A Discussion on Color (Part 2)

Color Usage in Branding and Marketing

Thanks for joining us on our next discussion on color!

Now we all know that colors effect moods and emotions. They can trigger certain feelings when people encounter them. This makes it very important when selecting the right color or colors to go into your logo and identity.

But now we go a step further and say this: This can either make or break your brand.

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Whats your style?

Hopefully, when you got a logo designed they also provided you with mood-boards and color palettes. (This is our standard operating procedure anyways). When you go to make a new sign or a new package for that new amazing product, you need to always make sure that it is the same color that you were using. And no, we aren’t saying “Keep it purple,” we are saying “Keep it 29:C, 52:M, 0:Y, 33:K.” Trust us, people can tell when the color is a little bit off. This is why designers get paid as much as they do for big companies like McDonalds and Starbucks. Not only does it look nice, but little things like this help with customer trust.

The important thing to remember is that you are not forever doomed to use the same color. There are several ways to expand and utilize more or even adapt.

There are cases where the company logo has a series of colors that are used to distinguish multiple different facets of the company’s services. It is tricky because you have to balance the highly adaptive with remaining consistent and familiar. This example is brought to life perfectly in the FedEx logo.

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Maybe you feel the opposite way?

Good news: Some companies expand into other colors through logo updates, or decide to be rid of them altogether. This is a good choice for companies who are seeking a sleek minimalist look. Consistency is key but you don’t want to appear dated and stuck.

Color in brands is important when it comes to marketing and advertising as well. Some campaigns are based solely on a color like (RED). Remember your audience when marketing. Based on the gender of your audience, you might want one color over another. Use monochromatic for online ads, complimentary for more print media or to get more variety, and tri-colored ads to add sophistication and bold effect.

Color Doesn’t just put a pretty pop in your brand.

Wisely utilizing colors encourages reading by 80%. Not only that, but those readers will remember the material better! It draws the eye, enabling you to highlight key information and reinforce ideas. This is a good tactic for websites and layout design for when you just have a little too much copy. It helps to break it up and add some interest. Make sure to use colors that work with the brand color or that exist in the brand color palette. If that doesn’t work, it is also possible to theme your content (like a blog post) and make it specific to one color. But you have to keep that idea going and not leave an oddball standing alone. I guess thats the most important part - Commit to your idea and your vision.

We believe in intuitive design so we understand if you feel that in your gut something is right for your brand. If you have the option, always consult with a professional designer to ensure that your content and your marketing is clean, professional, and elevates your brand.

Creating a System

There are several ways to use a color in your brand, as we’ve said. There is a whole system that needs to be built and guidelines in place on the usage within your brand. Icons can be built to highlight statistics on a webpage or in a pamphlet, signage in your physical store can utilize your selected color or colors. Maybe your employees all have that same color of shoes?

We don’t want to stray off topic into clothing, but if you are curious about this, Google Starbuck’s employee dress code!

It’s far more complex than selecting a color and then plastering it all over the place. Luckily, there are experts in the field, ready to help!

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Beautify Your Brand, Attract Customers.

Interested? Reach out today!

Email us: hello@829design.com or call (916) 581-1777

Influencing User Behavior

This is a big one. It is the key into why you are or aren’t being successful. How do you motivate or influence customer buying? It has to do with how they interact with your product.

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User Experience Design

This is where user experience design comes in and WHY it is so important! A large part of the customer experience as it applies to your site is how they are navigating it. If you are blindly climbing a mountain and you never see a sign for a path, you are never going to find it and take it. You might even get frustrated and go home. 

The job of your website is to present to the viewer a problem that they relate to, introduce them to your product, and highlight all the wonderful things it will do to solve that problem that they have. Maybe even a few that they didn’t know they had. If you are just pointing out a problem and not providing an easy “Lets solve that problem” button, they will not be streamlined into the buying process. If you never say “Hey! This is how this thing will solve this pain point,” they will not see the point of buying your product. Good website design will do this so subtly that the customer will be receiving email confirmation of their purchase before they even realize what hit them!

