No matter how wonderful your business card may be, it becomes entirely ineffective if the proper etiquette is not followed.  The list of tips below should serve as a guide for the presentation and reception of business cards.

1. Always be sure to have enough business cards on hand.
2. Keep your cards up-to-date.  It is inexcusable to present a card on which you e have written corrections, or to verbally let everyone know that information has changed.
3. Do not force your cards on others.  Unless they specifically ask for a card, or you are discussing business, it is impolite to push your card on someone.
4. Treat others’ business card with respect.  When receiving a card be sure to give it proper attention.  Ask any questions the card may present or compliment the design.
5. Don’t ever hand out bent or torn cards. Ever.
6. When exchanging cards with someone of a higher rank be sure to offer your own card only when they have requested one.  To do so without a request will seem presumptuous.
7. Do not place a received business card in your pocket or wallet.  This will be seen as disrespectful as the card will likely be forgotten or damaged.  Instead, you should place the card in a case or planner.
8. Don’t hand out more than one card to a new contact.  This will seem like you are pushing the task of making more contacts for your business on them, which is both tacky and rude.

Remember: your business card is the lasting impression your business will make on the contacts you make.  It is vital to your business’ success that you follow proper etiquette when distributing your cards.

Now that you understand business card decorum you will need the perfect card to present to your contacts.  Let the experts at JDR Imaging help you design the phenomenal card your business needs!

No matter how wonderful your business card may be, it becomes entirely ineffective if the proper etiquette is not followed.  The list of tips below should serve as a guide for the presentation and reception of business cards.

1. Always be sure to have enough business cards on hand.

2. Keep your cards up-to-date.  It is inexcusable to present a card on which you e have written corrections, or to verbally let everyone know that information has changed.

3. Do not force your cards on others.  Unless they specifically ask for a card, or you are discussing business, it is impolite to push your card on someone. 

4. Treat others’ business card with respect.  When receiving a card be sure to give it proper attention.  Ask any questions the card may present or compliment the design. 

5. Don’t ever hand out bent or torn cards. Ever.

6. When exchanging cards with someone of a higher rank be sure to offer your own card only when they have requested one.  To do so without a request will seem presumptuous.

7. Do not place a received business card in your pocket or wallet.  This will be seen as disrespectful as the card will likely be forgotten or damaged.  Instead, you should place the card in a case or planner.

8. Don’t hand out more than one card to a new contact.  This will seem like you are pushing the task of making more contacts for your business on them, which is both tacky and rude.

Remember: your business card is the lasting impression your business will make on the contacts you make.  It is vital to your business’ success that you follow proper etiquette when distributing your cards.

Now that you understand business card decorum you will need the perfect card to present to your contacts.  Let the experts at JDR Imaging help you design the phenomenal card your business needs!

When planning a marketing strategy for your business it is essential that you implement a unique and useful plan in order to ensure effectiveness.  The common modes of advertising typically focus on mass media; this can include newspaper ads, television, and outdoor ads to name a few.  In fact, these are the avenues that initially come to mind when formulating a marketing plan.  Too often business owners overlook the more distinctive idea of using promotional products for marketing.

Promotional products can help existing customers remember a business, and also help that business get noticed by prospective customers.  It is a wonderful way to add a personal touch to your interactions with customers, and that is a great advantage is an increasingly depersonalized world.  You may even choose to include a free gift (your promotional product) with a product ordered online before shipping.

Four key points to consider before choosing your company’s promotional items:

1. 1. Determine your target market audience
2. 2. Determine where your product will be seen the most
3. 3. Consider the competition
4. 4. Set a budget

Knowing your target audience is key when choosing the appropriate promotional products.  This will help you determine which items will be seen or used most often by the recipient, and choose something that can be used all year long.  The more your product is seen/ used, the more your business will remain in the forefront of a buyer’s memory.

Becoming aware of your competition and what they have to offer is another important component of a business’ marketing strategy.  Once you are familiar with your competition you can find ways to offer something a little better or more valuable to your customers.  This cunning approach can become indispensable to your business, if you are able to strategize according to what the competition has/ doesn’t have to offer, and offer a superior product.

The most important point to consider is the budget your business has available for purchasing promotional items.  A budget will help you remain within your limits when choosing your items.

Now that you know where to start, the process of selecting your own promotional items may seem a bit overwhelming.  With the assistance of JDR Imaging’s experienced team you will be able to ease that stress, and choose the right promotional product for expanding your business.  We would love to sit down with you and facilitate the perfect marketing strategy for promoting your business!  CONTACT US!

Some Common/ Useful Promotional Items:

• Calendars
• Custom Folders
• Promotional Key-chains
• Refrigerator Magnets
• Custom Pens
• T-shirts
• Custom Portfolios
• Custom Notebooks
• Mugs
• Hats

Be sure to include your: Company’s name, logo, and address/ other contact information!

