Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Online Billboards By Fargo Media
Welcome to a whole new media experience!
Advertise on The Online Billboards!! Put your logo infront of your customers!
Fargo Web Design Company
Graphic Design Banners & Promotions in Fargo Moorhead
If there is one aspect in any business venture that any type of enterprise or commercial establishment cannot do without, it is promoting and marketing their business products and services to the market. What is meant by promotion here is, the act of issuing a company message to the general public in behalf of some product or services they are offering in the hope of advertising or publicizing them. Needless to say that once their promotional efforts clicked with the masses, they are apt to make larger profits. This is the reason why all types of design promotional materials are handed out to prospects on routine, much less the invasion of e-commerce sites on the web; all of these in one way or another have affected the current standing of the business on the market.
Much hype over the effectiveness of the internet to boost business status have led to the proliferation of company website online - from the creation of web design down to the inclusion of company logo, and even utilization of search engine optimization techniques among others, businesses makes sure that their sites will be customer-centric enough to perk the attention of surfers. While for actual promotional and marketing campaigns, much of them resorted to printed flyers, posters, brochures, and banners as hands-out; using all types of direct mail materials with logo design imprints to ensure that the possibility of effective marketing are multiplied a hundredfold. Yet all this will be lost if you do not enlist the professional help of a graphic design banners and promotions company.
But first you have to define why you need to have banners in the first place. To give you an idea here are some of the reasons:
1. Banner ads and promotion acts as the online billboards of online businesses.
2. It helps to increase awareness among potential customers of the existence of an online site that can provide them with products and services that they need.
3. It provides web sites with a branding solution that hopefully would bring in an influx of business.
4. Basically stands as the – make or break – factor in your online business.
Yes you read correctly, a graphic design banners and promotions company will be the one thing that you can turn to when it comes to the appropriate marketing materials. From perfectly conceptualized graphic design prints down to the pro search-engine website design for your business, they can be of help. The competence of their staff to render you professional and highly effective services is your edge to always be on top of the game.
Like you, graphic design banners and promotions company is also after gaining positive results. For every project development you hire them to do, they go all out for it - crafting the appropriate designs for your graphics to building you an enjoying and user-friendly internet site. If their is one thing you that you can trust graphic design banners and promotions company about, it would be the strategies and methods they come up with centered to your business needs. Indeed, they have truly perfected the art of "proper advertising".
Do not leave the fate of your company to amateurs, have only the true professionals of graphic design banners and promotions company handle the job of promoting your business. For it is the kind of task that the team of graphic design banners and promotions company - designers and printers - really does best.
Fargo Web Design Company
Saturday, December 8, 2007
How to make a banner ad.....SUPER
Banner advertising is by far the most popular and widespread form of advertising on the Internet, almost every website has some form of banner advertising on it. There's just no escaping the banner on the net.
Even though we have all read the news about the declining effectiveness of banners on the web, I still believe that with the right 'ingredients' banners can be a good source of visitors and income for most webmasters.
There are four of these ingredients that I'd consider the most important, using all or most of them will always enable you to get a higher click through for your various banners. I'll list them and then continue to discuss each one in a bit more detail.
Small file
Call to action.
Animation
Good ad copy
Fake factor
1. Small file
This is one of the most important things you have to get right when designing a banner, if the .gif or .jpg file is large it will take a few seconds to download and by then the visitor might have scrolled down the page, meaning he or she doesn't even get to see your banner. If people don't see your banner they definitely are not going to click on it. So make sure your file stays below 10K, 15K at the absolute most, it's sometimes hard to do, but if the others can do it, we can do it too.
2. Call to action
This is one of the easiest ways to increase the CTR (click through rate) of a banner, on this all the experts agree. Using a call to action simply involves having the words 'click here' or some other words such as 'sign up now' or something similar. My thoughts on why using a call to action increases the CTR so much include the fact that there is so much advertising off-line, such as TV, Radio, billboards etc. etc. With advertising on these off-line mediums, target audiences are generally just required to watch or read the ad. All ads online have a link and the purpose is to get people to click on the ad and visit the advertisers website, however with the world being so used to off-line advertising many people just see banners and think that's it, they don't realize that they are actually meant to click on it to find out more. That's way having click here or another call to action improves the effectiveness of a banner.
