How do you define success?  Having a lot of money is an obvious answer,

but what about satisfaction in knowing that you absolutely tried your best?

When someone interviewed me recently, she asked how I define success. I

surprised myself a bit when I referred to several material things; perhaps

because they're tangible. But I added that the ability to feel joyful everyday

is a sign of success for me, a statement that is true today as it was back in

college when I only had about $10 extra to spend each week and lived on

noodles and coffee. Money, I realized has little to do with it.

I hope that as an artist, you feel successful when you have taken some time

to dedicate to your art.  It could be sketching for practices, painting what you

hope to be a masterpiece, reading about other artists, taking an art class,

browsing an art supply store or visiting a gallery.  All of these things will in

some way will push you a step forward, and help the momentum of your

desire to create.  In my humble opinion, we're each successful as long as

we don't stop.

While you may not feel inspired to actually paint or draw everyday (although

I hope you do), when you need a little push, one resource you can always

rely on is one of your family of fine art magazines, including American Art

Collector, International Artist, Art of the West, or Watercolor Artist.

The prints that you rely on to sell your business really start out in the design process.  Many times, in an effort to save money, we have business owners bring in self-designed promotional materials.  As a note on marketing and design, a graphic designer will be trained in layout, typography, and many other aspects of pleasing design.  These skills are developed over years of practice and critique.  

Having started a small-business with very little start-up capital, I understand the temptation to shortcut this cost in favor of "something that will work for now."  However, this can be very detrimental to your purpose, which is to gain new business.  Presentation is everything to a potential client.  If a brochure or printed product looks "cheap," you open the door to all kinds of assumptions about your business, including your potential customer assuming that you will deliver a substandard product or service.

When I started my first business, I tried to shortcut many of the typical processes, including designing my logo myself, my first brochures, and my first web site.  The result?  The result was a year and a half of shortcutting in almost every area and a subsequent struggle to make ends meet.  I tried to price my service "affordably," which was almost a third of the typical market-price for my service.  Instead of a shortcut, I found myself shortchanging myself.  Why?  Because I thought that by limiting expenses, I would do better in the long run.  I thought of this as being "conservative," when in fact, I was simply being cheap.

I priced myself out of the market the other way... I valued myself too little and so did my customers.  I seemed to get the cheapest customers, who struggled to pay me, who would want discounts on all kinds of services, and who would didn't value my services or what I did for them. 

Real conservatism is running a business that is "sane" versus "overly exuberant".  There is a big difference in conservatism and cheapness as well.  The difference lies in how you think of yourself, your business, and your service.  Are you valuable?  Is your business valuable?  Then you need to teach yourself and your customers about the value of the product or service you offer.  Cheap marketing materials do not show value; they show a desire to shortchange yourself, your business, and your customers.  Don't spend exorbitant amounts on things, but do value yourself and your business enough to make it look good.

It was funny that when I stopped shortcutting in my own business, my income increased 400%.  I was then able to afford to pay the amounts that were fair and reasonable for business services I contracted.  It was interesting that I began to truly value what I did and the service I provided, and all of a sudden, so did my customers. 

At Ogden Blue, we understand that you are cognizant of your budget and run your business conservatively, and we have designers who have four-year degrees from good universities.  We also price their services at $45/hour to ensure that you can afford these services.  We also adjust the pricing of our print materials regularly to ensure that you are getting a good value.  Our prints and design do not look cheap.  In fact, we'll put our quality on the line to be compared with any design and print company out there.  Come in and compare the great value we have for you.

I have been painting seriously for about 8 years.  Painting every day no excepations at least four hours hopefully more. This is an average as I am working a full time job as well.

I have had several group shows.  My first show was in a gallery that I worked part time as a framer. We framed the paintings with the gallery frames and asked other artists from the area to also show on a First Friday.  These were very nice frames and yes framing does matter. It is very imprtant to show off your work as professional as possible.

It is important that you understand the publicity and announcements policy of the gallery that you show in. Some gallerys send out information, invitations announcing your work as well as other artists in their gallery at the same time.  It is important that you have a clear understanding of what in the announcements and or invitations so you can share infromation with your clients, friends and family.

Make a detailed list of the paintings you are leaving with the gallery including support, dimensions, and price and be sure that it is signed by the person receiving the works.  Label the back of each painting to insure the painting on the wall will match the Gallery Label.  When you pick up your work check each piece of the inventory list as you get it and mark accordingly any work sold.

 Stay positive.  I not sure anything is much harder than exposing onself, working this hard and awaiting feedback.  Most people do appreciate your effort even if they do not buy yet.  Stay with it.  Keep showing. 

Are you looking for something to reach out to your customers or audience and grab them by the shirt, get their full attention, and pull them into your store?

Did you know Ogden Blue offers some great Large Format printing options that can do just that?

Here are a few Large Format options we have to help give your business a professional yet noticeable look:

-         Use a colorful Banner to draw attention to your business or special event.

_-         Print large posters to advertise your company’s services or to promote your latest campaign.

_-         Get cut or printed vinyl to help create a professional display in your store windows.

