personal SWOT analysis becomes effective.

Step- 5: Ask them to make a presentation about his/her personality SWOT. Allow them to analyze his/her personality SWOT.

Step- 6: Discuss, analyse and brainstorm together to convert his/her weaknesses into strengths, threats into opportunities and opportunities into strengths.

CASE STUDY: 1
Charan Singh (Product Business):

Mr. Charan Singh is a microlevel entrepreneur from Jalandhar in Punjab. He sells fertilizers. 
                   
Details of Charan Singh’s business organization unit are:

His personal SWOT is as stated below:

Let us now do SWOT analysis of Mr. Charan Singh’s case study.
                          SWOT Analysis of Charan Singh

Author’s Key Points:

• Be truthful to yourself when you do the SWOT
• SWOT is a very important activity
• CEOs/Growth strategists, please encourage the microlevel entrepreneur to do a proper SWOT analysis

The blog has been authored by Mr. GK Pramod, Co-founder, The Second Gear - MBA for Non MBA's Mentoring Module Concept.

To contact the author, e-mail at gk@tothesecondgear.com

Leave your comments and queries here:

How to Generate Cost Effective Web Traffic?

Online marketing is slowly transforming the success scenario of many SMEs and providing them with new, potential arenas. It can greatly contribute in providing them with a larger status and put them in the same league of larger firms.

Website traffic can be increased by developing online partnerships whereby various concerns host each other’s web links and connect every user to the other’s web page and also advertise their own wares. The traffic can also be boosted by promoting search engine listings.

What Does the Customer Look For?

An SME needs to understand the way in which customers rely on search engines and the way they pick up keywords in a particular content. Search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. are potential platforms for customers, existing and new ones, to search for a particular product and service. They work as effective channels to guide users towards a particular site. One can choose between paid listings or organic listings as per their convenience. Generating back links or link building is vital for a website to have a higher position on the listings.

SEO or Search Engine Optimization is fast becoming a favored option for SMEs who are realizing the power of the World Wide Web. SEO involves the process of promoting the visibility of a particular webpage or website through unpaid search possibilities. Initially the search algorithms depended on information provided by the websites such as keywords which was later converted based on the keyword density. Presently, each search engine has their own criteria for listing a particular website. Many of them employ crawlers which browse across various pages of a website and seek out keywords and content elements. SEO can be planned according to the various kinds of search including image search, video search, academic search, news search, among others.

Where & Why to Invest

Many SMEs invest in SEOs as part of their internet marketing strategy and they are incorporated in their website design. SEOs are expected to bring optimum return on the amount invested. Search engines change their algorithms or search criteria and thus websites can suffer a loss in the visitor counts. Thus, SEO-responsive material needs to be updated from time-to-time. SEO could practically include a variety of materials including website designs, content management systems, videos, images, shopping carts, and elements which are programmed for search engine exposure.

SMEs can also boost the prominence of their web page by cross linking which consists of multiple links on various pages to bring the reader/user in connection with some important pages on the site.

Another form of ensuring free web traffic is the mode of free articles. An SME should publish a lot of articles which are themed along their products or services. They can involve their subject of expertise and offer their customers tips and guidelines which can make for an informative read.

You can also start a newsletter that can easily carry a variety of experts on the subjects together. The SME can be also part of online communities and forums where they can share their information and expertise with their potential customers.

So, be everywhere without shelling extra pennies and attract extra web traffic to your website.

Channelizing Human Resources in SMEs

If you manage your own SME, it is a must to manage your human capital well. This is meant not only to enhance productivity of the employees but also of all your other resources. Setting up the right hierarchy and organizing for better productivity are the keys.

So you appoint managers and team leaders to ensure management of employees. Employees need to grow with the organization. The thrust should be on a result-oriented approach for a strategic and comprehensive utilization of resources. 