3. Animation
Banners with moving elements attract the eye a lot more than static banners do. The whole idea of designing banners is to grab attention of website visitors, using small animation help to do this. I say small because I don't want you to go overboard and fill a banner with lots of animation, this is a bad idea because, one it increases file size, and two it is generally annoying to people after a while especially when they are trying to read an article or tutorial. If your banner annoys them, they will most likely just leave without clicking on it.
4. Good ad copy
This one is kind of a given, but you should always include good ad copy in your banner, lots of fancy animation and pictures won't entice them to click, they look after grabing the attention of the visitors. It's the actual text that will get people wanting to check out your product. Try to emphasis the benefits, not features of your product or service. Tell people how your product will make their life easier. Keep your wording short and concise, if you can use words that have be proven to attract people such as 'free','proven' and 'secret' do.
5. Fake factor
Many of the very successful banner ads of late have incorporated some kind of fake elements in them. There are various fake element's banner designers can use, such as fake scroll bars, fake text links, fake selection boxes, fake text boxes, fake submit buttons to mention just a few. Banners with fake elements perform so well because people think there clicking on a link to go to another page on the current site (as in the fake text links) or they think they are click on a button, but in fact they are actually clicking on a banner with a picture of a button and text link.
These fake banners are made using the Print Screen button usually found on the right side of any standard keyboard. Simply open a webpage or application and press 'print scrn' then crop the image around the button or scroll bar area (the area you want to fake) and then paste it into your banner, and that's it, you have fake elements in your banner. Alternatively designers simply draw buttons, scroll bars etc. using their graphics program.
Well there you have it, the five most important pointers to remember when desiging banners. I'd normally end the article now but before we end, I want to talk about targetting your banner. Always, always place your banner on sites that cater for your target audience (ie - the people most likely to buy your product). There's no point putting a banner for a new golf club you sell on a site dedicated to software, visitors to the site simply are not going to be interested and you're just wasting your money. You should be aiming to place the golf banner on golf course websites, sites like PGA.com, generally golf related sites, this way you are much more likely to make money. If you are not exposing your banner to your target audience, none of the above tips and tricks can save you.
Fargo Web Design Company
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Fargo Printer: Launching Your Business?
Hire a professional, design firm to develop your logo and marketing materials. Do it right from the beginning. Here are some specific reasons why having professionals design your marketing materials is an investment in the future of your business:
1. First Impressions Count: Your logo and marketing materials are the first impression people get of your company. People often make decisions about where they make purchases based on imagery. Your appearance helps sell your company and draw in new prospects!
2. Your Branding Sets You Apart: A well-designed identity will help to differentiate your business. Without a solid brand, your core-marketing message isn't being reinforced, you aren't memorable, and you also have a problem distinguishing your company from your competitors.
3. Your Materials Sell You: Anything your company puts out in front of prospects and customers must be of the highest quality. If your logo, website, business cards, and brochure aren't professional, why would prospects think your services are any better?
4. Professional Design Enhances Credibility: People want to purchase services or products from a company that appears established, secure, and reliable. Your business needs to look sound an
d trustworthy. Professional materials show that you care about quality and have attention to detail.Well-designed, strategic marketing materials will reward you again and again by driving more customers to your company and helping you to make a great first impression. Professional, high-quality marketing tools will move your prospects closer to making a purchase.
And after all, you wouldn't show up to a professional networking event in pajamas ?? so, why would you dress your business in sloppy clothes?
Fargo Web Design Company
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Fargo Media: Small Businesses Need a Logo and Marketing Materials
. Below are some of some of the benefits of a professionally designed logo and identity system:
To look "bigger" and "established." Home-printed business cards or cards printed with Microsoft clipart scream "small-time vendor" to your potential clients — and that is how they will want to compensate you.
