<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Tue, 29 May 2012 23:01:42 GMT--><rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Lead the Pack - Marketing and Communications News</title><link>http://leadthepack.org/blog/</link><description>News from Lead the Pack - Comprehensive Marketing and Communications Solutions</description><lastBuildDate>Tue, 13 Mar 2012 01:37:13 +0000</lastBuildDate><copyright>Lead the Pack</copyright><language>en-US</language><generator>Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</generator><item><title>Hibernation</title><category>news</category><dc:creator>Tristan</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:40:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://leadthepack.org/blog/hibernation.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">721446:8458193:15407818</guid><description><![CDATA[There hasn&#8217;t been a lot of action in Lead the Pack land lately, but we&#8217;re still here.
]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://leadthepack.org/blog/rss-comments-entry-15407818.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Annual Report: IndyHumane</title><category>"annual report"</category><category>Portfolio</category><category>animals</category><category>branding</category><category>design</category><category>donations</category><category>donors</category><category>graphics</category><category>investing</category><category>money</category><category>non-profits</category><category>print</category><category>statement</category><dc:creator>Tristan</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:30:51 +0000</pubDate><link>http://leadthepack.org/blog/annual-report-indyhumane.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">721446:8458193:12393033</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><strong>The <a href="http://indyhumane.org" target="_blank">Humane Society of Indianapolis</a> hired Lead the Pack to write and design their 2009-2010 Annual Report.</strong></p>
<p>The report for the local non-profit serves as a statement to donors to show what the charitable organization has done with donated funds. Its main purpose is to prove that giving money to the organization is a worthwhile investment.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="offsite-link-inline" href="http://leadthepack.org/storage/indyhumane-annual-report-final-lo.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Download the IndyHumane 2009-2010 Annual Report PDF.</strong></a></p>
<p>The report will mainly be distributed for online use. If you&#8217;d like a  high-resolution, print-quality version, or need advice on preparing, writing, or designing a  similar document yourself, <a href="../../contact/">contact us</a>.</p>
<p>Stay tuned to Lead the Pack news by <a title="Lead the Pack on Facebook" href="http://facebook.com/leadthepack" target="_blank">&#8220;Liking&#8221; us on Facebook</a> - we&#8217;ll soon write a blog post about how to create an annual report that can help you earn more charitable contributions for your non-profit 501(c)(3). (And even if you&#8217;re a for-profit business without cute dogs and cats, we can still help you bring in more money!)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://leadthepack.org/storage/indyhumane-annual-report-final-lo.pdf" target="_blank"><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://leadthepack.org/storage/indyhumane-annual-report-final.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1312483333593" alt="" /></span></span></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://leadthepack.org/blog/rss-comments-entry-12393033.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Promotional Poster: Upland Brewing Co.'s "Lions, Tigers, and Beers" Fundraiser</title><category>Portfolio</category><category>animals</category><category>beer</category><category>cats</category><category>design</category><category>lions</category><category>marketing</category><category>non-profits</category><category>posters</category><category>tigers</category><dc:creator>Tristan</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:50:47 +0000</pubDate><link>http://leadthepack.org/blog/promotional-poster-upland-brewing-cos-lions-tigers-and-beers.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">721446:8458193:12042549</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://leadthepack.org">Lead the Pack</a> &hearts; big cats. And we &hearts; local beer. So we lunged at the opportunity to create the poster for the upcoming <a title="Upland Brewing Co." href="http://uplandbeer.com/" target="_blank">Upland Brewing Co.</a> fundraiser for the <a title="Exotic Feline Rescue Center" href="http://www.exoticfelinerescuecenter.org/home.html" target="_blank">Exotic Feline Rescue Center</a>.</p>
<p>We wish we had a chance to come up with the amazing title, too: <strong>&#8220;Lions, Tigers, and Beers.&#8221;</strong> Terrific!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="thumbnail-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="javascript:showFullImage('/display/ShowImage?imageUrl=%2Fstorage%2Fpost-images%2FUpland-EFRC-poster-black-11x17.jpg%3F__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION%3D1310087054804',1224,792);"><img style="width: 400px;" src="http://leadthepack.org/storage/thumbnails/8457198-13092994-thumbnail.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1310087145877" alt="" /></a></span></span></p>
<p>Join the Exotic Feline Rescue Center, Lead the Pack, and many more great folks on Saturday, July 30 at Upland Brewing Co. in beautiful Bloomington, Indiana. It&#8217;s free, and the money raised benefits an amazing cause, so you have no excuse not to go.</p>
