Refresh and Renew : Brand Inspiration from Better Homes and Gardens

I received my second issue of my new subscription to Better Homes and Gardens yesterday and as I sat down this morning to explore and be inspired, I was struck by the mantra "Refresh & Renew".

It seemed timely and relevant for me - not only for my future home projects that the writers, photographers, producers & stylists have inspired - but also because of the focus of my last few presentations on personal professional branding as well as blog posts on some do's & don'ts.

Is it possible to inspire people to refresh & renew their brand the same way BHG inspires me to refresh & renew my home?

That is a challenge I'd like to take up. I want to share those personal professional brands that inspire me, and make me want to sit down at my kitchen table and sketch out what I want my personal professional brand to be.
 
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Who inspires you?

Have you started to refresh & renew your personal brand? 

Facebook : How Better Homes and Gardens is Using the Social Giant to Give Readers What They Want

Just this past week I received my first issue of Better Homes and Gardens (one of my Mother's favorite magazines). I don't subscribe to many magazines as I read nearly everything online these days. I have my favorites though - Dwell, Fortune, Modern Painters and now Better Homes and Gardens.

My subscription to BHG was a Christmas present to myself - I wanted to have a reminder of my mother, and everything she taught me, to arrive at my doorstep and ask me to sit down for a cup of coffee so that we could catch up.

As I sat down with the January issue, I have to admit I was more than impressed with the fact that right there, next to the note from Editor in Chief Gayle Goodson Butler, was something I did not expect to see from a shelter mag. . . a poll from their Facebook 'fans' that drove the feature story! They asked "What's your organizing problem area?" Not surprising that 62% answered paperwork.

With so many magazines that have downsized or folded over the last few years - it is refreshing to see BHG adopting and using social media to add value to their monthly print edition and in the process drawing in a whole new generation of readers and subscribers like myself.


I like the fact that BHG readers have a voice in what shows up in their mail box.  .  . I think my mom would like it too. :)

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What magazines do you subscribe to?

How are they using social media to engage readers?