Branding is still one of the most important part of creating a niche for your company, and for ensuring your company’s longevity. Marketing and advertising with publications, mailings, flyers, yellow books, etc. used to be the only methods of building your brand and getting your name known.Today, blogging offers a unique opportunity for anyone to enhance their brand with the aura of relevance and expertise. And, apart from the time and perhaps administrative resources involved, is virtually free on an ongoing basis.A small business blog is based on very simple technology: a series of comments displayed in chronological order on your Internet site. When a visitor responds to a blog post, a thread begins. As other visitors add their comments to the thread, the exchange builds a community of users around your blog. When people find your comments helpful and informative, your blog starts to generate word of mouth in a way that is only possible on the Internet.Every time you post a new thought, comment, or tip on your company’s blog, you take another step toward building your brand. In Internet terms, blog comments are “posted” or “published” on the Internet. Think about the significance of that for a moment. You used to be a just a communicator; blogging lets you become a publisher.The Internet has allowed real estate guru Robert Allen, the writer of “Creating Wealth”, to expand his brand to a huge audience. Every testimonial on his Internet site adds another building block to his online brand. That is how blogging builds your brand as an industry expert. Identify a need, a hot topic, a major issue or concern that your customers can relate to. When you start blogging about it, you attract Internet searchers to your blog.Let’s say you post a comment about business planning. If your web system is good enough to get your site ranked on the major search engines, business consulting clients will find you when they search for “business planning” on the Internet. Blogging lets potential clients find you on the Internet and your body of work will prove your expertise in your field giving you the gravitas you need to attract the best clients.Remember: Search engine optimization is important, but your company’s blog must add value to your readers’ lives. If not, they won’t come back a second time, and they won’t create word of mouth. The best way to build your brand is by blogging about a fresh topic, something that no one else is talking about. The Internet is engineered to find real estate blogs that provide unique online expertise. Deliver your expert knowledge by blogging about what you know and soon you’ll have a brand that’s as familiar as Robert Allen’s is.

Singapore is commonly known as a shopping haven, a safe and secure traveling destination, a beach and city holiday rolled into one and a meeting point of many cultures and religions. Singapore is also the melting pot of food and drink from all over the world.

You can satisfy your gastronomic desire for sumptuous cuisines at any time of the day and anywhere in the island. Singapore’s unique blend of food and drink is considered so special that you can even join the Uniquely Singapore Shop and Eat Tour, and feast in the local cuisine as you explore the city’s ethnic districts and residential neighborhoods.

Here is a list of 7 must-try food and drink when you visit Singapore:

1. Singapore Sling

A cocktail originally invented for the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel in the early 20th century. The original recipe uses gin, cherry brandy and Benedictine, the concoctions though differ in other parts of the country and the world. The drink is shaken and strained into a glass before adding in club soda. You can find the drink in most bars in Singapore and on board flights of Singapore Airlines.

2. Chicken Rice

A local favorite, this dish has been touted as a national dish by several food critics. You can choose a serving of roasted, steamed or barbequed chicken with rice cooked in chicken stock and garlic. Add a dash of chili sauce and dark soy sauce, a plate of chicken rice is both a tasty and filling meal.

3. Laksa

While there are many versions of this dish in Malaysia, a Singapore version has its roots in the Peranakan community. Rice noodles are cooked in coconut spicy gravy and sprinkled with prawns, bean curd and chicken. A very rich and indulgent dish that will leave you craving for more.

4. Fried Carrot Cake

Certainly a comfort food for many Singaporeans, fried carrot cake is a mix of diced radish and egg tossed in soy sauce. A common hawker food, this dish is oily and spicy but promises a truly satisfying gastronomic experience.

5. Indian Rojak

Rojak is loosely used to mean a mix of several ingredients. There are Indian, Indonesian and Chinese rojaks in Singapore. The Indian rojak usually refers to a Muslim-Indian dish comprising of different vegetables, bean curds, fried dough mixtures and seafood served with a spicy and sweet peanut sauce.

