AdJourney

08/20/2022

Branding & Marketing Introduction Workshop by AdJourney
How do you condense YEARS of insight into a 1-hr time slot? You don't. But you can take the most crucial concepts and present them in a way where people who don't quite know what to do with the terms branding and marketing (and maybe even those who thought they had a good concept) - and provide them a frame of reference that changes their world.

So, what's in this video? About 46-minutes - chock full of impactful content to change the way YOU think about branding and marketing. It also provides a basic framework for developing your very own brand core. (A special thanks to Chris Do for his CORE he shared a few years ago. It refined our Brand Core.)

JumpStart•U is AdJourney’s podcast, newsletter (you're reading it now) and YouTube channel. It started as a branding and marketing educational resource when AdJourney was focused on agency work for clients. The goal was to scratch the teaching itch on a more regular basis. It was a resource to spark creative dialog, stir new ideas and create more effective communication amongst those who engaged. Sure, it got us a few clients, but the goal for me - was to empower people with knowledge!

AdJourney pivoted. It is now where I leverage 25+ years of Branding & Marketing experience, combined with my wife Trish’s 25+ years helping people modify problem behaviors (that want to do the work), and together - we help YOU! Who? Why early-stage business founders of startups in incubators, accelerators, seed funds, etc. Those who are wearing way too many hats and feeling overwhelmed with each step forward - by the things they realize they DON'T know! We fast-track and level up your knowledge around effective branding, marketing and communication so you can launch your business with impact.

And JumpStart•U... it still exist, so we leverage the tool a bit differently. After we pivoted AdJourney in July to an edu-focused purpose, then JumpStart•U more perfectly lined up with what we are doing with the business. And what is that? Why - serving as a place to educate, challenge, encourage and empower - you.

Brian & Trish Sykes ::: AdJourney

What's in this video? An hour - chock full of impactful content to change the way YOU think about branding and marketing, and provides a basic framework for...

08/08/2022

To all you early-stage company founders (and wannabes) in an accelerator, incubator, seed fund, etc. -

Are you ready to level-up your branding/marketing know-how?THIS may be the best 1-hr you will spend working on your business, and it won't cost you a dime!

WHAT is it?
::: FREE ::: Branding & Marketing Introduction Workshop packed with 1-hr of mile-high level insight and practical takeaways about understanding your audience, communicating effectively and leveraging your brand's story.

WHO's it for?
Startups and early-stage company founders & leadership.

WHO's the host?
It is coming to you LIVE via Zoom by Brian Sykes and his wife/business partner Trish and their newly transmogrified 23-year Marketing Agency to an Educational center for leveling up early-stage business founders - AdJourney.

WHY?
What, transmogrify a marketing agency to a learning center, or host this class? For 23 years I ran the Marketing agency, I provided training, consulting and been a recurring lecturer for the US-SBA. Trish and I LOVE to co-teach and "turn the cognitive lights on" for people. There is simply nothing more rewarding and personally gratifying - and we wanted to do MORE of that.

This workshop is our FIRST class under this NEW banner of an educational center - and we are really excited to kick off things with a packed hour-of-power workshop!

HOW do we attend?
The class will be on Friday, August 12 at 10:00AM - EST via ZOOM. Register for the workshop here: https://lnkd.in/g2Ue8Kjk



Illustration comes from . Our goal is to be a resource to the start-up founders and empower them with thinking creatively and train them to be more effective at communicating about and within their business!

08/08/2022

If you're an early-stage company in an accelerator, incubator, seed fund, etc. - and want to level-up your branding/marketing know-how... THIS may be the best 1-hr you will spend working on your business, and it won't cost you a dime!

WHAT is it?
It is a ::: FREE ::: Branding & Marketing Introduction Workshop packed with 1-hr of mile-high level insight and practical takeaways about understanding your audience, communicating effectively and leveraging your brand's story.

WHO is it for?
Startups and early-stage company founders & leadership whose skills set weigh heavily on ideas and technical skills, but who lack confidence in effectively conveying their business to investors and the public at large.

WHO is the host?
It is coming to you LIVE via Zoom by Brian Sykes and his wife/business partner Trish and their newly transmogrified 23-year Marketing Agency to an Education / Resource venue - AdJourney. (I grew up on Calvin & Hobbs - and there were several times where Calvin climbed under a box to transmogrify himself into several different things... brilliant!)

WHY would we do that?
What, transmogrify a marketing agency or host this class? Both actually have the same answer. For 23 years, I have provided training, consulting and been a recurring lecturer for the US-SBA in addition to running a Marketing agency. Trish and I LOVE to teach and "turn the cognitive lights on" for people. There is simply nothing more rewarding and personally gratifying - and we want to do MORE of that.
This workshop is our FIRST class under this NEW banner of an educational center - and we are really excited to kick off things with a power-packed WHAM-BAM-here-you-go-MA'AM directed at those we want to help.

