2007 WebAward Call for Entries The Web Marketing Association is now accepting entries into its 11th annual international WebAward Competition. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks that the Internet Standards Assessment report is based upon. The food industry represents an important category in the WebAward competition, and the Web Marketing Association will again be honoring the Best Food Web site of 2007. The deadline for entry is May 31, 2007 and the WebAward Web site is located at www.07webaward.org.

About the WebAwards

Now in its 11th year, the annual international WebAwards competition sets the standard of excellence in 96 industry categories by evaluating Web sites and defining benchmarks based on the seven essential criteria of successful Web site development. The goal of the Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the WebAwards, is to provide a forum to recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today. Entrants benefit from a Web site assessment by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented to an award-winning Web site. For more information, visit www.07webaward.org.

2007 WebAward Call for Entries The Web Marketing Association is now accepting entries into its 11th annual international WebAward Competition. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks that the Internet Standards Assessment report is based upon. The deadline for entry is May 31, 2007 and the WebAward Web site is located at www.07webaward.org.

About the WebAwards

Now in its 11th year, the annual international WebAwards competition sets the standard of excellence in 96 industry categories by evaluating Web sites and defining benchmarks based on the seven essential criteria of successful Web site development. The goal of the Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the WebAwards, is to provide a forum to recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today. Entrants benefit from a Web site assessment by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented to an award-winning Web site. For more information, visit www.07webaward.org.

You’ve decided to go for it. You’ve got the talent and determination. You know your skills are marketable. So what do you charge for your services? Even more important – what will a client pay?

For most Creatives it would be easier to figure out the national debt. Not surprisingly a lot of designers have no clue what they’re worth in the current advertising marketplace. That’s why they’re not accountants.

But if you’re going to be profitable, being compensated fairly and adequately can make all the difference to your success. Or lack of it.

Factor in all the variables
There are a lot of things to consider when you’re setting up a fee schedule: your location, the economy, your competition, your experience, your length of time in business and of course the client. All of these should influence your decision.

No one can tell you what to charge, but here are some basic guidelines on how to present yourself and your value to potential clients:

(more…)

• Camera: At least 2 mega pixels

• Resolution: The highest your camera can provide

• Size: 300 ppi/dpi (pixels per inch /dots per inch)

• Image Format: TIF or uncompressed JPEG

• File Format: CMYK

• Maximizing Print Output: Images at least 300 dpi, CMYK file format, allow at least 1/8? area all around if you work with bleeds.

In an age where “Image is Everything”, there is an overflow of services that provide consumers with top quality, high resolution stock photos that can be used to promote your business. What happens when a designer needs images of the company’s product?
If your company is small to medium size with little or no budget to plan a professional photoshoot, you turn to your personal digital camera hoping to achieve an outstanding image quality - not considering what it takes to convert that image and prepare it for offset printing.
Although digital images might look great on a computer monitor, often the quality is poor when these images are reproduced on an offset printing press.

BargainPrinting.com comes across many clients on a daily basis that followed that path and we have been working with them to educate them about what it takes to get a digital image from an “1-shot” personal camera printed without compromizing quality, although we do not recommend that you follow this path.
To ensure that your photos are print quality, follow these guidelines for selecting a digital camera, choosing the proper settings, and handling image files. Keep in mind that images of conventional film camera properly scanned yield the best quality printed material followed by a “3-shot” professional digital cameras.

READ TOMORROW FOR PART 2 - CHOOSING A DIGITAL CAMERA AND CAMERA SETTINGS

Image is everything; Direct Mail Marketing projects professionalism while increasing your audience size and maintaining a low bottom line, low cost is key.

Obtain Greater Profits with Direct Mail Postcard Marketing!
Find out what thousands of leading businesses already know, all the world is a stage and your competitors may be out-performing you.
Thousands of companies meet and greet their prospects and current clients in a captive setting, their mailbox. Direct mailings are a time and cost effective vehicle to reach thousands of clients and prospects effectively. Direct mailings also offer the opportunity to secure your spot in your clients mind by sending repeat mailings. Not only can direct mailings maintain your client base, but they introduce you to new prospects. Updating your clients about your services and specials are easily managed by simply sending out an updated version of your postcard.

Consider these statistics:

Benefits of using our Mailing Services:
:: Avoid high shipping costs.
:: Optimize your mailing list.
:: Remove hassles of 3 rd party mail houses.
:: Get your mailing out in less time.
:: Look more professional.
:: Repeat mailing with the snap of a finger, or click of a mouse.
:: Maintain and expand your client base.

You can reach a BargainPrinting.com printing and mailing associate at:
sales@bargainprinting.com.

Use Postcards Imaginatively in Promotions That Give You A Bigger Slice of Your Market.

Attract an audience with color.
Drench the front of your postcard with color and images that represent your company. Never waste space.

Never Waste Space-Continue to Communicate
Use the back of your postcard, print more photos, graphics, names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.

The Greatest of Ease
For just pennies a client, our direct mailing services give you the opportunity to reach thousands of prospects in the comfort of your own office.

