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A New Year’s Resolution for Your Business

Posted on January 15th, 2010, 12:01 pm
Filed Under (Branding) by Nicole Lee

Once the champagne glasses are cleaned up and fireworks are finished, it’s time to realize that a new year has arrived and that means a new focus on your business. As an entrepreneur, the time and effort that you put into your business is what causes it to thrive, therefore your marketing efforts must be wholehearted and maintained.

This year, instead of making empty promises, such as eating less sweets or using the treadmill more than 3 times a week, try a new resolution to pay more attention to marketing your business. 2010 is here and with a little extra work, you can do a little that will result in a lot of success.

What Does Your Business Need?

You probably already have a logo, but there are so many other options to explore once your identity has been visually created. Step back and carefully look at what your business may need this year. It is important to always have a marketing budget, therefore assessing your business goals will help you gear up for a great new year and give you insight on what your business may need right now. Do you have a website? What about a blog or SEO to make sure your site is found?

Promotional Items

Promotional items are a new edition to Logo Design Guru and are a great way to promote your business and make sure it is remembered. Promo items help set your company’s identity in the memories of your current and future clients. Your logo is visible each time they use the items you hand out and the more your logo is seen, the more you brand naturally builds itself.

Fun and Exciting Extras

Spread your identity everywhere! No matter how small or large your company is, a business always does better if there is more awareness of it. If your logo appears in more places, it makes a bigger and more lasting impression. Have a custom screen saver or email signature created. These fun little add ons can really go a long way.

Identity Update

Your company may already have most of these marketing additions, but that may mean that 2010 is the year to refresh your business and consider making some important updates. Your logo itself may be due for a new, fresh look. It is also easy to tell if a website is outdated. Take advantage of the advances in graphic design and give your site a touch up.

A new year is a great opportunity for a new start, so forget what you’ve done in years past, 2010 is a brand new opportunity to build your branding!

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Failure to Communicate? The Rights and Wrongs of Workplace Communication

Posted on January 6th, 2010, 01:01 pm
Filed Under (Branding) by Nicole Lee

The workplace today is different than it used to be several years back. Along with advances in computers, our work processes, and other forms of technology, communication is also something that has greatly evolved. Our current workplace involves less conversation and more electronic communication. There is nothing wrong with that, however for success as an entrepreneur, all forms of communication skills should not only be good, but be mastered.

From birth, we pick up tips on how to communicate as naturally and easily as we learn to crawl or walk, but communication in the workplace requires a slightly different thought process. Processing information is something we do unconsciously and it is important to be aware of how your communication is depicted in a work environment.

Clarifying Yourself

As a small business owner, it’s important to know that one key element for successful communication is clarity. Where do you want a conversation to go? It’s easy for simple requests to be misunderstood and although assumptions are common in life, a work environment is no place for misunderstandings. It may seem like a simple concept, but the truth is that ideas are very often misunderstood and employees may just agree in order to avoid appearing argumentative or unintelligent.

In the workplace, it is important to speak clearly, make your point quickly and have your ideas organized. Don’t be afraid to ask if the person you are speaking to has questions or needs clarification on any of the points that you have raised.

Be Aware of How You Are Perceived

Whether you have employees or work as a one man/woman show, we still must be aware of how employees or customers perceive us. We all deliver messages that we don’t intend to pass on through body language or tone of voice. People also can interpret those messages differently. It all depends on many factors such as, personal history, gender, ethnicity, cultural background, fears, and insecurities. These all play a part on how we send and receive messages. When it comes to workplace communication, one must be aware of these differences and take into consideration how you are perceived by someone else.

Another component for successful, workplace communication is to be direct. Learn to make your point quickly. Again, this applies to both written and verbal communication. When talking to a co-worker, get to the point quickly, and be direct. Not doing so wastes time, and the person to whom you are speaking may begin to tune out before you even get to the point of the discussion.

Maintain Professionalism

Many people spend more time with their co-workers than with family members. There is sometimes a thin line between what is acceptable and what goes over the line. No matter how friendly you are with others, remember that first, this is a work environment, and there may be people who are offended by something you may say or even imply. Be careful of using offensive language and avoid topics that are overly political or religious in nature.

