Stick it up!

06/20/2007

This is not a hold-up or some police officer pointing a gun at you. I’m just trying to prove a point that getting a little imagination in your marketing materials won’t hurt you much. In fact, getting original and distinct will go a long way in helping you grab your target clients’ attention and keep it.

So what the heck am I talking about? I am talking about business cards that double as magnets. Yes, you got that right. Business cards nowadays come in all shapes and sizes, so why not as magnets? PrintPlace.com, an online business card printing company did just that.

Magnetic business card printing, one of their more popular services, provides clients with a marketing product that helps them stick with their target audience. It does not only stick on any metallic surface, it also sticks in everyone’s mind. That is the main idea!

Do you know of anyone who does not have even a single magnet on their refrigerators? I mean those that people collect from places that they have been to. Or those cartoon character that make you smile whenever you see them. I have them in mine. I make it a point to collect souvenirs from all the places that I have been to: Las Vegas, California, New York, Canada. It reminds me of all the fun I had.

PrintPlace.com got that concept down pat. They put the names of the products right in the face of potential customers. Fridge magnets remind customers about the product every time they close or open the refrigerator which is most of the time. Imagine having your advertisement right there in the most conspicuous place twenty-fours hours a day, seven days a week.

Fridge magnets offer convenience to customers, too. I found them very helpful last week when high school friends came over to my place unannounced. It was fortunate however, that I have the phone of the nearest pizza delivery. Do you know where I found their number? On my fridge magnet!

And your business card magnets may come in many sizes and forms. They don’t have to be in the standard square or rectangle shape that we’re used to. In fact, you can go original and wacky by doing your business card printing in shapes like trapezoid, triangle, and the many-sided polygons.

So next time you think of ways to make your business known to your target clients, get magnetic business cards. It’s the best way for them to stick it up for you.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit:
Magnetic Business Card Printing

Author Bio: Lynne Saarte is a writer that hails from Texas. She has been in the Internet business for some years now, specializing in Internet marketing and other online business strategies.

Tags: custom business card, card magnet, business card, cards custom, color business card

Graphic Design

01/19/2007

The study of/training in the use of artistic techniques effectively to communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via forms of printed media.

Graphic Element Placement Options

Postcard-Graphic Design… Nothing is predestined: The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings…Ralph Blum

Most people think Graphic Design is intended for commercial, advertising or educational reasons only. An element you may wish to include in your corporate brochure may be images of a 35mm Slide Presentation or a screen capture of their website, plus many other graphic aids. If time is not on your side you may want to employ two graphic artists to create company ID, all necessary marketing literature. Many of the folks I have come to know are graphic designers; I enjoy my time with every one of tome because of the uniqueness in each of their creative thoughts. But there are only handfuls that are very precise at creating art that sells.

Graphics, Print Modes and General Layout Tips

All you need is a decent graphics editor like Macromedia Fireworks, Adobe PhotoShop or Corel Photo paint to edit your own graphics. When working with web graphics remember they are viewed on screen, so you should always save them in RGB mode. When you are intending for the image to produce on a commercial printing press you

Postcard-Graphic Design… Create postcards…that reach out.

will save them in CMYK Mode. When you want to send or receive a reliable file type the best one is tiff, it’s the best way to retain color and detail found in photographs and universally accepted. When you want to layout graphics for any project there are certain primary elements to be aware of such as vector file format.

Who is the Right Designer for you?

Confidence, certainty and spot on creative thinking are what separate ordinary from the extraordinary. The”Top Dogs”just know and understand where it’s at and what the goal is. They know that there is a reason for being, and will take a scientific approach that encompasses an entire identity. Only a few of today’s designers are qualified designers for print and web, these designers may outsource the print media and this is where inconsistency may occur. We must seek and find a design that knows both in order to get maximum value for your dollar. The greatest graphic artists have learned that their talents are about creation.

Service is the rent we pay to be living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time…Marian Wright Edelman

Plan a Qualified Designer for your Company

Once you have gone through your creative process and come to the acceptance step, stand back before signing off! Now, let’s take a breath and remove you for a moment. You should be seeing an innovative graphic design that will help set you apart from others in your arena. Don’t forget your company must have a website in today’s’

Postcard-Graphic Design… Get double the standard response…send it special delivery on its own

business climate it is not an option to not have one. There are plenty of companies you will see that offer SEO, SEM, SES and web design for 1000s of dollars. Again I say you company designer of choice should be taking care of everything for you.

