TWG Design Studio | In-Sites & Highlights

Are you loving your logo?

TheWebGuys — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:08:00 +0400

Does you logo represent your brand?

Is it easy to understand what your business does just by looking at your logo?

Do you really love your logo?

Your logo is often the first impression of your business; and you have to capture your users within the first few seconds, or that potential customer is lost. It is on your business card, website, brochures, and even your office location. (Well, if it’s not – it should be. Talk to us about that, too.) Your logo should represent your business and it should be able to speak for itself. Your logo should convey your business identity. Your customers should see your logo and know what you do or what you sell.

So, do you like what your logo says to your customers?

Whether you are starting a new business, or have an established business, it is never the wrong time to work on your logo design. It is the basis of all your branding and marketing. If it sends the wrong message, then so does all of your other branding and marketing. It sets the tone for your brand.

Every business should have a logo that they love, so why don’t you? If you are ready to get a logo that speaks volumes for your business, give us a call – we can help with that. We can create a logo design for your business that represents what you are all about. And we promise you will LOVE it.

"Rachel is a graphic designer who is passionate about combining function and style into stylish websites that truly do the brand justice. Rachel uses her experience in a variety of areas including design, marketing, advertising, and social media to give clients the complete package."

January Launches from TWG

TheWebGuys — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:50:00 +0400

It’s that time again…time to present the names of our new and newly designed client launches for the past month.

TWG Design Studio proudly shares our January launches:

Harley's TLC

Heartland Contracting

Adoption Assistance

Arnold's Loyalty Program

Bullitt County Court

Mid America

Alpha Salon

Janitorial Services--SP Cleaning

Be sure to check out these fantastic sites; and for ways to see how your business name can be added to a similar list, give us a call at the office, 270-765-4478, stop by to visit, or send us an email, info@webguysonline.com.

Importance of Updates

TheWebGuys — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:22:00 +0400

For all who have wised up and invested in a business website: Good for you! Now for a tough question…are you maintaining that site as you should?

Like any other form of marketing, websites need to be adjusted over time. As with any medium used to advertise your business, you need to be certain that the information available on your website is current and reflective of your business now and tomorrow, not yesterday. Maintenance of your website comes with the territory. Otherwise, the up -front investment is only worthwhile for a year or two.

Regular updates to your website offer many benefits to you and your over-all website marketing needs:

Keeps you current with search engines
Offers accurate information to your site viewers
With-holds your brand identity for your business
Updating with website add-ons helps make your website a more profitable tool
Regular updates to your site are an easy and very cost-effective method more so than updates and changes to print pieces, signage, print ads, commercials, or radio ads.

There are several things to keep in mind when preparing to update your website, especially when the changes have been a long time coming:

Is your website in-tune with current website standards and sizes?
Is the information on your website accurate? Have you altered any services, hours of operation, locations serviced, or team members?
Does your site look like a leading, ahead-of-the-competition sophisticated design? Or does it look old, historic, and unappealing to those viewing it?
Are there any tools you could invest in now, to make your job, the tasks of your employees, or ease-of-use to your consumers a top priority in the near future?
What exactly do you need from your site going forward? What functions do you need from it---what do your viewers need to be able to do through your website to become loyal consumers?

Updating your site may be a little tedious. It may not appear to be a top priority—but bear this in mind: Your website is available when you are not. Be certain that the statement that it makes is the best message you can send out on behalf of your business.

"Relying on her years of college studies in Communication and English at the University of Louisville, Suzanne seeks to focus on advertising and public relations through a communicative standpoint with an emphasis on uniting communication, business, and creative ideas. "

Facebook Timeline: How It Changes Things

TheWebGuys — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:13:00 +0400

You may have heard about the latest and greatest Facebook change coming your way, and you may already be using it. The Facebook Timeline will forever replace our beloved Facebook profiles in the coming weeks; and by February 1st all profiles will be switched to the timeline. Timeline offers a variety of new features, but like all other changes with Facebook, it will take some time to get used to. In order to help you with this process, here are some quick tips and info to help you learn the new timeline and how it will affect your business page.