Anyone looking to learn more about digital printing should check out the ON DEMAND Printing Conference happening in Boston, MA on April 16-19th, 2007. I have attended the conference a few times when it was held in NYC and it is a great learning experience for anyone. And the best part about the expo, it’s FREE. Just register before April 15th - HERE

Some topics covered at the expo will be:
* Printing Equipment
* Value-Added Print Services
* Automated Production Hardware/Software
* Substrates and Consumables
* Bindery & Finishing Equipment & Services

Some of the featured exhibitors that will be there:
* Canon U.S.A.
* Eastman Kodak Company
* Graphic Arts Monthly
* Quark, Inc.
* Xerox

Don’t forget to register before April 15th for free entry to the expo!
Registration Link

[Part 3]

It is felt that certain elements make up a credible and a high quality logo. These are:
A logo should be different from your competitors. In my view there is no point being another face in the crowd. So stand out and if you dare, be different. Sometimes breaking rules and conventions may work in your favour. Evaluate maverick design ideas and themes.
It should reflect the companies business, products/services.
It should be easy to compress and still uniquely retain its design elements.

When finalizing your logo design think about your target market and ask these questions:
1) By looking at your logo image, will they be able to guess what the company products/services are.
2) Will they see the image as a representation of professional, reliable company – A company that delivers on its promise?

Remember the logo is not to please you but your customers. Why? Because they are the ones who pay your salaries. They are the ones who will help you buy that lovely apartment with water views!

The most simple yet difficult thing to do is to ignore and forget about what your personal likes and dislikes are with respect to colors, images and font styles and try to see from your target customer segments’ point of view. Easier said than done, but if you can, you will have a logo that will be recognizable.

Significance:
A well designed logo can raise the image of a company it represents. It establishes the credibility of the company. Potential customers form an opinion of a business within seconds and the logo plays a significant part in determining this.

Each aspect of the logo’s design should be carefully analyzed in order to ensure that the right message is being communicated.

Logos leave remarkable impressions that have a lasting and a deep impact on the hearts and minds of the viewers.

About Author
Author Alok Vats is related with many maverick graphic and website design activities at Maverick Mav ( http://www.maverickmav.com.au/ ). Maverick Mav provides affordable graphic design, logo design ( http://www.maverickmav.com.au/services-logodesign.htm ), web design, stationery design, illustration design and much more. They have recently launched the cartoon logo design (www.maverickmav.com.au/services-cartoonlogo.htm) service.

[Part 2]

Concept:
Concept is the most crucial aspect of logo design. The logo needs to undergo rigorous tests in order to create a unique place in the market its brand owners operate in.

While deciding on what kind of logo you want, ask yourself about the kind of image you want to portray about your company – For example cartoons could represent a fun filled company philosophy. Never forget that once decided upon, your logo will be a silent medium that will communicate the company’s ideals and philosophy.

The logo should be impressive and at the same time should not be over dramatic. The design elements need to be as few as possible so that the logo does not appear to be packed with different image components. It should be able to attract the customers the company wants to attract. For example, research shows that using bright colors does not create the brand confidence in finance related companies. Finance companies are advised to stick by the traditional grey, blues and reds (remember the bankers’ grey and blue pinstripe suits!!) by the marketing gurus! Though for every rule the pundits ask you to stick by, there are highly successful designs that just do the opposite - ING’s logo with its orange color image does exactly the opposite of what research and popular wisdom suggests but still creates a highly unique and recognizable symbol.

[To be continued]

About Author

Author Alok Vats is related with many maverick graphic and website design activities at Maverick Mav ( http://www.maverickmav.com.au/ ). Maverick Mav provides affordable graphic design, logo design ( http://www.maverickmav.com.au/services-logodesign.htm ), web design, stationery design, illustration design and much more. They have recently launched the cartoon logo design (www.maverickmav.com.au/services-cartoonlogo.htm) service.

[Part 1]

By Alok Vats

A logo is a design or image that represents a company, brand or product. Its aim is to help people identify the company with a positive customer experience. It is the basis of all future branding, advertising and communication strategies. Therefore considerable attention should be paid by the brand owners to develop and create an image that besides being unique will stand the test of time – Remember a logo will outlive people, products and services and exist as long as a company continues to operate.

Background:

The word ‘logo’ is derived from the Greek word ‘logotipos’ meaning a graphic symbol, element or icon of a trademark or brand which is set in a unique typeface or arranged in a particular way.

The three different aspects of a logo are:
Logotype/ word mark /letter mark
Icon: symbol/trademark
Slogan: Tag line

Logos gained enormous popularity in the 19th Century after the Industrial Revolution which led to increase in output, distribution and beginning of competitive markets. Every Company wanted to prove it was the best. Every organization wanted to outshine its competitors which surprise, surprise has not changed. There was a huge upsurge in the market and as a result logos were created in order to enable people to differentiate between products, packages and labels so buyers could easily recognize the product they wanted.

The emergence of logos brought about a revolution in the advertising world. More and more companies began demanding a unique symbol that could be a part of their business for years to come. However, only affluent companies could afford their own logo, crest or emblem.

[To be continued]

About Author

Author Alok Vats is related with many maverick graphic and website design activities at Maverick Mav ( http://www.maverickmav.com.au/ ). Maverick Mav provides affordable graphic design, logo design ( http://www.maverickmav.com.au/services-logodesign.htm ), web design, stationery design, illustration design and much more. They have recently launched the cartoon logo design (www.maverickmav.com.au/services-cartoonlogo.htm) service.