Economy & need for branding design

It seems that in the current economic bubble we tend to reduce spending. It is not so for marketing sector. Money spending have to be carefully planned. If you are a seller we advise - plan your budget for branding and web marketing with the help of an expert. Call 604 992 2702 or 831 824 8005 for more information. An expert web design company will be the one you need now more then ever.

Web design for Christmas 2010

How many people ask me to design their new website for Christmas? Non! So why am I writing about it? Because it is a new idea that has not been explored. Just having a website with Christmas wishes and photos of your dear ones could be a lovely gift. Every one could potentially like this idea but people (we) are geared towards the traditional presents, packed in the boxes, rapped-up with a ribbon on, sitting beneath the Christmas tree and waiting to surprise. Until this paradigm stays in our minds and culture we will be still dreaming of web design Christmas gifts. But one day will come when people will turn a light or microwave by click from their website at work on their iPhone or iPad.

Web design and SEO

To mighty Vancouver web design trends

Vancouver is a unique place for web development and SEO. Many new ideas has been developed here. Companies like Graphically Speaking, J Klassen, Master Mynde, Studio 7 Designs, Westcoast Web and Medora has been providing very unique design and related services to web design community and small businesses. I have been greatly benefited by their contribution. The M Media grows and develops enhanced by their innovations and design style. Our dealing with customers are highly affected by their dealings with their customers. Mighty Vancouver web design trends rock!

Thanks brothers and sisters.

Walter Matyas
head designer for M Media Group

Cheep web logo design - myth or fact?

The myth of unlimited revisions. Sorry, but if if sounds too good to be true, it usually is

http://www.thelogofactory.com/logo-design-articles/the-myth-of-unlimited-revisions/

Here are some of the myths people commonly associate with logo design:

Myth #1: Logo development is a graphic design task. This is a big misconception among businessmen and designers alike. A logo is not a mash-up of a clever graphic and a fancy type. It is a well-balanced mix of concept, space, form, color, consistency, and clarity. The logo design process should not start at the Photoshop page. It should begin at the discussion table where the concept is to be finalized. Design should be used only to give shape to this concept.

Myth #2: Logo design is branding. Wikipedia describes brand as "the identity of a specific product, service, or business. A brand can take many forms, including a name, sign, symbol, color combination or slogan." As this statement emphasizes, a logo is only a part of a branding exercise. So, while developing a logo, keep in mind that you are fixing only one cog of the whole branding wheel!

Myth #3: Any type fits. Many designers ignore the importance of typography in a logo. Most of the time, the typography is just to complement the design element or just to announce the brand name. Developing a new font or even choosing the right one for the logo is an art. Choose the type that fits the personality of the brand. Experiment by working around the type to bring an interesting twist to it. Remember, many big global brands has only typography as the logo unit.

Myth #4: 'Beautiful' logos are the best logos. Many a times, the only briefing a logo designer get from the client is to 'create a beautiful looking logo'. Though it's fact that every logo should look good, they need not necessarily look 'beautiful' by having all the bells and whistles. Look at any of the top brands of the world, they don't have fancy logos. Almost all of them have a simple logo that communicates the brand ethos in the right way.

Myth #5: All logos design follow the same process. What do all great company or product logos have in common? Apart from the clarity and creativity, they have a distinct feel of either the industry or business category. For a designer, this would mean that he/she has to take a different approach while developing logos for each category. A corporate logo cannot have the same typography used for a movie title. Nor can a non-profit logo look like a rock-concert logo. Though there is no fixed rule for developing a logo, it would be easy for the target customer to identify with the logo if it has a distinct flavor.

How social media can help in your branding

If you would ask a SEO expert wether social media is important to brand your company he will say: "Maybe it is, depending on how you brand your social media appearance." In a nutshell: what was first a hen or an egg? When you run your SEO and social media campaign you will need to bare in mind that every single posting should be branded. Seeing the bigger picture your branding calls for broader vision then just your website and local distribution.

Starting with a fine and clear logo concept and design you will have to think within the same lines as you where during your logo design process, while creating successful and profitable social media campaign.

The first think you need to ask yourself whether you are happy with your existing branding. Last think you want is to confuse people. Most of us are visual thinkers and we associate things by pictures - especially it is true for the internet users when there is ton of information to digest, scan and go through to filter and assimilate the information you are looking for without being destructed. Some are very good in this though. Most of people are not. And that's why consistent and focused branding campaign is all-in-all.

