Six Things I Learned When I Redesigned My Website
If you’re a regular One Woman Marketing reader, you may have noticed that the site experienced a redesign a few weeks ago. This is the third time I’ve redesigned this particular website, and I’ve helped many friends design or redesign blogs or websites of their own.
Here’s what I learned about website redesign over the years.
1. Don’t just hire a graphic designer. Make sure the person you hire understands web design, too. A graphic designer can make your site look pretty, but can she create clear navigation? Does she understand the limitations of code, and how to work around them? If she can’t, she probably can’t create a good site. Continue reading
Five Ways To Make Your Stock Photos Stand Out From The Crowd
Gone are the days when you can raise your market value simply by including a photo of some attractive white people. Stock photos, when used incorrectly, have come to signal inauthenticity. (We know those multicultural people don’t really work at your office.) But unless you’re a professional photographer, your image choices are limited. So what can you do?
In my years of blogging, I’ve uncovered a couple ways to use stock photos effectively. Here are my favorite tricks.
1. Crop at the eyes. By cropping photos of people at the eyes, you mask their identity while also encouraging viewers to interpret the picture however they choose – or even see themselves in the photo. It’s a trick that’s often used in book covers: Continue reading
A Sneak Peak At The Ebook “Blogging For Business”
I’ve been hard at work creating cover concepts for “Blogging For Business,” an e-book that will launch on October 1st. Which one is your favorite? Which one would you be most tempted to buy? Let me know by leaving a comment below!
PS: Yes, I know the iStockphoto symbol is on each cover. Because these are mock-ups, I’m waiting to buy the photos until I’ve chosen the final cover design.
Inspiration For Successful Ad Design
This guest post is part two of two in a series on ad design written by Nikki Matarasso, a graphic designer and marketing coordinator for Blue Crane Design.
You may know good ad design when you see it. But that doesn’t make designing your own ads any easier. Here are some examples of great ad design with an explanation of how each one works, to set your creative gears in motion the next time you have to design an ad.
Focus Attention On The Product
One popular design technique is to make everything in your advertisement black and white, except for the product. This draws attention to the product.
(Check out the example at left: an ad for Victoria Beckham’s new fragrance, “Intimately Beckham for Her.”)
Similarly, some advertisements have everything but the product out of focus, or all the design elements pointing toward the product. These are all visual aids that direct attention to the product and reinforce the reason for the ad.
Consistency Is Key
Consistency is another key to successful ad design. Think about the advertising for Apple Computers. Each ad is different, but they all follow the same color scheme and theme. When you see one of the ads, you know it’s for an Apple product even before the logo appears.
One advertisement doesn’t create a good brand image; that takes time and dedication. But by incorporating a few of the same elements into every ad design, you’ll build a strong foundation for a memorable brand.
Think Outside The Box
Okay, the phrase has become a cliche in recent years. But unique design can really improve an ad’s success. Want proof? Check out this sign for Birdseye Fish Fillets.
Usually this sort of signage has plain posters, but the Birdseye version incorporates movement, bright colors, a clear message (their fish is so fresh, it’s practically still in the ocean!) and logo branding. As with the first two examples, the focus is on the product.
This clever design creates interest in the product and gets its message across. Its effectiveness is evident by the crowd that has gathered round to see how it worked. You can bet no other advertisement attracts this kind of crowd.
To Sum It Up
When designing any marketing material, have a clear vision of your message and the action you want customers to take. Don’t be afraid to get creative and try something new: it will likely make your ad more memorable.
If you need feedback, ask coworkers, friends, customers or even family members. Someone who isn’t as emotionally invested in your business will be able to provide a candid response and give you an impression of whether your ad’s message was understood, or if you need to go back to the drawing board.