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The Role of Website Design

The natural flow through your site, the choice of words, the mood of the photography that tells the story of your product and your customers; it all is vital to your site! Each of these has a crucial job in influencing the user behavior. Everything should be helping the customer to invest themselves into your product, believing you hold the answer, and creating the “I need this now!” attitude. If its not…you’re not there yet. You aren’t harnessing the full power of your website. 

Always have a call to action and an offer to solve that problem quickly followed by a button to get them started.

Question: What is a website you aren’t allowed to visit anymore because you can’t stop buying from them? Take a closer look. Why is that??

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Science of Behavior

What makes a behavior? A behavior is born out of three parts: Motivation, Ability, and a Prompt. Each can be varied based on how motivated your buyer typically is, and the intricacy of the path to their purchase. Is there a difficult road ahead or a a “smooth sailing” option? Are they a high or low motivated person?

Create motivation for a person wanting the product. 
“This will solve your back pain forever!”
“You will have a brighter smile in less than a week!”
“The most comfortable bra, you will forget you are wearing it” (Yeah right!)

Then the ability of how easy it is to get started.
“Easy to sign up, just need an email”
“One-click ordering”
“30 Day Trial”

Next, prompt them to make a move.
“Enter your email to get started today!”
“Start making healthier choices by signing up for our newsletter!”
“Subscribe and save!”

Depending on your ideal customer and what you are selling, your prompts and selling points will need to be adjusted. Will you need a more enticing prompt to call them to action? Maybe. 

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So what do you need in order to influence
the buying behavior?

1. Create Consistency
   People love predictability. They want to feel like they have an inkling on what is coming next and have that sense of everything fitting nicely together or clicking into place. It’s like creating that feeling that you get when you plug in your USB the right direction on the first try. “YES!”
   
   Don’t give them a chance to second-guess or get side tracked. Consistency provides a sense of trust, and familiarity. The very idea of UX/UI design is that you are creating a space that people enter into already understanding how it functions.

2. Offer a “Happy Medium”
   People love to be given the option to customize and pick for themselves. They also love a package deal and a bit of a discount. What meets all of these points: Packaged services! Always offer 3 options.

   • Small, Medium, Large.

   • Silver, Gold, Platinum.

   • Beginner, Advanced, Elite.

   Generally speaking, they will always pick the happy medium. The place where they feel they are investing enough but not going overboard. They are getting what fits them; its not too big for their feet, but they can grow! And finally, it’s as non-commital and low risk as a buying situation can feel. 

3. Create a feeling of urgency

   I’ll bet you know exactly what I’m talking about…

   • “Only 3 left!”

   • “Offer ends in 72 hours”

   • “Promo code for the next week is…”

   If you feel pressured into making a decision because you can see the door closing on an opportunity, you will probably make that leap sooner than if you had time to stop and thing “Hey wait…I don’t actually need a 5 piece set of bar-b-q tools. I only wanted a spatula!” When you see that deal, that offer, you are immediately triggered into that “WOW! What a deal!” mentality. They will buy what you are selling because they want the scarcity, and they want that deal. 

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Getting Started?

When influencing your visitor to buy, it’s important to avoid offering extremes. Make it WAY too easy for them to try it out only to be sucked in. No long term contracts or super elaborate sign ups. You might even make that happy medium choice more inviting by labeling it as “Buyers favorite.” Mention how it has all the bells and whistles that the smaller option doesn’t without the price tag of the bigger.

In order to streamline these all into a nice functional website, the design has to be on point. It has to be inviting and intuitive. If you have the feeling your website isn’t doing its job, it might be worth it to take a step back and get some professional feedback. Even some feedback from your customers!

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Worried about UX Design?
Need a Professional Website Audit?

Ask about our free service today!
Email us: hello@829design.com or call (916) 581-1777

A Discussion on Color (Part 1)

If you’re a local, you know we got a LOT of rain this winter!

