Stock Photography VS the Real Thing

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The fact that 68% of American’s carry smartphones means that most of us have access to camera 24/7 hence, businesses owners no longer have an excuse to feature dreadful stock photography on their website. Let’s face it, even simple photos that are taken with a camera phone offer a quality that surpasses the awful stock photos that litter the internet.

It’s a Fact: Real photos are better for your business.

Real photography is more engaging and, by nature, supports your business marketing strategy. Original photos tell a story that allows a business to stand out from the competition. Even if the physical space of a business doesn’t lend itself to slick imagery – a little creativity can go a long way. It may be local scenery or nature shots that brings personality to a website or photo of employees at work.

Whether a professional photographer is called in to do the job or a few simple photography tips are used in order to take original photos – the effectiveness of the website will improve ten-fold when the photography is upgraded. If all else fails, take the time to search for quality shots. Thankfully there are a number of photography websites that have emerged in the last few years that offer quality photos for free no less. An organic search on Google will call them up.

Twas Days Before Christmas

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Twas days before Christmas and all across the net,
Small businesses had not set their New Year’s goals yet.
Their blogs were outdated, portfolio’s a mess,
They’ve slacked off of Facebook and Twitter no less!

Santa would frown if he only knew,
Not an email has gone out in 4 weeks – boo hoo!
Marketing & branding are crucial today,
Be sure not to let that visibility stray!

But, there’s help on the way, so Oh never fear
For those who want to stand out next year.
Be it a restaurant or Spa that wants to be found
or those who are lost and just and fumbling around.

DreamPix can help to find your market niche,
Just give me a jingle and a chance at the leash.
We’ll come up with a plan to suit your own needs
and generate invaluable new sales leads.

The moral of the story? Set some new goals,
ramp up the website, fill social media holes.
It does take some planning – that’s where DreamPix stesp in,
to help you woo Google so next year’s a big win.

Branding – The Cornerstone of Success

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A logo may be at the cornerstone of the branding process but it does not define a brand alone. Branding runs far deeper and permeates the entire being of a company. A brand is reflected in the customer experience, the logo, the website, in marketing collateral and in the appearance and professionalism of employees and leaders in the business.

It is essential that every business owner embrace the art of branding. Brand awareness is essential as is having a strategic plan in place to insure that the branding message is intentional.

While branding has become a buzz word these days, the importance of it is often neglected in smaller organizations and newly formed businesses. Embracing a brand from the start is easier and less costly then attempting to implement branding 5 or 10 years down the line.

What does good branding accomplish?

  1. Branding promotes recognition and hence, referrals.
  2. It distinguishes a business from its competition.
  3. It tells the company story and creates a connection with customers.
  4. It promotes a sense of identity for employees and staff.

Start with a good idea, build on it and pay allegiance to it. Solid branding is the foundation of which an empire can be built.

Is Your Brand Showing its Age?

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When a business is in the market for a new website they are often interested in an overall facelift of their company brand. Like anything else, logos, brand identity and websites become stale and dated over time. Change can be scary and many business owners fear that if they alter their brand they may no longer be recognizable. But, even global brands know they need to stay current and that change often breathes new life into an old brand.

An updated website will be responsive and sleek meeting the latest technological standards. It makes sense that a logo should be adjusted with updated typography, colors and graphics. It is highly likely that a company brand has evolved over the years as well as how they do business and what they have to offer. It is important that these changes are reflected in the branding.

In recent years, some of the biggest names in the industry have reinvented themselves including iHOP, Open Table, SBARRO, Google, Ritz Carlton and more recently, MasterCard. Take a peek at this article in Business Insider for more on the brand makeovers.

Color Branding in Nature

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natures_color_palettesInspiration for color palettes for your business branding can come from many sources. The local environment that is rich in vibrant color may be the impetus for a logo, color style guide or interior decorating. Here’s an example of a beach at sunset that offers a natural color palette for inspiration. There’s is no need to worry about matching – just drop an eyedropper on various parts of the image and the swatches blend as miraculously as they appear in nature.

Choosing Brand Colors

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Sunset is still my favorite color, and rainbow is second. – Mattie Stepanek

Choosing the color scheme for a brand is one of the most significant steps in the brand selection process. Colors allow a company to stand out from the competition and evoke emotion. Consider some of the brands whose color schemes are actually embedded in our culture. Can you guess the business names using the color scheme alone?
brand_colors

Color is often underestimated in the design process but a color palette complete with light and dark swatches are intended to enhance a focal point.

