We’ve all heard the buzzword “Branding” spoken so much these days but do you really know what it means for your rural or urban business?

Branding is about creating an image. This is done through creation of a logo and/or slogan (sometimes known as a tagline) that captures the essence of a product or service.

You need to put the right message out to the right market. Businesses today have to stand out by developing a unique identity to distinguish the business from their competition. Unfortunately or fortunately, people judge a book by its cover. It only takes three seconds to make a first impression.

When you develop a brand you are developing an identity. There’s more to it than that though, you are also building trust, relationships, business personality, and a mark of quality. Good branding means it’s the first thing people think about when a product or service is mentioned.

For example when you think of Coca Cola you can actually conjure up the taste, smell and colour in your mind even without actually tasting it. This is an example of consistent brand exposure. There are hundreds and thousands of consistent brands. Successfully branding your business portrays you as a specialist in your field.

Should my branded product or service be included on all my promotional material?

Absolutely. Your new branded logo should be put on your business cards, brochures, rack cards, flyers, letterhead, envelopes, articles, posters, advertising, signage (including vehicle signage) and your website (if you need one). This will create instant recognition.

Consistency…consistency…consistency…will eventually bring that instant recognition!

Have a graphic design question? Email them to linda@sparklinggraphics.com

Everybody considers writing a book at one time in their lives, I know I have. In my case I got the information I needed and then decided it wasn’t the right time in my life to do this but I haven’t completely shut the door.

Journaling is such a popular form of expression and many of these journals have and can be made into the form of a book. Whether it’s your memoirs or a cook book, you can get it published either for yourself, your family and friends, to the general public in your home town, or in book stores and online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Self-publishing is easier for the average Joe to experience and it can become a positive experience. The great thing about self-publishing is the control you have over the development of the book from totally doing it yourself to hiring professionals to do all or part of the book process for you. Here are a few points to consider:

• Research your topic and the book title/subtitle. An example of one is  Fishing for Fish “Musing of an Urban Cowboy”
• Can’t actually write? That’s ok, consider a ghostwriter who is a professional writer paid to write books which are officially credited to another person
• Contact book printers and find out what specifications they need for the layout of the book and the cover. You may want to consider a professional designer who has experience designing the cover and the inside layout
• Proofread very carefully, get someone else to do it or hire a professional proofreader, it could be the difference between looking amateurish or polished

I’ve briefly touched on the topic of self-publishing. If you have any questions email them to linda@sparklinggraphics.com

I wanted to discuss the joys and challenges of photo restoration as we enter into the rainy season, spending more time indoors with our loved ones. In the dictionary the word ‘restore’ means to bring back, establish again, bring back to a former condition or to a normal condition. Many people will spend hundreds of dollars on restoring vehicles, furniture, flooring, even their clothing but don’t realize they can get old photos restored as well.

Photo editing software is so widely available now with the use of digital cameras that the average person can correct red eye and minor colour and light issues. There are powerful software programs such as Adobe Photoshop which will take photo editing to the next level. This is the program that most professionals use to restore photos, whether they are old vintage photos or recently damaged photos. The degree of success in restoring a photo is determined by how badly damaged the photo is. Colour depth and scratches can be corrected but significant tears, water, fire, or light damage may be more challenging but not impossible. A professional will be able to determine if the photo can indeed be restored to near satisfaction and will work with the original colour, depth and look of the old antique photo.

Why would or should photos be restored? The most common reason is the sentimental, historical value to the owner of the photos, so they can be preserved or archived on CD or in a book or photo album. Anybody who dabbles in their family tree will be interested in preserving old photos to pass down to the next generation. There is nothing more appealing than a century old restored sepia-coloured framed photo of your ancestors hanging on the wall in that special room of your home.

If you have any questions about photo restoration you can email them to linda@sparklinggraphics.com

January 08
Is it important to ‘brand’ my small business?

Branding is about creating an image. This is done through creation of a logo with or without a caption or ‘tag line’ underneath the logo that captures the essence of a product or service. You need to put the right message out to the right market. Businesses today have to stand out by developing a unique identity to distinguish the business from their competition. Unfortunately or fortunately, people judge a book by its cover. It only takes three seconds to make a first impression. It’s very important to include your new branded logo on your business cards, brochures, rack cards, flyers, letterhead, envelopes, articles, posters, advertising, signage (including vehicle signage) and your website (if you need one). This will create instant recognition.
Consistency…consistency…consistency…will eventually bring instant recognition!

February 08
Why do I need a graphic designer when I can do it myself?
Some people can do their own design work but generally this is not the case. Visual appeal is very important when you are starting up a business or wanting to update your existing business, the worst case scenario is looking amateurish when a professional image is what you want and need. Many clients looking for graphic work have an idea what they want but just can’t reproduce it or need an expert to come up with concepts. This is where the fun begins and a graphic designer can creatively come up with the “Wow Factor” for you. Professional graphic designers use powerful software programs that allow for exceptional effects in print as well as web. Check out your competitors and be aware of what their image is, then talk to a professional and start creating an image uniquely your own.

March 08
How can I tell if my business card is right for my business?
Quite simply, if you’re embarrassed to hand out your business card then you need to revisit the design of the card. If you own a business than this card represents who you are as a business owner and you’ll want to outshine your competitors. A basic business card will have your logo if you have one with your name and contact information. The colour theme and image should be appropriate to your business. If you’re a business professional you’ll want to portray an appropriate professional image but if you’re an artist then it’s okay to use your art in the design. The font size should be readable, less is always more. Consider using a graphic designer so you’ll be thrilled to hand out your business card knowing it represents you and your business.

April 08
What services will a graphic designer provide for me?
Professional graphic designers will provide specialized services for print output such as; business cards, brochure, rack card, poster, logo, catalogue, ad layout, CD cover, postcard and card, book cover and layout design, photo restoration and manipulation. Most graphic designers also provide website design or provide the graphics for the web designer. Some designers provide free hand illustrations for their clients. Marketing and promotion are important knowledge for a design company with many designers providing this service or working closely with partners who have this expertise. It is important to remember that graphic designers are experts in custom design and will work with you to design a small project to more advanced projects, many of them offering packages to suit your needs.

May 08
Can a graphic designer fix up my damaged photos?
A professional graphic designer will be skilled enough to provide this service. Some graphic design companies specialize in photo restoration so they have more experience with the techniques. Digital cameras usually come with photo editing software that can enable you to correct red eye and minor colour and light issues but a professional will use software that corrects tears, scratches, fire, water, and light damage. Sometimes the damage is too severe but it is amazing how some of these old vintage photos can be restored. Many people spend hundreds of dollars on restoring vehicles, furniture, flooring and even their clothing but put off digging those old photos out of the shoebox or photo album. It is well worth investing in preservation of your family history to pass down to your loved ones when you are no longer around.