6. Satay

If you are familiar with kebabs on skewers in Mediterranean dishes, Satay is the local version of meat on skewers. You can get chicken, beef and lamb Satays served with peanut sauce. Hotels usually add Satays as a side dish to its fried rice or fried noodles.

7. Ice kacang

An all-time favorite, Ice Kacang is a delightful dessert to end a meal. With a base of jelly, red beans, corn and Attap seeds, ice is grated on top of them and topped with various colored sugar syrup and condensed milk. A purely indulgent treat to satisfy your sweet tooth and a great way to quench your thirst in sunny Singapore.

Business branding is an imperative part of creating and growing a successful business. Understanding how to brand your business effectively is just as important as providing top quality client service or pricing your products and services appropriately. Below is a list of the Top 4 Reasons to Brand Your Business.Memorable: When you effectively brand your business, you become more memorable. No longer will you have to worry about losing business to your competitor because clients will be able to distinctively remember you rather than the “other guy.” Clients are more likely to refer you to everyone they know or become a repeat client when they identify with your brand.Instead of choosing an all black logo, consider using a bright logo to brand your business. Why? Because a brighter logo is far more memorable than an all black logo and will visually set you apart from your competitors. Are you more likely to remember the computer person with the colorful green logo or the computer person with an all black logo? Chances are, subconsciously, the colorful logo will always be the one to stand out.Slogan Slinging: Creating a memorable slogan is an important part of branding your business. Choosing the right slogan has the power to catch the attention of clients and prospects. You will want a slogan that is descriptive, catchy and personable; yet industry specific. For example, if you’re a writer, a slick choice for a slogan might be “The Right Writer.” If you’re an interior designer, “Changing lives, one room at a time” may be an appropriate slogan. Incorporate your slogan into the tagline of your logo, website design, business cards and all other marketing materials. When people hear your slogan, they will instantly be reminded of your brand.A slogan not only creates the sense of an established business, it can also be used to further propel your status by being used when introducing you in interviews, magazine features, public speaking engagements and radio and TV advertisements. Use your slogan at every opportunity! At networking events, introduce yourself as John Smith, “The Right Writer.” Continued plugging of your slogan will only help push your business forward and build momentum. You can then use that momentum to capture more clients and revenue.Perceived Increased Value: When you have successfully branded your business, consumers are often willing to pay more for your products or services because your business is perceived as a status symbol. Even if you’re selling similar or the very same products as your competitors, consumers may be willing to pay a premium to purchase the product from you just to be able to sling a shopping bag with your logo around their arms.You can create an increased perception of value to your business by associating your business with other high status companies, individuals, or local events. Consider sponsoring a fashion show of an up-and-coming local designer or making a generous contribution to a high-status event in your area, such as a black-tie charity ball. Ideally, you’d be able to get a high-status celebrity, model, or even a local celebrity to appear in an ad for your business. Though it may present a challenge, it is business branding at its best because increasing the perceived value of your business will directly put money into your pocket.Decreased Marketing Expenses: Once your business becomes a household name, you’ll enjoy the benefits of decreased marketing expenses. When your brand is recognized as a well-known and high-quality product or service, that perception will provide momentum on marketing efforts. While no business can go without marketing, you may be able to slightly decrease your marketing budget while still enjoying steady revenue.Learning how to brand your business is the key to building a successful business that rides the momentum wave. When you successfully brand your business, you will realize substantial rewards such as “buzz worthy” public attention that will most likely lead to increased exposure, business growth, and a raving fan base. It is easier to partner with companies who are familiar with your brand and reputation.So how do you build a brand for your business? While you can do-it-yourself, it would be in the best interest of your business to hire a professional branding firm to create a comprehensive package that conveys an accurate message, along with a catchy logo and slogan that captures the mission and personality of your business. While the expense may be something you had not previously considered, it usually pays off BIG in the long run. Leverage the experience of an expert to help you grow your business.