Logo Design

4 Reasons Why DIY Logos Don’t Work

April 5, 2018 by anoadmin

A logo must be versatile.

Remember, your logo will be used across the board and must be versatile. Store signage, business cards, packaging, and documents are only a few of the items you'll find a company's logo on. Your logo should look as good as a thumbnail as it does on a store sign, but a DIYer will unlikely have the skill set to create a logo that is scalable. This results in a logo that is too busy for small print or too simple for large print.

The logo on the left is too busy at this size. But, Airbnb's logo appears professional as a thumbnail as well as on a larger scale.

DIY logos don't translate well.

At a glance, your logo should let people know what your company does and represents. If your logo doesn’t immediately translate this, you risk losing customers before you’ve had a chance to tell them about your awesome product. An inexperienced designer will miss the mark when it comes to communicating their message – even if that person owns the business and knows the company like the back of their hand. What a DIYer associates a business with may not necessarily match the general public’s idea of the industry. Knowing how to brand and market a company’s message into a compelling logo is part of a professional designer’s job! Take a look at the logo Old City Web Services designed for Rodbender Fishing Charters, pictured below.

Rodbender is a fishing charter business; their logo is fused with a bent fishing rod, and the font mimics a wave-like motion.

They aren't timeless.

A company should rebrand no more than two times throughout their lifespan, especially that of a small business. It is so important that your logo can stand the test of time because you only have one or two chances to get it right! Investing in a professional designer, trained to create timeless work, will save you from asking yourself early on "Is it time to rebrand?"

Although Google and Best Western have made minor adjustments to their original logos, their formats are timeless and will be used for years to come.

The finished product looks amateurish.

One of the most common DIY mistakes is ending up with an amateurish logo. Logo design is artistic, technical and scientific, making it very easy for a first-time logo designer to create a sub-par logo. Along with color, size, and brand identity, professional designers consider how balanced and overall appealing a design is - with an unbiased eye. DIYers run the risk of creating a logo with a partial view that is based on what they find appealing. This is a critical mistake for two reasons; a DIYer uses their favorite colors, symbols or shapes that are generally unpopular with their customers; the logo doesn’t parallel the company’s brand. A logo should be more than acceptable or good. Keep in mind, it needs to be unbiased, professional, and as polished as your product.

The logos above are examples of amateur mistakes newbies make when they create a logo; Bodega is offensive and inappropriate; Flightning is too similar to the logos of Facebook and Twitter; Look is unbalanced and boring!

Creating content for your website can be difficult – especially if writing isn’t your cup of tea! The best way to grab the attention of potential customers as well as appear in search engine results is to STAY ON TRACK and have a purpose. This process is easiest when you do the following:

Use analytics to guide your content creation.
Ask yourself, who is your audience?
Keep an editorial calendar!
Use one voice – your “brand’s voice.”
Add value. Focus on being useful, not on being the next Shakespeare.

Mission Statement

Our mission at Old City Web Services is to navigate the world of web design, web development, and advertising for our clients so that they can focus on what they do best – manage their business! Our business intentions go beyond the metrics of graphics, coding, and SEO. Located on Florida’s First Coast, we run a personable home front service and consider our relationship with our clients as a partnership in their success. If you are looking to increase your business’ visibility give us a call at 904-867-4112 or contact us today.

We encourage you to share and repost this blog. Please credit Old City Web Services when sharing.
Photo credits: Rodbender Fishing Charters, Eric De los Santos of treestrategies.com, www.startups.co
Disclaimer: Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information on Old City Web Services Blog.

OldCity Web Services – Highlights of 2017

January 12, 2018 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

Check out a few highlights from our year in 2017.
From website and print designs to new content services, SEO efforts, and pro bono projects – we’ve been busy!

Advertorials

Advertising and Content

In 2017 we implemented a new type of advertising on OldCity.com, called advertorials. We now offer a 300-word blog, made-to-order for our clients. Advertisers can use advertorials to spread the word on sales, services, general awareness and more. Our first client was the franchisee of the local chain, Dunkin’ Donuts. Check it out.

