Category: Design Tips

Build Brand Recognition through Custom Christmas Cards

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Now that Thanksgiving is over, Christmas is just around the corner. Have you thought about combining customer appreciation, brand awareness, and Christmas?

They fit together like a glove!

But why should you use valuable time and money to send cards and how do you go about it?

Keep on reading for some ideas that are sure to get your name noticed!

And you can use these ideas for personal use as well as business use, so read on!

1) Design and send Christmas cards because it improves customer retention. Your best customer is your existing customer! When you show that customer appreciation, you are encouraging them to turn into raving fans. That’s what you want! So that when you come up with a new product or service, they will be beating down your doors! A personal card with a unique design will communicate to them that you care. That you took the time to do something unique.

One of my clients (see card above, which I designed), an artist, has been doing Christmas cards for years. The people on her mailing list can’t wait to receive the card because they know it’s going to be something unusual. Now that’s name recognition!

2) Cards in the mail get noticed over email. Really! Think about it. What do you receive in your mailbox? Bills and junk mail, right? A card or letter is precious! The receiver of the card feels valued. E-mails are a dime a dozen and you are competing with many other e-mails. A spectacular card with your brand will automatically create name recognition and you will be on your way to creating raving fans!

3) But how can you create a spectacular card? With a scanner, some fabric, ribbon, and an original picture, you will have an unbeatable combination.

* Choose some fabric and ribbon, about letter page size. Make sure it’s not licensed!
* Scan it into computer at at least 300 dpi.
* Select an original piece of artwork, a photograph or painting. Scan it at 300 dpi.
* Layer the pieces together–use the fabric as a background, the ribbon as a frame, and the artwork as your centerpiece.
* Put your logo on the back with your address and website
* Include a personal greeting that complements your artwork

.4) Make your cards affordable by printing them through an online source. Overnightprints.com is my favorite source, and I have found them to be most cost-effective. They do great full-color work although the paper choice is limited. If you sign up for their mailing list, you will get great deals! Their cards come with white envelopes and they even have a mailing service!

5) If you want to choose semi-custom designs, Overnightprints.com has them available, or try Zazzle.com or CafePress.com. I plan to have some of my cards on these sites and will let you know as soon as I do!

6) If this sounds like too much work, hire a professional! I have been designing Christmas cards for years and would be glad to help you! But hurry, Christmas is around the corner and my schedule is already hectically busy! Just email me at info@angelarts.biz for more info.

Want more information on how to create your own Christmas cards? Introducing my new special report on 17 Steps to Creating Razzling Dazzling Christmas Cards! Features step by step easy to understand instructions, a webinar with a detailed tutorial, including demonstrations in software, and links to affordable resources for printing, inks, and print on demand sites.

And for a limited time I am offering it for sale! Grab your copy before Tuesday and you will get $50 off the retail price!

How to Make Brochures–Graphic Design Secrets that Will Make Your Brochure Sizzle!

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So you’re thinking about making a brochure for your business. But how do you make brochures? And even more important, how do you make an effective brochure?

Basically, there are six stages of producing brochures:

  1. Initial Concept
  2. Writing
  3. Editing
  4. Designing
  5. Production
  6. Distribution

Fundamentally, brochures need to arouse attention and get interest. They need to motivate an audience toward an action.

You need to know your audience well. What is their age, location, income, family status, industry involved, job title/function, education level, political orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin?
Knowing all these things, think through what they really care about. What is important to them? What problems do they have? What are their fears, especially what are they afraid of losing?
Talk to your audience in terms of needs. What’s the problem? How can you meet that? Get benefits across to your audience. What solutions are you offering them?
Here’s some other ideas to help you create an effective brochure:

  • Use conversational tone “You”
  • Get message across in 20 seconds.
  • Make sure visuals work for you, that they illustrate a selling point.
  • Ask for action, make sure it’s easy to respond.
  • Use Business Reply Envelopes or include a custom domain name.

Additionally, ask these questions:

  • What is the purpose of your brochure?
  • Who is your audience?
  • What is your desired accomplishment?

Be sure to use graphic design elements:

  • Type
  • Graphics
  • Color of paper
  • Contrast and balance between dark and light
  • Balance between color and white space
  • Ink color
  • Contrast in type
  • Be consistent. This creates unity
  • Don’t use too much copy
  • Headlines are essential!

Follow these guidelines and you will have a brochure that sizzles!

Would you like to have a brand that sizzles and learn the principles of print design? Check out my free mini video course at Make Your Brand Sizzle.

