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Showing posts with label #booklets #catalog printing #printing long island #printing new york city #promotional products #design #printed apparel #signs#banners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #booklets #catalog printing #printing long island #printing new york city #promotional products #design #printed apparel #signs#banners. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

7 Fun Promotional Products to 

Celebrate Your Business

When attending events, people coming to your booth enjoy picking up promotional products that remind them of your business and are useful in their homes.

A study by the Advertising Specialty Institute revealed an 85% recall rate on promotional items. In addition, most households have an average of 30 promotional items, including pens, mugs, and travel accessories, which help increase the recall rate for businesses. 

Handing out promotional items has many benefits for businesses, including: 

  • Increasing website traffic
  • Boosting brand awareness
  • Helping increase free customer reviews and referrals
  • Finding new social media followers

Below are seven fun promotional products to celebrate your business and hand out to customers and potential customers.

7 Fun Promotional Products to Celebrate Your Business

1. Coffee Cups and Mugs

Branded coffee cups and mugs are a favorite among those who collect promotional products and swag. Clients and customers will be reminded of your business every time they enjoy their morning coffee or cup of tea. 

2. Portable Chargers or Power Banks

Everyone has some portable electronic device, such as phones and tablets, which they carry.

Giving out portable chargers or power banks offers customers a way to charge their wireless devices without finding an outlet. Many people do not spend the money on these devices and will carry the one given to them with your company logo everywhere they go. 

3. Travel Pack and Accessories

Several accessories help travelers make their journeys much more effortless and offer a unique opportunity to create and distribute promotional items.

Create a travel pack and accessories if you have travel customers, such as travel notepads, passport holders, organizers, and bag tags. 

4. Food, Snacks, and Chocolates

Food, snacks, and chocolates make for good prizes or promotional giveaways.

Work with a local food brand to create branded goodies to give away to customers or at an upcoming community event. Promotional food, snacks, and chocolates include fruit baskets, cookies, pastries, boxes of chocolates, and cakes. Include a thoughtful card and personalize the promotional basket for the client or customer you send it to.

5. Pens, Pencils, and Highlighters

Some of the everyday things people grab from event tables and businesses are pens, pencils, and highlighters. These are popular items and very affordable when looking for branded promotional items to give away. 

6. LED Flashlights

LED flashlights can be full-sized flashlights or as small as keychains and are popular giveaways at events. Use branded LED lights as prizes to winners who stop by your booth during a promotional event. 

7. Reusable Water Bottles

Today, everyone has a reusable water bottle they use to go to the gym, go walking, or have with them when out of the house. In addition, branded reusable water bottles are perfect giveaways at events and can be spruced up with built-in diffusers, straws, etc. 

Whether you are looking for some promotional items to send out to clients, use as giveaways, or hand out at an upcoming promotional event, there are many to choose from that people love.

Selecting the best promotional item to hand out ensures people who receive it will keep it in their homes or pass it along to someone else who may be able to use it all while keeping your brand top of mind. Check Out All Our Promotional Products By Going to Our Website at:https://printcafe.dcpromosite.com/


 

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

     Use Collaborative Design Blasts to Craft Show-Stopping Ideas


It happens.

The design deadline looms, your mind is adrift, and your page is blank. How can you generate creativity and move out of this slump? Two resources to leverage are your time and your team

Often the longer you spend on an idea, the less productive you become. Especially if you are working alone. With an open concept and no firm timeline, designers may sit at their desks for weeks, spinning endless variations of a vague concept or completely losing sight of the project goals. This is a dead end that can drive everyone mad.

Instead, apply a simple process to prompt stunning ideas efficiently:

1. Gather a team

Everyone has good ideas, not just designers.

Who could you pull – account assistants, content writers, a family member – to brainstorm for a brief stretch of time? Use a pen and paper and spend time thinking aloud together about names, word pictures, or image ideas. Keep it short and sweet but have fun!

