Welcome to LETTER 7's Blog. Branding + Marketing + Graphic Design

Feed the Hungry in East Africa

2011-09-14T07:11:00.000-07:00

While it seems to have fallen from the headlines, the famine in East Africa sadly continues with devastating outcomes. In fact, The United Nations announced earlier this month that Somalia’s famine had spread to a sixth area within the country, with officials warning that 750,000 people could perish in the next few months unless aid efforts were increased.

If you're interested in contributing to help victims of the famine in East Africa, here are a few organizations* that are providing relief: Action Aid USA, American Jewish World Service and UNICEF.

Did you know that posters from our Standing Up Counts series are available to nonprofit organizations at no cost? If you know of an organization or entity that would benefit from using them, let us know.

We very much appreciate the feedback that we've received from our poster designs. Engage with us here and let us know what you think. If there's a cause you feel strongly about, let us know—we'll consider designing a series for it.

*LETTER 7 does not certify the charities’ fund allocations or administrative costs. More information about giving, for this and other causes, is available at GuideStar.com.

Equal Pay for Women

2011-07-25T16:37:00.000-07:00

Our friend and colleague, Janet Falk, suggested that we create a series of posters to raise awareness of wage discrimination. In 1963, President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law. Yet, unequal pay still exists. We were shocked to learn that in 2009, the average female salary was only 77% of the average male salary.

National Women's Law Center champions laws and policies that work for women and families. Contact them here.

Did you know that posters from our Standing Up Counts series are available to nonprofit organizations at no cost? If you know of an organization or entity that would benefit from using them, let us know.

We very much appreciate the feedback that we've received from our poster designs. Engage with us here and let us know what you think. If there's a cause you feel strongly about, let us know—we'll consider designing a series for it.

Think Green, Again

2011-06-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and colleagues,

We hope you are enjoying spring so far. Here in the Northeast, dogwoods and daffodils are in full bloom. For many, their beauty reminds us of our responsibility to preserve the planet. However, some of our efforts to be environmentally responsible may, in fact, have the opposite effect.

Going Green Isn't Always Black and White
As principals of a creative firm that helps socially responsible companies and organizations, we’ve long been aware of the perceived environmental impact of print communications.

Although we've written about this topic before, common thought still holds that print media has a greater environmental impact than digital media. In a recent article (click here), MediaShift environmental correspondent Don Carli poses this question: “Is it possible that digital media could be more destructive to the environment and a greater threat to trees, bees, rivers and forests than printing?”

According to the author, both print and digital media impact our environment. And digital has greater consequences than many think.

Responsible and Effective Marketing
Without question, marketing is essential to the growth of companies and organizations. Since both print and digital media impact the environment, we feel that a marketing decision should be based on determining the best vehicle to deliver your message to your audience.

Print or digital, we can help you decide which is best (and often times, it's both). Although we have a passion for creating successful websites and social media campaigns, we've found that many enjoy the intimate and experiential quality of conceptually well-written text and compelling photos on a printed page. If a print communication is part of your marketing plan, then we recommend using vegetable inks on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified/recycled paper.

LETTER 7 is a full-service branding, marketing and graphic design firm. We partner with socially responsible companies and nonprofit organizations that work to make the world a better place because we believe in a brighter future for all.

Do you have questions about branding, marketing or graphic design? Connect with us today -- let's meet and have a conversation.

Raising Awareness for Our Oceans

2011-05-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

In recent years, reports have indicated that five major subtropical "garbage patches" have been spotted in the world's oceans. These circular anomalies are created by currents that spiral around a central point and push water and marine litter to its center.

Most plastics are made of petroleum. As a result, when in water, they float like oil on or near the surface of the ocean. When exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time, these plastics break down into fine dust particles. This seemingly harmless plastic dust retains all its toxic chemical components and will never biodegrade.

