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Whether you’re just starting your small business or are well-established, a communications plan is crucial for your business success. Here are four reasons why you need a small business communications plan – and how My Big Day can help.  What is a communications plan? A communications plan or strategy is a system through which businesses communicate news and marketing messaging within the company and externally. Internal communication may occur between colleagues, human resources staff, and company management. Information may be communicated externally to the public, news media, clients, suppliers, and other businesses. The goal of a communications plan is to ensure your business’s messaging remains consistent, no matter who is receiving information and from which representative of your company. Communications plans are designed to be proactive, but are absolutely necessary in a crisis. A communications plan may address not only what message should be broadcast, but through which channels (for example, that certain types of messaging should be communicated through email, over the phone, or via internal memos).  Why do I need a communications plan for my small business? Company Image A standardized, professional method of communication with the public lends your business credibility. Consistent communication builds external trust in your business, and trust is paramount to success. It is important to know which message(s) you want to convey to specific target audiences, which is where marketing comes into play. Conflicting information released by different parties sporadically conveys an image of disorganization, which degrades trust. Having a unified communications strategy that everyone in the company is aware of prevents confused messaging. Crisis Management Some sort of reputation crisis, whether big or small, is inevitable during the life of your small business. It may be one disgruntled client or a newsworthy catastrophe that affects a wide audience’s perception. Either way, having a strategic communication plan in place will reduce uncertainty for you and present your company as a unified front under scrutiny. Community Relations Engaging with and supporting your community is essential to your business’s image. Your company’s public reputation is enhanced by giving back, including support of nonprofits, local initiatives, and other businesses. Staying abreast of industry happenings helps you make better business decisions, and positive relationships with other businesses build trust and mutual respect. Internal Business Objectives and Employee Morale Having everyone in your company on the same page is essential to efficient operations. Everyone in your company should understand their roles and tasks and have the information necessary to carry them out. Missing or inconsistent information frustrates employees and decreases performance. Trust, loyalty, and transparency are cultivated through a consistent internal communications plan between employees and management.  How do I create a small business communications plan? Creating an effective small business communications plan requires knowledge of branding, measurable goals, target markets, media relations, communication channels, campaigns and events, and evaluation of measurable communication analytics. Executing a strategic communications plan is a big job, and most small businesses don’t have a marketing or PR professional in-house. Internal communications plans, particularly for small companies, can be managed by an owner, president, or manager. External communications are best managed by professionals trained in marketing or public relations. At My Big Day, we offer a long list of small business services, including strategic communications planning, in conjunction with:
 Our talented team of women comes from a variety of educational backgrounds with decades of experience in the marketing, communications, and event planning industries. Reach out to find out how we can help you grow your small business! For business marketing and event tips and ideas, follow My Big Day on Facebook and Instagram. Visit our Small Business Marketing Pinterest board for more from your local small business experts!  Color Psychology is the study of how colors affect perceptions and behaviors. It is something important to consider when creating branded assets and audience reaction and reach. Color psychology can have a profound impact on your brand recognition, marketing campaigns, and overall message consistency. Most successful companies use consistent color combos in their branding and messaging strategies. Choosing the right colors for your brand or rebrand is essential. Your brand colors help produce a mood, feeling, and personality for your company, services, and products. The right brand colors will differentiate your brand from the sea of other businesses that your audience interacts with. When picking the right color for your brand, research has found that predicting