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Archive for May 2010

25 MAY 2010

Choosing the correct business (brand) name

Graphic Design Blog No Comments

It is small business week and the blogs that I am reading this week are packed full of great useful tips for me and many of my clients.  The one that is on my mind right now is regarding how to choose you business name.

When I look back at choosing my companies name, I can honestly say, I started with just my name being business name.  Then, I moved on to my initials.  Pretty common moves so far…  Then, I added 26 (my anniversary date) to my initials.  It was starting to feel better but we were still not there.  Then, my husband called one day and said, “I got it, Design 26!”  I loved it right away.  It sounded catchy yet creative yet it was going to require someone to think “I wonder what the 26 stands for???”  For me, I felt that would bring my customer closer to building a relationship with me.  They would reach out and ask what the significance was of the 26.

My company name stayed that way until I re-organized my website.  In that process, I was consulted to add the word “Graphic” to my name.  Design is a very broad word and adding the word graphic to it would give my customers that much more knowledge in what I offer.  It also would help Google find me when that customer searches for a graphic designer as opposed to just a designer.

So, my name has been changed now for a little over six months.  My business cards haven’t changed yet.  They will once this stack runs dry.  I would love to hear your thoughts regarding my process.  Recently I had someone ask me what a graphic designer even did.  That made me think again about whether or not I had chosen the correct name…

20 MAY 2010

Can folding your marketing materials really give you an edge?

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I recently listened to a conference call over the internet put on by a lady who is literally obsessed with folding!  I have to admit, I haven’t really given folding so much thought but listening to her really changed my mind.  Her first piece of helpful advise was to mock up your piece and fold it the way it is going to be folded.  Then, watch your audience member view the piece.  Are they catching the key points that you are wanting them to see in the order you are intending?  Sounds like a novel idea, but I don’t think we always find ourselves doing that.

After seeing her many examples of amazing work (very jealous designer here…) where the items are designed around a particular fold, I have to admit, they caught my attention.  Let’s be honest, how many tri-fold brochures really capture our attention and make us want to “Read more!”  Just turning your tri-fold horizontal is enough of a change to capture the audience’s attention.

My favorite fold has to be with the double gate fold.  I received a small piece that came folded down to a 4×6 size.   But when I opened it up, it was so captivating and I couldn’t help but read more!

Check out her site for some interesting info on folding – www.foldfactory.com.  Confirmed to me that there really is someone obsessed about EVERYTHING!!!  My wheels are turning with ideas on how to fold that next marketing piece!!!

5 MAY 2010

Social Media 101

Graphic Design Blog No Comments

After my last post regarding my challenges in facing social media head on, I felt the need to educate everyone a little bit.  Many of us have a hard enough time developing and managing our own websites, right?  How can you dedicate even more time and effort towards other tools around the Internet, especially when it can be so overwhelming to even know which outlets to utilize?!  Well don’t worry, because there is hope.  I am going to help you better understand this.

Although a professional, easy-to-use, and friendly website to represent your company is the critical foundation that you must have in order, the rise of Social Media has opened new doors for you to connect directly with your customers online.  Using these unique tools to broaden your online presence and further connect with your market is a matter of doing a few simple things.

  • Develop A Plan – This may seem trivial, but establishing an objective-based plan for what you and your company plans to do within the Social Media world is critical to avoid wasting time and developing the most efficient use of your time.  Social Media is not difficult to get involved with, but it does take time, so having a plan in place will help you and your team use time wisely and allow for objectives to be met.
  • Establish A Few Social Media Websites To Engage – With so many options online, determine a few good websites that you feel there would be value in getting involved with.  This not only means that the user base is advantageous to your business, but that you enjoy the website and can work with the tools available on this website.
  • Update Your Website – Once you start establishing a base of websites you’re involved with, be sure to reconnect your own website to these accounts, so that current clients have the opportunity to further connect with your business in the environment that they’re also a part of.
  • Stay Current – Once you have the plan in place and start setting up your visibility within the Social Media world, don’t let things go stale.  Try and allot a small amount of time each day to update your accounts.
  • Reach Out – As you become more efficient within the social network or online community you’re engaging, do your best to reach out and make new connections within the online environment.  Along with broadening your reach within the networks you’re a part of, step out a bit further by trying to understand and use additional social media outlets.

Another option is to contact me and we can review your business needs.  I have seen firsthand how many of these tools have helped my business.