Want even more help in turning your brand into quality print design? Get step by step guidance through my online tutorial course at Brand Identity Quest.

Print design ideas—So is print design obsolete?

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In this age of Internet marketing, you may be wondering, is print design dead? Well, let me ask you these questions?

What role did, if any, will print design play in the 2012 election?
How does print design help businesses? Churches? Charities? Artists?
But with everything going “green” why even care? Why is it important?

Here’s my opinion as a graphic artist for over 17 years:

Print design is timeless. There is something about holding paper that is so much more enjoyable and has a different effect than just an ebook or website or film.

What are some examples of where you see print design?

  • Direct marketing
  • Product design
  • CD/DVD packaging
  • Books
  • Newsletters/magazines
  • Greeting cards

Think about it. When it’s your birthday, would you rather receive an email or a card in the mail?

Even when a product is an ebook, like curriculum, there is still design to it. Or there can be to distinguish yourself above most ebooks out there, all created in Microsoft Word.

Think about Web designers. Some Web designers might be good at writing HTML code, but know nothing about design principles. Then there are web designers who know nothing about code!

Professional design stands out above the crowd, especially in these days when EVERYBODY thinks they are a graphic designer!

When you learn how to create unique designs that stand out and scream professionalism, you become more successful at reaching whatever your goal is for that project. It’s the difference between a professionally designed website and a canned website.

Or a professionally designed brochure and a brochure made from a template. It’s also the difference between having a bland brand and a brand that SIZZLES!

Would you like to have a brand that sizzles and learn the principles of print design? Check out my free mini video course at Make Your Brand Sizzle.

Want even more help in turning your brand into quality print design? Get step by step guidance through my online tutorial course at Brand Identity Quest.

OLD BOOKS
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Be Uplifted by this Poem for Patriot Day!

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My thoughts are on the 10th Anniversary of 9-11. I will never forget that day. It’s been a special weekend of rememberance with a festival yesterday to honor our service men and women and a moving presentation in church.

I would like to share with you today with a special poem I wrote to commemorate this day. It includes paintings by my son and photographs I took from a hot air balloon on a beautiful September morning in 2007, my prize for winning a logo contest.

May this poem inspire you and may God bless America!

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Branding Strategy–Steps to Making Money Immediately with Your Brand

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Make money immediately imageYou have a brand or are developing one. So now what?

You need a branding strategy. A branding strategy that makes you money immediately!

How is that possible? I am going to spend the next few posts on some ideas that will help you gain not only name recognition, but monetary reward!

Make sure your brand is consistent across all mediums, both online and offline.

Inconsistency makes your prospects confused. Whether it’s signage in front of a brick and mortar store or a banner on your blog, differences in the application of your logo can derail your profits.

Why?

Because it creates a lack of trust and a gap in credibility. If you don’t take your brand seriously and protect its integrity, why should your potential prospects?

Make sure your brand is the same on your website, on your blog, on your business cards, and your signage, if you have a physical office or store. Invite your target market into an experience with your product or service.

And not only make sure your brand is consistent, make sure it is of high quality. If you don’t take your brand seriously, why should your prospect take your business seriously?

Lessen confusion and communicate trustworthiness and you will increase your ROI!

To show you the immediate value of a consistent brand, let me tell you what happened to me last week. I received a call out of the blue from a retired photographer looking for graphic design help with a photo book. He had discovered me through a Craigslist ad I had posted nearly a month ago.

On the Craigslist ad, I included a link to my website. He had visited it and so was already familiar with my brand when he called to inquire about a job.

He wanted to add me as a Facebook friend, so he looked me up while we were on the phone and he immediately recognized me because my branding, including my personal photograph, was consistent!

Now here’s another story to illustrate what happens when your brand is not consistent: several months ago my husband and I were looking for a jazz club I had heard about. We really wanted to listen to live music. I had the address and the name of the business but I saw no sign. It was confusing and this uncertainty led us to ditch the idea of going to the club. We went to one that was already familiar to us! It’s brand was definitely strong and had burned into our minds that it was reliable!

Do you want your brand to make you immediate money? Join my webinar mentor program starting September 14 where you will learn how to make a brand that sizzles! Sign up now! The quicker you get started, the quicker your brand will make you money.

GREEN DOLLAR SIGNS CASH MONEY
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Courses in Online Marketing–How to Create Your Own Self-Study Marketing Course

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Creating a course in online marketing is an extremely beneficial investment in yourself, especially in this information age where learning is literally accessible under the reach of your fingers.

