color-psychology-300x205
Mar

12

Color Psychology -- A Key To Effective Logo Design

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Color is an instant communicator with which we connect instantly and subliminally. Whether our emotional and psychological responses to color are shaped by socialization or completely inborn, they are very real and very powerful. It is almost as if the human mind is hardwired to respond to color.

Marketing researchers have noticed the powerful connection between color and consumer/client reactions. Reams of academic research using carefully controlled experiments backs the conclusion that color makes a difference in how people perceive a product or logo. Work outside the “ivory tower” confirms the validity of that research. Companies have discovered that adding a color to a product or its logo, or changing a color palette outright can have a massive impact on sales.

The reaction of the human mind to color happens in an instant. It happens faster than one can read. In fact, the mind makes connections and forms opinions based upon color before the conscious mind even determines at what one is really looking.

The logo is a constantly repeated and consistently displayed symbol of your business. It appears on letterhead, websites, business cards, products and more. It is your “brand” and is inseparable from your overall business plan.

When one considers the importance of color psychology and the unrivaled position of the logo, it is clear that an understanding of how the subconscious interprets color should be at the heart of logo design. Overlooking the role of color in one’s logo risks significant underperformance.

Harnessing the power of color psychology in logo design is not a simple proposition. One can look up a simple chart listing common colors and a brief assessment of what they tend to represent for others. That, however, only scratches the surface of what is necessary for logo design that makes optimal use of color psychology research.

color psychology 291x300 Color Psychology A Key To Effective Logo Design logos and corporate identity An effective logo designer will go beyond simple statements such as “brown means credibility and stability” or “red shows heat or passion.” He or she will temper those simplifications with an understanding of distinct cultural perspectives on certain colors. He or she will also consider the negative emotions linked with specific colors. A talented logo design specialist will understand how people react to certain color combinations and will be aware of how to merge the messages of color psychology with a keen sense of aesthetics to create a truly memorable and appealing color palette.

Today, many of use are enamored with the “do it yourself” ideal. We believe that, with a bit of research and effort, we can create things for ourselves just as effectively as can someone else. That may be true in some cases, but logo design is a perfect example of where an expert is necessary.

Logo experts understand design. They recognize the power of various forms and can devise logos that will communicate the nature of a company at a glance. They have specialized skills and knowledge that allows them to produce winning logos with which amateur creations cannot compete.

Color Psychology 300x297 Color Psychology A Key To Effective Logo Design logos and corporate identity The effective use of color psychology is a perfect example of how the specialized talents and knowledge of a professional logo creator can make a great deal of difference. A good design specialist will know how to choose colors to effectively communicate a client’s message without risking interpretive errors and other pitfalls often experienced by “do it yourselfers.”

If you are in the market for a logo, consult with a talented logo expert who can use the science of color psychology to your advantage.

About the Author

tony4 150x150 Color Psychology A Key To Effective Logo Design logos and corporate identity Tony Mack is an award winning graphic/web designer and internet marketing expert that operates One Source Graphics, Inc. He works with small local businesses and large internet based companies to create dramatic marketing material that they use to get more sales and more clients. In addition, he has a highly successful internet business that publishes e-products, learning products, iPhone and windows software, and has helped thousands of people learn and improve their own internet marketing strategies.

800-974-5580
TonyMack@OneSourceGraphics.org

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Why Logos Are A Must For Every Company
Mar

10

Why Logos Are A Must For Every Company | Logo

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If you are starting a new business, there are many things you can do without. You don’t necessarily need the prettiest office furniture, a location in the best possible neighborhood, a twelve-line phone system or framed inspirational prints for your walls. Smart new business owners know when and why to cut corners and to post cost-savings for a start up. They also know that some purchases are completely necessary.

One essential investment for every company is the design of an effective logo. The logo is at the core of every successful company’s branding efforts. It is the company’s symbol and will adorn everything from free giveaway coffee mugs to the cover of critical reports. It will appear on websites, in advertisements, on business cards, letterheads and anything else related to the company.

The logo is the most important part of any branding effort. When one mentions Coca Cola, your mind immediately provides you with a visual cue-the white script, perhaps on a red can. One need only see the bright and bold logo of Federal Express with its “hidden arrow” to recognize a delivery truck and to understand its business.

draft lens15920401module136899451photo 1291025815marketing mix 300x263 Why Logos Are A Must For Every Company logos and corporate identity If you want to distinguish your company and separate it from the pack, you will need a logo. By wisely choosing a well-designed logo, you can immediately begin to publicize and market the business in earnest. You can also begin to cultivate the idea of your company’s “personality” with clients and prospects alike.