Content Writing

St. Augustine Historic Inns

In other content news, the St. Augustine Historic Inns requested we create intriguing blogs for their customers, which are then published on the bottom of their Home Page. The blogs vary in topic, but all pertain to things-to-do, holidays, and events in St. Augustine. Now, when potential customers navigate to the Inn’s website, they are greeted with material that is persuasive, making them more inclined to book a trip to exciting St. Augustine!

Print Design

Bluewater Adventure

Front and back of rack card designed for Bluewater Adventure.

Bluewater Adventure’s made a big move from the waters of South Carolina to the Old City that prompted them to redesign their rack card, which was no longer accurate. Our team decided the only way to fully capture their quality tours was by taking on the Intercoastal Waterway ourselves! We set up a Bluewater Adventure photo shoot and scored photos of the catamarans in action along with phenomenal photos of The Great Cross and Castillo de San Marcos. Now, on the front of the rack card is a proper representation of the sightseeing opportunities you have when sailing with Bluewater Adventure.

Magazine Advertisement Design

Gator Door East Inc.

Gator Door East used this advertisement for their big debut in St. Johns County Parade of Homes magazine! After learning they’d be a featured business, Gator Door sat down with our team to create an influential and compelling ad to catch the attention of shoppers! Don’t you just a-door this ad?

Business Card and Site Design

Jack Ward Fire

Jack Ward Fire, recently under new ownership, desired a brand with a haute look, reflecting their field of work. Working through fire and flames, we presented them with what is now their company’s business card. They were so pleased with the fire-hot cards, that our design team is currently working with them on a smokin’ hot site.

: Gator Door magazine ad for St. Johns County Parade of Homes.

: Jack Ward employee business cards.

E-commerce Solutions

Minorcan Datil

After facing multiple issues with X-Cart commerce solutions, Minorcan owner decided to upgrade to a more modern system, WordPress. Our development team knew that WordPress’s, user-friendly, Woo-commerce theme would satisfy her desire to add new products, edit old products, and raise her customer satisfactory level. Now, Minorcan can concentrate on managing customers and products without the hassle of learning how to navigate a difficult system.

Site and Logo Redesign

Rodbender Fishing Charters

The fishing charter industry in Northeast Florida can be compared to a shark tank, it’s a competitive field and standing out in the crowd can be difficult. After a consultation, it was clear to Chuck Stearns, owner, that Rodbender Fishing Charters needed a fresh logo and easy-to-navigate site. The design team created a few mockups and Chuck decided on this creative logo and simple site. Now, the Homepage of his site subtly answers frequently asked questions and has three call-to-action charter packages. As for the logo, if you can think of a better design, let minnow.

Site Design and Launch

R.V. Cooper Construction

R.V. Cooper Construction is a local construction company servicing St. Augustine and surrounding areas. Remarkably, since 1998, the company has relied on word of mouth to reach new clients; their quality workmanship and attentiveness in guiding customers was their business strategy. However, the competitive nature of the construction field prompted them to make their web presence concrete. Ricky Cooper, the owner, desired a platform that would showcase the construction process, to ease the customer experience. Our team raised the roof by creating Cooper’s beautiful new site; straightforward, simple and user-friendly.

: R.V. Cooper Construction’s Home Page.

: Hook, line, and sinker logo for Rodbender Fishing Charters.

Search Engine Optimization

Ranking Efforts

Search engine optimization (SEO), is imperative for every business to incorporate into their business plan. In 2017, our SEO team worked with nearly a dozen local businesses, developing key-terms and strategies to gain a higher ranking in their search engine results.

Multipurpose Online Designs

St. Joseph Academy

Old City Web Services also did a few pro-bono projects in 2017. One of our favorites was creating a series of 14 athletic-banners for St. Joseph Academy’s sports teams, the Flashes. It was important that the banners could be transferred and size-well whether they were added to newsletters, emails, print media, or their site. Our team sparked the Flashes interest with a lightning bolt and bold imagery. Go team!

The Ponce Hotel

Upon branching out from under the franchise, Magnuson Hotels, The Ponce Hotel needed a fresh look and logo. Our design team worked with the new interior designer at the Ponce on matching the color scheme used inside the hotel. In conclusion, they decided on the simple yet elegant logo.

