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Many of our friends and colleagues have asked about ViziSites’ performance through the COVID-19 crisis. Like most business owners, we ended up furloughing a group of consultants which was extremely painful for me to do. Because of this, I permanently lost one of my highest performing team members.
Here is the upside: we qualified and applied for the Cares Act PPP grant/loan. Securing these funds allowed us to immediately rehire our staff. This was a blessing, however, like most organizations we are still having to endure an exceedingly difficult time.
We are in this together and we must find unique ways to stimulate the economy. It is important that we do not submit to overwhelming feelings of loss and, instead, get creative in how we generate revenue for ourselves and our clients.
Having said that, we are going to keep moving!
As the CEO of ViziSites, I’m signing off on the deepest discounts I’ve ever offered. Think of this as a website and marketing stimulus package. In many cases, I’ll be waiving the ENTIRE investment for the build of the website.
We understand that many businesses need to hunker down, however, if your organization is experiencing growth, please reach out.
And if you aren’t experiencing growth, we may be able to SAVE YOU MONEY.
Let’s talk about the following…
I’m available via the contact page of our corporate site here. If you have my cell, feel free to call me directly.
Respectfully,
Jesse Davis
CEO, Co-Founder
The extra swish at the end, the thickness of the curve, the decision to add a flourish – these are all visual components of the written word. Typography dives into these elements and many more when designers create a new font. But wait, what’s the difference between typography and a font? Simply put, typography is the style and arrangement of words to influence readability and design. Fonts are specifically the set of letters within a designed series.
With thousands of fonts in existence (915 on Google Fonts alone), sifting through so many options seems like a daunting task. What are the differences between a serif and sans serif font? What about using a word based logo instead of an icon? How do you use typography in your brand? Does the font have to match your color palette? We are going to get our heads out of the word cloud and hone in on using typography to your advantage.
While there are several categories of font styles available, there are thankfully only two to really pay attention to. Serif fonts have a decorative element at the end of the letters, such as a straight bar or a swirl. Sans serif fonts remove this extra piece entirely so the focus goes towards the main body of the letter.
Serif fonts are known to be traditional, and sometimes dated, as they are more regularly used with official business documents. Current design trends have allowed sans serif fonts to take prominence in everyday life from menus to websites to logos. Now, there is nothing wrong with a serif font as newer fonts have been designed to take on some of the modern elements of the sans serif or to add extra character to avoid that document feel. Balance can also be achieved by using a serif font for headings and sans serif for the paragraph or body text. If the serif style matches your brand, go ahead and use it!
Now that you have a font selected, you are ready to attach it to the icon your designer has created for you, right? What if you rewinded a bit and instead used your business name as your logo? This is where monograms and word marks jump into the game. Monograms, common in the fashion industry, take a few letters, such as the initials of your business name, in a creative way to make a logo. Wordmarks, on the other hand, use the entire word and stylise it in a unique way; just picture the logos of Disney, FedEx, and Google and you have a wordmark!
If there is a lack of imagery or maybe you are tired of seeing the same icons rehashed in your industry a thousand times over, consider using a monogram or wordmark as your logo.
Whether you choose a sans serif font or a wordmark as your logo, typography is an essential element of your brand. Because your name is going to be the clearest identifier of your brand, the font you choose should match the personality you want to represent. At the same time, the font should be legible, flexible so it is readable no matter the size or background it is on, and consistent with the design style you are using.
Finding the balance between a good logo, a unique color palette, and typography can seem difficult to achieve. Maintaining clear communication with your designer is the best way to set yourself on the path to success. Once every checkbox is marked off, your logo will surely stand the test of time.
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Want to take your typography beyond Times New Roman and Arial? Explore the ways typography brought our logos together or contact a consultant today for a free demo!
Written by Michael Dea, Designer at ViziSites
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
From the days of crayon scribbles to picking out paint palettes for the living room, color influences every aspect of our lives. Would your living room feel warm and cozy in tan or ivory? Or should there be an accent wall of burnt red to complement your furniture?
Now that we have broken down the components of a good logo, let’s explore the other side of the rainbow to see how color influences your brand. Would movie night be as exciting if the splash screen was missing the red in the Netflix logo? Or would the blue Visa logo still feel trustworthy and dependable in green? Whether it’s considering color associations, understanding your surroundings, and connecting colors to your brand, selecting the right color to represent your business is another important element in establishing your brand.
Typically speaking, blues are calm and cooling while red is passionate and sometimes a little angry. Studies have taken this a step further to classify consumer behavior by color, which can arguably be more restrictive than helpful. You may have been presented with a similar graphic below:
The problem with this kind of classification is that it pressures people to make their color decisions within these rigid boundaries, whether it is a new logo design or a redesign of an existing one. Because color is so dependent on personal experiences, it is difficult for palettes to fall so close in line with these classifications. If you use orange in your logo, are you guaranteed to be more friendly and cheerful than someone who uses a peaceful green? What about logos like Google who use all four of their colors in their products? Take another look at the graphic above and see if your experience with these brands match the emotion of the color.
