Print Design 2 - Old City Web Services

The Importance of a Strong Brand Identity

October 24, 2012 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

Your brand distinguishes your small business from its competitors...

A strong brand identity will build your small business' reputation and form consumers opinions about your products and services. This includes visual aspects such as logo design, print materials and color schemes as well as verbal elements like your tag line and marketing material. Your branding efforts will help your company have an establish and professional feel.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

This phrase says it all - the simplicity of your logo will be identified and remembered by your audience, far more than 1,000 words. The most memorable logos and tag lines are coincidentally the most simple. What is your favorite logo? Nike and Target are excellent examples of company's that have successfully identified their brand with their consumers. Experiment with repetition and rhyme when it comes to text - event a strong image requires repetition to insure your logo stays in people's mind.

Our branding services...

For nearly a decade, our talented graphic designer and art director has been using his expertise in graphic arts to give St. Augustine businesses their own unique visual identities. We assure that every Old City client receives the best in aesthetics and functionality with their brand identity. We work directly wish our clients to determine your branding needs in order to transform your vision into reality. We create and present to you multiple designs and will make the necessary changes until you are completely satisfied. You will be given the logo in the highest quality format so that you will be able to use your logo for anything from a business card to a billboard to a t-shirt.

Here are a couple samples of our branding work...

In 2010, a local mother and her two daughters decided to start a unique candle company. Each candle in their collection represents a specific wish from love and marriage to health and wealth. The mother-daughter team started on the right foot by coming to us for a professional logo. Based on their vision, we created a butterfly formed from three hearts. We also created a series of slogans for them to choose from & they selected our favorite: "Ignite, Illuminate, Imagine."

When Little Looster C.E.O., Monica Mylet, and her family relocated from Oregon to Florida, she came to us in search of a few local, friendly faces who could help market her product-a booster stool that helps kids with potty training. We helped Monica solidify the design elements of her brand with matching rack cards, business cards and product labels. We created two different double-sided rack cards to serve her marketing needs. We continue to work with Monica in designing and implementing her marketing needs.

Give us a call: 904-867-4112 or send us an email: letusmarketyou@oldcity.com for more info on how we can help you with you branding needs.

3 Print Design Updates You Need

June 21, 2012 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

Are you still digging brochures, rack cards or business cards out of the same box you had printed five years ago? It might be time to take a look at those old materials and see what we can help you update!

Here are a few things we can update/add to your print designs:

1. QR Code

You've probably seen these black and white barcode boxes all over the place lately, but do you know what they're for? Customers with smart phones (iPhones, Androids, Blackberries, etc.) can use the camera on their phone to scan the code, which will then take them straight to your website with one click.

The codes can also display a message (like a coupon code) or a phone number or they can go to a specific link like your Facebook page. QR Codes make print designs into a dynamic marketing tool you can use to drive more traffic to your website! If you don't have one yet let us know and we can create one for you and add it to your business card, brochure, rack card or any other print material.

2. Photos

Are the photos in your print designs starting to date your business? If the clothing and hairstyles in your photos are clearly from another era, it may be time to get some new photography of your business. Photos are the best way to engage with potential customers, so if yours aren't grabbing their attention, we can help! Call us for photography and design updates.

3. Directions

Does your print design provide good directions to your location? The landscape of St. Augustine changes on almost a daily basis with the addition and removal of buildings around town. If your brochure or rack card uses landmarks that no longer exist or if there's a new landmark that could help customers track down your business, it's time to update the old map and make sure you can be found!

We're happy to help you make updates to your print designs! Give us a call to arrange a free consultation and receive a quote on making updates!

2011 In Review: Part 2

December 14, 2011 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

A recap of the knowledge we’ve shared this year.

It’s been a great year! We hope you have enjoyed our Customer Education Program and have learned some valuable tips and tools to promote your business.

Just in case you missed some of our articles, we’re doing a quick recap on what we’ve learned. You can also visit our blog to catch up on all of our tips from this year.

Here are some of the topics we discussed in 2011:

Business Marketing
We’ve spent some time this year talking about some important points to promoting your business including:

• Using online and offline strategies together.
• Keeping your message consistent across all types of marketing materials (brochures, business cards, website, etc.)
• Driving traffic to your website via marketing tools like printed handouts, advertising and more.

Social Media
In 2011, Social Media has become an even more popular avenue for reaching your customers. Our tips on using Social Media this year included:

• Adding Facebook and Twitter links to your website.
• Keeping your Facebook and Twitter feeds updated with a minimum of one post or tweet a week.
• Interacting with clients to get more followers.
• Using Social Media to get valuable feedback from your customer base.

