Design Chef Studios

Generating resudual income as a designer

2010-12-15T09:23:00.001-08:00

These last few months I've been a struggling business owner. I've been bombarded for so long with people needing websites, that I never stopped to think what would happen when the flow stopped. The answer is to find ways I can make money doing what I love that would continually fund my business.

I met with a printer last week who wants me to design greeting cards for a print on-demand personalized greeting card business he's starting. So, that got me thinking... he can't be the only one that needs designers to do things like that.

I googled residual income for designers and found this information:
Times are tough for many businesses and hiring a graphic designer is probably not at the top of their priority list. They can easily bypass you and recycle old logos and advertisements.

If you’re like many, you have a day job to supplement your income from your graphic designs. For most designers however, anything that takes time away from designing is absolute torment. So what’s a designer to do? How do you keep the cash flowing in while continuing to do what you love best?

The simple answer is PODs. Print On Demand companies will allow you to build a portfolio of graphic designs, upload them to a website and sell them over and over again on t-shirts, coffee mugs, calendars, hats, and other products creating a residual income for you.

Most Print On Demand companies carry dozens of different products that your graphic designs can sell on. T-shirts, mouse pads, cutting boards, coasters, sneakers, neckties, posters, skateboards, coffee mugs and tote bags are just a few of the products you can sell via Print On Demand. The best part is that you carry no inventory, make no cash investment, and you don’t have to deal with sales, customers, shipping or returns.

All you do is upload a graphic design to their website, choose which products you want it sold on, give your design a title and description, set your own markup, and let the Print On Demand company handle the business details. Once your cleared commissions reach a certain amount, usually $25, you’ll get a check the following month.

Each design has unlimited potential to keep selling and on occasion, your graphic design might appeal to a buyer who is looking to purchase dozens of a single item, such as t-shirts for a charity event or campaign pins for a political rally.
Many Print On Demand companies have a marketplace on their website that allow customers to shop the designs, bringing you customers and sales. In addition, your customer base isn’t limited to your own city or country. Virtually anyone on the internet can order your products and the POD company will handle money conversions and overseas shipping, leaving you to do what you do best, create graphic designs.

Some of the more successful graphic designers also have their own website to help bring traffic to their POD store. While it is not necessary to have your own website, the more people that see your product, the more sales you will make. There are graphic designers who make their living from POD income without having a website of their own.

You can earn residual income from a POD company even if you aren’t a graphic designer by selling the products and designs created by others. In other words, you can become an affiliate at virtually any POD company and sell t-shirts, coffee mugs, hats, neckties, coasters, ornaments and other Print On Demand products. The affiliate makes money, the Print On Demand company makes money, and the graphic designer makes money. The customer gets a choice of unique designs that he cannot find at the local store covering virtually every subject imaginable.

Many Print On Demand companies have a marketplace on their website that allow customers to shop the designs, bringing you customers and sales. In addition, your customer base isn’t limited to your own city or country. Virtually anyone on the internet can order your products and the POD company will handle money conversions and overseas shipping, leaving you to do what you do best, create graphic designs.

visit my website for a look at my designs, maybe you'll see something you'd like to use on a promotional item.

www.designchefstudios.com

Do you have what it takes to be a designer?

2010-12-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

Be careful when choosing a designer

2010-11-30T10:39:00.000-08:00

Universal ways of naming a company

2010-11-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

... and cool logos to go along with them.

Ever wondered how great names like Nike, Mercedes and Google come from? Did they just pop out of nowhere? Or was there a premeditated strategy behind their evolution? I remember reading this great quote by Thomas C. Haliburton

“Nicknames stick to people, and the most ridiculous are the most adhesive.”

See some famous brands names, where they came from and their logos here.

http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/naming-company-and-brands/

Interested in a logo design...come to the chef http://designchefstudios.com/

Challenges for graphic designers in print advertising

2010-11-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

Creating print ads is quiet a challenging job for designers.

There are a few reasons that cause the making of print ads a little tricky, e.g:

• Say more in Less Space: For starters, a print medium has less space than any other advertising medium. You need to communicate efficiently and effectively.

• Lack of Emotions: Print ads lack the emotions that TV ads carry. You need to manipulate the words and pictures to create an attractive copy.

• No Sound or Visual effects: In creating a print ad there are no visual aids or sound effects, you use an immovable media to create a moving ad.

Interested in seeing a few of my "word play" designs? http://designchefstudios.com/

MUCH MORE cool ads and rest of article here...http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/cool-typography-print-ads/

For my fellow designers out there

2010-11-10T15:16:00.000-08:00

10 ways to AVOID becoming a work-a-holic

1. Earn to live, don't live to earn

2. Everyday is NOT Monday

3. The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time

4. Spouse is also in the house, REMEMBER?

5. When nothing goes right, go left

6. All work, no play makes Jack a dull boy!

7. Your future depends on your dreams...go to sleep

8. Think before you ink

9. For god sake...TURN OFF YOUR MONITOR

10. Be your own mommy, set restrictions

More detail here http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/graphic-designers-avoid-workaholism/#more-6708

Sample list of questions when I design a logo

2010-11-05T14:20:00.000-07:00

Come to me for all your logo needs http://designchefstudios.com/

Your company name and tag line – as it should be used on the logo design. Also, do you want your full name in the logo, acronyms or just an image?
What does your company do?
Key words that describe your company – eg. friendly, reliable
What do you like/dislike about your current logo (if you have one)?
Who are your competitors in your area?
“Look and feel” required such as contemporary/traditional/minimal/corporate/fun?
Do you have any definite ideas about the logo design + examples of logo design you like/dislike (links if possible)?
Who is your Target audience?
What is your color preference if any. Should the logo be single color/two color/full color?
How/where will the logo be used (just on business cards or will it be displayed on ads, letter head, websites etc)?