Successful branding advice

  • Uncommon typography
  • Brand autopsy like a surgeon Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience [dreams]: this is the ideal life…Mark Twain

    For today’s small business marketer

  • Building Brand Awareness Through Trade shows
  • What Makes a Good Logo Design?
  • How Do You Define a Good Logo Design
  • Best Practices for International Brands
  •  

    Postcard-Graphic Design… Don’t be annoying by sending your business customers garbage mail…send a classy postcard

    Tags: graphic designer, graphic design software, graphic design companies, graphic design scholarships, graphic design job, graphic design logos

    Preserving and Restoring your Historical Photos

    01/17/2007

    Conserving Ancient History

    Postcard-Fine Art Conservation… In 1903 the US postal service OKed…address on the right hand and the correspondence on the left

    Many popular board games like Risk, Monopoly, and Clue date back to the land of ancient Mesopotamia. A British archeologist known as Charles Leonard Woolley found a board game that archeologists think is at least 4500 years old. There have been many subsequent findings since then, all offering proof that our distant ancestor’s also engaged in board games…from India to Egypt. Most ancient artifacts in the world are found in areas such as Library of Hadrian, Kerameikos, Acropolis, Agora, Olympieion, Southeast Athens, Pnyx, Roman Agora, Tower of the Winds, Arch of Hadrian, Athens and City Eleusinion.

    Museum holds the Past

    Postcard-Fine Art Conservation… Postcards can generate repeat sales…use a mailing list to your customers.

    In order to see the architect Li Pei’s glass pyramid you can take a bus tour that will take you through this and many other historical artifact sites. There are also many other major cities and less major towns that have their own old museums and supporting websites that you can research to find out more on historical subjects that you are interested in

    Here’s a few helpful resources

    For a visitor information sites have made it really easy to locate the museum nearest to you. You can find museum and exhibition listings, historical society/ genealogy sites, and locations easily by simple searching for it. I found a pretty good list here http://icom.museum/vlmp/world.html. I like to see the local museums and look at the local public art, it gives me a good idea of the cultural events that have occurred in the past.

    Keep your Memories Intact

    It would be nice to share your most cherished moments with family and friends. You can take steps to preserve them for your future family generations right now.

    1. Create a brief text journal of all the imagery and collectibles that you have. The journal will give you a legend account of memories involving your collection.
    2. Type your list into a simple program like Microsoft Word
    3. Lightly brush the surface of each photo with a cotton pad
    4. Scan each one and name each scan so each file name is related to your journal
    5. Assemble all images in a paper based photo album (plastic scratches the surface)

    Now you have a photo album collection that you can show people in digital form or in paper form. You also have images that you can send to anyone in the world by using the internet.

    Take Care of your Photos

    Postcard-Fine Art Conservation… I have learned that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours…Henry David Thoreau

    Have you ever tried to sort through your old photos?

    Ever considered how you can preserve time and protect your family or historical photos?

    A picture frame can guard your photographs and treasured memories from direct light, which can be the source of image fade. Obtaining a digital camera is a great investment as images are stored digitally and are not subject to the wear and tear compared to conventional photos, plus countless other bonuses. People like to keep photos in tact for many reasons, such as

    • personal memories
    • capturing personal history
    • for fun
    • a great way to tell your friends and family back home what’s being going on.
    • preserver antique photos

    Helpful Resources: Imaging and photo help - Find Lost Photos on your Computer

    Brand-mark tips for successPostcard-Fine Art Conservation

  • Uncommon typography
  • The Dictionary of Business and Management defines brand as: a name, sign or symbol used to identify items or services of the seller(s) and to differentiate them from goods of competitors.

    Advertise to strengthen your brand

  • Is Your Logo Helping or Hurting Your Business
  • How Do You Define a Good Logo Design?
  • How to Create Well Represented Logos
  • Corporate Responsibility
  • … A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for hours…William Shedd

    Tags: photo restore, ancient greece, aztec artifacts, restoration photos, digital photo restoration, restore photos, stone artifacts, museum artifacts

    Photo ID Cards. Who Needs them Anyway?

    01/14/2007

    It’s surprising to see how many organizations outsource their identification needs. Is it simply because of the expense incurred when an organization decides to implement some type level of required identification cards? Sometimes the identification requirements are dictated by law and other times it’s simply to give an organization a higher level of credibility. Regardless, many companies are finding solutions other than purchasing expensive software and plastic card printers.

