Marketing vs. Branding + Influencing

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originally posted on LinkedIn. August 6, 2026

An article that compared Branding vs Marketing using McDonald's logo vs food selections got me thinking.... that my business and my career have come full circle. 

I started as a Corporate Trainee for Hyatt. -- a select group of 210 employees placed in properties across the US. We learned the business of "heads in beds" from the ground up. My selected property was the Hyatt DFW and after week-long placements in every hotel department, I ultimately ended up in Banquets (the doers) vs Catering (a sales team). Routine, scripted tabletop decor was the norm as we managed a regular cycle of large group bookings. This was my first insight into Brand Marketing as worked the logistics and helped brands like OREO launch "Double STUFF"with Chubby Checker as we all "did the Twist" in a ballroom hosting more than 1,000 Nabisco insiders. 

Food service has high burn-out-- especially when every menu is the same. The '90's recession hit and tired of food service, I went back to school. I briefly considered an interior design degree to satisfy my artistic side but while at the University of North Texas I also did some career testing which led me to explore my marketing and PR skills. I am forever grateful for my intuition and insight to stay with marketing and I pivoted my design passions into working with and developing some amazing brands and the ability to remote work, long before it was "a thing." 

Branding vs Marketing. When you are trained as a Journalism/PR major this distinction seems a bit muddied. There was NO INTERNET when I started. We created "emotional connection" in writing with descriptions and the stories we told. PS-- this is touted as the "new approach" in marketing. For us that sappy, fluffy writing was important to differentiate various Marriott Hotels our agency represented. It was a dream job in my 20's representing 5-star hotels and resorts and hosting travel writers as guests at these properties. We wined, dined, toured and touted the "good stuff" in hopes to get a nice article written in the various print publications. I learned the value of relationship marketing that some might call today "being an influencer" as we promoted good moments, and helped to avoid bad PR. 

Now, I am the marketer and the brand is something I am creating. Or am I the influencer of this brand while also hosting influencers? I sell "merch" (we used to call it swag or tchotchkes). The logo tells part of the story, but it's not the brand. A good photo creates a visual connection, but not the whole story. For my brand, it's also an EXPERIENCE.

"Stay in your lane" I was once told by someone threatened by my ideas and design skills. I wear a lot of hats, some better than others. But I am learning in spite of many skills I can't do it all. 

Our new website launches today developed by Sarah A. Sherman and her team. I created the original and honestly, it sucks. For Big Cedars Farm, I wanted a site to elevate the Brand, my "food image." Check it out, and watch for the new one.