Understanding Twitter

2010-10-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

GREENer design solutions

2010-10-24T08:46:00.002-07:00

Email Campaigns, Not Postcard Campaigns

One of the best ways to help the environment overall, is to create less trash. Direct mail campaigns may be effective, but they’re also costly. Furthermore, having a 7% response rate, on average, is considered “doing well.” That means 93% of the postcards or direct mail pieces create little or no response at all.

If You Have To Print, Print This Way
Print the quantity the client will really need; not a ton of extras. Talk to your printer about paper options that are created from post-consumer content; options that also won’t hinder your design or the project objective. Find out if your printer can use soy or vegetable-based inks.

Better Banners
If your producing designs for a trade show, the most typical signage pieces are banners. There are some printers out there that specialize in printing with environmentally-friendly inks and on eco-friendly, durable banner materials as well. Greenbanners.com is a nice example.

Put Catalogs Online
E-commerce websites can be pricey and time-consuming to initialize, but once they’re up and the products are listed, it will take less time to manage and advertise them, than it would to redesign and print them however often.

E-Coupons, Not Paper Coupons
Regular coupons create work for the customer (cutting) and of course trash. Feature coupons on the client’s website or in an email campaign with a promotional code.

Make the Commitment
If you’re really finding that green design is a new passion for you, there are several organizations you can join to mingle with your Green Designer counterparts.

Going "green" in graphic design!

2010-10-24T08:46:00.001-07:00

Paper

Start by evaluating how much paper you use versus how much paper you really should be using. Printing out endless mock-ups for client approval is not the most tree-friendly option. Send your proofs and invoices via pdf in an email.

Save sheets of paper that have been only used on one side. Reprint on the back-side and you’ve just gotten twice the amount of printing paper for your buck.

Lighting
Designers need adequate lighting when it comes to looking over those Pantone swatch books. On sunny days, use absolutely no electricity, allow natural light to flow in. Don’t have a window? Try investing in Compact Fluorescent day-light light bulbs. They require far less energy.

Recycling
Did you know that “for every ton of paper that is recycled, the following is saved: 7,000 gallons of water; 380 gallons of oil; and enough electricity to power an average house for six months”? Try to be better about recycling old mock-ups, client print-outs, and even mail. Nothing is a greater distraction than flipping through those beautiful full-color stock-photo catalogues, but at 20 pages a piece, a lot of trash can be created.

Website Hosting
Most designers and design firms have websites. Some provide web design services and offer hosting as a service to their clients. Move to an eco-friendly hosting company next time your contract is up for review, if you can. Some run entirely on solar and wind energy while others buy carbon credits and “pay back” the carbon emissions they create.

http://www.gogreeninitiative.org/content/WhyGoGreen/

Internet marketing

2010-10-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

Why everyone thinks they are a designer.

2010-10-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

Mummy’s little designer…
Everyone is told by their parents as a child (and sometimes as an adult) that their glitter / poster paint /chalk drawings / models / creations are fantastic and that they are ‘ever so clever’. So if you are constantly told this by the people who mean the most to you, you are going to think you have a heightened sense of design which may be hard to shrug off.

24/7 Advertising
Everyone is constantly bombarded by a range of advertising, promotion and branding which unless you head to the hills you cannot escape. We are all media trained from an early age and are subconsciously absorbing design left, right and centre.

“Design” Software
It is very easy for everyone now a days to open up Microsoft office and play around with clip art, word art and various templates to create some sort of design. This in my eyes doesn’t necessarily make that person a ‘designer’, but giving people instant access to this kind of software makes people believe that could hold a graphic design title if they want.

Training
Whether it’s self taught or through University or college, a true graphic designer should be able to navigate through their tools (whatever they maybe) with ease and grace and not rely on cheap and overused filters and effects to create their work.

Constant Creativity
A graphic designer has trouble turning their creativity off! As truly creative beings graphic designers eat sleep and drink design and relish wallowing in this creative lifestyle.

Marketing
Anyone can create a logo or design but will that concept be right for the intended market? Graphic designers are able to choose the right concept and convey those messages in a clear and concise way.

Full article http://www.eightyonedesign.co.uk/why-does-everyone-think-they-are-a-graphic-designer/

Contact me today for professional high quality design http://designchefstudios.com/dev.html

A little more about social media

2010-10-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

Contact me for all your social media needs http://designchefstudios.com/

Is social media a fad?

2010-09-29T11:46:00.000-07:00

"Is Social Media a fad or the biggest shift since the industrial revolution?"
We're on the brink of a social media "revolution" from which there's no turning back--the statistics are hard to ignore.

Here are just a few of the notable social media stats:

- 96% of millennials have joined a social network.
- Social media has overtaken porn as the number one activity on the web.
- 1 out of 8 couples married in US met via social media.
- The fastest growing segment on Facebook is females 55 to 65 years old
- It took radio 38 years, TV 13 years, the Internet 4 years, and the iPod 3 years to reach 50 million users--while Facebook reportedly added 200 million users in under a year.

Read the rest of the article http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/10/social-media-statistics-s_n_569816.html

Need a social media account set up, whether it's with Twitter, facebook, blogger, wordpress or another one of your choice, contact us today http://designchefstudios.com/

BAD design

2010-09-24T18:46:00.000-07:00

SITE ENTRANCE

Anything like flash page or another portal page that lets you in only after clicking it.

SITE STRUCTURE

Confusing site structure with hard to grasp and follow navigation. Dead links.

SITE PURPOSE

No plain message on Home page what site is about, what is on other pages and how users can find the information they want.

SITE CONTENT

Poor content, hard to understand or read, irrelevant, dull. Pages crammed with keywords what makes content unclear.

TEXT

Difficult-to-read text: too small, color not contrasting with background, set against busy background. Inconsistent colors and fonts from page to page.

