Time Flies By

How is it that time can slip by so quickly that it seems as if I blink and a week has gone by? It was a little hectic with my parents here from Arizona, I had a few sales to work on and some other projects outside of Etsy but I'm back and offering a $20 savings on my Ultimate Business Start Up Package. So check out my shop before this offer disappears like the past week and a half did for me!

Marketing Tips - Part 2 - Incorporating Your Design

You've got your banner and avatar, now you need to incorporate your look into business cards, address labels, stickers, product tags, thank you notes, invoices, etc. Some things to keep in mind when you purhase a banner or graphic from a designer...

Get the Original Files

Don't be afraid to ask for either the original files or a .svg (scaleable vector graphic) file. If you ever want to have the design incorporated into printed materials, you will need these files as they will allow another designer to rework the files in case the original designer goes out of business or does not offer these services.

Ask if You Don't Know

A lot of banners are made in Photoshop or similar image editing software. They're wonderful for creating images for the web, but not always for print. The reason for this is the difference between bitmap images and vector graphics, which is a whole separate topic, but basically the difference is bitmap images become pixellated if resized too much, vector graphics retain their clarity. Also, drop shadows, gradients and special effects done in these programs don't always print out the best quality either.

Print Color

Another thing to keep in mind is that print colors are not always the same as what you see on your computer. Computer screens, web and printers all have different gamuts for color. Which basically means the entire range of colors available on a particular device such as a monitor or printer. A monitor, which displays RGB signals, typically has a greater color gamut than a printer, which uses CMYK inks. When a color is "out of gamut," it cannot be properly converted to the target device; for example, to a different type of printer. So the colors may vary slightly on your printed items.

Keeping your look uniform will help your business 'brand'. If you have a banner that has one design, a business card with another design and stickers with yet another design, you may be sending the wrong signal to your customers. Coming up with a look that is unique to you is another step in marketing yourself as a business and not just a hobby.

Thanks for stopping by!

Labels and Stickers For Your Business

If you have ever tried to make your own labels using the templates provided in Microsoft Word, you know that this seemingly easy task can easily become daunting. Sure it's simple to add the text, but adding graphics can cause you to want to rip out your hair and throw your computer accross the room! The reason for that is, Microsoft Word is great for creating documents, it is not a graphics program. If you are lucky enough to own Publisher, this task is slightly easier, but let's face it, these programs are expensive and not always user friendly.

We are now offering individual graphic design options in our shop. You can now purchase these items without having to purchase a package or banner set. We do all the work, you print!

What The Heck Is A Logo????

I have been asked this question many times and the best way for me to describe it is, it is your business identity. It is not a banner, although it can be used in a banner, your logo is something that makes your business instantly recognizable. Think of some of the 'big' companies out there like Microsoft, Coke, Nike, etc. Whe you see their logo, you automatically know the maker. A logo does not have to contain graphics to be recognizable either. Many big companies go with a simple text logo with unique fonts or standard fonts with small additions as their logo.

Once you have your logo you can now use it on a wide variety of applications but be careful. Images with a lot of gradient colors do not print well so while they may look flashy on the web, they won't look so great in print. If you are planning to use your logo on more than one medium be sure to have your designer make the logo in grayscale or black and white as well as a color version. This will help ensure that your logo will look just as good in print and it will give you a less expensive option for printing if you want to add it to tags, business cards, letterhead, etc.

Be sure to stay tuned for more tips and tricks on how having a unique business identity can help with branding and how you can use your logo to help promote your business.