Who has "The World's Worst Web site"?

Do You Have The
World's Worst Website?

So your website was cool in 1998? Awesome, well it’s 2011 and the only thing still cool about the 90′s is the Internet!

So it's time to get with it!  Chances are if you haven’t touched your web design since the 90’s, you may have "The World's Worst Website"!  Web design is a constantly changing industry, as the way people view and interact with websites is constantly changing. So even if it’s only been a few years, you may want to consider revamping your site.

!! But before you read on...  let me put your mind at ease by saying... "You don't have the world's worst website"..  Because I have found the world's Worst Website.  It was created by a brilliant web designer who wanted to demonstrate all the things not to do with web design. So if your site has any resemblance to this site... It's time for a new site!

If you see the following issues with your site... It may be time to make some changes.

#1  Flash Dance – Cool in the 80's  –  Not so cool now!
Does your site still have a crazy whacky flash movie intro dazzling your visitors...  If you didn't get the memo folks, Flash is a thing of the past!  There are Search Engine Friendly Flash Intros..  but you have to find the people who understand how to install them correctly on your site.  Here is a demo of a "friendly" Flash intro. 

#2  Your not being Social ... 

If your site isn't being "social"..  it's not getting hits – plain and simple. These days, it’s all about communicating and networking. Your site isn’t a billboard or print advertisement; it should be an active part of a community. This means that you need to get out in the social networking sites and create some community. Facebook, Twitter, or at least a Comments section, these are all integral parts of a website these days. 

#3  Your site is covered with tables

Several years ago, tables were the main design used for web sites. Nowadays, it’s totally a thing of the past. Tables are hard to read, and they’re just about impossible for search engines to find. In fact, they’re technically made with invalid HTML code. So, they’ve got to go!

#4  Going Mobile Anyone?

The entire internet is now going mobile and if you’re site’s not set up for it, you’ll lose customers left, right and center. If your site isn’t mobile-compatible, it will take forever to load on their mobile devices and it will look unpleasant.

Techie experts predict that mobile is the thing of the future, and the number of sales of smartphones is supporting this prediction. Get a mobile version of your site going so you don’t get left behind.

#5 You have no control over your own site

These days, more and more companies are using a CMS, Content Management Systems.  This is an interface that allows anyone in your staff to make changes when needed. Things happen quickly in the world of the internet, so you’ve got to be able to make these necessary changes without having to hire a web designer to do them for you.

#6 No Call to Action!!

Your site needs to have a simple, clear and effective call to action to get them moving. You may think it's as easy as trying to get them to sign up for a newsletter, donate to a non-profit organization or hit the “Buy Now” button. But if your call to action is weak...  They simply won't bite.

Everything needs a strong call to action to get them moving.  I strongly believe the key to get your audience to move is all "Visual".  The Button you use that makes their hand move to it and click, has to be convincing!  It has to say the right thing and it has to make them feel confident that they will not be tricked into anything that is deceiving or fraudulent.   There is so much that can go wrong by a simple "click" these days..  People always think twice and three times before clicking.. Ok.. ready to experience a real Call To Action?!

So what are your Graphic Design Needs?  

Are you ready to bring your site or marketing materials into the twenty-first century?  If so, I can help!  And guess what..  click below and view my "Refresh Summer Special Prices"!  Now that's a call to action!!

STAY TUNED FOR MORE GREAT TIPS TO HAVE A SIMPLE 

BRANDING EXPERIENCE!

This week's post - "The Importance Color Plays in Web Design"

Welcome!

Tofy Design is a Creative Design Studio, providing full branding and interdisciplinary design services for small to mid size businesses. Located just minutes from beautiful Hockley Valley, Ontario, this little design studio is well known for producing big results for its clients. Click through the above menu to get a feel for the quality of work we provide our clients who come to us from all over the globe!

As well as being a portfolio blog, we also have fun providing our visitors with interesting facts and tips on branding for your business. So keep coming back to see what's new with Tofy Design!  Enjoy!

Client Post – January 12th, 2011

"The Importance
Color Plays in 
Web Design."
Photo credit: Stock.xchng

When creating a new website, choosing the right colors is important for many different reasons.  You obviously have your brand to consider..  different web browser functionality, your actual message, and most importantly.. your audience.

Here are a few tips to address these considerations – when it comes to color and the branding of your new site.

BRAND 
 

When I’m designing a website for a business that has a brand already established, I will always make sure to incorporate those colors into the site to ensure the consistency of the brand remains intact. Loyal customers to the company may be new to the website, but if the website is branded consistently with the company as a whole, those visitors are likely to feel at home instantly because of the consistency.