DOWNLOAD TIMES

Slow-loading pages. Overused flash, too many or too big pictures or other graphics which interfere with download times. Use of plug-ins that users have to download to view a page.

Want a good website designed? http://designchefstudios.com/

GOOD design

2010-09-21T18:26:00.000-07:00

SITE ENTRANCE

Easy to enter Home page.

SITE STRUCTURE

Well-organized site, with simple & intuitive navigation.

SITE PURPOSE

Clear explanation of site purpose, sub pages content & functionalities on Home page. Relevant title tags and page descriptions.

SITE CONTENT

Valuable, informative, interesting content relevant to your business offer. Easy to read and concise.

TEXT

Easy-to-read text: big enough in size, color contrasting with background, appropriate font style. Bold font or different color used to highlight important info. Consistent colors and fonts from page to page.

DOWNLOAD TIMES

Fast-loading pages achieved by appropriate use of images, flash and graphics. Big or multiple pictures have their own page with proper page name and description so that users understand the potential for slow downloads.

Contact me today for your design needs http://designchefstudios.com/

Pros and cons of website design

2010-09-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

Approach #1. No Website
Pros - No payment for a domain name, no ISP fees, no worry about keeping it up-to-date or checking on statistics - i.e. no fuss or bother with the Internet.
Cons - Embarrassment when people ask for your website address. Lack of credibility for your business in the minds and eyes of those who search for your site. Lack of the fun and pride that come with having a website.

Approach #2. A Free Website with Site Building Tools
Pros - No big expenditure of funds. By following directions, you can have a decent website up and running within a short amount of time. The building tools and templates will help you with your decisions.
Cons - Free sites often include advertisements which will detract from your own content. Free sites are obviously "free" so don't give the impression of a credible business presence. In addition, many are database driven, so won't be picked up by search engines.

Approach #3. A Homemade Website
Pros - You will save money and learn a great deal about how the Internet works and doesn't work. You will feel a great deal of pride in your accomplishment and also be able to maintain your website on a regular basis.
Cons - You will be amazed by the number of hours it will take to learn how to use any of the authoring tools. I know they say that FrontPage is easy - not if you want to have an extraordinary, non-amateurish looking and working website. Moreover, will you know if your website looks "homemade?"

Approach #4. A Family Member/Friend Made Website
Pros - Again, you save money. A family member/friend has your best interest at heart. If they are a professional designer, you may be in for a treat and a website that will please you and your visitors.
Cons - If, however, you are displeased, how will you tell this family member/friend without losing their love and/or friendship. Will they be willing to maintain the website? How comfortable will you be telling them what to do and not to do?

Approach #5. Novice Website by Some Do-Gooder
Pros - Again you will be saving money. This may be a novice who has just completed a course and wants to create your website for his or her "portfolio." Or, it may be someone who is starting out and charging much less than the going rate. Or someone who feels that everyone should have a website (YES!), so will help you achieve that goal.
Cons - Oftentimes, even though the novice means well, they just don't have enough experience with the wiles of the web. In addition, if it is someone you know well, how are you going to tell him or her that the site really looks and navigates like a novice put it together?

Approach #6. Professional Website by a Professional Designer
Pros - You are paying for a professional website, so you can make sure that you get a professional website. Before hiring the designer, check out his or her prior work, ask questions and get all of the concerns answered up front. You will have a signed contract to guarantee that everything goes as expected. You will experience the fun and credibility that come with a website you are proud of.
Cons - For a top professional designer, you will need to spend some money. Plan to set aside somewhere between $1,000 and $3,000 depending upon the size and complexity of the site. How many pages? Do you want a shopping cart? Interactive forms?

Always hire a professional! http://designchefstudios.com/

Why hire a professional designer

2010-09-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

Good graphic designers are communicators. That is what design is for: to communicate a product or service in a way that is visually appealing, positive and effective.

In the end, what you want from a brochure, catalog, web site or whatever is results! A professional graphic designer can help you achieve results. Good graphic designers also have training and understanding in advertising and various marketing topics to aid in the creative projects they work.

Contact Design Chef Studios for all your high-quality design needs http://designchefstudios.com/

Full article http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_hire_a_professional_graphic_designer

Why should you hire a professional blogger

2010-09-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

Well, to begin with, when you’re working with someone who operates a business dedicated to blogging, you’ll know that the person writing your blog knows the tips, tools and techniques that will draw attention to your blog.

You get all of the benefits that come with having a blog for your business – increased site traffic, incoming links to your website and a relationship with current and prospective customers – without any of the hassle.

You don’t have to worry about days without posts, coming up with content or staying on top of all of the latest tips and tools that bloggers use to get their work noticed.

Need a professional blogger, contact the Design Chef today http://designchefstudios.blogspot.com/

Advantages and disadvantages of E-Marketing

2010-09-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Interested in having a social media account set up with facebook, twitter or blogger
contact me today http://designchefstudios.com/

Advantages of e-Marketing
Following are some of the advantages of e-Marketing:

Reduction in costs through automation and use of electronic media
Faster response to both marketers and the end user
Increased ability to measure and collect data
Opens the possibility to a market of one through personalisation
Increased interactivity

Disadvantages of e-Marketing
Following are some disadvantages of e-Marketing:

Lack of personal approach
Dependability on technology
Security, privacy issues
Maintenance costs due to a constantly evolving environment
Higher transparency of pricing and increased price competition
Worldwide competition through globalisation

Less is almost always more

2010-08-31T11:52:00.000-07:00

In need of a website? Contact me http://designchefstudios.com/

Developing an effective brand

2010-08-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

Don't begin your branding campaign blindly. Branding is much more than just a thoughtful logo or slogan. It’s more than just a unique color scheme. There are steps that need to be taken in order to start your successful brand image. Doing research within the company will greatly improve the success of your brand.

