Forty’s website design predictions for 2013
In 2012, content strategy and responsive web design finally began to get the recognition they deserve and showed us better, more fluid ways to design online experiences. 2013 promises to be just as exciting, and after gazing into our crystal …
6 tips on how to market a restaurant and serve up a memorable experience
Dining out at restaurants has become a key part of our personal, social, and professional lives. In fact, the average American spends about $2,500 eating out each year, which explains why the industry has boomed to over $632 billion in …
Marketing and design blogs to feed your brain
Whether we’re talking with prospective or current clients, training a new hire, or providing mentoring, we often get requests for marketing and design blogs and resources they can reference to learn more. After compiling the list from scratch one too …
It’s (not) all about the Benjamins: Advice on how to market a bank
During a recent project for Gateway Bank, we conducted some competitive research on other banks to see what they look, sound, and feel like. The results were lackluster and disappointing. One would think that with tons of money at stake, …
Gateway Bank debuts one of the world’s first responsive bank websites
Gateway Bank, a community bank in Mesa, AZ, has positioned themselves at the forefront of online innovation by launching one of the first financial institution websites that is fully “responsive” (meaning it automatically adapts to any viewing device). Gateway Bank …
Creating mobile-friendly and future-ready experiences with responsive design
I’m sure you’ve heard all the lovely statistics about how smartphone and tablet usage is skyrocketing, and how if you’re not going mobile, you’re not going anywhere. There’s no denying that our web browsing habits have changed. Thinking beyond the …
The power of purpose and how to discover yours
Revealing your purpose may seem superfluous and a little too touchy feely for your taste. However, it can be an enlightening moment and the key to your success. As James discussed in his blog post on how to build a …
Brand thyself with these personal branding resources
People exude a brand just like companies do. Everything about you contributes to how you’ll be perceived by others, from how you dress, to how you speak, to the people and companies you associate with. Creating brands for companies seems …
A company name change success story: Ryan & Denise Photography
To change the name or not to change the name? Lots of companies find themselves in a conundrum where they’ve been in business for a few years and established a strong brand, but something has made them wonder whether they …
Annual Report 2011: The Forty Book of Lists
The typical corporate annual report is a snooze fest, brimming with overinflated earnings, lofty goals for the next year, and psuedo-inspirational fluff. In typical Forty fashion, our team stuck our tongues out to all those lackluster reports and annual books …
Forty gets lucky: an interview about planned serendipity
We recently sat down to chat with Lane Becker and Thor Muller, authors of “Get Lucky: How to Put Planned Serendipity to Work for You and Your Business.” Forty previously worked with Lane on the branding and website for Freestyle …
Why you shouldn’t hire random college kids to manage your social media
Most business owners understand the power of social media, but not all of them understand the knowledge, strategy, and effort it takes to make it work for their company. I often hear, “I’ll just hire an college kid to do …
Speak your customers’ language
Jargon has become a staple in our business conversations. We use it for all sorts of reasons – to make us sound smarter, to relate to others in our tribe, to supposedly explain things in a more succinct or creative …
Officers eat last: Simon Sinek’s revelations on purpose and leadership
Simon Sinek is one of my favorite leaders and speakers in business. I discovered Sinek in early 2010 when I saw his TED Talk on how great leaders inspire action. The core of this presentation was a simple but compelling …
It’s a waste to start anywhere but the beginning
Whenever someone discovers there’s a problem with their business or has a marketing project to tackle, they want it done NOW. They get anxious, excited, and can’t wait to see the solution or finished product. That’s totally normal, and it’s …
Your website is not a silver bullet
One of the most common opening lines we hear from business owners is, “I need a website.” In reality, 99% of them need something different than (or additional to) a website, whether it’s strengthening their brand, help communicating with their …
10 tips on how to be a social media superstar (Part 2)
Pick your poison! Watch a video recap of this blog post, or read the full article below. In our last installment, we gave you a little background on some common social media fails, along with five ways to avoid them. …
10 tips on how to be a social media superstar (Part 1)
Pick your poison! Watch a video recap of this blog post, or read the full article below. Since we live in a world with such fast-changing technology, there’s always a new marketing tool at your disposal. Social media is one …
Now that’s how you handle price changes
It’s rare that you receive news that a product or service you love is changing their prices, and you’re totally ok with it. But, that’s exactly what happened this week. Our beloved group chat/IM app, HipChat, announced they are changing …
What is a marketing plan? (Plus 9 steps to creating your own)
In our last “What is…?” post, we demystified content marketing and explained it in layman’s terms. Now, we’ll do the same for another industry buzzword: the marketing plan. A marketing plan is a document that outlines your current market position, …
