ICONICA.ca

Why Brand Yourself?

richard — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:03:38 +0000

What is a brand?

A brand isn’t just a logo, it’s the perception that a customer has about a product or service. Jerry McLaughlin of Forbes Magazine explores this idea in his article “What is a brand, anyway?”. He delves into the history of the word from it’s origins as a cattle marking system to what we know as a brand today.

A Brand is a Promise!

We can’t stress the importance of a strong brand enough! Lois Geller, another Forbes contributor, explains that “you know what you’re going to get with a well-branded product or service”. Read this informative article and learn why she is “rendered speechless” when a client requests a “quick Brand”!

Do I need to stand out?

Every day we are exposed to thousands of “brand messages”. It takes a lot to stand out from the crowd. TheFinancialBrand.com explores that idea in this video. It reminded all of us here at ICONICA that a successful brand makes a huge difference when it comes time for the consumer to make a choice! Think about an everyday product like cereal – when was the last time you went to the grocery store in search of a box of “Wheat O’s”? You probably wouldn’t because Cheerio’s is a more memorable brand.

THIS WEEK at ICONICA we are offering 15% off all branding services! Click Here to Contact us NOW and lets get you on the right track!

Check Your Message!

When branding your business, you may wish to avoid some of the mistakes others have made. Whole Foods has been called “Whole Paycheck” and, during the 1990′s, FORD took on the moniker “Fix Or Repair Daily”. These negative brand perceptions are not as bad as some of these restaurant names featured on stocklogos.com. Who would want to eat at “Soon Fatt Chinese Take Away”? Take a look and have a big laugh!

HY BRAND YOURSELF?

A Brand is more than a logo. It is the identity of your business. You need a Brand to:
• Secure the emotional connection between you and your target audience.
• Establish your reputation and be recognized as the choice within your industry.
• Create a consistent message that helps people remember you.
• Build client loyalty. Loyal clients will refer more business to you.
• Demonstrate to your client that you will perform at a standard of service that is unsurpassed.
• Be more effective with less effort. Let your Brand work for you.
• Motivate your client to see you as the only person that provides a solution to their problem.

BRANDING FACTS

• Clients are likely to transact at a higher price point for a Branded service or product.
• A branded product or service is 10 times more effective then an unbranded one.
• A strong Brand provides proof that your business is competent and able to get the job done.
• Your Brand is an organic communication tool. Your Brand communicates to you and your client. Your Brand expresses your personality. Your Brand experiences the relationship you have with your client. If your Brand is healthy, your business is healthy. Your Brand is you!
• Your Brand is a commitment your client telling them that you are the only one who can provide them what they need and when they need it.
• If you do not have a Brand, you must reset your relationship with your client every single time you interact. You will have to remind your client who you are, every single time.
• Perception is the key to definition. Define yourself. Be the Brand…

Order an HD Video Tour & Get Property Photography FREE!

richard — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:54:57 +0000

Order an HD Video Tour & Get Property Photography FREE!

Go the extra mile with your next property and reach a broader audience using our HD Video Tours! For every property video created THIS WEEK, we will shoot the photos of the property for FREE.

To get this great deal all you need to do is like our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/iconica.ca or by clicking the like button below! Then, send us your order at info@iconica.ca

See all our HD video tours on our vimeo chanel HERE

Download our Brochure HERE

*voice over charges not included in sale*

Over The Hump 2 :: Templated Websites are NAY ok!

richard — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:00:32 +0000

Templated Websites are NAY ok!

The question we often hear at ICONICA is “I have signed up with a web service and I have their basic template website, I would like to do something to make it look different from everyone else. Can you help?”

Until recently, our options were limited. We could create a banner on the top of the website. Maybe we could help the client edit their colours. But fundamentally what we could do was nothing more then “lipstick & hair dye”.

Now, we can really help!

