Marketing tip for the New Year from Creative Alliance Design in Lake Zurich

Here's an easy tip to get you started out right for the New Year.  Send out a direct mailing thanking your customers for their patronage in 2011 and sharing what you hope to bring them in 2012. Make sure you’re top of mind as the New Year hits.

For more marketing ideas, visit us at www.creativealliancedesign.com

Thanks!

Business goals for 2012

"If you don't change the path you're travelling, you'll end up where you're going."


Simply put, if you don't change how you do things, then your results won't change either.
So, if your business isn't profitable, then you're probably headed down the wrong path.


If you want 2012 to be different than 2011, than you need to make a change.


I would love for you to look back at this time next year, and think about how you were able to:
increase your sales, get and keep quality customers, and improve your marketing plan.
In 2012, focus on your own thriving business, and forget about the competition.



Happy New Year from Creative Alliance Graphic Design in Lake Zurich, Illinois!


www.creativealliancedesign.com

shameless self promotion

She slices. She dices. She changes colors like a chameleon. She's the New Ginsu, Graphics Production Swiss Army Knife (Tweezers and toothpick not included.).
Rush out and get one NOW!!! Makes a great gift. But wait! If you order now, we'll also include these two mini pairing knives, great for carving up the competition during the bidding process. Don't be fooled by cheap imitations, there can be only one. Get yours Today! 


www.creativealliancedesign.com


MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

you tube is great for your seo

Manta suggests that people have the tendency to watch videos over reading text, so you might consider using YouTube to promote your business. It can give people a stronger sense of your business and can set you up as an expert in your field. And that means more sales. This approach is especially effective in reaching out to young audiences.
What they fail to mention is that YouTube's keywords are ranked really high with Google.  Many times YouTube videos get better Google page 1 rankings than the 'organic' website.  If you haven't posted a video for your business to YouTube, you're missing out!


www.creativealliancedesign.com can help you with your marketing and setting up a YouTube video for you.  Contact us for more information.

holiday cards

Still time for personalized holiday cards...but act fast!  I have lots of templates to choose from if you are in need.
Photo cards, uniquely shaped cards, flat cards, folded cards, I have designs ready to go for them all!  Message me if you are interested in a personalized Christmas card, Hanukah card or New Year card - which is a great way to go if you are short on time.   We've sent out personalized New Year cards instead of the traditional holiday card many times!
www.creativealliancedesign.com

Creative Alliance Graphic Design joins forces with Red Barn Videos

Welcome Rudy Viereckl with Red Barn Videos in Batavia to our list of happy customers.  Rudy is starting a videography business and is offering to video up to 3 FREE weddings!  If you want to see if you can get on Rudy's FREE list, email him at Rudy Viereckl <rudyv@redbarnvideos.com>.

I'm happy to be working with Rudy on his new venture and creating a stellar website for him, due up Jan. 1!

To see more of the Creative Alliance portfolio, please visit www.creativealliancedesign.com  or email me for more information at julie@creativealliancedesign.com

We are located in Lake Zurich and design websites, all advertising and marketing materials and the ever popular CUSTOM QR CODES!!!

Thanks for reading.

Julie

make sure your website is your homepage

If you are a small business owner, please make sure that your website is your browser's homepage.  Today someone hacked the Norm's Carpet Cleaning site.  Really?  Someone has waaayyyy too much time on their hands if they are hacking sites of small businesses.  Shame on you!  He was so proud of his hacking he plastered his name all over the site.  Nice.  And then completed the hacking with a few choice obscenities.  Best of all, it was a CUSTOMER who notified Norms of the hacking. EEK.  If you have your site as your homepage, then at least you are checking in with it daily and can see if there's a problem before your customer does!

Small Business Saturday - Shop with Creative Alliance in Lake Zurich

Today is Small Business Saturday! Give your local economy a holiday boost by shopping at a small business today.   If you need any photo keepsakes (personalized albums, brag books, photo boxes...) or holiday cards, order today for 15% off.

Take a look at what I have to offer!  Message me or visit my website:
www.creativealliancedesign.com

Happy Shopping!

thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all my peeps.  Count your blessings and pay them forward!

Use of QR Codes Grew 1,200% - get yours from Creative Alliance Graphic Design

Which age group scans QR Codes most frequently?Although people across all different age groups are using QR Codes, people ages 35-44 are scanning QR Codes the most.


