Yesterday, as I walked into work with our creative director, my attention was brought to a pile of phone books lying on the ground beneath our mailbox. Darren, our CD, noted that they were for our office complex to use, but that they had been sitting there for about a year. A YEAR!

The nearly untouched pile of phone books got our minds turning. How long ago was it that EVERYONE wanted a spot in the Yellow Pages? It was one of the best tools to use in any print campaign.

We don’t mean to continually beat it into the ground, but times are changing. Web 2.0 is happening. It’s no longer the way of the future. Need a number? Google it. Need to find a company? Google it. Advertisers need to step up and embrace new mediums to really meet their customers.

We also don’t mean for you or your company to jump the metaphorical traditional advertising ship. Not at all. Print media is still relevant and can have a place in an advertising campaign. We’re just saying that it can’t be the only weapon in your arsenal. And more than anything, we believe in integration: using the right tools for the right audience, mixing necessary mediums.

So if you are one of those people or companies that is stuck in that traditional mindset of only using print advertising, you better step up your game and embrace new ways of communication. Because if you don’t, you’ll get left behind, just like the pile of untouched phone books sitting on the cold, hard ground outside of our office.

When the Tiger Woods scandal broke, the world cringed. But maybe none of us cringed as hard as the folks at Nike Golf. From 1996 – 2006 they supported Woods with $140 million in sponsorships. The deal was renewed in 2006 for presumably upwards of 100 million. So what will Nike do now that Tiger’s reputation is ruined? Support the icon of their brand and let it reflect on their reputation? Or drop him and try to save face before any more bad news surfaces?

This is the very expensive question that many in the advertising world are asking. With huge implications for the brand either way, Nike has a crisis on their hands. What would you do if you were in Nike’s PR/Marketing departments? We took a little poll around the office to see where people stood on the issue. Let us know what YOU think in our comments below.

Darren Easton, Creative Director: I say keep him. According to research, Mr. Whipple was the most hated brand icon in advertising history and yet Charmin was the #1 toilet paper brand for 20 years. People talked about him because they didn’t like him. So what?… they talked about him.

Lucas Hanyok, graphic designer: I’m not sure what Nike will do. I am one who believes someone’s personal problems should be left alone. To me he is still an icon of GOLF. Nike should continue to support him as an icon of the sport. On the other hand your personal life becomes your brand in ways, and will stick with you no matter what you do. Your personal brand is not just one thing that you do, it is the total of all things you do. If I were Tiger I would keep my stance as: “leave me alone, I’m really good at golf”

Dave Cyphers, owner (obviously joking!): I think they should pay him more; he just added a whole new dimension to “Just Do It.”

So there you have it, some insight from our greatest minds. What is your stance? Do you think Nike should give Tiger the boot or support him?

Building a brand is far more involved than a coming up with a corporate design. Creating a logo, color palette and slogan without incorporating the strategic brand positioning practices is a failed attempt to build a brand. We are firm believers in developing brands that are based on strategic branding and brand development. So what are branding and brand development, and what is the difference between the two?

Branding is the consistent use of color, graphics, type and icons in advertising materials. It creates a standard for the look and feel of a brand. Branding decisions include choosing the font, style, border color, and text and logo positions. The standards that are established in the branding process have nothing to do with a logo or corporate design standards.

Brand development is the development of a communication of the U.S.P.  (creating a tagline or sometimes a character/icon that server as a consistent reminders of a brand’s uniqueness).

For example, Red Bull is unique because unlike many other energy drinks, its cans don’t look like you have to be on the back of a Harley or partying back stage with an 80s rock band to be drinking it (I’m thinking Full Throttle, Monster and Rockstar). Red Bull isn’t there to get you amped-up for the craziest party of your life.

As its tagline says, Red Bull simply “gives you wings.” And from the looks of Red Bull’s Web site, there are many different ways that you can get your Red Bull wings. Whether you’re visiting Red Bull’s Fashion Factory, or surfing with the Red Bull Surf Team, Red Bull is the energy drink to have before doing it.

It’s so important to not be “just another company selling something that company A, B and C are selling.” That’s why we value the branding and brand development process so much. Let us know how we can help you build your brand.