    Personally, since I’ve been in the identification and tracking industry for over 10 years, I have worked with many different types of organizations in helping them develop solutions for their registration or simply photo identification needs. One thing that has become clear is the providers of these services have either chosen the high road or the low road. Many of these service providers have become self governing to ensure only individuals that should carry identification proving the person is really a police officer, EMT, or whatever the case may be. While others have chosen a more profitable route of selling ID cards to anyone who is willing to pay the price. You can search the internet for “Fake ID Cards” and you will find a plethora of companies that will provide you a card that will cost as much as $30. When searching for a legitimate solution the range is commonly in the $4 to $8 range. Because of the high level of profit, it’s easy to understand why some would choose that more lucrative path.

    Simply saying the organizations that are selling ID cards without principles are breaking the law simply isn’t the case in most instances. If you check out their disclaimers, or the “I Agree” clauses on their sites, you will see that they actually only sell “Novelty” ID cards to anyone that is willing to pay their price. Again, checking into the details you may find that other companies providing these services are located overseas and therefore not held to the laws of our country. So accusing these providers of breaking the law or engaging in illegal activity isn’t the case because of the fine lines drawn.

    So I have to question myself as to whether or not, ID cards mean anything anymore since it’s so easy to purchase false identification. Although if we look around we find that many individuals and companies are required to have IDs even for the simplest of services. Financial institutions commonly require two photo ID cards to cash a check or start a new account. TSA at the airport demands a form of photo ID card as do many other security personal to enter a protected area. Everywhere we look someone is requiring some form of photo identification from us.

    Recently there was even a law passed that allows retired police officers to carry a firearm anywhere in the country if that officer also carries an identification card stating the officers retired status. Even bounty hunters and private detectives are now required by many states to carry ID cards that indicate their status and organizational affiliations. And guess what; there is not a government agency to supply any of these required cards so these people have to seek out a provider.

    Even if we go beyond the requirements of law, I have to admit that when a police officer or fireman comes to my door it give me a feeling of comfort seeing them display some form of identification. So I guess even when the cards are not mandated by law, they are needed in many other areas of our daily lives.

    So as long as we are in a society that does not trust everyone just because what they tell us, I’m sure that we will be in a society that requires some form of identification. The future technologies may change some of the forms of identification, but in my perception will always be a need for some type of identification card; even it if’s only for the latest club you joined.
    Author Bio: Allen Richardson is the founder of Virtual Tournament Director, a company handling registration and ID cards for amateur sports participants around the nation, and http://www.fullidentity.com a company that provides similar services to the business community. He also serves as consultant to Southwest Airlines, Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railway as well as several other companies in the United States. Additionally, he is the author of Personal Discipline: Tools for Consistent Success.

    Tags: state identification cards, photoid, photo id, id card design, id template, plastic id card

    Sculturing by Mother Nature

    01/09/2007

    The formation of reality employing 3D media e.g. metal, stone, wood etc.

    The Art of Sculpturing

    Postcard-Sculpture… Postcards can be printed on both sides…in glistening color

    If you really examine the sculpture you’ll feel connected with Mother Nature. Rivers of water flowing gently through the water eroded rocks. Just like chiseling away while making your sculpture that has existed only in your mind up until now. When you sculpture a table is needed to support this weight they can weigh 150 to 200 pounds depending on the object of your art.

    As far back as ancient times, sculpturing has been a means for human expression for thousands of years. Historic forms immensely influenced Greek sculpture in its early days. Many of the new styles of sculpture employ stainless steel and special stainless steels made for this purpose.
    Helpful Links- Metal Art - Steel Sculptures Connected

    Types Of Sculpturing

    Postcard-Sculpture… Design your postcard…so it’s more likely to generate a response
    • Bronze- by employing heated sulfur and ammonia compositions bronze can be oxidized to a brown color.
    • Natural rock sculptures- nature has its own way to form sculptures of rock which can be shaped over decades naturally sculpturing its way to the future.
    • Sand Sculpturing- There are also many international sand-sculpturing contests that take place every year.

    Reference Links: Sand Sculpting - Sand Mermaid

    Balloon sculpturing- Balloon sculpturing is a dearly loved form of entertainment for both children and adults!
    Reference Links: Balloon Sculpting - Make your own Balloon

    Natural Ornamental Rocks

    Postcard-Sculpture… Use our postcards to generate a response from recipients…include a reply

    Natural movement of water through rocks can be one of the most creative forms of sculpturing. This natural process has a natural beauty that stands alone. When you buy a home some people like natural stone on their property as a form of art. Stones wholesalers will lay the stones for you. Transportation and installation usually requires special equipment making this process very expensive and yet it is done purely from desire. These ornamental stones can be treated so that they are resistant to any type of corrosion or decay over time. In most cases they will often outlast the dwelling itself.

