Our Brand Is... Our Brand Is Not...

This post was originally posted on Clubhaus, Block Club's blog of inspiration.

When working with businesses on building their brands, one of the most exciting (and stressful!) stages we encounter is naming. Whether it’s the name of the business itself, or names for products, features, menu items or campaigns, the naming process can be challenging.

Some clients come to the table with a very short list of potential names, while others may have a sense of the feeling or tone they want their name to embody without having any vocabulary in mind. Regardless of how we start, one of the final stages of the brainstorming process is always my favorite: the “is/is not” list.

The way it works is simple. We create a two-column chart with an “Is” column and an “Is Not” column, and guide the client through the process of identifying keywords to describe their brand (”Our brand is…”) and similar-but-not-quite-right words that do not describe their brand (”Our brand is not…”). Words should not necessarily negate each other, rather the “Is Not” column should modify the “Is” column. For example: 

OUR BRAND…

• is sophisticated, is not stuffy
• is quirky, is not wacky
• is affordable, is not cheap

An “is/is not” list is a great way to help hone in on the specifics of a project’s defining element (i.e. name, mission statement, branding, messaging, etc.) and separate out the important nuances in the potential final product. It also begins the process of creating brand values, key attributes and other brand characteristics along the way.

This post was originally posted on Clubhaus, Block Club's blog of inspiration.

Cinch Is a Window Management Miracle

This post was originally posted on Clubhaus, Block Club's blog of inspiration.

When I’m managing projects, I spend a lot of time looking at calendars and timelines to schedule deliverables and balance out the team’s responsibilities. There’s lots of comparing projects against each other while looking at several calendars and documents at the same time. 

Comparing documents between browser tabs can be frustrating when moving back and forth, and even though it’s not difficult to drag and resize windows so I can see them next to each other, it does add a few seconds to every step of the task, which adds up quickly.

I’ve started using a desktop app for iOS called Cinch that makes managing my windows super simple. Unfortunately for me, I could have saved the $6.99 by getting a similar feature in the new iOS, El Capitan, but I still think Cinch is a bit easier to use. 

When I need to see two adjacent windows—browsers, emails, Photoshop files, etc.—I just drag the windows to the sides of my screens and Cinch automatically snaps them to half the screen. It saves me valuable seconds (and hassle!).

Cinch also allows you to drag a window to the top of your screen to make it snap full screen. And no matter where you snap the window, it always returns back to its original size when you unsnap.

Window snapping is a standard feature on PCs, but for our all-Mac team at Block Club the Cinch app is a lifesaver. OK, maybe not a lifesaver per se, but a timesaver for sure.

This post was originally posted on Clubhaus, Block Club's blog of inspiration.

Uberconference Creates (Almost) Pain-Free Conference Calls

This post was originally posted on Clubhaus, Block Club's blog of inspiration.

Let’s be honest: No one likes conference calls.

As a project manager, I like to push for face-to-face meetings with clients and vendors to assure that communication is clear and personal. Unfortunately, time and location restraints often create the inevitable need for a conference call.

Keeping track of everyone on the call and trying to get a word in while others are speaking can be challenging. Not to mention the problems that arise when you can’t find your PIN code to join, or the administrator doesn’t know the administrator PIN to start the call in the first place.

That’s why I’ve started using Uberconference for both internal and client meetings whenever possible. It’s a free conference call service that backs up its smart features with a clean and simple design. You can watch this quick tutorial to get more details on Uberconference’s features.

I’m responsible for facilitating a lot of calls, which is why I like the easy scheduling feature of Uberconference. Clients and teammates can join a call the old fashioned way by dialing in to our dedicated number, or they can join via web or app interface to show personalized profiles pulled from their social media accounts.

One of my favorite features is the way Uberconference visually displays each participant. It’s a great way to put a face with a voice and to see who is speaking at any given time. Plus, there are administrative controls for each participant that allow for easy muting of those with loud background noises or who may just be listening in.

The other feature that I regularly use is the record function, which records the call and quickly turns it into a downloadable .mp3 file for review once the call has concluded. No more missing information!

There are premium versions of Uberconference for those who need it, but for now I’m very pleased with the free version of services. 

Whether you’re a project manager, administrative assistant or someone who’s just tired of status quo conference calls, I highly suggest giving Uberconference a try.

This post was originally posted on Clubhaus, Block Club's blog of inspiration.