Have you ever watched one of those home makeover shows? You know the scenario. The homeowners have decorated or remodeled their house all by themselves. After awhile, they realize that what they did is unprofessional, it doesn't work, it's not what they want, it's not what they need, it's ugly, or they just flat out despise it. So, they hire an expert designer to help.
After meeting with the family to find out their wants, needs, desires and dreams, the expert takes that information and goes to work, completely making over the house.
The final results are amazing. The differences are like night and day. The homeowners are surprised and utterly astonished. Some laugh and some even cry, because right in front of their eyes, they see what they never imagined possible. It's what they want, it's what they need, it's what they were trying to do themselves, but simply couldn't.
What does all of this have to do with graphic design and marketing?
Unfortunately, most small business owners, like the homeowners, do all their own graphic design and marketing themselves. They design the logo for their small business...themselves. They design the stationery for their small business...themselves. They write and design the brochure for their small business...themselves. They design and build the web site for their small business...themselves. Typically, they do ALL of the graphic design and marketing for their small business...you guessed it...themselves.
It's unfortunate. Because the results of doing all of this...themselves...is similar to those experienced by the homeowners in the makeover shows. The graphic design and marketing materials they have created look unprofessional, they don't work, they don't get results, they look homemade and they aren't functional. Simply put, they're amateurish.
Sound familiar?
What should you do? Let's reconsider the home makeover shows, and determine what the homeowners did right. You can learn something from the homeowners and apply this to your small business.
First. They realize that what they have done themselves, simply isn't working. They're frustrated that what they have done does not work anymore. They know that they need a change.
Second. They realize that they are not the experts in this particular area. They know that they need expert designer help to fix what they have done to make it functional, appealing and successful.
Third. They meet with the expert designer to discuss their wants, needs and desires. They express exactly what they want to accomplish. They also admit that what they have tried to do...themselves...doesn't work.
Fourth. They let the expert get to work. They trust that they will get the results they want and desire. They know the finished product will far exceed what they could have ever done themselves.
Fifth. They get to see and experience the finished result, which is a beautiful, functional, valuable, contemporary, awesome solution that works and gives them the results they wanted to accomplish in the first place.
When it comes to creating and executing the graphic design and marketing materials for your small business, the same results can and will happen for you. But, you have to hire an expert to give your business an extreme makeover.
When the expert is done, the graphic design and marketing materials for your small business will be attractive, professional, beautiful, successful, what you want, what you need and it will accomplish the goals you are trying to achieve.
There is only one catch: you have to stop doing everything yourself.
If you are doing or have done all of the graphic design and marketing materials for your small business...all by yourself...it's time to call in an expert.
Like the homeowners, chances are you'll be surprised and completely amazed. Right in front of your eyes, you will see results that you always wanted, but could not achieve yourself.
Jeanna Pool is President of CATALYST creative, inc., located in Denver, Colorado. She helps small business owners who are really good at what they do, but struggle to market their services effectively to attract more clients on a consistent basis. She can be contacted at http://www.catalystcreativeinc.com or 303.380.9100.
Maternity Clothes For The Plus Size Woman
Being pregnant is one of the most joyous and happy times in a woman's life, although having to buy plus size maternity clothes is certainly something no woman really looks forward to. Having to buy plus sized clothes is bad enough, but plus sized clothes with room for a huge belly? Forget about it, right? Luckily, there are some fabulous plus size maternity clothes out there that are fashionable and can make you look great, no matter how plus sized or pregnant you may happen to be. Who said big girls can't look great in their clothes? Plus sized maternity fashions just got that much cooler!
Plus Size Maternity Clothes Now Easier To Find
It used to be a challenge to be a pregnant plus-size woman. Fortunately both local stores and online shops now stock plus size maternity clothes. If you look carefully you also should be able to find good sales on maternity clothes that will help you maintain a budget. Keep in mind that, after all, these are only temporary clothes.
Branding Article: Pepsis Missed Brand Opportunity
I love Pepsi. It's that slightly sweeter taste and the all-American logo combined with the non-conformist statement that, well, it's not Coke.
Belly Dance Maternity Clothes Boutique to Offer Brand Exclusives
Belly Dance Maternity clothing will be expanding its designer boutique collection to include maternity designers such as Olian, Maternal America, Japanese Weekend and ChiaraKruza.
Munro's Safety Clothing Adds Two New Wrangler® Jeans To Their Line of Fire Resistant Clothing
Munro's Safety Apparel, one of the nation's leading providers of safety clothing for the workplace, is very excited to announce the addition of two new products to their line of clothing. Munro's has added Wrangler® FR Cowboy Cut® Original Fit Jeans and Wrangler® FR Cowboy Cut® Relaxed Fit Jeans so that people on the job who prefer the fit and comfort of Wrangler® jeans can enjoy the exact same Wrangler® fit and style that they prefer with the added safety and benefit of flame resistance.
Fashionable Designer Lingerie and Branded Lingerie
Beauty of a woman is a matchless attribute; with nothing to surpass it. So long a time there have been the existence of women in this world, there have been lingerie's as well. This fashion serving luxury undergarment expresses her beauty loving feminine personality, apart from the basic need of supporting her physique. Though the word 'lingerie' normally describes both male and female undergarments, the term is commonly used to refer woman's intimate wear. Lingerie is a broad term and includes garments like bras, panties, stockings, thongs, garters, peignoirs, sheer night gowns, and exotic night wears
Maternity Jeans - What You Should Know
Pregnant moms who become plus sized, love maternity jeans, as they do not want to miss out on the comfort of denim, while their abdomen is expanding for the developing baby. You will find that till about the fourth month or the second trimester, regular plus size jeans can be worn.
Plus Size Maternity Clothing: Better Selection On Internet
Pregnant women range in size from petite to extra large. A lot of women require plus size clothes as well as plus size maternity clothes. These can be difficult to find compared to maternity clothing for normal size women. Also, these special size clothes can be expensive. However, it is possible to purchase maternity clothes that are reasonably priced.
Maternity Clothing - What Every Woman Needs To Know About Maternity Clothes
Let's face it: maternity clothing is ugly and expensive. Since most women don't need to wear maternity clothes until the second trimester, at most you'll only be getting six months of use out of those ugly $200 overalls to cover your ever expanding stomach. I couldn't bring myself to spend thousands of dollars on a new wardrobe when I already felt so ugly, so I resorted to making my own for as long as possible. For example, I really didn't want to buy old lady underwear that would cover me from my belly button to the tops of my thighs. They were hot and uncomfortable anyway, but there aren't many sexy maternity panties around.
Great Top Picks For Nursing Clothes And Maternity Clothes
Many first time moms often think that once they have their baby they can just slip back into their pre-pregnancy wardrobe after a week or two Not so