If you are having trouble deciding on a color palette, consider starting with your surroundings to see what colors match your environment and the culture. If you are on the coast, beachy tones can be a little overdone. Maybe you try colors from other natural elements instead of just the water and sand; consider looking at the colors of plant life that is native to the area or pull earthtones from the rocks along the edge. Finding unique palettes of the same theme allows your brand to stand out from those who may already be using the typical color scheme.
What colors do people associate with your city? Is there a sports team that everyone loves? Or is there a natural landmark nearby that tourists frequently visit? Creating these colorful connections in conjunction with the rest of the logo can help your brand integrate with your community and create more brand recognition.
When choosing a color palette, first take a step back to look at the characteristics of your brand. The type of product, the quality of the service, and your target audience are some of the factors to consider to help select your colors. It is more important for your colors to support your brand and personality that you want to portray instead of aligning with stereotypical color associations. Imagine if any of your favorite brands would have the same characteristics if they used different colors, or even different fonts. Whether it is the iconic red of Netflix or the blues of Visa, neither would be possible without a splash of color.
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Ready to add a splash of color to your brand? Take a look at how we used color on our logos and websites or contact a consultant today for a free demo!
Written by Michael Dea, Designer at ViziSites
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
Everyone talks about the need to have a social media presence but some businesses find themselves spinning their wheels while trying to find a formula that works for them. Businesses of any size can benefit from an effective social media marketing plan, but first it is important to tailor any messages to the appropriate audience. Use the following suggestions to improve your social media efforts, increasing engagement and boosting conversions.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and it will take more than a few hours to learn how suitable channels work and how they may best suit your business needs. Invest the time to explore some of the free and paid resources online to create a practical social media marketing strategy. Discuss your unique requirements with a ViziSites Internet Marketing Consultant to make the most out of your social media platforms.
Social media platforms are now being used as an extension of customer service departments. Customers are voicing their complaints and concerns, in addition to writing up candid reviews on platforms. Veterinary practices and hospitals can use the information to improve wait times, find new niches and provide recognition for employees going above and beyond. Taking the time to respond directly to customers online can demonstrate the type of attention to be expected by the business and improve customer relations.
Automation helps make it easier to ensure that communications and offers are sent out as scheduled. Free and paid plans from Hootsuite can get business owners started and make efforts more efficient. Plan posts in advance to allow time for responding and engaging with followers. Avoid coming across as overly promotional and look for ways to interest and educate an audience to grow a following.
Leveraging social media means more than posting a few times a day. Active engagement is key to getting audiences involved and building online relationships. Engagement helps open the lines of communication, allowing businesses to interact with prospects directly. Establishing an authentic sense of empathy is important for both online and offline relationships.
This playful example from CoastView Veterinary Hospital creates a game with pet owners. They are offered a chance to spell their pets’ names using only emojis. Pet names are spelled with emojis ranging from mushrooms, to saxophones and apples.
Light-hearted posts and games can increase engagement and be shared with others in their circle, potentially allowing new visitors to take part in the activity and follow a business. Social media efforts should not only be focused on pushing veterinary services or products in un-spammy ways, but to create authentic connections with leads and customers.
It doesn’t make sense to keep posting on platforms that audiences aren’t on. Spend more time on those channels that show the most engagement from an audience. Some businesses find success with some of the most popular social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. Remember that the type and format of posts may need to be tailored to the selected platform.
6. Analyze ResultsThere are multiple ways to stay informed and improve your social media efforts. Using the analytics provided by a specific social media platform, as well as through HootSuite, can make it easier to track which posts are performing well. Likes, shares and comments are some of the indicators that a post is connecting with an audience. Paying to boost such posts can also increase exposure of a business to new leads. This should be done with posts performing well organically to see the best results. Vet practice owners and small businesses can use regular analysis to hone their strategy and learn which types of posts work best with a target audience.
Small business owners are generally busy with handling the daily operations of an organization. However, time should be set aside daily to understand the opportunities offered with a social media presence and to learn how competitors may be engaging with their customers online. Learning the fundamentals about popular platforms and starting with a basic social media plan can get veterinary managers and owners new customers while retaining the old. Contact a ViziSites Internet Marketing Consultant for more details on which ideas and techniques would best suit your practice as you ramp up your efforts today.
When you see a red target on the side of a building or an apple emblazoned on the back of a smartphone, what are the first things that come to mind? Odds are you will quickly associate these icons with Target and Apple. But why does the brain make that instant connection? Is it the signature red that Target splashes across its stores? Would the Apple icon be as recognizable without the bite taken out of it or the leaf angled to the right? These are only some of the variables that designers keep in mind when creating a logo and establishing a brand.
Recently, we touched on the importance of consistency in relation to branding. Now, let’s zero in on one of, if not the, most important elements of branding: the logo.
What are the components of a good logo? Is it the vibrant colors you selected or is it choosing between serif and sans serif fonts? These elements are important to a well-designed logo, but let’s take an even closer look at five fundamentals of a successful logo that is relevant, simple, versatile, unique, and timeless.