]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://leadthepack.org/blog/rss-comments-entry-12042549.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Logo Redesign: BullyWag</title><category>Portfolio</category><category>branding</category><category>creativePAW</category><category>design</category><category>dogs</category><category>free</category><category>freshening</category><category>graphics</category><category>logos</category><category>non-profits</category><category>pro-bono</category><category>raster</category><category>vector</category><dc:creator>Tristan</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:01:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://leadthepack.org/blog/logo-redesign-bullywag.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">721446:8458193:11854271</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>Lead the Pack recently redesigned the logo for Georgia-based non-profit <a title="BullyWag, Inc." href="http://www.bullywag.org/" target="_blank">BullyWag, Inc.</a></p>
<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://www.bullywag.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://leadthepack.org/storage/post-images/BullyWag-square.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1308599734808" alt="" /></a></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 350px;">BullyWag&#8217;s updated logo</span></span></p>
<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://leadthepack.org/storage/post-images/BWInc logo blue textbelow JPG.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1308600267927" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 400px;">BullyWag&#8217;s original logo</span></span></p>
<p>The Pit Bull Terrier rescue and advocacy group had an original logo, but it was in a <a title="raster graphics on Wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raster_graphics" target="_blank">raster graphic format</a> that couldn&#8217;t be printed or enlarged in high resolution. BullyWag posted their need for an updated logo on <a title="creativePAW" href="http://www.creativepaw.org/" target="_blank">creativePAW</a>, a network of creative professionals willing to work pro bono for animal welfare causes.</p>
<p>Lead the Pack is devoted to sharing our talents with such causes and was eager to help. We recognize that <a title="Lead the Pack's Branding Services" href="http://leadthepack.org/branding/">brand recognition</a> is important for any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, big or small, so we reached out to BullyWag through creativePAW and were put in touch with Jaime, founder and president of BullyWag, Inc.</p>
<p>Jaime wanted to keep the updated BullyWag logo similar to the old. Lead the Pack suggested a fresh color palette that didn&#8217;t stray too far from the old; big, bold text; and perhaps the most unique addition: a wagging tail, fitting for the group&#8217;s name. We removed the blue shapes behind the dog and the leash in its mouth, tightened up the new lockup, and provided it in multiple formats and layouts for use in any print or digital media.</p>
<p><span class="thumbnail-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="javascript:showFullImage('/display/ShowImage?imageUrl=%2Fstorage%2Fpost-images%2FBullyWag-horiz.jpg%3F__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION%3D1308601481193',295,1030);"><img src="http://leadthepack.org/storage/thumbnails/8457198-12806704-thumbnail.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1308601481196" alt="" /></a></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 500px;">New logo in horizontal format</span></span></p>
<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://leadthepack.org/storage/post-images/BWIncLogo blue textrt JPG.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1308601945384" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 400px;">Old logo</span></span></p>
<p><a title="BullyWag on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/#!/BullyWag" target="_blank">Follow BullyWag on Twitter</a>, <a title="BullyWag on Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/BullyWag-Inc/194726993928" target="_blank">Like BullyWag on Facebook</a>, and <a title="BullyWag.org" href="http://bullywag.org/" target="_blank">see adoptable Pit Bulls and learn more on the BullyWag website</a>.</p>
<p><em>Do you have an old logo in need of freshening up? <a href="http://leadthepack.org/contact/">Contact Lead the Pack today</a> so we can help your brand get a leg up on the competition.</em></p>
]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://leadthepack.org/blog/rss-comments-entry-11854271.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Bob Parsons - big elephant = bad PR</title><category>Bob Parsons</category><category>Go Daddy</category><category>animals</category><category>branding</category><category>business</category><category>domain names</category><category>leadership</category><category>public relations</category><category>social media</category><dc:creator>Tristan</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://leadthepack.org/blog/bob-parsons-big-elephant-bad-pr.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">721446:8458193:11013208</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bob_Parsons.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1301695434995" alt="" width="150" /></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.bobparsons.me" target="_blank"><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bob_Parsons.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1301695405159" alt="" /></span></span><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Bob_Parsons.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1301695490789" alt="" /></span></span>Bob Parsons</a>, CEO of <a href="http://godaddy.com" target="_blank">Go Daddy</a>, one of the biggest players in domain-name registration and website hosting, caused quite the controversy yesterday when video of him killing a large bull elephant in Zimbabwe spread like wildfire online.<span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bob_Parsons.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1301695462137" alt="" /></span></span></strong></p>
