"A logo should be an asset not an overhead"

This question has popped up a number of times over the last month or so, "A friend of a friend is thinking about designing her own logo, what do you think..?"

My answer stays the same, of course you can! If you feel inspired and know what you want draw it on something quickly before you forget.

If your going to use images from the Internet please make sure you have the right to do so or you could end up with a copyright issue before you've started. There are some websites that provide free stock images, but be aware that not all free images are good quality ones. When scouting for an image, a simple and clean design with few colours is best to brand all types of marketing methods and will be more economical for future printing costs.

If you want to draw the image yourself you may have problems with the software that is available to you, most day to day office programs will have no drawing tools and won't give you a file format that is suitable to print in high quality. Industry standard drawing programs are very expensive and can be complicated to use for a beginner, the tools are vast but important for a professional finish.

If your unsure because of the cost, remember your graphic designer will, well should have a degree in the area of design, knowledge in marketing, the skills to research into your business sector and target market, industry standard software to develop your logo with a good understanding of typography, colour and style.

A good logo takes time and a lot of research, it's going to cost more that £50 but it's a one off payment that will last the duration of your business. If you have an idea and want to be invloved with the logo process have a chat with your designer, it's great to get a client that knows what they like!

"A logo should be an asset not an overhead", Sara x

New logo for MG Couriers

Special offer from the Chamber of Commerce

I've now had a phone call from the man himself (Alistair Druett! The coordinator of the Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce networking events), informing me that they now have a special offer of £15 for all of those people wanting to try out a breakfast networking event on a bargain!  

For that you'll get: 

* A Full English breakfast at a professional venue (If your veggie like me or have dietary requirements, just inform them when you book)

* A seat amongst potential clients with time to pitch to all of them

* As much tea, coffee and orange juice you can drink in 2 hours!

The events are held early morning so you can get them in before work and they often organise a short presentation by a local business that can be helpful with a number of issues i.e. ways of saving money with government legislation and hints to cutting down on computer time and errors...

I can't stress enough that this has been the most cost effective and successful way of generating new clients.  Grab it while you can, it's a great opportunity to meet people and most of all make money!  

                

Cheeky Business

It's official! During a presentation on branding to some business start ups, I found out that a gentleman had managed to get a free breakfast networking event with the Chamber of Commerce. So be cheeky and ask for a try before you buy!!

However, before you go make sure you have your 6o or sometimes 45 second commercial sorted. This may also be called an Elevator Pitch (based on the circumstance that you are in an elevator with another business person and only have a short space of time to sell your product or service before he/she gets out, phew!) or Advert. It's pretty simple but this is your time to sell yourself to the other 40 somethings in the room. Keep it short and snappy but you must include:

* Your name and your company name (obviously)
* What your products/services are
* Why your different
* I close with how they can get in touch and squeeze in my URL address (as long as it's not long)

You will be standing when you talk so if you don't know what to do with yours hands, which I'm terrible with, find something to hold like a napkin, leaflet or business card. I've done my pitch a few times now so I've pretty much got it down cold but if you are very nervous, practise in the car before you get there so it's fresh in your mind. One last thing to remember is to speak up and you'll be fine, good luck!

Urban Mind is on Twitter

Finding more ways to market Urban Mind...we are now on Twitter! Come see us http://twitter.com/urban_mind

Free listing heaven

Even if you haven't got a website you can still list your business on most online directories. You know what it's like when your doing a presentation, all of the information that you've stored in your brain disappears as soon as you open your mouth, so here they are:

Google Maps
Yahoo Local (City Vistor too, but you'll need to be persistant)
Access Place
Free Index (this one is great you can add a profile with images)
Touch Worcester
Business Magnet
Scoot

Here are a few to get started with but there are many and some are better for particular trades. The trick is to type your industry (Florist, cleaner..) and area into different search engines (Google, MSN, Yahoo - the most popular), and look for the directories that pop up on the first and second page. Now make sure that your details are on them and if there are sections to write about your products/services fill those in too, as you may find that you could get a higher listing position if you do this well.

If you haven't got a website it may be a good idea to at least have a page with your details on so you do have some online presence. This will also help for future search engine positioning when you decided to go ahead with your website. Sara x

Is the recession coming to an end?



Work is coming! I've had lots of enquiries over the past two weeks and I've got quite a bit of work to do..! Maybe this is the light at the end of the tunnel for all of my fellow designers and entrepreneurs. Has the recession finally stopped frightening so many people off???
I'm not sure, but this does show that people are becoming interested in spending money on business again, and even if the enquiries don't turn into work there is work out there to be done. My most recent project has been a logo for Knowing Hand and it's services in virtual business parks.

Brand exposure and a church!

I have talked about my love for networking before and I am still a huge believer in getting out there and talking to people about your products/services. Face to face communication is the perfect way to show potential clients how motivated you are and what you can do for them. Networking leaves a lasting impression and can lead to other opportunities that can benefit your business. For example, my latest project has been for a local church, branding for a roof appeal of course! This is a freebie but in return Urban Mind will get public exposure when the website goes live, a mention in the local newspapers and the company brand will to be placed on the large poster that will be placed on the scaffolding to display the new website appeal address. I'm also hoping that this will secure me a place in heaven...x

Raising your company profile

Raising the my company profile been a constant challenge, coming up with different ways to catch peoples attention is a full time job in itself! At the start I decided that advertising in the Yellow pages would be a great way to get my name around... It cost an absolute fortune and after being in for what seems like an eternity, NO ONE has contacted me because they found me in the book. That's not to say that it doesn't work for all sectors, tradesmen excluded, just not for Graphic and Web design, so please check this out before spending a fortune on this type of advertising!! However, you can get a free line in all of the books (Yellow pages, BT phone book and Thomson local) which is definitely worth doing.

After learning quite a harsh and expensive lesson I went on-line, and while having a web presence is quite important you can still add your business details to search engines and directories for free without a website. Google Maps are extremely useful for users searching for businesses in particular areas and are often located on the first page of a Google search. Urban Mind appears in the Google Maps section at the top of the first page when searching for Graphic Design Worcester and Worcestershire. Yahoo Local also offers a free listing but after submitting the online form you will get a phone call to 'check your details', then they'll try and sell you a listing that sits at the top. After you say no, you are told that it will take 6 weeks for the free listing to go live. I filled the form in 3 times before my listing was finally published, so be persistant!!

Network, network and breakfast!

Networking has been my most success way of generating money full stop! I'm not just talking about telling the local shop owners and your current hairdresser about your services or products, although you must do this too. The SPEED programme introduced me to the Chamber of Commerce who organise Breakfast Network Meetings for it's members on a regular basis in locations around your area. These events put you in front of professional business people that may need your services and also connect you to people providing those other essentials i.e. accountants...

The events start nice and early so that you can get them in before you go to work and refreshments are included. Although, I must admit the breakfasts aren't great if you don't like a Full English, so if your on a diet you may struggle. The veggie option isn't too bad although it really depends on where you go, but be sure to let them know of any requirements before you book your place!
However, the breakfast is a great way to sit down and chat to people. It's at this point that I have generated a lot of my current clients. Seriously, I rate this type of advertising more highly than on paper or the web especially within the graphic and web design sector. If your unsure of whether this would work for you, I'd recommend phoning your local Chamber of Commerce and cheekily asking if you could have a free trial, well it's worth a try! If you do get a freebie please let us know. For other networking opportunities contact Business Link as they hold many free events that include training and time to connect with other businesses.