We saw a desperate need for a fully functional, fully customized web service. Now it’s here! We have partnered with Real Web Solutions to bring the phenomenal functionality of their MLS compatible web platform together with the awesome graphic design & branding created here at ICONICA!

Now, instead of starting with a website template and decorating it, we can start by focusing on the client’s needs, content & branding. Then we can determine the visual layout & function of the website. We have absolute versatility to develop the best possible option for each client!

You might think, “is this important?”

Let’s try to take a step back to think about who the website is made for. Johnny Homebuyer, is browsing the Internet looking for a Real Estate agent in his area. He searches for Toronto Real Estate Agent and is greeted with 11 MILLION Google hits! Johnny starts browsing agent sites and notices a trend; they are all the same.

In the modern world, our first experience with any major decision often takes place online. Whether it’s a car, a house, or a wedding proposal, the web points our way. The fact is that our first Real Estate agent is Google, and what we find there dictates which agent we chose.

From the first time a viewer hits your site you have less then 5 seconds to differentiate yourself from your competition. If you look like everybody else, if you won’t make a strong first impression. If you don’t have some kind of personality or if the site is boring, confusing or difficult to navigate, you won’t get a call and your competition will.

That’s where we come in. We can make sense of the madness, give form to function, and integrate your brand identity into the design of your website. Let us separate you from the competition and make the clients decision an easy one.

THIS WEEK, 10% OFF CUSTOM AGENT WEBSITE DESIGN!

richard — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:04:41 +0000

Here at ICONICA, we have partnered with Real Web Solutions to bring you custom designed & fully functional Real Estate agent websites, with MLS integration! This exciting new program comes to you with this great 10% off sale on custom website design!

All you have to do is like our facebook page by going to www.facebook.com/iconica.ca

Pick up the phone and give us a call for a quote on one of our Agent Websites!

416 921 7484

OTH :: 1.1 PRO-tography…. Taking pictures? or Creating Images!

admin — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:27:18 +0000

There was a time, when simple photos had to be created by a highly trained and skilled professional. Crime scenes, vacation pictures, land surveying, documentary images, even passport & identification photos would have been taken by an accomplished photographer. In 1972 Polaroid Instant film changed all of that. The industry experienced a massive boom as now anybody could create a photo.

Fast Forward

41 years later, It’s 2013 and we’re experiencing the same thing again. We’re in the age of facebook and instagram.

Where even the most high-end photography has seen a shift from the analog darkroom to the digital Photoshop. We are in an era where all seems forgivable.

Bad hair? We’ll fix that, Gap teeth? We can fix that! Don’t want the garbage can in front of the house? An hour in Photoshop and we’ll get rid of that for you! Even the lowest quality work can be cleaned up, re-wrapped in a shiny bow and sent out the door to the friendly viewer. It’s an age where everyone is a photographer, and most of them don’t have a clue what they’re doing.

I can’t count how many times an agent has said to me, “I need a really good feature sheet, this house is gorgeous and I want to make sure it looks great. I’ll stop by for a few minutes and take a couple pics of it”. In all things you do, the outcome mirrors your investment. Does “stopping by for a few minutes” really scream quality and professionalism?

If you said no, that it is not high quality, or professional. Stop to think about the message you’re client is receiving the next time your deciding whether to call ICONICA to book a photographer, or to shoot it with your handy cam.

Here’s a little background on my experience in the medium. I am an OCAD graduate in fine art photography, a former recipient of the McCain Residency for photography, and have exhibited photographic works in quite a few fine art galleries. So if 10,000 hours makes someone an expert in anything, I have put in my hours.

The question is not “can an average person using a digital camera be a true photographer?” The question is, “does it still matter if they’re a true photographer or can anybody do it?”

The answer is a resounding yes it matters and No everyone can’t do it. At least… They can’t do it well… and here is why!

Taking Pictures? or Creating Images!

