Recently Adam Swan, advisor to Forbes and head of strategy at gyro New York, wrote an article for Forbes outlining the principles behind this new era of design. Please read it and consider your current business design. Is it up to snuff? If you aren’t proud of the quality of your product or service or if your corporate brand has an outdated look, chances are that’s what others are thinking too. Companies with poor design simply can’t compete. We don’t want to use a product if it doesn’t look good. How many times do you choose a bottle of wine based on the label? How many times do you go to Starbucks and spend $5 on a cup of coffee?

Bottom line: We buy products and services based on feelings. Good design and good brands make us feel good.

How many of these ‘fun facts’ did you already know?

[via Bored Panda]

Want to see what 24 hours of creative awesomeness look like? Click here.

In business, we have one chance to make that first impression and often the first impression could be a business card, a newspaper ad, or a 30 second radio spot. So how deep can we get? How far into the book do we go? The answer is simple. We almost always get our first impression from glancing at the “cover” of a business.

So when you sit back and look at your brand identity from your online marketing material, to the cleanliness of your desk or the carpet on your showroom floor. Take a moment and ask yourself, “is this making a good first impression?” or “Is this impression consistent with the view I have of my company?” And don’t be afraid to ask others. Take surveys. Get unbiased opinions on the effectiveness of your image. When the results are in, if your brand identity is flawless and portrays exactly what it is your company represents, then don’t change a thing! But, if you have weakness, inconsistencies, out-dated material, and overall confusion. Take action! Contact a graphic designer that specializes in brand identity, or an organizational specialist that helps with unwanted clutter, or call your local carpet company to get that old orange dingy stuff out to the dumpster where it belongs. Bottom line, a consistent brand identity will mean increased sales and growth for your company. Stay-tuned for more on what makes a great brand identity next week!

The two most important factors in the “staying power” of a website are:

1. Great design.

2. Great content.

And because we process images 60,000 times faster than text, great design is the first reason to stay. Your site should communicate the personality of your business through it’s design sensibility. Part of the site design includes the navigation. Your site design should be well organized and easy to navigate. Once you have that down, it needs to contain great content that has to do with what the viewer is searching for.

Tips for effective website content:

1. Know what “key words” your audience is using in their online searches and use those words throughout the pages of your website. (Google Keyword Tool can help you with this.)

2. Dedicate a whole page to each of your services. If I am searching to learn more about life insurance online. Then I want to land on a page dedicated to life insurance… I don’t want to sift through all of the other insurance plans you offer only to read about the life insurance at the bottom of your page. I would probably “bounce” off of your site before getting to the item of my interest.

3. Update your site regularly. A good way to do this is to have a blog or news page. Sites that have regular updates are viewed more favorably by Google.

4. Increase your credibility by having reviews or testimonials throughout your site. People want to know how others liked your services.

5. Keep it simple. Less is more. Have catchy headings and bullet lists when you can. These days people only spend a minute or two on sites, scanning for useful information. Make your point quickly and invite them to call you.

Stay-tuned for more info on effective websites coming soon!

Signs are a critical part of your overall marketing strategy. Your sign illustrates what your company stands for and can help generate impulse purchases and attract new customers.

When considering a new sign design for your business, there are three key things to remember:

1. Get a Permit. All exterior signs require a permit from the city or county location that the sign will reside in. Here’s a link to the sign permit application for Harrisonburg City and here’s a quick link to connect with the Rockingham County zoning offices.

2. Make your sign easy to read. This letter visibility chart has been made for you based upon information provided by Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Penn State University and the United States Sign Council (USSC). c 1998

3. Select materials that are long-lasting. How many years in your vinyl rated for? Often stock vinyl lasts for 3-4 years; an 8-10 year rating protects your investment. Are you considering a dimensional sign? Try high-density urethane or aluminum rather than steel so that you don’t run into rust issues. Panting? Use a baked on finish or additional clear coat so that your paint won’t ship or peel. The last thing you want is to have your investment need consistant maintenance. After all you want to make a lasting impression!

And remember, signs are viewed quickly, so you want your sign design to be strong, but simple and memorable. You only have a split second to grab the attention of a passing motorist or shopper.

If it’s time for a new sign for your business, you have great opportunity to create a graphic impression that people will remember when they need your product or services. Make sure your sign is designed to do its job -bring you more business! Check out the signs in my sign portfolio.

Blogging FAQ: If I decide to blog, do I have to respond to replies or comments?

Several of my Harrisonburg clients use a blog as a news feature only. By that I mean that they only post their blog articles and remove the option for comments from readers. But if you want to receive comments, the comments won’t be posted without your approval. Each reply can be routed to your email, and you may choose to accept or decline to post it on your site. Consider the types of replies you might expect for your type of business. Some happy customers might send you glowing testimonials. Comments on blogs do not improve or diminish your website’s results with search engines, so you can choose whatever suits you best.

Blogging FAQ: How much time do I need to maintain my blog?

A successful blog needs regular updating—at least once per month. When you’re first starting out, allow about two hours to gather your thoughts, select your resources and write your first blog. I’ll be discussing tips for the actual writing process in a later blog post. But I can tell you now that if you don’t like to write, or aren’t good at it, consider hiring a professional writer. You want it to be interesting, and to provide good material for the search engines to find. Plan to block out some time once a month to prepare your blog, or you can work ahead and write two or more at a time. Get away from the office so you won’t be interrupted. Take a trip to a coffee shop in downtown Harrisonburg and bring your laptop!