Click here to view some of the promotional products we offer!

A distinctive logo is fundamental when creating a successful business that can compete in today’s market.  Think about the way you recognize someone; you look at their face, you associate their face with who they are.  This idea can be applied to your business.  If you want to make your business recognizable you need to put a face on it., and your face is your company logo.

A business’ logo makes that business memorable; it initiates product recognition among consumers.  The logo becomes the representation of all aspects of a business.  How do you want your business to be perceived; with an inconsistent sloppy logo you attempt to create yourself, or with a professionally designed custom logo?  A professionally designed logo puts an attractive face on your business.  When consumer’s see an attractive and professional face they see a reliable, trustworthy, likable business.

Think about all of the effort you put into establishing a business.  You take your time and carefully select the people you hire, the amount of time you will want to spend on your business, and the kind of workload you are willing to take on.  Most businesses take well over a year to go from conception to realization.  So why, after all of this careful consideration and planning, would you choose you create a sub-par logo on Adobe Photoshop?

A professional designer can offer you their experience and expertise on how to create a logo that will capture the minds of your audience and instantly generate your message.  While you may think that having your logo professionally designed will cost too much, it is actually quite affordable.  JDR Imaging offers affordable rates for top quality logo designs, custom-made for your individual business.  You can’t afford to disregard this significant part of your business so contact us for a consultation where we will show you exactly what we can do for you, and how affordable it actually is!

If you have been following our posts at all you should know by now that effective branding is all about telling customers who you are, what you do, and how you do it. The actions taken beyond the establishment of a company brand are just as important as the brand itself.  A key tool in any branding/ promotion strategy is the internet; more specifically, using the internet to establish a solid identity.  So how do you create a concentrated identity online?

First and foremost you should establish your brand.  Show visitors what you do immediately.  Be sure to illustrate the advantages of what you do before anything else.  What you do should precede all other aspects of your websites, including who you are.  The most integral aspect of any business website is the unmistakable establishment of a business’ purpose and identity.

Two more key elements in creating a strong online identity are the use of words and visual elements.  Both should reinforce your identity and brand image.  What matters most are the words you use; use as many words as necessary, speak in a conversational tone, and deliver useful brand-related information to visitors. All visual elements should support and compliment your brand identity.  Choose a design scheme that best portrays your identity through color scheme, images, and any other aesthetic element of your website.

The next most important component is organizing the way visitors see your business and how you self-promote.  It is important for you business to be identifiable and familiar to potential clients online.  A consistent human presence is the best way of creating relatability, while showing that there are actual people behind the website.

Without a solid identity you and your business will not be viewed as a reliable and authoritative expert in your field.  Your business’ identity is vital to the success and integrity of your website.  Why would you want to risk the possibility of producing an ineffective, unprofessional website/ company image?  Trust an expert to ensure the virtue of your business.  JDR Imaging can offer you the full range of services needed to create the ideal website for your business.  We offer web hosting, branding packages, writing/ editing services, promotional products, and so much more.  Contact us so we can sit down with you and show you exactly what we can do for your own business!

This week we provided a list of some of the benefits of having a business website via our various social networking accounts.  The benefits we listed are:

1. Expand your business’ reachable markets
2. Assist you with information distribution
3. Broaden your client marketing
4. Provide consistent marketing
5. Reduce administrative costs
6. Create faster trading cycles
7. Increase your ability to gain more business
8. Help retain existing clients
9. Increase your ability to respond to new competitors quickly
10. Improve order fulfillment

Many do not realize how beneficial a website really is for a business.  A website is the foremost successful tool when it comes to consolidating your business’ processes.  A website allows for a reduction in work duration and costs.  Your website will be working for your business twenty-four hours a day.  This means that potential clients can access you/ your business anytime from anywhere they choose.  Your website will be available even when you are not.

A website also provides the ability to express what your business has to offer its clientele in specific and detailed manner.  You may introduce your employees and their individual expertise, describe the services offered, and use pictures and graphics to example your products/ services.  Through the use of a comments/ questions box you will be more accessible to current and possible clients.  They will be able to easily ask any questions in a more convenient time frame, and you will be able to respond during business hours when you are available.

The internet is revolutionizing the way we do business today, making a company website the most thorough, efficient, and advantageous advocate for your business.  Let JDR Imaging help you design the perfect website, custom-made for your business’s individual needs.  Why wait to establish your business’ online presence, and begin increasing your reachable market?  Contact us and our team will begin working with you right away!

Business cards are a powerful marketing tool that is all too often taken for granted. Your business
card is a direct reflection of YOU! Once you are no longer physically present your business identity will be formed by your business card; it is how you will be remembered.  A business card should consist of more than just your company name, tag line, contact information, and title. Your business card should assert something about YOU as an individual.  You should be represented in a creative manner; not in merely an informal written capacity.

What message does your business card communicate about you and your business?

