Using Graphics to Maximize Your Business (part-1)

 Quality Graphics and Your Business  

Whether your business offers products and services offline or online, high quality graphics can play an important role. You’ve heard it time and time again, “a picture’s worth a thousand words,” and that’s true when you opt for high quality graphics.

Let’s first look at offline businesses. How often do you see products that don’t offer some time of graphic packaging designed to help sell the product, and it works? Consumer testing has shown that if you have two identical items – one with plain packaging and one with catchy quality graphics – the latter will sell.

Can you imagine going to the store to buy a bottle of orange juice and all that was on the packaging were the words “orange juice.” Would you buy this orange juice or would you choose the one right beside that looked professionally packaged with colorful graphic components that were attractive and appealing to the appetite?

The automobile industry, communication industry, and food industry all know how important quality graphics attached to their products are. If the auto industry could sell cars with plain sheets of paper with just the vehicle facts, do you really think they would go to the cost of printing those enticing color brochures? They provide them because they work.

The examples are endless but you get the idea. The power of quality graphics is even more evident online. Anyone can sell online as long as they have a computer and an internet connection. As a result, there has been an explosion of online businesses and a highly competitive market has evolved. Making sales online is not as simple as one might think.

There’s the high level of competition, the uneasiness that still exists by consumers, and perception, which all affect whether a visitor decides to complete a purchase. When your website is perceived as a safe place to shop visitors will buy. The use of graphics can help to achieve that feeling, and quality graphics will also entice visitors creating a positive buying experience.

Graphic design is critical to the success of your online and offline business. As a result, you should leave it to the professionals to create the perfect images for your business, and the placement of those images. Whatever you do, don’t assume that a little bit of clip art or just any image will do the job. Thousands upon thousands of businesses before you have failed because of this one little mistake. Don’t let your business become a statistic. 

 

 Does Your Company Marketing Plan Include the Use of Graphic Logo?

Whether your business makes use of direct mail, a website, business cards, newspaper ads, or a number of other marketing options available to you, without a good plan you may be disappointed at the inadequate return on investment you receive.
It all begins with targeting your audience so you need to understand who that target market is. That way you can maximize your ROI. You also need to create brand identity and that’s where

the use of graphics is important. Does your company have the look of a reputable company that consumers can depend on?

Do you have a logo? If yes, is that logo doing a good job in identifying your business and creating brand recognition? If you don’t have a logo or you don’t think it’s creating the branding effect it should then it’s time to get busy and either design your own logo or have a website design company do it for you.

A few things to keep in mind when creating a logo.

- Consistency is important across everything you do. There should be one logo that is used on all company correspondence. It’s this consistency that lends itself to branding over time.
- Your logo should be simple and easily identifiable.

– some of the most recognizable logos are a single letter or symbol. Learn from the successful.
- Color is also important and how you use that color is even more important. The color(s) you use on your logo should compliment other company colors.

Finally, don’t make the mistake that so many small businesses do, and undertake the creation of your own logo. It’s a big mistake to think that a little zig here and a little zag there and you have the logo your company will live with for the rest of its days. There are many aspects involved in creating a successful logo. The quick fix of creating your own logo tends to be a disaster over time, and you also waste a lot of time.

When a logo is being designed all aspects of your company will be looked at and what it is your company wants to communicate about itself, including whether the company has a slogan that should tie to the logo. Logos are highly misunderstood, and not given the full attention they should.
Your logo can tie all elements of your business together nicely and it can definitely increase your return on investment when it comes to your marketing plan.

 

 Why You Should Use a Graphic Design Company for Your Business

If you’ve had difficulty finding a graphic design company with a solid reputation, you aren’t alone. With thousands of companies vying for your business you’ll have no problem finding a graphic design company that fits the needs of your business.

For some taking care of your own graphic design is possible, but for many the talent isn’t there and you will need to look for a graphic design company that can fill your needs. Hiring a professional to do your graphic design work takes much of the guesswork out of it. They know what works, what factors to incorporate in the graphics and what doesn’t work.

Look to your graphic design to brand your business. Many companies have a logo that becomes their branding image. For example, the McDonalds arch, or the Nike checkmark. Almost

 everyone knows these logos. But do you know that the logo for Facebook looks like? It’s important to have a logo that people remember and that customers gravitate towards because of company or brand recognition.

You should be aware, that changing a logo can negatively affect your business, and how your customers think of your business. Therefore, it’s advised that you do not change your logo unless it is absolutely necessary.

If you decide to do your graphic design on your own programs like Adobe Photoshop can be real helpful. It has all kinds of fantastic tools within it, allowing you to create any design you wish. If you aren’t familiar with these programs you find plenty of help books to aid you.