Those who fail to secure a good logo do so at their own peril. In many ways, the logo becomes the face of your company. You want to convey the right message and the right outlook from first contact. Operating without a logo can render a company virtually invisible. The human mind’s attraction to color and shape provides one with a unique opportunity to capture attention and to leave a lasting mark on the psyche of observers with a logo.

Some cost-conscious business owners may try to function without a logo. Those who go this route lose money in the long run. By not creating an easily identifiable “brand” (and even a first year marketing student will recognize just how essential that is), the business owner will hamstring his efforts and decrease profit potential by a margin far exceeding the price of a professionally designed logo.

If you are starting a new business, or have been limping along in your current endeavor without a logo, it is time to create a business identity with what will become your ongoing symbol. Find a logo design pro who can combine real world experience with a solid understanding of logo design principles to create the perfect logo that will someday be successfully and inextricably tied to your business.

You may not be able to afford a brand new leather sectional or fifty magazine subscriptions for your lobby. Adding a fully appointed executive washroom may not be in the budget. There are places to cut corners and ways to save money. However, skipping the development of a perfect logo is not among them. A good logo is a must for every business that should not be overlooked.

About the Author

tony4 150x150 Why Logos Are A Must For Every Company logos and corporate identity Tony Mack is an award winning graphic/web designer and internet marketing expert that operates One Source Graphics, Inc. He works with small local businesses and large internet based companies to create dramatic marketing material that they use to get more sales and more clients. In addition, he has a highly successful internet business that publishes e-products, learning products, iPhone and windows software, and has helped thousands of people learn and improve their own internet marketing strategies.

800-974-5580
TonyMack@OneSourceGraphics.org

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Logo Design
Mar

08

7 Critical Aspects of a Fantastic Logo Design

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When it comes to logo design, you ultimately want it to convey your brand in the best possible manner. At the same time you don’t want it to take up too much space. That is the greatest challenge – to be able to create a winning impact within the space constraints. Here are the 7 factors you need to consider to have a logo that spells success!

1. Research always helps in effective logo design

Never make the mistake of rushing into creating a logo design. It will only make matters bad. You need to do a fair bit of research to understand the company, its objectives and mission as well as its business goals – both short and long term. You also need to know the demographics of the target audience.

2. Attractive and unique: two elements of great logo design

You would obviously want your logo design to catch the attention of the customer. At the same time it should not be screaming for attention. It should test the intellect of the customer; make him or her think a few minutes after seeing the logo. If you notice some of the top logo designs each of them have a unique aspect to it that depicts something about the company.

3. Simple and memorable logo design

One of things you need to really focus on is to make sure your logo design is not too cluttered or too fancy. This will just confuse the customer. Ultimately you want the customer to remember your brand. That will only happen if the logo is easy to remember. Also be sure that the logo sends out positive signals to the customer.

4. Flexibility is a major issue in logo design

Option 3 300x180 7 Critical Aspects of a Fantastic Logo Design logos and corporate identity There are so many companies who invest a fortune on their logo design only to realize later that their logo doesn’t work on a product wrapper! What a waste of time and money! Your logo needs to be flexible enough to work and create a lasting impact on any medium whether it is a product wrapper, your company website or even any promotional materials you send out! That means you need to consider the size of the logo and the usage of appropriate colors. The colors used need to match well with any background while also helping the brand to stand out.

5. Never clutter your logo in logo design

One critical mistake people make is to cram in too much information in their logo design. This makes your logo look cluttered not to mention the fact that customers will fail to remember your brand!

6. Use fonts that promote readability in your logo design

You might select a font that looks great on paper but when you use it in the logo it hampers readability. There is absolutely no point using classy fonts in logo design if they are going to prevent customers from remembering you. Make sure fonts are easy on the eye.

7. Usage of color in logo design

Great logo design will always focus on using complementary colors that looks good against a black or white background.