Years ago, upon earning my Bachelor of Arts in English/Creative Writing, my college guidance counselor told me I was a good candidate for graduate school.

Since then, I have wanted to go back to school and get my Master’s Degree. But time and money were not there. I had other duties as a wife and mother.

And then I started my home business. With so many resources available on the Internet, I realized I didn’t need to take formal classes.

I could make my own course of study. After all, education is a life-long journey. The credentials don’t matter in the long run, especially as an online at-home business owner.

What matters is that I apply what I learn on a daily basis.

So that’s why a couple of years ago I started my self-paced study on Internet marketing. I made a plan to study each day and to apply what I learned immediately in my own business.

The result? I am becoming recognized as an expert and attracting clients to my graphic design services business like never before!

How did I do it? Here are some ideas to get you started:

1) Ask yourself this crucial question: what does success look for YOU? Not anyone else. What is it that you want to accomplish in your life and business? The next 10 years? Five years? One year? Six months?

One of the most valuable insights I got from studying online was learning to make decisions from where I want to be instead of where I am now.

Keeping the end in mind will help you create a vision for your life and business, which will in turn help you decide on what and how to study.

2) Analyze what kind of learner you are. Do you learn best in an analytical, step by step method? Do you learn best by studying what truly interests you? Do you process information better by hearing or seeing or doing?

As a homeschooling mother to a special needs child, I have learned the value of this knowledge of learning style for both teacher and student. This is crucial information as I choose and develop my son’s curriculum and has at times prompted me to throw out everything I have and create my own curriculum more suited to his learning styles and challenges.

3) Find the people in your field you admire most and want to be like. Make sure they are truly successful at what they do. You don’t want the blind leading the blind! Invest in yourself by buying one course to start with.

Many online marketing gurus have packages with several different learning styles in mind. The first one I bought was from Ali Brown, her Online Success Blueprint, which included a workbook, CDs, and DVDs. This gave me a birds-eye view of what I needed to do to accomplish my online business goals.

Other coaches offer continuity programs through email. This is a very effective way to study. They break it down into weekly assignments, which forces you to immediately apply what you’re learning to your business. Taking one of these continuity programs is how I learned to create my own online course based on my particular area of expertise–branding.

Be careful of information overload, though. Once you start taking courses from “gurus,” you will be inundated with offers. In the online marketing world, this becomes like candy. “Oh, the next best thing that will bring me success,” you think. Don’t look for magic pills that will make all your dreams come true in one easy shot. Actually, lifelong learning and life success is a journey of hard work. But it is a journey abounding in rewards, both personally and professionally.

After you take your first course, drill down. What area of learning do you need to pursue in order to reach your goals, both short term and long term? Master one skill at a time and put everything you learn into practice immediately.

4) Find a business coach or mastermind group. This is an extremely important step! After you have gotten your feet wet, join a coaching organization. Find a mentor who will help you step by step. Be involved in a mastermind group.

I have never heard of a successful online marketer who didn’t invest in themselves through one on one coaching and mentoring. There are many ways to get involved to fit any budget. I started with Ali Brown’s lowest mentorship circle, which consists of monthly teleseminars. Now I am part of a coaching group called Internet Marketing, Mentoring and Coaching Center and I have mentors who are constantly cheering me on. I could not have gotten a vision for my marketing plan without them. In fact, I wouldn’t even be writing this content without this coaching program! My involvement with iMMaCC has given me incredible focus and direction that I lacked before.

Facebook groups are also a great source for this. I have found tremendous support there, not just professionally, but personally. Take advantage of social media, not just to be a sponge of new information, but to be an authentic voice in a community. This is a very rewarding activity when you can give and take with like-minded people.

5) Develop a local Dream Team. Nothing beats face to face time. Period. No matter how sophisticated technology gets, personal interaction with other human beings is the best, most effective means of learning.

Recently, I met with a fellow homeschooling mother who is in the same position I am–we must get our businesses contributing to our families or we will be having to look into getting jobs in the marketing place. Not a great option when number one there are no jobs and number two we have children with special needs that require our full-time care!

So we decided to get together once a month to help each other toward our goals. We will barter services. We are both committed to seeing the success of the other person.

This is going to be a huge motivation. In a few weeks when we meet for the first time, you bet I’m going to want to report my progress to her! And I’m going to want to impart my knowledge to her as well. Teaching others what I learned increases exponentially my own course of study!