Graphic designs should follow visual rules for line, color, shape, textures, volume, value, tone, and form. Your design needs to create a center of interest along with unity and harmony. Good balance will provide visual weight and establish importance. The size of your graphic is important to. While it needs to be large enough to be visible and notable, it should not overpower all your correspondence, print material, and website.

Graphics play such an important role in all aspects of your business. It’s important to never underestimate their value. The most successful businesses know how to maximize their graphic value. If you are unsure of how to accomplish this task on your own, turn to graphic design professionals who know and understand their industry and how it applies to your business. There are plenty of talented professionals who can help make your business the success it should be.

How Exhibition Graphics Can Promote Your Company

If you’re participating at a trade exhibition, it’s important that you stand out against the many participants. Your competition at the trade show will be at a local, regional, even national level. You’ll need to convince the potential consumer that your business is the best choice out of all competition at the trade show. Smart businesses will look to professional exhibition graphic providers to create that distinction. They have several products that can help you achieve this distinction:

1. Work with a professional graphics company to create panels and posters, containing your trademarks, business names, logos, and others exhibition graphics you may want to use. The experience these companies bring to the table are worth the cost.

2. Promote and display your exhibition message either with a pop up exhibition stand or rollup banner system. Both methods are easy to set up and tear down, and they are also easy to transport and store after the event. They generally come in a self contained container and they take up little room for storage. In just a couple of minutes, they can be up and ready to use.

3. A professional graphics design company who specializes in exhibitions will have the necessary skills to create posters that contain a slogan relevant to the event. For example, your posters might reference the date, time, and specific event details for the exhibition. They will be skilled in producing a product with a message that is relevant to the exhibition event.

 

 4. Whether a free standing area or shell scheme, when an exhibition graphics are well designed and display units create a professional look, it reflects positively on your company and you should expect to draw interest from visitors at the exhibition or trade fair.

Trade shows and exhibitions are commonly participated in. In fact, they are one of the best methods of exposure available to your business. You might consider participation in more trade shows or exhibitions if you see good results and you see that visitors are converting to paid customers. Don’t overlook the power of advertising and exhibition graphics in the promotion of your business and what it is you have to offer.

Since these graphics are highly specialized, it is recommended that you stay with a professional graphics team and get the finished product that you can benefit from the most. Exhibition graphics can play an integral role in promoting your company and you can enjoy the long term benefits.

The Role of Graphics in the Global Market

A quick look at the global market of today’s business and it’s easy to see how technology has made it a highly competitive place, which has resulted in the role of graphics becoming even more important to the modern day business. Eye catching graphics are a valuable tool for today’s highly competitive business.

The role of graphics is evident in our day to day lives – just take a look around. Around the world, millions of graphics are being designed in an effort to attract potential consumers and increase business sales. When graphics are properly arranged and managed, they will be an attractive asset to your business. Just tossing in a graphic is not adequate. When a graphic defines the text and adds cohesiveness and interest the graphic becomes meaningful. This is the real goal in using graphics in a global market.

Web graphics designs aid in improving website layout in a manner that will attract visitors and express the company’s message, all the while effectively stimulating the senses of the visitor. It sounds simple here, but the truth is – it’s a lot of work.

There are some things you should consider when you are designing a graphic. First, you need to determine who your audience is and what the status of that audience is. Then you have to look at the message and what it’s trying to do. Finally, you need to know what the medium is going to be (print, online, posters, etc.).

Once you have an understanding of the basic requirements he/she needs to begin to format the layout including graphics and text. This includes the font you use as well as the size and color of that text, and how it will all come to together. Then you need to understand your graphics design including color, emphasis, text, and ensuring it has been properly proofread. Your graphic design needs to take into consideration movement, proportion, pattern, proximity, contrast, balance, color, unity, texture, and white space.

In the global market place that’s growing at a rate that’s hard to comprehend, graphic designs must also change in order to ensure they continue to fit properly and offer maximum benefit.

 

 The software, printing, and graphic options are extremely flexible, as well as practical. Graphic designs are an integral part of your website and your role in a global market.

The global market is going to continue to be highly competitive and understanding the role of graphics will keep you ahead of your competition.

 

 The Role of Graphics in Your Online Business

If you are going to run an online business graphics are essential. Whatever type of business activities you are doing online, advertising, or running an online storefront, your business will be presented to countless international customers. Your online businesses success or failure is significantly influenced based on the graphics you choose to use on your website.

When you use professional graphics on your website your site look more professional, just as when you use low quality graphics it can have a negative effect. Rather than using blurry or other graphics that are simply not good, don’t use any at all. Visitors will judge your website by the quality of the graphics whether you like it or not – it’s just the way it is.