To increase your chance of earning venture capital or of selling a business. If you present a well-rounded business package that includes marketing materials and graphics, your business will look more complete.
To attract more clients. Some clients look for a well-defined company, and "look and feel" may be one of their criteria for making a purchasing decision.
To brand yourself. If you are a consultant, you need a logo in order to build an image and a brand that is greater than your individual identity. Be sure to avoid the Top 10 Branding Mistakes.
To convey that you are reputable. A logo and professionally-printed materials show that you are committed to both your business and to your clients.
To give clients a sense of stability. You may not have been in business "since 1908," but if you have invested in your identity, you are more likely to remain firm and relevant in the eyes of your customers. It goes a long way toward building that all-important "trust."
To be more memorable. Forty percent of people better remember what they see than what they hear or read. So to have graphics associated with your business, and to keep those graphics consistent, makes you more likely to be at the forefront of potential clients' minds when they need your goods or services.
To explain your company name. If your company name contains a little-known word or an acronym, the logo can give visual clues to its meaning.
To endear your company name to your clients. A difficult-to-pronounce or hard-to-remember company name makes it challenging for clients to hire you. When potential clients need your services, they may not recall a tricky name. But if you reinforce the name with interesting, compelling graphics, they are more likely to remember you, pick up the phone, and hire you.
To explain an unusual line of business. If your business is nontraditional or in a hard-to-explain industry, a logo can help to clarify exactly what it is that you do.
To differentiate you from your competition. A well-designed logo can have many subtle meanings and can begin to tell the story of how you do business, including the special practices that make you stand apart from the competition.
To stand out in your field. A well-designed logo and an identity system can put you far above the competition, especially when paired with a strong marketing program.
To comply with expectations. In some industries, a logo is just expected. In the creative services industry especially, having a logo is an industry standard.
To show your commitment. Do it for the sense of personal pride that it will add to your practice.
These benefits will boost your business and your confidence, so consider developing a logo and identity as soon as possible.
Fargo Web Design Company
Fargo Media: Make Your Print Marketing Shine.
If you'd like to build a more profitable service business, the place to start is with your marketing.It's not easy for contractors to market proactively. The telemarketing do-not-call rules are reducing outbound telemarketing opportunities.
The emerging spam laws reduce the potential to use e-mail for prospecting. Radio is a good option, but VCRs and digital video recorders give consumers "zap" power over television broadcast advertising options. And then there's print.
Print advertising and marketing options have traditionally been an effective means of soliciting new business for contractors. Print marketing can take the form of newspaper, direct mail, brochures, flyers, door hangers, billboards, and even your trucks. It offers you several advantages:
* It can be highly targeted
* You can turn it on or off at will
* It allows for the combination of emotional pull with logical reason.
In short, print marketing gives you the ability to sell!
Yet good print marketing is rare among contractors. That's being polite. In many cases, contractor print marketing is a train wreck. Fortunately, it can be improved.
Marketing can be learned. You don't necessarily need to become a marketing expert or a graphics designer, but you should know enough to recognize good marketing from bad marketing.
Improve your marketing and you'll build a more profitable service business. Here are 16 ways to make your print marketing stand out.
1 Figure out what you want to say before you say it.
Marketing is a conversation between you and your customer. Who do you want to talk with? What do you want to tell them? Make sure your point is clear.
2 Remember that people don't care about you.
Don't bore people with unnecessary information about your company. Talk about their needs, problems, and desires. Remember, consumers are ignorant about HVAC. They don't care about SEER. They're tuned into WII-FM (What's In It For Me) 24/7/365. They do care about lower utility bills or, better, extra cash to spend on other things they want.
3 Remember that you're not the buyer. You
don't necessarily think like the buyer. It doesn't matter if you like or dislike something. What matters is marketing that works, not whether you like it personally.
