How to Effectively Design Your Business Image > NetSparsh

Home
>
Small Business
>
How to Effectively Design Your Business Image

How to Effectively Design Your Business Image

In many industries, image is one of the last things business owner looks at. If business is not booming, they assume there is something wrong with the sales method, as opposed to the image. "If we just sent out a few thousand more fliers" they say, "we will get some more clients". When in reality, they should be looking at how the message they're sending to their target market is perceived in the first place. Here are a few pointers to look at:

-Color-

Colors evoke innate responses, which means not all colors are suitable for all business types. How does red make you feel? Angry, in pain, tense? It's tricky. In the financial industry red is negative (in the red). In the world of health, red can represent discomfort, not good for people offering pain solutions. In fitness, red is very sporty and stimulating. How about blue? It tends to be calm and soothing. Blue can range from fun and playful sky blue to dark, corporate navy. Green is often associated with natural things, or 'go' and money ? depending on the shades.

Yellow/orange/reds/browns in combination stimulate the appetite - think fast food and candy bars. Red is tricky. In some instances red means power and is striking. Purple can very easily go from sophisticated, royal aubergene to kid's grape (Barney). Orange is still a little weird and often used as a shocker, not as the dominant color. The only industry that can get away with almost any color is Tech.

-Personal Preference VS Market Preference-

People often let their own personal tastes rule their image decisions One's color preferences and styles may not suit the audience they are targeting. What style of design appeals to you? Now imagine that in the eyes of someone quite different, like your grandmother.

For example: being too sporty and athletic when your target is professional businesspeople. Too earthy and organic when your target is average Joes. There may be imagery that means a lot to you in your profession, but doesn't mean much to your target market. It may even scare them. Step back and look at your business as if you've never encountered it before. Imagine what might attract clients, or help explain simply what you do. Realizing that your image needs to portray a certain message to the general public, not the you or your colleagues, is the first step to image success.

-Looking "New"-

Just because you've only been in business for a few days, doesn't mean you have to look like it. Having a well put-together public image will build trust and a solid reputation. Taking a little time and care instead of quick 'good enough' fixes will help you appear more established. Potential clients may not consciously pin point it, but they will pick up on the homespun factor or the generic Staples business cards. How does that affect your credibility? It is good to get your name and information about your business out there. However, when it comes to points of contact like brochures and web sites, if they are messy and difficult to read, they aren't doing you any favours. There are professionally designed, inexpensive web templates that can do a great job until you are ready for a custom web site. Find a real printer and ask them have a look at your layout and make sure your type isn't falling off the edge and that the images sharp.

-Looking like everyone else-

You have a lot of competition. If everyone in your industry uses the same symbols and goes for the standard solution, how will you stand out? What makes your business unique? Is it the name? The location? Is there something meaningful to you that you could incorporate into your identity that shows your uniqueness, or that speaks to your target audience? Maybe a new take on an industry symbol. It could be as simple as having a blue card with a different typeface. Imagine this amongst a sea of black and white, times roman everything centered cards.

-Looking good on a shoestring budget-

If you can't hire a designer there are a few things you can do to help look like a pro. Have things printed professionally ? it is much better than your bubble jet. Don't make all the type gigantic. Give everything some breathing room by not butting up against the edge of the page or pictures. Line things up. Look at the competition. Compare your work to professionally designed material and try to notice the differences that make theirs look cleaner. Put your own tastes aside and ask your target audience for their opinions and then listen to them.

Faith Seekings is the owner of Faith Seekings Design. She works with business owners to help align their business goals with their business image. She can be reached at 416.368.8956 or email [email protected]

About The Author

Faith is a graphic designer trained at George Brown College in Toronto. With more than 8 years' experience as a designer and project manager, Faith has created logos, stationery, advertising campaigns, ecommerce solutions, websites and collateral material for a host of clients, including: Rogers Cablesystems, Daniels Properties, Zona Health, Nooro Online Research, Agent Wildfire, Nymity Privacy Services and more. Faith is a skilled designer with a keen eye for the strategic as well as the tactical elements of graphic design.

faithseekingsdesign.ca

[email protected]

In The News:

GDPR: Small business owners still ‘clueless’ about data protection rules, study claims The IndependentSmall business owners polled for a new survey have admitted they are still “clueless” about GDPR - leaving the personal data of millions of employees and ...

Telstra announces T22 small business plans ZDNetTelstra has taken the wraps off its new small business plans, including a 24/7 tech support *service* and a fixed-line fault "concierge". The plans were announced ...

Simplifying Digital Transformation at Your Small Business EntrepreneurDigital transformation offers something for every company -- although that something may be different in every case.

