Archive for February 2010

Keep in mind, I’d only be able to utilize MS Word for my work due to lack of software. I don’t have a portfolio at the moment and would like to develop one as I go. I realize it has to be cheap. but just how cheap?
The only reason I wish to charge is so I can use that money to buy the programs I need.

Categories : Business Cards
Comments (4)

I am starting my own business doing graphic and web design. Most of the work so far that I have done has be for friends, friends of friends.

I just wanted to sound out what most people would expect to pay for a custom designed card, i.e. not a pre made template, but custom designed to meet your own (businesses) needs.

I have had a look about and a lot of UK design palces are charging anywhere between £40/50 up to £80, or even up to £25 per hour spent.

Previously I have charged £30 for a double sided design.

All these prices exclude printing.

Categories : Business Cards
Comments (1)
from darkness into the light... [08/52]

Image by ...storrao... via Flickr

As the new day begins and darkness fades, so are some of the stresses about marketing your small business online. This is the beginning of you walking out of the darkness into the light. Today I want to give you 3 tips to help you get started. These are going to be 3 things that you can do right now and that will help you get started TODAY.

Today is your new dawn.

Tip #1 You don’t have to do it ALL, but you should know enough to know it’s being done correctly.

As a small business owner you don’t have time to learn how to do all the Internet Marketing, stay up to date with it, and then turn around and implement it. That would take you over 30 hours a week (I know its my job, and it took me years to streamline it). If your spending that much time doing this WHO is running the company?

So don’t do it all, but learn enough to hold those doing it accountable. Do NOT be a sucker. I admit it the SEO industry is new ground and because of that, it has opened the door for many companies who are less than honest and less than ethical.

The next question in this is “HOW do I learn this?”. Well you have a few options.

  1. Educate yourself. Over the next few months I will be posting Internet Marketing Basics for Business owners. READ THEM. I teach this stuff all the time. Take what I am giving away for free. (If your in Metro Atlanta, call me, take me to lunch, but be ready to learn)
  2. Hire a consultant to help you evaluate what the “SEO” guys are doing. There are many consultants, that their only job is to tell you what you need to be doing, but do not do the actual work themselves. These are the ones you want to watch over the people you actually have doing the work, and will hold them accountable. Sometimes they will even teach you how do to it, if  you want to learn.  I spend time teaching clients simply because I hate it when they look like a deer caught in headlights.
  3. Learn who the Guru’s are and join the newsletters. This will give you information overload so don’t sign up for to many. Jerry West’s SEORevolution is my favorite.

Tip #2 Do something in social media, but NOT ALL OF IT

OK. Here’s the big picture. SO MANY PEOPLE think they have to have a Blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and the list goes ON AND ON. Just pick 1 for now and be good at it. If you use Twitter, learn how to be social (this is why it is called SOCIAL MEDIA). Once you have a good following then look at adding something else.

Tip #3 Build the RIGHT Accounts

Ok so here is my short list of accounts you need to grab for your company name.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook (build a fan page)
  • Youtube

For someone just getting going online these 3 will keep you busy.

As always if you have any questions please comment below, and make sure you tell us who you are and a link to your website. As long as the comment isn’t spam (a comment just for the link) I will post it.

Till Next time

Mike

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Comments (0)

Personalizing your business card designs can be easy and difficult at the same time. Having no limitations does that to you. Still, it affords you that sense of liberty to make anything possible.

Business card design ideas does not happen when you sit down and say to yourself, â??Iâ??m going to design a business card.â? Inspiration or ideas donâ??t strike your imagination automatically. It pays to think about it for a time and ask questions.

You can approach business card design with caution or you can sit around and wait for the moment the idea hits you. Just make sure that this streak of brilliance applies to your goals.

Decide what you want to tell about yourself with your business card. Ask yourself the following questions and let your mind wander on what will constitute an effective design.

â?¢ Do you want to focus on some special business skills or personality?

â?¢ What single impression should you leave your recipients with?

â?¢ Which details should be highlighted?

â?¢ Will a conventional format, one that includes all your contact information, or a contemporary, experimental design be more apt for you?

â?¢ What would make your business card design stand out? Is it the colors, the graphic design or maybe even the shape?

All of these questions seems to be pretty basic, yet oftentimes, they end as up the most difficult thing to answer. Moreover, they can be the most time-consuming part of your business card design.

Youâ??ll probably find these simple pieces of advice useful if youâ??re quite at a loss where to start or when you find yourself confused.

1. Always compare

You have seen other peopleâ??s business cards. You were probably left breathless by some designs while other were just simply put bland. Know how and what works in their design. Does it appeal to you at an emotional level or on a professional place? Draw inspiration from them and see which ideas could apply to you and your line of work.

2. Describe yourself

Is it more important to leave people with an impression of who you are or what you can do? Align your business cards with your goals and philosophies so you can be consistent. Business cards, after all, communicate at a certain level which leave your recipients with various impressions of who you are and what you can do.

3. Sell yourself and write

Try to write down everything that youâ??ll be putting in on your business card. Try different combinations and try to see what makes each one different. Pick the impression that first comes to mind and see how you can change it, improve it or polish it.

The Easy Way Out

If you think youâ??re still not up to the challenge, online printing companies can spare you the trouble and the headache of doing it all by yourself. They have professional graphic artists who could transform your vision instantly.

A much cheaper option too is to use their online design tool which guides you through each step of designing your own business card. Distinguished business card printing companies even go at lengths to offer you one on one assistance.

Whatever you decide, remember, that the business card design all boils down to you. Treat your card the courtesy and respect it deserves for whenever you hand out one, you are not only handing out a piece of card, but a little piece of yourself.

Categories : Business Cards
Comments (0)