Print Design
This year we talked about several different types of print design you can have created at Old City Web Services to help promote your business including business cards, brochures, rack cards, banners and signs.

Search Engine Optimization
Some of our tips in 2011 focused on our e-mail and hosting services including:

• Understanding how hosting and domain registration are different but equally important.
• Using email addresses at your domain to make your business look more professional.
• Protecting your computer from security threats with important safety tips.

To read more about each of the topics above you can review all of our weekly tips, tools and tricks on our blog or just give us a call at 904-867-4112!

Business Cards: 5 Things You Should Know

October 26, 2011 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

1. Make a good first impression.

Your business card is often the first impression branding-wise that you give your potential customers. That’s why you need a card that is designed to reflect your business style and stand out from the rest of your competition. Imagine if your potential customer was to line up five or six business cards from you and your closest competitors–how would they separate yours from everyone else’s? If you have a unique, professional card, you’ll be establishing a solid foundation for future business.

2. Provide just the right amount of information.

A common mistake with business cards is to put up too little or too much information. The perfect amount of text will give the name of your business, a tagline or short (less than 20 words) sentence about what your business does, your name and title, a phone number and address, email address and your website. For all other details, you want to direct people to your website where you have more available space to sell your products and services.

3. Make sure your text is readable.

It’s tempting to use unique fonts to make your business card different from your competition. But beware of fonts that make it hard to read your text. Some fonts are easy to read when they are large, but illegible when they are small. Pick something that won’t be distracting or confusing, simple is always best when it comes to fonts.

4. Two-sided is the way to go.

Printing costs have come down in the last decade with the increase in technology. This has many advantages, including reduced costs for double-sided color printing. Two-sided business cards are becoming a major trend, with most people choosing to put their contact info and title on one side of the card, then using the other to highlight their website or company name. It’s an eye-catching and memorable design.

5. Don’t short yourself on good paper.

It’s important to print your cards on a stiff, thick card stock that will have a longer life than a cheap, thin paper. Most printers also offer UV coating to prevent ink rub off and make the card sturdier as well. Still, matte coating (a dull finish versus a shiny finish) makes a statement as well, just remember that without the coating a thicker paper is a must to give your card a proper backbone.

Turn over a new leaf with print design.

May 26, 2011 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

Put your business’ best foot forward with folders, letterhead and more.

Imagine that you have just concluded your presentation to a potential client. The two of you shake hands, and the client walks out with a handful of marketing materials you have provided that recap the services and support offered by your company. Hours (or in some cases days) later, the client is back in his/her office contemplating whether to go with your company or your competitor. The client took only a few vague notes from your meeting, so the only thing to compare the two options at hand are the printed materials you’ve provided. At this moment, you have only one question…

What will your marketing materials say about you?

If you have a professionally crafted set of printed marketing tools, you can feel confident that your business will stand out amongst your competition. Not only will your custom created folders, inserts and stationery package carry forward your company’s brand, it will also show your potential and existing clients the level of quality and professionalism they can expect from your business.

Take for example, a recent client of Old City Web Services. The Looster Booster™ is a specially designed booster stool for kids to use during potty training that doesn’t get in the way of older kids and adults. The product’s creator and owner is a client of Old City Web Services who recently contacted us looking to “Wow!” potential distributors, retailers and promoters with a full stationery package. We created letterhead, envelopes, a 9″ x 12″ folder and a set of four shingle-cut inserts for her to use in marketing her product around the country. Take a look at what we put together (Click on the thumbnails to view the full images):

Call today for an estimate on creating custom marketing materials for your business

If you want to make sure that your marketing materials are conveying the right message to your clients, call or e-mail us to get an estimate on creating custom pieces for your business!

– Old City Web Services

Show your colors with banners and signs.

May 20, 2011 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

We go beyond the web.

For trade shows, company events and general displays, signs and banners give your business an extra pop to stand out from the competition. Old City Web Services offers more than just Internet-related services. We have a talented art department to create excellent sign and banner designs for your business. When we create banners and signs for our clients, we keep three important factors in mind:

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We recently completed this banner design for the Looster Booster

1. Color accuracy: You’ve probably been in that situation where you go to pick up something from a printer only to find that instead of using the same royal blue your company has always used, they have printed your logo in purple. At Old City Web Services, our designs are all created using Pantones, a color identification system for printers and designers. Every hue in the Pantone color book is identified with a specific number, ensuring that on the screen and in printed form, your logo colors will appear exactly as they are supposed to.

