Authentic®, Author at Authentic

The Necessary Skills and Qualities of the Modern Fractional CMO

From flipping burgers to becoming an astronaut, every job takes some degree of skill and ability. But, the more advanced the job is, the more difficult it can be to define the skills and qualities that will make someone truly successful in that role. (more…)

Brand Messaging Moments: Staying True to Your Roots Through Next-Level Growth. Part 2.

In our last post, I covered how your brand message or brand narrative will change during the start-up phases of your growth. These are the moments that will make or break a company’s future. So, when major growth is on the table, you have to make sure your brand narrative is up to the challenge. (more…)

Making Hay & Stashing Acorns: How growing businesses can maximize a good economy, but prepare for inevitable recession

Originally published by Minnesota Business Magazine. Republished here with permission. Those of us who lived through the dot-bomb and 2008 recessions will not soon forget the impact on our businesses, communities and families. Yet, when times are good, it's easy to operate as though growth and prosperity will always be in front of us. Wise business leaders know that - like squirrels hiding away nuts for the winter - it’s always a good idea to plan for leaner times, even while harvesting bumper crops. (more…)

We helped prepare 312 bikes for kids!

Our first ever signature service event during Twin Cities Startup Week was a blast. Our Two Or More community of volunteers gathered at the Free Bikes 4 Kidz warehouse in Brooklyn Park to clean, prep, move and fix bikes for kids in need. This team of volunteers worked on 312 bikes in three hours! (more…)

Brand Messaging Moments: How Your Brand Narrative Evolves as You Grow. Part 1.

If you didn’t catch my last post, then please take a second and at least skim it. In it, I share what a brand narrative is, how to create one, and the potential ROI for your brand. That said, creating your brand narrative is never one and done. As your company grows, your brand narrative has to evolve. This allows you to keep up with new internal and external challenges that every growing brand faces. What milestones in your growth will affect your brand narrative? (more…)

TCSW18: The Lifecycle of a Brand Panel

We kicked off Twin Cities Startup Week (#TCSW18), early this Monday morning with a room full of entrepreneurs, marketers and four brilliant panelists. Our very own Jennifer Zick moderated the conversation and helped weave together the experiences these veteran business leaders have in building businesses and building brands. (more…)

Why Create a Narrative for Your Brand?

In 1962, the car rental company Avis was losing $3.2 million per year, and consistently losing to their main competitor Hertz. Then Avis changed their brand narrative and started embracing their position as number two in the market. Instead of trying to position themselves as better in the minds of prospects, they admitted they were number two and that it made them work harder. This convinced customers that they were going to get better service by choosing Avis. (more…)

Authentic & Lake One Present at Manufacturers Alliance

On September 14th, Authentic - in partnership with our ally partner Lake One Digital - was pleased to lead a presentation and workshop for the Manufacturers Alliance sales and marketing peer group. More than 20 leaders attended the session, titled "Building Sustainable Business Growth." (more…)

Lifecycle of a Brand: Building Stories that Start, Scale, Sustain, and Sell Businesses

These Minnesota business owners have years of experience building businesses and building brands. They have perspectives from the "been there done that" side and the "still there, doing that" side. Learn how these entrepreneurs have shaped and reshaped their go-to-market strategies and stories through stages of growth and evolution. Get a founder’s perspective on marketing, brand, and maintaining focus and alignment through change. Gain real-world insights that will help you activate for today and plan for tomorrow. (more…)

What’s the Difference? Strategic Marketing Consultants and Agencies vs. Fractional CMOs

Marketing can feel like the world’s biggest experiment. The corner store doesn’t have the same marketing needs as a mid-sized business, and isn’t even playing the same game as enterprise-level companies. What does this mean for your marketing? It means that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, magic pill, or easy button. To succeed you need a custom plan tailored to your business with an expert guide to back it. But, finding the right marketing expertise is often the first challenge. (more…)

Author: Authentic®

The Necessary Skills and Qualities of the Modern Fractional CMO

Brand Messaging Moments: Staying True to Your Roots Through Next-Level Growth. Part 2.

Making Hay & Stashing Acorns: How growing businesses can maximize a good economy, but prepare for inevitable recession

We helped prepare 312 bikes for kids!

Brand Messaging Moments: How Your Brand Narrative Evolves as You Grow. Part 1.

TCSW18: The Lifecycle of a Brand Panel

Why Create a Narrative for Your Brand?

Authentic & Lake One Present at Manufacturers Alliance

Lifecycle of a Brand: Building Stories that Start, Scale, Sustain, and Sell Businesses

What’s the Difference? Strategic Marketing Consultants and Agencies vs. Fractional CMOs

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