BROWSER

Since site visitors all have different computer monitors, and are using different platforms – not to mention all the different hand held applications that are out on the market these days, the colors you choose are going to appear different to everyone.  That’s why they have what is called “Web Safe Colors”.

Wikipedia refers to Web Safe Colors as colors that have been chosen to be similar to many real-world monitors and viewing conditions, so that even without colour management, rendering is fairly close to the specified values. Visit Wikipedia for their full explanation of WEB SAFE COLORS.

MESSAGE

The choice of colors in your site can greatly affect the way your audience interacts with your site.  Even if they are not aware of it, your color combination can determine the length of time they spend browsing your site.  What happens if they don’t stay long enough to find your "call to action"

You would think black text on a white background would be your best option for displaying text..but according to some studies, this is not always true. Apparently people with dyslexia have a hard time with "high contrast" sites. One way to solve this problem, but still use a white background is to make your text a shade of black.. meaning somewhere around 85% black or dark gray as I've done throughout my blog.  Another option if you still wish to use black text, is to put it on a light gray background..  For more information about designing for Dyslexic people..  click here!

Here's a little visual to help demonstrate good color choices VS poor color choices for the web. You can also play with your font choice and font weight to help with readability.

 

AUDIENCE

Another important factor to consider is the power color has on the "emotions" of your audience.  For example the color green for some people can evoke the idea freshness, and cleanliness, while to others it portrays power and refers to money.  Lately, green is tied into being environmentally conscience.  Be careful when choosing colors based on your emotional and conceptual reaction to a color.. because it may be quite different to others. 

I came across this nifty color chart that reveal themes are typically associated with different colors.  If you already have a site up and running.. what are your colors, and what possible emotions are they evoking in your visitors?

You can contact Trish by visiting her site at www.tofydesign.com. 
Stay tuned for more great tips to  
making your brand make a difference!

 

Client Post January 2nd, 2010
"What to do with all those 
Christmas photos!"

I love going around and snapping shots of my family home on Christmas morning. Whether it's taking shots of the Christmas table all done up, or a simple ornament hanging from a beautiful tree. I can usually find something on Christmas morning to make a special greeting card.

This year, I've put together 3 digital "Season's Greeting" cards for you to use ( simply drag and drop onto your desktop!). Below I will show you "step by step", how I created one of those cards so that you can get some ideas on how to use the shots you took this year, and turn them into something special to hand out to your loved ones next year.

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

 

Here's how I created this one...

 

Written by Trish Kroeger of Tofy design studios. 

Stay tuned for more great tips in my next post.

This week's post - "Time to Update Your Logo?"

Client Post December 20th, 2010

Time to Update Your Logo?

Depending on how long ago your logo was designed, it may very well be time for your logo to have a "face lift" or possibly even a whole new look. Is it a subtle change that is needed, such as a color or a font change, or is your whole business model changing – requiring a total redesign. With the new year coming.. it may be time to do away with the old and ring in with the new! 

Many companies these days are going for this new "web 2.0" look.  If you've heard of the term "web 2.0" but are not quite sure what it is... it's that look of transparency that a lot of new sites are donning.  See one example I found..

 

http://www.wks.fr/Creer-le-logo-web-2-d-Eboda.html

If you are a designer yourself, and would like to find out how the above logo was designed..  click on the above link, and although it's in french..  you'll get the idea of how it was put together. 

Over the years, my freelance business has gone through a few branding modifications and three logo changes.  As a new designer out of University, I wasn't sure what to call myself.  My first name out of Design School was "Wow Creations". I guess I wanted the "Wow Factor" in my name. 
A couple of years later when I got my own studio loft, I renamed my business "IndaZoneDesign".. a play on the words "In the Zone".   Finally, after careful consideration and passing ideas around to my family and friends, I came up with my current Freelance Business name – TofyDesign Studios..  short for my name Trish O'Flaherty Designs. 


Just recently I changed up the actual icon that makes up my logo from a "Butterfly" which represents "change and morphing" to a "Light bulb" which historically represents "ideas" and in my case  "bright ideas"!  My brand focuses on bright ideas and simple solutions..  and I illustrated three friendly personalized light bulb icons to help people identify with my brand.  So it made sense to change my logo to a very simple stylized light bulb.  


Here's my Old Logo...

And here's my New Logo... 

And here is one of my friendly icons that works in with my "bright ideas" theme for my brand.