As plastic builds up in the world’s oceans, the potential for it to reach marine life that's harvested by humans increases. When we consume fish and seafood, we consume everything that they have consumed. There is growing evidence that toxins from plastics found in the world's oceans are responsible for an increase in human health problems, such as cancer, brain, reproductive and cardiovascular damage.

We think that keeping the world's oceans clean is a good idea. We've identified a few organizations that are dedicated to the cause. One in particular is The Clean Oceans Project.

LETTER 7's Standing Up Counts Poster Series
We use our creativity to support causes we believe in. Did you know that posters from our Standing Up Counts series are available to nonprofit organizations at no cost? If you know of an organization or entity that would benefit from using them, let us know.

We very much appreciate all the feedback from our "Help Relieve Japan," "Let's Clean Up Brooklyn" and "Same-Sex Marriage" posters. Engage with us here and let us know what you think. And if you have a topic that you'd like us to design a series around, let us know—we'd be happy to consider it.

LETTER 7 is a full-service branding, marketing and graphic design firm. We value those who work to make the world a better place because we believe in a brighter future for all.

LETTER 7 - Brands for Global Good

Raising Awareness for Japan

2011-04-12T05:22:00.000-07:00

The earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011 was the most powerful earthquake to hit Japan since modern record-keeping began. Recently, the Japanese government announced that the cost of the earthquake and tsunami could reach $309 billion, making it the world's most expensive natural disaster. The toll on human life has been even worse.

Like many, I was shocked at the photos and videos that I saw. Unfortunately, the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant remains in a state of emergency as large aftershocks persist.

For the next installment of our Standing Up Counts poster series (above), I want to raise awareness about the challenges that many Japanese people still face.

Entities around the world continue to accept donations on Japan's behalf. I specifically want to mention JDC’s (one of our most loyal clients) Japan Emergency Relief fund.

LETTER 7's Standing Up Counts Poster Series
Did you know that posters from our Standing Up Counts series are available to nonprofit organizations at no cost? Do you know of an organization or entity that would benefit from using them? Let us know.

We appreciate all the feedback from our Clean Up Brooklyn and Same-Sex Marriage posters, as well as the ideas many of you have shared for our next series.

Engage with us here on our blog. Let us know what you think. And if you have a topic that you'd like us to design a series around, let us know--we'd be happy to consider it.

LETTER 7 is a full-service branding, marketing and graphic design firm. We partner with those who work to make the world a better place because we believe in a brighter future for all.

Do Good. Communicate Better!

Raising Awareness for Brooklyn

2011-03-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

Who Doesn't Love Brooklyn?
The neighborhoods, the food, the history and culture. Many of us have connections to the borough, with some that go back generations. If fact, my father was born there, and his parents lived in Brighton Beach most of their lives.

The goal of our next Standing Up Counts poster series is to raise awareness of an issue that's plagued our beloved Brooklyn--pollution and toxic waste. For years, the Gowanus Canal and Greenpoint's Newtown Creek have been highlighted in the news. There's been talk of addressing both, yet progress is slow to come. We like to see action. And of course, a touch of humor also helps to raises awareness.

LETTER 7's Standing Up Counts Poster Series
Did you know that posters from our Standing Up Counts series are available to nonprofit organizations at no cost? Do you know of an organization or entity that would benefit from using them? Let us know.

By the way, we appreciate all the feedback from our last set of posters. Engage with us here on our blog. Let us know what you think. And if you have a topic that you'd like us to design a series around, let us know--we'd be happy to consider it.

LETTER 7 is a full-service branding, marketing and graphic design firm. We partner with socially responsible companies and nonprofits that work to make the world a better place because we believe in a brighter future for all.

Do Good. Communicate Better!

Standing Up for What We Believe In

2011-02-15T09:25:00.000-08:00

A Message From Geoff Ledet, President & Creative Director of LETTER 7:

One of the reasons I chose a career in communications was my desire to lend my creativity and social awareness to causes I believed in. This philosophy has been a driving force behind the work that my team and I create at LETTER 7.