6) Get in the habit of learning on a daily basis. Instead of watching tv, watch DVDs on your chosen course of study. Listen to podcasts while you clean. Take audio CDs in your car. Read one chapter a day. Integrate it into your daily life instead of thinking, “Oh I’ll get to it after I…” You won’t! Do it now while you’re doing the ordinary tasks of life. Then use your learning to guide you in your business activity.

So there you have it in a nutshell. How to create your own course of study. Whether you want to study online marketing, writing, design, or fine arts, this method will help you reach new heights in your life and beyond!

Ready to start a mentorship program? Introducing my new Brand Identity Mentoring Program!

There are several levels to choose from that will fit your budget, including a webinar course, one one mentoring, brand development, and identity collateral design and printing.

Class starts September 14 so reserve your spot today! Space is limited!

 

Brand Identity Marketing-My New FREE 10 Day Mini-Video Course!

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These days, gaining brand visibility over a wide variety of mediums is crucial to a successful business, especially for online marketers.

But in order to be effective, your brand must soar above the competition!

How? By creating a compelling brand based on your authentic identity!

Announcing my new free video course for online marketers, entrepeneurs, business owners, ministry leaders, authors and writers, and high school and college students!

Here is the first video:

[stream provider=youtube flv=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dk9QV4gcbm2E img=x:/img.youtube.com/vi/k9QV4gcbm2E/0.jpg embed=false share=true width=500 height=300 dock=true controlbar=over bandwidth=high autostart=false /]

Sign up below and you will get 10 free videos delivered to your email. While a few of them are available for public viewing, most are exclusively unlisted just for my subscribers!

Plus, every subscriptions comes with my free report, 10 Ways to Make Your Brand Sizzle. And, to give you ongoing support, you will automatically be enrolled in my ezine, BrandNotes.

Just enter your name and email below and you will receive your first emails immediately.

I hate spam as much as you do. I promise never to rent or sell your private information.








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Small Business Women Start Up-How to Market Your Product of Service for Free!

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So you have a vision for your business, you’ve started your company or signed up as an associate for a direct selling organization. You have built your brand. You are ready to start flying!

But your budget is tight. Perhaps you don’t even have a budget!

Thankfully, with the advance of the Internet, you can promote your business for free or for very cheap!

What do you need to promote your brand? Here are some ideas to get you started:

1) First you need a domain name. This costs about $12 per year at GoDaddy. You also need personalized emails. Gmail and yahoo email addresses are not professional and come across as “spammy.” You can also get custom email with GoDaddy for minimum cost.

2) You need a website. The easier and cheapest way to build a website is a WordPress one. But go for WordPress.org, which means you need a hosting company. A really easy, inexpensive way to do this is to buy a hosting package from HostGator. If you buy their Baby package, you can have unlimited domains and emails. I highly suggest at least this one. You can also buy your domains through them, which I recommend. Through HostGator, you can also have autoresponders and many more features. Just check them out!

3) You need a blog. You can use WordPress again for this. Or maybe you just want your blog to BE your website. That is perfectly fine.

4) You need a Facebook account. Social media is big these days and is a huge avenue for promoting your brand. Who influences your target market? Find these people and become friends with them or like their pages. Comment often with these people. Be a thought leader. You will find your target market can’t wait to friend you!

Remember that with Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, it’s about relationship marketing. Tell them about yourself. Don’t just post links to your product or service. This is tacky and will turn off your audience. Give of yourself, encourage others, engage in conversations with your friend. Cultivate a community. Join groups that align with your passions, your target market, and your business. Use the time on Facebook and other social media sites wisely. Balance your posts between authentic sharing of yourself and promoting your business.

5) Do keyword research and write articles around those keywords. Wordtracker has a very effective tool for this. Study how to do keyword research. Find out what information your target marketing is looking for and give it to them. Submit your articles to article directories like EzineArticles.

6) Make a YouTube Channel. Video marketing is hot. It’s immediate and compelling! You don’t need an expensive camera and loading your videos on YouTube is free! Again, use keywords. Give gold nuggets of information that people need, want, and desire!

7) Set up a way to capture leads, through an autoresponder. Produce a free item that will attract people to your list. DO NOT use your own email program. Use the autoresponder in HostGator, or a service like Constant Contact. A lot of these services have free trials. Develop a weekly email newsletter so you can get your brand in front of your prospects.

I hope these ideas spur you on in your journey to build a small business! It is a learning adventure and one that is very worth it, because, as the old L’Oreal commercial used to say, “You’re Worth It!”

And if you do this, you will have a brand that sizzles!

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