About the Author

tony4 150x150 7 Critical Aspects of a Fantastic Logo Design logos and corporate identity Tony Mack is an award winning graphic/web designer and internet marketing expert that operates One Source Graphics, Inc. He works with small local businesses and large internet based companies to create dramatic marketing material that they use to get more sales and more clients. In addition, he has a highly successful internet business that publishes e-products, learning products, iPhone and windows software, and has helped thousands of people learn and improve their own internet marketing strategies.

800-974-5580
TonyMack@OneSourceGraphics.org

color calibration tips
Mar

06

10 Ways To Make Sure Your Image's Bright Red Is Bright And Red

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Graphic designers, photographers, publishers and computer users at large: they all rely on their digital equipment being capable of rendering colors right. But the sad truth is your colors will differ depending on the output device. A monitor’s red is not the same as an inkjet printer’s red. Besides, what is “red”?

Here are 11 things you can do to make sure red is red, no matter which device has to render it.

1. Buy a good monitor.

OK, this is an open door, but by “good” I mean a monitor that you can calibrate. That rules out all the office monitors, the Apple Cinemas and leaves you with LaCie 300 range and Eizo ColorEdge products.

2. Buy a good calibration and profiling application.

Even if you can’t afford an Eizo ColorEdge, buy Color Solutions’6660394e9c7500334 300x200 10 Ways To Make Sure Your Images Bright Red Is Bright And Red photoshop basICColor Display. This software comes with a high-quality GretagMacbeth Display 2 colorimeter (called the “Squid 2″ by Color Solutions), and has a feature called “software calibration”. The latter calibrates any monitor by storing the calibration data (the Tone Response Curve) in the video card’s lookup tables. The only requirement: your video card should support it. ATI’s Radeon range supports this.

3. Calibrate and create a color profile for your monitor once a month.

Calibration is different from profiling. Calibration means the colour lookup tables in the monitor are put into a known state, while a profile merely describes the monitor’s perception of colors. With calibration you tell the monitor that it must render “pure red” by setting its color channels in a certain manner. The profile you create will tell your image editing software, or graphic design application that pure red for this monitor means a specific mixture of its color channels.

4. Buy an inkjet printer which has non-clogging printheads.

Ideally, printheads should never clog. If they do, you can rest assured your colors will come out awful. If they don’t, you can still have bad colors, but now at least you can do something about it. Good printers are a bit more expensive than the bottom-price inkjet printers you can buy these days. Think of paying something like $200 at a minimum. For top-notch printers like the HP Photosmart Pro B9180, expect to pay $700.

5. Drive your inkjet through a Raster Image Processor.

Many high-end printers support a RIP, but not all RIPs are created equal. EFI makes good RIPs, as do the vendors that develop more expensive RIPs for large format printers. EFI has a decent RIP, with support for ink limiting, black start setting, etc, for a very decent price. It’s the EFI Designer Edition.

6. Profile your printer and use that profile with your RIP to get accurate colours, and save money on ink consumption.

Through the profile settings, you can actually determine how much ink gets sprayed onto the page. For some paper types, you can save a lot of money by setting ink limiting optimally for your printer.

7. Use established equipment such as X-Rite/GretagMacbeth or Barbieri to generate your CMYK printer profile.

You should create a profile for every paper not supported by your printer manufacturer. If you must use your printer in RGB mode, you can do with less expensive profiling systems. The best way to ensure a good quality profile is made when you don’t have the budget to buy a system that costs a few thousand dollars, is to appeal to a remote service such as Thinck.com’s.

8. Use an image editing application such as Photoshop, which has a “softproof” feature.

To softproof means that you’ll be able to visually determine an image‘s colors on-screen with enough accuracy to be confident the colors will match the printed output. Softproofing is never one-on-one, but can come very close, and is another way of saving money by saving on both wasted paper and ink.

9. When editing your image, set the grey balance first.

Select a neutral grey area in your image (if you took a photo, you’ll remember what was grey, and if you don’t, there are almost always objects that must be grey) and set this area as your neutral grey tone. In Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, you do this by selecting the Levels or Curves tool, selecting the grey eyedropper in the dialogue window, and clicking with this tool in the neutral area of your image.

10. If your image has a warm tone to it, e.g. because it was shot at dusk or with tungsten light and no flash, you can neutralize color casts somewhat by choosing an area that is not exactly neutral but more towards the warm tone of the image.

As long as the area is greyish by nature, the image will adjust accordingly.

