When To Start A Branding Process By Wunmi Eruaga

There is a plethora of talk on branding circulating in business today. Most of what is being said is too ambiguous for the average business owner, who thinks only in return on investment and sales (black and white). It is becoming increasingly hard to convince entrepreneurs about the vital role branding plays in the world of business. Strangely, with all the information on branding available today, entrepreneurs are aware of the magnitude of branding but are just confused about the concept. This blog will shed as much light on the subject not only to stress its importance but also to eliminate any confusion. I would be willing to answer any questions on branding in the comment section.

Today, we would look at the reasons to start a branding process. I’d like to call it a business diagnosis that tells you when you need the branding medicine. This information is supposed to guide today’s entrepreneur on when to decide to get a brand catalyst to work on the brand. Yeah! Yeah! I have heard a lot on branding but how do I know then I need to get a branding process started? Here are a few reasons or situations or symptoms that require an entrepreneur to prepare a budget for branding and start investing.



I’m starting a new business.
I need a business card and a website
We’ve developed a new product and it needs a name and logo yesterday.
We need to raise millions of Naira. The campaign needs to have its own identity
We’re going public next year.
We need to raise venture capital, even though we do not have our first customer.
Our name no longer fits who we are and the businesses we are in.
We need to change our name because of a business registration conflict.
Our name has a negative connotation in the new market we want to enter.
Our name misleads customers.
We want to reposition and renew the global brand.
We need to communicate more clearly about who we are.
We’re going global-we need help to enter new markets.
No one knows who we are.
We want to appeal to a new and more affluent market.
Our website doesn’t work on smart phones.
We are a great company with cutting-edge products. We look behind the times
Will our identity work on the web?
Our identity does not position us shoulder to shoulder with our competitors
I’m embarrassed when I give out my business card.
Everyone in the world recognizes our icon, but admit it- she needs a face-lift.
We love our symbol – our market knows it. The problem is you cannot read our logotype.
We do not present a consistent face to our customers.
We lack visual consistency and we need new brand architecture to deal with acquisitions.
Our packaging is not distinctive.
Our competition looks better than we do
All of our marketing looks like it comes from different companies


For every point in business when you have any thought about these things to yourself or shared it with other stakeholders, that moment is when you should consider kick starting a branding process.



Feel free to contact me on my personal website www.wunmieruaga.com

Music Mondays With Femi Samuel: 5 New Music Videos You Should See

The main purpose of visuals to a song is somewhat undermined in this part of the world with our music industry's refusal to take the music videos which they put out and place on rotation seriously. A huge shout out to the set of artistes & video directors that put in work to create amazing music videos. Here is a review of 5 of the latest music videos out now.


Banky W: “Gidi Love”
Director: Banky W
Banky W released the visuals to this lovely tune which was the soundtrack of Femi Odugbemi's romantic movie "Gidi Love" starring the likes of Gideon Okeke & the legendary Bukky Wright. The video was shot on location in New York to be precise and had its primary setting in a court room. A very hilarious video that was spot-on with its storyline and content. Everyone felt comfortable in the video; from the actors to the extras and Banky W. It was very exciting to watch, the performers in this video were hilarious from the start to finish. The best feature had to be the scene were Hauwa Allahbura of the Gidi Love fame walked-in during the court session which was a breathtaking sight as she was ravishing in her orange dress which made the court room to stop and stare which was appropriate as it blended well with the lyrics of the song.


Kiss Daniel: “Sin City”
Director: HG2 FILMS
When Kiss Daniel decided to include Sin City on his debut album "New Era", it already felt as if he had major plans for the song's video with the song's content. In the visuals to this record, we see Kiss Daniel performing on the streets of a downtown American city. The location where this video was shot links appropriately with the lyrics to the song. It might not be an original concept with the output but it had a decent story line to it.


Koker: “Give Dem”
Director: Director Q
In Give Dem, we see Koker going from being a regular diner kitchen staff that had to deal with a nagging and difficult boss, to being the Star boy everyone loves and admires. Koker was nicely dressed in all the scenes, as he connected well with the eye-catching video vixens that were looking really good. We also see a well-orchestrated choreography performance in the video with everyone being on the beat and sticking to the script. Director Q definitely did a good work with the pre-production and post production of this video as it was crispy clear to watch. It had the distinctive feature as the title of the song "Give Dem" which was personified by burgers and fries that were served to the customers.