_-         Use banner stands, displays, and banners to bring color and attention to your trade show event.

_-         Bring your family memories to life by printing them on canvas, watercolor, or photo paper in Color or Black & White.

_-         Take your project plans to large scale with vivid color or crisp black & white.

Our large format black & white prints start at $0.52/sq. ft. (?), and large format color prints start at $5.00/sq. ft.

Don’t be Shy. Live Large and Get Noticed.

The answer is: Absolutely Not!

The question may also be asked: Is Print or Online Marketing more effective? 
a great combination of both methods can create the strongest marketing campaign.

In an ever-changing world of technology, Internet and social media, many business owners struggle with the validity of print vs. online marketing. “Print isn’t dying. When used correctly it can actually boost your marketing campaign and give you the result you’re trying to achieve, whether it is leads, sales, or brand awareness.” (Trammell)

Using your print campaign effectively means using print along with online links and social media to increase brand awareness and increase your ROI. By combining these strategies you can overcome the limits of each media. While online marketing can be reached by a click and immediate updates and targeting, online banners are limited to a small amount of information and social media is limited to the number of followers you have. Print media can be very powerful and is more tangible and something that people can hold on to and refer back to. It allows readers to be more engaged and can supply more information and stronger branding. It’s true that digital media is advancing at a quick rate, but smart companies have utilized the advantages of mixing old and new media to reach a wider audience and to come out with a strong advertising campaign.

It’s also important to look at your overall marketing objectives and goals. Who is your customer and what is the best way to reach your customer? What is the best way to communicate with them? How can you reach new customers and leave a good impression on them?

One effective way that we have found to reach new and existing customers is utilizing print media with Direct Mail Marketing. With direct mail marketing you can promote your website, social media sites, and branding in a very effective way. QR codes are also a great part of modern technology that provides your company information with one click. With direct mail you can directly target your customer market. There are a variety of products and methods to fit every budget. You can reach a wide audience, because not everyone has a computer, and for those that do, it drives traffic to your website. People are also more likely to try your store or product if they have a coupon or special offer. That physical marketing piece is something that people can refer back to and can leave a lasting impression.

So yes, for all you that have been wondering, print is still alive and strong! (Remember that when you think of the billboard image that is stuck in your head, or the business card that a business contact handed you today, or the mail you picked up from your mail box.)

Let us know what you think.

Check out these articles for more information:

Engage Staff. “Print or Online? There’s No Easy Answer”. Engage the Blog. June 10, 2010. http://engage.tmgcustommedia.com/2010/06/print-versus-online-theres-no-easy-answer/.

Trammell, Mindy. “Is Print Advertising Dead? Definitely Not!” Insurance Journal Online. January 17, 2012. http://www.insurancejournal.com/blogs/2012/01/17/231405.htm

Wolfe, Lahle. “5 Pros of Direct Mail Marketing”. About.com Women in  Business. http://womeninbusiness.about.com/od/directmailmarketing/tp/hub-pros-directmail.htm

Create Your Files Using Process Color

Process color or four color, is a subtractive color model, used in color printing, also used to describe the printing process itself. CMYK refers to the four inks used in most color printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and key black. This is the color process that we use on our Digital and Offset Presses. Also keep in mind, for a true solid Black, use similar CMYK values to these: C: 60 M: 40 Y: 40 K: 100. We can also print using PANTONE colors, but this usually adds a color to the process and an additional cost.

Best File Formats for Printing

The file format we prefer for printing is a PDF. This allows us to print your files without missing fonts, links, or images. A high-resolution flattened JPEG also works well for printing photos and giclee work. We prefer at least 300 dpi on these types of files to ensure a clean, sharp image. Any other file or layout formats must have fonts outlined, and links and fonts packaged.

Use Templates to Get the Truest Print & Cut

Please use the templates on our website to set up your files for bleed and trimming. Make sure you leave enough space around your live area to ensure important information will not be cut off.

Here are a few terms that might help:

Bleed - a term that refers to printing that goes beyond the edge of the sheet after trimming. The bleed is the part on the side of your document that gives the printer that small amount of space to move around paper and design inconsistencies.

Trim - the final size of a product after its unnecessary parts have been cut off or removed.

Live Area – is the area where your art and type should be safely tucked into so they are not trimmed or cut-off.

Summary

Following these guidelines and providing us with a print ready PDF allows us to turn your job around quicker and provide a better looking end product. We are always happy to help if you have any questions on these Pre-Press steps. We enjoy working with you to provide a product that you will be excited to share with others. Please contact us to check turnaround times and to ensure that we can get your product finished on time.

For more information, check out this article:  http://www.nikibrown.com/designoblog/2010/03/08/set-up-files-for-printing/#ixzz1sKmo4Kpz

Ask any business expert what really matters during times of economic instability and they will say that continuing to market your business is critical. Yet, in business, matters of creativity and design are often seen as something nice to have if you can afford it, but easily cut during uncertain financial times. Historically, when money is low, the arts and artists feel it first.