Everything that you say or even write leaves an impression, and the goal should be to always make that impression a positive one. Many times in business, people forget common courtesy and tact. In speaking with co-workers, be considerate of their time and points of view. Separate emotion from intellect, and do not be condescending. If you are a manager, set an example and never allow anger to overrule reason.

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A Holiday Wish List for Your Business

Posted on December 16th, 2009, 11:12 am
Filed Under (Biz Start Up, Branding, Brochure, Graphic Design) by Nicole Lee

Deck the halls and spread holiday cheer to your business this season. Although it’s time to make your personal wish list for the holidays, it may also be a good idea to stop and think of a wish list for your business. Gift giving for friends and family is an enjoyable part of the holidays, but your business deserves some gifts as well.

1. Add Some Spice to Your Website

You may already have a website for your business, but when was the last time you improved it? How about adding photos or changing your overall theme. It’s best to maintain your original brand, but a classy update will show your clients that you are serious about your business and will give them a fresh and new outlook on your products or services.

2. Give the Gift of Blogging

A blog allows you to have an open discussion about your company and the products and services you provide. This is also another way to improve your website and attract more customer interest. Blogging is a fun way to have direct involvement with your clients. It allows you to offer advice, news, or promotions about your company on a regular basis and is open to feedback and discussions.

3. Promote your company with Promotional Items

Promotional items are great tools to help market your business and they make great gift for the holidays.
From hats, mugs, calendars, clothing and so much more, get them for yourself or others. Thank your customers with a small gift that also shows off your logo. Recognition is the key and they will remember you every time they use it.

4. Brochure

A brochure is a fantastic, printed option that will help sell your business and is something you can leave behind wherever you go. Similar to the advantages of a business card, a brochure allows you to say more and is a great offering at trade shows or an addition for envelope stuffers.

5. Email Signature

Let your clients know who you are and the company you represent. Sign all of your outgoing email messages with your name and company logo. A graphic signature will immediately be attached to all of your outgoing emails. Ditch your boring text signature, and send a visual reminder about your brand with every outgoing message.

Every business is in need of something, so why not treat your business as a member of the family and send holiday cheer in a new direction. Your company deserves some attention as well and the results from a little extra effort, will last the whole year through. Have a safe and happy holiday season from Logo Design Guru!

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Promote Your Logo This Holiday Season

Posted on December 10th, 2009, 01:12 pm
Filed Under (Biz Start Up, Branding, Graphic Design) by Nicole Lee

The holidays are quickly approaching and now is the time to start searching for those items on your holiday shopping list. Sure, an ipod, PS3 or HD TV are some of the big-ticket selections this year and there’s no doubt that they make great gifts, but what about gifts that relate to your business? As an entrepreneur, your business is your pride and joy, and it shouldn’t take a backseat to the holidays, it should be as involved as you are!

Did you ever consider promotional items as a way to advertise your business? If not, then as an entrepreneur, it’s best to have an open mind about new forms of advertising. Promotional items are a great way to spread holiday cheer, while you show off your logo at the same time. Your logo is the proud symbol that represents your company, so the more it is seen, the better chance your business has to flourish. It is important to create a visual memory with your identity so that your business is easily recognizable. With the holidays just around the corner, it’s a great opportunity to get started.

Promotional items have many benefits to offer your business and are a great opportunity for creative thinking and advertising. Based on multiple studies from the Incentive Performance Center, the use of promotional items increases name recognition, tradeshow traffic, attracts new customers, and reinforces your company’s brand image. With promotional items, people have a constant reminder of your company’s identity that is visible to them every day. This is a much more effective method of advertising than a commercial that potential clients can fast forward through or a billboard from which they can look away. Promote your business with a useful promotional item and your business has a better chance of lasting in a person’s memory.

With promotional items, there are many options available, such as hats, mugs, calendars, clothing and so much more. They are great for gift giving, trade shows, prospective clients, internal marketing, and other ways that promote your business. They leave open the chance to think outside of the box. You can thank your customers or wish them a happy holiday with a small gift that also shows off your identity. Recognition is the key and they will remember you every time they use it!