Examine the Competition
Differentiate yourself from your competition. To do this you need to know how consumers view your competition. You need to know how your competitors differentiate themselves from the market. Also, you should know your competitors strengths and weaknesses.

Identify Your Strengths
Once you know your competition’s weaknesses you can start to highlight your company’s strengths. Perform a target market analysis, learn from it, and use it to your advantage. This is a useful tool to make sure your company’s strengths are in fact important to your target market.

Know the Customer
Learn more about the customer, market to them more effectively. Know their purchasing behavior. Do they buy often? Buy only during sales or promotions? Do they buy an array of products or services or just a select few? These are questions you should ask to better market to your best customers. Also, know your customer’s lifestyles, needs, mindsets, and attitudes.

Be Your Brand
Make sure your company really represents what your brand identifies you with. For example, if one of the traits your brand identifies your company with is politeness, be polite. This means every employee from the receptionist all the way up to the CEO should represent politeness in every interaction.

Need to develop a brand or sit down to discuss it with someone. Let me take care of that
for you.
http://designchefstudios.com/

Color used in design

2010-08-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

The Color Wheel
A color wheel is a visual tool for determining which colors to use based on their positions in the spectrum. It is essentially a circular rainbow with colors laid out equidistant to each other in order to line up with the color theory spectrum. If you spin a color wheel, the colors will blend until the wheel is white. The color wheel is most often used for determining complementary and analogous colors. Complementary and analagous groups are the basic common color relationships used in determining color theory based on the spectrum.

Complementary and Analagous Colors
Complementary colors are located across from each other on the color wheel. You can find your complementary color by drawing a line from your chosen dominant color directly across your color wheel through the center point to form a diameter line in your color wheel. The color on the other end of that line is your complementary color. Complementary colors are highcontrast, and their use is popular in outdoor advertising for its boldness and easy readability.Analagous colors are colors that are right next to each other on the color wheel. When using analagous colors, you choose a dominant color, then use the two adjacent colors as accent coloring. Analogous color combinations come off as muted. They are not recommended for signs or advertising, which need to be bold to stand out.

Psychological Effects
In color theory, there are warm and cold colors. In addition to their heat association, colors and color combinations also have psychological associations. These psychological associations have widespread similarities but can also differ widely from culture to culture. For instance, green is a fairly universal color that indicates health and abundance, and purple is often associated with royalty. See Elements of Color Design in Art in References for a color psychology interpretation table.

To see how I use color successfully in design check me out http://designchefstudios.com/

TIPS on logo design

2010-08-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

It's a no-no to use clip art
If you area small local business or a mom-n-pop shop you might not be that keen in investing towards a logo and establishing your brand (though I sincerely believe that's very wrong). In such situation, you can try using some high quality royalty free clip art combining it with a suitable typeface to put your company name. You can also use more than one clip arts to create the total graphics for your logo.

However, you should keep in mind that clip arts would never give you the effect of a custom logo and they can be easily duplicated or stolen. Even if you are modifying a clip art, it is almost impossible to get a trademark on that. In future, once your business grows to the level when you need to have trademarked logo you will have to get a total new logo (may be something closer to the one you have) and start with your branding efforts once again to establish that new logo.

To avoid all this problems it is advisable that you get a unique custom logo and it is not always that you need to spend a lot on your logos. There are companies on the web that offers custom logo design at reasonable price.

Some More Logo Design Tips
1) Keep it simple
Remember, simplicity is the key. Most of the great logos are absolutely simple and it is always easier for us to remember and recognize a simple design than to identify a complicated artwork. If you want to have some complex illustration for your logo, try to minimize the number of lines and make it as simple as possible keeping in mind that the viewer should be able to understand what has been drawn.

2) Typography:
You should be careful while deciding on the typeface that you intend to use for your logo. Choosing the correct typeface can make a lot of difference. For example, a finance company depicting strength and stability would like to use some bold, thick font. Also, the letters can be twisted to create simple yet nice logos. Some ideal examples of logo that contains only letters are "SONY" and Dell - remember the twisted "e"?

3) Choice of Color:
You should be careful while deciding on your logo colors. It is advisable to restrict yourself to RGB or CMYK colors so that your logo looks equally good in print as it looks on web. Also, ensure that your logo looks good in black and white as well, mind it, you will also have to use your logo on while faxing any of your marketing material or corporate documents.

Finally, it is always better if you are employing any specialized logo design firm to create your logo design than doing it yourself. It is their profession so they would know it much better than you do and neither is logo design always very costly. It is just a matter of locating that designer and you can be on your way to having a wonderful custom logo design.

Looking for a logo design, contact me today. http://designchefstudios.com/

The key to marketing yourself

2010-08-12T13:29:00.000-07:00

Contact me today for a business card design.

http://designchefstudios.com/

Business card etiquette

2010-08-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

If you want to use good business etiquette and good marketing then you need to start handing out more of your business cards. There is nothing easier or more profitable than using business cards in your marketing strategy.

Your business card is an extension of yourself and if you want to be able to market yourself the right way your card needs to represent you the right way. This means that it needs to make an impression, a good one. Your business cards should look professional but still have a flair to them. That means not having too much going on as far as graphics while still being attractive.

Once you have had the business cards designed and printed, how do you go about handing them out? And who should you give them to?

You should give your business cards to everyone but don't stop there. Get cards in return as well, these are going to prove to be much more useful to you than anything else. Once you have other people's cards in hand you can begin to network.

Networking with business cards is key to your successful marketing. With a few cards you will be able to get your name and your company info out to tons of people and every card that you collect can be developed into a solid contact in any industry.

Here are some tips to help you make the most our of your business card marketing:

Only choose the best paper for your business cards.
Thicker heavier paper is better as it look more expensive and professional.

Do not design your own card
Unless of course, you are actually a graphic designer, leave this job to the pros. They know how to make a statement and an impact with graphics.