Realize Their Potential
 

It is crucial for a leader to realize the potential of employees because it is essential to keep in mind their ability before assigning any work to them. If you make the wrong person work on a task that is not commensurate with his ability and interest then it would lead to lesser output. It is important to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of employees to generate better results. For the success of an organization, it is also significant to delegate responsibilities with a lot of thought. You should monitor the performance of the workers in a particular area and decide the future course of action. This would lead to a proper utilization of resources and result in higher turnover for the company. You should also encourage employees to do better as this would inculcate a positive working environment. A simple word of encouragement will instill them with enthusiasm and make them work even harder. This kind of motivation can really work wonders for the growth of a company. If you make an employee work in his field of interest then he would work with more commitment and dedication.

Maintain Friendly Relations
 

The relationship between employees and their leader should be friendly. A leader should keep interacting with the workers to be aware of their problems and difficulties. It is possible to channelize human resources in the best possible manner only if the workers are satisfied. Maintaining good relations with the employees help to make the working environment healthy. It is important to respect the employees’ decisions and be supportive. Allow them to take up challenges – this would polish their skills and help in their growth. There should be no communication gap between the employees and the employer. In the workplace, teamwork is always effective and reaps rich results in the long run. Proper channeling of resources makes the company prosper. You can tap the hidden potential of the each employee by proper management.  
 

Set Practical Goals
 

Giving the right direction to employees’ skills would undoubtedly increase the output. You must set practical goals for the employees and guide them whenever they need help so that they do not refrain from approaching you. This approach promotes employee retention, employee involvement and employee engagement. Discover the untapped potential of the employees and give them an opportunity to present their ideas. They should be involved in the decision making process which falls under employee empowerment. This enhances their confidence and self esteem driving them to take responsibility. A trained and efficient work force is really an asset for the organization and helps to achieve long term goals. A result oriented approach is always an effective medium for the success of a firm.

So let’s work out on human resources, the lifeline of every organization.

Expert Speak: Mr. GK Pramod

Fundamentals of Business Scalability for SMEs

The Indian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are carving a niche for themselves in the growing economy of the nation. While their success is fortifying the economy further, it has become imperative for them to maintain a positive growth trajectory.

With this optimism, we will talk about how the Indian SMEs can have an effective business growth (discussed elaborately in the previous blog) with the vital 'Sutras' – Scalability, Sustainability and Profitability'.

We will have a glance and understanding of the Sutras in a practical way by referring to relevant case studies. This will make the entire process of understanding the Sutras more interactive and alive. We will begin with Scalability in this blog and understand its importance.

Scalability

If a Microlevel Entrepreneur is able to increase his/her business by duplicating his/her product/services without affecting the quality of the product/ service is called Scalability.

Importance of Scalability

• Scalability helps Microlevel Entrepreneurs to increase turnover first, and profitability next

Do’s

• Look at scaling up the business, only when the existing business unit becomes sustainable

Dont’s

• Making huge investments in new outlets may be too much of a risk for a Microlevel Entrepreneur

Case Study

We will discuss two case studies – Service business & Product business, to illustrate scalability in a better way.

1. Case Study-1 (Service Business): Mr.Ramesh Patil is a Microlevel Entrepreneur from Belgaum in Karnataka. He is running a Photography and Videography business.

The details of Ramesh Patil’s business organization unit are as follows:

1) Name of the entrepreneur: Mr. Ramesh Patil

2) Name of the organization : OM Shiva Videos

3) Nature of business : Photography & Videography

4) Details of turnover for the past 3 years:

Analysis:

Can Mr. Ramesh Patil create more number of Videography and Photography businesses providing the same quality of service to his customers?

If the answer to the above question is “Yes”, it is called a “Scalable Business”.

If the answer to the above question is “No”, it is called a “Non-Scalable Business”.

In this case Mr. Ramesh Patil can create more number of outlets. Hence this is a Scalable Business.

Challenges in Scalability in Service Business

When you scale up the business you need to ensure that the quality of the service remains the same in all outlets.

2. Case Study-2 (Service Business): Ms. Usha is a Microlevel Entrepreneur from Mysore in Karnataka. She is selling natural fresh juice.