My wish to contribute to positive change began more than a decade ago while living in Los Angeles and working as a senior designer at a branding agency. I founded a magazine with a social mission. With a handful of highly dedicated and talented volunteers, we worked evenings and weekends to create something that would really make a difference. Within a year, the word surrounding our publication created a stir, and soon after USA Today contacted me about doing an interview. At the magazine’s launch party, which was held at the beautiful Skirball Cultural Center, more than 800 people gathered from near and far to support the publication and its mission. I was truly grateful.

A year later, I relocated to New York and launched LETTER 7. For the past eight years, my team and I have continued working for social good: We regularly contribute pro-bono design and brand work to organizations and institutions with missions we believe in. CAMERA, Fuel For Truth, NYU Entrepreneurship Conference and JASA are to name a few.

Currently inspired by the plight of a close friend and colleague, I'm proud to introduce LETTER 7's Standing Up Counts poster series. Each month, we will choose a topic we feel strongly about and design three posters around it. I invite you to engage with us here on our blog and let us know which poster you think is the strongest, most effective and why. First topic: Same-sex marriage.

While taking a stance for something one believes in can raise questions and spur dialogue, I believe that those who know me personally would agree that I'm not averse to taking a risk every now and again.

That said, the desire to stand up for what we believe in is one of the strengths of our firm. I believe our clients also appreciate our expertise, dedication and exceptional client service.

LETTER 7 partners with socially responsible companies and nonprofits that work to make the world a better place because we believe in a brighter future for all.

Is there a topic that you feel strongly about? Let us know and we'll consider designing a poster for it.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T13:55:00.000-08:00

As we begin 2011, consider that brands are living, breathing entities. They must evolve along with your audience, the economy and other factors.

The new year is a great time to assess the current state of your brand.

1) Does your messaging (mission statement, positioning statement, core values and tag line) resonate with your target audience(s)? Is it consistent across all media?

2) How does your brand look? Try putting all of your marketing and/or fundraising materials from 2010 on a table. Do they have a distinct and consistent look and feel?

3) Finally, how are you engaging your audience? Are you getting the results that you need to raise awareness and grow?

If you answered “no” to any of the questions above, a brand (and marketing) assessment is likely needed. Take the time to do it. By this time next year (and hopefully much sooner) you’ll be glad that you did.

What's In A Name?

2010-09-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

When considering the effectiveness of a brand identity, you might be surprised to learn that the actual name of a company or organization may be preventing its growth.

In a recent brand identity project, we discovered during the research phase that an organization's target audience didn't know what to call the nonprofit because its name was too similar to the name of its parent organization.

In another, we discovered that the very audience that a company was trying to target found its name misleading and inauthentic.

In a third, the organization's name was too long and thus, difficult to remember.

If your marketing materials are not meeting your goals for growth, begin by looking at the most basic element of your brand -- its name. Ask your audience what comes to mind when it hears or reads the name of your company or organization. You might be surprised to learn that even a little shift in the name can go a long way towards marketing success.

Resolutions and Brand Solutions

2010-01-08T04:59:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year.

Is your organization’s or company’s brand identity feeling a bit bloated after the holidays? Or worse, not fed enough? Do your constituents, donors, board members and clients see you for all that you are, or could be? Is your brand ready for the next 5 years? How about the next 6 months?

If you’re not sure, we can help. Start the new year with a SWOT brand analysis.

SWOT Brand Analysis
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats -- every organization and company has them, and they can become a useful and empowering tool. Can you identify yours? What strengths might you capitalize on? Which areas need improvement?

Many times, a SWOT analysis becomes the first step in a comprehensive brand identity make-over, and that’s exactly how we started the brand development process for a recent client.

