Affordable and creative graphic design for all clients – that's the mission of Christie Graphic Design. And because deadlines are just as important as budgets, I'm proud to be able to deliver all of my services quickly. Call or email for a quote on your next project.
Free artwork downloads are posted as well as links to professionals who I admire, and draw inspiration from. Also, civic organizations I belong to or support.
October 14th I had a booth at the "Network or Starve" event sponsored by the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce. I definitely feel it was aptly titled! It was held at the Breezy Hill Party House, which used to be the Valley View. Rachel Heywood and her staff did a fantastic job with the remodel (I can't wait to see what they do with the other half of the building!), and the food was fantastic. A couple of the Buffalo Jills were there signing autographs, and it was a Bills themed night with trivia questions and prizes to win. All the vendors with booths donated door prizes, and I would like to congratulate W. Glen Sedam on winning the gift certificate I offered. During the networking, I realized how rusty I am at showcasing my services, so I thought my hindsight might help you see 20/20 if you have a similar event in your future.
Make sure you can describe what service or product you offer in a couple sentences, including what your businesses unique benefits are. Don't assume that people know what you do from your business name and tagline, and then launch into a sales pitch. People make assumptions, and its better for you if you start the client or customer relationship based on facts.
In that same "assumptions" vein, don't pass by someone who you feel won't need your product or service, or who is your competition. Your goal should be to get good information about your business out to as many people as possible so that your name is the one they think of when the need arises. Also, it has been my experience that other small business are willing to help with advice and recommendations - invaluable information when you are trying to be as efficient as possible.
Ask questions - I know you're thinking "well duh Heather!" - What I mean is don't ramble on and on to fill the conversation void. And ask questions that will help you learn the most about this prospect relating to your industry. I usually ask "How do you advertise now?", "Who does your printing?" or "What do you like best about your business?".
And maybe most importantly, give away bags. Rivellino Realty did, and I thank them for it - so I could carry all my freebies home easily!
Have a great 4th quarter, and start those plans for 2010! Heather
With the first quarter under way, I am looking forward to adding new services to Christie Graphic Design. My goal is to provide value with everything that I offer my clients. Therefore I am looking for input - can you take a moment to vote below?
Some companies make mistakes when designing their logo, because they want a "wow" factor. They choose logos that are too complex to print well (does it look great on a business card and a billboard?), or are hard for customers to interpret in the few short seconds you have to grab their attention.
So what is the function of your logo? It's to effectively brand your business, in a way that allows customers to instantly recognize it as yours, and associate it with positive feelings. Feelings? What does that have to do with business? Everything! Most buying decisions are made on the basis of feelings – positive and negative – consciously or not. Think of all the businesses you know of, and try to picture their logos in your mind. Which ones can you remember? Which ones are a little fuzzy? What comes to your mind when I say "peace" or "recycle"? What you want is when people hear the word "widget" they think of your widget business logo, and thus your business. The best logos (and brand identities) are simple, iconic, and easy to remember. It's OK to have fun with it, and add give it personality, but make sure it's deliberate and with purpose. Sometimes all you need is consistent use of color, or an unusual font.
Another mistake is not considering your target market. Often I hear "my product is for everyone", or "I provide service for everyone". Well, of course you want "everyone" to buy your product or service, but in reality it's better to zoom in and identify who your product or service is benefiting and cater to them. You'll end up with a more impactful message, and focusing on your true customers will make your business thrive.
Another year is coming to a close, and I hope that despite the economic woes in this country, that you all had a successful year in business. Because of the wonderful word of mouth my clients give, I have managed to weather this storm well. Now that we are entering the end of 2008, I am analyzing the past year and firming up my plans for 2009, especially first quarter.
I am a "glass half full" kind of thinker, so I look at the slower times as opportunities to reflect on the successes and failures of the past year. So many directions I would like to go! Here's my advice as you make plans for your business;
• Review your statement of purpose, business plan or other charter planning that you've done. Look at the steps you took to reach these goals and note what worked and what didn't. Base your plans for the next year on what you learned so far.
• Analyze your record keeping. Not just balance sheets, but client contact lists, advertising results and other information that is vital to growth. Gather as much information from your clients as possible; it will be essential to recognizing your target market and making advertising strategies.
• Continue your education. Go to a seminar, find a mentor, connect with peers. It will help you to stay inspired, and keep you from getting stuck in a rut.
Brand peeves are those things you hate about other company’s brands. It could be copying icons, such as the Nike swoosh. Maybe it’s using well known music classics in commercials. Maybe you hate logoed merchandise. It doesn’t matter what it is, I just want to give you an opportunity to get it off your chest. [...]
There’s not a whole lot of point speaking to people who don’t want to speak to you. If you are involved in advertising in daily newspapers, general interest publications, direct mail to diverse mailing lists or even billboards, you are probably wasting a good percentage of your advertising dollar. Unless you’re overall goal is awareness, [...]
I’ve written a lot about branding small to medium size enterprises over the last several years. I’m sure that many of my readers here at Small Business Branding and my branding blog (Brand Corral) wrestle daily with what to do to strengthen their brands. Most SME’s have very little resources to spend on brand issues. [...]
Share5 Questions You Should Ask Every CustomerThis content from: Duct Tape Marketing
Constantly seeking feedback from your customers is a great way to learn how to market your business more effectively. If you’ve never done this before, do it immediately as it is one of the best ways to discover what you do that actually differentiates [...]
ShareWeekend Favs February SixThis content from: Duct Tape Marketing
I've added a weekend post routine that I hope you enjoy. Each weekend I write a post that features 3-4 things I read during the week that I found interesting. Generally speaking it won't involve much analysis and may range widely in topic. (Flickr image included here [...]
ShareExtending Your Presentations Through the BackchannelThis content from: Duct Tape Marketing
The term “backchannel” was coined in the field of Linguistics in the 1970’s to describe listeners’ behaviors during verbal communication. It is commonly used these days to describe the behavior or conversation going on in social media while a speaker is making a presentation. In [...]
Heather Christie • Graphic Design for Web & Print • Warsaw, NY • (585) 356-5422