A logo is most often a cornerstone in the branding process. The next step is to select a primary and secondary color palette that compliments the logo and the business. The colors selected should suit the business, its goals and its values. The colors must complement each other and contrast is key. I always select Pantone (PMS) colors that and can easily be translated into CMYK, RGB and the web so that they will look the same across varied platforms. The color selection process may seem simple but it can be a tedious process – if the CMYK and PMS colors do not match I will not select the color as it is important in order to ensure consistency in future print projects. An so, I go back to the drawing board.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall .. whose the cleverest Brand of All

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Staying on the cutting edge of trending topics in the marketing world is a must these days.  It appears as though brands are having the time of of their lives competing with each other especially on social media platforms which offer so many opportunities to shine.  Whether it is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Snapchat, Tumblr and Google+ the key is to be trendy without jumping on every trend. In recent weeks the trending topics of choice have been release of Minions movie which many mega brands have taken advantage of including McDonalds, Puffs and Jello-O. Two weeks ago the newly released up close and personal photos of Pluto by NASA  provided a vehicle for  marketers who had a field day trying to outdo each other.

Disney, Google and Behr Paint were the three brands that I feel topped the competition on Twitter with their timely blurbs referencing Pluto’s long awaited close up.

pluto2pluto1 pluto3

What is Branding?

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brandingBranding is the marketing practice of creating a name, symbol or design that identifies and differentiates one product from another. Branding is essential for all businesses as it enables them to make connections with their customers. Your logo is the foundation of your brand and your website, packaging and promotional materials should integrate your logo and communicate your brand. Here are a few branding do’s and don’ts.

  • DON’T underestimate the power of your brand. Make sure that your identity is well defined and know your target market.
  • DO keep your message simple but concise. Logos need not be complicated.
  • DO stay true to your brand. Be sure to monitor marketing and communication efforts to be sure that your brand guidelines are being met.
  • DO hold your brand to a high standard in all aspects of your business and strive to stand out in the crowd.
  • DON’T be a copycat. You can’t compete with corporate giants but you can carve out your own market niche.

Creating the Ultimate Logo

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What Makes a Great Logo?

There are four qualities that define a great logo.

    • Unique – A logo must be unique so that it stands out in the crowd and memorable. The graphic alone does not necessarily have to project what the company does but it can evoke a feeling which is just as powerful. The Good Year and MasterCard are examples of companies with iconic logos that are powerful and recognizable around the world.goodyearmasatercard
    • Adaptable –target A great logo must carry the same meaning across all mediums – whether it is on a business card, a billboard or a baseball cap. Target’s logo is powerful across the board. Just as a marksman’s goal is to hit the center bulls-eye, the store aims to do much the same in terms of retail goods, services, commitment to the community, price, value and overall experience. The company also makes great use of its bull’s eye logo using it all by itself.
    • Appropriate – bpThe designer must consider the nature of the business, the customer and the culture. A good logo should re-inforce the brand conveying the tone and feeling of the business. The newly designed BP logo brings in energy with the sun as well as the colors of the “Helio’s” suggesting heat, light and nature.

 

  • Timeless – pepsi cocacolaThe neutrality in a design makes it timeless. A good logo should be able to look current 25 years from now. Coca-Cola is an example of a classic logo that has withstood the test of time while Pepsi-Cola has been trendy changing its look over the years.

For more tips on great logos and logo design visit TheWebDepot.com.

What Makes a Great Logo?

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The cornerstone of a brand begins with a logo. There are four characteristics that define a great logo.

nike target bpmcdonalds

Unique

A logo must be memorable. The graphic alone does not necessarily have to project what the company does but it can evoke a feeling which is just as powerful. The Nike logo is one of the most powerful and recognizable logos in the world.

Adaptable

A great logo must carry the same meaning across all mediums – whether it is on a business card, a billboard or a baseball cap. Target makes great use of its bull’s eye logo using it all by itself.

Appropriate

The designer must consider the nature of the business, the customer and the culture. The newly designed BP logo brings in energy with the sun as well as the colors of the “Helio’s” suggesting heat, light and nature.

Timeless

The neutrality in a design makes it timeless. McDonald’s golden arches are an iconic symbol that have defined the company for years.

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