Take plenty of business cards with you
When you are going out on the town or to any kind of business function take plenty of business cards with you. You need to always have enough of them on hand when you are going out of town for business as well. You may need to take a couple of hundred, depending on how many associates will be there and how long you are going for.

Talk to people
When someone hands you their business card talk to them, and try to find out as much as you can in a short amount of time. Remember what you learn and use it at a later date.

If you are traveling abroad
If you are going abroad for business to a country where your language is not he first language then you should consider having some business cards made up for that country. All you have to do is have the back printed in this other language, this way those you give your card to will still be able to understand what it is saying. If they can't read it, what was the point of giving it to them? Marketing comes in all different forms and this is a great way to market yourself abroad using your business cards.

Business cards can be a powerful marketing tool and the sooner that you realize that the sooner your business is going to really take off.

If you're in need of a business card design, web design, e-marketing (blog) campaign, please don't hesitate to contact Design Chef Studios today.
http://designchefstudios.com/

Why have a blog if you have a website and vise versa

2010-07-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of confusion over the difference between websites and blogs. Actually, Blogs are technically the same as websites in that they have a URL, are created with html code or other web scripting language, and reside on a web server. But the difference lies in their purpose and function. Blogs provide opportunities for interactivity and communication where websites provide a sense of integrity, stability and credibility. Both define an effective web presence.

What is a Blog?

A blog is an online journal or log featuring personal writing, photography, artwork, and videos. Blogs are typically written by individuals who enjoy sharing their knowledge or opinions and connecting with others, but can also be written by businesses. Corporate blogs are a very popular way to communicate with customers and clients while providing valuable feedback for the company. Business blogs are created specifically to generate revenue in an interactive format utilizing third party advertising.

Here are a few of the top benefits of blogs over websites:

Interactivity: Blogs provide a venue for others to comment directly on the web to the "blogger" in real time. This can help gain valuable input from interested visitors and provides an easy way to communicate with potential or existing customers.
Ease of Use: Blogs are easy to set up and use. Basic word processing and typing skills are all that is needed to write and produce a blog.
Inexpensive: Blogs are very cheap to host and run. Companies such as WordPress and Typepad provide reasonable rates for hosting blogs. Google offers a free blogging service at blogger.com.
Search Engine Friendly: Blogs are “picked up” more quickly by the search engines because of the dynamic nature of the content on a blog. Once information is posted to a blog it automatically pings the search engines that there is new content to be indexed.

So Why have a Website if Blogs are so Great?

Think of a website as a permanent online address. This is the place where information about a hobby or business services and products can be described in detail. Also, a traditional website can provide a sense of stability and credibility that might not be apparent on a blog interface. The truth is, depending on the type of business, a website and a blog can often be used together to achieve online goals.

Websites and Blogs Working Together

A blog can be used to increase traffic to a website. For example, a website that sells camera equipment could provide a blog that reviews different types of cameras. Visitors could read reviews, comment, and also be led to the website to purchase cameras. Search engines would pick up the blog, website, and links from other blogs that have picked up the camera review postings. This increases Search Engine visibility and can generate traffic to the website.

Blog posting or website creation? The Design Chef is at your service http://designchefstudios.com/

3 myths about blogs

2010-07-21T19:42:00.000-07:00

Blogging takes too much time. What!! Do you know how much time it takes to properly maintain a website!? If you’re building a business then the act of blogging should be an aspect of your marketing so spending 2-4 hours each week researching and writing blog posts should be seen as a plus, not a negative. That is not to say you have to post so often … I don’t but I had to in the early days to build my credibility.
Blogs are fads and will die away soon. Boy … you would have thought these proponents would have cried off by now. But, let’s forget about them … just take a look at the direction the online world is taking and you will see that it makes sense to have a blog EVEN if you decide to build websites too (and, I do encourage both … more on that later) because blogs make podcasting, videocasting and social networking a lot easier if you are non technical.
No one reads blogs anyway. This is what some of speakers of The Professional Speakers Association used to tell me when I asked about building a site for my services. Now, I will tell you what I would tell them if they were to give me that same “cookie cutter” answer today … No one reads YOUR blog! If this is you it’s time to spice it up. Give your blog a voice, not a corporate makeover! Humans work in corporations so even if you’re targeting them, they have a sense of humor, they don’t all have MBA’s and use long “unarticulaterable” words (like this one I just made up) and, they want information they can use. So save the Guardian style editorial for your press releases but give them great tips in your blog.

Need a blog http://designchefstudios.com/

Trends in web design

2010-07-15T15:47:00.001-07:00

Embossing ~~Letterpress~~
Rich user interfaces
PNG transparency
Big typography
Font replacement (sIFR, etc.)
Modal boxes
Media blocks
The magazine look
Carousels (slideshows)
Introduction blocks

Recipe of the week! Mac and Cheese

2010-07-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

1lb tortiglioni pasta

1lb sharp cheddar cheese

2t salt

1/4c shredded parmesan cheese

5T butter

1/4c flour

3c milk

Melt butter and add flour, cook a few minutes until golden brown. Add milk, bring to boil and cook for 10 minutes, whisking continually. Add cheddar cheese. Add cooked pasta. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Serves 6.

Business Blogs

2010-06-29T13:57:00.000-07:00

A corporate tool for communicating with customers or employees to share knowledge and expertise.
Business blogs are sweeping the business community. Blogs are an excellent method to share a company's expertise, build additional web traffic, and connect with potential customers. Contact Design Chef Studios about starting your blog! www.designchefstudios.com
What does Blogging Provide to Small Business?
Blog software is easy to use. Simply write your thoughts, link to resources, and publish to your blog, all at the push of a few buttons. Blog software companies such as: Movable Type, Blogger.com and Typepad all offer easy blogging tools to get started.
Blogging is a low-cost alternative to having a web presence. For small business owners without the time to learn web html or the money to hire a designer/developer, blogging offers an inexpensive method to get your company's name out on the Internet.
Updating the weblog is a much quicker process than contacting a web designer with changes or doing the coding and uploading yourself.
Business blogs provide your small business with a chance to share your expertise and knowledge with a larger audience. A powerful benefit for consultants and knowledge workers.