Love what you see? Call us for a consultation.

Check out other work we've done for clients.

Two things clients can do to push security efforts is to never trust embedded URLs or unsolicited mail. This may seem obvious, but you wouldn’t believe the number of times a client is hacked because they thought they recognized the “From:” address in a spam mail. Also, be on guard for shady apps requesting unusual permission’s – especially mobile ones!

Mission Statement

Our mission at Old City Web Services is to navigate the world of web design, web development, and advertising for our clients so that they can focus on what they do best – running their business! Our business intentions go beyond the metrics of graphics, coding, and SEO. Located on Florida’s First Coast, we run a personable home front service and consider our relationship with our clients as a partnership in their success. If you are looking to increase your business’ visibility give us a call at 904-867-4112 or contact us today.

Sharing and re-posting this blog is encouraged. Please credit Old City Web Services when sharing.
Disclaimer: Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information on Old City Web Services Blog.
Photo credits: Old City Web Services

5 Ways to Maintain a Good Online Reputation

October 25, 2016 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

5 Ways to Maintain a Good Online Reputation

In a time when technology is in every facet of our lives, your business' online reputation means just as much, if not more, than the impression you make in person. Think about it. Before you go somewhere or try out a new product, what's one of the first things you do? You do an online search. And if that search has positive results, you're more likely to try that product, visit that store or eat at that restaurant, right? You should focus just as much time marketing your business online as you do in other areas of your advertising strategy.

Here are five things to keep in mind when you're trying to cultivate an online presence that makes others take note:

1. Sustain cohesion among platforms

Repetition across all platforms reinforces who you are as a company. This means your information should be up-to-date and accurate. Take the time to go through your website, social media accounts, and listings and see what information needs updating or improved. A uniform look across your platforms will increase your professionalism among consumers. Your current logo should be represented across all facets of your online presence. People are visual, and seeing your logo in multiple places will keep you on their mind.

2. Keep things current

Nothing says you're stuck in the past like a dated website or logo. Although people may be used to seeing the designs you came up with 10 years ago, that doesn't mean new customers will be all that comfortable with it. People judge your business from the first time they click on your home page. If you have a modern look, you are sending the message that you are current and knowledgeable about what is going on in your industry and can tackle whatever comes your way. Bringing new life to an old logo, adding a modern touch to your website, or revamping the copy on your website can make a big difference in the eye of the consumer and build trust between you and your audience.

3. Utilize online reviews

Reviews are useful to have for multiple reasons. First of all, they increase your search engine optimization which will bring more people to your website. Good, quality reviews help persuade consumers to invest in your business. If people are backing your services up with testimonials, new customers are more likely to trust you and give you their business.

4. Take advantage of online listings and directories

Although having a website and social media accounts are great tools to use to get your name out there, you also need to make sure that you are taking advantage of online listings. You should be listed on no less than 5 listings to effectively spread company awareness. Some examples are Bing, Google, Yahoo!, Yelp, and the Yellow Pages. Being a part of these listings increases your SEO which will bring more customers to your site. It also builds your name and accreditation within your field.

5. Make sure your site is mobile friendly

As the capabilities of mobile devices are increasing, more people are choosing to go to their smartphones versus their laptops for information. If people can do everything they need to do on their phone, shouldn't checking your website be one of them? Giving customers the option of browsing your site on their phones allows for one more way for you to get through to them. It is important to know what percent of people are viewing your site on a desktop, mobile devices, and tablets. A good way to track these numbers is by using Google Analytics, a service that tracks and reports website traffic. This is an invaluable tool when it comes to marketing and getting the most out of your website. If you need help getting started with Google Analytics, our team can help get you set up as well as teach you how to read your analytics reports.

Could your online presence use an update? Contact our team, and we would be happy to talk with you about ways we can help improve your overall online experience.

10 Ways to Establish Your Business

September 26, 2016 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

Being a new business has its challenges, one of the biggest being establishing yourself in the community. A loyal client base and name recognition are vital to your success. Without the support of those around you, failure comes closer to becoming a reality than a fear. So, how do you make your startup stand out before it sinks?

