Tag: graphic logo design

Design Portfolio–A Dance Flyer that Is Just Fun!

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On Saturdays, I am instituting a new feature. Each week I will display an item from my portfolio!

Today’s item is a dance flyer I did for a local dance studio:

I did this in Photoshop, using a picture my client had. I used the filter feature to make it into a painting, then chose fun and flirty fonts that went with the theme. I chose an orange and yellow blend to give it pizazz.

The client was very pleased! It was a fun project to do!

Do you have a project you’d like to talk to me about? Sign up for a FREE strategy session!

Brand Identity Design–Are You Shortsighted About Developing Your Brand?

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We live in the microwave generation where we expect to get instant gratification. We want everything immediately.

And in these uncertain times, long-term investments seem too risky. A wait and see attitude pervades the country as we ride out a turbulent election season. Will we come into a time that is more business friendly?

Whatever is quick and cheap or even better, free, rules decision-making. Planning? What planning? We run from crisis to crisis, barely able to catch our breath.

As a branding expert, I see this again and again in the thought that business owners take to their branding decisions.

They are actually short-sighted decisions. Instead of investing in their most important asset, their brand, the business owner only thinks of what is cheap or free, making decisions because something is cute or pretty. Very little thought is put into what makes a company’s image stand out above the competition. Or how their brand image can accurately reflect the essence of who they are and what they do.

Creating an effective brand image requires thorough analysis and strategic implementation. This is a process. It requires time, thought, planning, and knowledge.

Corporations know this. They spend tens of thousands of dollars on brand development and design. These companies have longevity because they are not short-sighted. Planning and strategic implementation of their brands is a priority.

Bu why go through all this work as a small business owner? Because an effective brand will increase your credibility with your prospects and customers. What will this do? Attract more business to you! When you take your business seriously, your prospects and customers will take your business seriously. And this will increase your bottom line! Which means, of course, increased profits.

It will also increase the chances that your company will be around for the long haul. Consider this. The statistic for failed businesses show that eight out of ten small businesses fail within the first three years.

So what about you? Are you being shortsighted with your brand identity design? Or are you ready to invest in your brand image so you will have a strong, robust business?

If you are ready to invest in your business and your brand, join my webinar program starting April 10. You will get step by step help in building your brand identity design and strategic implementation. Click here now to sign up! And if you do so by Friday, April 6, you will get my early bird discount. Want more of an incentive? I am offering $50 off for the first month. Just enter the coupon code SIZZLE upon check out. I do not want anyone to miss out on this opportunity for your business to truly sizzle!

 

Cost of Logo Design–3 Ways to Dramatically Lessen It!

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Logo design can be expensive. In fact, most corporations spend thousands upon thousands on creating brands.

And even though cheap and free solutions run rampant online, obtaining one of these can result in a cookie cutter logo–it won’t stand out above the crowd because it’s not uniquely designed for your business, ministry, or artistry.

Typically, design agencies charge at least $75 per hour. Some freelancers charge less than that, but still, the money adds up.

How can you dramatically lessen the cost of logo design?

Here are some ideas to help you:

1) Do as much research as possible up front.

Ask yourself important questions, like “What am I trying to communicate with this logo?” and “Who is my target market?” If you already have a logo, analyze why it’s not working for you.

2) Provide a rough sketch to the designer.

Designers think visually. If you give them an idea what you are looking for by sketching it out, they will be able to satisfy your vision of your logo more quickly. This will save you money!

Communicate up front all your expectations to the designer. The more they know, the more effective your logo will be, and the more money you will save!

Now that you’ve given him all the information and your vision up front, any written estimate will be accurate and you will have no surprises when the bill comes due.

3) Don’t try to change the job specifications in the middle of the project.

Decide up front what you are wanting. This is why initial analysis and thorough research is so important.

If you decide from the beginning that you want blue angels to represent your logo, but then change your mind and decide you want red fairies when your designer has already done the majority of the work, you will be increasing the cost.

You can’t expect the designer to charge his original estimate when you have made a dramatic change and it’s not in the original parameters.

Changing job specifications will mean the designer will have to work longer or buy more artwork. There is no magic button that a designer can push to make your vision come true. It takes skill and knowledge to implement a vision into a tangible design that can be used online or offline. If you change your mind in the middle of a project, it will take more time to complete that project and you will have greatly increased the cost of your logo design.

But following these three ideas when hiring a designer will dramatically lessen the cost of making a logo!

And when you have a dynamic logo, you have built not only a brand, but a brand that sizzles!