Happy Holidays!
So, What is Website Hosting?
Every business that has a website must have website hosting. So what is it exactly that we’re paying for each month?
Website files must be kept on a server that is accessible to the world wide web. The business that owns and maintains this public server is your host. Your web designer connects to that server and uploads your website files. The host typically makes every effort to protect your website files and ensure that they are “live” all of the time, all of the world.
Depending on the type of website you have, the cost of hosting can vary. If your website has database functionality, or loads of content that can be streamed or otherwise downloaded, hosting fees will be much higher. Most websites only require basic hosting, which comes at a very reasonable price.
Pantone's Color Report, Fall 2009
From top to bottom: Majolica Blue, Warm Olive, Rapture Rose, Nomad, Burnt Sienna, Iron, Purple Heart, Honey Yellow, American Beauty, Créme Brulé.
Source: Pantone.com
Coupon's Prove Desirable Among Affluent
In September 2009, a Neilson study reported that overall coupon usage is up 23% from last year. Affluent consumers ($70k+) are the heaviest coupon users, followed by large households, households lead by women under the age of 54, and others living in affluent suburban and “comfortable country spreads.” These consumers purchase between 51 and 103 items (or more) using coupons every 6 months.
Affluent consumers that redeemed coupons in the first half of 2009 used roughly 80% of their coupons on edible products, and roughly 20% on health and beauty consumer packaged goods.
Source: Neilson Blog
Blogging at the Next Level
If blogging isn’t a part of your business’ marketing plan, you might be missing out on a hugely effective method for attracting quality leads, advertising your brand, creating new partnerships, and increasing your monthly web hits. Here are a few tips that will help the casual blogger take their efforts to the next level.
1. Identify Your Target Community
Locate the blogs that are affiliated with, or related to your business. Include the blogs of major media outlets, heavy-hitters within your field, local voices, and others who appreciate and share your interests. Once you’ve located these sources, make a list and include the e-mail addresses of their authors.
2. Join the Conversation
Visit the blogs in your target community and be a part of the conversation. Leave comments that include your name and website. Just keep in mind that you represent your brand.
3. Use your Blog to Promote Yourself & Others
The content of your blog can include notes about your promotions, your community, culture, etc. And throughout this writing, try to include relevant links. Further, take the time to recognize the works of others, giving them the type of attention you would appreciate in return. Consider including interviews, features, and offering guest blogging spots for cross promotion.
4. Be the Guest Blogger
Offer to write guest blog posts for your favorite blogs. A little work goes a long way when you put yourself out there.
5. Distribute
Now that you have a handy list of bloggers, include them in your press release distributions. When possible, send samples or give-aways to sweeten the incentive to spotlight your business.
6. Commit to your Blog
Include a link to your blog every chance you get. Put one at the bottom of your e-mail signature. Add it to your business card. Sprinkle links throughout your website content and e-newsletter content. Register your blog with blog directories and other resource websites. Get the attention you deserve.
The NBC Font Fiasco
The NBC corporation is being sued for $2 million in damages over the use of fonts licensed from a font design studio called Font Bureau, out of Boston. The fonts in question are Bureau Grotesque, Interstate and Antenna.
The claim is that NBC only purchased a single-user license which seems implausable when you consider that these fonts are being used in the graphics of multiple programming, including Jay Leno and Saturday Night Live.
Font Bureau is not a small studio, and they’re certainly going to get some great publicity from this lawsuit. But what’s really important about this suit is that it shines light on a pretty serious issue that’s all too common: font theft. I’m guessing that the designers at NBC didn’t purchase one copy of Photoshop and illegally install copies on all the other machines in their office. So why so casual about fonts? Why do fonts and font designers not command the same respect that corporations afford other licensed creative work, such as photography or applications?
Let’s face it. The general public, and even some of designers tend to take our fonts for granted. But the truth of the matter is that developing a family of fonts, or a type-face, is difficult, time-consuming and when executed successfully, provides users with an essential branding component.
I hope that we will see Font Bureau reach a successful settlement in this pursuit so that we have a strong precedent for acknowledging the talent of our font designers and the importance of typography in branding.
The Fabulous Wacom Tablet
For years, wacom has been releasing a tablets that allow you to create art on your computer the way you want to – with a stylus. It takes a little time to get used to the tool, especially the pressure-sensitive tip, but once you’ve got the hang of it, this tool will quickly become a necessity in your studio. The accompanying mouse is also a treasure as it offers a level of precision you just won’t get with a standard mouse.