4 Pretend the customer is a teen.
If you have a teenager, you'll understand. Like teenagers, your customers have selective hearing, need repetition, think you're a little dense and out of touch, think you don't understand them, and act for their reasons - not yours. Customers, like teens, are narcissistic. To them, it's all about ME!
5 Concentrate on the headlines.
Five times as many people will read the headline as the copy. Great copy under a losing headline is doomed to go unread. The headline (and supporting graphic elements) must capture the reader's attention.
6 Write interesting copy,
Don't write stiff, formal copy when communicating with your customers. Lawyers write stiff, formal copy. Look what it has done for them. Instead, have a conversation. Write as though you were sending a letter to a close friend. Tell a story and engage the reader. Be interesting to create interest and stimulate desire.
7 Give people a reason to take action.
Homeowners delay replacing HVAC equipment beyond the date it should be inducted into a museum. They delay out of inertia and because no one gives them a reason to act. Tell them why they should act now.
8 Include soft offers to test media.
Marketing fails when you've got the wrong audience, timing, or offer. Including a soft offer (e.g., something free, or a can't lose no-brainer) helps you determine if you've got the right audience or media, but the wrong offer.
9 Write long copy.
While it's true that we live in a sound byte society, people will read long copy if it's well written and speaks to a recognized need or desire. Long copy gives you the ability to inform and educate, that is, to sell. Don't ask people to invest time into your marketing and then withhold the critical information they need.
10 Focus.
You might want everyone to know about everything you offer. Stop! People won't remember it all. If your spouse calls you in your car and asks you to pick up one or two items at the store on your way home, you might remember. If the list grows to five or six items, you're bound to forget something. It's worse with your marketing. Focus on a clear point you want people to remember.
11 Learn the rules of graphic design.
A touch of good graphic design can make a huge difference in the readability and effectiveness of your print media. This includes the design principles of contrast, repetition, association, and alignment. Print marketing should have a focal point that the entire layout is designed around.
12 Don't go overboard.
Just because you have 1,000 fonts and 10,000 colors on your computer doesn't mean you have to use them all. Limit yourself to two fonts for most print designs. Use color sparingly. Leave some white space.
13 Buy good lists.
Contact a list broker and spend extra for a better list. Free lists are nice, but when you're doing a mailing that costs you 37 cents each, you can end up spending a lot per lead if you only get a 1% response rate. Spend a few dollars to buy a better list that bumps your response rate to 2%, and your cost per lead drops significantly.
14 Start a swipe file.
Collect junk mail. Pick up brochures when you're in retail stores. Look for examples of good marketing and bad marketing. Grab whatever catches your eye. Swipe files help you generate ideas if you're designing your own marketing. They also help you communicate with a graphics designer if you're hiring someone else to create your marketing.
15 Look around.
Ideas are everywhere. Study the marketing of other service industries. List problems your customers have that you could solve. List the products and services you offer. Each is the potential subject of a marketing piece. Look at the calendar to see if there's an upcoming holiday or event you could tie into with a marketing piece. Run searches on the Internet. There's a wealth of information and idea sources available if you'll just look around.
16 Don't worry when someone gets upset.
Somewhere, sometime, someone is going to get upset with your marketing. This probably will not be someone who is a potential buyer. Don't worry about the people who won't buy. Gauge your marketing effectiveness by the people who do buy. You don't need to please everyone. Unless you're in a very small market, 5% to 10% of your market is enough to make you very wealthy.
Give us your feedback on this article at Paul@redriverhomeguide.com
SIDEBAR
Don't bore people with unnecessary information about your company.
Talk about THEIR NEEDS, PROBLEMS, AND DESIRES.
Fargo Web Design Company
Fargo Media: A Brave New Marketing World? Even in Fargo ND
Branding a Startup
For start-up and small businesses, branding often takes a backseat to all of the other considerations — such as funding and product development. This is unfortunate, for a company's brand can be vital to its success. Dollar for dollar, it is as important and needed as any other start-up activity.
Fargo Web Design Company