What we designers love about the rain is that it comes with a great rainbow. So thats what we decided to discuss in this journal.

When people approach colors, they always gravitate to their favorites or to the one that speaks to them.

Important Note: Customers do the exact same thing.

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We encounter colors all the time.

Out shopping you pick between the different colors of makeup or mugs. Maybe a certain pair of shoes you will request in a different color. Car shopping, clothes shopping, even food shopping! (Is an orange supposed to look this dark…?)  Not just that though. Have you ever gone into a restaurant or a business and immediately felt as ease? Or maybe the opposite? 

Next question: Did you look at the walls?

Many consumers don’t know this, but there is an entire psychology behind colors and the emotions they evoke. There is a good reason why so many social media sites use blue in their designs. It is trustworthy and professional. Color usage effects not just a logo, but the rest of the branding as well. We are talking poster designs, packaging, headers, and more.

For now we are going to stick to logos…branding will be the next part. 

Is your goal to light a fire under the viewer, or are you trying to help them feel relaxed? That might be the decision between red and green. Even genders come into play with color. Did you know that men are more drawn to bold colors while women are happiest with softer tones?

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What are the benefits of color usage in a brand?

Simple: memorability. Studies show that color increases brand recognition by 80%! Not only this but it might help pick you out of the crowd and make you more desirable to some.

Is there a brand out there that you associate with a certain color? I’m gonna challenge myself just for fun. See what you come up with!

Red - Coca Cola

Blue - Facebook

Green - H&R Block

Yellow - McDonalds

Orange - Nickelodeon

Purple - Hallmark

Black - Nike

To jump ahead slightly: Color also helps add depth to your brand. If you are a company who’s goal is to help inspire kids to be more creative, you might want to consider orange. But if you are a whole foods company focusing on organic and natural ingredients: Green all the way!! The message is coded in - in the CMYK! We recommend having a selected color palette built when the logo is developed. From there, the branding can naturally evolve into something amazing!

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ROYGBIV

Let’s get to it!

Keep in mind that the meanings and feelings brought on by colors often overlap and contradict. It is all in the execution of the usage. This is why its important to consult a designer near you ;)

Red

This is a color of passion. It can also also drive response and create action with its fiery warm tone. It communicates power, strength, and determination. There is a romantic and steamy side while also eliciting feelings of youthful playfulness.  

Orange

This is a vibrant and rich color that often inspires creativity. Energetic vibes with the freshness of yellow while not straying all the way into the power of red. In this way, it is truly the color of change - positive change. It is balanced, often being associated with wealth, success, and high society. Orange can be incredibly vivid while also being soft and natural. 

Yellow

She is the happiest of all the rainbow. The color of the sun itself, spreading positivity and optimism. It can be very warm, it is good to use for relationships and friendship. Feels clear and light. But beware, this color can also feel confusing and overbearing. It can catch the eye but then might not let you go again. People can find this color to be chaotic and annoying.

Green

Fresh, organic, natural, growth…all words that align themselves with this royal and rich color. Green has been rightly claimed by the natural world, giving the feeling of wholesome energy and fertility. Like yellow, there is a darkness that can make you feel jealous, sickly, and envious. But when used correctly, this is an honest and gorgeous color. Green has been used to stimulate hunger, sooth emotions, and make one feel strong and inspired. Green is a very well rounded color. 

Blue

This is probably the most social color, stirring feelings of interaction and relaxation. Blue historically makes viewers feel serene and peaceful while also inspiring creativity and authority. It is also a cold color if you’re not careful. Trustworthiness won’t be lost is you chose to use blue.

Purple

Probably the most royal out of all the colors. This is historically rooted because purple was a notoriously hard pigment to obtain. Purple is dignified, powerful, and mysterious. Also closely associated to magic and fantasy. It is firmly etherial and powerful. Rich and regal, perfect for any brand wishing to become prominent in the eyes of the consumer.

White

Historically paired with purity and innocence, white is an excellent color to communicate serenity and goodness. It is a color of light and positivity. Probably best to be used with minimalist and simple branding.