Jumpstart your PR Efforts
by Hillary Knauf
The traditional marketing mix consists of advertising, sales promotions, personal selling, and public relations efforts. Public Relations, in the broadest sense, is the function of generating goodwill toward a company or organization. PR focuses on the relationships that are created between an organization and its public (i.e. employees, shareholders, suppliers, or even the general publics). The public can even include the competition! Anyone who may affect the company or whom the company may affect, is a member of the public or a stakeholder.
Public relations uses the media to communicate with the general public, and although it may seem like advertising, it is not. PR is not paid for. Rather, PR managers rely on newsworthy events to get their ideas placed in the media. Unfortunately, PR can be uncontrollable; the media may or may not provide coverage of an event that is deemed important by an organization. Because of the low cost of PR, in comparison to advertising, and its ability to generate awareness of a particular of products or events, there is a great return on investment.
Here are a few ways to jumpstart your company’s consumer PR efforts:
1. Press Releases
Write a press release (news release) and upload to a newswire service: Press releases should be a one-page sheet about an event, service or product launch. The event must be summarized and catch the media’s attention or it will be of little use. When completed, upload it to a newswire service like PR Newswire, PR Web or Business Wire and increase the exposure of your release to both the media and potential customers searching the Internet for your products or services as the release remains posted online.
2. Fact Sheets
Similar to a news release, fact sheets contain factual information about an event, product or service.
3. Feature Articles
Much of the media will develop and run feature stories or articles about some event (or product or service). Share your expertise via a feature article about a new product, an industry trend, a case history or how to do something. Also, don’t forget to include a small blurb about yourself, your title, and your qualifications at the end of the article to add credibility.
4. Media Kits (or Press Kits)
A basic media kit should include a news release, photos, and additional information about an event or product launch. Usually, a fact sheet is included, as well as expanded information about the company (a short history, recent company press, etc), and people involved in the event. Media kits can be also made into an electronic format, which is more versatile in today’s workplace.
5. Email Campaigns
Email is the preferred method of contact, and is an ideal way to develop a relationship (and stay in-touch) with the news media. Make sure your email campaigns are relevant, to-the-point, and are sent out on a regular (monthly or quarterly) basis.
These are just a few basic tactics to get your PR initiatives started—whether you choose to do these on your own or with the assistance of a skilled professional.
Hillary Knauf is a public relations advisor based in Newport, RI. She can be reached by email at hilknauf (at) hotmail.com.
African-Themed Gallery Card
This lovely gallery card was created for a show currently running at Deblois Gallery. We wanted desperately to avoid any “African” style decorative fonts, so we used some of our old favorites, Caslon and Baskerville, and styled them with half-tones of sun drawings.
Creating Drama with your Photos
Many of our clients use their websites to sell products which they photograph themselves. This Photshop trick will help you add dramatic focus to an object within a photo, for emotional effect or simply to bring attention to the primary object.
This product shot shows a photo album displayed on a rustic wood table. We’re going to blur the background of this image to draw the eye directly to the album.
Original Image
The first step, after opening the image in Photoshop, is to select the image.
Under the “Select” menu at the top of the screen, choose “All”
Once the image has been selected, you can Copy and Paste the image.
Both the Copy and Paste commands are under the “Edit” menu at the top of the screen.
You will now see in the Layers palette that a new layer, containing a copy of the background layer has been created:
We’re now going to Blur this layer by going to the “Filter” menu at the top of the screen and choosing “Gaussian Blur.” Adjust the Radius to 1 or 2 pixels depending on how much Blur you’d like. (In this example, I’ve used 1 pixel).
Now that we have a blurred image, we’re going to erase the areas that we don’t to have blurred. By erasing, we will see through the blurred layer to the original, clear background layer.
To begin erasing, choose the Eraser from the Tools palette and choose a soft-edged eraser:
Once you have erased the areas the you want to keep “in-focus” you can save your image. If you are saving the image for use on the web, be sure to “Save for Web.”
Here’s the result:
The Altered Image
A quick note: If you are a more experienced Photoshop user, or enjoy exploring Photoshop’s more complex filters, you may prefer to utilize the Lens Blur for this effect.