 P Square: “Bank Alert”
Director: Clarence Peters
Everyone's favorite twins are finally on rotation once again on our television screens with this comedic drama music video, which had notable Nollywood actor Mr. IBU and the legendary Onyeka Onwenu starring in it. A really nicely done typical P-square kind of music video; it had the required props in it. It also depicted the grass to grace story of having to fly in a private jet, then moving into their own mansion. The choreographers were also dressed in their individual traditional attires, as they created a picture of the cultural greatness that can be associated to the sound of this record.


Lola Rae: “One Time”
Director: Clarence Peters
Pretty face Lola Rae is back on the scene with the visuals to her previously released reggae tune "one time". This song and video has been accepted into the music industry on a friendly note but is subject to scrutiny with the fact that this record has similarities with the melody and beat of Tiwa Savage's Wanted jam. The video has an innocent-looking Lola Rae getting into character as she possessed the persona of a rude-gal with naughty mannerism. It also featured dancers and models, which were rightly placed in the video as they displayed some theatrics. The club scene had decent angles with its shoot-technique and proper lightings.

Femi Samuel on Twitter: @Femi_RichNation

Wunmi Eruaga

Wunmi Eruaga is a Nigerian multi-disciplinary maker of useful, curious and beautiful things.  His Core skills are in Graphic/Web design, Illustration and branding.

Wunmi’s journey is a little different than most. He started his career after graduating with a B.Ed in English Education from the University of Lagos, and made grand plans of becoming an Editor-in-Chief of a prominent magazine. After realizing he quite frankly couldn’t fly the rungs, Wunmi began teaching himself design at the age of 22. Fast-forward a few years and through a whole lot of ass busting, Wunmi is now a designer, founder, and maker.

After kicking off his career as a designer, Wunmi had the honor to develop ideas and design for companies such as M1oAfrica, RedboxAfrica, Popcentral, SupremeDremeTeam (a Hip Hop collective he is a member of) and Josh Manuel Co.

For the past two and a half years, Wunmi has steadily built and honed his skills under some of the biggest creatives in the industry. He considers life a learning process, following the advice of one of his mentors, still hasn’t seen his best at his endeavors.

In his spare time Wunmi is the founder of MADE BY DESIGN ™, a project dedicated to Lagos City’s creative business, culture and education. The project through collaborations, product design, content creation and education is aimed at engaging, promoting and empowering creatives, people & brands. Wunmi enjoys reading and writing.

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Find out more on his Website www.wunmieruaga.com
Follow these links to articles on his blog:
 Naming Ceremony Business
Kaption Photography Business

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All Or Nothing Fitness With Dizzy: Lend A Helping Hand

Hello guys, whoop! “LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL”, *takes picture of a guy or girl using the wrong form or the fat man on the treadmill*. Unreal!

 I really don’t get people that do this. Someone’s made an effort to take a step in the right direction and your welcome is to laugh, you are a real genius, you are. It’s quite unfortunate, but we have such people and if you’re one of them reading this, shame on you! And, if you’ve been subjected to such I apologize, not everyone is that idiotic. So yeah, why not hand a helping hand next time and show support?

 We all started somewhere and if everyone gave us such a welcoming, I’m sure some of us won’t be where we are today. Or be headed in the direction at all. Luckily, as there are morons out there, there are also great people out there willing to help. I personally love to see first timers because they have a lot of positive energy and enthusiasm.

 At times, this lifestyle is like a jungle, the newbies come in more or less like newly born animals (no offense), not everyone will make it (into a lifestyle), but we serve as their parents (so to speak), it’s up to us to help these newcomers in the quest to survive as you were helped when you started (I say this because I know some people are hopeless and don’t want to be helped).

Before throwing the fat lady on the treadmill under a bus (you probably won’t have the strength anyways), or skinny guy struggling with five push-ups, have this in mind; you too couldn’t lift as heavy as you do now, nor were you as fit as you now are.  So, come on man, help them out and don’t be that guy taking pictures, posting on social media to feed your low esteem (at least, help first).  Signing out and if you need any help whatsoever , I’m always available.
You can keep up with me on social media:

Twitter: @AONFitness
Instagram: @AONFitness
Facebook: https://t.co/GougsGtIkw
E- mail: aonfitnessnigeria@gmail

Music Mondays With Femi Samuel: 5 Hot Songs on The Dodo Gang Playlist

#TheDodoGangPlaylist - This is the official #DodoGangEndorsed playlist that gives a proper insight on 5 of the  hottest songs at the moment and also assists gangsters as to what music they should have on their playlist.