Black

It goes without saying that this is a color of darkness. If purple was mysterious, this color is doubly so. Black isn’t always negative, but you have to be cautious when incorporating it. Black is strong and elegant, power and elusive. It is moody to be sure. 

Grey

Practical and timeless, it is a good halfway neutral color. It makes people feel comfortable and safe while being strong and stable. Be aware that it may appear moody and hopeless

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Question Time!!

1. What do you think of this photo?

2. What story does it tell you?

3. Any juxtapositions that you are feeling?

4. What kind of ad could this be used for?

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Wow, that was a lot to read through…

So what are we trying to tell you here? Color matters in design work. No matter what color you pick for your brand, it will stand out better than if it was just in black and white (That being said, your design needs to look good in black and white regardless). Color can be endlessly useful, but it must be used wisely. 

In the next part, we will be discussing the importance of color in branding as well as in marketing. That will be a deeper dive into the use of color now that you get the psychology behind colors themselves.

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Build your brand, generate revenue, grow your customers.

Contact us through the following

Email us: hello@829design.com or call (916) 581-1777

Goal Setting 101

Action Steps For Growing Your Business

It’s safe to say that if you own a business, you are probably looking to grow and expand. While it is a long process, there are a few different tactics you can use to make sure you are heading in the right direction.

There are a few areas in which a business needs to grow, not just in their pocketbook. The three sides of this triangle are financial growth, customer related growth, and brand awareness. 

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1. Write it down
   And I don’t mean a note in your phone or on your computer. Writing goals down on a paper has been scientifically proven to help chances of these goals being remembered. Writing down just a brief statement is a good start. But ultimately, it is a good exercise to really buckle down and define what, when, how, and most importantly why. 

   Important note for this step: Don’t just write “I hope to double my customer base in six months.” write this instead: “I have over doubled my customer base in six months.” It literally rewires your brain. In Brian Tracy’s book, No Excuses, he talks about how writing out your goals in this voice actually changes your mental state from “I wish this was me” to “This is the person I am” and you start acting like the kind of person you need to be to attain the goal.

2. Define your Purpose
   If you don’t define the why, then you have a goal with no purpose and no backbone. You need a good strong reason for doing what you are doing. The emotional driving force behind it, if you will. The “why” helps focus you and also ensures that you will be able to see your first step, and then those subsequent steps. Defining purpose helps keep that fire lit in your soul. Keep your eyes on the prize!

3. Game Plan
   It is always good practice to expand on the details of your plan. Once you know why you are doing it, planning steps helps to flesh it out in your mind. It is important to note that the mind is a powerful thing, and the power of seeing something written out, writing it out, and reading it every day is monumental. Describing the process and journey to this goal only makes it that much more attainable in your mind. Being able to think the process out and notate small milestones to reference also helps you track progress and not get lost in the sea of self-doubt.

4. Keep Tabs on Progress
   Like a stairway, a goal has many action steps involved. It is a series of initiatives. In order to grow your customer base, what are you doing? Signing up for a service to help organize email blasts, incorporating an email collection point on your website, marketing campaigns and tactics to target new customers and create repeat customers…

   For each point along the journey, there is a smaller task that you can check off. It’s important to pat yourself on the back, but never forget to use those small successful moments to keep charging forward.

   It is also important to note that there will always be stumbling blocks. Something will take a little longer than you’d like, or you have to wait on production, or there was a delay in this other thing... Never get too fixated on these negative things. Keep pushing onward. Success is not for the faint of heart. It’s the journey, not the destination.

5. Delegate
   Remember that it might be your company, but there are many men on your ship. Progress doesn’t happen because the captain is up helping unfurl the sails. Don’t be afraid to delegate. You hired these folks for a reason, let them shine. This gives you time to focus on future goals, planning, and contingency planning. You don’t need to fret over the small stuff when you have bigger things to do!