2. Review the design brief and project goals 

Amidst the flurry of creativity, stay focused on your target.

When you gather the team for an initial brainstorming session, always review the project requirements. Be sure you understand what the client wants, the project parameters, and the goals for final outcome. This task review and initial brainstorming should last for no more than 10-15 minutes.

3. Launch a 60-minute development blast

Time to send the troops into battle!

If you are the sole designer, it’s all you. If not, send a small batch of people to work for one hour. The group has 60 minutes to come up with ideas. No more! The abbreviated timeframe forces your brain into green light thinking, prompting more spontaneous creativity. Typically pencil, pen, and paper are best for stretching ideas without inhibitions.

After an hour, meet again to chat. Give comments or suggestions to develop the full potential of the best ideas. Usually, a handful of ideas emerge as the best candidates. Now a final concept can be clarified, assigned for full development, and kicked into the digital realm.

If you can’t decide which idea is best, pick the top three and draw scamps to a higher level of finish. Pin them to the wall, talk about the pros and cons of each, and see what the collaborative process brings. Just a little team mojo can make a mediocre idea magical.

4. Keep early and rejected work

Often when you pitch ideas to clients, some of the best ideas get cut.

This is unfortunate, but not all is lost. All good designers will build up a collection or rejected work. Whether it’s an early stage scribble or a fully developed logo, keep a printout of every piece of work. Scan sketches and scamps and clearly label them, so they are accessible later and easy to find.

You invest lots of time shaping a concept, so don’t let an initial rejection close the door on your idea forever. Down the road, these ideas may be a catalyst for an even better spinoff design!

Need some fresh ideas? Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com


Wednesday, September 15, 2021

     Creative Ways To Use Print Marketing to Boost Your Business 


There are many ways to increase business through marketing with print.

Although the world has experienced an unparalleled technological revolution, print media’s importance in reaching customers remains an uncontested force.

According to Forbes, print marketing is more recognizable, memorable, and decipherable to consumers than its digital counterpart.  

As old as advertising itself, print media is an invaluable resource. A host of strategies have yielded results over time; however, unique print marketing campaigns have ultimately proven the most successful. 

Utilize Social Media’s Simplistic Design

Most companies have adopted digital media into their marketing repertoire.

Customers enjoy simplistic layouts, separating information and graphics. Plus, it has become a recognizable feature of this media-minded society.  

Easy ways to incorporate digital inspiration into print marketing include (but are not limited to): 

  • Signage on or around your business
  • Business cards
  • Mailing materials
  • Promotional handouts 

Incorporate the Magic of Multiple Mediums

The Louvre famously employed a simplistic roadside billboard campaign in 2017.

It emulated the orientation, scale, and minimalism of a typical social media post that billions of users are familiar with. However, the museum also took the additional step of including non-conventional aspects to complement their high-way gallery. They set their roadside advertisements up to sync with three local radio stations. The audio component allowed drivers to hear a 30-second artist introduction. Along with attracting more visitors, the Louvre also gained international recognition for its creativity. 

There are endless undiscovered frontiers companies are exploring every day.

One of the best parts of print marketing is its versatility. Virtually anything can become a canvas to market your business. Marketing can also be seen in other lights. For example, a print media campaign does not have to include conventional forms of print advertisements.

While signage, business cards, and mailers are fantastic ways to reach customers, marketing can also be done through creative and more indirect ways. 

Printing Is the Best Marketing Route

Regardless of the methods you employ, finding the right printer to begin your next successful and innovative marketing campaign is simple.

To truly transform your business, join forces with an experienced team of print marketers. We're here to help.Need some fresh ideas? Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com

Friday, September 10, 2021

 Standard Sizes for Print Products: Your Ultimate Guide


Print products come in a variety of sizes. From 3.5” x 2” business cards to 36” x 120” event banners, many of them have standard dimensions that provide  good reference points for printers, designers, and clients. While some standard sizes for print products have been formally acknowledged (like 4.125″ x 9.5″ for #10 envelopes), some sizes are considered standard simply because they get a large amount of orders (like 2” x 8” bookmarks). Popularity can gradually turn certain sizes into unofficial standards for the industry, or at least into good guidelines to follow when advising clients.

