How to Create Brand Guidelines for Your Business or Federal Agency
Brand guidelines are important for any business or federal agency. When you use them appropriately along with a strategic communications plan, they allow you to build brand recognition and streamline how others view you. Knowing the brand guidelines also gives employees a better understanding of how to represent your brand both internally and externally. If […]
Biffrey Braxton on The Challenges of Running a Black-Owned Business
What challenges do you think Black-owned businesses face that non-minority businesses don’t? Biffrey Braxton, Applied Development Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, shared his thoughts on the unique challenges Black and minority businesses face. One of the most pressing challenges Black-owned businesses face is access—access to financial capital and access to opportunities. These issues are compounded […]
What Federal Contractors Need to Know About Employee Accommodations
Employing someone with disabilities can have a significant impact on your business. They often bring in a new and different perspective that can help the company improve the way that it does business. Additionally, for companies that are interested in federal contracting, it can help them secure work. When you hire someone with disabilities, whether […]
How a CART Services Provider Can Benefit Your Small Business
Many businesses have never heard of Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) services, let alone used them. However, small businesses in particular can greatly benefit from using CART services, especially at events and during onboarding trainings. Below are some important things to know if your small business has never worked with a CART services provider before. […]
Local Resources for Baltimore Black-Owned Businesses
According to a report from the New York Fed, Black businesses experienced the “most acute decline†in business ownership last year, strongly as a result of the pandemic. In fact, Black-owned businesses dropped by nearly 41% from just February to April. One of our goals here at Applied Development is to help lift up other […]
The Tools You Need to Market an Event in a COVID-19 World
Marketing an event during COVID-19 can be challenging, especially if you are planning on doing an in-person event. Many people are still wary of being around large crowds. Creating a sense of safety and ensuring that your event matches your audience’s comfort level are both critical considerations for events right now. Once you have decided […]
5 Benefits of Hiring People with Disabilities
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about 19% of people with disabilities were employed in 2019. When you compare this to the rate of employment for people without disabilities the contrast is shocking, since over 66% of the population without disabilities are currently employed. While there are some cases where employment is not […]
How Section 508 Compliance Services Can Help Your Federal Agency
The internet and its associated technology has been part of everyday life for decades now. As it began infiltrating every part of our lives from work to personal, the need for accessible websites and technology became increasingly clear. People who are Deaf, blind, or have other physical limitations or learning impairments need to be able […]
What Makes an Effective ASL (American Sign Language) Interpreter?
American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are vitally important communication resources for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. However, just because a person knows ASL does not mean that they want to interpret or would even be a particularly effective ASL interpreter. ASL is a language all its own rather than a direct translation […]
How Strategic Communications Consulting Can Help Your Business
Numerous studies over the years have shown that employee engagement and employee buy-in drive profitability and can improve the bottom line of any company. One of the top ways to improve employee engagement is to create a strategic communications plan. Streamlined communication helps your team understand the company mission, vision, and plan. When employees understand […]