Since every business is different, specific items may work better for some than for others, however, there are so many different options that every business is bound to find something that suits them best. Be creative with your choices and during the holidays, or anytime, your clients with be happy to receive a gift from you and your company will benefit in the long run. Logo Design Guru offers many options and personalized service, so get your shopping started and help out your business this season. With so many great ideas, you can’t go wrong and the possibilities are endless!

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The Perfect Pitch 2009: Entrepreneur and Investors Conference

Posted on November 25th, 2009, 03:11 pm
Filed Under (Biz Start Up) by Nicole Lee

The Perfect Pitch 2009 is a conference for entrepreneurs that was recently held for the first time in Marina del Rey, California. Logo Design Guru was a proud sponsor of the event and was happy to offer its own business ideas as well. The Conference was an opportunity to bring hundreds of venture capitalists, investors, and influential entrepreneurs together for a full day of training, deal making, inspiration, and encouragement. Some words of wisdom came from powerful speakers and panelists who share secrets on what it takes to launch a successful business.

Panelists and well-known entrepreneurs included Christian Audigier and Robert Shapiro, but the main speaker of the event was Sir Richard Branson, who is best known for starting Virgin Airways and Virgin Records. As a successful entrepreneur, Branson had many encouraging words to pass on, offering new ideas to those seeking to take their businesses to a higher level.

Congratulations to Dan Didrick and his team at Didrick Medical for giving an outstanding pitch and winning this year’s Perfect Pitch 2009 Pitch Competition. The Top 3 finalists were; Kirk Hawkins with ICON Aircraft, Dan Didrick with Didrick Medical and Adam Button with Vubiq.

Logo Design Guru was proud to sponsor the event as an outreach effort to assist other entrepreneurs in their own business ventures. The company offers a variety of marketing services at an affordable cost to help any small business create a brand and stand out among their competition.

“I think one of the most powerful effects of the conference was that there are so many entrepreneurs in similar situations. As business owners, we face challenges every day, and we have to keep on fighting. Even with the most successful business, people didn’t have it easy, they had an idea that they believed in, worked really hard, and persisted through ups and downs,” says Joe Witte, Executive Vice President of Logo Design Guru.

“The Perfect Pitch conference was inspiring on many levels. It’s easy to see that the entrepreneurial spirit is very much alive, well and stronger than ever. This not only makes me excited for the future of our economy and the world, but it also reinforces my belief in the value of Logo Design Guru’s services. Logo Design Guru works with small businesses in the U.S. and around the world, providing them with access to professional and affordable customized branding solutions,” says Douglas Bard, Logo Design Guru’s Director of Business Development.

The event was an inspiration and gave the attendees new thoughts and ideas to walk away with. It’s important for small businesses to gain knowledge of the business world and the more they know, the better they can prepare for the future.

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Give Thanks For Your Business This Thanksgiving

Posted on November 24th, 2009, 01:11 pm
Filed Under (Branding) by Nicole Lee

What are you thankful for this November?

Now is the perfect time to take a closer look at your business and be thankful for the successes you’ve made throughout the year. Although it may have been rough this year, the Thanksgiving holiday is a time for thought and reflection on the positive experiences. This Thanksgiving, be sure to take a moment to give your thanks and appreciation to your company’s achievements.
At Logo Design Guru, we have a lot to be thankful for and this holiday season, we would like to share our Thanksgiving Day gratitude with you.

Clients

Logo Design Guru appreciates you, our clients. Without clients, your business can’t exist. Your clients are who you are serving, so their experiences with your company should be the best experience possible. Whether your business deals directly with customers or serves businesses rather than the public, it is always important to make a good impression. The better the impression your company makes, the more your clients will return for your services or recommend your business to others.

Multiple Services

Expansion is a key element to business and as time goes on, your business should have more and more opportunities to develop and grow. At Logo Design Guru, we have been grateful for the opportunity to add new options to our company so that we have more ways to serve our clients. We are able to be a one-stop shop for all of a company’s branding needs. Every company has the potential to expand, how can we help with yours?

Team

Every business needs a positive team to keep everything running smoothly. It’s important to hire the right staff and know that you have a trusted family backing up your business ventures. Logo Design Guru is grateful for our strong team that has grown and developed over time. The staff has helped the company proudly earn 21 American Graphic Design Awards and gain a 99% customer satisfaction rating. They keep the company moving forward every day.