11. Be careful with setting Saturation levels too high.

If you boost saturation, you’re also bossting color inaccuracies. You can boost the saturation of your image when you’re sure it is color-accurate.

These and many more tips, tricks, and tutorials, but also product reviews and in-depth technology and methodology background information is available on IT-Enquirer.com. IT-Enquirer is an online magazine aimed at creative professionals. It contains articles for beginners all the way up to experts in the field.

 

[info_box]About the Author

tony4 150x150 10 Ways To Make Sure Your Images Bright Red Is Bright And Red photoshop Tony Mack is an award winning graphic/web designer and internet marketing expert that operates One Source Graphics, Inc. He works with small local businesses and large internet based companies to create dramatic marketing material that they use to get more sales and more clients. In addition, he has a highly successful internet business that publishes e-products, learning products, iPhone and windows software, and has helped thousands of people learn and improve their own internet marketing strategies.

800-974-5580
TonyMack@OneSourceGraphics.org
[/info_box]

effective web design
Mar

04

6 Important Rules in Website Design and Hosting

Internet Marketing  Posted by / 0 comments
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When it comes to your website, extra attention should be paid to every minute detail to make sure it performs optimally to serve its purpose. Here are six important rules of thumb to observe to make sure your website performs well.

1) Do not use splash pages

Splash pages are the first pages you see when you arrive at a website. They normally have a very beautiful image with words like “welcome” or “click here to enter”. In fact, they are just that — pretty vases with no real purpose. Do not let your visitors have a reason to click on the “back” button! Give them the value of your site up front without the splash page.

2) Do not use excessive banner advertisements

Even the least net savvy people have trained themselves to ignore banner advertisements so you will be wasting valuable website real estate. Instead, provide more valueable content and weave relevant affiliate links into your content, and let your visitors feel that they want to buy instead of being pushed to buy.

3) Have a simple and clear navigation

You have to provide a simple and very straightforward navigation menu so that even a young child will know how to use it. Stay away from complicated Flash based menus or multi-tiered dropdown menus. If your visitors don’t know how to navigate, they will leave your site.

4) Have a clear indication of where the user is

When visitors are deeply engrossed in browsing your site, you will want to make sure they know which part of the site they are in at that moment. That way, they will be able to browse relevant information or navigate to any section of the site easily. Don’t confuse your visitors because confusion means “abandon ship”!

5) Avoid using audio on your site

If your visitor is going to stay a long time at your site, reading your content, you will want to make sure they’re not annoyed by some audio looping on and on on your website. If you insist on adding audio, make sure they have some control over it — volume or muting controls would work fine.

6) The most important – Host only with a Reliable Hosting Provider.

Before Chosing a Web Hosting provider, read its reviews and always check the top 10 hosting providers. A good resource to research hosting providers is at Top10DedicatedHosting.com

5 Common Mistakes of Website Design
Mar

02

5 Common Mistakes of Website Design

Internet Marketing  Posted by / 1 comments
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Huge Mistake #1:
Creating a Website with Flash

— Did you know in a recent study, top internet marketers discovered that having a website created with Flash, actually decreased the response from prospects and customers by as much as 370 percent?

Here’s why: Your prospects and customers are most likely visiting your website using all types of different computers, connection speeds and internet configuration settings…

What may look great to one visitor may not even appear for another! You could very easily have shelled out hundreds or even thousands of dollars to have a website created using the Flash technology, only to find out that some of your visitors will never see it! (Not to mention the loading times can cause your visitor to close your site, never to return again.)

Huge Mistake #2:
The “Internet Catalog” Approach

— You see this everywhere. Good, honest and hardworking businessmen and women get online to sell their products or services, and have a site created for them that contains a link to just about everything they offer on one page. Their thinking goes along the lines of, “…well, I don’t want to leave anyone out. If they come to my site, I want to make sure I have what they’re looking for…” — This way of thinking could not be further from the truth.

Here’s why: There’s an ancient rule that goes back to the very beginning of direct-marketing on the internet, taught by the richest, most legendary and well-respected internet marketers of all time…

“When you give your prospects too many choices, they become confused and aren’t sure what to do next. Confused people never buy anything.”