What you need to know about the Facebook update:
Your personal profile will now have a new look. All of the same essentials will still be there, just in a different layout. Your profile picture will now be a large image across the top of your page and will be called your cover. This gives you the ability to do something really creative with your page – but more on that later.
You will still have the ability to update your status, “like” business pages and make friends, and add photos and videos. However, these items will be grouped a little differently. Here is the info you can now find at the top of your page:

Work and Education
Family and Relationships
Living
Health and Wellness
Milestones and Experiences
Other Life Event (for those odd balls that don’t fit into a predetermined category)

The point is to tell your life story over time. Your posts will display in a timeline (hence the name) and you can star your favorite moments to make them widescreen, or remove the ones you want to hide. Facebook has added new sharing features that will allow you to control what moments of your life are shared and with whom.

How it affects businesses:
Timeline may also have an effect on business pages, too. But, this could actually benefit your brand’s page tremendously. Here is an example of what the sites could potentially look like with timeline:

Photo courtesy of Mashable

The key here is this– more pictures means more branding opportunities. Let’s face it, people are naturally drawn to pictures over text; and the majority of people remember pictures more than words, anyway. So if there are bigger images available, you can use those spaces to display your products or services and design them to be specifically branded for your business and message. The cover is the perfect spot for a current promotion or brand image that will allow you to be more creative and interesting with your page – which will ultimately attract more interaction with followers.

The visual appeal of the timeline pages will be sure to be an advertising and marketing benefit for business pages. An article on Mashable.com explains that according to ExactTarget, “of the people who "Like" Facebook brand pages, 40% are doing that to receive discounts and promotions. Now with the larger post size and photos, Timeline can easily serve as a brand blog, providing fans with frequent and engaging updates in a neatly packaged profile."

In the mean time, there are some things to be aware of that will affect your posting strategies. With timeline, users have more control over what displays in their news feeds. In the top right corner of each story, users can choose to “unhighlight the story” or “hide all stories” from a certain person or page they follow. Facebook will use that information to edit what shows up in your news feed. So for those of you with boring posts – you will show up less in your follower’s feeds. What to take away from this: take notice to what you are posting and how often you are posting on your business page and put more effort into your content.

It is important to become familiar with this new Facebook change so that you can continue to use your business page to its full potential. While it is still unknown if these changes will make their way to business pages, you want to be ready for the switch should it come later.

"Rachel is a graphic designer who is passionate about combining function and style into stylish websites that truly do the brand justice. Rachel uses her experience in a variety of areas including design, marketing, advertising, and social media to give clients the complete package."

We have now joined Bloglovin

TheWebGuys — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:16:00 +0400

Are you a part of the Bloglovin community? We have just joined this great community of bloggers and want to connect with you. Follow our blog with Bloglovin.

Social Media and Search Engine Optimization

TheWebGuys — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:56:00 +0400

These days, social and search are so closely related, that it is essential for businesses to get involved and set up a social media marketing strategy for their business. Search engines are changing the way they display search results, and social media is the number one reason for that.
Bing, Google, and most other major search engines have started including social data in their search results. So when you search for a certain word or phrase in your favorite search engine, you will likely see social results right next to the traditional website search results. Your search results may be different from your friends based on social signals like your Facebook likes, +1s and tweets.

The affect of social media on search
We all know that social media is taking over the world. But, social networks show us what real people like and want to share with their friends. So search engines are taking advantage of that information in order to give you better results when searching for items or info on the internet. Users are now able to “vote” for their favorite content with clicks, bookmarks, tags, and ratings. These things signal search engines so that your search results are more personalized based on what you and your friends like. Search engines are now taking into consideration the opinions of people to determine which websites are most popular.

Make your social media accounts more specific
With hundreds of different social media networks out there, the first step is to narrow down the options and decide which ones will benefit your company the most. The most popular networks are free, so it is very beneficial for most businesses to take advantage of these. But your business is not like everyone else’s business, so your social networking strategy should be different, too. Research what each social network will do for your business and make your decision based on your industry and target market. Once you get your social network accounts set up and running, figure out a schedule to help you keep track of how you are managing each of them.

Quality content – use your keywords
Just posting on your social media accounts is not enough. With the growth of social networking and its connection to search engine results, the quality of your posts is just as important. Content quality will always reign supreme with search engines, and this is no different for social media. After all, the search engines are pulling your content for search results. So the better your content and the more keywords used, the higher your social networks will rank in search engines. Keep your social posts full of interesting and unique information that engages your users and the search engines will be engaged as well.
Remember to keep in mind that each social network is different, and they each deserve different attention. Don’t make the same posts on Facebook and Twitter every time. You have a different audience for each network and you should tailor your posts and activity to that network. Also, you don’t want to duplicate your content too many times on the web. Regardless of where it is located, search engines frown upon duplicate content.

