Design Tips

Keeping Kids Safe Online

On February 13, 2009   /   Design Tips   /   Leave a comment
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Let’s face it the internet is a great educational and entertaining resource our kids can benefit from exploring, but there are areas we don’t want them to travel too! Setting some clear guidelines and rules upfront will help you feel more comfortable and keep them safer.
Visit www.netsmartz.org to download safety pledges that are geared to specific age ranges, print them and review them with the children and young adults you know. Outlining what you expect and having them sign the agreement to follow the safe practices will provide accountability, especially if you post the printed, signed document right by the computer they will surf on!
Following are some important points of review I have summarized from the a long list of safety tips posted on the netsmartz.org website. The site is a portal for educating adults and children on internet safety practices.

  • post clear and simple house rules right next to the monitor and review it periodically
  • check out your computer and service providers options for limited access to areas and content on the web.
  • kids should never enter their full name or any personal information. tlak to your children about what personal information is and why they should not share it online.
  • Adults should always make sure the web site is secure before entering any credit card information.
  • If children are in chat rooms or social networking sites let them know they should never meet with a person they first met “online” without a parent or adult guardian you approve of.
  • advise your kids not to respond to offensive or dangerous communications. Instruct your children to let you know right away if anything has scared them or made them feel confused or uncomfortable. Show them how to turn the monitor off. Assure them it was not their fault. Retrieve the offensive correspondence and report to law enforcement.
  • keep the computer in an open area of the home where children are not secluded.
  • keep informed on current scams and dangers and research resources regularly to learn the more about internet safety.
  • spend time with the kids online, let them show you what they enjoy doing and where they go.
  • there are child-friendly search engines available kids can use for research as well as chat rooms just for kids
  • be aware of other computers your child may be using and make sure the same home practices are supported everywhere.
  • use parent’s name for internet accounts with parents having the primary screenname, controlling passwords, and using blocking and/or filtering devices. If children choose screen names make sure they do not obviously identify them as a child.
  • Filtering and blocking software for your computer will help limit the websites kids can access. Check Netsmartz.com Resources page for more information.

Content provided from http://www.netsmartz.org/resources/pledge.htm
Check the site for the age ranges and discuss them with your young ones. Print out the agreements and place them in view of your kids when they are in front of the computer as a gentle reminder of the pledge all of you have taken.

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Clarity with SWOT Analysis

On February 13, 2009   /   Design Tips   /   Leave a comment
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During this changing business climate many companies are diversifying and others are closing their doors. Reinvention can stem from a need to increase revenue, a request to follow a new direction an industry has taken or a need to enhance skills in a niche sector.
It is important to evaluate how your company, product and services are going to weather the new way of doing business. Companies who will prosper in this changing environment will be those who are clear about who they are, who they serve, and what value they bring to the marketplace. One of the first steps in identifying the answers to these questions for my company was to complete a SWOT analysis. Getting key staff involved in some of the questions is beneficial too. Your staff are often the ones who have full insight of the daily functions and achievements of the company.
Once I honestly answered the questions my next step was to sit with my answers for a while. Some of you will get some ah-ha answers right away – others will get affirmations your company is on the right track. I found all of the above to be true. Whatever you do, don’t force the answers and don’t force a message that doesn’t fit.
Hopefully this practice will help you give you some clarification on your company direction. Keep ini mind, SWOT analysis can be helpful in many areas of your life. Along with the all encompassing business example posed here, SWOT analysis can help define your target market, your brand development, marketing, public relations and human resources approaches. Personally, it can help you with relationships and even home improvement plans – if you are that disciplined! If utilized regularly you may be amazed at the varied results you will get. Best of luck, have fun and stay connected to the big picture!
Download SWOT Analysis

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WHAT WOULD BUSINESS ROBOT DO?

On February 13, 2009   /   Design Tips   /   Leave a comment
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If you plan to set time aside for a year end review, personally or professionally, visit our blog. In the most recent entry you can find some specific questions to get you started. Below enjoy another tip by another of our favorite coaches, Michael Neill – www.geniuscatalyst.com
Emma was struggling to keep her home-based business alive after about a year of very hard work and very limited profits. When she hired me to help her turn things around (or help her make peace with letting the business go), the first thing I did was introduce her to a thinking tool I use with many of my clients:
Imagine a robot who has been programmed with all the best business skills and business wisdom, but has no emotional circuitry whatsoever. No matter what is going on in your business, “Business Robot” will always make the decisions and take the actions that are most likely to lead to success both short and long-term.
Now imagine that Business Robot has been hired to run your company or take over your job for awhile – what would Business Robot do?
When I asked Emma, her first response was “he’d quit!” (Not sure why most people seem to make Business Robot a “boy-bot”, but they do!) After further questioning, she realized that in fact, the business was mostly on track – what had been troubling her was the pressure she’d been putting on herself to “make” it succeed more quickly.
A series of insights followed, including:
* Business Robot would institute a strict ABC priority policy and stick with it, not letting himself get caught up in other people’s sense of urgency
* Business Robot would work less hours, recognizing the value of focusing on work when at work and renewing energy and resources outside of working hours
* Business Robot would go through and do an 80/20 evaluation of which clients were bringing in the most money for the least effort and vice-versa – and then would use that information as a basis for prioritizing certain clients and “firing” others
Perhaps the biggest breakthrough she got from the exploration was when she realized that far from working harder or longer, Business Robot would hire an assistant to take care of the majority of the tasks she herself found so tiresome, leaving her free and energized to do the work that she loved and excelled at.
Today’s Experiment:
1. Imagine that Business Robot has been brought in to run your company, take over your job, or manage your career – what would Business Robot do in the first week? What goals or targets would he set for the next month? Next quarter? Next year?