Be thankful this holiday and show your clients how much you care. There are many ways to show your gratitude. Try sending a holiday card, or printing your logo on a promotional item that you can offer as a gift. Logo Design Guru has a selection of over 800,000 promotional items that make the perfect holiday gift for clients and also help you show off your logo at the same time. The season for giving thanks is upon us and there are a countless ways to show your gratitude.

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Fall Into the Autumn Season With A Lift in Your Branding!

Posted on November 12th, 2009, 09:11 am
Filed Under (Branding, Brochure) by Nicole Lee

Five Quick Ways to Improve Your Company Identity

Fall is the time when the leaves change color and the air adapts a brisk, cooler temperature. Summer vacations have ended and businesses begin to boom once more. It’s a great time to take advantage of that by promoting your own business and adding a little spark to your company identity. Your logo is how your clients put a visual image to your company. The more you show it off, the better they will remember you. You may already have an award winning logo design, but there is always room for successful change. Consider building your brand with some quick enchantments that will help your small business appear both larger and more established. Don’t let your business fall behind.

1. Blog
Have an open discussion about your company and the products and services you provide. Blogging is a fun way to have direct involvement with your clients. It allows you to offer advice, news, or promotions about your company on a regular basis. Blogging also opens the door for feedback and discussions from those who regularly spend money with your company. Getting real comments from your clients gives you the chance to improve your business based on what your clients need or want.

2. Email Signature
Let your clients know who you are and the company you represent. Sign all of your outgoing email messages with your name and company logo. A graphic signature will immediately be attached to all of your outgoing emails. Ditch your boring text signature, and send a visual reminder about your brand with every outgoing message.

3. Email Marketing Template
Excite and thrill your current and potential customers, by sending a professionally designed email message. Display your logo right in the inbox. With a template, your email appears more professional and can draw attention with nicely designed graphics that not only look great, but also promote your business.

4. Post Card
Update current or former customers about what your business is up to. If you have a new product or service that you are promoting, no one will know about it unless you inform them of your updates. A branded post card is an excellent way show off your identity and bring in more business by making sure your clients know of your new ideas. Not only will a postcard enforce your branded identity, it can be an affordable sales and promotional tool.

5. Digital Brochure
An electronic brochure is a great way to grab a client’s attention. Most communication is paperless now and a digital brochure demonstrates that you are in tune with today’s advances. Sending your clients an electronic version of your brochure reminds them of your business’ unique services or products. It’s a great informational tool, which can also contain hyperlinks right to your webpage. This way customers will always know how to find you.

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Benefits of Business Cards

Posted on October 28th, 2009, 02:10 pm
Filed Under (Branding) by Nicole Lee

There are many steps involved in starting a business, but an important one that is often overlooked, is business cards. Although business cards are common, they add a personal touch and can make a statement on those looking for your business. They are a small part of your company that you can leave behind wherever you go. You never know just who may be seeking your services.

All Types of Businesses Can Benefit From Business Cards

Business cards are more important for a small business than for a larger corporation. Specific skilled trades such as, graphic designers, consultants, or housecleaning services, don’t always rely on a large body of customers, but depend more on a few local clients. These clients provide references to friends and other contacts to allow your business to grow.

The other business type that benefits the most from business cards is Internet-based businesses. It’s important to remember that when people leave your website, they generally forget that you exist, so your responsibility is to remind them. Having a business card can keep you, your business, products, and services in the minds of your future clients. You have a better chance of having them use your services or passing your information on to someone else, if they have a convenient way of contacting you.

Highlight Your Company’s Best Attributes

A clean slate is sometimes the best way to introduce yourself. With a business card, you can accentuate all of your best qualities, similar to a tiny resumé or personal advertisement. Business cards allow you to present yourself or business in a more formal and credible light. The traditions of business easily recognize business cards like an identity.

Business cards come in all different forms and can be very simple or full of creativity, but since business cards are so common, creativity is important. It’s better to set yourself apart from your competition and a creative business card is a great way to do so. Business cards are meant to leave an impression, so that later, your company will be thought of when products or services are needed. The more creative your business card is, the more likely it is that you will be remembered.