It can be a hassle to keep track of all these sizes or pull them from different product pages. That’s why we’ve created a collection of standard sizes for print products that are the most common. Please note that these standards are based on common North American print products dimensions.

Standard Sizes for Print Products

Standard Business Card Size

  • 3.5” x 2”

Standard Postcard Sizes

  • 4” x 6”
  • 5” x 7”
  • 5.5” x 8.5”

Standard Flyer Sizes

  • 8.5” x 11”
  • 5.5” x 8.5”

Standard Brochure Sizes

(flat size)

  • 8.5” x 11”
  • 8.5” x 14”
  • 11” x 17”

(finished size – approximate)

  • 3.67” x 8.5”
  • 4.67” x 8.5”
  • 5.5” x 8.5”
  • 7” x 8.5”
  • 5.67” x 11”
  • 8.5” x 11”

Standard Bookmark Sizes

  • 2” x 8”
  • 2” x 6”
  • 2.5” x 8.5”

Standard Presentation Folder Sizes

(flat size)

  • 12” x 18” with 3” or 4” pockets
  • 14.5” x 18” with 3” or 4” pockets

(finished size)

  • 9” x 12”
  • 9″ x 14.5″

Standard Booklet Sizes

  • 8.5” x 11”
  • 5.5” x 8.5″

Standard Greeting Card Sizes

(flat size)

  • 5.5” x 8.5”
  • 7” x 10”
  • 8.5″ x 11″

(finished size)

  • 4.25” x 5.5”
  • 5” x 7”
  • 5.5” x 8.5”

Standard Rack Card Sizes

  • 3.5” x 8.5”
  • 4” x 9”

Standard Ticket Sizes

  • 2″ x 5.5″
  • 3.5″ x 8.5″

Standard Wall Calendar Sizes

  • 11” x 8.5”

Standard Lawn Sign/Yard Sign Sizes

  • 36″ x 24″
  • 24″ x 18″
  • 18″ x 12″

Standard For Sale Sign/Real Estate Sign Sizes

  • 24″ x 18″
  • 24” x 6” (SOLD sign)

Standard A-Frame Sign Sizes

  • 24″ x 36″
  • 24″ x 18″

Standard Banner Sizes (for banners without frame or stand)

  • 48” x 96”
  • 36” x 120”
  • 24″ x 72″ (for a 6” trade show table)

Standard Retractable Banner Size

  • 33” x 80” (extra 1” goes inside the stand)

Standard Magnet Sizes

  • 3.5” x 2”
  • 3” x 4”
  • 4″ x 6″
  • 5.5″ x 8.5″

Standard Car Magnet Sizes

  • 10″ x 20″
  • 12” x 18”
  • 12″ x 24″

Standard Poster Sizes

  • 11″ x 17″
  • 18” x 24”
  • 24″ x 36″

Standard Door Hanger Sizes

  • 3.5” x 8.5”
  • 4.25” x 11”

Standard Folded Business Card Size

(flat size)

  • 3.5” x 4”

(finished size)

  • 3.5” x 2”

Standard Tent Card Sizes

(flat size)

  • 4” x 16.5″
  • 5” x 16.5″

(finished size)

  • 4” x 6.25”
  • 5” x 5.5”

Standard CD Cover Size

  • 4.75″ x 4.75″ (for a 1-page front cover)

Standard Letterhead Size

  • 8.5” x 11”

Standard Envelope Sizes

  • 4.125″ x 9.5″ (#10)
  • 4.375″ x 5.75″
  • 9″ x 12″
  • 10″ x 13″

Standard Notepad Sizes

  • 4.25” x 5.5”
  • 5.5” x 8.5”
  • 8.5” x 11”

Standard Address Label Size

  • 1″ x 2.625″

Standard NCR Form Sizes

  • 5.5” x 8.5”
  • 8.5” x 11”

What About Other Sizes?

