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REVVING UP IN 2012
Welcome to a new year of Vibrant Portfolio and the beginning of great things to come! 2012 is off to a great start and the days are going so quickly that it can be easy to push the previous year out of our minds. For many businesses, 2011 was a year that changed everything; and for us at Vibrant Design Group, it was a year full of lessons that will carry us forward. So, rather than giving you the typical New Year's resolutions, we decided to share some of those lessons in this issue, as a reminder that sometimes our most significant growth occurs during the most challenging times.
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NEW CLIENTS
 Given that this is Black History Month, it is fitting that the Vibrant Design team announces one of its newest clients, The African American Experience Fund (AAEF). Established in 2001, the AAEF is the only national fundraising organization of the National Park Foundation that supports and preserves the African American history found in our national parks. The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, African Burial Ground National Monument and Tuskegee Airmen National Historic site are just a few of the special places the organization supports.The mission of AAEF is to connect all Americans to the considerable contributions of African Americans throughout our country's history that are commemorated in our national parks. With so many sites to choose from, we encourage you to plan a visit to one of these treasures, not just in February, but throughout the year. For more information, visit www.aaexperience.org.
CELEBRATING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY
On January 16, 2012, the Northern Virginia Urban League hosted the MLK "Drum Major for Service" Awards ceremony at the Freedom House Museum (designed by Vibrant Design Group in 2008) . In addition to recognizing local community leaders, the Urban League also gave an award to Mrs. Alma Powell (right) for the impactful work of America’s Promise Alliance, the organization she co-founded with her husband, Gen. Colin Powell. Also in attendance for the museum tour given by VDG's President, were former Governor George Allen of Virginia (right), Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille, and other notable figures from Northern Virginia. During Black History Month, take some time to visit this national historic site that was once home to the largest domestic slave trading firm in the United States, and is now a place that empowers communities and changes lives.
Freedom House Museum/Northern Virginia Urban League
1315 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
www.freedomhousemuseum.org
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VDG ON THE MOVE
As you’ll see in our “Branding from the Inside Out™” section, being visible within your network plays a large part in building and maintaining your brand, and VDG’s executives are doing just that. Here’s a look at what we've been up to since our last issue:
 President, Julian B. Kiganda has been appointed to the ConvergeUS Marketing Council in Washington, DC. ConvergeUS (the non-profit arm of TechNet, a bipartisan, political network of technology sector CEOs and senior executives) mobilizes corporations, academic institutions, and other nonprofits to leverage technology for positive change on issues facing American society. The goal of ConvergeUS is to drive technology-based breakthroughs and accelerate social innovation.
 Vice President, Loán C. Sewer has been appointed to serve on the boards of the Black Public Relations Society of Washington, DC (BPRS-DC) and African American Real Estate Professionals of Washington, D.C. (AAREP). BPRS-DC was founded to unite and increase the active participation and employment of African Americans in the practice and study of public relations and to create alliances with other organizations. The mission of AAREP DC is to lead in the intellectual, professional and economic development of African American commercial real estate professionals.
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One of the many challenges  for small business owners is balancing the work they do for clients with the work of marketing their own products and services. Even in a sluggish economy, it is important to consider the following points for continued name recognition and added value for your target market. Here are some of our lessons from 2011...
• Stay Visible — The best way to keep your brand top of mind is to remain in plain view of your audience. Find an event to attend each week that positions you in front of potential clients.
• Stay Persistent and Consistent – Great business development experts will agree that it takes twice as many “no's” to receive one “yes.” With this in mind, implement a consistent strategy to market your business and be persistent in your follow up to new and old contacts.
• Stay Focused — A winning strategy is no good without the laser vision to follow each step.
• Keep it Simple — One of the best ways to "get it done" is by adhering to that old adage that wisely promotes simplicity over complexity. Even in marketing, the simple messages are the ones that stick: "Just Do It." "I'm lovin' it." "You're in good hands."
• Learn to say NO — Sometimes you just have to know when to walk away. Not every opportunity is a good one, and not every client is right for you. Revisiting your goals and objectives should help to determine the best times to exercise this principle.
BRANDING BYTES™: New Rules for Branding Your Business Online
(excerpted from Inc.com)
1. Don't just start the conversation; be an integral and evolving part of it.
2. Either keep your personal brand out of it … or dive in and make all the headlines you can.
3. Don't favor edge over consistency.
4. Be persistent in finding and targeting your niche.
5. Excel at telling your customers "About Us."
6. Fully integrate social media into your site.
7. Monitor your brand's reputation, and be ready to respond.
8. Showcase your best work.
Read the full article here.
Tell us what you think: We’d love to hear from you! Let us know if there is a testimonial or referral you'd like to share about how our work has helped your branding or marketing efforts. Or if you’d like to see us cover a particular topic in future e-newsletters, send an email to: info@vibrantdesigngroup.com.
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More tips on branding your business for success in 2012...
© 2012 Vibrant Design Group LLC
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