Social Sharing
Another important SEO strategy related to social media is social sharing. If your content is easy to share with others, it will help drive up your search results. The more people that read and view your posts, the more likely it will be to show up higher in search results. Plus, with real-time search results, social media updates and posts are obvious additions to the immediate results people love so much.

By no means does this mean to drop all search engine optimization on your website, but it does mean that there might need to be an adjustment to your strategy. Combining SEO on your website with social media just makes your overall ranking and web presence stronger.

The focus and keywords need to be the same across the board on your SEO to make sure that you are enforcing your efforts and not competing with them. A successful collaboration between your website and social SEO will help you win over those search results we all strive to get.

"Rachel is a graphic designer who is passionate about combining function and style into stylish websites that truly do the brand justice. Rachel uses her experience in a variety of areas including design, marketing, advertising, and social media to give clients the complete package."

Website Design Trends for 2012

TheWebGuys — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:18:00 +0400

As 2011 ends and we move in to a new year, we move into new trends in website design. Design trends for this year will be sure to help grab your visitors’ attention. While the eye is naturally drawn to graphics and images, it is important for the design of your website to integrate with its function.

Top Trends for 2012

1. Colors – Brighter colors are being used more than neutrals, but in moderation. You never want to mix too many different colors or use bright backgrounds that will make it hard on the viewer’s eyes.

2. Typography – Custom fonts are being used more with effects like depth, gradients, and transparency.

3. Images – Images are always important to grab the user’s attention. Larger images and background images are a current trend that will continue into 2012.

4. Animation – Animation is always a great way to enhance a website. In 2012 we will see more movement with websites.

5. Responsive Web Design – This means that your website responds to the device it is being viewed on, which makes it easier to view on different screen sizes, including mobile devices.

6. Minimalist Design– Sometimes less is more. In 2012, simple designs will give more appealing results. It keeps your website organized and allows the message to be more prominent.

7. Infographics – Put important information into an infographic to present the info visually. Your users will be more likely to read the info and be interested in what it says.

Does your website incorporate some or all of these trends? If not, are you thinking about updating your site design to be fresh for 2012? The website designers at TWG are up-to-date with the latest trends and styles for website designs in 2012 and ways to incorporate them into your website’s function for the best results.

"Rachel is a graphic designer who is passionate about combining function and style into stylish websites that truly do the brand justice. Rachel uses her experience in a variety of areas including design, marketing, advertising, and social media to give clients the complete package."

New Year, New Website Part 2

TheWebGuys — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:51:00 +0400

If you missed part 1, see it here.

Welcome back! Let’s get back to redesigning that website for your business—in addition to the previous list we offered---we have a few more points to make. As you will continue to read, the benefits to redesigning your website certainly outweigh any budgetary drawbacks.

Put your best foot forward:
Just as with any relationship---you don’t want your website to grow stale in the eyes of your users. Your regular visitors will enjoy something new on your website—this keeps the relationship fresh, keeps your business on the right side of cutting-edge, and, most importantly, keeps your users coming back. New doesn’t have to be complicated—in fact, solicit feedback from your users, and incorporate some of their user-requests into your redesign. You can have a website that works for you, and works for your customers. First time users will appreciate that you have a clean, current site—and this can be the necessary edge to win their patronage.

Check your reflection:
Let your website reflect your business. Regardless of the budget you had when you first invested in your website—indulge, if needed, to get a redesign that speaks volumes for your business. Not every redesign has to be a custom design—for some businesses, a template site branded for their business is more than enough. For others, a custom design is needed. Does your business offer custom work? Or are you in a less-specialized market? Do you have a lot of local competition? Are you trying to reach larger markets outside of your local area? Let your website act as a mirror---all who view it should see a true sense of your business and all that you offer.

Grow your website with your business:
For many small businesses—the first website that they invest in is often small, and lacking in enhancements. When first getting your feet wet—many site owners defer to the practicality of just having a website rather than focus on creating a tool that can make their business operations smoother, more organized, and custom-developed for their needs. Your website can do anything you need it to do. What do you need in your website? Some data basing options? Maybe email-to-text capabilities for you and your customers? Time-saving options to update your website, Facebook and Twitter in one process? Also, what do your users want from your website? Do they need the convenience of online bill pay? Do they want to schedule appointments online? Do they want to sign up for email announcements or newsletters?