Why This Spirits Company Is Making a Name for Itself With a Small-Business Attention to Detail EntrepreneurIn this video, Entrepreneur Network partner Business Rockstars talks with Kaitlyn Callaluca Skloss, the CMO of Pura Vida Spirits. Callaluca Skloss describes her ...

Immigration a Growing Concern for Overall Happy Small Business Owners Small Business TrendsAccording to the NWYC Q4 2018 Small Business Sentiment Index, immigration ranked as a top small business concern in this quarter.

The History of Women Entrepreneurs (INFOGRAPHIC) Small Business TrendsThe history of women entrepreneurs shows they have come a long way in the last 30 years, but they still need more help to get the playing field even.

Small-business optimism dips over fears of an economic slowdown: Survey CNBCAlthough tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks this year fueled small-business optimism to hit its highest level in decades, the latest CNBC/SurveyMonkey Small ...

Is Your Small Business Ready for a Possible Trade War with China Small Business TrendsAs retailers prepare for trade war, The US and China argue over import tariff increases planned by the Trump administration.

Small business, the casualty of rising interest rates Washington TimesAs interest rates rise, access to capital is increasingly restricted for the small businesses that make up the core of the American economy. However, some far-left ...

Small business optimism takes a dip CNBCCNBC's Kate Rogers joins the "Squawk Box" news team to break down the results of the NFIB Small Business Optimism Report.

Do small business owners support Trump? Not so fast Fast CompanyThe majority feel that the Trump administration is doing more for large corporations than small businesses.

Small businesses, desperate to fill open positions, juice job offers with amazing perks CNBCJob positions at small businesses across the country are remaining open for months. To attract solid candidates, Main Street business owners are not only ...

Remarks To The Annual Government-Business Forum On Small Business Capital Formation In Columbus, Ohio, By SEC Chairman Jay Clayton Exchange News DirectThank you, Bill [Hinman].[1] Every year the SEC staff does a tremendous job identifying topics, selecting speakers and coordinating the behind the scenes work ...

Best Ways to Fund Small Business FinSMEsSmall businesses may need extra funds for various reasons. When a market is growing, the company will be in need of additional money. Clients could be late ...

Top Small Business Manufacturing Trends in 2018 Small Business TrendsAutomation, offshoring and technology have made a major impact on US manufacturing businesses of all sizes. Here are the 2018 manufacturing trends.

Spotlight: Flaunt Boots & Accessories Makes Medical Boots Fashionable Small Business TrendsDo you want your medical boot to match your outfit? The Flaunt Medical Boot & Accessory company is making them fashionable.

Dell Rapids Small Business Hit with Big-Time Hack KDLT NewsDELL RAPIDS, S.D. – Imagine all of your phone contacts getting wiped out at a time you need them most. Something similar is happening more and more to ...

Searcy Makes Top 10 Cut for Small Business Revolution Show amppob.comSearcy, Arkansas recently made the cut for the top 10 cities for season 4 of Small Business Revolution on Main Street starring Amanda Brinkman and Ty ...

Don't Kill Business Banking Relationships With Digital The Financial BrandDigital transformation may be all the rage in the retail banking world. But businesses say live bankers are still a key part of the *service*. In their attempts to ...

Be impeccable with customer service and stand out, online or off USA TODAYNot long ago, I was wandering through a used bookstore and happened upon an old article in a magazine from the 1950s about customer *service*. Treasure ...

4 Small Business Loans You Can Get in 24 Hours NavCash issues aren't always predictable for small business owners. For tricky situations like these, here are 4 business loans you can get in a jiffy.

US Embassy supports small business trade mission from Puerto Rico Jamaica ObserverA trade mission from Puerto Rico visited Jamaica late last month and was assured by a senior Amer...

Zoho Inventory Goes Mobile with Benefits for Small Businesses Small Business TrendsThe Zoho Inventory app is now available on your Android device so you can keep track of your stock when you step out of the office.

The City of Searcy Seeks $500,000 through Hulu's Small Business Revolution KARKSearcy was one of 12000 cities across the US nominated to be featured on season four of the show. So far, it has advanced to the top 20.

Lack of long-term bond market in India strangulating small firms: Henry Kravis The Hindu BusinessLineThe co-founder of global investment company KKR says US-China trade war advantageous for India.

Small Business, Big Lessons: Make a Milkshake! Chapelboro.comPosted by Gregory Woloszczuk | Dec 12, 2018 | Columns, Small Business, Big Lessons, Town Square | 0. Do you have all the ingredients to have a great ...

Project announced to help small businesses leverage digital opportunities DynamicBusinessSmall businesses are sometimes unaware of the digital options available to them. The Small Business Digital Champions project has been launched to ...