    “Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.” Plato

    The Ancient Carved Stone

    It still remains somewhat mysterious how quartz was carved in the 18th century and shaped into a bottle. Think about a mass of quartz rock that is impossible to scratch even with the sharpest knives, yet the ancient sculpture’s made clearly defined art from it. Stone bottles were carved in a large variety of shapes with an opening in the neck of the bottle, always the same rough size, about ¼” Lending credence to the phrase “carved in stone”.

    Company Imaging Helpful Tips

  • Branding for New Economic Developments.
  • A brand is your best friend, keep the friendship fresh

    For today’s small business marketer

  • What is a bitmap
  • Internet Branding
  • Abstract
  • Logos- Options are Endless
  • Postcard-Sculpture… Life without a purpose is a languid, drifting thing; every day we ought to review our purpose, saying to ourselves, ‘This day let me make a sound beginning…Thomas Kempis

    Tags: greek, ancient athens, ancient greece, ancient rome

    The Art of Painting

    01/08/2007

    Painting is the expression of your emotions, concepts or visions of

    Postcard-Painting… Standard postcards are 38% cheaper than sending a letter…mail a postcard in the US today

    reality through expression by the use of paints and color substraits to canvasses or other artistic materials.

    Your House Can be your Palette

    When you are redecorating your old home you usually will have many layers of paint. It is a lot of extra work, but the correct way is to strip all those old layers right down to a virgin surface. Theonce that’s done it’s time to cut in all of the edges of the room with masking tape. You can get creative and mask off diferent areas to paint in multiple colours. As in artistry, you should have the right brushes and rollers to start off with and your task will be more professionally done. You can use a satin finish or eggshell finish latex paint for the highest sheen and take the time to choose a color that will look great for you.

    About Art and Replicas

    Do you ever wonder why original art is so expensive? Is the only art you have prints or bad imitations?

    Oil painting reproductions are a cheap way to display replicas of

    Postcard-Painting… First-time buyers example, promote a free in store giveaway to generate interest

    famous art in the home or business. If you want the real mocCoy though you need to appreciate what it is like to enjoy original art. Like many things in life, an oil painting starts with a good plan. When an artist starts the masterpiece there is always the original stemming thought, then the graceful oil painting begins, every stroke smooth and absolute.

    Artistic History

    In the 18th and 19th centuries, some of the most well-known artists in the world today created their original works.

  • Leonardo Da Vinci-  Leonardo Da Vinci was born in an Italian town called Vinci In 1452,. Some of his works included Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, Madonna and Child, The Virgin of the Rocks.
    Postcard-Painting… Attract new customers and increase sales today…Postcards are way
  • Pablo Picasso- Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, Spain on October 5, 1881. Some of his most famous paintings included; Guernica, Three Musicians, The Three Dancers, Self Portrait: Yo Picas
  • Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec- Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s style was Realism and Postimpressionism. Here are his most well known pi

    You and Your Canvas

    One of the first steps with your oil painting is applying acrylic under

    painting. This allows the artist get a project done quickly. When you start an oil painting using oils, it can take some time for that initial layer to dry. Some artists will bag there paints and brushes and put them in the freezer during this time. Learning about the various brushes and mediums has many varieties of choices. Once you settle on something that suits you, the next thing to thing is how to accurately render your thoughts on canvas using the palette.

    Postcard-Painting… Original art Postcards …for original people

    Secrets to a Winning Brand

  • Build brand integrity.
  • Brands are created through imagery, advertisements and business experiences.

    Changing the brand visuals can give rise to consumer interest

  • Creating A Quality Web Site Design
  • Strong brands remain strong
  • Primal Branding
  • Selecting the Logo Concept
    Postcard-Painting… It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is…Hermann Hesse
  • Tags: arts and crafts, framed art, pop art, art biography

    Drawing in pen & ink, pencil and charcoal

    01/07/2007

    Drawing

    Postcard-Drawing… A printing job you can afford…company postcards from pencil to press

    Learning the expression of emotions, concepts or views of reality through a representation by lines and strokes on a canvas. And artist’s canvas can be anything. Includes the use of such media as pen & ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel etc.

    Learn How to Pencil Sketch

    A beginner pencil set and some newsprint paper is all you need to get started. As soon as you pick up a pencil and start to sketch, artists tend to talk about images and analyze geometric shapes. To learn how to start drawing by learning simple shapes, the right way to hold your pencil, trying drawing stick figures, different pencil strokes and how shading works. When we actually get to pencil in hand it is a good idea to learn the proper finger postioning in hold your pencil. Your measurement from

    the thumb to the end of your pencil should be ½ inch. Sketching in pencil is very popular with artists it is a style in itself of a method of drafting.

