by Myra Stacey | Dec 24, 2019 | Business Cards, Print Design, Services
In the fast-paced business world, we rarely get enough time for proper face-to-face introductions. In this regard, a business card is crucial to your networking success. An effective business card carries more than just your contact information; it is designed to immediately draw the attention of prospects and make a good first impression of your brand. Follow these 5 best practices for designing an effective business card.
1. Keep it Simple
Remember, there is only so much real estate you have on a business card. It would be counterproductive to clutter it with as much information as possible, as it would not only look unprofessional but make it likelier for potential prospective clients to simply toss the card aside due to the confusing and crowded content on the card. Keep the content minimal and easy to read. Make effective use of white space to draw attention to what is truly important – your brand, name, and contact details.
2. Make it Memorable
An effective business card is memorable. You are more likely to leverage prospects if your card stands out. Consider the card’s graphics. Humans are visual creatures, and how you present yourself can be critical for how prospects judge you. Like your dressing, your card is more likely to be noticed and taken seriously if it makes a stunning first impression.
Aside from visuals, also consider your position statement. Your position statement is what most clearly defines your values and what makes you different from your competitors. Make sure it’s clear, concise, and easy to remember.
3. Add Value
Other people are more likely to reciprocate if you provide them with something of value. Understand the needs and requirements of your prospects and design your card accordingly. If your networking audience is diverse, consider having different cards designed specifically for each segment.
4. Add a Call-to-Action (CTA)
Just adding a simple CTA can work wonders in enticing prospects to learn more about you and your business. Your CTA could be a discount offer, a link to your website, or anything of value you would want the prospect to be directed to. Just make sure that your CTA is clear and commands the person’s attention.
Your business card is one of your most powerful marketing tools. How you invest in your card can make or break your chances of acquiring new connections or clients. For professionally designed business cards, consider hiring the experts at Print & Web Designer. For any queries, email us at info@printandwebdesigner.com
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by Myra Stacey | Dec 12, 2019 | Print Design, Services, Web Design
From Nike’s swoosh to the rings of Audi, a logo is the visual representation of a brand’s image. Customers and prospects use it as a cue to identify and differentiate it from other brand logos, making it necessary for building recognition.
Your brand logo serves as an introduction to your organization, as a company. This means that your logo is the first impression people get of your brand. Hence, the design should be something that people are likely to remember for the right reasons.
If you’re giving your logo a facelift, here are some factors of a good logo design to be mindful of:
Uniqueness
This is a given. Uniqueness is key for setting yourself apart from other brands and general logo tropes. Cliché elements should be avoided. It’s understandable that with so many brands, some logos are bound to be similar. But you can still make it yours.
Memorability
If your logo isn’t memorable among your target audience, what’s the point of it? Like Apple’s bitten apple or Ralph Lauren’s Polo logo, people should be able to recognize it among an influx of thousands more.
Simplicity
Complexities in logos only make it harder to recognize. Simple, clean, and strong logos are compelling and easy to remember. The prime example of a simple logo is Nike, FedEx, and Apple. They are unique and have a simple design while still being compelling.
Purposefulness
This is where companies can make their logo theirs. The logo is a visual representation of the entire company. This means that it should not only carry the essence of the brand, but it should also have meaning for the customers. People should be able to look at the logo and describe how it has been valuable to them.
Versatility
The versatility of a logo is more for technical ease. Logos are not only seen on tags and websites. Logos are also printed on paper, put on billboards, and used in adverts on other mediums. Your log should be optimized so it doesn’t lose its meaning and appearance when it is presented on other media. For example, if your company gets coverage in the local newspaper, it should translate properly in black and white and in larger formats.
While these factors impact overall logo design, there is a lot more that goes into making it great. The designer you choose will take into account a number of technical aspects like the font, graphics, etc., to make sure it fits your brand image.
Print & Web Designer have expert web designers that can come up with a logo design with all these factors and more taken into consideration. Drop us an email at info@printandwebdesigner.com for further information.
by Myra Stacey | Sep 10, 2019 | Print Design, Services, Web Design
Whether you’re getting business cards, posters or brochures made for your business, there are a few things that need to be checked off the list. You already know the basic ground you need to cover, which includes the design, color theme, content, graphics, and layout.
However, these are not the only items that need to be checked off. One important decision to make is choosing between offset printing versus digital printing. Both types of printing have their pros and cons, making them suitable or unsuitable for certain types of projects.
We’ll cover the basic differences between the two so you can make an informed decision when it comes to selecting a process for the next printing project.
