by Darek Daniel

If there was one thing, one icon that represents your business, what would it be? Hopefully, you said your logo. Your logo is what identifies you to the world. It should be able to stand on its own and communicate to your customers trust and professionalism.

So why do so many businesses forsake this one representation of their company? Most people attempt to throw something together themselves and it usually winds up having adverse effects to their business. But unless you are a branding and design expert, you really should leave the logos to the professionals.

And, yes, it’s true that logo design, when done right, can be a bit much to pay for, especially when you are just starting out. So many business owners attempt to create something themselves, relying on some old computer class they took 10 years ago. But true, professional logo design is much more than just a pretty picture.

Thought should go into colors, placement of letters, and communication. What do you want your logo to say? Does it say you’re creative and fun, or down to earth and trusting? You may not think much of what font you choose, but a professional can help you pick a font that matches your business perfectly and, above all, makes you stand out above the crowd.

When you first start a business, you’re probably in a hurry to get started. You need business cards and marketing materials fast. But, business owner beware, a poorly thought out logo and slapdash marketing materials can contribute to your failure. Without that polished look, your business will look small, homemade even. And while you may be working from your parent’s basement, you don’t want to look like you are working from your parent’s basement. You want to look like a business people can trust, that has years of experience and a stable future.

All of this, of course, falls back on the importance of branding. Of entering the marketplace with flourish. Think about examples of great branding. How about the color brown? UPS right? Amazing… just one color says so much about one business. Trust, reliability. How about the red, white, and blue ball? With one glance, you would be able to identify Pepsi’s logo. Shouldn’t your logo have at least some of that sticking power?

If you’re just starting a business and you have the budget, do yourself a favor and spend some of that budget on branding and professional marketing and design. Even let your professionals come up with a name for your business if you can.

Branding professionals can help you find the perfect name, with a great website address, and work with a design professional who can create a logo that can stand the test of time and make you look like the company you want to be. They can even help you come up with a marketing plan for the next six months… something every new business should have.

If you don’t have the budget, then the first thing you should be saving up for is professional logo design. Start looking around for designers who offer this kind of service. There are many places online that provide professional logo design service as well. Check out sites like www.prova.fm that offer quality and affordable ways to hire a professional logo designer who can help you achieve your new look. The website provides designers with a platform to bid on your project with actual designs for you to choose from. You don’t pay unless you select a logo designer. These kinds of companies are making it extremely reasonable for small businesses to get quality, professional logo design.

About the Author
Darek Daniel is a marketing writer and branding professional for Firefly Writing, a professional copywriting firm based in Orlando, Florida. For more information on how your small business can benefit from the logo design services mentioned in this article, you can visit www.prova.fm.

By Gianna Viani

If you’re a small business, then by now you should know the importance of having a website. Nowadays, when a potential client hears of your business, the first thing they are going to do when they get home, or when they pick up their phone, is to look up your company on the web.

If you don’t show up in their searches, you are going to lose a huge amount of credibility and probably lose the sale. But it doesn’t stop there. If your site isn’t professional looking, if it doesn’t reflect your brand and company image, and if it doesn’t have anything for the visitor to do, you might as well forget about the sale.

It used to be that having a website was enough to prove that you are a reputable company, but with the competition on the web as fierce as it is, your website needs to be more than that now. It needs to function as a multi-level marketing tool for your business.

With 2009 coming to a close, now is a great time to take a step back and look at your website to see if it really measures up.

Here are a couple of questions you need to ask yourself to help you get your website in shape for the New Year:

1.      How does your client contact you? Can they find your phone number quickly and easily? Take a look at your homepage. Where is your phone number? If you can’t spot it right away, then you need to get it in plain sight right away. Don’t make it hard for your potential clients to call you!

2.      What does your business do? This may sound like a no brainer, but you’d be surprised at how many people will look at a site and just don’t get what the business is selling. Your clients aren’t going to take the time to figure it out. They are going to move along to your competition. During the holiday parties, pull up your site. Ask people to look at the site for 10 seconds. Then ask them to tell you what the company does. If they don’t get it right… it’s time to rethink your design and copy.

3.      Does your design give off the image you want it to? Are you a professional company that wants to communicate strength and reliability? Does your website say that about you? Take a moment to come up with a few key phrases that you want people to think of when they look at your company’s website. Now ask a few people to look at your site and come up with their own phrases or descriptions. If the two aren’t even remotely similar… it’s time to get your website design back on the right track.

4.      Can you easily navigate your site to find everything? If your site is confusing and hard to find what you are looking for, then you’re going to have a problem. Start off by asking yourself who is going to use this site. Is it potential clients? If so, then the design and copy of your site needs to cater to their needs. If your site is for current clients, then the message needs to change. If you have both looking at your site, then it’s time to consider separating the two. Have a section of your site devoted to your current clients. Place this navigation on your homepage so they know exactly where to go. 

5.      Are there clear call-to-actions? Ok, so I’m on your site. What now? Where do I go? What do I do? Give your visitors something to do. Tell them to call you for a quote. Or fill out a form. Again, don’t make it difficult for your visitors to get through to you.

With the New Year coming up, it’s important that you take the time to revisit your website design and copy to make sure you are making the right impression on your customers. Sites like www.prova.fm offer quality and affordable ways to hire a website designer who can help you achieve your new look. The company allows web designers to bid on your project with actual designs for you to choose from. You don’t pay unless you select a web designer. These kinds of companies are making it extremely reasonable for small businesses to get quality website design.

About the Author

Gianna is a marketing writer and internet marketer for Firefly Writing, a professional copywriting firm based in Orlando, Florida. For more information on how your small business can benefit from the website design services mentioned in this article, you can visit www.prova.fm.        

OK I know it's a little ridiculous that my blog has remained empty for all these months. Especially when I write blogs for my clients on a weekly basis. What can I say, when it comes down to working on projects for my clients or working on my own website, the client wins every time.

It's been a great couple of months though since the launch of our little website. The Firefly Writing team has worked on some amazing projects for clients all around the world... as far as Australia and Singapore. We've expanded our team to handle the workload that is still pouring in every day. Lucky for me, the amount of quality writers hitting the freelance life has increased significantly lately, and it's been a pleasure showing them that life in the corporate world was definitely not better.

FireFly Writing is definitely a place where you can freely work in your PJs from the comfort of your own home. There are no distractions, no ridiculous meetings that last all day and no horror stories of life in the corporate world. I know I have plenty... from a boss who used to slap my butt every day to working on a shelf... that's right... a shelf. Anyone out there have a horror story to share? We'd love to hear it! Till next time!

Tracy