<p>Parsons, never one to shy from controversy, told <a class="offsite-link-inline" title="Go Daddy's Bob Parsons Brushes Off Criticism Over Elephant Killing" href="http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/03/31/go-daddys-bob-parsons-brushes-off-criticism-over-elephant-killi/">AOL Small Business</a> that he spends weeks &#8220;volunteering to deal with problem elephant.&#8221; After the video release, PETA was quick to name Parsons &#8220;<a title="PETA &amp; Bob Parsons" href="http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2011/03/29/go-daddy-ceo-named-scummiest-of-the-year.aspx" target="_blank">Scummiest CEO of the Year</a>,&#8221; thousands of people voiced their disgust on Twitter, and many threatened to close their Go Daddy Accounts. And competitors were quick to jump on the CEO&#8217;s public-relations stumble by offering discounts and donations to elephant-related charities. (<a class="offsite-link-inline" title="GoDaddy CEO Shoots Elephant, Injures Brand [VIDEO]" href="http://mashable.com/2011/03/31/godaddy-ceo-elephant/">Check Mashable for the full story and the disturbing video</a>.)</p>
<p>Regardless of how you feel, CEOs, business owners, and other leaders can learn a few things from this public-relations debacle. These lessons seem like common sense but, judging by the questionable actions of so many CEOs, apparently are not.</p>
<h3>How a leader can avoid bad public relations for their organization</h3>
<p><strong>1. Lead by example.</strong></p>
<p>Don&#8217;t want your employees posting videos of themselves committing questionable acts while wearing t-shirts adorned with your company logo? Don&#8217;t do it yourself. Parsons went so far as to give villagers Go Daddy hats, which the video shows them wearing while hacking meat off the fallen animal.</p>
<p><strong>2. Consider the impact on your brand of every decision you make.</strong></p>
<p>Parsons could care less about what people think. While strong opinions are a hallmark of leadership, most effective leaders are also good listeners who will consider the impact of their decisions and how their target market will view them.</p>
<p>Go Daddy is a leader in its industry. But can it continue to do so by alienating large numbers of people?</p>
<p><strong>3. Remember that elephants never forget, and neither does the internet.</strong></p>
<p>A leader&#8217;s missteps can be documented immediately and in perpetuity. Parsons&#8217; actions were recorded on video, uploaded, and spread globally and rapidly on Twitter. Customers quickly withdrew their business, competitors stepped in, and petitions called for a boycott of the company.</p>
<p>Passionate advocates with powerful tools have made the phrase &#8220;all PR is good PR&#8221; an antiquated myth.</p>
<p><strong>What else have we learned in recent months from CEO missteps online? </strong>Leave your comments below. And in case you&#8217;re wondering, Lead the Pack is indeed pulling all of its business from Go Daddy.</p>
]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://leadthepack.org/blog/rss-comments-entry-11013208.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Print Design: Gibco Motor Express</title><category>Portfolio</category><category>branding</category><category>brochures</category><category>business</category><category>cards</category><category>design</category><category>logos</category><category>marketing</category><dc:creator>Tristan</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 27 Feb 2011 18:32:25 +0000</pubDate><link>http://leadthepack.org/blog/print-design-gibco-motor-express.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">721446:8458193:10620539</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>When <a title="Gibco Motor Express" href="http://gibcomotorexpress.com" target="_blank">Gibco Motor Express</a> needs <a title="Digital and print design for marketing in Indianapolis, IN" href="http://leadthepack.org/design/">digital and print design work</a>, they contact <a href="../../home/">Lead the Pack</a>.</p>
<p>Gibco, one of the largest hauling operations in the Midwest, needed a variety of materials designed by Lead the Pack in order to better represent their fast-growing brand.</p>
<p>Lead the Pack created print marketing materials such as business cards, magazine ads, Christmas cards, and brochures. We also modified Gibco&#8217;s logo, previously available only as a low-resolution file. The Gibco logo can now be used for all print and digital collateral, as well as branded items given to customers and potential clients.</p>
<p><a href="http://leadthepack.org/gallery/">View all of our print work in the Lead the Pack Gallery.</a></p>
<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><a href="http://leadthepack.org/gallery/print-design/"><img src="http://leadthepack.org/picture/gibco_2688-600.jpg?pictureId=8807186&amp;asGalleryImage=true&amp;__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1298836206916" alt="" /></a></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 600px;">Gibco Motor Express Christmas card</span></span></p>
<p><a href="http://leadthepack.org/gallery/print-design/"><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://leadthepack.org/picture/gibco_2689-600.jpg?pictureId=8807187&amp;asGalleryImage=true&amp;__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1298836096514" alt="" /></span><span class="thumbnail-caption" style="width: 600px;">Gibco Motor Express business card and brochure</span></span></a></p>
]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://leadthepack.org/blog/rss-comments-entry-10620539.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>The Three T's of Crisis Communications: How to respond to a crisis in 3 steps</title><category>animals</category><category>causes</category><category>crisis communications</category><category>news</category><category>public relations</category><category>social media</category><category>tone</category><dc:creator>Tristan</dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 05 Feb 2011 16:58:55 +0000</pubDate><link>http://leadthepack.org/blog/the-three-ts-of-crisis-communications-how-to-respond-to-a-cr.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">721446:8458193:10368732</guid><description><![CDATA[Three key communications steps can help any organization&#8217;s PR team deal with a crisis. The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) response to the brutal killing of 100 sled dogs in Canada shows the importance of being 1) timely, 2) transparent, and 3) thoughtful.
