Designers Wishlist at HOW.com

I am a HUGE HOW Magazine fan.  HOW Magazine is THE magazine for designers, both freelance and inhouse, offering current news and ideas for design professionals.  I get every issue, and read it cover to cover.  I absorb all of it - the design trends, the new fonts, the stories of other designers and illustrators.

How exciting for me to find myself on the HOW website!!  The question was simple - what do you want for Christmas?  Check it out here.

Online Information Tracker

Join me on Second Brain!

Second Brain has been my life saver! I keep track of everything on here.

I regularly browse the net looking for really awesome artists, reference sites, and other things that interest me.  With Second Brain I can keep track of all of these AND organize them into folders.  Plus I can keep track of RSS feeds I find online, upload documents, keep track of my social networking information, and so much more.  By marking items public or personal, you can also limit what is shared with others.

Second Brain works like bookmarking on a browser on crack! It is one of my favorite tools.  Check out my SecondBrain here.

Every Artist MUST have a Website

I have created a sample website for artists using Google Sites that should act as a guideline for artists who are in need of a website, but hesitant about the mysteries of the web and web site building.  I built this basic site in about an hour and a half.  Check it out.

If you have any additions, corrections, or questions concerning this mock up site, please let me know!

Thanks

Establishing and Maintaining Positive Client Relationships

Oh Boy!  I have been introduced to a marketing MIRACLE for small businesses.

The Economy and Your Business

With the economy in a downward spiral, it is more important than ever to market and network strategically to avoid high costs and small results.

Press Releases

Press Releases are a great way to market your business, but the information contained as got to be news and not advertising.  There are a few ways you can become news.

1. Do some pro-bono work for a non-profit organization and make it BIG!  Then both your company and the organization can become news, and you are helping out fellow community members
2. Create an Annual Award in your industry or community and publicize it.
3. Sponsor an Adopt-a-Road area in your community to help clean up roads.  The sign in the area will have your name on it, and people will see it constantly, and you are news!
4. Have your employees pick a common interest, and volunteer as a company to help in a community event or non-profit need.

For further information about writing press releases, visit about.com.  Don’t forget to include your website in the release!

Creative Marketing

There are some other tricks you can use for reviving your customers interests and gaining new ones without spending tons of money.

1. Try out some of the online advertising options such as Google Ad Sense.
2. Write a column for the local newspaper or business journal.
3. Try an email marketing campaign.
4. Create a new or improved company logo or recolor the traditional logo.
5. Join or organize a breakfast club with other professionals (not in your field) to discuss business and network referrals.

Your Website

You MUST have a website in this day and age. Obtain a memorable URL, and use it on all coorrespondance, press releases, and  marketing collateral.

There are inexpensive ways of creating a basic website.  Companies like networksolutions.com offer basic website packages with a built-in WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor. This means that you do not have to know html to build your site.

A better solution for sites involving more information and e-commerce is to have a Web Designer create a good CMS (Content Management Solution) website for your company.  This will enable you to do updates, page additions, blog posts, and many other things yourself after the initial design.  Save printing expenses and trees by using your website to contain valuable information that you would otherwise have printed - manuals, forms, informational brochures,  - put them all online and within easy grasp of your customers and your employees.

Get to it!

The experts say that our economy will face some pretty tough struggles over the next year.  Use your money wisely, market efficiently, and help others in your community.  You don’t have to pay big bucks to get people interested and supportive in your business - you just have to think outside of the box.

For more information visit these resources:

Small Business Administration - 100+ Marketing Ideas

Google - Ad Sense

Tips to Hire the Right Website Designer

Small Business Now - Entice Customers Online Using Offline Advertising