Save money elsewhere and keep your budget for quality graphics – it’s worth every penny! If you look like an amateur you’ll be treated like one – people are leery about dealing with amateur companies.
For a graphic to be most effective, it will clearly express your brand and the public will quickly come to associate that graphic with your company. Consider the famous McDonald’s M, the Blackberry dots, or the Nike swoosh. Branding is as important to your business as working capital.

When branding is done right, there is no question about who the graphic belongs to. The value of that initial investment will carry you years into the future when done correctly. Your company will not reap the benefits immediately, but they will over time as that graphic becomes recognizable you will begin to enjoy the full value.

This applies in traditional business and it applies on your website business. Online there’s tons of similar sites and so the sooner you are able to create brand recognition through graphic recognition (branding), so give this task the full attention it deserves.

The role of graphics expands even further. Graphics are a powerful tool in increasing sales. There are many studies that have been done showing how top quality graphics that are placed properly on the website and with the text appropriately placed will enjoy a significant increase in the length of time visitors remain on your site.

Graphics are very important to your online business. A graphic designer can be a very valuable person to have working on your website and most times worth the cost. If you aren’t aware of the full benefits of high quality graphics on your website, it’s a good idea to spend a little time reading more on just how your graphic choices can affect the success of your online business.

 

 Top Tips for Using Graphics for Your Business Publicity

If you are pitching your business, don’t miss out on the opportunity the use of graphics offers you. It’s an excellent tool in your business publicity. Often a high quality graphic or photo is the first thing that the reader sees. A picture serves as an anchor, which is why you will see photos or graphics associated with many top stories. In the world of journalism, a good photo can take your story from the back of a magazine to the front. Here are some top tips you should know about for using graphic for your business publicity.

- Graphs such as bar charts or pie charts help your reader better understand complex issues. Use them freely when they can add value to what you are saying or promoting.

- If you are including a photo of yourself should be above the shoulders and a good resolution. Don’t be afraid to include your photo with reports, stories, as well as other advertising or marketing.

- Use exterior and interior photos of your business in media events and marketing campaigns. Consider using photos of people at work inside your business where applicable.

- Press releases for promotions, awards, new products, etc. should include a photo.
- Use graphics to create company and brand recognition
- Have graphics professionally designed for maximum value and begin to create association early on.
- Use photos that are relevant. For example, if you are a fitness trainer you might consider a photo that shows you in some type of fitness event.

- Stay away from graphics that are too big. While graphics are extremely valuable, that valuable can be undermined by using graphics that are too large.

- All images should be in a digital format so that all media and websites can have access.
- If you are involved in sponsoring events, make sure to take advantage of the photo opportunity that can benefit your business.

Graphics are a powerful tool for all businesses, yet surprisingly their value is often misunderstood, and still more often graphics are completely ignored. When graphics and photos are used in the right manner, they present an incredible amount of value to all businesses.

If you aren’t sure how to get the most value from graphics and photos it’s a good idea to speak with a professional who can guide you in the right direction and ensure you understand the does and don’ts of graphics and photos in your business publicity.

 

 How to Use Images to Tell Your Story

For the most part, business marketing involves graphic images. Today’s world involves digital images. Images and graphics are key to telling your story. Business graphics are powerful tools that are sometimes overlooked.

You will need to decide where you will undertake graphic design projects on your own or hire a professional that has experience in working with graphics. Your images will enhance your story, whether that story, your advertisement, your press release, and any other written correspondence your company partakes in.

There are things that work and things that don’t when it comes to images. Quality is important. Choose an image that is of good quality. Never use images that are unclear or that do not look professional. After all this is your company that’s being reflected.

You should also not place an image just to place one. Too often, a business will grab an image just to place an image in their story. That’s not a good idea. You want your graphic or photo images to be relevant. When you do this, you’ll discover a much higher readability from the beginning to end of your story.

If you have a logo be sure to incorporate it into all your print material. Product and company branding are both important and can be easily achieved using graphics in your articles. Brand and company recognition can lead to an increase in revenue so learn how to get the most out of it.

Don’t be afraid to incorporate relevant graphs and charts into your story. They can bring added value and interest. Just don’t make them too complicated, as that will have the exact opposite effect.
Every business has all kinds of different print material including:

- Press releases

- Advertisements

- Business proposals

- Website content

- Newsletters

- Direct mail outs

- Brochures

- Business cards

- Forms

- Interview coverage

Each form of print will tell your story in a different way because each type of print has a different function and purpose. It’s important to match your graphic usage appropriately and to learn how to make the most out of your images when you do incorporate them into your print material.

This isn’t always as easy as one might think it is. Many times it’s worth the money to have an expert in graphics design working with you to ensure you always enjoy maximum value for your efforts. Stay competitive with the proper use of graphics and images in your print material.