   It’s hard when you came from having your own nose on the grindstone. Sometimes you have the feeling that you can do it faster or better, but that will get you nowhere. Boost your teams morale, keep it positive. Let them know they are valued. Growth is a team sport, so kick some tasks to your team and the pace will undoubtedly pick up. If needed, take some extra time to nurture and mentor your team so that you can all be more efficient and feel more satisfied with your work.

6. Track and Reassess
   It’s scary to check in and see where you’re at, but it’s important to know when the process is working and when it’s not. Don’t be afraid to stop and reassess. Follow your gut and make sure to keep positive and trust the advice of your team of experts. Make sure to check in with your team and see whats is working and whats not. 

   Keep in mind that the road of success has many twists and turns. There will be moments where you have to rework and change direction, but just like Walt Disney said, “Keep Moving Forward.”

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When it comes to goal setting, what do you struggle with the most?

Do you set specific goals or generalized goals?

What methods do you use to stay on track?

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If you are looking to expand your business by reaching more customers or growing your brand, keep us in mind.

There are experts at your beck and call:

Email us: hello@829design.com or call (916) 581-1777

Advanced Website Building Techniques

The Key to Success - Storytelling

You may already have a website for your business. Or perhaps you‘re here because you‘re in the planning stages and need some extra tips? Either way, this is something everyone should consider when building a site for their business.

We all have visited websites that just seem….blah! There’s nothing particularly wrong with them per se; they may have nice photography, the site is fairly straightforward, and somewhat visually interesting. So why do they feel so cold, uninviting and make you want to jump off?

Let’s face it, most people are drawn toward stories. Back in the early days, storytellers were renowned because that was how you learned things outside of your realm of life. They were the early “walking dictionaries”, wise men, and newspapers. This was information and connection. We are still very basic in the sense that we all connect with a good story. On the deepest level, we are searching to find a commonality and see ourselves in a narrative. Why align with this person? Are they a single mom, too? Are they also from a small town in California? Did they graduate from the same college? We are less likely to align if we fail to connect and relate.

So what can you do to connect your business and your product? You want to skyrocket sales not win a Pulitzer Prize after all…

How do you tell a story which people can hold on to that resonates long and hard? There are several different ways. 

1. Visual Storytelling - This is a very basic way of getting a feeling or mood across. They fill in the blanks but you guide them along the path with very little help. There are parallax scrolling websites that have full photos with minimal type to just communicate the basics: “Came from here, going to there…” This is effective because people are very drawn to stunning photography. Visuals appeal to all ages especially with the need to “wow” them quick. While you should always include photography with any option, this is one area that should be planned out accordingly in order to guide the narrative along. 

2. Origin Story - Many companies have a blurb (sometimes short, sometimes long) about the founders story. Who decided to start brewing? Who wanted quality working jeans? People are inspired by struggle, overcoming, and ultimately success. Don’t be afraid to share the struggle to the top! Vulnerability is a huge stepping stone to connection, and it’s one that really resonates with audiences. 

3. Pick A Side / Join A Struggle - Another way to do this is to parallel yourself and champion a cause. Similar to Nike’s techniques. While some suggest it’s a super risky move to make a statement which might have social or political backlash, if that is part of your story it will speak to people. It may thin out the herd of potential customers or clients, however you may win clients for life in the process. Your story might be one of supporting a team or a person in the spotlight. Brands have been doing this for so long, (Desi and Lucy drank Instant Sanka!) and that’s because it works! 

The important thing to remember when telling a story is that you don’t need a beginning, middle, and end. When selling a potential client, you are showing them the beginning. There may not be much to it, but that’s okay. They want to know, all the same. If there’s not much else to say, utilize a lot of relevant photography. If you have a lot to say, make sure to use typographic hierarchy to make sure they see the important parts and draw them in. If you are aligning yourself with a cause, remember to be open. Support is key. Don’t use tear-down tactics.

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Quick Exercise For You!

• When you see the photo below, what kind of story do you get?

• What questions do you have?

• What might be sold?

• Why is it more effective in black and white vs. color?

