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What I have been working on lately….
Posted in: Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on July 15, 2010
I am in dire need to update my website right now with my latest works! Is it a good problem when I don’t have (or make) the time to keep my site updated but can spend hours working on all my clients materials!!!??? So, before I update some projects, logos, and websites on here. I will give you a sneak peak through my blog.
IAFP – International Association for Food Protection
I have had the pleasureof assisting these awesome people with their latest project, creating a theme around their 2011 Annual Event in Milwaukee. They are also marking their 100th year of service and were in need of a logo to state this. While these two events are completely separate, we needed to make sure the “looks” worked well together.
Here is the 100th Anniversary logo we came up with.
I will post the annual event material soon! The colors aren’t coming through correctly this morning…
studio 3
We have been busy getting business cards, letterhead, flyers and everything else in order for Amanda at studio 3. Below is a taste of what their business cards are going to look like. Very happy with the way things are turning out for her! We are doing a front and back full color business card.
I could upload more, but instead I need to get working on studio 3′s newsletter! Yes, another thing to add to my list of capabilities. I am designing newsletters and sending them out every month for clients. Calling myself their “Virtual Assistant!”
The fruits FOR my labor… :)
Posted in: Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on June 7, 2010
Today is the last day of school for my two darlings and I thought I would embrace you all with a great shot of them that I took this morning. I am struggling with the idea that they are getting older. Some days I want them to just remain young both at heart and physically. Tyler told me this morning that he is going to the “big kid” side at school next year. Where 
all the older kids go. He is so excited… Me? Not so much.
We have amazing teachers at our school. Each year we have been extremely blessed with wonderful teachers. This year though, one in particular, really grabbed a hold of my little girl and gave her her first pair of “big girl” wings… I get tears just thinking about it. But really, her teacher has a gift that we were so lucky to get! She will be the one we never will forget!
So with that said, if you think I am missing every once in awhile this summer, you are probably correct. I might be playing hookie at the pool or feeding the goats at the zoo or riding the Tornado at Adventureland. I will still be trying to keep my business going as smooth as always, but I do have my priorities straight! Family is definitely #1 for this workin mama!
Choosing the correct business (brand) name
Posted in: Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on May 25, 2010
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…
Can folding your marketing materials really give you an edge?
Posted in: Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on May 20, 2010
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!!!
Social Media 101
Posted in: Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on May 5, 2010
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.
This new world of social media.
Posted in: Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on April 27, 2010
Since I have starting blogging, I have also starting to kept a closer eye on my facebook and twitter pages. I have found that with my analytics page on google, I can see where the bulk of my business has been coming from! It is kind of a trip some days for me. I always thought that most of the people reading my blog and viewing my site was coming from either referrals or facbook and twitter. What I have found though is that my number one place of referrals is coming from Linkedin. Who would have thought? I have an account on there but don’t update my status (ever actually until yesterday) and have not really focused on maintaining those contacts like I guess I need to be.
So, yesterday I sent out a ton of requests to people to be a connection with me, recommend my work, or let me join their groups on Linkedin. Just when I thought that I was in the big world all alone as a freelancer, I now feel like I have a whole group of supporters to rely on and get answers to problems when I get stuck.
What other forms of social media are out there that I haven’t even dipped my toe in yet? I have heard of yelp and flicr, but haven’t really done much with them. I guess I have learned my lesson and need to get on that quickly!
If we aren’t friends yet on these different forms of social media that I am connected to, invite me! I would love to connect with you!
Converting to WordPress
Posted in: Graphic Design Blog, Word Press by Jennifer Slagle on April 26, 2010
I have recently been helping a local business convert their website. What they had before was just the basics and they were looking for something that was new and fresh. They were also interested in getting more business from customers locating their business from the web. Since I had just switched my own site over to a WordPress based site, I offered to help them. It has turned out to be a great learning experience for me and another door has opened in my array of ways I can assist my customers.
Here is a picture of the site before.
While the site created the feel of warmth, it wasn’t inviting. It also required the customer to click in order to find any information out regarding the business. The studio owner was wanting that step taken out for the customer.
The studio owner also felt the menu items were too wordy and just kind of ran across the page – Agreed!
Here is a picture of the site after!
This is the site after we converted it to a WordPress format.
Much warmer and when the customer is on the homepage, it is capturing them and giving them a brief idea of what they have to offer without forcing them to click on the menu.
We still have a little tweaking to finish up on, but we are getting there and have already found quite a strong turnaround with their analytic scores.
Check out the site for yourself. I would love to have your feedback!
Marketing Materials – Pilates for Golf flyer
Posted in: Graphic Design, Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on April 1, 2010
In trying to attract more business, my client was interested in creating an ad that she could place at the local golf facilities. The catch here is trying to get men to understand that they too can gain benefits from doing Pilates. Here is what we came up with.
Flash CS3 – remember me?
Posted in: Graphic Design, Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on March 31, 2010
I have done some flash ads in the past and found them to be a great challenge! Now, I have been asked to create a few more. Only small problem is that it has been a few years. So time to pull out the books and brush up on the skills. Let’s hope I remember these like riding my bike! Wish me luck!
See below a flash ad I created a few years ago for Meredith Corp.
Creating a “Unique” brand image
Posted in: Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on March 23, 2010
I am in the process right now of assisting a local business with some brand development. They are looking to grow their business and have just not invested the time or money into that for the past three years. Now, they are ready. Lucky for me, I get to help!
Their first focus or area of concern is in their name. Another business located not too far from them recently put up their new business sign and guess what? Same name, with the same font. All in upper case even! While the two businesses are not in the same line of work, it still has started to create confusion for the current customers. All the more reason to make this companies revised logo a bit more “unique” for them. The current logo is very general and uses a very common font. It isn’t surprising to me that this happened.
I have met with the owner and her associate and we have gotten the basics revealed. I am now starting with the basics of all and revising the logo. I will post the old and the new when we are up and ready.
Case in point, spend the time and effort needed to make sure your business starts in a very “unique” spot from day one regarding the image you want to portray. It will only make your job easier down the road! Less room for confusion among the clientele!