2. What longer-term vision would Business Robot create for you business or career?
3. Think of the biggest problem or sticking point you are facing in your work right now – what would Business Robot do in that situation?
The key to making this “thought-experiment” work for you is to realize that as Aristotle said, “a virtue is the mean between two vices”. Your goal is not to become more robotic – just to bring the wisdom of a mentally disciplined approach into balance with the wisdom of your very human heart.
Have fun, learn heaps, and happy exploring!
Micheal Neill
http://www.geniuscatalyst.com
Copyright © 2008 Michael Neil. All Rights Reserved

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Proofreading

On February 13, 2009   /   Design Tips   /   Leave a comment
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You’re corporate brochures looks awesome! But how does it read? As a design firm we specialize in making your marketing items look good. We don’t just stop at how they look though. To maintain your professional image it is important for your text to be clean and accurate too.
We know it’s really about how cool it looks, but some people do still read! If your budget is limited and you are writing your own copy, make sure you get another set of eyes to proof it. One of the first rules to learn is you can’t proof your own work. As independent as some of us are, there are times when another person’s insight is critical. As the writer, or designer we are often too close to the work to notice what are sometimes blatant errors others see right away.
For your next project hire an editor or have a coworker proofread for you. If you are not familiar with the shorthand proofreaders use to mark up your text be sure to take a look at the graphic below developed by Dynamic Graphics Magazine. Print it out and keep it for reference when needed. Dynamic Graphics Magazine does a great job offering tips to all levels of publishers.
proofreader

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How many client proposals do you have out there right now?

On February 13, 2009   /   Design Tips   /   Leave a comment
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Sometimes it seems like eons pass before a response comes in these days. There is a fine line between pestiness and persistence when following up with client project bids. Here are five tried-and-true techniques marketing guru, Ilise Benun, suggests to use to speed up the process:

1. Ask for a simple “yes” or “no.” Author and physician Evan Lipkis got silence from a reporter from Lady’s Home Journal after submitting an article idea. So he wrote a simple e-mail message that said, “Just give me a yes or no!” He got a 40-minute interview and a story in the magazine.
2. Put “Second Request” in the e-mail subject line. When faced with silence, Howard Stone, co-author of Too Young to Retire, sends the same e-mail message a week later with “Second Request” in the subject line.
3. Give them a deadline to respond. Some people only take action when a deadline is looming. So ask your prospects to respond by a certain date, even if that date is arbitrary.
4. Express concern. On a second or third try, express concern by saying “I hope you are all right.” This works especially well with people you know personally. It brings the interaction to a human level, reminds them that there’s a real person trying to reach them, and usually provokes a response.
5. Put them on auto-drip. Whether or not you have a deal pending, you should have an automated marketing tool in place to help keep your name in all your prospects’ minds. The three best ways to remind them of the service that you provide are with a monthly (or even quarterly) e-mail newsletter, a print newsletter, or a direct-mail postcard.

Read the full article at the link below:
http://www.creativepro.com/article/what-do-when-a-prospective-client-doesnt-respond-your-proposal

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Direct Mail

On February 13, 2009   /   Design Tips   /   Leave a comment
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When it comes to direct mail, everything from your own competition to recipients’ busy schedules can work against you. We’ve gathered great advice on increasing the response to your direct mailer.