Going the Old School Route – Offset Printing
One of the older methods of printing, offset printing is also called lithography. This type of printing is popular for commercial hobs where printing takes place in high volumes. For example, the daily newspaper printing is offset printing.
The technology comprises of aluminum plates. The printer burns the design or words on the plates, which are transferred to rubber rolls. The colors spread on the rubber. Paper is run between the rubber rolls, getting the ink transferred to get a crisp, clean image.
The process is called offset printing as the ink is not directly transferred to paper.
Pros
- Produces superior quality images without any streaks or spots.
- Allows you to mix custom colors, producing better color fidelity.
- Prints on any kind of material.
- Once you’ve invested the initial amount, you can get more for your value by using the plates for printing large volumes.
Cons
- The costs can run high on low-volume jobs.
- Projects have longer timelines as the plates need to be created first.
- Fallout can be bad. If a typo isn’t caught on the plates, it can ruin a complete batch.
Meet the New Contender – Digital Printing
Compared to digital printing, offset printing is a lot of processes and mechanical steps to start printing. Digital printing skips the proofing, plates, and rubber rolls. Instead, it uses toners in laser printers or larger printers that use liquid ink.
This type of printing is suitable for low-volume jobs e.g. 100 flyers or a few holiday greeting cards. The printer in your local library or the one hooked to your home computer is a digital printer. Printing companies have larger and more sophisticated models that create more precise images.
Pros
- Digital printing has a faster turnaround time as it doesn’t require a lot of preparation.
- No matter how many copies you make, each print will be identical; which reduces odd variations.
- The process if cost-effective for low-volume jobs.
- You can easily change the information you want to have printed for a project.
Cons
- Most digital printers are not compatible with all printing materials.
- There is less color fidelity as digital printers use standard inks to get a color match.
- The cost is high for high-volume jobs.
- Sharpness and image quality might be slightly low.
Now that you know the differences between offset printing and digital printing, you will be able to choose the one right for your printing needs. For more details and expert advice, contact Print & Web Designer at info@printandwebdesigner.com and we’ll help you find the right solution.
by Myra Stacey | Jul 12, 2019 | Print Design, Services, Web Design
Colors might just come across as a basic part of branding for most entrepreneurs, but they are way more than that. Colors can go on to define a brand as they play a crucial role within the whole process. The identity of your brand can be associated with the colors you have in your brand, which is why it is important to choose the right colors. Interestingly, there have also been instances where well-established brands have changed their colors, only to experience a lack of interest from customers.
Let’s take up the example of McDonalds here. Would you feel the same way about McDonalds if they were to change their color from yellow to purple? No, you won’t. Colors are necessary for association, and you would want your brand to be associated with the right colors.
Color Psychology
Color psychology is a branch of psychology where scientists and prominent psychologists study the negative and positive impact of colors on human behavior. Each color can have a different impact on the human brain, leading to a different reaction on every individual. Here we look at some of the universal perceived meanings for different colors:
- Blue: The color blue is seen in a very positive light, and is considered as one that invokes security, trust, and responsibility. The color is often associated with serenity by humans.
- Green: Green is the color of nature and symbolizes good health. This is the number one reason why green is the most used color when it comes to medical products that look after your health.
- Red: Red is an extremely energetic color and is linked with invoking aggression and passion. The color red has long been used by brands for creating a cult-like following.
- Yellow: Yellow is best defined as the color of optimism and vibrancy. The color can also be described as extremely captivating and motivating as it catches your attention and makes you feel good.
- Purple: Purple is known for inducing feelings of nostalgia. Nostalgia is a strong emotion, which is why the color purple is also known to be strong.
- Pink: Dark shades of the color pink are known for instilling excitement and for making people feel romantic.
- Orange: This color is perfect for making children feel cheerful and for adults to feel friendly.
- Black: Black has long been used by marketers for serious and classic campaigns. Stray away from the color black if you aren’t sure about it. Black is a strong color, and it can as easily backfire.
Factors You Should Consider in Choosing a Color Scheme
These factors include:
Appropriateness
The color you choose must be appropriate for your brand and shouldn’t come across as too pretentious for your brand’s persona. You wouldn’t want the color orange for an insurance firm.
Target Market
Keep your target market in mind and choose the color of your brand accordingly. Knowing the factors that define your target market can help you in choosing the right colors.