consumer reaction to color appropriateness is far more important than the actual color itself. How Colors Influence Your Audience Color has always been something that appeals to the human visual senses. Countless marketing studies have shown that particular colors have certain effects on consumers. For example, some colors stimulate areas of the brain that promote excitement (red), while others provide a sense of tranquility (blue). Businesses can harness these color-influenced feelings in their marketing and branding. Check out this infographic on Color Influence:   Your customers are bombarded with different images, colors, and brands every day. The colors you choose for your brand and your marketing campaigns (email marketing in particular) can help you stand out. Content created with color in mind can help your audience see exactly what you want to see and feel exactly what you want them to feel. The color combos and styling also has an effect on whether your content is readable or usable (think white fonts on a dark background). The wrong colors can have a profoundly negative effect on your message. Choosing the Right Colors for Your Brand Here are some pro tips when considering colors to represent your brand:
 Consider contrast when choosing the colors for your branding and messaging. Other things to consider when choosing your audience:
  The school year is ending soon, which means one thing: summer! At MBD, many of us are moms - and we know as well as most parents in our community that we are looking for ways to keep children entertained when school is not in session, so we can keep working! So.... we’ve compiled a list of summer camps, Vacation Bible Schools, and other activities for children in northern Colorado in summer 2022.  Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Vacation Bible School: Peace, Love, Pray Where: 2000 S Lemay Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80525 When: June 13-17 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ages: Preschool-elementary Contact: office@our-saviours.org, 970-484-313  Christ United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School: On a Roll with God At Food Truck Party VBS, your students will enjoy an interactive, energizing, Bible-based good time as they get on a roll with God. They will become chefs and discover how we can turn to God in prayer every day to meet our needs and how we can join God in providing for the needs of others. Where: 301 E Drake Road Fort Collins, CO 80525 When: June 6-9 from 9 a.m. - noon Ages: 2-12 Contact: childrensministriescumc@gmail.com, 970-690-6197 Foundations Church Kids Camps and Eagle Lake Day Camp Mark your calendars! Eagle Lake is coming back to Foundations Church in July 2022. Kids ages 7-12 will enjoy a week of day camp that includes Euro-bungee jumping, rock wall, inflatables and more. Kids summer camps are also available at our Windsor and Loveland churches. Where: 1159 Main Street, Windsor, CO AND 1380 Denver Ave, Loveland, CO When:
Cost: Free Ages: 3-12, depending on camp (Eagle Lake is ages 7-12) Contact: office@foundationschurch.org, 970-663-7625 Zion Lutheran Church Vacation Bible School: Sky Ranch Day Camp We are excited to have Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp Staff lead our Vacation Bible School this year as a Day Camp. Snacks will be provided. We will begin our morning with check-in, gathering Worship all together then broken out into rotations throughout the morning. Where: 815 East 16th Street Loveland, CO 80538 When: June 27-July 1 Cost: $10 per child or $15 per family Ages: 3 years old through 5th grade Contact: (970) 667-1836 Timberline Church Vacation Bible School: Make a Splash Where: 2908 S Timberline Road Fort Collins, CO 80525 When: June 20-24, 9 a.m. - noon Cost: $10 Ages: K-5 Contact: Contact form, (970) 482-4387 Faith Church Vacation Bible School: Monumental Go off-road with Faith Church for a MONUMENTAL adventure through the colorful canyons and sunbaked trails of the southwest! We'll explore God's awesomeness and form a rock-solid faith for the road ahead!Monumental VBS is going to be full of Bible adventures, games, music, snacks, hugs, high-fives, and sciency-fun “wows.” Where: 3920 S Shields Street Fort Collins, CO 80526 When: June 6-10 from 9 a.m. - noon Cost: Must set up registration account to see pricing Ages: Preschool - 5th grade Contact: faith@faithchurchfc.org, 970-226-2095  Arsenal Colorado Camps Arsenal Colorado is a non-profit soccer club in Northern Colorado that uses the power of soccer to inspire, to develop, to achieve, and to build community. We offer established and successful programs to youth from ages 4-18. Where: 2721 S. College Ave Suite 10 Fort Collins, CO 80525 When: August 1-4 Cost: $60-80 Ages: U6-U10 Contact: office@soccerfortcollins.org, (970) 226-4253 Colorado State University Summer K-12 Programs Programs are available for kids in elementary, middle, and high school. Categories include: •Animals and Environment •Arts and Human Sciences •Industry and Leadership •Interdisciplinary Programs •Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) •Sport Programs Where: Varies When: Varies Cost: Varies Ages: 6-18 Contact: Contact the department or organization offering the program you’re interested in. Click the link above to be taken to the main CSU summer programs portal. Fort Collins Circus Center Summer Camp Circus arts, such as juggling, aerial dance and partner acrobatics, can be valuable non-competitive activities with which students can learn entrepreneurial, civic, personal, and interpersonal skills. By participating in such activities, students develop abilities in self-expression, collaboration, and musicality, while gaining knowledge and experience in health-related skills. Where: 2536 Midpoint Dr. Fort Collins, CO 80525 When: Ages 6-12 July 18-August 5; M-F; 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Teens August 8-12; M-F; 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Cost: Varies by age Ages: 6-18 Contact: fortcollinscircuscenter@gmail.com, 970-682-4984 City of Fort Collins Summer Camps Camp FunQuest is a full-day, state-licensed child care program for kids ages 5-15 when school is out of session and during summer break. Unique activities including games, crafts, S.T.E.M., and field trips, are designed with children’s age, developmental stage, and interests in mind. Where: Northside Aztlan Community Center and Foothills Activity Center When: Weekly camps begin June 1 and run through August 12; hours are M-F from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Cost: $200 per child Ages: 5-15 Contact: recreation@fcgov.com, 970-221-6256  NoCo Theatrix Children’s Theater Summer Camps In addition to singing, dancing and acting, our young performers work on teamwork, costume design, set design, and the basic technical aspects of theater. This summer’s play is Disney’s “Moana Jr.” Where: 1296 Main St. #D Windsor, CO 80550 When: June session – June 13-17 and 20-24 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.; performance June 25 July session – July 11-15 and 18-22; performance July 23 Cost: $350 per child Ages: 9-16 Contact: nocotheatrix@gmail.com, 407-970-7504 Urban Air Adventure Park Summer Camp Urban Air Adventure Park offers the ultimate adventure-filled day camp. Camp Urbie’s Adventure Camp is the chance for kids to beat the summer heat and explore the best indoor playground around. Register today for a whole week of play, guided activities, games and competitions, snacks and more! Where: 4250 Corbett Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525 When: Morning, Afternoon, or Full-Day available: June 13, June 20, July 18, July 25, and August 1 Cost: $189 for half day, $269 for full day Ages: All ages Contact: hollie@urbanair110.com, 720-262-7252 YMCA Camp NoCo Join the Y this summer for a fun, enriching traditional day camp experience. YMCA Camp Noco allows campers to unplug, enjoy hands-on learning, try new activities, learn new skills and make new friends. Activities include camp songs, hiking and nature activities, archery, gaga ball, sports and games, Color Wars, STEM, arts, and much more. Enthusiastic and well-trained staff will ensure a safe and fun summer. CCAP accepted. Financial assistance is available. Where: Locations in Boulder, Louisville, Longmont, Johnstown, Berthoud, Loveland, and Fort Collins When: Varies Cost: Varies Ages: Preschool - 18 years old The Academy by DivaBee Summer Camps The Academy by Divabee is a place where kids from K-12 are "discovering potential through Arts and Creativity." We offer classes in musical theatre, acting, dancing and private vocal instruction for all ages. Where: 4019 S. Mason Street Fort Collins, CO 80523 When: 1- and 3-week camps available running from June through August Cost: $175-899 Ages: K-12 Contact: jalyn@divabeeproductions.com, 970-980-4795  Camp Invention STEM Summer Camp
A confidence-boosting STEM summer camp where kids build creative inventions and lasting friendships. Led by qualified local educators, our camps offer new and exciting hands-on activities every year. Over 1,000 camp programs run nationwide in schools, community centers and other local facilities! Where: Locations in Wellington and Fort Collins When: Varies by location Cost: Starts at $245 Ages: Kids entering K-6 Contact: Contact information varies for each facility Grace Place Church Summer Camp Breakaway: World of Wonder Hang on tight and get ready to fly away to the most high energy, fun-filled, summer camp in Northern Colorado! During Breakaway: World of Wonder, your kids are going to have an awesome time learning about who God is and building lasting relationships through interactive stories, hands on creative art, and adventurous rec activities. Where: 375 Meadowlark Dr. Berthoud, CO 80513 When: June 20-24 Cost: $109-129 Ages: K-5 Contact: Brooke.carpenter@graceplace.org, 970-532-9886 |
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We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken
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