Take these standard sizes for print products simply as some of the most common dimensions instead of rules that are set in stone. You can certainly print sizes that are not listed here. So if your clients are looking for something a little more out-of-the-box, get creative with size and choose a less common one.

The Print Cafe prints both standard sizes and custom sizes for all the products listed above at great prices. Need some fresh ideas? Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

                             How to Prepare Large-Format Projects for Print

 

When you want to flaunt your finest, large-format printing can make an oversized impact!

Large-format printing includes products printed at a length of 18-100 inches with a minimum width of 60 inches. Some of the most popular items include posters, window graphics, yard signs, vehicle wraps, vinyl banners, media backdrops, and more.

While large-scale graphics are stunning, these projects require special preparation, so these images remain vibrant and sharp when stretched to larger-than-life proportions.

If you plan to go BIG, here are some factors to consider.

Communicate from the Start

When diving in on a large-scale printing, create a detailed brief and use this to speak to your printer as early as possible.

Try to include everything from the size, design, materials, and deadlines. Your printer will work with you to be sure your ideas are achievable, and the timeline is realistic.

Set Appropriate Image Specifications

As you connect with a printer, be sure your images match the required specifications.

Pixels per inch (or PPI) is the standard measurement for image resolution. PPI refers to the density of pixels per square inch of space they occupy. The higher the PPI, the sharper your image will appear as a large-format graphic. As a general rule, most commercially printed materials require at least 300 PPI.

The viewing distance required for your project can be a factor in selecting the appropriate specs.

Select Clear and Legible Fonts

Since most large-format products are meant to be viewed from a distance, fonts are a big deal.

Usually, sans-serif fonts are easier to read than script or serif fonts. Fonts that are too bold or have wide spacing between letters are also very difficult to read when viewed from afar. To check your font’s legibility, take a few steps back from your computer and evaluate from a different perspective.

Limit the number of fonts you use, and don’t crowd the design!

Choose Your File Formats

There are generally two file types in large-format printing: EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) and TIFF (Tagged Image File Format).

EPS – such as .eps or .ai files – can contain both text and graphics and are a better option for vector images, which use algorithms to increase an image size (rather than pixels), which preserve image quality when scaled up.

TIFF files are best for high-quality graphics, with color depths ranging from 1 to 24 bits. They can also support special Adobe features like layering and transparency.

Not sure which format is best? Your printer can help and may even have software presets they can send you in advance. No matter which file type you select, don’t flatten the original file before sending it to print. Keep an editable file to make the design and printing process easier!

Get Color Samples

Did you know there are two primary ways of displaying colors?

Anything designed for a screen – such as digital banners or a website – uses an RGB (red, green, blue) color model, while printed materials use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). RGB looks great on a screen but can look dull when printed, so you can save yourself extra hassle by converting your design file color to CMYK before you begin. If you haven’t, double-check with your printer about how to proceed from where you’re at.

Amplify Your Voice

Large-format printing offers huge promotional potential for your business.

But it can be a big investment, which is why it’s important to get things right the first time. Whatever your large-format printing needs, our experienced team can help! Whether you’re looking to build brand identity or bring curb appeal to your business, upgrade your customer experience with magnificent large-scale visuals.

Need some fresh ideas? Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO: www.printcafeli.com


Friday, June 18, 2021

 Creating a Substantial Visual Impact Through Corporate Responsibility Campaigns


In a post-pandemic world, marketers are tasked with a unique balancing act: helping people return to reality while remaining sensitive to the challenges of this era.

