College Stock: Penny Stock News

Without a brand, a company has no identity to set itself apart from a competitor. is essential for any business because it enables the masses to recognize a company for its products and services. When you’re driving down the highway and see the golden arch in the shape of an “M,” you know it stands for the multi-billion dollar enterprise McDonald’s (MCD).

A successful branding strategy allows consumers to associate a sign or symbol directly with a company’s products or services. The “Mc,” or “Mac” in McDonald’s (MCD) has been played on and is used in a number of products, including their McChicken sandwich, McNuggets, McMuffin, and Big Mac products.  In some ways, the McDonald’s (MCD) “Mc” concept has been adapted to fit Apple’s (AAPL) products. In addition to the use of their Macintosh line of products and highly recognizable apple logo, Apple (AAPL) has identified with its target market and expanded its target range beyond college students.

Apple’s (AAPL) brand has been known for its use of the letter “i” in several of its products (e.g. iPhone, iPod, iTouch, iTunes, iDock). Apple (AAPL) has ingeniously branded their products by catering to each and every individual on the planet, whether they consciously realize it or not. Apple’s (AAPL) iBranding is so powerful that it leads The Dean to believe that $IBRC’s “iBrands” brand name is worth more than the entire market cap of $3 million!

Apple (AAPL), a company worth more than $140 billion, the successful building of a brand is essential for recognition and is directly related to sales and profits. Every company must also create a brand, or “name,” so people will know at first glimpse why they should, or want to, BUY the company’s product. Companies like McDonald’s (MCD) and Apple (AAPL) know that branding is important and that’s why both companies spend over $400 million a year on advertising. Sir Richard Branson, king of Virgin Media (VMED) and The Virgin Group, an empire consisting of more than 300 companies worldwide, has a slightly different view on branding.

Branson realizes that he is a walking, talking brand and a constant representation of his company. Branson once expressed his interests in starting a domestic airline. Without spending a penny on advertising, Branson knew his statement would be broadcasted all over the media—television, radio, newspapers and magazines—and he was right!

Sir Richard is not alone in this category of a walking, talking brand, however. The Dean is always enthusiastic, in character and looking for the best and most lucrative small cap stock picks. To build his brand, The Dean stays true to his mission to provide “Higher Learning for a Higher Net Worth.” The Dean urges for his students to do their homework, in addition to looking further into picks using his Honor Roll list of other trusted financial websites. Not unlike Branson, The Dean is committed to his growing personality but still takes the time to show his human side in an occasional game of poker with some Honor Students.

Branding comes easily when everything an individual says in an advertisement. For example, choosing “Virgin” as the name of his company was the beginning of a lucrative strategy. Ideas that are somewhat taboo, unconventional, or thought of as being riskee are typically the ones that make for better profits. Branson travels all around the world on a regular basis and makes sure he’s visible, pleasant and articulate. Like Branson, every company strives to become a reliable, trusted source with a global presence. Aside from the red script of the Virgin (VMED) name, Branson knows that he, too, is a logo seen all around the world.

In a couple of weeks, The Dean will also be going global, as he heads to China to meet with an expanding biotechnology company. The Dean is also similar to companies like Apple (AAPL) because he is constantly working towards creating themed products for the CollegeStock brand, such as Class Trip videos. In addition, The Dean knows the importance of consistency and achieving positive results for his students. Most of all, The Dean wants all of his students to make The Dean’s List as often as possible.

When you think of companies like McDonald’s (MCD), Apple (AAPL), and Virgin Media (VMED), you realize that a brand is only as strong and effective as the company is relevant and visible. In 2007, when the iPhone became available to consumers, millions of people already knew that Apple (AAPL) was behind the innovative, personalized multipurpose device.

So when people hear of a reliable and trustworthy authority figure in the small cap stock world, they need only look beyond the giant glowing arch and apple found in every mall to find The Dean.