Take advantage of free listings

This is a no brainer. Putting your company’s name out there as many ways as you can for free should be a top priority. Directory listings and community calendars are great resources for the community and an excellent way to get your name out there. This takes minimal time and effort and helps establish your business among other longstanding companies in the area.

Make sure you know your target market

Take a second to sit down and really think about who your target demographic is. Who are you marketing to and how are you doing so? Are they more likely to be on social media or flipping through the latest newspaper? Spending all the time and money in the world in marketing won't make a difference if your audience never sees it.

Utilize social media

Let’s face it. Everyone is on social media these days, and as a business, it is becoming an essential way to reach consumers. Luckily for you, social media is a free and effective way to interact with customers from all over. Depending on what your business is and the age group of people you are trying to reach, you can choose the best social media platforms to reach them.

Start a blog

Think that you shouldn’t start a blog because you’ll run out of things to talk about? What if you are a very specialized business? Not a problem. A company blog is a useful platform to produce content related to your industry. Relevant content will promote you as trusted resource for your trade. Example: Say you run a gym or are a personal trainer. You don’t have to use your blog just to talk about your services. Use your platform to talk about health advice, innovative exercises, and client transformations, etc.

Implement SEO into your website

Search engine optimization is the action of making your website rank for search keywords and phrases that pertain to your website/business. It is important to have the keywords and phrases viewers are searching for installed properly on your website. If done correctly, more people will view your website which will result in an increase in business. Search engines rank your website based on common search terms, the age of your site information, site links, and the relevance of your content.

Create your Google Business listing

Listing your business on Google will make sure your business appears easily when people are searching for you on Google. You can add pictures, and people can leave reviews which add to your credibility.

Take advantage of customer testimonials

When a customer has a good experience with you, don’t be afraid to ask what they thought of your service. Testimonials are one of the best ways to build credibility with potential clients.

Send out emails

Putting customers on an email list is a great way to reach out to them long after they've left your website or store. This gives you the opportunity to tell them about the variety of services you offer, updates from your company, and news in your industry.

Get involved in the community

How do you expect the community to know who you are if you don’t try to get to know the people in it? The more people see your name associated with the community, the more they will come to know you as a local establishment. Sponsor or participate in community events. Donate or give discounts for first-time clients. Give clients an initiative for referring customers. Give back to the community. Serving others is not only great for your staff but is also a wonderful way to get to know the locals.

Network as much as possible

Getting involved with different organizations within the community is essential. Some of your biggest allies in the business world are fellow business owners. The Chamber of Commerce should be at the top of your list for business networking. The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce’s mission states they are dedicated to improving the business environment in St. Johns County by focusing on Economic Development, Business Advocacy, Member Education, and Business Promotion. Service organizations such as United Way or Rotary are also excellent ways to get involved in the community.

How We Can Help

Here at Old City Web Services, we are dedicated to helping businesses thrive. Don’t know where to start? We offer many services that can help you out.

We can:

Perfect your marketing strategy to reach your target audience
Tune up or revamp your website
Write content for your company’s blog
Assist you with SEO and Google listings
Assist with print design and much more.

Go to our website, call us, or schedule a consultation with our team to see how we can help you get settled and succeed today.

Unique ways to market your business

September 13, 2016 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

Unique ways to market your business

Marketing seems to be a constantly changing puzzle business owners try to solve. In a world where focus is on what’s new, innovative, and different, how can your company stand out from the crowd? We're here to tell you some unique ways to market your business.

We’ve put together a few ideas to make your marketing ventures unique and eye-catching.

Business card: Changing the shape or texture of your business card can instantly catch the eye of people in the community. Whether it is changing your card from a rectangle to a square or making your card out of a thicker material, a small change can make all the difference between standing out and blending in.

If you have a brochure for your business, adding a map to the inside could be a great way to entice a customer to keep the brochure around for future map use (keeping your logo around as well).

Updating or redesigning your company’s logo to make it more effectively represent your company. Read our previous blog on the importance of a high quality logo.

Rack card for hotels: Many hotels have racks where businesses put cards advertising their services. It is a great way to catch the attention of a customer you might not otherwise reach, the traveler. If you already have a rack card out in the community, upgrading the design is a quick and easy way to improve your company’s brand in the community.