14 web design trends in 2010!

2010-06-28T18:12:00.000-07:00

Web Design Trend
#1

Over sized Logos/ Headers

Splash pages are so yesterday. To make an unforgettable impression on the visitor, the trend for 2010 will be over sized logos on an equally over sized header. These types of headers can take up the entire screen, but with one important note. Visitors will not need to click anything, just scroll down. Visitors often having a clicking phobia (due to years of poor navigation), so big headers do the job of a splash page without forcing your visitors to click anything.

Main Idea: Huge headers that make your visitors remember you.
http://designchefstudios.com/about.html

Article by Jacqueline Thomas on www.WebDesignLedger.com

The Psychology of Color in Marketing

2010-06-17T05:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.designchefstudios.com

By June Campbell

What colors have you chosen for your marketing materials? What were your reasons for making that particular choice? Was it because you liked those particular colors, or did you have a particular marketing message in mind? While visual appeal is an important consideration, your color choices could be sending a specific message to the people who view them. Are you sure you know what that message is?

You'd be wise to consider the psychology of color when designing your marketing materials. Be it business card, brochure, web site, posters or other material, you'll be making color choices. Colors not only enhance the appearance of the item -- they also influence our behavior. You will do well to consider the impact that the colors you use will have on your target audience.

For instance, have you noticed that most fast food restaurants are decorated with vivid reds and oranges? It's no accident that these colors show up so frequently. Studies have shown that reds and oranges encourage diners to eat quickly and leave -- and that's exactly what fast food outlets want you to do.

It's also no accident that you see a lot of reds and blacks on adult web sites. These colors are thought to have sexual connotations.

Ever notice that toys, books and children's web sites usually contain large blocks of bright, primary colors? Young children prefer these colors and respond more positively than they do to to pastels or muted blends.

Market researchers have had a field day identifying the colors and the likely effect they have upon us.

However, the effects of color differ among different cultures, so the attitudes and preferences of your target audience should be a consideration when you plan your design of any promotional materials.

For example, white is the color of death in Chinese culture, but purple represents death in Brazil. Yellow is sacred to the Chinese, but signified sadness in Greece and jealousy in France. In North America, green is typically associated with jealousy. People from tropical countries respond most favorably to warm colors; people from northern climates prefer the cooler colors.

In North American mainstream culture, the following colors are associated with certain qualities or emotions:

Red --excitement, strength, sex, passion, speed, danger.
Blue --(listed as the most popular color) trust, reliability, belonging, coolness.
Yellow --warmth, sunshine, cheer, happiness
Orange -- playfulness, warmth, vibrant
Green -- nature, fresh, cool, growth, abundance
Purple --royal, spirituality, dignity
Pink -- soft, sweet, nurture, security
White --pure, virginal, clean, youthful, mild.
Black --sophistication, elegant, seductive, mystery
Gold -- prestige, expensive
Silver -- prestige, cold, scientific

Market researchers have also determined that color affects shopping habits. Impulse shoppers respond best to red-orange, black and royal blue. Shoppers who plan and stick to budgets respond best to pink, teal, light blue and navy. Traditionalists respond to pastels - pink, rose, sky blue.

Want to test some of this out? Check out web sites belonging to companies with marketing budgets that allow for extensive research into what sells best.

Jaguar (http://www.jaguar.com)
A luxury car with a luxury web site. There's a predominance of black (sophistication) and silver (prestige). Jaguar markets to people with high incomes who view themselves as sophisticated and look for a prestigious vehicle.

Volkswagon Microbus (http://www.vw.com/microbus/)
Check out the predominance of yellow (happiness) and orange (playfulness). Matches the type of owners that Volkswagon is trying to attract, don't you think?

So how can you put this information to use?

First, think about your target market. Let's say that you are selling books for young children, but you are marketing to grandparents. You'd probably design the books in bright, primary colors (reds, blues, yellows) to appeal to the children who will use them. However, the marketing materials (web site, brochures, etc.) would be designed with grandparents in mind. You might decide to go with blues (trust, reliability), pinks (nurture, sweet, security) and yellow (happy, playful).

Of course, you would test your ads and colors on a small market segment before rolling out a large scale campaign.

Give some thoughts to the message you want to send and to the psychology of the recipient. Then choose your colors accordingly.

Ground Turkey Sliders- recipe of the week!

2010-06-14T13:55:00.003-07:00

1 lb. ground turkey
small chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1t tobasco sauce
1t monterey steak seasoning
1t dried parsley
1t dried tyme

mix, press in slider press (purchased at wegmans). grill & enjoy!

Ground Turkey Sliders- recipe of the week

2010-06-14T13:55:00.001-07:00

GROUND BREAKING Press Release!

2010-06-08T19:23:00.000-07:00

http://tinyurl.com/2g2bzb8

May Highlights

2010-06-08T06:57:00.000-07:00

Intrepid Advertising hires Design Chef to create a new logo for FOOD a restaurant now open on the corner of Main St. and Clinton Ave in downtown Rochester, NY.

Woodard Accounting orders a new brand! Logo, Brochure & a Web Site! www.woodardaccounting.com is already complete... check it out.

Northern Heating and Cooling needs a facelift to their website. Thanks Carl for helping grow my business, and for all the wonderful services you've provided in my home. My energy bills will surely go down!

Harvest Moon takes advantage of my new Social Media Marketing package. Maintaining his website, blog, facebook and twitter accounts will drive a lot more traffic and business his way.

Good Karma Initiative also hires design chef studios to manage his blog.