Brussels Small Business Act helped create 7500 more SMEs in two years The Brussels TimesA body of measures aimed at benefitting small businesses in Brussels Region helped to increase their number by 7500 between 2015 and 2017. Thus far,...

Arpa and Raven Small Business BC Awards finalists Kamloops This WeekTwo Kamloops companies are semi-finalists in the 2019 Small Business BC Awards. Arpa Investments, which is transforming a large swath of Tranquille Road ...

Five Strategies To Safely Grow Your Small Business ForbesThe opportunity to grow a business is exciting because it means the business has done well enough to expand. Customers are connecting with your product or ...

Small Business Roundtable Discusses Healthcare as The Number One SMB Issue Small Business TrendsMore small business healthcare concerns — namely the quagmire caused by legislation — are the number 1 issue facing many small businesses.

The 8 Best Chatbot Examples We Could Find to Help Inspire You Small Business TrendsNot sure how to design a chatbot for your small business? Check out these chatbot examples when you're looking for inspiration for your own.

Greenville competition offering small business grant WITNHere's your chance to qualify for a grant if you have a dream of opening or expanding a small business in Greenville.

9 Ways To Be More Organized In Your Small Business The Future of ThingsIf you're looking to grow and expand your business in 2019 and beyond, you need to get off on the right foot, and that means making sure you are organized and ...

The New Dell Vostro 5000 Designed for Small Business Users Specifically Small Business TrendsWhen it comes to computing, small businesses have a wide range of needs. The new Dell Vostro 5000 line of laptops have been designed to address these ...

Dodo founder Kestleman fronts government's Cash splash for small business digital transformation iTnewsMalcolm Turnbull's Holy Grail of digital transformation for the public sector may have been relegated to the back of the Scott Morrison policy pack. But it's all ...

Business Insurance: The Safety Net Your Small Business Needs ForbesAre you risking your small business's future by going without insurance? Here are the basic kinds of business insurance every business owner should consider.

Small sellers on Amazon, Flipkart seek PMO intervention to safeguard interest Economic TimesNEW DELHI: A group of small and medium online retailers selling on Amazon and Flipkart platforms has written to the Prime Minister's Office, alleging that the ...

5 Ways for Small Business Owners to Save Money on Taxes TAPinto.netIt may be late in the year but it is certainly not too late to save money on taxes. Here are some important items for you to consider:

Pritzker mulls tax incentives to soften planned minimum wage hike Illinois News NetworkThe incoming governor wants to investigate ways to offset the impact a possible minimum wage increase is expected to have on small businesses. A small ...

Card fees still a headache as tap-and-go changes wait until 2019 The Sydney Morning HeraldThe big banks' transition to 'least cost' processing won't be finished until next year.

Atlanta Small Business Profile - Fran Tarkenton, Hall of Fame QB Atlanta Small Business NetworkOn today's episode of the Atlanta Small Business Profile, Ted Jenkin has an enlightening conversation with Hall of Fame quarterback, Fran Tarkenton.

Augmented Reality Examples to Inspire Small Business Owners Small Business TrendsUse these augmented reality examples from these big brands to introduce the tactic into your small business marketing mix.

Small businesses to receive boost from BAE pension fund Financial TimesLending programme with ThinCats aims to transform the way SMEs get financing.

Young entrepreneurs in Pontiac holding small business expo learn finances, life lessons The Oakland PressA program built to teach kids hands on lessons about financial literacy and entrepreneurship will be hosting its third annual Kids Business Expo this weekend in ...

Irish small firms to gather at Business Connect 2019 Ireland, news for Ireland, Ireland, Business WorldIt was announced today that the 2019 Small Firms Association's Business Connect event will take place on Thursday, 7 February 2019 in the Aviva Stadium, ...

This Toronto Raptor made his small business a dream come true (and you can too) Daily HiveAmerican basketball player CJ Miles has gone on to create his own collection of pajamas alongside his Toronto Raptors career.

Amazon India announces Dec 16 as 'Small Business Day' to facilitate small entrepreneurs Knn IndiaIn an attempt to give marketing platform to small businesses in India, Amazon India has announced December 16, 2018 as 'Small Business Day'.

How To Grow A Small NY Business Organically ForbesWhen you're growing a small business, there are so many tasks you need to concentrate on, it can be hard to know how to prioritize your to-do list. Six members ...

5 Top Tech Trends Influencing the Future of Your Small Business… Atlanta Small Business NetworkIf you want to be sure your small business isn't made redundant by technology, it is imperative you understand trends influencing the future of business.