Reevaluate ads for print/online publications: Make sure message is conveyed in clear and concise way. Don’t overload your ad with tons of text. Make sure to use quality photos that represent your business. Use a simple, yet visually appealing layout.

Reevaluate your social media plan: Are you interacting with consumers? Are people engaged with your social media accounts? Changing what you post, when you post, or how often you’re posting can make a big difference in response rates.

Market in ways that are individual to your company: Putting your logo on items associated with your business can make a memorable impact on a consumer. For example, if you have a construction company, you could put your company’s name on a level or tape measurer keychain. If you have a technology company, you could put your logo on a flash drive. Bottle openers are great options if you have an outdoors company or bar.

Whether you are looking to redesign your business cards, reevaluate your social media plan, or completely revamp your marketing strategy, the team at Old City Web Services is here to help. Meet with us, and let's see what we can do to make you stand out from the crowd.

Are logos really a big deal?

September 6, 2016 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

Logos say as much about your business as the name, staff, services, and customer experience. A logo is the first impression customers get before stepping foot in your office or online shop. First impressions are important, especially when it comes to getting new customers. So, is it worth it to budget for a new logo or an upgrade? We at Old City Web Services are here to offer some insight about why a high quality logo is essential to building your business.

Good logos build consumer trust

It is the first impression a potential customer will have of your company and it becomes the visual representation in the customer’s mind. A poorly designed logo can make a company look like the “discount or low cost” option among their competitors.

A quality logo can stand on its own; customers will start to recognize your business based on the logo alone.

Why invest in logo design? Do it once, do it well

Logo design prices that are too good to be true are often a breeding ground for plagiarized work. It can be done so cheaply and quickly because it is stolen work. This costs the client in the end the embarrassment of a legal action against them, the expense of replacing all print, signage, etc. and the cost of having it done again the right way.

Consistency is key

It seems like a no brainer, but a company’s logo should be the same on signage, print, and the web. Every business should have a vector base EPS logo with specific Pantone colors. This allows proper color matching between various vendors who will reproduce their logo.

Taking the next step

Below are some of the logos the design department at Old City Web Services has created. If you are in need of an upgraded logo or a complete logo redesign, Old City Web Services has a design team ready to help make your brand stand out from the competition.

Silver-Feather

Promoting Your Website Part II: Branding

August 12, 2015 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

Last week in our series about promoting your website, we discussed the importance of SEO. Part of SEO is knowing your brand and niche well enough to use the right keywords so that ultimately, your website is being promoted to its maximum potential. You can't do this until you have your branding complete.

Branding involves consistency and professionalism. You want your website, logo, and business actions to reflect a level professionalism that customers seek. Nearly everyone who is considering a business for services or products will look them up on the internet and the way you are branded needs to extend to your internet presence. Your brand needs to be consistent: your website needs to look as familiar as your shirts, business cards, and brick and mortar location.

Here are some tips for branding that will help you in promotion of your small business website:

Know Your Audience: When you are deciding on the look you want for your brand, it is more about what your customers will respond to than what you like. You have to appeal to a large audience - so, make it personalized to you but something a large amount of people will recognize and lean toward when choosing where to put their business.

Identify Your Competition: Know what your competitors are doing - this way, you can be consistent but unique.

Create a Unique Logo: The unique look of your brand is what will help you stand out, be recognized among the sea of competitors in your niche, and will bring new business as your logo and business name spread.

Build Your Website Around Your Brand: Your website is something that is key to branding. If a potential customer tries to find you on the internet and they come to your website but don't recognize it as your business from signs or logos or the feel of your shop that they are familiar with, they may not even know it is you. From colors and design to the warmth of your personality, you want your business to be expressed consistently through your website.

Be Consistent Across All Channels: Your social media channels, website, print designs, and other items that you use to promote your business - from t-shirts to bumper stickers - need to be consistent. Use the same colors, the same logo, the same tagline - to keep people knowing what your brand is. This will not only provide a feeling of longevity for your business, but also a professionalism that all customers seek when choosing a business to patronize.