Today’s consumers appreciate businesses that prioritize people over products. Research by consumer authority Mintel has shown that as many as 56% of Americans will stop buying from brands they believe are unethical. Additionally, in a global survey, 91% of consumers reported they were likely to switch to a brand that supports a good cause, given similar price and quality. 

Corporate responsibility, or cause marketing, occurs when a company’s promotional campaign has a dual purpose of increasing profitability while bettering society. Or, more colloquially: cause marketing occurs when a brand does well by doing good.

Visual campaigns are potent, and they are even more compelling when combined with a social initiative of some sort. Here are three dynamic examples.

Cadbury’s “Donate Your Words” Campaign

In the United Kingdom, 225,000 older people often go a week without speaking to anyone.

During the pronounced isolation of COVID-19, Cadbury chocolates launched an initiative to benefit Age UK, the country’s leading charity dedicated to providing companionship, advice, and support for older individuals.

In a stark visual, Cadbury removed all lettering from the front of its dark purple packaging and replaced it with a blank tag: instead of a price, there was a pledge to talk to an older person. Blank pledge tags were also available for customers who wanted to write personalized pledges. Shoppers could take any display item to the till, but instead of paying money they could pledge to talk to an older person.

Cadbury donated its chocolate and challenged a nation to donate its words.

American Express and Small Business Saturday

Did you know that the original founder of Small Business Saturday was American Express?

Without a non-profit partner, American Express embraced entire communities by encouraging consumers to shop local and support the mom and pop stores in their own neighborhoods (presumably while using an American Express card to do so!).

Launched in 2010, local profits leaped from $14.3 billion in 2014 to $19.8 billion in 2020. Key to this success was visual marketing; to equip local businesses, American Express designed creative pieces like signage, social posts, scavenger hunt maps, recipe sheets, and themed passports to support their “Neighborhood Champions”—men and women that vowed to formally celebrate Small Business Saturday in their areas.

A Meaningful, Memorable Message

Consumers want to see positive change in the world and when your brand can be part of it, the emotional impact of your marketing will ratchet up.

Choose your cause wisely, listen to your audience, and lean in to the power of print marketing to put your message front and center. 

Need some fresh ideas? Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO: www.printcafeli.com


Tuesday, April 27, 2021

   The 4-Minute Guide to Designing with White Ink

                                                                                 By Haidan Dong


Designing with white ink is like vectorizing—it takes a little extra work but the end result is worth it. You may have seen white ink used in designs for food labels, business cards printed on a special stock, or clear vinyl decals. This article is dedicated to helping you see why and how you can use white ink to enhance your designs and produce beautiful results.

Why Design with White Ink

There are many reasons why graphic designers create print artwork with white ink. The two main reasons are:

1. To produce white areas on non-white stocks

Sometimes printing with white ink is essential because white is part of a company’s logo or campaign colors. Therefore, to produce white areas on stocks such as a silver or transparent label, the design requires white ink.

2. To help other colors pop on non-white stocks (as a support color)

When CMYK colors print on non-white stocks such as brown kraft paper, the end result is that you may be able to see the stock show a little bit underneath the colors. If this is not what you’re looking for and you want your CMYK colors to appear more opaque, you can add white ink underneath the CMYK to stop the stock from showing through.

Why the White Ink Printing Process is Special

Printing white ink requires a different process than printing CMYK colors. This is because white does not get printed in a standard CMYK-only workflow. When you design a CMYK file to print on regular white cardstock, the areas without any color values (C0% M0% Y0% K0%) don’t get any ink, so the cardstock shows through as simply white. 

This means that the white needs to be its own ink (in addition to any CMYK colors you use in the artwork).

As this is a printing process that is more out-of-the-norm, you would need to first find a print provider that can print white ink. We recommend The Print Cafe of LI, that offers special prices to graphic designers.

