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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…
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!
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.
Have you thought about your Holiday Card?
Posted in: Graphic Design, Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on November 20, 2009
It is that time of the year where we think about sending our friends and family jolly holiday wishes. Check out some of the examples of photo cards below that I can customize for you. Contact me now if you are interested! Remember, these are only a few ideas I have… I can come up with many more to suit your needs!
How can you reach your desired destination? PLAN!
Posted in: Graphic Design, Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on November 16, 2009
Do you really want to visit a graphic designer like myself in Iowa?
Probably not what you were thinking, but no matter what your destination is with your product or service, I will help you start the process by going over a few key questions. These questions need to be covered to help ensure we create the proper product that will meet your goal.
Some things that I will want to know a bit more about when we chat:
- What type of business do you offer and how long have you been doing this?
- How big is your business and who are some of your competitors?
- Have you ever worked with a designer before? In what capacity?
- What are your expectations for me?
Once we have gone over these key questions (and probably many more) we will be ready to strategize our plan. Then the last step is to implement our plan and put it to work. It is then my turn to get to work for you and create the product you so desired! Let’s get to work!
Lofty design goals to help you SUCCEED!
Posted in: Graphic Design, Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on November 13, 2009
Without good design, your product or service might not produce the results you desire. With my graphic design and marketing assistance, I am confident we can increase those results! I have many powerful tools that I can use to help reach your goals by modifying the look or feel with some basic design changes.
Over the years, I have established many powerful relationships with my clients by offering them effective solutions and results that they were looking for. Whether it was re-designing a logo, putting together a marketing package for them, or designing an ad for their product or service, the end result was always the clear goal for us both.
I look forward in helping you set and achieve your “lofty” goal with your business. Connect with me now!
Graphic Design that works for YOU!
Posted in: Graphic Design, Graphic Design Blog by Jennifer Slagle on November 12, 2009
With the recent launch of my new website, I felt it necessary to write a brief note touching on “How I do, What I do!” I’m here to say that if you are questioning the talent of this graphic designer in Iowa, I challenge you to take a peek at my site and browse through my portfolio. I pride myself in creating very purposeful work for my clients and accepting nothing less than 100% satisfaction.
I always work with the client in mind first. I am designing for them and take the initial time up front to learn more about their business, what they intend this design to represent and how they are wanting it to work for them. Without that in mind first, I am designing just to have fun at their expense.
Enjoy my new site and please feel free to let me know what you think!