BAD FLYER DESIGN EXAMPLES.......

 As a professional graphic designer for 40 years...yes before computers, I have to look away every day at some of the flyers I see online in social media. There is NO design. NO flow. NO professionalism. If you want to market yourself, you should represent yourself and your business as a professional and not with an attitude of, "Yeah, my kid could do that". And yes they probably can but it will also look like it unless they have a degree in graphic design. I have paid my dues and done my time. And as a friend of mine, who shall remain nameless (Patti) and I say, DAM@%#  IT, I'm a professional.

Check out some BAD FLYER DESIGNS

This article pretty much covers most of the common mistakes made in design so you won't make them.

 This is one of my favs! I would get into trouble if I posted some of the ones I see in my neck of the woods.

 

People Don’t Read Online—They Scan. This Is How to Write for Them

 

 

A co-worker and I wonder if people even read the copy in posts when questions asked has the answer in the post text. This article explains that people do not read online, they scan.

All people do not read in the same way. I have tried to tell clients that think posts should be in book form to remember to just HIT IT AND QUIT IT! In other words. Just the facts. No fluff, no long adjectives, and no unnecessary and's or the's and keep it as short and to the point as possible. Scanning allows readers to avoid informational overload. Which type of scanner are you?

And be sure and read the 10 helpful tips for maximum readability.

 Take me to the article....

 

DO YOU DIY?

Top 15 Easy-to-Use DIY Design Tools For Non-Designers in 2023

New business? No budget for a Graphic Designer or Web Designer? I get it! I have been in the DESIGN biz for over 40 years, pre-Windows-Macs and floppy discs. What a great time to learn from the ground up. I love this stuff and have fun every day.



I have been known to help new businesses pro bono to get them started with a professional look. Always starting with their logo. If you want to DIY here are the top online tools for NON-DESIGNERS the link is below! I have even checked some of them out. I would much rather hang out in the Land of Adobe, and I am very comfortable there.

Good artists copy; great artists steal”
-Pablo Picasso

 15 DIY Options for Non-Designers

 

 IN THE KNOW!

Lorem Ipsum

Do you know what Lorem Ipsum is? Maybe you should!

I love it when clients tell me I put some foreign language on their website. Well, I did! But for design purposes. And it has been around for 5 CENTURIES.

It has quite an interesting and, at least for me fun history.

SO NOW YOU KNOW!

Read all about it here:  https://www.lipsum.com/

There is a method to my madness!

 Not Everyone is a Graphic Designer!

 

 I had a great day yesterday. I got to speak to some REAL Graphic Artists who are local.  Jerred at Shipping Depot, after I explained who I was said, "You speak my language." And I said that is my line as a great conversation ensued.  I then had to pleasure to meet Adam at PrintBoy on Merritt Island and "Talk Shop". All you REAL Graphic Artists are very much appreciated. I do not care who does the design as long as it is good! And these guys are GOOD! I have often thought of writing a book Diary of a MAD GRAPHIC ARTIST, but it may have a limited audience.

This article from Midwest Marketing pretty much sums it all up! I have always told clients there is a method to my madness.

What separates Designers from the “I’ve got Photoshop”?

• Designers make decisions based on the elements of design rather than throwing something together because it looks nice or cool.
• Designers don’t just throw something on their screen and hope it looks professional and sends the right message. There is a thought process; color choice, placement and knowing what works best for that client’s message and intended medium.
• Designers are innovative, they are creative and can create mind blowing ideas that the average person cannot.
• Designers go beyond. This is their career, they’re college educated. Your project is just as important to them as it is to you.

Design on, every one!

OH NO, NOT WIX!

 

I am back to posting. I have been on hiatus due to some health issues and COVID really hit hard to a lot of businesses and communities. We were all forced to find new ways of conducting business and how we live our personal lives. Along with that some things never change. If you have a business and want to use WIX this is a good read on MOST ALL the reasons why they are a poor choice. I have dealt with them for clients and I cringe when they say their site is on WIX.

Reasons to say NO to WIX!

 

Do you need an XML Sitemap? What does Google say?