Huge Mistake #3:
Optimizing Your Sales Site for the Search Engines

— You’ll see this taught in nearly every “internet marketing” course, manual or eBook out there… “You must optimize every page of your website for the search engines!” — In fact, this false teaching is accepted as ‘gospel truth’ so often that most web designers will offer to do this for you at no, or little extra cost…

mistake1 300x199 5 Common Mistakes of Website Design internet marketing sales marketing What they don’t understand is that certain words and phrases must be either re-worded (to make it “keyword rich”) or taken out completely, just to be looked upon highly by the mighty search engines — and this could kill your sales, literally overnight.

Here’s why: When you or a hired web designer optimize your sales page (i.e. any web page designed to sell your products and services) to get a higher listing in the search engines, you’re going to have to sacrifice the pulling-power of your sales copy (i.e. written sales material) just to get those higher listings. Sure, this can bring you more traffic — but what good is all the traffic in the world, if your visitors arrive at your website and aren’t compelled enough to read why they should order your product?

For years, it has been taught that you should always try to find a “balance” of SEO (Search-Engine-Optimization) mixed with promotional copy designed to sell your products and services…

Wrong Again! — The truth is that you should never optimize your sales page for the Search Engines. Instead, you should create tiny “entry pages” for each keyword related to your product or service, (highly optimized for the Search Engines) and have them link to your main sales site! (We can show you exactly how to do this quickly and easily and get *massive* targeted traffic from the Search Engines – without ever *touching* your sales site!)

Huge Mistake #4:
Having a “Graphics-Based” Website

— Sure, graphics can certainly help us to visualize a particular situation or circumstance, product or service… But did you know that having a graphically-driven website can actually distract your visitor away from your sales message?

After all, your sales message (or “web copy”) is The #-1 most important factor in a website that makes money. If your visitors are paying more attention to your “professional graphics” than your sales message… you’ve just lost another sale.

Here’s why: You’ve got approximately seven seconds from the time your visitor arrives at your site, to the time they decide whether to buy your product, get more information or leave. If you’ve got a graphically-intensive website, your website will most likely still be loading past your seven-second time limit.

That’s a “customer-killer” in and of itself – however, the real reason lies within the fact that the bigger, brighter and more beautiful your graphics are, the more they will distract your visitor from your sales message. And if your visitor is distracted even for one second, it could mean the difference between getting a sale, and losing a customer.

Huge Mistake #5:
Designing a Website with Zero Marketing Experience

— Most web designers have no idea how to make money on the internet, with anything other than their design services. It’s not their fault – they simply have no or very little marketing and sales experience. After all, they’re just website designers…

However, having your website designed by someone with Zero internet marketing experience is like buying a street-car without an engine… it won’t go anywhere, and it’ll just waste your time and money!

For help on website design please give us a call at 800-974-5580

Facebook Page Design
Feb

29

Facebook Page Design: Using Social Media to Market your Business

Web Pages & Web Graphics  Posted by / 0 comments
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Just when you thought all you needed was a really good Internet website, along comes Facebook. With growth that exceeded even the creators expectations, a major motion picture about its inception and a lot of media attention (some good and some not), Facebook represents a new age in worldwide communication and a new way to market your business. But just like a website, you need to create a Facebook page so people can follow you, “like” you and eventually become regular customers who can spread the word on this social outlet and get you more business than you could have ever imagined.

All Facebook page designs involve a small picture known as a profile picture. This is very important as it will represent your business through the Facebook network. So you would be wise to use your logo which includes your company’s name so people know who you are right away upon seeing your profile picture. If you have an emblem or logo, you can use that but you want to include your name somewhere with it. Everyone knows the Nike logo, for example, so they can get away with using just their swoosh design. But most companies do not have that kind of global logo recognition so be sure to have your name somewhere in your Facebook profile picture.

The next thing you need on your Facebook page is information about your company. You want to mention your location, your address, phone number, website, hours of operation, etc. All the essential information should be part of your Facebook page. You may even want to include the names and e-mail addresses of people within your company that visitors might want to contact if they have questions or want further information. Unlike a website, your Facebook page is not going to list details about your products and services. However, by including a link on your Facebook page with your web address, people can easily access your website if they are interested in learning more about what you and your business have to offer.

facebook1 Facebook Page Design: Using Social Media to Market your Business web pages web graphics Pictures are a definite must when it comes to Facebook page design. Words are good, but images are better—especially on Facebook where people do not want to sift through mounds of text. In the photo section of your page, you can add pictures of whatever reflects the nature of your business. If you are a landscaper, highlight pictures of some of your best work. You can even create albums of pictures so you can have one album of just basic landscaping photos and another featuring more sophisticated work, for example. Also include a picture or two of your actual place of business so people know that you do in fact exist. You would be surprised how many people misrepresent themselves on Facebook.