Know the specific objectives of your mailing. What measurable results are you seeking?
When scanning a direct mail letter, almost everyone will read a headline placed above the salutation, the first paragraph, the signature, the P.S., and any underlined, bold-faced or otherwise highlighted text. But don’t overdo it, or type effects lose their punch.
Photographs make a greater impact on recipients than drawings or art and increase their recall of your message.
Make sure your main message is on the cover of your brochure or on the outside of your envelope. The majority of recipients never make it past these points and will miss your main message if it’s buried inside.
Always put captions under photos. Captions have significantly higher readership than body copy.
Keep body text no smaller than 10 or 11 point, depending on your typeface and your audience’s vision and reading ability—it will increase readership.
Testimonials are invaluable. They make your offering more believable to new prospects. Solicit testimonials through your direct mail, if possible, for future mailings.
Make the benefits to the recipient very clear. Aside from the benefits of your product or service, perhaps you can offer a money-back guarantee, a toll-free support line, a price break, a free sample or trial, favorable payment terms or a perk for acting now.
Every element of your direct mailer, from envelope to response card, should restate your offer as well as your contact information.
Creating a sense of urgency increases response. Offer a special price or prize for a quick response, or make it clear why it’s important for the recipient to help your cause now. Indicate that only a limited number of offers are available.
A reply card will increase your response, as will an 800 response number.
The best direct mail pieces are all about the recipient, not about you. This is not the place to talk about your organization’s history or brag about your product. You’re trying to elicit a response, not educate.
Experienced direct marketers have a magic cadre of words that increase response. These include: free, you, proven, safe, now, half-price, last chance, limited time only, announcing, easy, discover, guarantee, money, results, power(ful), immediately, exclusive, love, and learn.
Give a deadline, but one that allows for delays in mailing.
Work with a list broker to procure the perfect address list for your mailing. Contact the Direct Marketing Association at 212/768-7277 for a broker in your area. Lists are generally rented in lots of 1,000 names. For consumer lists, the cost is between $50 and $200. Business lists are usually more expensive.
To keep your mailing list clean, run it through the National Change of Address (NCOA) file. Call 800/707-2576 or see www.ncoa-processing.com for more information. You can also contact a non-USPS provider such as clean.list.com (800/454-0223).
What is your competition doing? Get on their mailing lists so that you can monitor their offers.
Schedule your mailings so they don’t get buried in the deluge of mail created by Christmas, Mother’s Day, and other holidays. The summer vacation season can also be a slow response period.
Hand-written notes, stickers, and other “personal touches” encourage action by conveying immediacy.
Run side-by-side tests of different variables—two different price points or two different formats, for instance—to random addresses in your mailing list to discover which pulls better. Only test one variable at a time, though, or you won’t know exactly which variable made a difference. Drop the two tests at the same time, or else timing will be introduced as another variable.
Before any direct mail piece is sent out, be sure you are ready to handle orders, payments, complaints, whatever.
Engage your recipient. Use stickers, scratch-off patches, and other devices that require the reader to complete—and therefore, spend more time with—the mailer.
Keep the math simple. Don’t make the recipient figure out special percentages for shipping, for example.

If you would like to incorporate direct mailers into your marketing package, Connection Group can help you connect with your customers. Please call or e-mail us today to discuss your options and ideas!

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Stay connected with your address book…

On February 13, 2009   /   Design Tips   /   Leave a comment
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All businesses can stand for some improvement. Sometimes we are too close to realize what could work better, or maybe we have a feeling but need the data to support our concerns.
Have you ever surveyed your email list? There are so many things you can learn from surveying your customers and prospects. From learning customer preference of your office hours to the services and products you offer you can learn what you are doing right as a company and where you can improve. With permission based email lists you may even have customers who have requested information on a specific area of your business. A quick survey to them can provide valuable feedback on how their questions were answered and what the results of their inquiry provided to them. Did they choose your product or service or did they choose your competitor and why?
Another popular use of email surveys is rating customer satisfaction after services have been provided. I love these surveys – even if I wasn’t happy with the delivery person or the time it took to complete the request, etc. I am more forgiving when I know the company is interested in my opinion and has taken the time to ask. Okay, so maybe some customers don’t use the feedback to improve – but your company will!
Seriously, when you survey your customers embrace their feedback! Make notes of the answers and view them as an opportunity to make direct changes that will improve customer satisfaction and therefore your bottom line. We recently composed a survey for a non-profit membership organization and we were amazed with the response we received. The results showed the Board of Directors a reinvention of the organizations’ program structure was necessary to keep membership interested and receiving value. The email survey campaign tracked responses and offered a pdf of the results to review. We composed direct questions to the members in this regard which helped us get clear answers to our most important questions. The results helped us target what needed addressed first.
For more information of the value of surveys read this excellent article on good reasons to survey your list.
(http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3620046&utm_source=MailChimp&utm_medium=ResourceCenter)
Author Jeanne Jennings mentions surveymonkey.com as her email survey source of choice in the article. Connection Group has had good success with email surveys with surveymonkey.com also. There are other valid email survey companies out there too, just be sure they are not going to spam your list after you use them to produce a customer survey! If you have any questions or need help composing your questions, please contact us. We are here to help!

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How well can you detect email and website fraud?