USA Realty is getting a beautiful new website as well that will capture the investors they are looking for over seas!

Communicate Like a Billion-Dollar Entrepreneur

2010-06-07T06:12:00.000-07:00

Personal Branding

Communicate Like a Billion-Dollar Entrepreneur

Whether you’re running your own show or dream of a business venture, take a hint from Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff on entrepreneurial communication.

FEBRUARY 22, 2010

By Carmine Gallo

Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff created a billion-dollar business and started a software revolution from a San Franciscoapartment. And he did it by telling great stories.

Benioff found success by creating software for salespeople to keep track of their customers and envisioning an entirely new software-delivery model called Software as a Service (SaaS) or "cloud computing." But his ability to communicate his vision to investors, customers and employees was the prime mover of his company's success.

"Communication is probably the most essential part of my job," he told me in an interview to promote his book, "Behind the Cloud."

Communication was also the most essential part of his personal success.

You can apply Benioff's communication strategy to drive your own success. Below are six tips that can help you communicate the vision behind the ultimate brand of all - yourself.

Be responsive. Benioff responded to my requests for an interview directly and within 24 hours (despite the fact that he was preparing for a large customer conference). He was also gracious with his time when I contacted him later with follow-up questions and always responded immediately. Responsiveness is a common thread among great business leaders and successful job candidates. Benioff said that by quickly responding to e-mail, you show your customers that you care about them and value their time. If you're a job candidate, think of yourself as a brand and recruiters and human-resources executives as your customers. Consider the image you want to project. If you can't respond to their e-mails or correspondence in a timely manner, why should they expect you to be responsive to the needs of their clients or customers?

Embrace social media. For Benioff, "the future of communicating with customers rests in engaging with them through every possible channel: phone, e-mail, chat, Web and social networks. Customers are discussing a company's products and brand in real time. Companies need to join the conversation." As a job hunter, you need to join the conversation as well.

If you perform an Internet search for "Marc Benioff," you will find him quoted in thousands of articles because he makes himself available to reporters, whether they are writing about his company or not. He made a decision early in his career to be part of the conversation. Today you can participate in your industry's conversation as well by blogging, tweeting and being socially connected. You might think it's a waste of time because "only two people" are reading your posts. Well, if one of those people is potentially your new boss who did a Google search on your name, you have just reached the most important reader of all. He or she doesn't know that the only other person reading your blog articles or Twitter posts is you!

Tell classic stories. Most reporters don't care about a tiny startup, and that's why Benioff never positioned himself as such. He told a classic David-vs-Goliath story.

"We gave the media something different. We always positioned ourselves as revolutionaries. We went after the largest competitor in the industry or the industry itself. We made our story about change."

Benioff is a classic storyteller. Stories are important and appeal to a person's "right brain," his or her emotional core. Decisions are often made by emotion, not logic. You might look equal to another job candidate on paper but will you stand out emotionally? Stories can help you cross that threshold and stand out.

If you're in a job interview and the interviewer asks you to recite some of your significant accomplishments, turn a few into good stories. Tell the story of how you landed that multimillion-dollar account or saved your company $100,000 in expenses. Every brand has a story, and so do you.

Act confident. Benioff learned several things from his former boss, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. One of these lessons was simply to act confident ...even when you're not.

Recent research shows that 63 percent of the impression you leave on another person involves body language and facial expression. That means your skills and experience - all those great things you can do for a new company - are not quite as important as how you say something and how confident you look when you're saying it.

Become a better presenter. Want a job at Salesforce? You'd better be a good presenter. Some candidates are required to give a presentation in addition to answering tough questions.

"Presentation skills are key," Benioff said. "People who work for you represent your brand. You want them to present themselves, and represent you, in a certain way. Whether employees realize it or not, everyone in a company interfaces with customers in one way or another, and their attitude will affect the brand. That's why we work so hard to make sure we have the right people representing our brand, and that everyone is in alignment once they get here."

Have a big dream. Benioff believes in dreaming big.

"I believed that all software would eventually be delivered in the cloud. I had to believe in it passionately and be ready to constantly defend it."

Inspiring communicators are passionate about their mission - they believe it to their core and speak with conviction. As a brand, you need to have a big vision for yourself and what you can accomplish. Keep that vision in mind at all times; better yet, write it on a card, laminate it and stick it in your wallet or pocket. Benioff did so for Salesforce.com, laminating cards for himself and each of his employees that read, "The end of software," which became the company's mantra. Get yourself a mantra and own it.

www.designchefstudios.com/about

DESIGN CHEF'S RECIPE OF THE WEEK

2010-06-03T18:48:00.001-07:00

Design Chef Pepperoni Pizza

2-1/2 cups flour
1 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
2 tsp yeast (1 packet)
1 tsp salt
2 tsp italian seasoning
Hunts traditional sauce


Mix dough and let it rise, then knead it.
Or throw ingredients into a bread maker on the dough setting.

Spread dough onto a greased dark baking sheet and cover with
sauce. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Top with mozzerella,
cheddar, and parmesan cheeses. Add Bridgedorf pepperoni, sliced
thick then quartered. Bake until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.

8 steps of The Chef's Design Process...8th and FINAL step!

2010-05-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

Process Step #8 LAST ONE

Customer service

My service doesn’t end once clients pay the final installment. I’m always on hand to answer design-related questions, to offer my opinion on how the design has been applied, to help with print procurement, or offer design assistance in whatever way I can.

8 steps of The Chef's Design Process...7th step.

2010-05-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

Process Step #7

Optional business stationery

The brand marks I design are used for a wide variety of purposes

websites, corporate stationery, vehicle wraps, billboard advertising. Additional business collateral is an option.

8 steps of The Chef's Design Process...6th step.

2010-05-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

Process Step #6

Finishing touches / revisions

Following client review, I’ll then either finalize the project, or make any revisions suggested and agreed upon. My main aim is to create a brand identity that works for the respective business, and works for many years to come, and there will always be flexibility in my process.