Finally, keep in mind that Facebook is basically a word-of-mouth operation. To get the ball rolling, either you or your friends and family who are already Facebook members should start making comments about your business and then have them share it with their friends and family. Word spreads fast in the world of Facebook. Another good way to speed up the process is by having stories, tips or information relevant to your business that you can link from your Facebook page to your website. And be sure to always update your page so it does not get stale and always offers visitors something new.

Creating a Facebook page design takes some careful planning. The expert graphic designers at One Source Graphics, Inc. know what it takes to develop a Facebook presence that is creative, effective and bound to spread the word effortlessly through the Facebook network. Do not underestimate the power of social media. Whether you are a start-up business or one that has been around for a while, your marketing plan should include social media outlets like Facebook. One Source Graphics, Inc. has the knowledge and know-how to make the most of this powerful marketing tool. Call 1-800-974-5580 to schedule an appointment and see how Facebook can be more than just catching up with old friends.

Pinterest_SLIDER-300x172
Feb

28

Pinterest: A Unique Opportunity to Improve Your Business - Part 5

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Pinterest: Summing it All Up

By now, you have probably come to realize the importance of using Pinterest as part of your business’s marketing strategy. Social networking is the new word-of-mouth and, if you learn how to use it correctly, it can bring traffic to your website and business to your company.

Pinterest is more than a social network, it is a network about lifestyles where people share common interests. You need to find a way to make your company’s products or services fit into the lifestyles of Pinterest users. Finding new and creative ways that people can use your goods and services is the best way to get attention to your pinboards and your company. It is not simply about showing what you sell, it is about showing how what you sell can make their lives better in ways they did not realize.

If you are not already set up on Facebook and Twitter, you need to do that as well and be sure to cross-promote your company on all social networking channels. You need your company’s identity and activities to be consistent across all your marketing efforts. The truth is, not every Facebook user is on Pinterest or Twitter and not every Pinterest user is on Twitter or Facebook so you have to cover all of your bases.

find me at pinterest Pinterest: A Unique Opportunity to Improve Your Business Part 5 internet marketing sales marketing When creating your pinboards, simplicity, creativity and organization is the name of the game. You do not want to overwhelm with too much on your pinboard that your message gets lost. At the same time, you want enough on there to pique the interest of users and have them look further—hopefully going to your company’s website. Make sure to also organize and title your pinboards so people know what they are looking at. If you are creating more abstract looking pinboards, you run the risk of people not understanding what they are looking at so a title would be helpful.

Finally, do not be a passive user on Pinterest. That is a surefire way to be overlooked. Pinterest users actively pin images and videos to their pinboards, comment on other user’s pins as well as sharing and repinning those pins. You need to become a part of the Pinterest community. By taking an active role and scoping out other user’s pinboards and commenting on them, you open the door for them to reciprocate and check out your pinboards and your company.

Joining Pinterest is free so you have nothing to lose by joining and seeing what kind of traffic and leads you can generate from it. Many big companies are already gaining tremendous traffic simply by having a presence on Pinterest. There is no reason in the world why you should not be able to reap the same benefits.

Tony Mack and his team of graphic experts at One Source Graphics, Inc., have already created some exciting pinboards that they would love to share with you. Go to http://pinterest.com/TonyMackGD and view their unique graphic design concepts. Follow their pinboards so you can see their creativity at work. You can also call them at 1-800-974-5580 to see first hand how their graphic design work can help your business and your bottom line.

Pinterest Logo
Feb

27

Pinterest: A Unique Opportunity to Improve Your Business – Part 4

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How Popular Companies are Using Pinterest

If you think that Pinterest is just for bored housewives or busy bodies, than you have not looked in to how this new social networking site can give your business a boost when it comes to leads and sales. Many of today’s top brands are using Pinterest as part of their marketing strategy and it is showing tremendous success. Consider this—five specialty apparel retailers had their referral traffic from Pinterest jump 389% from July to December of last year.