Consistency
If you’re going for multiple colors, make sure that you choose the best of the lot. The colors should fall consistently in place and should have a monotonous tone to them. If you need help polishing and executing your marketing strategy like a pro, contact Print and Web Design by visiting their website or calling them at 336-684-6505 to schedule a free consultation.
by Myra Stacey | Mar 5, 2019 | Print Design, Services, Web Design
What are PGB, CMYK, and HEX?
Though at first glance, the words may only seem like random acronyms, but they are a part of our everyday lives in the colors we consume on a daily basis. Because of the impact visuals have on us and the force of color psychology in marketing, brands sometimes need to be very specific of the shade they choose for their product.
For example, Coke has an infamously iconic shade of red, just as Cadbury has its shade of purple and Samsung has its shade of blue. In order to maintain consistency across different countries and mediums, there are specific color codes that need to be followed. That is where RGB, CMYK, and HEX come in.
These are some color profiles that use numerical or alphabetical values to denote a final color.
What do RGB, CMYK, and HEX Stand For?
The acronyms RGB, CMYK and HEX refer to the colors in the profile. There are two types of colors – those that are used in print and those that are used online. A combination of the dominant colors will be used to mix together and produce a final color.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
RGB is the color model that is used to color digital content. As the name suggests, it uses different combinations of the colors red, green, and blue to produce a color. These are each denoted by a numerical value between 0-255.
The RGB format uses the addition of different intensities of color to bring out the final result. This is different from print formats of colors that will use the subtraction of color. So, for example, the color white will be denoted by 255-2555-255; this means it is utilizing all possible shades of red, green and blue. On the other hand, the color black would be 0-0-0 because it isn’t using any of the available shades.
This color system is also what computer and television screens rely on to produce their displays. It is also given a value with letters and numbers to convert to the HEX code format which we will talk about further down.
CYMK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)
This color format is used for print materials and is especially ideal for glossy posters or brochures. It uses a combination of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black and gives them a percentage value between 0-100 to describe the intensity of the individual colors.
While the RGB format uses the addition of different intensities of color to create the final shade, CYMK uses the subtraction of color from the white of the page to get to the final shade.
HEX (Hexadecimal Color)
HEX stands for hexadecimal color and is essentially just a representation of RGB colors through a six-digit code that combines letters and number to denote intensity of the shades. HEX is used onscreen for web design.
It may seem quite simple but keeping the consistency of shades across spectrums is not as easy especially when it comes down to printing things such as candy wrappers or using different materials that can alter the appearance of the color. This is why most brands have a very strict color policy and strive to keep it consistent across the board.
by Myra Stacey | Feb 7, 2019 | Print Design, Services, Web Design
Working with a designer on a project can be as tricky as any other relationship in your life. It requires patience, communication and mutual respect. But it can get frustrating if your collaboration isn’t working out the way you want.
We’ve got five do’s and don’ts to help you get the most out of your experience with your designer. Follow these to understand how you can get your vision across to them and help them with delivering what you want.
1. DO Provide Clear Instructions
The first step to build this relationship is going to be laying out an outline. The clearer the instructions you give, the more likely it is that your designer is going to understand how to deliver what you want. Try to keep the following elements in mind when giving them instructions;
- Color
- Images
- Layout
- Fonts
- Overall Aesthetic
2. DON’T Give Generalized Feedback
It will be frustrating for your designer to hear things like “make this pop” or “this isn’t speaking to me”. Try and be as specific as you can in terms of feedback. Refer back to the elements we mentioned in the previous point and try to give constructive feedback centered on them.
Would you like to edit the color or font? Is the layout too cramped? The more specific you are, the more your designer will be able to identify what elements need to be changed to give you the desired outcome.
3. DO Give Them Visuals of What You’d Like
It can be restricting to try and explain a visual medium with words alone. This is why it’s a good idea to give your designer visuals. These can be hand drawn or gathered through inspiration you’ve found online.
4. DON’T Be Afraid to Let Your Designer Get Creative
While your designer will ultimately be aiming to give you the result you want, don’t be afraid to let them add a little bit of their personality to it too. After all, you may end up being surprised! And if by some chance you don’t like it – you can always have them change it later on.
5. DO Set Achievable Goals
Asking your designer to complete a difficult or complicated project overnight is not realistic. Be sure to set goals that are logically achievable. Decide on your project timeline early on so that you and your designer both know when to expect the project completion.
It may seem difficult to get the hang of in the beginning but once you develop an understanding with your designer, it will become easier to understand each other and make projects go by faster!
If you’re looking for designers to provide you with the solutions you’d like, get in touch with us today for a free consultation and let us help you out!
