A Quarterly Graphic Design & Printing Newsletter SPRING 2020
5 WAYS TO BOOST BRAND AWARENESS By: Tingalls Graphic Design
The fight for attention in the marketplace is an ongoing challenge. Whether you sell goods or services, your brand offers an opportunity to make your business one they'll remember. When it comes to your brand, there are some practices in particular that you should implement if you want to increase overall brand awareness. Here are five tips to help kickstart your brand's potential.
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WEBSITE DESIGN It's more than a platform to display your logo. Consistent colors, fonts, graphics, and images play an integral role in speaking directly to your customers and crafting your brand innovative ways.
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TRADE SHOW DISPLAYS Brand awareness is tied to visibility, especially when exhibiting at a trade show. A custom display with eye-catching, on-brand colors, images, and great content will stand out from the rest.
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PROMOTIONAL ITEMS Promotional products will leave a lasting impression. It's no accident that so many businesses use branded products to increase their brand awareness and reach, and they work great for businesses of all sizes.
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PRINTED MARKETING COLLATERAL Even in this hyper-digital age, print materials are still effective ways to market your business. Once you've invested in brand identity, it's essential to make that identity consistent across all materials.
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SOCIAL MEDIA Referrals, influencers, or online engagement – whichever way you’re using it, social media is proving to be an effective way to increase brand awareness.
Serious businesses need to invest in brand awareness. This means making sure that all of your branding efforts reinforce the good impression you want to make.
SYNTHETIC PAPER - IS IT FOR YOU? By: Wells Print and Design
Have you ever had your beautifully printed menu, sign, etc. damaged by a liquid or torn from handling or the weather? Did you then decide it was worth the expense of laminating the piece the next time to solve this problem? What if you could save your printed piece from this damage without the expense of laminating? The answer could be synthetic papers. Synthetic papers have seen an increase in popularity in the last few years as many printers and designers have discovered their benefits. Also, synthetics are being used on more and more packaging applications as well. The synthetic paper has the strength and durability of plastic and the appearance and printability of paper. This unique combination offers opportunities in thousands of applications. Often projects involving outdoor signage, menus, product labels, packaging, maps, ID cards, POP displays, etc. have needed the extra protection of lamination. Though this is an option, it is an expensive one. Synthetics offer the same durability, with water, tear and stain resistance like lamination, but at a lower cost. The synthetics can be printed on offset presses, dry toner/laser machines, or HP Indigo equipment. It offers a smooth, printable surface that scores and folds nicely. This paper is being offered in a wide range of thicknesses and sheet sizes. Most synthetic papers are made from polypropylene and/or polyethylene resin, which is environmentally friendly. The Synthetic paper made from these resins is 100% recyclable. It looks like synthetic paper has found a niche while offering a cost-effective alternative to lamination. Why not try synthetic paper on your next project? For more information or samples, please contact Wells Print and Digital 608-274-7474.
HOW TO WRITE A COMPLETE WEBSITE RFP By: Tingalls Graphic Design
A well-written Request for Proposal (RFP) for your website creates an opportunity for you to strengthen your ideas and describe the vision you have for your website. It outlines that vision and establishes a connection with your web developer who will help bring your dreams to life. The concepts agreed upon from you to the developer in the RFP phase of communication are vital – they can set the stage for how a website will evolve and take form.
Your RFP should include the following: COMPANY OVERVIEW Introduce and explain company and services provided in a few paragraphs. WEBSITE PROJECT OVERVIEW Include relevant information and expectations, so the web developer knows if this is the right job for him/her. CURRENT MARKETING STRATEGIES What marketing strategies do you already have in place that you want your developer to incorporate into your new website? TARGET AUDIENCE Knowing your customer is vital to how your website will look, feel, and sound. YOUR WEBSITE GOALS Make sure your developer knows your aim. Are you selling, informing, or motivating? CURRENT WEBSITE AUDIT Take an honest look at your current website and make notes of what is working and what’s not (if applicable).
TIP: Get excited! A new website is your opportunity to form a whole new representation of yourself and your organization online.
DESIRED WEBSITE FUNCTIONALITY (NEEDS AND WANTS) Be specific on your requirements so you’ll receive an accurate estimate. Do you need a content editor? Will your website need to be ADA compliant? COPYWRITING / SEO In addition to a new design, will you need help developing the content that will appear on your website. Will your text need optimization for search engines? THE BUDGET + DECISION MAKERS Be clear about your budget and include all items key decision makers will be considering when choosing their design partner. TIMELINE Make your deadline clear, including your target website launch dates.
TIP: For ideas on content and design, take a look at your competitor’s websites. Likewise, drawing inspiration from website designs outside your industry can bring a new angle to your business’s position in the marketplace. A well-written request for proposal ensures that your developer will be a good fit for not only your website but also for your team. There’s no doubt that creating a great RFP for your website will be a time-consuming process for your entire company, but if done well, it will definitely lead to the best outcome. If you’d like help in creating a request for a proposal or just learning more about hiring a web developer, you are welcome to call us at Tingalls Graphic Design – 608-268-5525. We’ll take the time to understand what success means to you and will respect the time it takes to build a quality website.
WEBSITE DESIGN KICK-OFF MEETING CHECKLIST Already have a graphic designer hired? Below is list of items to bring to your first meeting to make it productive for both parties: ❏ Logo files, preferably an .ai or .eps format (vector). ❏ Print marketing materials such as brochures, stationery, sales flyers, etc.; any materials that showcase current branding efforts. ❏ Description of typical customers that purchase your products or services. ❏ Your company's key differentiation points in the marketplace. ❏ Specific calls to action for your new website. ❏ High resolution photos of staff, office interior/exterior, products, etc. ❏ Examples website designs that impress you. ❏ Copy or key talking points for each page of your website. ❏ List of staff that will be involved in the website redesign process.
STARTING A BUSINESS? By: Tingalls Graphic Design
At Tingalls Graphic Design, we understand the challenges of starting and branding a new business. Which is why we have developed a startup business special made to help people starting or buying a new business. Not only will it save you money, but it will help you develop a consistent brand identity across all your digital or print marketing efforts.
Enjoy $1,000 Off
Stay connected with your customers in print and online, all at an affordable price, with our special promotion! When you buy a creative package logo and just one print piece, you'll receive a $1,000 credit towards a custom website design.
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Creative Logo Design Package
Stationery or Brochure
Custom Website Design
Our logo design service is a collaborative effort that includes the entire Tingalls creative team resulting in dozens of unique logo concepts. When the logo is approved, we'll create a logo usage guide and save various files onto a flash drive for you.
Tingalls can create a stationery suite (business card, letterhead, and envelope) with your business branding front and center. Or, perhaps your organization needs a brochure, flyer, or retractable banner to best share your story?
These days, every business needs an online presence. We'll build a beautiful new website on the platform of your choice that'll make any startup business owner smile. We guarantee a 5-day turnaround of the initial design and provide copywriting services if needed.
If you’d like more information about our startup special or any of our other services, call us at Tingalls Graphic Design – 608-268-5525.