Marketing 101 – pretty simple.

Posted in: Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on August 31, 2010

I feel like the summer just passed me by and I have no idea where it went!  With two kids home and tons of activities to get to, time just kind of passed with0ut me being present.  So, now that they are back in school, I am going to try and “get back” into my rhythm again.

First thing on my agenda is to get back into cardio shape!  While I have been doing Pilates and loving it, I need to still get in that cardio.  After much deliberation (over a few cocktails non the less…) Dean and I have decided that Farrell’s needs to take a rest and we are going to give KOSAMA a run for it’s money!

Because I am a marketing freak and love to analyze people’s businesses just on how they react to a potential client, I decided to put KOSAMA to the test!  I called and left a message one morning that I was interested in signing up and so was my husband and friend.  I thought if I mentioned more than just me it would be a little more bait on the hook for them.  And guess what… he never called me back.  I waited 24 hours and nothing.  Now, if I was starting a business like this, my #1 priority would be to get people in there to pay the bills!  I realize they are just opening and the place was still a vacant unfinished space at this point, but without customers, it is kind of hard to pay the bills.

So, in my own fashion, I stop by.  No one there but construction workers.  Then I try and see if I can find any info on the place to take a look at.  Nothing.  Ouch!  At this point, I am growing  a little weary of the whole place and frankly their management style!

But because I am so intrigued and want to know more, I stopped by later that afternoon and lucky for THEM the owner is there.  After my brief, kind of nice, kind of meaningful “Why didn’t you call me back?” conversation, the manager has managed to suck me into this place and showered me with apologies.  I am looking at this situation as maybe a place I can be of assistance.

Yesterday we had to meet and do all of our initial assessments.  Today is day 1 – plyometrics.  I am so scared.  Never done those before and they just sound painful.  But, I will be there with my bucket of water… and a business card.  These people need some marketing help, quick!!!

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!”

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!

www.studio3pilates.com

Creating marketing materials – what to do…

Posted in: Graphic Design, Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on February 11, 2010

Because of my own business needs, this topic has been on my mind a lot lately.  I have been researching the best way to effectively communicate what my business has to offer to the optimal client base.  Does that include a tri-fold brochure?  Should I make some rack cards and put them out for everyone to see and take if they choose?  Should I make postcards that act as a “teaser” to entice that person to look into my company and see what I can offer.  Should I create some type of printed portfolio showcasing a range of my work?

My husband works with sales for a major bank in the US and he keeps telling me that research shows many people will through a tri-fold brochure in the garbage before they even look at it.  Being that I create those for clients frequently, I don’t like hearing that.  That is what I was getting ready to create for myself!  Only problem is that  I just couldn’t bring myself to do this without adding a creative twist making the brochure a different size or adding some type of embellishment… but, that is when the price went up too…  I can’t win.

So I thought some more…  With social media changing so much I find myself spending so much time on perfecting my website as that is my  main reference for my business when potential clients want to see my work.  In my field, it is key.  So with that knowledge and thought process behind me AND my website finally starting to take final shape, it is time for me to create some postcard “teasers” for my business.  For me and my business, that is the best bang for my buck I believe!  Stay tuned, I will post it when I am done.