Always consider the mood you are creating and how to be the most abstract when using photography. You don’t need a photo of your product (you’re trying to create a narrative). Maybe show your ideal client before they find your product?

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Key components of brand storytelling

When considering your brand story, use these as a guide:

• What is the reason your company came to exist?

• What motivates you, and your team to show up to work each day?

• How can you give your audience an inside look at your company?

People will always remember a good story. A great story - one which personifies your brand - should be the goal in order to position your company most effectively in the marketplace.

Why?

Because brand storytelling is the best way to distinguish yourself from the other brands in your industry. The more you can pull back the curtain and allow your audience to see inside your company, the better. It humanizes your brand. It’s what helps you to connect with your audience, appeal to their emotions and touch the hearts of your customers.

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Let us help tell your story!

If you are curious where to go next on your site building journey, or feel stuck, just reach out! We‘re ready to help with your next steps. 

Email us: hello@829design.com or call (916) 581-1777


Happy storytelling!

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Did you know?

829 DESIGN is recognized as a top California Web Design Agency, Mobile App Development Company, and Best Food Package Design Company on DesignRush.

Let us know how we may serve you best!

Branding 101

Branding 101: Brand VS Company

While the two are intricately connected, a brand is much different than a company. A company is the entity and business represented by the brand but a brand is a carefully curated public face of the company’s product or service. There can be parent companies who supply branded lines of product  (Procter & Gamble or Johnson & Johnson), or a company who has a branded product with variations (FedEx and Apple). A company has CEO’s and accountants while a brand has a color palette and a photography style. Brands are essential for growing a business and customer base, but the actions of the company support the message of the brand. The trick is to develop and brand that represents your company. 

Importance of a Brand

The reason a brand is so essential to a growing business is because it helps build brand loyalty and recognition. The experiences that people have with your brand and the stories they hear will stick in their mind, dictating their future buying choices. If you are recognized on the shelf, it elicits an immediate positive response from potential buyers. The consistent look will build trust with your customer base as well. Like a friendly face, they will return to you time and again and spread the good word. And nothing sells like word of mouth. If you are at a small store looking to buy toothpaste, are you more likely to grab the Crest or the other one you’ve never seen before? 

Answer: The Crest.

Good Branding vs. Poor Branding

Good branding can be expensive because there is a whole science behind it. Good designers and firms look into market trends, competition, and deep dive into the profile of your ideal customer to custom make a brand system specific to you. One that creates a consistent look for your company as well as the essential tools to target your niche and pull ahead of competition. It is a disservice to your company to pay for cheap instant logos. Bad design is often worse than having no design at all. A branding identity specific to you is able to communicate your company’s mission and establish the standard of service that they can expect. Think of Apple; They have a brand that has changed very little over the years. They are known for their customer service and dependable services…and the pretty price tag. But you will willingly pay it.

Building Blocks of Branding

Did you know that a consistent look will make you four times as visible in the marketplace? Many people don’t know what goes into building a consistent brand. The logo is the most well known. Unfortunately this is usually purchased without a brand book or branding suite that provides secondary marks, color palettes, and fonts to support it. A good example of branding is Chipotle. The cups, the napkins and even the paper in the chip basket are all branded materials that would appear in a brand book. They all have the same style of artwork, the same fonts, colors, and “vibe.” They are instantly recognizable even if the logo is on the other side of the bag. You know exactly where its from.

There are other parts of a brand like signage, packaging, promotional items, and websites. Websites are a part of a brand and are built using branding materials. It is important to say that websites built by DIYers usually follow a style predetermined by the “style package” or template they select. Using this approach will get a sleek and stunning website that is soulless and devoid of your essential brand message. Plugging your logo in at the top will brand it as yours but the template style might not have the signature color you selected, and the default font might clash horribly with the typography of the logo. When building professional websites, developers will incorporate the fonts and colors that are part of your brand as well as stylized photography, icons, and graphics. 