 What Is an XML Sitemap?

A sitemap is a list of website pages that are accessible to search engine web crawlers, such those of Google. It is usually generated in XML format and includes a hierarchical list of the URLs on your website.

 This is just one thing every website needs. Read more about sitemap below.

 https://www.nwsdigital.com/Blog/XML-Sitemaps-How-important-Are-They

 

Pushing through in these Crazy Covid Dayze----The importance of Visual in Online Marketing...

 It has been a while since my last post. I am well and hope you are too. I have been busier than usual and I expect the upswing may be somewhat due to more people working from home. In the past few years the phone has overtaken overall web viewing. But I think you may see those numbers rise slightly. With a background in Graphics first and Front-end Web Development on its onset I have the expertise in both areas. 

Visual content is now getting the recognition it deserves in web design. In fact most of my clients usually contact me because of the visual on my sights. 

Read further about the importance of the VISUAL  at the link below from SiteProNews.

STAY WELL!

Importance of Visual Content

The Ever Changing Facebook Almighty Algorithm

It is reported that  Facebook ads are overtaking Google Ads!

They both have their place, but if you know how to work it...it will work for you without them. This article gives insight on just how to do that.

And the takeaways are.....
Here’s what they do to avoid paying for ads and still reach more than 5% of their followers...

At least 20% of your content should be curated from other sources. This shows that you are not just trying to sell your products or services but that you genuinely care about keeping your audience informed or entertained.

 Read the rest of the article below:

https://www.sitepronews.com/2020/03/16/7-ways-to-beat-the-facebook-algorithm-and-get-more-engagement-without-paying-for-ads/

Pardon me...Your ignorance is showing!

And there is no excuse!

https://pixelsink.com/can-i-use-stock-photos-with-a-watermark/

This is such a pet peeve of mine that I feel the need to post for posterity. Pixelsink.com explains this very well. Why you should not use an image that shows a watermark. Besides showing your lack of knowledge as to the legality it also shows that you do not conduct your business professionally. It is your decision.

Stock Images and WHY NOT TO USE THEM!

Take it from someone who knows first hand how wrong this can go! I now have to make sure to tell clients that I can not be responsible for any images they send that are not theirs to use.



I used a stock image for a client as a placeholder until they could send me the picture of their own, I completely forgot and left it on the site. About a year later Getty Images contacted the client and $600.00 later my lesson was learned. I took full responsibility for it, but I have learned.  This is one reason why I tell clients to not use stock images. This is one reason I am not a fan of Pinterest.

Google images is a good source to check images.



Read the article here....



Stock Photos - The Basics You Should be Aware Of - SiteProNews: Images are used as part of promotional tools by everyone, from large corporations to small eCommerce stores. Billions of images are seen all around the world on websites, newspapers, and magazines. The question is, where do these images come from? You might be surprised to know that most of them come from stock

AI! What does it mean for U? Change is good!

 Great article on AI, and the Takeaway is....



5. Human skills will be valued. We must build our human skills at
a much higher degree than we’ve been doing. We need empathy,
collaborative skills, leadership skills, the ability to inspire and
influence, and critical thinking. We need to be able to discern truth
from fiction. We need to be more compassionate and relationship-focused.



AI Is Taking Over the Workplace: What Does It Mean for You? - SiteProNews: According to a report by UpSkill America, 24 million jobs in the United States will disappear due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Robots and AI are quickly changing the way we work. Automation has already taken a toll on blue-collar jobs. Between 2000 and 2010, approximately 5.6 million manufacturing

'You Like Me! You Really Like Me!'

Times they are a changing. And since Facebook owns Instagram they should soon follow suit. This does not mean the people who like your page it is referring to likes for particular posts. I am sure there is more to come



Likes on Social Media Don’t Matter Anymore. Here’s What Does Instead - SiteProNews: Instagram is planning a bold move: hiding the like count from the feed. This idea is currently being tested in Canada and, if Facebook + Instagram history taught us something it’s that it will probably be rolled out worldwide soon. There’s one important aspect to be mentioned here: Instagram will still count the

Email Marketing...It is a MUST HAVE!