The details Ms.Usha’s business organization unit are as follows:

1) Name of the entrepreneur: Ms.Usha

2) Name of the organization: Sushruta Fresh Juice Centre

3) Nature of business : Natural fresh juice

4) Details of turnover for the past 3 years:

Analysis:

Ms. Usha is a Microlevel Entrepreneur selling natural fresh juice in front of the parks in Mysore in Karnataka. She started one juice centre in a Maruthi van. Today, she has 4 to 5 juice business outlets across Mysore. So, her business is a Scalable Business.

Challenges in Scalability in product business 

If it is a product business, then marketing the product and reducing the price will be the two main challenges.

Scalability: Comparison between Product and Service business

Dear Microlevel Entrepreneur, do you think scaling up Mr. Mr.Ramesh Patil’s business (service business) is easier compared to Ms. Usha’s business (Product business)?

If we observe closely, scaling up of Mr. Mr.Ramesh Patil’s business (Service business) is more difficult compared to Ms. Usha’s business (Product business).

In a service business it becomes very difficult to maintain the same quality of service at all the business outlets. Even if Mr. Ramesh Patil hires a new person, say, by name Mr. Basappa Hallimatti, there will be a difference in the quality of the service provided by Ramesh Patil and Basappa Hallimatti. It is not that scalability is not possible in a service business. It is very important to adopt proper methodology and quality process in all the OM Shiva Videos outlets run by Ramesh Patil.

Bottom line to remember about Scalability

Once the existing unit starts making profits, it is better to scale up the business. Scalability brings stability to the business.

We will continue with the next Sutra – Sustainability, in my next blog. Hope this blog will be of help to the aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. Kindly leave your comments and queries.

The blog has been authored by Mr. GK Pramod, Co-founder, The Second Gear - MBA for Non MBA's Mentoring Module Concept.

To contact the author, e-mail at gk@tothesecondgear.com

Blog Your Brand – A Vision for the SME to Leverage Networked Blogging

Walk the Walk… Talk the Talk… Times have now arrived for the corporate to consider Blogging the Blog!!

Yes, its true, as social media is arriving and knocking on the doors of enterprises, all businesses whether large or small are taking note, there are new rules getting created. New possibilities opening up. The Corporate today wants to get one with the consumer, interact with his relevant target audience wherever the consumer is!

Your consumers are already on the Internet

With the usage of Internet spilling over to almost all parts of the country, the corporate has a valid and an entirely new and ever increasing scope to interact in real time with its consumers, take feedback and hence constantly evolve as a ‘People’s Brand‘.

Your clients are already talking about you, are you listening?
We are living in change, which essentially is the only contant thing in life. And so is a brand.  A brand needs to evolve with the times, reaching out to the relevant set of people who are talking about you or would want to talk about you!


Blog and Get Blogged about

The emerging SMEs must engage their audience and we suggest our SME partners that they schedule time and participate in corporate blogging. The top management of the SME can achieve fantastic results, while ensuring that they create and establish a personal connect with their target audience/ existing clients by sharing thought leadership and communicating the vision and growth of the company on the Official Corporate Blog.


Should you tie up with an external agency – Case Study?

Nokia before launching N97 in India and Samsung while launching the Jet. What did they do? Call a select group of bloggers and wallah they have arrived at a much lesser cost as compared to doing a TV ad or big hoarding out there, which they will do for sure, but they have captured one strata of the market.

The trends purely show, that there is a BIG opportunity which the SMEs can leverage powerfully to connect with and engage their customers in.

How Do I get Started? Do I need time/ money?

Getting your blog up and running in times today is a 5 minute job. Though to create an Official Corporate Blog, which is positioned and branded right, you can always get the job done by a freelancer/ agency. The leading platforms we suggest are: Blogspot and Wordpress.

To make the blog exist, you may not need much investment, but to ensure that there is solid and powerful content each day on it, sure is a task, which has to be not drilled down, but built and fostered as a culture within the organisation.

Say ‘hi’ to your sutomer each day, reach out and extend your hand! Get connected and retain your loyal customers!!

A focused Corporate blog will EMPOWER your customer to know more and get connected with the brand, thereby fueling Co-Creation and Innovation, enabling mutual growth.

To know more about how you can leverage the power of blogging for your emerging company, send us a comment to this blog and our team of experts will be happy to help you!