Useful tips:

1. Use the same logo design though out your campaigns. Try to keep the same size of your logo, whether in your Facebook or Myspace account.
2. Use the same colors or close to your website color scheme.
3. Make sure to use the same verbage. When you write about the company or a topic related to your service use the words and names to create a searchable keywords. That means related new keywords which will create a new searchable trends. More you use them more chances you have to be found just for those keywords.
4. Use all your verbage in your meta tags. Your main keywords used on social media postings should be used in your meta tags of your website and blog.
5. Repetition, repetition, repetition.... use your company name over and over again, perhaps even highlight it so it stands out form the text. Same goes for items or services you offer. 
6. Don't be boring. Your postings must include humor. If you do not have one, search online for jokes & use them. Take your readers by surprise but do not appear stupid and incoherent. Humor does not harm provided it connects with the theme you write. Every one wants to lough.
7. Use call to action phrases but not selling pitches. 
8. Make friends and become friend. 
9. Be regular - post once a week. More is too often unless you are running very busy blog like Mutt Cuts.
10. Create nice website design.
11. Optimize it for search engines and submit it to them. Run SEO of you website. 
12. Start a blog.
13. Use Wordpress to crete your website or at least have a blog in Wordpress. Google likes Wordpress so you must too.

I hope this will help. If so, please send me a note: "It worked! Thanks!"

Good luck. 

Logo design is not important

Logo design is not important. What you need is some graphics you can generate in Microsoft Office Word and you are done. Sounds right? No! This is a short vision. Will you wear any hat on your had? I think you will think twice about putting anything on your had when going public. So is logo about a look only? Will it be enough to have a nice picture, some cool graphic, so called Nike swoosh or something close to it? Yes - if you are running business that no one knows and no one cares whether you are running a stable or long lasting operation, which will not disappear after few years. Others will pass by and think you are an average and short term thinker, a perhaps small timer with no future. Investing in logo  design that will actually represent  your business, personal character or mission statement, is crucial for well established business/operation. Your logo speaks for you:

1. "I provide tasty meals that are prepared with special ingredients  and expertise" or 
2. "I am reliable and strong, I make costumers happy with my quick response" or 
3. "We are long time in business and know what it takes to provide best quality in our motel." 

People often mistaken logo with a picture. It is hard to draw a line between the two especially when it comes to choosing key functions and characteristics. I suggest choosing and focusing on 5 keywords. So narrow down the  whole business description to 5 most accurate keywords.

Once the logo is made it will be an inspiration for the web design. These two go hand in hand. You can stick any logo into a ready website but it will definitely look like sticked-in-item.  To solve this you need to have website designed based on your logo. The design of your website naturally evolves when the same designer who designed your logo designs your website. Design needs to be consistent. Consistency is a key on creating recognizable dress / image of your business. This is called branding.  

When does your input to a logo designer ends?

When your designer suggestions are not appealing to you and your ideas are not close to what he defined as an accurate representation then it is the time for you, as a customer, to let it go or... let him go. Graphic designer is not a mouse-pusher. Limiting his creativity only will hurt you at the end. However if you have made a bad choice in finding good graphic designer you will have to pay. It is suggested to listen what he has to say before and during the whole design process. Please read an article "how to choose a designer?"

Three mistakes people make while designing their logo

First logo mistake

Your logo is too busy or too complex

Solution:
Logo must be simple but of course not simplistic. Simple and smart ideas do not come easily. Simple enough so people can notice it and smart enough so pople can understand what is your business about in few seconds. A logo could have a name of the business and if needed short tag line. Tag line is not your advertisement but concise statement giving additional  idea about a business, its mission statement or an extra value. From prectical view point logo should be clear even when it is printed on a pin, pen or re-created as embroidery. Complex logo design will not pass this test. The owner of such logo will have a limited possibilities of using it.


Second mistake

Misleading logo

A logo miss-representing your business by usage of irrelevant elements and symbols. Example: a home renovation contractor loved his countryside home so he wanted to have the serene local landscape reflected on his logo. 

Solution:
Logo should be very informative. You have 3 seconds to tell people about your business in which they make their opinion. To communicate to them most essential information about you through logo design is crucial. Remember logo is not a picture although it leaves a pictorial impression in the mind. Synthesize, symbolize, minimize... while looking for the best suited elements, colors and font.   

Third mistake

Poor typography

Logo that uses font that does not correspond with the theme of the logo or character of the business.

Solutions:
Knowledge of typography is necessary. Fonts are like a living persons. You should study many fonts and use them accordingly. Also designing a logo with poor selection of font  (type face) will not yield best result. Again, following he path of masters will be quite helpful.