HOW do we sign up?
Want to attend? We'd LOVE to have you! The class will be on Friday, August 12 at 10:00AM - EST via ZOOM. To register for the workshop - sign up here: https://lnkd.in/g2Ue8Kjk



Illustration comes from .

07/26/2022

Strategy versus Planning.
Ever thought on what the difference is between STRATEGY and PLANNING?

I am in the midst of launching HeadSpace Branding this month, and the very first service offered, is "Brand Strategy." This is a phrase you can find prevalently on LinkedIn, but let us break it down into some useful thinking by defining our terms.

While Strategy and Planning seem to travel in similar circles and are sometimes interchangeably used - their purpose varies greatly.

Imagine you are about to embark on a cross-country trek that will move you from where you presently are today, to several months from now being where you eventually want/ plan to be. The trek is a move from one established location to a new vicinity. A STRATEGY will define how you will address the challenges, face the insecurities and problems that might arise, manage the assets, determine the means of transport, and leverage the favorable prevailing forces through the journey in order to ultimately arrive at your desired destination. No one would blindly jump in a vehicle on empty with bald tires, drive aimlessly in any direction and expect ourself and our stuff to miraculously "arrive" without purpose and intent applied to the effort. STRATEGY must be involved.

Where STRATEGY oversees the broad stroke efforts, for each of the prevailing activities there must be individual PLANS for how they will be accomplished. If there is a flat enroute, do you:
• rely on AAA
• have the supplies
• deal with it later?

What about the furniture?
• sell all in a yard sale & replace stuff when you arrive
• load it into Uhaul
• hire a mover?

These individual decisions are part of the PLANNING. PLANNING is the exact details - who, when, where, how, why - involved in achieving individual goals or objectives. PLANNING is focused on the details for efficiently and in a timely way aligning the resources, timing, and expectations for successful ex*****on of individual tasks. PLANNING has a more limited scope than a STRATEGY.

HeadSpace Branding....

07/25/2022

Brand Strategy.
So, this is fun...

On one hand, I have AdJourney - a 23 year business that served in the MARKETING space "serving clients" and solving communication problems. In July, we took the entire agency and ran it through a Calvin & Hobbs style TRANSMORGRIFIER - and spit out a business with a focus on EDUCATION.
As NF says:
"... Oh, ain't that somethin'?
Drums came in, you ain't see that comin'"

I knew some of the details, but THIS week we are working on a complete Brand Strategy for this NEW version of AdJourney.

How?
The HOW is the other hand - our business: HeadSpace Branding. This week I will be sharing a bit of the process so you can see 2 things.
1. How HeadSpace Branding performs its magic.
2. Who AdJourney will serve and how.

I want to have some fun with this - so Open Book and Ask a Friend:
Ask me ANY questions regarding the process, the thinking, the motivations. Part of AdJourney's focus will be about "leveling up" our students with "Internship in a box" solutions that don't just give you a part of a skill, but fast-tracking the know-how for clearly making marketing decisions.



If you would like to learn more - click the link to sign up and stay in the know!
https://us10.list-manage.com/contact-form?u=b1534271421e23a7945cb30bb&form_id=a75550d76de545a671e2487bd80b3cdc

07/25/2022

AdJourney can be your Digital Media Marketing and Content EDUCATION partner. We spent decades creating specialized digital media content for businesses - and we can come along side your team and bring them up to speed with the resources and know how - to determine the BEST way to tackle the job. Whether you are looking for full service Social Media Management, or a digital media cook book and resources to create and manage your own posting, let AdJourney assist you in the thinking and be your go-to resource.

07/22/2022

Are you struggling with trying to take care of your Digital Media Marketing? Have you considered turnkey services that can be implemented in-house?
AdJourney understands that your digital media is no longer just part of the marketing mix; it's THE marketing mix. We can help YOU take control of your Social Media Marketing and any other online marketing opportunity you would like to explore by helping YOU fast-track the information on HOW to do it yourself... Let's strike up a conversation about YOUR business goals, how Digital Marketing fits - and how to gain the upper hand by gaining the HOW TO to tackle it yourself!
Contact us at AdJourney to learn more... Ask how a 23 year agency went from producing the marketing - to teach business leaders how they can do it theirselves.

07/21/2022

This was my wife's concept, and I love it - Internship in a box.

Over the years I have had a number of internships work through AdJourney. With each intern I have sought to not just hand them busy work, but sought to create a learning opportunity where the person grew because of their experience.

That same concept, we want to apply thru AdJourney. The classes AdJourney will be providing are not just about making the student proficient in a piece of software (though it will help you there)... rather I want to help Small Business Leaders and employees of SMB's tasked with some marketing responsibility - to be empowered and enabled to take on that creative endeavor - confidently and proficiently.