10 Lessons to Help You Avoid Common Business Mistakes Small Business TrendsThere's no way to completely avoid mistakes when running a business. But there are ways to avoid common mistakes. If you pay attention and learn from others ...

Nab these last-minute tax savings opportunities for entrepreneurs CNBCCongratulations! You've made it through the first year under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Here's what it means for you if you are your own boss.

Employee well-being is an important small business priority Washington PostA healthy workforce is an asset for small businesses. When employees feel healthy and supported, everyone benefits. (Partner *content*)

Thanks for the $2 billion for small-business expansion; now all we need are plans to expand The Conversation AUSimply providing more money will not accelerate the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.

What Challenges Keep Small Business Owners up at Night? Business.comWhat are small-to-midsized business owners worried about? And what are the things they should be worried about but may not be? Here are three common ...

Edward Kelly puts career earnings into good use by putting up small business in Baguio ABS-CBN NewsFilipino mixed martial artist Edward Kelly has put his earnings to good use by putting up a small business in Baguio City.

Louisiana tax ruled unconstitutional collected $70M from small business owners Greater Baton Rouge Business Report(Note: This story has been updated since its original publication.) A court ruling last week means Louisiana residents, also doing business in Texas, who were ...

Microsoft Is Moving To A Chrome Browser...And Other Small Business Tech News This Week ForbesHere are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them? 1 — Microsoft is building its own Chrome ...

Massive fake review attack has big impact on small businesses Search Engine LandThe Local SEO community was recently plagued with a massive fake review attack that impacted small businesses globally. A collection of 37 profiles left over 3 ...

how to read financial statements you'll need for your small business Small Business TrendsKnowing how to read financial statements will help you understand how your small business is doing. Here's some tips to get you started.

The 25 best small companies to work for, according to employees Business InsiderThese are the 25 best small companies to work for in 2019, according to employees. All companies on the list have fewer than 1000 employees.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers small-business bill gets Senate OK, heads to President Trump’s desk The Spokesman-ReviewU.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is closing a historically productive session in Congress with the planned signing of a bill she sponsored intended to bring ...

Amazon has helped this Ann Arbor small business thrive MLive.comAnn Arbor T-shirt Company expects to sell about 700000 items through Amazon this year, which accounts for about 75 percent of their business.

Senators Call for Ban on Tactics That Devastate Small Businesses Washington PostTwo U.S. senators are seeking to outlaw a legal tactic that predatory lenders have frequently used to seize money from small businesses.

Small Business Saturday by the numbers: 67 million expected to shop, $85 billion spent CNBCAmerican Express launched the holiday in 2010 as a way to help small business owners recover from the recession.

Small Business Saturday isn't a novelty anymore – independent retailers depend on it CNBCSmall Business Saturday, now in its ninth year, is sponsored by American Express and encourages consumers to get out and shop "small" supporting local ...

LinkedIn Pages Relaunched with New Features for Businesses Small Business TrendsLinkedIn Pages is the recently introduced “next generation” of LinkedIn Company Pages. Here's what they're all about and how you can make them work for you.

Will Fowler and Laura Matthews elected as directors at the Idaho Small Business Development Center Idaho Business ReviewWill Fowler and Laura Matthews have been elected to leadership roles in the Idaho Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Fowler was named associate ...

US Small-Business Owners' Optimism Reaches New Heights GallupThe Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index finds optimism among small-business owners, improving upon the record high set last quarter.

Protect Small Businesses From Predatory Lending BloombergIf you knew what you were doing, would you sign a contract allowing a company to sue you and take your money whenever it wanted, with no proof, warning or ...

Small businesses struggle to find workers Marketplace APMÉlan Flowers in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood is a sea of roses and ribbon. Christine Hall, who owns the shop with her husband Patrick, says a good bouquet ...

Ethical gifts: let your money work for a small business The GuardianEntrepreneurs in troubled countries can struggle to find funding – but you can help.

What Is Small Business Saturday? How AmEx's Post-Recession Initiative Found Its Place in the Thanksgiving Retail Rush FortuneWith Black Friday and Cyber Monday, major U.S. retailers have succeeded in driving consumption around the holidays by offering irresistible deals and ...

I'm a champion of small business – but I hate Small Business Saturday The GuardianThe annual US celebration of small businesses is demeaning. If we're good at what we do, we don't need acts of charity.

APRA backs small business growth fund led by NAB The Sydney Morning HeraldA meeting of banking and government heavyweights in Canberra on Thursday has kicked off the government's Business Growth Fund.

Concerns on credit supply to small businesses a myth: SBI report Times of IndiaIndia Business News: The commentary comes amid concerns on the state of small businesses sector post-GST, which also led the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) ...