How to Create a File with White In

Ready to start designing a file for white ink printing? Different printers have different requirements such as:

  1. Using spot color for white ink areas
  2. Using a different layer that contains all your white ink areas
  3. Using a separate file containing only the white ink areas

Note: Some print workflows require specific naming of your file in order to work, so you may need to name your white spot color, layer or file a certain way. Always check their requirements before submitting your file.

SinaLite, for example, requires the white ink areas to be a spot color with a particular name. Download their free white ink setup guide here:

Tips for Designing with White Ink

  • We recommend using Adobe Illustrator to design files for printing. You can, however, use any program that exports files as PDFs for printing.
  • While designing, you may wish to set your spot color for the white ink as a more visible color to help you visualize.
  • Even if your printer doesn’t require a separate white layer, it’s still a good idea to create a separate layer for them, as it makes working on them easier.
  • Here are a few things you should check for before submitting a file that contains white ink areas:
  1. Overprint settings (check with your printer for their requirements)
  2. Knockout settings
  3. All strokes and fills accounted for
  4. Your order specs indicate white ink printing
  5. File contains CMYK only plus your spot color if your printer requires it
  • We recommend using Adobe Acrobat Pro (not Reader) to check your file prior to submitting it for printing.Need some fresh ideas? Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO: www.printcafeli.com


Friday, April 23, 2021

     4 Intelligent Ways to Combine Print and Digital Marketing


Imagine a college campus on a warm fall day, as freshmen are moving into the dorms for the first time.

There are loads of students buzzing around and getting settled. As they unpack and get their bearings in a new community, many realize they’ve forgotten a lamp or shelf to make their dorm room a bit cozier. No problem! A strategic, targeted digital ad whisks across their screen on move-in day.

Two days later, a mailed piece is sent featuring lamps, rugs, and closet accessories. This venue's campaign (a combination of digital and print marketing) snags interest in a fleeting moment then follows this digital hook with a more robust mailed piece.

The Successful Marriage of Digital and Print

Print marketing is powerful. Digital marketing is powerful. When you combine them... well, the result is dynamic.  

Want to create a more strategic relationship between your print and digital marketing efforts? Here are four strategies to build momentum:

1. Create Distinct Online Landing Pages

Online landing pages can be created specifically for promotion through your print ad (for example, see Uber’s landing page targeting new riders here).

While your website homepage typically offers an introduction to your business, a promotional landing page is slightly different. A landing page:

--Is designed to receive traffic from specific sources

--Prompts visitors to take one well-defined action

--Stays focused on a single topic or offer

--Omits or downplays site navigation options

Beyond using narrow landing pages to evaluate your print marketing, you can also record general web traffic during a campaign to note whether a spike in visits may indicate a particular ad’s effectiveness.

2. Use Digital Opt-ins for Direct Mail

Instead of asking someone to sign up for your email campaign the next time they visit your website, why not ask them to sign up for a direct mail newsletter?

Unlike email (which can easily go straight to a junk folder), a direct mail campaign engages people through tactile, memorable, physical marketing pieces. There’s something special about receiving a thoughtful newsletter or meandering through a well-designed catalog.

Instead of opting toward email, build stronger connections with your customers outside the screen.

3. Combine In-Store and Social Displays

Live events provide great opportunities to build strong relationships with customers – particularly in our experience-driven culture.

At your next event, distribute valuable coupons or great giveaway items after advertising through social media ahead of time. Post fun selfie displays (like clever photobooths or imaginative backgrounds) that people can post using event-specific hashtags. Or give gift cards and freebies to those who check in at your kiosk and follow you on social media.

4. Add QR Codes to Your Direct Mail, Brochures, and Displays

Today QR Codes (those funny-looking square boxes that look like over-sized bar codes) have many uses, including marketing, product labeling, ticketing, and more.

QR codes can be used as a compact way to deliver loads of information, and you can use one in any situation where you want to send people to a specific website. Add QR codes to your brochures, direct mail, business cards, in-store displays, or even to customized client birthday cards.

