Many small businesses still don’t have a website, and those that do are not utilizing them as effectively as they should. Some just don’t see the value in a website that goes beyond a simple display of the business’s contact details. Some just think having an online presence is better than nothing at all. This way of thinking is all too common among small business owners. Sure, contact information is essential, but so isn’t information about the business and its history? And what about client testimonials? These all build credibility in the minds of consumers.

Does your website give a good first impression or does it scare potential customers away? I often get asked, “Do I really need a professional website even if I’m a smaller company?” to which I always respond, “YES, if you are a business professional, you need to look like one. Period.” I believe you should make sure your website gives off a great first impression or the potential client may just hit the back button and move on to your competitor’s site.

A professionally designed website with valuable content will help your customers take your business seriously. It’s important to remember that most potential customers and clients are unaware of your small business status until they take a look at your online presence. You must have a professional-looking site if you want to be taken seriously. If your website is of bad quality, whose to say your product or services are not of bad quality too? Since many consumers now search for information online prior to making a purchase, your site may be the first chance you have at making a good impression on a potential buyer. Don’t let that chance pass you by …

This font has been criticized by designers, computer users, and even comics fans for years. In the past month, I have had 3 clients use this font for business documents. Since it has come up a few times in the recent weeks, I decided to have a design discussion recently with one of these clients, I was asked, “So… Why do you not like Comic Sans?” Here is the lowdown of why I as a designer do not like to use this font.

This font was designed for use in informal documents, which of course includes comics. It’s just too playful and cartoony for professional use. When used in a business document, it ends up looking cheap and unprofessional.

Another reason, it’s very overused – especially in PowerPoint presentations. It’s even used on websites now. One of the reasons it is overused is because it’s shipped with every PC. Comic Sans was released in the early 90′s by Microsoft and has been included with every operating system since the introduction of Windows 95.

I don’t think Comic Sans is a bad typeface, really. It is very popular with children and students as well as elementary teachers, and I can live with that. Also, I know some (bad) designers who have used it, and of course non-designers all around the globe have used it. I don’t blame them; people are unable to make good design decisions because they have had no typographic schooling. If your design piece is comics or other humorous material then we can talk, if not, please do me a favor and put the font aside.

It may be the era of digital technology, but I still consider one of the most important ways to keep your name in front of current and potential customers is the traditional business card. Lately I have been spending a lot of time deeply immersed in the high-tech world of virtual networking, but feel it’s important not to overlook some of the “old school” networking tools. Your business card is still one of the most powerful marketing tools you can have. Read the rest of this entry »

On a recent getaway, my husband and I visited a small town in Northern Arizona. We enjoyed our weekend strolling through quaint shops and mixing with the locals. It reminded me so much of my years spent growing up in a small town. There I managed my first store and later started my own business. There is a lot to be said about doing business in a small town and I have learned many valuable lessons along the way. Even today I am connected to the mentality ingrained during those years and the way I do business today is a reflection of my time spent in a small town.

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Your logo is an important element to your business and it’s growth. You want to be the business that clients remember – the one that stands out above your competitors. Your logo helps elevate you by giving you a professional look and by making you memorable. Your logo will help your current customers remember you later as well as attract future customers. Read the rest of this entry »

Taglines are powerful communication tools for your brand. They must be personalized and customized to fit your individual company and add to your brand identity. A tagline is a highly focused and brief phrase that clearly explains and defines the benefit of a product or service to the consumer in a meaningful and memorable way. Although often confused, a tagline is not a slogan. Slogans change with the advertising campaigns, and a tagline remains virtually static for many years.

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Recently Creative Matter has worked on a number of logo facelifts. In this economy where the competition is fierce, so it’s important to stand out from the rest and look professional.

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Connect with your target market and grow your business!

5 Key Branding Elements

It’s important to understand one thing: a logo is NOT a brand. A brand goes much deeper than the custom ‘type treatment’ of your company name or icon. Your brand is the essence of your business – it’s the emotional connection that others have with your company, product and services. The purpose of branding is to develop a powerful and lasting emotional connection with your audience.

Define, Design, Distinguish, Develop and Direct your brand.

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Dictionary.com defines graphic design as “the art or profession of visual communication that combines images, words, and ideas to convey information to an audience.” A graphic designer is responsible for creatively arranging and using elements on different types of media with the use of a graphics software programs.

The most common forms include:

* Logos
* Websites
* Business Cards
* Advertisements
* Book Design
* Brochures
* Billboards
* Product Packaging
* Posters
* Magazine Layout
* Newspaper Layout

In this blog I’ll be posting articles and tips to better your business so make sure and check back for the latest news from the Creative Matter team.

Sources:

“graphic design.” Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 18 Sep. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/graphic design>.

Image is Everything – Types of Logos

Whether your company is a start-up or a large corporation, you will eventually confront the issue of your company’s logo and brand identity. How are you perceived by your target market? How does your company come across to potential customers? How do you compare to your competition? Is my logo outdated?

These are questions you should also ask yourself, not only when considering a new logo, but when creating anything related to your business, whether it is your business plan or a capabilities brochure.

The function of a logo is to create a memorable, recognizable impression on the mind of a potential customer. A logo is essentially at the heart of a corporate identity. We are committed to deliver logo that represents a company’s personality and gives instant credibility. Essentially, all logos can be categorized in four separate categories: glyph, alpha-glyph, alphanumeric or a combination of any of these.

Glyphs (Symbol /Icon)
Glyph logos are instantly recognizable to the public. Most of the companies you would recognize have had a logo that has evolved over time. They starting with a combination of text and symbol and then over time removed the text. Examples are Apple, Audi and Toyota, just to name a few.

Alpha-Glyphs (Logotype )
A Alpha-Glyph logo uses a letter (or letters) from the name of a company in a graphical way. An alpha-glyph logo uses a letter in a particular way to convey the nature of the business. Ideal examples of this type of logos can be seen with the Honda, Ebay or the IBM logo.

Alphanumeric
This type of mark is the most widely-used logo and we are bombarded with them wherever we. An alphanumeric logo is the name of your company or brand spelled out but the treatment of the typography is usually unique. Examples that you will recognize: Coka-Cola, FedEx, Microsoft, FedEx, Ford, and the list goes on.

Combination
This is the most common type of logos and is found everywhere. It is simply a combination of symbol and typography. These are the most common for small businesses and startup companies.

It’s the image of the company that matters, so if you intend to portray a positive and impressive image of your company go for a professional logo design today.