8 steps of The Chef's Design Process...5th step.

2010-05-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

Process Step #5

Creative presentation / client feedback

Design options are supplied as PDF files. The work will be presented using contextual mock-ups and formatted in monotone, helping clients concentrate on the shape and form of the identity. Colour options are also shown, if required.

Now it’s over to the client to spend some time thinking about the designs and to prepare feedback.

8 steps of The Chef's Design Process...4th step.

2010-05-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

Process Step #4

Rendering / prototype design

I normally narrow the design focus until I have four strong options for developing. The rendering stage involves taking these options and transferring them to Adobe Illustrator and completing a complete branding study which will contain anything from 10-30 ideas.

8 steps of The Chef's Design Process...3rd step.

2010-05-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

Process Step #3

Sketching

Sketching ideas helps me generate a large number of possible directions. Most of them will eventually be made redundant, but the point is to think laterally and not rule out any directions in order to achieve the most effective brand mark.

Design Chef's Recipe of the week

2010-05-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

Paprikash 

1 plain roasted chicken from Wegmans prepared foods, remove meat from bones and set aside
2 chopped garlic cloves
1/2 tsp hot hungarian paprika
2 tbs olive oil
2 tbs paprika
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream

Cook spices in oil, add broth and sour cream, stir until smooth.
Add chicken.
Serve over spatzel noodles (or egg noodles)

8 steps of The Chef's Design Process...2nd step.

2010-05-25T17:36:00.000-07:00

Process Step #2

Research and brainstorming

I spend time reviewing client information and begin the research and brainstorming stage. Here I take into account client competition, trends in the market, what sets the client apart, the history of the business, the future, the current brand, and the one aspired toward.

8 steps of The Chef's Design Process...1st step! New step daily.

2010-05-24T12:21:00.000-07:00

Process Step #1

Design Brief

Compiled from a Q&A session with the client, a detailed brief ensures that no time is wasted, and that clients receive targeted design options from the outset. The brief helps focus attention on the areas that best serve the business in question, producing a result that’s both relevant and effective.

Design Chef Chicken Chili recipe

2010-05-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

Design Chef Chicken Chili

2 pounds ground chicken
2 cups chicken broth
1 bay leaf
28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup red hot sauce
2 carrots
2 celery stalks
1 small onion, finely chopped


Cook chicken in a large stock pot then add remaining ingredients
and simmer for 1 hour. serve over freshly prepared corn bread

5 elements to good web design

2010-05-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

Color schemes

Analogous—makes use of colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.
Complementary—combines colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel.
Monochromatic—uses different hues of the same color.

Themes

Good websites make use of a consistent theme; they are focused, clear and obvious. Theme refers to not only to the subject or purpose of your site, but the overall design of your site.

Fonts

It is important to consider how much text your site will have and use the same font consistently throughout your site. Too many fonts and font sizes (how large the letters are) can be distracting and visually distasteful to Web surfers.

Usability

Good company websites are easy to navigate, quick to load and provide visitors with useful information and resources. To make your site user friendly, make sure the file sizes of images are not too large and make sure your site is easy to get around.

Clear contact information

A good design will strategically incorporate your contact information to make it easy for customers to get a hold of you.

Full article: 5 Elements that Make a Good Website. SonicSEO.com

What is web design, what is a logo, what is branding?

2010-05-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

The American Marketing Association defines branding as

"a name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination..."

Branding objectives:

Delivers the message clearly
Confirms your credibility
Connects your target prospects emotionally
Motivates the buyer
Concretes User loyalty

"To succeed in branding you must understand the needs and wants of your customers and prospects. You do this by integrating your brand strategies through your company at every point of public contact."

Article titled: What is Branding and How Important is it to Your Marketing Strategy?
Laura Lake, About.com guide

Design tips for fast food logos!

2010-05-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

"Logo becomes the identity of the company. It can capture attention of customers. Today gastronomical design has evolved to such an extent that we find many restaurants taking cooking and eating to higher levels."

Color, style, font elements etc.

Color: Consider using warm and vibrant colors in fast food logos because warm colors like red etc are associated with hot food and these colors instantly draw attention.

Font: Font for food logos needs to be simple. Simplicity and clarity can create a striking visual effect thus making the logo stand out.

Style: Style in food logo needs to be in the form of an expression that can maintain the personality, depict a casual effect and with grace as well.

May 14th social media FREE DESIGN WEBINAR!

2010-05-09T15:38:00.000-07:00

I just registered for the next free webinar from The TAS Group to learn more about social media.

CHECK it out, 3 different times during the day on the 14th. All you have to do is register. I'm sure we'll learn a ton of useful information.

There are always new webinars.

http://www.thetasgroup.com/webinar.html

Branding and design! Business cards and much more!

2010-05-08T15:21:00.000-07:00

The importance of branding and what it takes to get your small business out there?

Design Chef Studios is LAUNCHED in Rochester

2010-05-05T19:12:00.000-07:00

Becky Olsen Launches a new brand "Design Chef Studios" centered in Rochester and branching out to Tampa, Chicago and Boston

Creation of the following

business cards
design studio
web designs
custom graphics
logos

DESIGN CHEF Highlights for the month of April!

2010-05-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

April Highlights

Szurlgit Electric, a premier electrical contractor orders a custom website to boost their residential business.

Rochester Landscape orders a custom website to gain more business through the on-line marketplace.

MC Home Improvement orders a rebranding and new brochure design to match
his recently created website.

Sarofsky of Chicago requests Design Chef to contribute on Oprah's final
season graphics.

Becky Helps Harvest Moon property maintenance launch a new business.

Intrepid Advertising partners with Design Chef to create a new brand for
Westside Medical Supply.

http://designchefstudios.com/about.html