Existing businesses are struggling more, and people are losing jobs and going out on their own in droves, making competition fiercer than ever. How can they stand out and be seen - if not by marketing and advertising? And if you are going to spend the time, money, and energy, why bother if not with good design? Online or off, good design gives credibility, visibility, and consistency. It can even make economic sense, if approached strategically.

Do It Yourself Branding: We all have heard the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. When a business is seeking higher visibility, often the projected image makes them memorable. As you are competing with other companies selling the same service or product, there are many things which can set your business apart - but FIRST you have to get the customer's attention. On first impression, the only differentiation between you and your competition may be your branding and image. And that is achieved with graphic design.

Good design leads to communications consistency. Studies indicate that a prospect must hear of or see your business numerous times before it will spring to mind unbidden. Having a consistent and memorable message and image can help accelerate recognition and therefore speed up the branding process.

Imagine this: you are at a seminar listening to a dynamic speaker and you ask him to send you more information about his company. When the package arrives, you are surprised to discover the information is barely readable, the colors clash enough to make your eyes ache, and there is a good chance the charts were done by a five year old. You will probably overlook all this, because you met this gentleman, and you already know he really knows his stuff. But if you received this marketing collateral before meeting and hearing him, it is likely you would question the consultant's credibility and professionalism.

When you visit a business on the web, navigation and content on a web site are extremely important, for it is the visual design which lends credibility and indicates the professionalism and quality of the business. Consumer Web Watch reportedly found that "Design Look" (46.1 percent) and "Information Design/Structure" (28.5 percent) were the top factors people used to determine credibility of the business they were visiting online.

Having a quality product or service is terrific, but it is not enough if no one can see you, or if no one knows you are there. What better time to let the world know that your business exists, than when your competition is hunkered down and not marketing? Perhaps they are marketing, but doing it themselves, on the cheap and poorly designed - this, too, presents an opportunity differentiate your business. Professional design can improve your business image and communications, and it is good for economics. A good image offers increased, positive exposure and differentiation from the competition. Improved communications assures your message reaches your audience, and is received. Economically, good design increases sales through increased acceptance and awareness of your products and services.

How can you afford not to be sure your business is well designed?

###

Eileen Parzek is an award winning graphic and web designer providing digital and print graphic design and web design services. Always found at the intersection of information, creativity and technology, her business, Business Design Studio (www.businessdesignstudio.com) helps small businesses make a big impression.

The Internet is a powerful tool for business. It displays your products to the world 24/7 without huge costs to the organization. I have met many business owners who will put a web site on the Internet and not do any follow-up with that site. Web traffic is like any other traffic to your business. It needs to be tended, fostered, advertised, and promoted in various ways.

One of the fastest ways to drive web traffic is through social media networking and direct mail.  But how does a business do this properly?  The first evaluation should be based on what you are trying to accomplish.  If you have a national or international product that involves shipping and delivery to various locations, you would use a form of "direct mail" or directed traffic via Ad-words on Google or advertising through social media and promoting your product through distributors web sites or other types of targeted advertising.  Most local businesses, however, rely on a very small demographic area for their "bread and butter" business.  A restaurant, a club, a retail store, or other highly localized business that relies on "foot traffic" would be better served by using both ground-based and Internet advertising.

Many companies do not have the resources to do a full web presence (which can cost upwards of $10,000) to develop, nor do they really need a "fully-functioning" web site with shopping carts, databsases, etc.  What they really need is a nice informational site that can be promoted through social media (which is free, although you do have to tend it) like Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, etc. and through ground-based advertising which is targeted to specific areas of the city or town in which the business resides.

For businesses in Ogden and Salt Lake, Ogden Blue offers unique direct mail services that can help boost awareness for your business.  There are several options available, and some are very low-cost for the amount of people reached.  Direct Mail pieces should have a clean design that is used to point people to your web site where people can more fully get acquainted with your services and offerings.  In spite of what you might think, there are some very low-cost, new options where expensive mailing lists and first-class or even standard postage is not required.

This year, the Postal Service introduced a new product called Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM).  This delivery service is available at half the price of Standard Mail, and your mail can be tailored along delivery routes to hit the main target area or demographic that you wish to reach.  Look at the rates below:

With these rates, Direct Mail becomes a low-cost way to directly target and mail to a specific demographic area.  

Ogden Blue just did a mailer to 3,500 people about our services.  This mail piece directed people to our web site where we are running a contest.  Total cost of postage was $507.  For our customers who are printing and mailing, that same reach would have been around $900 total cost (Ogden Blue charges an additional $.02 per piece to deliver the mailer to the individual Post Offices).  That is a lot of people exposed to your product directly in your targeted area for very little comparable cost.

The nice thing about direct mail is that you are not competing with other offerings, as you would be in other print media.  Your piece is seen directly by the person without distracting messages surrounding it.  When this is coupled with a direct or targeted message telling customers to visit your web site, it can be a powerful tool in raising the awareness that your business exists and the types of offerings you have.  

 Think about how this could impact the number of people who know about your business in an area.  Typically, restaurants, retail, and other local services only pull customers from a 5 - 10 mile radius.  If this matches the description of your business then Direct Mail might be an option for you, especially if you are newly starting up your services and need a jump start on getting customers through the door.