Photography at its core is the study of light and the artist’s manipulation of that light to create an image.
When was the last time you thought about the composition of light and dark within the image. The amount of detail in the shadows, or how light blankets on the focal point of the image? The answer for most people is never. They look at the couch and the carpet or the person. The camera can’t see these things. The camera only sees how much light there is, where it comes from, and where it’s going.
This is something a photographer understands. The most common problem I find with real estate photos is they are taken at 3 pm from outside the house on a bright and sunny day. Its beautiful outside, the birds are chirping, the suns shining and it seems like a great time to take a picture. Right?…

WRONG! A photographer will tell you that direct sunlight is an absolute nightmare to work in. It is too powerful; it comes from only one direction and creates extremely contrasted images. The light areas are white, the shadows are black, and there is almost no detail between the two. Everything looks bland. It actually takes quite a bit of work and experience to correctly shoot in direct sunlight. One method is HDR photography, a method of taking 3 images, exposed for 3 different settings, and stitched together to provide detail to the contrasty areas. Another option is shooting longer exposures through a filtered lens, designed to add more detail to the images.

That is the difference between taking photos, and creating images. A photographer creates images, chooses the best possible lighting, best angle, best camera, and formulates his composition to create an ideal image. His job is to make the house look better than it is and not everyone can do that. The quality of your photography tells a client how much you value their business. Treat it with the same respect you would demand yourself.

The Result?

The Agents who consistently hire good photographers to create their images, also end up with the most referrals, most listings, and maintain a more successful business than the ones who don’t.

Closed for the holidays

admin — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:10:16 +0000

Iconica will be closed on the following days for the holidays.

Friday Dec 21,
Monday Dec 24,
Tuesday Dec 25,
Wednesday Dec 26,
Monday Dec 31
Tuesday Jan 1,
Wednesday Jan 2,

Please email info@iconica.ca for any inquires and we will answer them as soon as were back.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from Iconica Communications

admin — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 21:31:02 +0000

The 2012 holiday season has started early at Iconica!! We are pleased to announce the 2012 Holiday Cards! We are offering eight uniquely designed cards, fully customizable with your personal information and greetings. We have 2 sizes to choose from.

If you would like your branding or agent photo on it, we can add these elements to your card for a small additional fee.
Please call us if you have any questions or would like further customization!

Happy Holidays from Iconica Communications!

Click here to download the PDF flyer

Announcing HD Video Property Tours.

richard — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:29:21 +0000

Iconica is pleased to announce the launch of our newest and most anticipated feature service to compliment your real estate marketing needs.

Take your virtual tours to the next level with our top quality HD Video Tours. Our 2-3 minute HD Video Tours allow you to promote your homes and surrounding neighbourhoods in a personal way that just cannot be matched with photos and conventional virtual tours.

Our videos are shot, edited and colour corrected by a professional videographer and editor. Iconica’s HD Video Property Tours are the perfect way to promote new listings, revive interest in old listings and most importantly, strengthen your professional image.

With a web optimized Vimeo or Youtube format for ease of sharing with your clients, you will be able to simultaneously promote your property as well as your service.

View the samples below, and please contact us for a quote, or more details!

1093 Robert Johnson Rd. — Port Carling, Muskoka from ICONICA on Vimeo.

Iconica, Closed June 26th

admin — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:16:34 +0000

Iconica will be closed Tuesday June 26th, as we will be away from the office for a team building exercise.

Thank you for your understanding, Please email info@iconica.ca or call 416-921-7484 and we will get to your needs as soon as we can.

15% Off Business Cards in April

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:53:47 +0000

15% off business card orders plus free shipping for the month of April when you quote promotion code at time of order or payment. Promo Code “ICONICAPRINTS”. Applies to all of our unique stock.

14pt card stock, 16pt card stock, 18.5pt matte lamination and gloss lamination ( add a spot uv), 24 coated or uncoated, 26pt matte lamination and gloss lamination. 14pt 100% recycled paper also available. Give us a call to learn more about our unique business card product options.