SIGNS
An essential element of a business’ overall image should be proper and well-executed use of signs.  As you well know, signs come in a multitude of sizes, shapes, and forms.  They can also be designed to serve multiple purposes, ranging from identification, to promotions.

The most prominent sign would be displayed at the place of business.  This allows for immediate recognition.  Additionally, most businesses post signs in their windows, whether in poster format, or painted directly on the glass.  Signs can also be displayed on vehicles, such as magnetics or wraps.  For promotional purposes, it’s not uncommon to see other types of displays, such as portable a-frames, banners, balloons, and inflatables.  Alternatively, businesses may use a hand-held sign to attract the attention of passing motorists; we’ve all seen someone standing on a corner holding/waving a sign.  At times, they may even be dressed as a caricature of the ...[more]

SIGNS
An essential element of a business’ overall image should be proper and well-executed use of signs.  As you well know, signs come in a multitude of sizes, shapes, and forms.  They can also be designed to serve multiple purposes, ranging from identification, to promotions.

The most prominent sign would be displayed at the place of business.  This allows for immediate recognition.  Additionally, most businesses post signs in their windows, whether in poster format, or painted directly on the glass.  Signs can also be displayed on vehicles, such as magnetics or wraps.  For promotional purposes, it’s not uncommon to see other types of displays, such as portable a-frames, banners, balloons, and inflatables.  Alternatively, businesses may use a hand-held sign to attract the attention of passing motorists; we’ve all seen someone standing on a corner holding/waving a sign.  At times, they may even be dressed as a caricature of the ...[more]

SIGNS
An essential element of a business’ overall image should be proper and well-executed use of signs.  As you well know, signs come in a multitude of sizes, shapes, and forms.  They can also be designed to serve multiple purposes, ranging from identification, to promotions.

The most prominent sign would be displayed at the place of business.  This allows for immediate recognition.  Additionally, most businesses post signs in their windows, whether in poster format, or painted directly on the glass.  Signs can also be displayed on vehicles, such as magnetics or wraps.  For promotional purposes, it’s not uncommon to see other types of displays, such as portable a-frames, banners, balloons, and inflatables.  Alternatively, businesses may use a hand-held sign to attract the attention of passing motorists; we’ve all seen someone standing on a corner holding/waving a sign.  At times, they may even be dressed as a caricature of the ...[more]

The importance of creating a favorable first impression cannot be overstated.  As our brains receive data through the five senses, as well as “intuition” and “gut feelings”, an involuntary response is set in motion.

If we observe something our brain responds to as undesirable, an emotional reaction to that stimulus takes place.  This holds true for the other senses as well.  Hearing, tasting, touching, or smelling something undesirable all tend to influence our emotional state according to previous programming.

This holds true in any environment.  You can imagine how undesirable stimulus would impact you adversely whether at a restaurant, at a hospital, at a supermarket, in an office, or at a tire shop.

Conversely, you can imagine what desirable stimulus would impact you in any environment.

Initially, one may garner exposure through a multitude of vehicles, whether a billboard, a sign on a building, circulars, newspaper ads, ra ...[more]

The importance of creating a favorable first impression cannot be overstated.  As our brains receive data through the five senses, as well as “intuition” and “gut feelings”, an involuntary response is set in motion.

If we observe something our brain responds to as undesirable, an emotional reaction to that stimulus takes place.  This holds true for the other senses as well.  Hearing, tasting, touching, or smelling something undesirable all tend to influence our emotional state according to previous programming.

This holds true in any environment.  You can imagine how undesirable stimulus would impact you adversely whether at a restaurant, at a hospital, at a supermarket, in an office, or at a tire shop.

Conversely, you can imagine what desirable stimulus would impact you in any environment.

Initially, one may garner exposure through a multitude of vehicles, whether a billboard, a sign on a building, circulars, newspaper ads, ra ...[more]

The importance of creating a favorable first impression cannot be overstated.  As our brains receive data through the five senses, as well as “intuition” and “gut feelings”, an involuntary response is set in motion.

If we observe something our brain responds to as undesirable, an emotional reaction to that stimulus takes place.  This holds true for the other senses as well.  Hearing, tasting, touching, or smelling something undesirable all tend to influence our emotional state according to previous programming.

This holds true in any environment.  You can imagine how undesirable stimulus would impact you adversely whether at a restaurant, at a hospital, at a supermarket, in an office, or at a tire shop.

Conversely, you can imagine what desirable stimulus would impact you in any environment.

Initially, one may garner exposure through a multitude of vehicles, whether a billboard, a sign on a building, circulars, newspaper ads, ra ...[more]

The importance of creating a favorable first impression cannot be overstated.  As our brains receive data through the five senses, as well as “intuition” and “gut feelings”, an involuntary response is set in motion.

If we observe something our brain responds to as undesirable, an emotional reaction to that stimulus takes place.  This holds true for the other senses as well.  Hearing, tasting, touching, or smelling something undesirable all tend to influence our emotional state according to previous programming.

This holds true in any environment.  You can imagine how undesirable stimulus would impact you adversely whether at a restaurant, at a hospital, at a supermarket, in an office, or at a tire shop.

Conversely, you can imagine what desirable stimulus would impact you in any environment.

Initially, one may garner exposure through a multitude of vehicles, whether a billboard, a sign on a building, circulars, newspaper ads, ra ...[more]

If you are a developer (like me), have you ever wondered how to determine if the color set you are using on your web page or in your software is a good choice?  After all, there are lots of things to consider.  Color makes what you present “eye catching”, and can boost the enthusiasm of your target audience.  It can attract attention to an important area, or help distinguish regions of information.

On the downside, the wrong color choices can make your information displeasing, hard to read, and actually discourage readers.  Also, colors which may look really good, can be near impossible to distinguish by individuals with varying degrees of colorblindness.

So, how do we make sure the colors we have chosen do not do the exact opposite of what we want?

The answer, at least for text, is some math.  There are 2 methods to test a color combination, the first being the older AERT algorithms proposed by W3C, and the second being the Luminosity Contrast ...[more]

If you are a developer (like me), have you ever wondered how to determine if the color set you are using on your web page or in your software is a good choice?  After all, there are lots of things to consider.  Color makes what you present “eye catching”, and can boost the enthusiasm of your target audience.  It can attract attention to an important area, or help distinguish regions of information.

On the downside, the wrong color choices can make your information displeasing, hard to read, and actually discourage readers.  Also, colors which may look really good, can be near impossible to distinguish by individuals with varying degrees of colorblindness.

So, how do we make sure the colors we have chosen do not do the exact opposite of what we want?

The answer, at least for text, is some math.  There are 2 methods to test a color combination, the first being the older AERT algorithms proposed by W3C, and the second being the Luminosity Contrast ...[more]

Permission marketing is when you ask your target market and web site visitors for their ‘permission’ to do, or send them something. It is an important part of your internet marketing. The key is to get your target market to willingly volunteer to participate in the process. In order to do this, whatever you are offering needs to be of value to the user and you have to make that value clear to them. If they see no benefit in participating, then they will not. It’s that simple! Adding an opt-in email sign-up is a good example of permission marketing.

What makes permission marketing so effective?

It’s not intrusive. The user volunteered to receive the information you are sending because it is of interest to them. This significantly increases the chance of the user viewing what you send to them and also being receptive to it. Permission marketing can be a valuable asset in acquiring new customers and building relationships with your existing ones. ...[more]