Many of my past interns only had a cursory experience using software and solving business problems. They were often far from adequately equipped to be an asset when they graduated and went on to a career... yet when they finished the projects I walked them through - they were equipped to think like a designer, solve a real-life marketing problem and deliver a solid solution.

THIS is what AdJourney will be providing. There are hundreds of GREAT teachers for specific pieces of software and creative skill sets... my goal with AdJourney is to equip people to confidently wear a new hat of responsibility and be the HERO of their own life!

Introducing the new AdJourney business model - Internship in a box. Comment below or DM me to learn more!!

07/19/2022

Wait - AdJourney does educational content for business now?
Yep!!!
We are converting this 23 year marketing agency into a repository for fast-tracking valuable information related to Marketing and effective Communication! Who better to teach it than a Marketing agency owner who got paid to do it professionally for over 20 years!?

So, there are several courses in development right now. These are going to be practical "how to's" that address all the key decisions to be made to make your efforts effective. Are you tire of those "how to build this" that feel more like a Lego instruction manual (which is GREAT if your goal is to make a brochure that looks JUST LIKE the example...)? But what if - you were looking for something different.

Like - I want to build a brochure that fits MY business and conveys MY message. Otherwise, I would just download a template - dump in my information and be done.

But aren't you just a little tired of creating duplicate content to everything else out there?
Where do we start?
What do we need?
How do we decide the size and format?
What software should we use? How do you choose a printer - and what do you ask for?
How do you chose imagery?
How do you write the content?
What should we include and what should we leave out?

Feeling a little overwhelmed - then be encouraged. We have been there, and done that thousands of times before. Let our know-how - fast-track you to feel empowered and enabled to handle the creative jobs your business demands.

Our first class being produced will be on the most basic of business outbound material - the lowly (yet highly effective) - brochure. If there are other things you are interested in learning - comment below or send us a note!

Excited to be your source for powerful communication tools for your business.
Brian Sykes / AdJourney

07/19/2022

AdJourney helps manufacturing businesses turn their digital media marketing and content strategy into a true success. Give your business the edge with engaging, authentic content that makes an impact on social media platforms and generates awareness of your brand throughout the web.

07/19/2022

In a month-and-a-half, I will be turning 48.
Forty-freaking-eight.
My beard has more salt than pepper. My male-pattern-baldness has all but pushed out most of the fuzz called hair from the top of my head. I am simply getting older - but far from old!

So here I am, approaching 48 - and making major pivots in my life. AJ Cassata just sent me a message asking - "Sounds like quite the pivot, I'm curious what sparked this decision?"

Great question... why the Pivot?
I ran AdJourney as a Marketing business for 23 years. That was a fantastic run with lots of great people and experiences along the way... yet I am converting it to an educational resource. (Thanks Chris Do for the inspiration.) At the present - the idea is to create training videos and offer 1:1 business consultation. Both are things that I have done for decades, but I am cutting out the day-to-day grind of marketing for clients under the AdJourney umbrella. I love to teach. I love to explain and help fellow business owners. This will now be the place I can do that more effectively.

At the same time, I am launching a second business ::: HeadSpace Branding ::: where I will provide Brand Strategy, Brand Identity and Brand Ex*****on (Brand Marketing) for SMB's. That niche will be further refined as I move forward with this newest venture.

That answers the WHAT part of the pivot.
But WHY?
I set out to have a formulated exploration time. I did not wander into that. I was very purposeful and intentional. The trigger event that sparked it was on the heels of my first wife of 22 years having a multi-year affair with a "friend of the family" and leaving, taking everything and filing for divorce. I had been so deep into making a life for a family that included 5 sons, running 2 businesses, being active in church (I have been a youth leader for longer than I have been a dad) - that I found myself covered up in DOING...

Coming up against a wall where life suddenly looked way different, made me stop - take stock of my situation and decide to be intentional and more focused moving forward. What did I want to do? What would be my next steps?

I love to teach and am gifted in explaining things... so that's why AdJourney is converting. TheFutur was very inspirational there.

I want to be more intentional in that space - not just offer classes through the college system each semester.

Branding and strategy is also core to my thinking. I love the formulaic problem solving process of helping a business get focused and intentional. HeadSpace will scratch that itch and allow me to be focused on solving foundational problems for business. It's exciting providing clarity in actions to be taken to move a business from where they are to where they need to be.

Why pivot? Re-branding myself.


Image is of me and my lovely wife Trish Sykes in Clemson, SC.

07/18/2022

AdJourney is your one-stop shop for Social Media Management, Digital Marketing, and Content Creation. Our team works with manufacturing businesses to create campaigns that help you build awareness of your product, raise brand awareness, and drive engagement with your target audience.