In order to have that kind of success, however, you have to be more than a presence on Pinterest. Unlike a traditional website where you simply post your company information with your “About Us” pages and descriptions of your products and services, Pinterest users are active members who do not just read and look. They are sharing images, ideas and information by pinning things of interest and sharing them with others who have the same interests. And that is what you need to do when you join Pinterest for marketing purposes—you need to actively engage in the pinning process creating pinboards that people can identify with and will want to follow as well as doing some pinning and repinning of your own.

Here is a look at some companies that have found a way to use Pinterest to their benefit:

Chobani

The Greek yogurt company may offer a simple and healthy product, but it is the way they are presenting that product on Pinterest that is interesting. Rather than just showing pictures of their many varieties of yogurt, they have pinboards with recipes that you can make using their product. In addition, they also have a pinboard that has nothing to do with their products at all. It is titled “Nothing But Good’ and it shows funny images that will bring a smile to your face. Here is an example of a brand using this new media to promote more than a product, but also a lifestyle surrounding their product.

Oreck

Vacuum cleaners may not hold much interest to people other than cleaning up messes, but Oreck has found a way to make this household appliance worth following. Their pinboards show beautifully laid out flooring (the cleanliness of the floors implies that their product produced that look without ever having to show their vacuums). They also have a “Furry Friend” pinboard showing images of pets which most people know is a reason to have a vacuum in the first place. Oreck has taken their product out of the image, but has created images that speak for the product.

Etsy

As a popular online shopping website with more than 50,000 followers, Etsy has definitely found a way of promoting its products through Pinterest. Their specialty is vintage and homemade goods and they show you through their pinboards how to apply these goods to your everyday life. They also make a point of showing you how to make your own products. Many of their pinboards feature ideas for the holidays and how their products can make great gifts. For them, it is all about thinking outside of the box.

Drake University

Who would have thought that a university needs a Pinterest presence? Well, Drake University did and they are proving to be doing a great job with it. Their pinboards are geared towards their student population complete with dorm room decorating ideas, school color-inspired clothing and study inspirations. They even devote an entire pinboard to their bulldog mascot. Drake University has found a way to connect with their students as well as attracting future students.

Peapod

As the largest grocery delivery service in the United States, Peapod has definitely found a way to tap into the Pinterest movement. Their pinboards feature images of how the food is delivered to you and which produce is currently in season. They also highlight their delivery trucks in one pinboard showing the many cities the trucks travel to on their routes. You can even see the green bins being loaded onto the trucks prior to delivery. This behind-the-scenes look gives people a chance to watch a company at work which people do not often get to do. By doing this, Peapod has found a way to make something that seems boring and mundane now interesting.

pinterest 300x210 Pinterest: A Unique Opportunity to Improve Your Business – Part 4 internet marketing sales marketing As you can see, it does not matter what type of business you are or what type of product or service you offer. If you think creatively and apply it to your Pinterest account, you can entice people to become instant followers. The important thing to remember is to keep creating and updating your pinboards and to follow others as well. If Pinterest users notice that you are recognizing them, they are sure to start recognizing and following you.

At One Source Graphics, Inc., Tony Mack and his team of graphic experts have already created some awe-inspiring pinboards that they would love for you to see. Go to http://pinterest.com/TonyMackGD and view their unique graphic design concepts. Follow their pinboards so you can see their creativity at work. You can also call them at 1-800-974-5580 to see first hand how their graphic design work can help your business and your bottom line.

In tomorrow’s post—final thoughts on using Pinterest in your marketing strategy.

pinterest
Feb

24

Pinterest: A Unique Opportunity to Improve Your Business - Part 3

Internet Marketing  Posted by / 2 comments
listen Pinterest: A Unique Opportunity to Improve Your Business Part 3 internet marketing sales marketing

Pinterest and Marketing: A Winning Combination

Now that you have set up a Pinterest account and profile, you need to use it to drive people to your website in hopes that they become customers. You cannot simply wait for people to find you. You need to initiate activity that keeps people “pinterested” in what you have to say and, in this case, what you pin.

Here are a few ideas on how to get Pinterest users to become followers of your pinboards and, hopefully, future customers.

Create Pinboards that are Visually Appealing

After all, Pinterest is based on visual concepts so the more eye appeal your boards have, the more likely they are to get noticed and followed. So how do you create pinboards that attract followers?

