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27
Jan 2011
Posted by Jasmine
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Weekly Roundup: Working with Desingers and Slow Your Readers Down

How to Collaborate With a Designer

My career started as a graphic designer and getting in tune with clients was one of the hardest parts for me to learn. It is partly that because as designers we put too much of ourselves in the process. But it is also partly because clients are often really bad at communicating their wants and needs.

Even now, there is nothing that makes me happier than receiving a well thought out work request from a client. It gives me a clear picture of their needs and objectives and gives me a clear path. If you often find yourself frustrated when with working with your design or marketing people, give this post a read. It has helpful suggestions for communicating your ideas.

Cones In The Road

It is a fact that we don’t so much read online as skim articles. Do not lose your readers—start out with something interest and make them want to slow down and read the whole thing. This newsletter gives some helpful advice and examples to do just that.

Posted in: Blog, Marketing

01
Jul 2010
Posted by Jasmine
1 comment

Small Business Photo: A Smart Website

I met Laird Brown over a year ago and have enjoyed getting to know him and his Phoenix, AZ photography business. As a savvy and cost conscious small business owner, Laird has created a lot of his marketing collateral himself. I will tell the truth here—I normally turn my nose up at self-made marketing materials especially websites. Most of the time they look very templated and have very poor content.

Laird’s website is absolutely the exception. It is not a super sophisticated design but it looks nice (and not at all templated) and more importantly the content is completely optimized to the needs of his consumer. You can tell from his website that he totally gets his client, knows what they want, and has made it easy to find.  Check out Laird’s website below or at smallbusinessphoto.com along with a few of my points on what makes this website so strong.

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Posted in: Blog, Business profiles

15
Oct 2009
Posted by Jasmine
0 comments

Birthday Cake Branding

910westcake

My birthday was last month and though I wasn’t terribly excited about being one year older, I was excited about eating cake. I love cake more than anything. My birthday anticipation was not for the relaxing spa day that I had planned or the gifts but the birthday cake!

To make sure that I my cravings were satisfied, I placed a request with my husband for a fancy bakery cake like I had seen on TV. Being a smart husband, he asked what I wanted my cake to look like. And since I am totally indecisive, my answer was, “I don’t know—something delicious.”

When Mike brought the cake home on my birthday, I was practically jumping for joy. As soon as he walked in the house, I snatched the box out of his hands. I opened it immediately and was surprised to see a beautiful square cake wrapped like a gift in orange, brown, and green fondant—my company colors. This cake represented 910 West so well perfectly it was as if I had planned it.

The more I thought about it, the more I was pleased with this “company” birthday cake. I spend a lot of time working with my clients teaching them the importance presenting a cohesive brand. It is not just on the letterhead and business cards, but it is in everything related to the company. It should be obvious from the how they answer the phone to the advertisements and even a birthday cake!

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Posted in: Blog, Marketing

01
Feb 2009
Posted by Jasmine
0 comments

Design by Definition

Print Design

Printed design covers much of what is thought of as “traditional” marketing. Though the Internet is a powerful marketing tool, businesses shouldn’t ignore traditional marketing methods. Successful print promotions compliment and enhance online marketing efforts and can reach customers missed in web campaigns. They are an important part of any comprehensive marketing plan.

Identity Design

You never get a second chance to make a first impression—that one line says it all when it comes to business marketing. To be successful, you must make your first impression unforgettable. Many times an ad, business card, or website is the first interaction between you and a potential customer. To make sure that your marketing efforts stand out, they should represent the personality of your business. A good designer is skilled at identifying the qualities that set you apart from the competition and capturing them in a logo, the core of the business identity.

Website Design

The Internet is a powerful marketing tool and every business should be using it. When thinking about online marketing (specifically a website), you should consider its role within your overall marketing plan. At the core, your website should be informational—like an online brochure or an electronic alternative to a phone book ad. Beyond the basics, you can add interactive features that build customer relationships and enhance their buying experience. These features include email newsletters, blogs, and online pressrooms.

Posted in: Blog

31
Jan 2008
Posted by Jasmine
0 comments

The 910 West story

My husband and I started 910 West in response to a need I discovered while working with a good friend to market her salon. She had just acquired the business and needed help bringing in more clientele. At the time, I was working full-time as a computer technician but would mention my “side job” to friends and family. I was surprised by the number of them who had a business they wanted to promote or knew someone who did. I realized that nearly all small businesses need marketing help.

Since my initial realization, I have worked with my husband to create a small business based on meeting the marketing needs of other small businesses. Our mission is to increase your business through effective marketing solutions including print, web, and identity design. We make your business look good while helping to make it successful.

Posted in: Blog, News