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These Schools Have an A+ in Branding & Technology

Technology is driving change not just in corporations and private businesses, but also in the education sector. Many schools are taking learning outside the classroom with online programs that allow access to educational materials on mobile devices.

Others are using mobile technology as an incentive or form of recognizing students when they complete a program or hit a milestone. When technology is coupled with a marketing strategy that adds the school brand on the devices themselves, it creates visibility for the school and adds a personal touch for the recipient of the device.

Here are a few schools that have strategically used custom-branded technology to offer a unique value proposition.

Harvard Business School

Harvard University’s business school customized two Apple Watch bands in two colors to give as rewards within its online program. The school’s “VERITAS” shield is etched on both sides of the watch band, and the phrase “HBX Live” is etched on one side of the band as well as the back of the watch itself.

Customized Apple Watch bands for Harvard Business School
Customized Apple Watch bands for Harvard Business School
Logo etched on Apple Watch for Harvard Business School
Logo etched on Apple Watch for Harvard Business School

The Decorating and Staging Academy

The Decorating and Staging Academy used customized Apple iPad Air tablets to enhance the learning experience for its students. iPads are preloaded with specific industry-related apps and protected with a custom Smart Cover printed with the Academy’s logo for brand recognition. A custom branded sleeve encloses the device to create a one-of-a-kind unboxing experience.

Customized iPad Smart Cover and device sleeve for The Decorating & Staging Academy
Customized iPad Smart Cover and device sleeve for The Decorating & Staging Academy

Avenues: The World School

Avenues New York, the first campus of Avenues: The World School in the heart of Manhattan, gives away customized Apple AirPods at special school events. A school that touts bringing together the best of tradition and innovation, it created a design for the branded AirPods that speaks to both the school’s brand and its diversity. The AirPods are used as part of its marketing strategy to garner more brand awareness for the school.

Apple AirPod designed and customized for Avenues New York
Apple AirPod designed and customized for Avenues New York

South Kent School

A private boarding school for boys in Connecticut, South Kent School customized Apple Watch bands with its logo and showcased the watches as part of a presentation at a regional event. The logo, etched on bands in the school’s two colors, helped bring more visibility to the school.

Apple Watch band etched with school logo for South Kent School
A red Apple Watch band etched with school logo for South Kent School
Customize Apple Watch band in black for South Kent School
Customize Apple Watch band in black for South Kent School
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5 Ways to Make Your Brand Stand Out

Companies like Apple, Nike or Disney can put their name or logo on any product and customers will flock to it (then keep coming back for more.) But what if you’re not a Fortune 100 company or a well-known brand? In a crowded marketplace, how do you make your brand stand out?

The good news is, you don’t have to be a company at that caliber to have brand recognition. Here are 5 ways that can help your business rise above others:

  1. Create interesting content. Interesting also means original and sincere. If your content is cliché or too sales driven, or if you attempt to mimic another brand, people won’t have a compelling reason to choose your company over the other brand. Also, be bold in your content. When it comes to making a name for yourself, risk often leads to rewards. 
  2. Know your customers. Ultimately, your brand is what your customers say it is, not what you think it is. Know who your customers are and form a connection with them. That connect is based on trust by meeting their expectations. 
  3. Be good at one thing. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. When you think of In-N-Out, you think of burgers. The Southern California chain does burgers well and they stick to what they do best. In the same manner, know what you do best and be good at it. Your customer will remember you for it. 
  4. Deliver on your promise. Having brand integrity is key to a successful business. This is part of building trust with your customers. Nordstrom promises a no-hassle return policy and the company delivers on this promise every day. Their customers are loyal because they know that if they need to make a return, there will be no questions asked. 
  5. Visibility is key. In marketing, it is said that a customer must see your brand seven times before the customer remembers it. Leverage different opportunities to diversify the visibility of your brand to help with brand recognition. Perhaps you surprise and delight your hotel guests by using laptops with your brand at your new guest lobby. Or you donate raffle prizes with your company logo at an industry event. Or you send your clients a custom-branded tablet to help them track your services. There are infinite ways to put your brand in front of your customers.

In the race to get your brand to stand out in a crowded marketplace, it takes a clear objective and a deep understanding of your business, your customers and the marketplace.

Once you have established your brand, let us help you take it to the next level by making it known to your customers, partners and stakeholders. Contact us to get a complimentary mockup of what a custom-branded device looks like with your company logo.