On February 13, 2009   /   Design Tips   /   Leave a comment
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This is a quiz to test if you can accurately detect a fraudulent Web site or email. There are many fake login sites and emails with a virus disguised as an important message. This quiz is designed with examples of fake sites and real ones to show you what to look for and keep you from falling victim to scams. Unfortunately, there are new online scams created everyday, prepare yourself as best you can and pick up some of these tricks currently in practice.
Following are a couple of terms and definitions to familiarize yourself with:
Phishing
In computing, phishing is an attempt to criminally and fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. An example of a phishing e-mail, one that’s disguised as an official e-mail from a fictional bank asking you to join or more often pretending to be from a real bank and asking for your information. The sender is attempting to trick the recipient into revealing their secure information by “confirming” it at the phisher’s Web site. The Web sites themselves are often very elaborate and real looking. PayPal, eBay and online banks are common targets.
Spam
Spamming is the abuse of electronic messaging systems used to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages. While the most widely recognized form of spam is e-mail spam, the term is applied to similar abuses in other media: instant messaging spam, Usenet newsgroup spam, Web search engine spam, spam in blogs, wiki spam, mobile phone messaging spam, Internet forum spam and junk fax transmissions. Spam messages are often related to a scam and will most likely not be a free trip to Vegas or a million dollar check wired to your bank account from Prince MakeBelieve or whatever other great things are promised.

Quiz is currently down at the moment while we remodel the website – please check back soon!

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Cover Your Bases!

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From simple customer contact information to multi layered applications for reporting each aspect of a business, company databases come in all shapes and sizes. What size fits you? We’ve outlined some questions to get you on the right track….
Do You Know Where Your Database Is?
Depending on their size and specific industry, most businesses have some form of database in place. Many corporate Web sites are built with content management systems (CMS) that pull information from a database to automate updates, track inventory, document purchases, and ease in updates, etc. These databases can range from simple customer contact information to more complex multi layered applications that have been built to provide reports on each and every aspect of your business or organization.
The implementation of a database often begins with one employee using a desktop software such as Microsoft Access to create a database that will ease their work load. Soon others in the organization start using it and adding to it and before you know it a monster is created. The challenge with this approach is the organization is now reliant on a monster that is out of control and never had any planning or forethought.
Why Not Cover Your Bases?
If your needs are simple to begin with and you have a knowledgeable employee on staff a minimal investment in software can get you on the right track. If your needs are more complex and you need to outsource the work – do your research. Prices vary considerably depending on your needs and the type of database you seek.
Thinking through what you want your database to do is critical in the start up stage. Consider your existing needs, future plans and your expected growth and build a system that can answer your needs before you know how to ask. Do be careful not to go too crazy and add fields that you will never use and nobody is even aware of the function. A complex database that never works quite right and nobody understands is just wasteful and expensive. Create a list of “must have” features and then look at what else you can get for your time and money.
Who Holds The Controls?
When working with an outside vendor, explain your needs clearly and ask questions. Will it be a stand alone database used internally only or does it need to be attached to a Web site backend? Can it be hosted on your in-house server or does it need to live on the developers server? Most importantly, who owns it? If the developer owns the rights and you encounter challenges working with them in the future will you lose your information and your investment? What costs are involved in maintaining the database? Are you locked into a monthly hosting fee and maintenance fee? What is included in this charge? If this approach is not comfortable with you, look for a company who will release all rights and build one that allows you to move it where you choose and doesn’t restrict you to their hosting. There may be more costs up front but the peace of mind and long term savings may prove to be valuable. Also be sure to inquire about ease in regular updates. Will your employees have complete access for inputting changes and updates or do you always have to pay for the provider to make changes?
Once the database is in place keep your investment safe and clean by limiting the number of staff trained to make changes and oversee it. Part of the job of a good developer is to provide clear instruction of use and functionality of all elements. Since people come and go frequently it is important to have documentation developed on how the system works so others can be trained quickly and easily.
How Do You Choose?
Many companies are choosing to go with Web base databases instead of software programs. You will need to weight your options. Some commercial software is pretty powerful and when built correctly it can provide strong functionality, scalability, security and flexibility for years with minimum effort and expense. Considerations of using commercial software is what happens when the software program gets updated and you need to migrate your information to the new version? Will everything be compatible and what sort of time and cost are involved from your provider in the update? Databases built using SQL, or customized data mangement systems, may better serve your needs, now and into the future and allow more targeted features.
When Will I Feel Secure?
There are so many industry specific elements needed to create a comprehensive database to serve your organization needs we can not begin to touch on them all here. Check with your professional associations and similar businesses to get valuable advice on where to begin and what to include. Also, please remember to have a back up system in place for your database! If you are hosting it on an internal server, an individual desktop station or if your developer will be hosting your information, make sure all steps have been taken to secure and protect your irreplaceable data!

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