    Helpful Links: Drawing, Illustration Research.

    Determine Your Style

    Every artist has to discover their own style! Usually artists will play

    Postcard-Drawing… Postcard Marketing…an excellent way to generate brand awareness

    with a number of different techniques before they find the tools that suit their style of illustrating. Your choice of materials will also depend on the chosen subject matter of your project. Most artists tend to be especially passionate of a certain theme, such as wildlife. Try to discover what is your passion! Never stop trying new ideas when you are trying to get to know your style. Time and experience will tell you what works best for your individual style.

    More Related Material: Style of Art, Draw Anime Style.

    What is Fine Art? The Big Picture

    Artistic Photography

    The topic of fine art is highly subjective. There is the School of Photography that can give you a good idea of what will constitute Fine Art photography.

    The Art of Flirting

    What about the Fine Art of Flirting? Flirting like all Fine Arts takes lots of practice for most but for some it comes naturally. Particulary the female gender. They seem to have mastered this art. But flirting can be employed in business and pleasure, by male and female. It is a

    Postcard-Drawing… Postcards help business owners and marketing managers… to generate leads and help close sales

    technique that uses the subliminal emotional connection tactic.This

    tactic usaully come parcel and package with the fine art of reading a situation by observing people’s manner and body language.

    My favorite is fine art and nature, combining the two concepts. The art of fine gardening is exactly that, a fine art. The fun in fine gardening is from the finished garden and the all the time spent designing the garden. This art is a a self fulfilling art!

    Helpful Links I Found: Search for Fine Art, Meaning of Fine art.

    The best brands weren’t built in a dayPostcard-Drawing


    You can brand absolutely anything… being effective is another thing.
    Brands are created through fine imagery, advertising and business experiences that lead to gained wisdom.

    Well thought out branding will increase your company’s profile and visibility through familiar recognition


    Build Your Business Through Brilliant Branding
    What is Branding?
    How a Logo Can Help Brand Your Business
    Why small businesses need both a logo and an identity system

    … “I would especially like to recourt the Muse of poetry, who ran off with the mailman four years ago, and drops me only a scribbled postcard from time to time.” John Updike.

    Tags: drawing animals, original art, drawings, drawing portraits, portrait drawing

    Fine Art

    Hang a Fine Art Print on your Wall that Lasts

    The aesthetic model in one medium and reality in another. Includes all artistic media.
    Postcard-Fine Art… Print your brochures or postcards…and a few good tips

    In order to frame the print and hang it on the wall always think about the placement first. Then get it properly framed that way you’ll find the look and feel of an art as opposed to a print it will be worth it. It is also a good idea to ensure that the print a reflection of the setting of the room it’s in. For each room you’ll probably want to have a fine art print with a recognizable subject relevant to the atmosphere in the room. With a little forethought you’ll enjoy displaying it on your wall for years.

    The Art of Drawing

    Postcard-Fine Art… Present and image of perceived value to generate a good response…a postal-card mailer

    You have to take drawing as a degree in fine art. Even though it is possible for you to be a graphic designer without having any drawing ability, it is an asset to naturally illustrate. Drawing is an artistic medium that can stand on its own. If you use illustration programs the more layers you add the more eliminated and colorful the drawing will appear as you bring the colors together. Applied arts always evolve from the abstract to the tangible. During this time it can the an exhilarating process for both the designer and client.

    The Art of Bonsai

    Postcard-Fine Art… A postcard is inexpensive and creative…it keeps you at the forefront of their thoughts so advertising something your business sells…a photo postcard says it all.

    The art of bonsai began in Asia several centuries ago, the meaning of this Japanese art is tray planting. Iti is the fine art of dwarfing trees and some other types of plants to make an artistic form. Bonsai gardeners are those who know that gardening as an art form and not just as a hobby.

    Tips for Buying Art

    The best way to purchase a piece of fine art is to be as opened minded as you can. Examine aesthetics and design principles. Ponder what you see, take it in and digest it. What makes a Portrait a Fine Art Portrait? It will have the artist’s signature and the edition number with the total number of art prints produced.

    The best brands weren’t built in a day


    Branding is part of winning strategy for building awarenenss. Brand mimics User’s Experiences

    A good design or graphics work is remembered for ages

    WePrintColour.com For the hottest postcard templates on the net. If you are trying to light a fire on the competition, try postcard marketing. Postcard marketing is a form of marketing that the most savy marketers depend on. It is affordable, effective and simple to create using our web-based postcard template design system.Postcard-Fine Art

    Tags: canvas art, art glass, framed art, street art