]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://leadthepack.org/blog/rss-comments-entry-10368732.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Know your audience</title><category>audience</category><category>business</category><category>direct mail</category><category>market research</category><category>marketing</category><category>public relations</category><dc:creator>Tristan</dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 30 Jan 2011 21:31:09 +0000</pubDate><link>http://leadthepack.org/blog/know-your-audience.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">721446:8458193:10297027</guid><description><![CDATA[Whether you do marketing for your own small business, a non-profit, or a large company, you need to know your audience and target market in order to be successful.
]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://leadthepack.org/blog/rss-comments-entry-10297027.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>Top 10 things your homepage should have</title><category>business</category><category>design</category><category>graphics</category><category>marketing</category><category>navigation</category><category>usability</category><category>web design</category><category>websites</category><dc:creator>Tristan</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 27 Jan 2011 23:23:50 +0000</pubDate><link>http://leadthepack.org/blog/top-10-things-your-homepage-should-have.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">721446:8458193:10257190</guid><description><![CDATA[Some of these might seem like no-brainers, but if your website&#8217;s lacking them, some of your website&#8217;s visitors will wonder if you have a brain.
]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://leadthepack.org/blog/rss-comments-entry-10257190.xml</wfw:commentRss></item><item><title>New Logo Design: Sustain-a-Bull</title><category>America</category><category>Portfolio</category><category>animals</category><category>branding</category><category>design</category><category>dogs</category><category>flags</category><category>icons</category><category>logos</category><dc:creator>Tristan</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:13:15 +0000</pubDate><link>http://leadthepack.org/blog/new-logo-design-sustain-a-bull.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">721446:8458193:10009046</guid><description><![CDATA[<p>Lead the Pack enjoyed designing the logo for Sustain-a-Bull, an organization that will provide products and resources to dog lovers that promote the adoption of Pit Bulls and all dogs, strengthen the bond between dogs and their families, and foster the well-being of dogs in America.</p>
<p><span class="full-image-block ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://leadthepack.org/storage/post-images/Sustain-a-Bull-250w.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1294963629118" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p>When many people hear &#8220;Pit Bull,&#8221; thoughts of Michael Vick and vicious bites arise. But the American Pit Bull Terrier has a history much longer - and more positive - than the media may lead you to believe (though with positive coverage in <a title="What happened to the Vick dogs? - Sports Illustrated" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/magazine/12/22/vick.dogs/" target="_blank">Sports Illustrated</a>, <a title="Service-Animal PTSD Treatment - Time" href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2030897,00.html" target="_blank">Time</a>, and other media outlets, that&#8217;s slowly changing.) <br /><br /><strong>Sustain-a-Bull needed a visual identity that was strongly symbolic and representative of the <a title="American Pit Bull Terrier on Wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pit_Bull_Terrier " target="_blank">American Pit Bull Terrier&#8217;s storied history in America</a>.</strong> What better way to share this idea than through Old Glory itself, the American flag? Lead the Pack used the historic and official <a title="US Flag on Wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Us_flag" target="_blank">Old Glory</a> colors, and an Americentric font was used: <a title="American Typewriter on Wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Typewriter" target="_blank">American Typewriter</a> is an approachable style with a throwback to the past that fits with the Sustain-a-Bull theme. The Pit Bull&#8217;s profile features the dog&#8217;s stereotypical squared head and all-too-often cropped ears - and if you don&#8217;t mind us reaching a bit more towards American symbolism, it recalls the iconic <a title="Presidential Silhouettes - a brief history" href="http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/kids/sihouettes.htm" target="_blank">silhouetted profiles of early presidents such as George Washington</a> (who apparently owned hounds, not American Pit Bull Terriers - but we digress.)<br /><br />Sustain-a-Bull doesn&#8217;t yet have a website, but <a title="Lead the Pack Web and Graphic Design services" href="http://leadthepack.org/design/">Lead the Pack will design the website</a> when the time comes. Stay tuned. In the meantime, learn more about the history of Pit Bulls in the United States in <a title="The Pit Bull Placebo on Amazon" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0972191410?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thursda-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0972191410" target="_blank">&#8220;The Pit Bull Placebo,&#8221;</a> a book detailing the dog&#8217;s vilification in the media.﻿</p>
<p><em>Like what you see? <a title="Contact Lead the Pack" href="http://leadthepack.org/contact/">Contact Lead the Pack for a free conversation about how we can help you.</a></em></p>
]]></description><wfw:commentRss>http://leadthepack.org/blog/rss-comments-entry-10009046.xml</wfw:commentRss></item></channel></rss>
