by admin on February 3, 2011
We often get asked if we provide web design, and the answer is always absolutely! Though we established our reputation in print advertising design, many clients are not aware that we have been providing small to mid-sized businesses and organizations with professional web design services for over 10 years now (In fact, we designed and developed AdMedic.com).
AdMedic offers a total web solution that includes custom design, hosting, content management, traffic building, tracking, support and more – all for one great price. And providing you more than just a great website, but a complete web presence. For more information about our affordable web design services, please contact us today.
by admin on January 5, 2011
Before: 4-Color Magazine Print Ad
One request we increasingly get from clients is adapting their print advertising design so it can then be used for their online marketing as well.
One of the key differences is that print ads generally provide all the information in the ad, and ask you to take an action (at least a good print ad will!). On the other hand, banner advertising serves more to grab the reader’s attention, and get them to click to a website or a landing page which will then serve as the means to generate the online action (call us, fill out a form, etc).
So can display advertising be the starting point for a good banner ad or campaign? Absolutely. But you need to remember a few things while you’re at it.
For one, keep it short! Think of a banner ad as a billboard. You need to distill your print ad to the most important points. And try to cut the copy as much as you can — just leaving the key motivators that will encourage your prospect to click through to your website.After all there is usually less space on a banner, and the resolution is lower on the web, meaning you can’t make the font size too small or it won’t be legible anyway.
A recent example is a print ad we did for a client (pictured here) – when he then wanted converted into a 300×250 banner ad for the print publications website (It’s very common these days for trade publications and other pubs to offer banner ads as part of the print buy, or for a nominal extra charge).
After: 300x250 Banner Ad Design
In this example we had to cut out quite a bit of copy, resize the ad from a vertical format to a horizontal format, and then add a button to encourage click-throughs.
In then end, the client was able to leverage their existing print advertising design to work with their online marketing effort – saving time and effort, and creating a more uniform “campaign” look across both mediums.
If you would like more information on how you can better integrate your online and offline advertising, contact us today.
by admin on December 20, 2010
- Your concept focusing too heavily on your product’s features instead of the benefits you offer potential buyers. People will respond because of the benefits out of your product, such as convenience, wealth, happiness, safety, intelligence, entertainment, etc. Customers are less responsive to features you put into your product, such as size, weight, durability, company experience, friendliness, etc.
- Your concept uses too many different type fonts and design “doo dads.” Uncluttered, seamless advertising allows people to get to the main point faster.
- Your concept attempts to present too many benefits or ideas at one time. Good marketing focuses on the single most compelling reason customers should stop and read and respond to your offer over what competitors offer. This focused benefit should be front and center in your advertising. All other benefits and product features should be secondary to the main message.
- Your concept relies on “borrowed interest” to present your message. The visual image or metaphor you are featuring in your ad design is too far removed from your actual product. Introducing unrelated ideas only confuses potential customers.
- Your concept relies on too much copy. Sometimes less is more. Too much copy crammed into a limited space makes the reader work too hard and they will move on. Try to focus on they main benefit you offer and limit the supportive copy to “proving” you can deliver on the promised benefit.
- Your concept will not reproduce well in publications
- Your company logo is too prominently featured. People are more interested in promises of what you can do for them than your company name. Reducing the size of your logo will give you more space to sell without sacrificing response.
- Your concept lacks an incentive to respond, or a means to respond. Your concept should guide the potential customer to take the next step, whether that is to log onto your website, call a number, show up at an event, bring a coupon to a store, or accept an incentive to act.
- Your concept does not clearly explain your product or service. Curiosity killed the cat and it can kill off potential customer interest too. Don’t make people work too hard to understand your message.
- The tone of your ad design concept is inappropriate for the type of benefit you offer. Think of your product or service as a person. What’s the personality trait? Intelligent, quiet, fast, strong, sexy, sympathetic? The words and images you use in your ad concept should match the personality of your product or service.
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