The Definitive Office Supplies Checklist for Small Businesses Small Business TrendsYou don't have the time to run back and forth to the office store. Use our office supplies checklist to make sure you get what you need the first time.

Political correctness kills off small Jersey business New Jersey 101.5 FM RadioCongratulations People's Republic of Montclair. You destroyed a man's business with your evolved, politically correct erudite snottiness.

Here are the expectations for Small Business Saturday CNBCCNBC's Kate Rogers reports on how small businesses are preparing for Small Business Saturday and expectations for the day.

Small Business: Sharing ideas over coffee and making them reality - Generosity Coffee New Zealand HeraldRachel Berry, co-owner of Barista Academy, discusses motivations for setting up a social enterprise and why she wants to help her community. What does your ...

Right Networks Eyes SMB App Connectivity With Propelware Acquisition PYMNTS.comRight Networks' acquisition of Propelware aims to enhance its ability to connect its cloud accounting solution for small businesses with other enterprise apps.

Small businesses squeezed by higher labor, vendor costs Asbury Park PressHigher labor costs are a key factor as some small businesses struggle with inflation and consider whether to pass higher expenses along to customers.

Small Businesses Lose $80K on Average to Cybercrime Annually Small Business TrendsCyber attacks against your business are getting more costly. Here are some tips to help keep the likelihood, and thus the cost of a cyber attack, down.

30+ Important Accounting Statistics You Need to Know in 2019 G2 CrowdThese accounting statistics will help you understand how you can use accounting software and practices to immediately improve your company's finances.

How AI Can Help Small Business Solve Big Problems [email protected]Artificial intelligence and data analytics can help self-employed and small business owners manage their finances better, says Ashok Srivastava, Intuit's chief ...

SBM Bank eyes HNIs, small biz for growth Times of IndiaMumbai: SBM Bank, the newest lender to get a licence to operate a full- *service* bank, has plans to grow business by catering to high net worth individuals (HNIs) ...

Small business owner's heat up and running after Dominion Energy mishap ABC 4SANDY, Utah (ABC4 News) - A small business owner is speaking out after Dominion Energy shut off the heat to his auto shop, with what he says, was without ...

Wells Fargo CEO: Small business success is 'off the charts' CNBCWells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan sits down with CNBC's Wilfred Frost to talk about the bank's small business customers.

The $130,000 fight: Small business disputes take their toll The Sydney Morning HeraldSmall businesses are spending $130,000 on average to resolve disputes but half of them don't believe it is worth the time and effort to assert their rights.

Magisto Named a "Cool Vendor" in Artificial Intelligence for Small and Midsize Businesses by Gartner Business WireMagisto, a leading provider of A.I.-powered social video creation and marketing solutions, today announced that it has been included as a.

Tax-Free Shopping? How One State Is Celebrating Small Business Saturday 2018 FortuneNew Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez announced a tax holiday Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24 for businesses with 10 employees or fewer.

Two Clare Companies Named As Finalists In Small Business Awards Clare FMTwo Clare companies have been named as finalists in the SFA National Small Business Awards 2019. Shannon-based CalQRisk, an Integrated Software ...

New York State Is Probing Abuses in Small-Business Lending Washington PostNew York's attorney general has opened an investigation into potential abuses by finance firms that offer quick money to small businesses nationwide, ...

I&M Bank,IFC ink deal to support small businesses The New TimesThe partnership follows IFC's $10 million subordinated loan to I&M Bank in May 2018 to strengthen the bank's capital base, and help it increase lending to small ...

Critical Atlantic worker shortages forcing small businesses to do more with less, says CFIB report The GuardianBroader immigration and credits for investment are needed immediately in Atlantic Canada, says the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. The CFIB's ...

Government Ministers concerned small businesses are being treated unfairly New Zealand HeraldGovernment ministers responsible for small business and commerce are expressing concerns over commercial practices they say are unfairly impacting small ...

Agencies propose rule change to cut burdens on small business Federal TimesA proposed Federal Acquisition Regulation rule change would make it easier for small businesses to comply with subcontracting allowances.

WWE Founder talks small business in the Hub City EverythingLubbock.comA prominent businesswoman and founder of World Wrestling Entertainment visited Bahama Bucks on Tuesday, to tour the small business, and discuss the ...

Check out local stores on Small Business Saturday WTRFSmall Business Saturday is a time for customers to check those little shops on your local main street, and Moundsville will be celebrating in honor of that.

This Warwickshire brewery has been named small business of the year Coventry Telegraph'Our values of pure quality, pure eco and pure community are shining through'

How to Effectively Design Your Business Image

Small Business Small Business