Promoting Your Business With Ease

If you would want to promote your business and perhaps establish your name in the local area, drop off your business cards in stores and boutiques where your clientele is accessible. This is a small gesture that easily links you to a potential network. You can be up-to-date with the new trends and business activities.

Many stores also offer discounts and freebies to those people who give them their business cards. Other companies use collected business cards to survey the audience that they attract. Knowing this information, it is easier to appeal to specific target markets. You can use this tactic for your business as well.

Business cards should be handy at all times so you can share them with people who might be interested in your products or services. As an entrepreneur, you should never leave home without one!

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Common Mistakes in Business Choices for Entrepreneurs

Posted on October 16th, 2009, 01:10 pm
Filed Under (Biz Start Up) by Nicole Lee

The recession has had a major impact on us all, taking roughly over 6 million jobs from the American public since the start. With little to turn to for financial stability, many people have considered entrepreneurship. This is a great option, in which you get the opportunity to run your own show and be your own boss, although, the problem is that many people aren’t very good at choosing businesses that they can realistically turn into profitable companies. Many new entrepreneurs are interested in businesses that are cheap and easy to get involved in. Experts argue that aspiring entrepreneurs should concentrate more on areas in which they have professional experience. This will create a competitive advantage and will more likely lead toward success, but what type of business is right for you?

There are many business options out there and the first thing that often comes to mind are the typical ideas that are really a lot harder than most people think. These are great businesses, but without significant experience in the field and good understanding of leadership, they are also businesses that an entrepreneur might want to put some extra thought into. It’s always better to be successful at a business that is well thought out, rather than start something that you are not quite prepared for.

Restaurants

Dining out is among the most popular thing to do in any location. Even when times are tough, people still dine out occasionally, as way to escape the monotony of cooking every day. The idea seems promising, but restaurants are among the toughest businesses to run.

Many people assume that if they can cook, they can maintain a restaurant. Unfortunately, this is not always true and most new restaurants close in the first three years of business. The main reasons are that restaurants usually have low profit margins and require long hours and a strong team of managers that stay consistent with each other’s rules and can hold up a stable environment during the toughest of pressures and busiest times. Most people lack the intense managerial ability to perform under such pressure.

Franchises

The common thought with a franchise is that you are handed a proven business plan without the uncertainties and headaches that come with building a new business from scratch. Franchises may seem like the work is done, but there are also risks associated with franchising and franchise agreements. Things can always go wrong, so these risks must be researched and understood before taking the plunge and making the commitment.

Some franchises open stores too close together, which can over saturate the market or they are required to pay royalties and fees and other operational costs, making it very difficult to be profitable. Beyond that, when a franchisee fails, a franchisor may make it extremely complicated and costly to get out of its contract.

Home Sales and Online Retail

It’s always an exciting thought at first to work from home and earn commissions by selling cosmetics or kitchen knives. Another thought is to open up an online store or sell items through online marketplaces such as eBay or Amazon. These can work out successfully, but there are a lot of downfalls that need to be considered. Door to door sales reps usually make most money by recruiting their own reps in order to achieve bonuses or a cut of their recruits’ commissions. In the end, most people who attempt these kinds of sales usually are stuck with a bunch of extra merchandise sitting in their house that they can’t sell.

Online commerce is a similar situation. As it ages, these sites fill up with more established retailers and this makes it much harder for new, small sellers to compete for attention and generate a viable income. These businesses don’t always generate much income if they can’t be easily found in searches, maintain a good reputation among buyers or add enough value so that sellers can build profit margins high enough to take on bigger players and physical stores.

High-End Retail

Many people dream of opening a day spa, fine jewelry store or designer clothing boutique, but specialty retail businesses are less likely to succeed than non-specialty stores, especially now that consumer spending is geared more toward necessities rather than luxuries. High-end retailers often suffer from poor locations and lack of understanding of how to market their products in an effective way. People who purchase high-end products have specific expectations when shopping. Retailers need to be away of this and put forth more effort to fulfilling those customer needs.

Traffic-Driven Websites

Everybody has witnessed the success of social-networking sites like Facebook and popular blogs that generate all their revenue off advertising, but as the Internet ages, that’s much harder to accomplish. It’s very difficult to get people to leave established sites. The amount of traffic needed to build a lucrative traffic-driven Web site is far more than most new Web entrepreneurs realize.