Brand books are created by designers to help guide you through the ways to apply your logo and what not do to. It has the color codes so you always have your brand colors, something that “boosts your recognition by 80%” says an article from DesignRush, What Is Branding? The Importance Of A Strong Identity & 10 Companies Creating Core Brand Values. Even the fonts selected are showcased and labeled for their uses, a big key to remaining consistent and looking professional. 

Setting Yourself Apart

It’s hard for new businesses starting out, especially in saturated markets. A surefire way to get your best food forward is to narrow down your target audience. Its not always good to play it safe and be an everything dealer and master of none. Find your niche and speak to them directly. Tell your origin story and share your values. This is sure to boost revenue by 23% and create brand loyalty with minimal effort. If you know exactly who you are selling to, you will reach them with the right marketing tactics. They will recognize you and keep coming back for more.  

Branding might seem like an unnecessary cost but it is essential to creating a lasting brand. It is important to invest in good design and a designer who is invested in your company.

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If you are interested in taking the next step to strengthening your business, contact us today.

Email us at hello@829design.com.

Or call (916) 581-1777

Our team of designers was curated special to give 829 Design clients the best designs to elevate their brand and create revenue.

Check out our branding portfolio by clicking here.

Keeping Up With The Kustomers

Is your website keeping up with your customers?

You might have an awesome website, yes. But is it delivering to the people you need to reach? A beautiful site will do nothing for you unless it is keeping up with the changes of technology, social media, and the growing expectations of modern sophisticated browsers.

It’s safe to say that nearly everyone who visits your site these days will be highly tech literate and web savvy. There are very few people who don’t know how to google these days. Not only that, but they have been exposed to all different sites and they know how a good site feels. Apple is the #1 smartphone in the marketplace, so I can guarantee you that those people have all seen Apple’s website. They know they like the feeling of visiting Apple.com but they can’t put their finger on why. That is why UX and UI designers are so important! You can’t just show a person what they want, you have to curate how they feel about it and sell it to them without actually throwing a sales pitch in their face. It might sound crazy but your website can do that.

No..it should be doing that.

What is expected from a high quality site that is keeping up with the customer curve?

Glad you asked! 

1. Performance 
   It cannot be stressed enough: If your website takes more than 3 seconds to load, you are out! (You can actually test this with Google Analytics if you are curious). People have short attention spans and they will be quick to bounce away from your site if the landing page doesn’t load fast enough for them. 

2. Content
   Like real estates “Location, Location, Location” the motto of the web development world is “Content, Content, Content!” And it’s not just text based content. You need videos, links, high quality photos, and more! Content is key and it needs to keep up to date. We recommend hiring a copywriter if at all possible when it comes to your text-based content. You need to have concise wording and very clear calls to action. Yes, calls.

3. User Experience
   Do you know the patterns of your customer? Knowing their journey through your site will help you to meet their expectations and then blow them away! The ability to look at your site through the eyes of the customer is invaluable. This will allow you to streamline everything to fit them. 

4. Design
   Of course, design is huge. You need to wrap all this awesome stuff up into a really lovely package. It can’t be ok or so-so otherwise they will head to greener pastures. Remember, they know what truly beautiful websites look like, but they don’t know WHAT it is that makes them beautiful. (Designers are seriously awesome)

5. Interactivity
   Does your site currently offer any type of interactivity? Are there videos, chat boxes, surveys, downloads? This gets tricky because you don’t want to overstimulate and spam. There is a balance to providing this and remaining true to the design of the website. (Again…aren’t designers awesome?) 

TLDR? 

What are we telling you: Don’t just update your website every 5 years. Take a critical look. Always be looking at the competition to make sure you’re not falling behind, you’re staying well ahead. Make sure you are staying on top of the ball when it comes to your customer; they grow and change as much as your market and the weather! 

Stay hip. Reach out!

We want to help you.

And if you’re not sure if this applies to you, ask us about our website audits. We would love to pop the hood on your current site and see where there is room for improvement. Let us keep you dangerously relevant.

Email us: hello@829design.com or call (916) 581-1777