The impact of a handwritten thank-you note is often overlooked in today’s fast-paced “why-write-something-when-I-can-email-it” world. Handwritten notes are rare, which makes them that much more meaningful to the recipient. When you write a note by hand, ensure you are using stationary that includes your business logo and company contact information. Consider having small note cards or single sided note paper designed for dual purposes – thank you’s and general notes to others. Happy writing!

We meet clients all the time that want to know what it will cost for a web site. There is never one easy answer to this question. It relates to a number of aspects that make up a web site. Today, I’d like to speak about the ‘design aspect’. Every web site needs a design. Its a visual aspect that is very important. Will it relate to your overall ‘brand’? It definitely should, but for many it doesn’t. If you have an opportunity to create a brand this is a great starting point. Choose a design that will create recognition for your business and product. If you already have a graphic designer, ask the graphic designer to work with the web designer to create a complete concept. If you don’t have a graphic designer, you may want to get one prior to planning the web site or you should discuss branding with the web designer so that the proper graphics are available at a later date when you’re ready to extend the brand.

This does not answer the question “What will a web site cost?” but it will be the first step towards considering your requirements when getting an estimate for a web site. We’ll review more considerations over the next week to help you plan a budget for your site.

We all know that professional photography can make a significant difference in marketing materials – both web and print – but sometimes we need just one perfect image, or we want a photo to portray an idea although it may not be something we can easily photograph within our business. An example is one of our clients who chose to enhance his web site appearance with photos of a killer whale, as well as photos of various areas of the world he does business in.

Our client’s business is Orca Strategy and his site is http://www.orcastrategy.com . Using a stock photo service like Istock Photo (http://www.istockphoto.com), we were able to get a few photos to enhance the visual appearance of the web site without having a hired photographer available to shoot these specific photos at various locations around the world.

We would always recommend hiring a photographer for your business specific photos whenever possible, but sometimes that option is not available to you, and when its not, consider a stock photography option.

Local customers already search Google for the products and services you offer. Create a FREE business listing to be sure they find you.

Google Local Business Center >> www.google.com/local

On Aug 29, 2009 I attended the AC/DC concert at GM Place in Vancouver. I couldn’t help but think of how the band used the “Red Horns” to create overall brand recognition.

Facts…

• sold out crowd of 60,000 fans
• for approx $22 you could buy a set of flashing devil horns with “AC/ DC” printed on them

AC/DC resurrected an item from the bands’ past that was originally successful and have made it successful again today. The essence of the horns drafted their “brand DNA” by using a visual symbol and colour scheme. Consider this concept for your business. It is so simple: find an item that resonates with people (in this case not so much the horns on their own but paired with the effect they had in taking the fan back to years past), create that connection for the fan in turn creates brand recognition.

For more info, check out this story by Mike Ross in a Special to Sun Media on Aug. 27, 2009

All localities have opportunities for their business members. The Chamber of Commerce, Business Associations, Board of Trades and Business Improvement Associations can all be an asset to your business. These organizations can provide various discounts in insurance, fleet services, credit card rates, and member to member discounts, but in addition they can help your business brand become recognized. This is not a result you gain upon sign up. This is something gained over time through contribution and participation within the group. Here are some tips to help you get the most of your membership and grow your brand recognition;

The last point is very important. Make sure people can learn about you online. Linking from the organization to your web site adds strength to your search engine rankings. Joining a local business association and contributing on a long term, regular basis will increase your level of recognition in the community and with fellow business members and ultimately assist you in growing your business. Business in our local community of Delta, BC have a number of business organizations available. Delta Chamber of Commerce, Ladner Business Association, Tsawwassen Business Association and the Tsawwassen Business Improvement Association are all organizations developed to assist local businesses and contribute to the community. You might want to check them out if you’re not already a member.

Promotional stickers make great branding tools that can become an effective marketing tool for your business. In many of cases, stickers can be placed in creative places that may have never been considered ad space before, and its sure to get the attention of potential clients.

Consider what types of items you can place a sticker on? Items that relate to your business or that you use in your business. When I provide printed materials to my clients, I like to place my company sticker on the box containing the materials, or on the back of the sign I design. This serves as a reminder of where it came from, which is helpful when it’s time to re-order, and it also builds my brand.

Stickers can be used on the front of standard 9×12 folders to save on the costs of creating custom print folders. Used on the doors and windows to promote association and membership affiliations or quickly identify your services to customers are other values we find in sticker use. What about on the floor of your retail space? Footprints for guidance to something important or your logo if it was an interesting symbol? Consider, for instance, the mouthwash company that placed stickers on the ceiling above dentists chairs. Not only effective but memorable!

Stickers can be customized to fit the nature of your promotion and can be made as large or as small as you need. With endless options, you can find the exact sticker that will work for branding your company.

Often we see clients using their local ISP email address instead of an email address that matches their domain name. In doing this, the client loses a valuable opportunity to brand their business and their web site. Using an email of “yourname@yourdomain.com” will catch the attention of many recipients and remind them of your web site name. Always take advantage of opportunities to send people to your web site. Using your domain within your email is one very simple way to be recognized.