Reviewing past and current marketing materials and brand messages. Discussing short-term and long-term goals. Conducting interviews with key staff, board members and constituents. Initiating questionnaires. Assessing information. Developing a strategy. Brainstorming. Collaborating. Creating.

The result: A more focused and relevant tagline, positioning statement and core values statement.

What's the state of your organization's brand?

Giving Back

2009-12-13T08:23:00.000-08:00

Year-end stats: LETTER 7 is proud to have provided more than 40 hours of pro-bono branding, marketing and graphic design services to New York City nonprofits in need. We believe that giving back is an important part of being a responsible company. Do you believe that giving back is important? If so, how do you give back?

What Do You Value?

2009-10-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

When clients turn to us to create or refresh their organization’s brand identity, they often ask, “How can I find and inspire our target audience?”

A distinct Values Statement identifies and defines your core beliefs, portraying the relevance and authenticity of your nonprofit, while setting it apart from others.

By cultivating your values through clear, compelling and consistent messages across all forms of communication, you begin to establish—and reinforce—an emotional connection with your audience. Once you define your values and align them with your every day actions, you build trust in your organization’s mission, inspire people to become involved and nurture a successful brand.

What does your organization, institution or company value? And how do you align those values with your daily work?

At LETTER 7, our values represent a key component of our working philosophy. Following, find two examples of how we align our values with our everyday work.

1. Big Picture Thinking: We value individuals who better the world through their work at nonprofit organizations, institutions and responsible companies.

To help those engaged in positive change, we co-founded Nonprofit Action Network, a multi-disciplinary group of highly skilled consultants dedicated to meeting a wide range of nonprofit organization needs. Click (here) to view our new website and learn more about how our consultants can help your organization achieve its goals and fulfill its mission.

4. Collaboration: We partner with clients throughout the entire creative process to develop the most strategically sound and memorable outcomes.

Working closely with New York University’s Berkley School for Entrepreneurial Studies, we developed a highly conceptual and creative marketing campaign (view here) that raised awareness about two key competitions and inspired increased action on behalf of students and alumni alike.

As part of a successful brand identity, LETTER 7 provides the written messaging that include the Value Statement, Mission Statement, Positioning Statement, and Tagline, to name a few.

Are your written messages connecting with your audience? If you’re not sure, call us—we can help.

For Profit Brands for Nonprofits

2009-07-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

Why do some nonprofits think they need to settle for inferior brands? Is there such thing as a "nonprofit" mentality when it comes to marketing and branding nonprofits? If so, there doesn't need to be.

Nonprofits can have strong brands--ones that inspire constituents, volunteers, board members and donors alike.

By using the same general principles (with some modification) as for profit companies, nonprofits can raise awareness, inspire action and forget loyalty--just like Google, Apple and Harley-Davidson (some of the strongest for profit brands).

YMCA of the USA, The Salvation Army and United Way of America are all excellent examples of nonprofits with strong "for profit" brands. They raise more money, attract more volunteers and help more people due to the strength of their brand identities.

Recent News Regarding Funding for Nonprofits

2009-07-10T08:53:00.000-07:00

"Managing in Tough Times: May 2009 Nonprofit Leaders Survey Update" by William Foster, Gail Perreault and Srah Sable.
http://www.bridgespan.org/nonprofit-managing-in-tough-times-survey-update-may-2009.aspx

Drugstore Brands and Nonprofits

2009-07-07T19:21:00.000-07:00

What can nonprofits learn from the private sector brands? Lots.

New York drugstore chain, Duane Reade, has re-done their brand Identity. By posting questions on outside signage, the chain engages customers before they enter the store. Good thinking, but what about competitor, CVS Pharmacy? Its store windows feature photos of smiling people.

If a CVS and Duane Reade were side-by-side on a street, which would you be more likely to enter? Which is more inviting?

Does your nonprofit brand's engage people in ways they don't expect? Do pictures tell your brand's story? If donors were looking at your nonprofit's website and your competitor's, which do you think they would feel more connected to?