visual messages

> In the text of my new (but not live yet) web site, I talk a lot about visual messages. What's a visual message? Just what it sounds like: a visual message is what any application of your brand (business cards, blog, web site, brochure, etc.) "tells" anyone who comes in contact with it.

> You can tell people all about your business, about how you are unique with skills that no one else can provide, and that you offer something better than any of your competition...but if your web site is built using a free downloadable template and clip art, your visual message isn't consistent with your verbal one.

> From your business card to your web site, and everything in between, make sure there is consistency beyond just slapping your logo on everything. If you didn't know there's more you should be doing, you're in luck, now you know, and mGraphicDesign can help!

little m...literally

> I've been tending my niece and nephews the last couple days. Before coming, I searched with my sister to find a fun activity to do with them, and we ran across a blast from the past...Shrinky-Dinks! We have fond memories of them from our childhoods. I didn't even know you could still find them! 

> The kids love to draw, so we had fun creating and coloring on the special plastic sheets, then the real fun began...we placed the cutout shapes in the oven and watched as they curled, shrunk to one-third their original size, thickened up, then finally lay flat.

> We all made lots of fun creations, and they have all talked about what they will draw next time I come and bring more of the special magic plastic.

me or we?

> I've been working on updating my web site. I wrote all the text, edited, and edited, asked others to edit, then finally decided it was "ready". But as I was placing it into the site's content management system, I ran across an inconsistency that needed fixing. The problem is that I'm not really sure where I "land" on this particular issue: Is mGraphicDesign a "me", or a "we"?

> mGraphicDesign is a one-person business. I'm okay with that, in fact I prefer it. But when I'm trying to get new business, sometimes there are reservations about hiring a "freelancer". I've been told it's better to appear larger, more experienced, and more substantial—that somehow size "proves" capability. One of my colleagues (also a sole proprietor) once pointed out to me that we don't literally work solo, so why not refer to the company as "we"? He's right. When I'm designing a web site, I hire skilled programmers who handle that part of the project. If I'm working on a brochure, the photos may come from the client, they may come from an online stock source, or I may hire a photographer to do custom work. Same goes for printing. In fact, there have been many times when my workload has been heavy enough that I hire freelancers to share my load. So in that sense, mGraphicDesign is a "we".

> So how will I handle the correct pronoun usage on my site? Good question! Right now I'm working on making sure the portfolio section of my web site is as impressive as it can be, showing a wide variety or projects, for a diverse clientele, and if I can get that right, maybe "we" and "me" will be okay either way.

spring cleaning

> I went to my parents' house a couple weeks ago. They've been spending a lot of time going through files, boxes and shelves, getting rid of things that they have decided they can't justify keeping anymore. I have to admit there is something very free-ing about going through and trashing stuff you just don't need anymore.

> I subscribe to a couple different trade publications. They're perfect-bound, content and image-rich, and are more like books than magazines, so it's easy to justify keeping them. For awhile, I kept them all, but before a move one time, I took the time to thumb through some of the older issues, and found that technology had changed so dramatically in the couple of years since the issue was published, that I was able to throw away several older copies.

> I can always tell when it's time to go through and decide what to keep and what to trash. I finished reading an issue I received in last week's mail and there is no more room on my shelf...that's a sure sign that something's gotta go.

love it? hate it? it's okay

> An unidentified woman recently gave my client an unsolicited "review" of his "Live in Art" logo. She told him that she didn't like it, that it was no good. She wasn't able to articulate what she thought was so bad about it, but somehow, she felt justified in sharing her opinion with him (we couldn't figure out how it was relevant, or why she was so emboldened as to approach a total stranger, in an attempt to insult something that he obviously liked).

> He called me to laugh about it with him. Yep, I designed it. I've been doing design work for him for over 15 yrs, and I'm pretty sure if he shared her opinion, we wouldn't have that history.

> I wasn't offended though. One person may like bright colors and a busy layout with lots going on. Another person may be attracted to muted, earthy colors, in a simple layout. There's nothing inherently "wrong" about either one—just a matter of taste, opinion, and knowing what's appropriate for the target audience.

> While I happen to like the design (yes, I'm biased), it's more important that my client likes the design. It's been working well for him for several years now, and he'll tell me when it's not working for him anymore. That's the opinion that matters to me.

a custom(s) promotion

> I was on track to mail my holiday promotion until I took a finished piece to the post office to get postage for the rest of them. I was surprised that the postal worker informed me that I needed to fill out a customs slip for each package. (what??) I asked several questions, but she just apologetically handed me a stack of slips that needed to be filled out and attached to each package.

> I filled them out whenever I had down-time. In front of the TV, while I was on hold, while I waited for a large file to upload for a client, etc. Finally, I had them all filled out, attached and ready to go. Monday morning, I went to the post office with a box of 20 (wanted to make sure I filled them out right so they didn't come back!). After waiting 30 minutes in line, I was apologetically told that I didn't need to fill out a customs slip for these. And, to make sure to remove them completely so they wouldn't get delayed due to confusion.

> Wow! If ever I wanted to go postal...

> Luckily, I kept my cool, put on some good music, and started peeling labels off. So, if you received one and the back of the box was torn up, well, now you know the story.

> They're all out now, and I'm getting emails, calls, and FB posts thanking me. That's what makes the time I spend on promotions worth it (even when I "get" to spend more time than is necessary).

self-imposed busy-ness

> I am buried! Yes, I'm talking snow with this latest storm, but it's more than that. The last several weeks have just been busy! My workload is about the same, but when you add the responsibilities of year-end business stuff, as well as the busy-ness of the holiday season with the time it takes to decide on, buy and wrap gifts, decorate the house, plus family and work events, and church responsibilities, well, it's a bit overwhelming!
> For as long as I can remember, I've designed and produced Christmas cards to send out to friends and family. When I started my own business, I added a promotional gift to my holiday to-do list. At first I only gave them to current clients as a "thank you". But I've gradually expanded the recipient list to include vendors, all my clients past and present, anyone who I've done a proposal for, and this year, I'm also including several subscribers of my email newsletter.
> As I read through my long list of new emails this morning, one of them caught my eye and gave me the reassurance that I'm NOT crazy to do this holiday promotion every year. I felt a feeling of satisfaction that someone else is telling me to "keep it up!" http://bit.ly/8xKzpA The article says to keep up the marketing momentum. That "the fact is that, no matter how busy you are, you always have to market your business".
> With the economy in the state it's in, I realize the need to market myself is more important than ever. Even though I'm overwhelmed and feel like I'm treading water (snow today), I just take one day at a time, accomplishing what I can. I know that getting my promotion out the door (this week!) will ease the load I've put on myself, and that marketing myself, not only when I'm slow, but on a regular basis is the way to keep myself working on a regular basis!