2. Quality imagery: All of our designs are done at a high level of resolution to ensure that images and other graphics will appear crisp and clear. From far away or from close up, your sign will look clean and professional without being pixelated or blurry.

3. Brand continuity: We offer web and print design under one roof so that you can keep your branding consistent from one medium to the next. We make sure that your fonts and images stay the same on your website, business cards, banners and more so that your clients will be able to recognize your company brand as soon as they see it—even if it’s from across the room.

Get started right now.

Call today 904-867-4112 or send an email to letusmarketyou@oldcity.com to get an estimate on creating a banner for your business.

– Old City Web Services

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Promote your St. Augustine business with print design.

December 6, 2010 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

2010 is almost over, are you ready for 2011?

As we reach the end of 2010, our economy is finally showing signs of a rebound, but that doesn’t mean the fight is over. Competition amongst small businesses continues to grow, which means you have to stay on top of your game with innovative marketing strategies that target your customers.

Old City Web Services is here to help you with affordable solutions for web and print design, search engine optimization, advertising, eCommerce, branding and more. Invest in your business and see the returns through proven statistics (provided with hosting and advertising) and a boost in your profit.

In 2011, it’s not about whether or not you can market your business, the fact is, you simply can’t afford not to.

– Old City

Visit our online portfolio to see more examples of our print design work.

Promote your business with print design.

How many times have you been driving, listening to the radio or speaking with a colleague on the phone and been unable to write down or remember a website that was mentioned?

While the web might be the most popular place to spend your advertising dollars these days, you still have to get people there. How do you do that? With tangible print items that your customers can hold in their hands, revisit later and find the information on how to get in contact with you.

Here are a few different types of print design you can share with your customers:

Rack Cards

To grab the attention of your potential customers, reach them with a full color, double-sided rack card. From product promotions to lodging info, rack cards get the important information into your customers’ hands. Rack cards are also perfect for existing customers to pass along to friends and family who might be interested in your products or services.

Brochures

If your business has a wide variety of services or if you’ve just got a lot of information to share, a tri-fold or bi-fold brochure might be the best print material for you. Distribute them around town or offer them to customers who drop by for more information. Directions, contact information and other important details about your business can be shared in a layout that’s easy to read and pleasing to the eye.

Business Cards

For big meetings, trade shows and regular run-ins on the street, you share your business card every day. But does it stand out? Does everyone in your industry have the same business card? Stand out from cookie cutter designs with a custom created business card that showcases you and your business.

These and many other print materials including labels, greeting cards and display boards can help spread your company image to reach your target market. In addition to design, we can help you get your materials printed through one of our reliable printing partners, or you can take the completed design to a printer of your choice.

Need help? Contact us!

We can help you create eye-catching print designs that will bring customers to your doorstep–on the web or in person!

Get started today by giving us a phone call 904-867-4112 or sending us an e-mail at letusmarketyou@oldcity.com.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Create your holiday greeting cards today.

November 8, 2010 by anoadmin Leave a Comment

A new alternative to the holiday card: Send your customers a holiday e-mail.

Holiday cards are one of our favorite parts of the season. It’s a great way to show appreciation for your customers while also keeping your business name and brand in their minds.

This year in addition to our holiday card design services, we’re also offering an option to have a custom designed HTML e-mail you can send out to all of your clients wishing them a happy holiday season.

For more information on e-mail designs, give us a call at 904-867-4112 or send us an e-mail at letusmarketyou@oldcity.com. You can also learn more about efficient ways to send out mass e-mails next week when we discuss the benefits of Ratepoint.

– Old City

46 days stand between you and Christmas …are you prepared?

Prepare your business for the upcoming holiday season by ordering special holiday cards for your customers today. Seasonal cards are a great marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. Show your clients how much you appreciate them while also keeping your company logo and name in the forefront of their minds.

Two great options for affordable holiday cards.

1. Choose from one of four professional, unique cover designs created by our art department and create your own inside message (up to 250 characters) in one of three font options.

2. Create a completely custom look by consulting with one of our designers on staff and feel for your company holiday card.

Both options will include envelopes with your business address pre-printed in the return address spot. Direct delivery to your business is also available for locations in the St. Augustine area.

Don’t wait, get started today!
Time is running out to order your holiday cards! Get started today by giving us a phone call 904-867-4112 or sending us an e-mail at letusmarketyou@oldcitywebservices.com.