Join us in learning the Do’s and Don’ts of designing, creating, and ordering FREE business cards.
All attendees will be entered into a Business Card Makeover Drawing, and one lucky candidate
will receive a FREE Business Card Makeover, along with FREE custom designed business cards from
Creative Expert Jennifer Michael. (This drawing prize is valued at $180!)

Please join us on Tuesday July 20, 2010 from 9:00 am – 10:30 am

for our business card workshop, and learn how to make your card

exceptional.

… seats are limited so register right away!

The workshop will be located at:

11650 Lantern Road, Fishers, IN 46038.

The link to register and pay for the event is:
www.thetruthaboutbusinesscards.eventbrite.com

…and remember: What they see is what you get; so let us help and they won’t forget!

There are a myriad of ways to create a web presence for your business, including all of the various networking/ social media websites, but it is crucial that you know that NOTHING IS AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR BLOG!  If you know how to properly maintain your blog, it will be the means to conducting the most traffic to your site.

You have the most control over your blog.  You can use it to create an informative company platform, to help clients better understand what you can offer them, and to build consumer connections.  It is critical that you not neglect your blog in order to ensure optimal effectiveness.  Blogs failure occurs when there is inconsistent management and a lack of interest.

The five best ways to achieve blog success are:

1. Spend Time on Your Blog- You should be prepared to visit your site often in order to stay connected with your vision for your business.
2. Update!- Be sure to post frequently and on a regular basis, so your content remains fresh.
3. Engage Your Audience- Try to make your posts thought provoking, and be sure to monitor the comments on your blog.
4. Give it Some Consideration- Don’t fill your blog with filler content. Think about what your audience wants to hear; what will be useful to them?  Provide your audience with a greater value.
5. Improve- Look for ways to improve your blog.  Should you add links, update your “about” page, change the layout?  You should also look for ways to make your site more user-friendly.

The task of maintaining a blog regularly can be somewhat daunting to a business owner.  Managing a blog does take a great deal of time and effort, and a busy business owner often does not have the know-how or the time to devote to a blog.  When this is the case it is usually best to hire an experienced writer to save yourself time and the stress of creating and maintaining an effective company blog.  Blog writing is one of the many services JDR Imaging offers our clients.  If you want to create a company blog but don’t know where to begin or how to keep it relevant, consider hiring an experienced writer from JDR Imaging!

Remember, your blog is a key tool to providing a direct line to you and your business.  Readers will use your blog to determine whether or not your business can provide value to their lives or businesses.  A company blog is one of the best ways to add value to your credibility among consumers.  Be sure to give it as much effort and attention as possible.

For the majority of people the primary point of contact with a business is through their website.  Anyone viewing a website will browse the content and decide whether or not to continue browsing.  The quality of a website’s content is crucial; it can either win or lose potential clients for your business.  Your website also provides the opportunity to really show viewers what your company is all about.  You have all of the space you could possibly need to define what you do, show off your products, and describe your services.  It is imperative that you know what the most essential pages are needed for a successful website.

Home Page- As this is the main page of a website, and the first thing viewers see, it needs to be interesting enough to capture their attention.  Your home page should be professional, easily navigated, and contain an appropriately placed professional logo.  The logo should be placed at the top left or top center in order to ensure the easiest visibility.

Company Profile- This is the ideal place to build your company’s corporate image by stating your goals and objectives.  A professionally written company profile makes a significantly better impact on viewers.  The company profile should also contain the following: a mission statement, an objective, a background, any products/ services offered, the company’s geographical location, a marketing network, and the professional abilities and expertise your business has to offer.

Product/ Service Page- This is the place to build a brand image of your products/ services.  It is important to use detailed information in order to accurately illustrate your products/ services.  Be sure to include the following points: product photographs, product details, advantages, features, technical details, enquiry details, and an order form.

Achievements/ Portfolio- An achievement/ portfolio page will provide a good impression for viewers through exampling your company’s ability and efficiency.  Some things to include: awards, participation in major events or exhibitions, successful projects or jobs, and any events organized by your company.

Clientele- To put it simply, this page is where your business can create a reliable and trustworthy image.  You should provide a list of clientele and include customer testimonials for your services.

Contact Page- Make it easy for people to reach you by listing contact details in the following order: a map indicating geographical location, and the address, phone, fax, and email of any company offices.  Another wonderful tool for ensuring that potential clients can reach you easily is to provide a question/ comment box for viewers to send any questions or concerns directly to you.

Because a company website is one of the most important factors in determining a business’ success, it is imperative that you create an expert one.  The best way to ensure an expert website is to go to an expert!  A professional can provide you with the tools, expertise, skills, and experience necessary for a successful website.  JDR Imaging can provide you with the perfect website for who you are and what you do.  We take the time to sit down and get to know our clients in order to ascertain what their exact needs are.  Contact us for a free thirty minute consultation and see what we can do for you.