    • Design a pinboard that depicts the culture or mood of your business. There is nothing wrong with showcasing your staff during lighter moments or just doing their job and enjoying it. This sends a message that people at your company like their job, take pride in their work and, because of that, produce a high quality product or service.
    • Combine your site’s blog content and visuals with your pinboards. You need to start making connections between all your social marketing tools so that your company’s message is coherent and consistent.
    • Charts and infographics may sound boring, but if done correctly, they can relay some important information that Pinterest users may not know. For example, if your company sells exercise equipment, you can show a graph how the number of people exercising these days has skyrocketed or which types of machines benefit what parts of the body. There are many ways to creatively disperse information without having it appear like a business presentation.
    • If you or any of your staff have published articles, books, e-books, etc., create a pinboard highlighting these points with a visual of the publication. You and your employees will come across as hard-working and driven people who are passionate about what you do.
    • Your customers are your biggest marketers. After all, they continue to do business with you because they are satisfied with what they are getting. Use them to your advantage and show pins of them using your product or service. You can even use some of your best customer’s pins and create a pinboard specific to them.

Host a Contest

Everyone loves a contest even if there is no real prize. The mere joy of just winning is enough for people. So why not hold a Pinterest contest asking people to design a pinboard using some of your company’s visuals? You can even offer a special discount to the winner if they are interested in purchasing your products or services. You can also invite other users to comment and help determine the winner.

Include the “Pin It” Button on Your Website

Not everyone is on Pinterest so for visitors who go directly to your site through search engines, include the Pinterest button as you would a Facebook or Twitter button so that people can access you through here as well. Who knows—they may decide to become Pinterest users after seeing what the social networking site is all about.

Get Customer Profiles

What better way to see what you customers’ interests are than by following their pinboards and seeing what they like to follow? This will give you a good idea as to what they like and what their needs might be. You can install tracking software to see which customers find you through Pinterest. You can also keep track of any offers that they take advantage of and then use that information to send them more personalized e-mails or messages when you want to try selling them something else that fits in with their profile or past purchases.

Be an Expert

You want to be the go-to person when it comes to information in your industry. What better way to do that than by creating pinboards that show unique ways to use your products or services. By doing this, you will inspire others to think of your company in a different way than other companies in the same industry. You will stand out as an innovator who thinks outside of the box.

Link Your Pins

This may sound obvious, but make sure you provide your website link in any pin descriptions you have on your pinboards. This is important because if anyone wants to take one of your pins or share it with someone else, your website will be a permanent part of the pin so curious users can automatically click on the link and go directly to your site. The best way to do this is to have the link go to the original web page that has the pinned image. Doing this will allow visitors to go directly where they want to without searching high and low. You want them to find things easily rather than get frustrated and quickly leave your site.

Make Your Visuals Move

Still images are not the only pins you can use on your pinboards. Video images have their place on your boards as well. There is a separate tab for videos on the Pinterest homepage which means you will be featured here and potentially gain more followers.

When pinning a video, make sure it is something that people would enjoy. If the president of your company gave an important speech, you may want to include a part of that or show how one of your products is made. If you have that homemade chocolate shop, who would not want to watch chocolates being made? It is a great way to connect with people by getting them involved in your process and enticing them to look further.

Use Hashtags

Pinterest supports hashtag use so be sure to use them when tagging your pins to make the content easier during searches. You also want to tie them in to any special event or new product or service you would like to promote and link it with your Twitter account. This will tie all your social media together through cross-promotion.

Think Offline as well as Online

Not everything you pin has to be tied directly to your goods and services. If you sponsor a charitable event each year, for example, you can create a pinboard showing images (and video) of the event and begin the process of talking about the next one you are planning to sponsor. People will get excited to see what you have planned next.

Give Your Business a Personality

At the end of the day, it is your employees that help make your business work. So why not pay homage to them by creating a pinboard devoted entirely to them? This can give your company a personality. Show funny moments, celebratory events or special occasions. You can even include images of them hard at work. People will relate better to your company if they see the real people that they will hopefully be dealing with when they decide to do business with you.

At One Source Graphics, Inc., Tony Mack and company have already begun creating interesting pinboards on Pinterest. Go to http://pinterest.com/TonyMackGD to see their unique graphic design concepts. And do not forget to follow his boards so you can keep up with the many inspiring designs he and his staff have created. You can also call them at 1-800-974-5580 to see first hand how their graphic design work can help your business and your bottom line.

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