- $15,00 Brand & Identity Package to be Awarded
- Basic Web Design Tips for Your Website
- Great Networking Events to Attend
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CreativeXchange Marketing, along with Phases Design
Studio and The Write Stuff
is pleased to announce the establishment of ,
an annual contest designed to educate the local business community about the power
of effective branding and marketing.
The owners of these firms saw a need in the local small business community for a
stronger awareness of the importance of branding and marketing.
This year's Grand Prize is a brand and identity package worth approximately $15,000,
including a comprehensive marketing review and plan; a full graphic design package,
including logo, website, brochure, and stationery; content for the brochure and
website, a tagline, and an elevator pitch. Other services, such as project management,
printing, product photography, online video, and Search Engine Optimization are
also included. Two runners up will receive a complimentary evaluation of their current
brand and marketing collateral, valued at $795.
The contest is open to businesses in the 7-county Denver metro area with up to 100
employees, who have been in business for at least a year. The winning entry will
be chosen based on an assessment of the company’s current brand.
Complete details and rules are available at:
www.denversmakingthebrand.com and on January 1, when the contest officially
launches, online nomination/entry forms will be available on the website.
Nominate a business or nominate your own business for this amazing opportunity to
have the chance to win a $15,000 grand prize.
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A website is one of the most powerful marketing tools a company can have in their
marketing toolbox. A website provides a business with credibility to the consumer,
as well as educates the consumer on the business’s products, services and what sets
them apart from the competition.
However, inexperienced designers and business owners who try the do-it-yourself
approach often overlook or are unaware of basic website design rules and tips. Whether
doing it yourself or choosing a designer, make sure these basics are followed:
Your brand
image and message should be consistent throughout both your printed marketing materials
and your website.
The navigation should not be like peeling
an onion back. Never put major navigation across the bottom of a page. Keeping it
on top or to the left side is where readers expect to find it. Keep it consistent
from page to page. If your reader can’t find what they want quickly, they will leave
your website. Navigation buttons and links should be easy to read and understand.
Keep in mind, your visitor must be able to find what they need in three clicks or
less. Important pages should be found in 1-2 clicks.
Websites that are blocked out in frames are hard for search engines to access. Don’t build an entire website using
flash. Information contained in a Flash application cannot be gathered by search
engines. Soon video will impact the position of Search Engine Optimization.
One of the most frustrating things for a reader is to
have to keep scrolling down to find what they are looking for. Scrolling down should
be kept to a minimum. Keep important copy and eye catching art above the fold/scroll.
Think of newspapers, who keep the best stories and photos above the fold to catch
a reader’s attention.
Long blocks of copy that go from the far left
side of the page to the far right side of the page are hard on a reader’s eye. Also
avoid putting body copy in reverse type and avoid backgrounds that would make it
hard to read the text. Use bullets when appropriate and keep blocks of copy short
and easy to read. Using subheads helps to break up pages with large amounts of copy.
Don't use a type size that is too small or too large. Keep body copy type size consistent
throughout the website. Body copy should not be centered, rather aligned to the
left.
When
using photography to convey what your company’s products or services are, photography
should be of high quality. If using models, make sure they are professional looking.
Poorly done photography can make a consumer think the business is not the best quality.
Irrelevant photographs can make the consumer scratch their head, wondering more
about why there is an irrelevant photo than why they should do business with you.
Different colors convey different psychological thoughts.
If you are a financial planning company, green would be a color to convey wealth,
not red, which could convey financial loss. Use web safe colors and fonts that will
be recognized by all browsers to have consistent image.
Just like your printed
marketing materials that are branded consistently, so should each page of your website.
Be consistent on each page with special effects of buttons and links, colors and
fonts of headings, sub heads and body copy. Background from page to page should
be consistent as well.
Your website should be quick to download. You only
have a few seconds to make a good first impression. If the useful information on
the first page takes longer than 10 seconds to download, you could lose your reader's
interest. Heavy graphics, animation, video and flash all contribute to the time
it takes to download your home page. Text can be visible while images are downloading.
use your logo, business name, address, phone and email, etc. on your website.
use a relevant and meaningful domain name – one that the consumer can easily
associate with your business.
optimize images for the web, not for print – print images take up much more space
than what is needed on the web. Web images are usually less than 30-50K and an entire
page should not be more than 80K
use excessive animation, flash, etc – this can be distracting to the message
if used inappropriately.
put important information in pop-up boxes. Most are blocked or are closed
immediately.
use page counters at the bottom of each page – this looks tacky.
Future articles will cover more details on website strategy and design.
Great Networking Events to Attend
Meet fellow professionals and make new connections
Networking events are a great way to market your business
by making connections with other business owners and multiplying your contacts.
Here are some great networking events to attend this month:
NewBCI: This exciting speed networking event is one-of-a-kind and
a must attend.
- December 13: Check-in 7:30 a.m.
Hylands Golf Course, 9650 Sheridan Blvd., Westminster
- To register and for more information,
visit: www.newbci.com
Colorado Business Leads Downtown Denver B2B Chapter is seeking guests
to visit in the following categories and consider joining as potential new members: Commercial Realtor, Commercial Mover, Credit Card Processing, Corporate Gifts, Commercial Video, Commercial Photography, Telephone/Telecom provider, Trainers.
This powerful B2B group passes qualified leads and has great power partnerships.
First time guests are free and receive breakfast.
- 1st three Friday’s of every month, from 8
a.m.—9:15 a.m.
- Dixon’s Downtown Grill on the corner of
16th & Wazee
Make-It-Fly Cafè:
High altitude networking, where exceptional people help each other.
- Thursday, December 27 from 4:30-7 p.m.
- Season's Cafè in the DTC, located at 8101
East Belleview in the Marina Square Center.
- There is no charge to attend.
- will be given away! No charge
for admission. (One drink minimum is required by the restaurant to enjoy the full
buffet bar.)
- and bring your business cards.
- www.make-it-fly.com
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