Every component does not need to be checked off in order to create a great logo. As long as you and your designer address these components together, you can be sure to end up with a beautiful logo that achieves your business goals.
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Interested in creating a logo with our ViziSites designers that can stand the test of time? Take a look at our logo portfolio or contact a consultant today for a free demo!
Written by Michael Dea, Designer at ViziSites
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
Whether you are starting a business or own one that has been around for 30 years, branding should be an important part of your marketing strategy. The importance of consistency in branding should never be overlooked. Yet we regularly find clients who have not even considered their branding. Even more shocking; their marketing agents haven’t helped them with it either. This has made branding a main element of our service, even a manifesto of the design team, if you will.
Help small businesses establish branding through their online presence.
Branding is the magical element of marketing that allows me to say “Target” and you think of a bullseye, the color red, big block lettering, and maybe even a little white bull terrier. Or “Google” and you think of primary colors in sans-serif font. Maybe you wouldn’t have the words to describe what comes to your head, but the image is there, instantly. You have created a memory of that business. What they offer, what they stand for, and any interaction you have had with them. By simply saying the name, or seeing a red bullseye, all of those things are brought to mind.
Why is this so powerful?Entrepreneur.com said it best, “consistent, strategic branding leads to a strong brand equity, which means the added value brought to your company’s products or services that allows you to charge more for your brand than what identical, unbranded products command. The most obvious example of this is Coke vs. a generic soda. Because Coca-Cola has built a powerful brand equity, it can charge more for its product–and customers will pay that higher price.” Better branding leads to stronger recognition. Stronger recognition leads you to being seen as more trustworthy by your consumers. Being more trustworthy means you can draw a larger client base and/or charge more for your product.
Simply put: better branding = better business.
Consistent branding is carefully planned, well thought out, and completely intentional by these companies. Decisions like where to use a color or what font to use are just some of the factors they consider. Branding permeates into every aspect of your business: starting with your logo (icon, colors, typography), your tagline, core values & messaging, online and printed marketing materials, even down to how you interact with customers.
The trick is… branding is not “magical”. Consistent branding is attainable by even the smallest business, and is important to create recognition and – most importantly – something memorable in your customer’s minds. In this series, we will break down 3 key elements of visual branding: logo, colors, and typography. These are the foundation of your branding. Stay tuned and follow our branding series in 3 installments:
If you already know you need help with branding – contact our Internet Marketing Consultants today. They’ll show you how our designers can guide you through this process from beginning to end!
The first time you get a negative customer review can be, well let’s face it, downright depressing! You can’t help but take it as a personal assault. Not to mention that it maligns your professionalism, or perhaps the professionalism of your staff. Worse, it is often visible on social media and internet services such as Google. So, after your initial negative reaction, how do you move forward with damage control?
Don’t despair; it’s not the end of the world. In fact, you can use negative feedback as a tool for improving customer service, and believe it or not, build a more positive relationship with your clients. Now take a deep breath, and let’s analyze the reasons for bad reviews objectively, and how to take advantage of the opportunities they offer.
To begin with, no matter how much you focus on providing the best client experience possible, there are bound to be disgruntled customers from time to time. The larger your clientele, the more likely you’ll experience some bad reviews, for whatever reason. It’s impossible to please everyone. Once you come to terms with that reality, you can look at the reviews with objectivity.
So, Here’s the Final ScoopThe last thing you want to do is actively campaign to remove negative reviews from your online presence. Don’t lose the opportunity to turn negative reviews into positive outcomes for both you and your clientele. Focus on identifying the cause of the problem, then put your efforts into coming up with a solution.
Listen to what your clients say, and respect their feelings. Being empathetic to what might have caused a client to complain, allows you to understand their perspective. This is the first step to resolving the issue and creating better customer relationships. Let them know that you care about their concerns and wish to make their experience positive.
If you feel you have made a mistake, or there has been a misunderstanding, make an apology. Don’t defend your position or actions regarding the issue of contention. Nothing will make a client feel more vindicated than contrition on the part of you, or your staff.
Attempt to bring about a satisfactory resolution to the problem as fast as possible. The sooner you put the issue to rest, the better it is for your internet brand. Respond publicly to online reviews in an empathetic and conciliatory tone. If you were unaware of the problem, ask questions that will help you better understand. Other clients and potential clients who are reading reviews, will see that you treat your customers with respect, and truly appreciate their concerns. The final impression you leave will be a positive one.
Another beneficial outcome of responding to bad reviews in a positive, conciliatory way, is that very often the reviewer will feel sorry they dealt with things negatively. They can delete their review, or perhaps edit it to reflect the positive way in which you dealt with their concerns.
Make the effort to garner as many positive reviews as possible from your client base. When you have a large number of good reviews, they will far outweigh the few bad reviews that inevitably come with the territory of online reviews. If you are using services such as Yelp and Amazon, actively seek to increase positive feedback there as well as on your social media platforms.
Don’t let the prospect of bad customer reviews cause you undue stress. By taking the time to assess the problem, respond in a positive way, and resolve the issue, you can turn a negative review into a positive marketing tool.
Written by Jesse Davis, CEO of ViziSites