The evolution of your business inherently determines the need to change up your logo design.  And that's ok. I wouldn't suggest changing up your logo just for the sake of getting a new look..  but if it makes sense, and your brand warrants a redesign..  then be sure to do your research, get a good designer and ask for at least 3 concepts..  And remember, if it's not what you're after.. Don't settle.  A logo is typically the first point of contact visually between you and your new prospective client..  Be sure your logo speaks volumes and represents you and your business to a "T" !

Don't Miss Pantone's Color of the Year Post Below!

Client Post December 13th, 2010

Pantone 2011 Color of the Year!

Choosing the right color to initiate a new brand can be 

as easy as saying "Make my logo Pink – because I sell Ladies Lingerie"– or...  You can put some thought into the process and find out what the newest and hippest trend is when it comes to color. And there is no better place to stay in touch with new color trends than at PANTONE.com.

_________________________________________________ 

PANTONE Custom Color Services provide custom color standards for corporate managers and art directors in fashion, home, contract design, paint, beauty, automotive, sports and pharmaceutical – any industry requiring color accuracy.
___________________________________________________ 

Today, Pantone released it's Color of the Year for 2011 and it's Hot and Sexy folks! It's Pantone 18-2120 Honeysuckle

Now that you know the color.. want to use it?!  To find the closest match to Honeysuckle in Microsoft Word..  open a new document and type some text on your page.  Then go to the "font color button" at the top of your page..

 

At the bottom of the drop down bar, you will see an option to choose "More Colors.." select this option and depending if you are using your document on the web, or just printing it on your printer...  you can choose either the RGB (web) or CMYK (print) slider to make your new color.

 

For CMYK..  type in the following numbers into the % boxes

C=0  M=86 Y=16  K=0

For RGB..  type in  R=203 G=101 B=134

Hit the "OK" button and voila!  Your text should have changed to Pantone's Color of the Year – HoneySuckle Pink!

Stay tuned for more great tips to making your brand make a difference!

Logo Quiz Update

Client Post November 30th, 2010

Logo Quiz Update

Whew! My busy freelance schedule has kept me hopping lately.. So my sincere apologies for not getting my quiz answers up earlier..  But here we go.. !  scroll back to my last post to see how many logos you were able to recognize by simply viewing a fraction of the image.  Hopefully you caught a few!  That my friend, is the power of a well established brand. 

Your brand can have the same effectiveness with a well designed logo, a few key marketing pieces that promote a strong call to action, and some warm, friendly customer service to keep your clients coming back!  For more tips and information on branding your business better, keep dropping by my blog or contact me for a free on-site/or-line consultation.

Client Post October 9th, 2010

What a Logo 

Should do for You.

Logos –– You see them everywhere; on the toothpaste tube you squeeze in the morning, on your soup can you open at lunch, not to mention on this very blog you're reading.  They're definitely not new to you..but if you're in the market to have one designed for your new business, you should really understand what a logo should do for you.

A good logo should convey to your viewer your disposition, your character and the fundamental values of your business.
A logo should not be more important than the product or service it represents and it should not be a direct description of your product.. but rather, inspire trust and loyalty. Your logo should be a reflection of your vision and values of your business.

Let's step back a bit..  and ask, What exactly is a logo? Simply put..  a logo is a name, a symbol, or a trademark of a company.

If you wish to design a successful logo, I believe it’s important that it satisfies the following 7 principles of logo design.

Your logo should be:

1)   Simple

2)   Memorable

3)   Timeless

4)   Effective in black & white

5)   Scalable

6)   Relevant to the industry it represents

7)   Appropriate

A logo should be able to represent your business for years to come. Keeping your logo simple and timeless will ensure its longevity.  Avoid using elements that are fads, they may be cool today, but will it stand the test of time like a classic like this...

This Coca-Cola advert dates from 1905.
(Credit: NewspaperArchive.com)

When you use a professional designer to design your logo, you should be prepared to give them as much information about the vision and values of your business. The more information they have, the easier their job will be to design a professional, powerful logo that truly represents your business. A very good logo designer will have excellent concepts, and professional execution.

It’s important to remember that a logo will not give you an instant brand, but if designed professionally, it will be an integral part of your company’s image and marketing success.

Let’s have some fun now..  See how many well-known logos you recognize by simply seeing a part of the logo. Some may be easy.. some may make you think.  Email me your answers  and look for the answers on next week's blog. studio@tofydesign.com If this quiz proves too easy..  I'll just have to work harder to stump you on my next blog.

Client Post October 1st, 2010

How do I Brand my
Business?

The idea of branding or re-branding your business may be an overwhelming thought. You may be asking yourself... Where do I start? What resources do I need to put in place?  Here are some simple tips when it comes to the very beginning steps to creating a memorable brand.