As your business grows and matures, so should your website. Additions can be in lump-sum, or you can slowly add one or two features every 6 months or yearly. Don’t sell your business short by handicapping your efforts, your brand, and your marketing with an out-dated website.

Author: Suzanne Booth, Account Executive

New Year, New Website Part 1

TheWebGuys — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:59:00 +0400

The turn of the year brings with it much work to be done within a business. In the hustle of getting started on the right foot in the new year, do not overlook your website and online presence. Much like hairstyles, wardrobes, and even logos and branding---your website needs a face-lift from time-to-time, too. Why invest in redesigning your website, though, when what you have seems to be working? Off-the-cuff—my reply is “Why not?”—but I will provide a more compelling argument than this. In fact, I will provide so much evidence, supporting why your business needs a redesigned website—it will require two separate posts! Here’s Part One…
Stay ahead of your competition:
What happens when your competitors make the move to a redesign—and you’re left behind, with an ancient, unattractive, old site? Be the leader in your industry—be the company that customers look to for the latest, greatest and most up-to-date products, services, and marketing tools.

Bring your website into the 21st century:
If you are the owner of a website that is more than 5 years old---your site shows its age to every viewer. The standards in website design and coding change quite rapidly; and as a result, websites age quickly. Five years of the same design may be creating a pre-historic look and feel for your website. Think about the message this is sending to visitors---if your website looks that old, how out-dated might your products or methods be?

Focus on your destination:
Your website should display where you are headed—not where you have been. If the content, dates, images, or any bit of information on your website is not current or centered on what your business can offer and is doing now and in the near future---it’s time to breathe some fresh life into it all! Your business plans and goals change annually—so should the goals and plans for your website.

As far as marketing tools go—Your website takes the cake:
Your website is the best marketing tool you have in your arsenal. Why? Because it is available online to current and prospective customers 24/7. When your office is closed—your website is not. With specialized programming, your website can even act as a staff-member—users may be able to request appointments, make payments, offer feedback, or even purchase your goods and services all through your website. What other marketing tool can do all this? And….let’s not forget the strength behind good and proper marketing of your website. This can land your business on the map in areas that would take years and thousands of dollars in marketing to achieve. Maybe the website deserves a Christmas bonus next year…

Are you still uncertain if it’s time to redesign that site or not? Check back later on this week….we’ll offer you more proof, just to give you that extra little nudge in the right direction that you need…

Getting the most out of your website

TheWebGuys — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:15:00 +0400

In order to get the most out of your website, your customers should come first. They need to be considered every single step of the way: from the usage of the website, to the navigation, to the layout. Every aspect of the site needs to ensure that any user can visit and be able to find exactly what they want, quickly. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your website.

1) Know your audience: Why would someone visit your site

Who will be visiting your site, and why? This knowledge is vital to the success of your website. Think about why someone would want/need to visit your site, and focus all other aspects of the website around this.
What are they hoping to achieve by visiting your website? To learn basic information about the company and find contact information? To view your inventory, or purchase products? Whatever the reason, if you know why they are visiting, you can focus your website to allow the users to access information faster, and with less hassle.

2) Consider your navigation

Browsing and searching are the 2 main ways that users access content on your website. Is your website easy to use, and easy for the end user to find exactly what they are looking for? All content on your website should relate as close as possible to the reason the website exists.
If you have an ecommerce website, then you should have information about your company, but the main reason users will visit will be to purchase products, so ensure this is an easy task for the users.

3) Thinking about adding a new feature, getting a redesign, or don’t have a website, and want to get one?

Does the potential change positivity affect the visitors? Before committing to a change, make sure the change is something that will make the website more effective, and will meet the needs of the users.
Will design updates or a new website help your users? If you want a new design, while you are going through the process to get it setup, always keep in mind that the users are the most important, if your users are not happy, then your website will be less successful.
If this will be your first website, don’t worry; we, at TWG, are experts at making sure your website works perfectly with your business goals. We will help you every step of the way.

If you are interested in getting updates, a redesign, or a brand new website, feel free to contact us, at TWG Design Studio, and we will go to work harder for your business to provide you with everything you need to reach your target audience successfully.

Author: Chase Hubbard