Independent Consulting

Since common advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to stick with industries they know, many try turning their professional expertise into a one-person consulting firm. It seems like a reasonable profession, since more companies are relying on independent contractors and freelancers rather than larger corporations for their needs, but it’s still a difficult task to pull off. Consulting is not a guaranteed way to earn a steady income. There may be some great months of income, but those can drop easily, therefore the entrepreneur usually ends up breaking even overall.

Consulting requires selling yourself and a successful consulting firm needs employees that are experienced in this. There should be help to find and maintain the work. If this cannot all be done by one person, then the business is exposed to risk of failure.

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6 Tips to Using Stock Photography

Posted on September 23rd, 2009, 10:09 am
Filed Under (Branding, Brochure) by Nicole Lee

Are you a new business that is looking to create a website, brochure, or produce other forms of marketing materials? If you’re not, you should be and one important thing you will need is photos. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words and photos can add a ton of personality to your marketing materials and help your company stand out, but the question I am addressing is, “where do you get them?” There are a couple of options available that you can explore. First, you can take your own photos. That’s always fun and can be unique and personal, however this can also be risky. Most people are not professional photographers and a bad photo can really ruin a website. You can always choose to hire a photographer to take pictures for you, although not many small businesses have the budget for this. The third alternative is stock photography. There are both positives and negatives to this option, but it’s a great way to go. Here are some tips.

1. Endless Choices and Professional Quality
Amateur photos never look as nice as the professional ones. Consider red eyes on your models or problems with inconsistent focus. These are small errors that occur often, but with stock photos, you can have flawless images without the worry or the need to turn yourself into a photo editor. Stock photography offers anything you can imagine in a photograph with millions of choices. Many websites are available that offer stock photos. Photos.com, iStockphoto.com, Jupiter Images and Getty Images are just a few of the popular sites that are worth looking into. Logo Design Guru also offers free access to stock photos included in all of our web and brochure package options. It both makes the creative process easier and more convenient.

2. Image Overuse
Stock photo sites do have a ton of variety, but keep in mind; if they are available to you, then they are available to everyone else as well. When using stock photos, you often run the risk of using repeats. Standing out is important, therefore if you see the same photo all the time, the power and effectiveness of the image is lost.

3. Does Your Stock Photo Look Staged?
It’s true that people in general have very short attention spans and most of the time, plain text on a page is not going to keep someone’s interest. Photos nicely break up the space and draw more attention to the content, even if the image is something simple, such as a random, smiling person. These types of photos can work well, but beware of the obviously staged image. If an image is too generic, it is clear that it’s a stock photo. This staged look doesn’t appear natural and can give off a bad impression.

4. Avoiding Copyright Infringement
Often people think that if an image appears on the web, it’s free for the taking. This is unfortunately not true at all. Similar to pieces of music or artwork, photographs are often copyrighted and snatching them up from someone else’s site is breaking the law and can have unpleasant consequences. Images from free sites may also be copyrighted and you may be using them unknowingly. Some photo companies use search software to track their images and can tell if you are using them illegally. Stock photography eliminates this fear. Once you purchase an image, you are purchasing the rights to use it as well. It does cost money, but it is an investment that is well worth it and is law abiding.

5. Model Release Required
A great advantage of stock photo use is reducing the worry of model release. A model release is a signed form, which allows a photographer and the end user to have full permission to use a person’s likeness for marketing, advertising or artwork purposes. The law protects a person’s right to privacy, even when the person is in public eye. Most stock photo sites have taken care of this for you, so that once you purchase the photo, you have purchased that permission as well.

6. Costs for Stock Photo Options
The option of stock photography is a great way of saving on marketing costs. Although hiring a photographer will give you more control over what you want, photographers can be very costly. Stock photos can vary in prices depending on how they are sold. Some sites offer monthly or yearly subscriptions and others can charge by individual photos or photo quality or size. Depending on how often your company requires photo use, you can play around with the options and settle on something that works best for you.

There are plenty of advantages and disadvantages to using stock photography, but the images can be very useful tools that are available at your fingertips.

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