CONSISTENCY: The most important tip I can give you is keep your brand "consistent"!   Consistency is paramount when trying to establish your identity and build your brand.  Quick! What color comes to mind when I say " Coca-cola. The most recognizable brand in the world would probably not print their stationary pink..  If you said red..  it's because Coca-cola has done their job well when it comes to being consistent with their brand.

Choose Your Theme!: Successful brands always have recurring themes.  aah.. consistency folks!  Choosing a theme begins with playing around with different colors, fonts, images, and styles. When you choose a theme, it says "This is who I really am". You need to make emotional connections with your target market and the first way to attempt this is to choose a theme for your business and test it on your market. The work you do upfront on the theme of your business will go a long way to ensuring you nail down your overall brand vision.

LOGO - Putting your best foot forward: When branding your business, start with your Logo..   A good first step in creating a brand is to create a logo that represents your story.  Think of your logo as your main receptionist at the front of your business..  He or she is the first thing people see and relate to when entering your business..  Your logo is the same.  It's typically the first piece of branding they will see when looking at your business card, picking up a piece of literature, or landing on the home page of your website.  It will immediately give the impression of either professionalism, or lack there of.  So hiring a professional designer to create a memorable logo is well worth the money to ensure it does the following for you.

• visually represents your company in a graphic form (a picture is worth a thousand words, remember?)
• instantly communicates your company’s essence: what it does and what it stands for
• complements your company’s ongoing identity package so your customers can recognize it year after year.

Business Card: After you have created a logo.. ( and sometimes even before) one of the first things you have to do is get yourself a business card.  A common mistake for new business owners is to print their own business cards. Nothing screams un-professionalism more than a card designed in Microsoft word..  Sorry microsoft.  Again, consistency comes into play..  After your logo is designed.. a theme starts to appear..  From that logo – you have a colour palet, a font family, maybe some imagery and possibly a slogan or tagline.  All these elements should follow through to your business card.  

Relying on Staples to come up with your business card may be OK for a quick fix, but when you're ready to show the world that you mean business..  consider hiring a professional designer, and preferably the one who designed your logo in the first place. Keeping the same designer if possible, throughout the branding process will ensure consistency.  Although a very good designer will always be able to pick up and continue a brand design mid stream with no problem.  

Spread the News! (Social Media)   Have you ever heard someone say..  "Wow my blog went Viral!" That means.. the information on their blog is spreading quickly and is producing many followers.  Wikapedia calls it Viral Marketing.. which in simple terms means.. marketing techniques that use social networks or even word of mouth to promote increased brand awareness.  The popularity of social media websites has exploded in the last few years.. Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Digg, Stubleupon are just a few sites that provide you with the opportunity to tell others about your product and services and hopefully bring traffic to your own site with the ultimate goal of creating brand recognition.  

If you're currently not on any social media sites..  start slowly..  trying to be on all the social media sites at one time can over take your life.. And if you're just starting up a new business.. that's precious time you cannot afford to give up just yet.  And don't forget word of mouth..  It's amazing the connections your family and friends have..  so spread the news!

If you liked what you just read.. click the "dig" button below and help spread my news!
Stay tuned for my next blog..  "What a Logo should do for You."

Welcome

Client Post September 27th, 2010

How to choose the 
"RIGHT" Graphic Designer 
to suit your needs?

It's essential to do your homework before choosing a graphic designer to help you with your design requirements, what ever they may be.
Here is a list of key considerations before making any choices.

1. Does the designer have a strong portfolio?

Any designer with a good design background will have some type of on-line portfolio that should be easily made available for you to review. 

2. Does the designer suit your brand?
Every designer has his or her own unique style of creativity. It's important that you look for elements in their work that speak to the look and feel of your specific project.  Don't just pick any designer – pick one that can design to your specific brand requirements.

3. Do they have strong business skills?
Make sure to choose someone who will stay on top of your project every step of the way.  An unorganized designer with weak business skills may put your project deadline at risk.

4. Do they have any formal design education.. (not just a "desk-top publisher")

There are many "wanna-be" designers out there who have the money to purchase the expensive design software, but not enough drive to go out and get a formal education.  This will show in the final product they present to you. If sub-standard work is not what you are after, I suggest hiring someone who has the qualifications to do the job right the first time.

5. Do they have a good personality and work with a professional attitude?

Projects sometime last for weeks and or months.  Make sure you hire someone you can work well with and you can trust to keep you and your project at the very top of their priority.

Written by Trish Kroeger of Tofy design studios. Stay tuned for more great tips in my next post.