For a fresh approach to design visit us at www.raredesign.co.nz for your logo, business card, website and other design needs.  Your image is important to us.  Let us design you a memorable business image. 

 A striking logo and a quality business card informs your customers that you are professional, serious and committed to your business - here for the duration.   These can be enhanced by an eye-catching online brochure – your Flash website. 

 Come visit us today and see what we can do for you.

 jan@raredesign.co.nz

Opening for Business Your initial marketing tools

You have taken that exciting step and you are going into business for yourself.  Are you sifting through a multitude of helpful information to get you started and grow your business overnight?   Are you trying to work out just what tools you need to market your business?  Basic marketing materials – a logo and a business card are at the heart of your initial marketing efforts.

 Everyone expects you to have a business card if you want to be taken seriously.  It is bewildering to design and order your own business card when you don’t have an artistic bone in your body.  How do you react when you are presented with a diverse range of design and print offerings all with opinions on what image and message best suits your business?  How do you make a distinctive and memorable business card, that won’t cost you a fortune, won’t be thrown away, markets you business, and reflects your values? 

 All business owners know that having a business card is a necessity, but not all business cards say “ this is who we are” and “this is what we do” in a professional and memorable way.  The effort you put into your business card design will give your customers a sense of how much energy and commitment you are willing to put into your products and services. 

 When you leave your business card with a prospective customer you are out to leave a good first impression and a reference point for future contact.   Your prospective customer is likely to have been bombarded with cards from similar competing businesses.  As soon as you exchange business cards with a prospect you will be judged.  It is important that your primary marketing tool is of a high professional standard and quality.   A passive, poorly designed and produced card will lose you business.  The first goal is to grab their attention, and then to provide information.  

 A successful business card must meet the following criterion:

• Lists full contact details.  You want your customer to find you wherever you are and by whatever means suits them. 
• Says what the business does.  If your business name does not indicate what you do consider adding an explanatory statement, for example JL Services – plumber to the stars. 
• Include a compelling marketing message.  A memorable card will do this for itself, but you can also include a specific marketing message if it doesn’t make your card too cluttered.  You can also take advantage of the extra space on the back of your business card to do this. 
• Is legible.  It is important that customers can read your card, make sure the font and size of print is readable even for the near-sighted.
• Is visually pleasing. An attractive card that obeys basic design principles and pays attention to detail will receive positive comments.
• Is functional.  Make sure your business card is of a size and layout, whilst standing out in a crowd, nevertheless fits a standard business card holder.
• Is durable.  You don’t want your card to be thrown out so don’t use cheap paper as it is likely to tear and homemade cards can bleed.

 If you want a unique image you will need a logo.  A logo is integral to building brand recognition and preference.  Your logo will work for you on your business card, stationery, invoices, receipts, publications, presentations, advertisements, promotional materials, and websites.   A good logo helps customers remember your business, and many people respond to visual stimulus rather than to words. 

 The logo should be relevant to your business.  A symbol that misleads may do more harm than good.  You should have a logo that is original and not similar to that of competing businesses.

 A business logo should be simple. The simplest logos are usually the most effective, for example consider the golden arches or the Nike tick.  Simplicity means that the logo is easier to reproduce.  A logo should also be scaleable.  Scalability means that the logo’s size can be adjusted to any promotional activity.  Limit the number of colours that are used.  Some colours are not effective when they are reproduced and different colours have different associations and meanings. 

 It is important that your logo will stand the test of time, that it is responsive to the business you will become.  A striking logo and a quality business card at business start-up will give you the confidence to actively market your business, and will serve to inform your customers that you are professional, serious and committed to your business - here for the duration.

 Jan Bierman

RARE Design Ltd

RARE Design Ltd specialises in logo and business card design.   We also design websites, posters and promotional materials.  We are fresh, original, creative and distinctive. We approach a project by listening to you and developing a concept that matches the image, information and values you want to express.  We work to your budget and timeframe.  Visit us at www.raredesign.co.nz, or contact Jan on 09 529 1152, or 027 4875735, or jan@raredesign.co.nz.

 

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