Social Media Marketing Vs. Email Marketing

Though social media marketing is presently on trend as well, when
compared to email marketing, email marketing is reported to continuously
secure higher ROI in the past several years.



Read the whole story below.



The Cheatsheet to Maximizing Your Email Marketing ROI in 2019 - SiteProNews: When it comes to marketing, regardless of whether it’s digital or traditional, the main goal is to maximize the return on your business investment, especially when you are a small business. Understanding ROI in your small business can indeed make a huge difference between success and failure. ROI is often a tool that

The Truth About SEO

I see it too many times and this article explains things very well. If you invest in SEO, Google Ads or Facebook Ads make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and you see a ROI. You can be #1 and have no money in the bank!

https://www.sitepronews.com/2019/05/31/5-ways-you-may-be-wasting-money-on-seo-without-knowing-it/

Just Google It!

Just Google it! This is what people just do not understand and how that one statement can be sooooo frustrating!!!!!! and why I ask for a URL instead.

And if you do not know what a URL is, JUST GOOGLE IT!




Read the article here...

7 Reasons Google Search Results Vary Dramatically by Mike McEvoy

https://www.webpresencesolutions.net/7-reasons-google-search-results-vary-dramatically/

Why is Grammar Important?

Your brand and your online presence is what potential clients judge you by. Please make it a good one.

This is copied from Megan Krause  |  December 14, 2018 on her blog. I am a firm believer to credit someone when they can say it as well as I can.


What is the big deal? So glad you asked. Let’s get to it.

Good grammar is a brand ambassador.

It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about your personal brand or your business brand — your grammar, spelling and punctuation represents you in the world. It sends the reader a message about your authority and attention to detail. It’s a trust signal; it says, I do good work. You can feel safe hiring me/buying from me/retaining my services.

Conversely, poor grammar harms your credibility and makes you look careless. In fact, four in 10 job applications are rejected due to poor grammar and spelling, according to the global communication skills company Communicaid. People are going to make judgments on your competence and intelligence based on your grammar, whether they realize it or not — and regardless of whether you think it’s OK for them to do so. Right or wrong, bad grammar hurts your bottom line.
It comes down to this: Anything great is error-free. Period.

AND for further confirmation please read this article in Business World.

https://www.businessworld.ie/news/10-Reasons-Why-Business-Writing-Skills-Are-So-Important-569924.html

Great article from Search Engine Watch, one of  my online resources for SEO. I have never been one to advocate ads, so I am glad to see it made the list. What people do not realize is there are things that will make you higher in the rankings, such as paid back links but are they actually bringing anything to the table or just looks good on paper?




7 things that hurt your SEO rankings

1. Avoid keyword stuffing
2. Check your website speed
3. Never buy links
4. Become mobile friendly
5. Get rid of ads
6. Handle technical issues immediately
7. Maintain the quality of your guest posts

This is not Rocket Science folks! It is SEO!

This is not Rocket Science, but it is SEO. The basics are still the same. I can not stress enough the importance of organization. Your navigation of your web site is key to people coming back to it.
This along with the other things mentioned in this article is just basic good web design, which Google loves. Want to know more?

5 UX tips for better SEO results

Digital Marketing on a Budget: Your Complete Guide - SiteProNews

 Marketing 101-This article simply and concisely explains how to market your business today. Pay attention to the  Who, What, Where, When, Why and Which. I try and convey this to clients every day. Also I love this take away on Email Marketing...



Some studies
say that email marketing done right can have an ROI of up to 4300%. If
this percentage sounds too good to be true, take a moment to think about
it.


Email service providers like MailChimp offer 100% free plans, so your financial investment is minimal...



Read the complete article below. 



Digital Marketing on a Budget: Your Complete Guide - SiteProNews: Ever dream about the awesome things you could do to promote your company if you had a nearly unlimited budget? We all do! If you find yourself envying the likes of Apple and Coca-Cola who seem to be everywhere, I have some news for you: not even they have an unlimited budget. Much like all of us, they still have to