We at Old City Web Services are experts at helping you formulate your brand for your new business beginning with your logo and extending to your website and other channels of promotion.

Next Week, we will be looking at how to use Social Media to promote your website and build your business. Make sure you check it out!

Influence with design

November 14, 2013 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

Determine your goal, make a plan & persuade your audience

What is design and how does it relate to my website? Let's start with a definition:

Web design encompasses many different skills and disciplines in the production and maintenance of websites. The different areas of web design include web graphic design; interface design; user experience design and search engine optimization.
Web design refers to a process or a series of activities that will ultimately give someone or something a unique identity via the world-wide web.

Web design should accomplish a goal. Ask yourself: Why would people want to visit my site? What will people want to see or do once they get there. Is the important stuff easy to find? Think about your site's intent. Are you trying to showcase products, reach new people, expand employee relations, interact with your customers more or maybe you just want a mere presence.

Want to learn more about the power of design and how we can help make your digital goals a reality? Contact Us today to learn more!

Rise of the Solopreneur – How to brand yourself

July 31, 2013 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

Strong branding is crucial in our ad-cultured world. It is important to ensure that you're the first person in your field that enters customers' minds. This can be a somewhat daunting task when it's just you-the entrepreneur who works solo. You may ask yourself: How can I stand out and become memorable in the minds of others? Simple- professional branding. Below are two things to remember when branding or re-branding yourself as a one-man or one-woman business:

1. Simplicity

When it comes to branding yourself, clarity of expression, or simplicity, is key. Having a logo that is too busy or filled with trivial detail can come across as confusing or even pretentious in some cases. A consumer will generally just take a brief glimpse at a logo and in those few seconds, you must grab their attention. It's no coincidence that the most memorable logos are also the most simple in appearance. Although larger corporations such as Cocoa Cola, Target and Nike may first come to mind, it's important to remember that even Solopreneurs and small businesses choose simplicity over complexity when choosing their logo.

Individuals that utilize simplicity (click on the names below to view logo)

2. Consistency

Once you have come up with your branding, don't shy away from it. Use it everywhere...and I mean everywhere! I'm talking new business and rack cards, advertising, stationary and of course, your website and social media networks. With this being said, take the time to generate a plan for exposing your new brand to the public and the media, but be confident in your new brand. If you don't believe in yourself, nobody else will.

Need a professional and skilled graphic design team to assist in your branding efforts? Old City Web Services specializes in providing small businesses, entrepreneurs and solopreneurs with everything from logo design and development to complete re-branding campaigns.

Here's a look at some of our recent logo development work for local clients (click on the name below to view logo)

For more information, give us a call: 904.829.2772 or email us: letusmarketyou@oldcity.com! You can also view some of our branding work on our website - just Click Here!

Logos 101: Professionalism is Key

May 29, 2013 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

People often create judgments based on first impressions. This same reality applies when it comes to how potential customers, suppliers and business partners form their initial impression of your company - they will make quick judgments whether or not to conduct business with you in-part on how professional you appear to them. Having a good logo will help you appear in a professional light at first glance! Furthermore, it'll allow you to build trust, stand apart from competition and maintain your loyal customers.

What makes a good logo, you ask? Here are some characteristics a professional logo will have:

Describable- you must be able to explain your logo to others in order for them to identify with your company's image

Memorable- a good logo will have a lasting impression on both existing and potential customers

Effective without color- the color is always secondary to the shape and form of your logo. It must be effective even when it appears in black and white

Scalable- (i.e. your logo must work even when it's an inch in size). This is essential for your office collateral such as pens, invoices, envelopes, etc.

Relevant- your logo must have relevance to your industry (this process takes in depth research to distinguish your unique characteristics)

Your logo should incorporate many of your company's aspects within one simple, unique image. You should be proud of your logo and make sure to use it regularly so that people will begin to identify it with the products or services you offer.

Let Old City Web Services help your company grow professionally by either designing a new or redesigning an existing logo for your business. Our professional graphic design team truly understands the importance of consistent, clean and professional branding and will give you the brand identity you crave. Give us a call today: 904-867-4112 or email us: letusmarketyou@oldcity.com to schedule your free one-hour consultation.