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tonia's Blog
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As entrepreneurs we have all had the last-minute information request to fulfill…service lists, media sheets, flyers, or presentation handouts. When you don’t have the time to contact a graphic designer and need to design something on your own, don’t panic! Here are 8 great tips to help you create a professional-looking page layout.
1. Keep the layout clean and simple. The easiest way to do this is to gather all of the information and graphics you want to include and create a “grid”. A grid is basically a map or organizational sketch of how you want the layout to look. To give you an example, our Creative Director Catherine Mangosing illustrates a grid below. In this piece we had three images (one large and two small) and three main pieces of text that we needed to include. We sketched a grid based on that and included margin areas, center points, and room for graphics and content.
Here is the sketch:
Here is how we applied the content and graphics:
And here [...]
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The bulk of business communication today happens over email. Most of us send dozens of emails daily to colleagues, clients, potential clients, editors and partners. Your email signature can serve as great way to connect in new ways and reinforce your brand message.
What should your signature include?
- Name
- Title
- Company Name
- Relevant contact information
- Social media links
- Services, Tagline or Quote
Tip: I suggest limiting your signature to 4-5 lines. I opted to remove our physical address in favor of social media links.
Tip: most email programs allow you to have several signatures, so you can customize depending on the recipient.
Tip: keep it simple and concise. Recipients will overlook your signature if it is too busy or looks sloppy.Quick and easy ways to create your signature:
If you use Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail or AOL you are in luck! A great site launched that allows you to create signatures for free! (You must use Firefox as your browser to use this s [...] -
I have officially been an entrepreneur for six years. That is six years of my life that I have spent working tirelessly, savoring successes, struggling with obstacles, watching my clients and my company grow, collaborating with other entrepreneurs, working nights and weekends and sometimes wondering why I chose such a crazy, hectic life. And then I see a video like this and remember why.
Cathie Urushibata, one of my amazing co-workers, just sent me this video, “Entrepreneurs can change the world”. Written and produced by Sonja Jacob with original music by Carly Comando, the video was created to promote the Grasshopper Entrepreneur Movement, a grass roots effort to promote entrepreneurship and stimulate the economy. Spread the word and enjoy. -
Getting ready to print your marketing materials? Choosing your paper can be as confusing as getting your files ready and finding your printer! Here is a little background and some considerations that will help in the process.
Ask the experts: If you have worked with a professional designer to prepare your project, ask them for their recommendations! They will surely have great suggestions for you. Also, your printer is a great resource for choosing paper that will likely save you time and money. Most printers have stock papers available for you to look at and choose from.
Types of papers:
Coated papers: Coated papers have a smooth, non-porous texture. They are typically described by their finish:
- Matte: non-glossy, flat in appearance
- Dull: mid range coated paper that has less gloss
- Glossy: Shiny, glossy paper that has a lustrous appearance
Uncoated papers: Uncoated papers don’t have a coating and thus appear less smooth and more porous than coated papers. [...]
- Matte: non-glossy, flat in appearance
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The business card remains an important component of a visual identity.
While some other printed identity pieces have fallen by the wayside (notably
letterhead and envelopes), all of our clients have business cards and none
seem ready to give them up.
If you are ready to create business cards or getting reprints there are
several things to keep in mind in order to minimize your cost and maximize
the end result.
Print method.
There are a variety of ways of producing a business card. The print method
you choose will greatly affect the cost of production and most importantly,
reproduction.
Digital Printing -
Digital Printing or Print on Demand is an electronic print process. Unlike
offset printing, no plates are used. Most digital printers use laser
technology to expose a drum to the image, and then transfer this image
digitally to the paper. Digital Printing is best known for its short-run,
quick turnaround.
Pros:
Cost - digital printing is often much less expensive than any other print
method and mo [...] -
I got the flu last week and did something I am not sure I have done since I started my business. I took three sick days. I typically would have gone into the office, but I really didn’t want to get anyone else sick and felt like I needed some time to myself. While I was home I did a little work, but I spent a lot of time doing something even more important; regaining my focus and clarity. As business owners we often get caught up in the day-to-day tasks; finishing projects, shipping orders and dealing with all of the little fires that invariably arise. While all of this is important, making sure we are keeping our focus on long terms goals and assessing our progress is even more vital to business growth.
This economy has affected all business, large and small. It is forcing business owners and management to figure out why they are still in business, what makes them stand out from their competition and what make them thrive. I spent my sick time doing just that; figuring o [...] -
In my last post I talked a little about the do’s and dont’s of starting a blog. Are you actively blogging? Or, are you just getting started? A blog is a great way to give your customers a more personal look at your company - that is if your blog reflects your brand. Here are 3 important steps in branding your blog: 1) choose the right blog service; 2) find your voice; and 3) make sure your visual identity is carried through in your blog design.
Choose a great service for your blog. There are a lot of blog services to choose from. Here are a few key capabilities to look for:- A service that has good design tools. You should be able to easily add photos, sidebar links, upload photos and videos and customize your posts.
- Technical support is essential. Make sure your blog service offers email support and/or easy to understand tutorials.
- Tracking Tools and promotion are really important in making sure your blog efforts are worthwhile. Your blog service should allow you to [...]
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I am actually surprised when I visit websites that don’t have a blog…a blog is almost expected. In our age of social media, a blog allows your customers to learn more about you and your company. Importantly, it allows your customers (or potential customers) to get a more “personal” look at your brand, which builds brand loyalty and recognition. But, just because having a blog is popular, it doesn’t mean it is the best thing for your business.
(The blogs I am referring to specifically are those that are meant to enhance and promote a service or product-based business. I am not speaking to those blogs that are in and of themselves a business, i.e. Huffington Post or Design Sponge).
Why blogs go bad:- Sporadic posting. Don’t start a blog and then disappear. The blog will do nothing for your brand if isn’t current (and can in fact hurt your brand).
- Random, off topic posts. Blogs that are meant to promote a brand should have a common thread throughout the posts. This doesn [...]