This lead generator can be used to push a new promotion, link to an instructional video, solicit reviews, incentivize subscription renewals, or prompt people to download your app. 

Customers on the Move

As people hop between on- and offline worlds, businesses must provide an increasingly cohesive, personalized experience.

Combining your print and digital marketing can build momentum while providing users a streamlined customer experience. Employ this customer-oriented strategy to ensure your brand receives a multi-fold return on your marketing investment.

Need some fresh ideas? Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com

 

Friday, April 16, 2021

                         4 Key Design Elements of Corporate Branding

                                                       By Christa TuttleMarch 12, 2021


Your company’s design and branding are key components of marketing and play a large part in what customers and prospects think and feel before they consume any of your marketing materials. This is important as we oftentimes draw conclusions about a company solely based on the design of their marketing materials, their website and the overall look and feel of their brand. In fact, it takes less than a second for someone to form an opinion of your brand when looking at just your website. So, why does making a good first impression matter? Your time is limited. Having the essential elements of corporate branding can allow you to have a positive impression on your buyers and prospects.

To give you an idea of what consistent, impressionable corporate branding looks like, take a look at any of the branding projects in our portfolio. You will see that a core component for each of them was establishing a consistent look and feel. To achieve this, there are four essential elements that must be considered when establishing a corporate brand.

#1. Logo

Your logo is perhaps the most important element of your brand identity. As the icon and hallmark, it is usually the most recognizable element. Your logo is typically used in all materials, whether they are digital, print or in another form. There are many criteria to designing a logo, but one that stands out is that the logo should be legible in any size. From a small web icon to a large banner at an event, the logo should be clear to all. Another consideration is that it should also be legible when faced with color restrictions. If there is ever an instance where you are unable to use your brand colors, does it still work when you are only able to use one color or black and white? Keep these this in mind in the logo design process.

#2. Colors

The colors used by a company can communicate many different messages and can sometimes be a key factor in the recognition process. When choosing your colors, there can be many things to consider. Here are two:

  • Color meanings: In some cases, certain colors have a story behind them and can often elicit certain feelings. For example, yellow is seen as a bright, friendly and optimistic color that can generate positive feelings.
  • Contrasting colors: Colors can often be labeled as “warm” or “cool” based on where they are on the color wheel. Whether you want to have “warm” colors, “cool” colors, or both, it’s important to understand if they contrast well together.

For your brand’s colors to become associated with your company, it is important that the same colors are used throughout all materials. By selecting Pantones, and their corresponding RGB/CMYK colors, and enforcing their usage, you ensure that the colors used in all of your company’s print and digital pieces remain consistent.

#3. Fonts

Similar to colors, it is important to select a specific font, or fonts, to use throughout your company’s materials. It is a good idea to limit this selection to as few fonts as possible. One best practice is to choose a serif font for body content and a sans-serif font for headings. Additionally, it is noteworthy to select a corresponding web-safe font to use if your corporate fonts are not already web-safe. There are many different fonts to choose from that vary in styles from traditional to modern. It’s essential to choose fonts that reflect your company’s image and can fit in well with your logo and overall style.

#4. Imagery

Imagery is always a core component of any marketing material, but its usage has become more important than ever due to the transition to the all-digital environment. You should expect to utilize many images in your marketing materials. To tie these images together, it is necessary to establish a common theme or treatment that is leveraged across all the images you use. For example, if you are a technology company that is defining your imagery, think about what your brand embodies and decide if graphic icons, stock photos or something else would be best suited. Once decided upon, use this imagery in all facets of your organization to ensure consistency

Corporate Branding Consistency is Key

There are multiple elements that go into a brand identity package. A corporate style guide can be useful for keeping these guidelines and elements in one location that can be accessible company wide. The most important thing to keep in mind when developing corporate branding is consistency. By utilizing the same elements repeatedly, they become more readily related to your company and recognizable by your audience.

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