1. Pana - Tekno

Tekno, undoubtedly has to be /everyone's favorite boy/ right now, dropping hits after hits with; Duro, Wash, and Where. He clearly isn’t ready to slow down, when he decided to put out the most popular song at the moment "Pana". Everywhere you go; you find the next person saying "Baby Pana" or hear something put out the sentence "Folake give me love ooh". This tune has the right melody that makes it an enjoyable one. Nothing can arguably be found lacking in this song.

2. Love At First Sight - Legendury Beatz ft. Ceeza

Love at first sight which was produced by the heavyweight-production duo of Legendury Beatz,. They had upcoming Afro-reggae/pop singer Ceeza Milli delivering the verses on this record. This song switches up between R'n'B & Reggae, showcased how versatile & talented the new kid on the block can be. Ceeza was decent vocally. He bossed the matured instrumental through the song. His sound & delivery reminds me of the version of Wizkid before the AYO album. Ceeza had a superb outing on this one; he is one for the future.

 3. No Forget – AdekunleGold ft. Simi

On his debut album, Gold, popular alternative singer AdekunleGold showed us how great he can be as a recording artiste, with his impressive performance on the album. No Forget featuring the delectable Simi, is a very good tune that sets itself apart from similar songs in its category of music. Both artistes, created a picture of the problems two young lovers face on their quest to freedom and happiness. The chemistry they had together on this piece of work was a very much needed one, which yielded into a great record. The melody of this song makes its listeners relate well to it. And the song is currently one of the hottest songs out there at the moment, most especially with female ‘DekunleGold music lovers.

4. Kontrol- Maleek Berry

This fresh tune from Berry's Room is one that is setup to get you in the right mood; (positive vibes only), as you slowly proceed into the right frame of mind. Maleek Berry who is originally a record producer,  beat the odds as he was comfortable cruising through his verses and delivering a massive hook to this smooth dancehall beat.

5. Little Bit More- Jidenna

Jidenna dropped this hard tune ‘little bit more’ a while back and was in the country not too long ago to promote the record and his debut album. The entire package of the song is that it kicks off in suspense (with the drums in the background) and builds up to an up-tempo song that has "everything" needed in it. This type of record goes on to stipulate the fact that music is powerful; because from nowhere you just feel like dancing to this song that has a mixture of Afro beat, Hip-hop & Rap in it. And its overall production is also a brilliant one.... /wahala she no dey give me/... /I dey want it plenty plenty/.


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Too Much Talk Episode 5: Teyana and Suicide

The Talkatives are happy to present to you Episode 5 of Too Much Talk titled Teyana and Suicide. NK is finally back from her wedding absence and had a lot to say. This episode features suicidal talks and the new Kanye West video that had the whole world yapping about Teyana Taylor's amazing body.

Enjoy Too Much Talk Episode 5: Teyana & Suicide

DropBox
iTunes

All Or Nothing Fitness With Dizzy: Pump It Up

PUMP, PUMP… PUMP IT UP!

Hello people, don’t we just love a good pump? I really do not understand why many bodybuilders love to focus on their chest and arms. I guess they’ve given up hope of ever reducing their belly fat, so they rather make the chest protrude to cover the tummy.

Oh my! I might be on to something here.  Ha! Another could be the fact that these parts are the most “visible” and often used as a scale to measure strength in some fitness worlds (not mine though). Then again, perhaps the most logical is the feeling it brings, the amazing pump and satisfaction of the chest and arms growing as you lift.

 These muscle groups show an immediate (temporary) blast when they are pumped. Oh Chest Day! Oh Arm Day! EVERYDAY! Unfortunately I don’t fall into that category of chest and arm day everyday bodybuilders.  BUT! Today, I got the chest pump of life! And, check this out! NO WEIGHTS REQUIRED!

YES! No Dumbbells! No Barbells! No Cables! Just body and blood (as per usual). By the end of this workout, you’d feel a feeling you’ve never felt before. Parental Guidance is seriously advised! IT IS NOT FOR BABIES! Before I yap too much, let me get straight to it:

Push ups (4X to Failure)
Push Suspension (4X to failure)
Isometric Wipes (4X to failure)
Hand Release Push Ups (4X Failure)
Take 1 - 2 minutes rest (depending on fitness levels) between activities, as written above, complete 4 sets of push ups, all to failure before proceeding to the 4 sets of Push Suspension each to failure, and so on.

With the push suspension, hold your position as shown in the photo below. The remaining exercises can be found online. Good luck (you’d need it), tell me how it goes. This routine is off my “Home Grater” program. PUMP IT UP!

You can keep up with me on social media:
Twitter: @AONFitness
Instagram: @AONFitness
Facebook: https://t.co/GougsGtIkw

E- mail: aonfitnessnigeria@gmail.com