Does gender influence who scans QR Codes?  A Mobio study shows that 64% of QR Codes were scanned by females-wow!

Why are people scanning QR Codes?  87% of people are scanning QR Codes to get additional product information.  However, the newest trend is to use QR Codes to make payments. Right now, only about 5% of QR Codes scans are for making a payment; however, mobile payment grew 118% in the last quarter of 2010.  Last year, Starbucks launched mobile payment as an experiment, but it's now accepting it at all retail locations in the US.

Which smartphone platform scans more QR Codes?  68%iPhone compared to 26% Android


Growth? Perhaps the most impressive statistic is that both studies show a 1,200% growth in the scanning of QR Codes over just the last 6 months of 2010.

By the way, if you'd like more details about either study, here are links to both the Mobio Identity Systems study, or an Infographic that summarizes the JumpScan findings.

If this short post has convinced you of the value of including QR Codes in your marketing, but you don't know where to start, then you need to contact Creative Alliance Graphic Design in Lake Zurich. www.creativealliancedesign.com

QR Codes are a must and custom one shows you are ahead of the trend.  Get one today before you lose out on even more business!

julie@creativealliancedesign.com

Thanks for reading!

Service Source Power Wash QR Code

This blog post is a shout out for Service Source Power Wash in Lake Zurich, Illinois.  I recently created a custom QR code for this wonderful small business.  

You probably arrived at this blog post from scanning a Custom QR Code for Service Source Power Wash!  Thank you for scanning their code and here's a special gift.

20% YOUR NEXT SERVICE!

Call Russ Smith, owner and operator at 888.pro-job1 to schedule your cleaning service.

Service Source Power Wash is located in Lake Zurich, Illinois and has been satisfying both commercial and residential customers since the '90s.

Creative Alliance can create your custom QR code too.  Contact us for the details.  www.creativealliancedesign.com

Photographer templates for the holidays by Creative Alliance graphic design

Attention all photographers!  If you are looking for exclusive templates for holiday cards to offer your clients, then look no further!  Please don't use the templates offered at your preferred photo lab, or on Etsy, as most other photographers will be doing the same.  You want your work to stand out and be different.  No one wants to get the same Christmas card from 10 people (like I did last year!).  Contact Creative Alliance for templates designed just for YOU!  Your templates will be exactly that ... YOURS!  I will not sell them to anyone else, nor on my Etsy shop, so you can be assured that your cards are unique to you and no one else.  Enjoy this busy season by doing what you do best - photos, and let me handle the design.  Your clients will be impressed with your quick turnaround and the beautiful keepsake card they get to show off to all their friends and family.  www.creativealliancedesign.com

SEO Tip by Creative Alliance Design in Lake Zurich

Here's a little SEO tip for your webpage. It is essential that you are using the right keywords!
Use Google's free keyword research tool to see what people are actually searching for online when they think about your product or service. Try generic one- or two-word phrases as seed keywords in the tool and then let it tell you what people are thinking.
I certainly was surprised to find out that NO ONE searches "graphic designer lake zurich"! 
Which brings me to my next thought...if you needed a graphic designer, what would you search on Google?


Well, if you are reading this, I hope you found this helpful...And if you need some website help, I can start from scratch or just give your site a facelift.  I also create all sorts of marketing; logos, brochures, custom QR Codes, postcard mailings and a whole slew of business card ideas that I'm sure you've never seen before.  Check it out at  www.creativealliancedesign.com

referenceUSA

I just discovered Reference USA and what an awesome resource it is!  If you need a list for a mailing, this is the place to get it.  You can access ReferenceUSA through your local library's online department.  Another great reason to support your local library!  To find out more please visit www.creativealliancedesign.com

Thanks for reading!

keep up with the trends!

More than 50% of online searches will be done from mobile devices in 2012, Google says. That means it's more important than ever to be found where customers are looking. If your site--or at a minimum, your home page--is not optimized for mobile, get it done. Also get listed on other sites that are optimized for mobile (like Manta).  This is also where QR Codes come in handy. Scan the code, have it go directly to your site, or a coupon with a link to your site.  FOr more ideas, see my website at www.creativealliancedesign.com

Custom QR codes

I am QRazy for QR codes!  Don't put an ugly black code on your beautiful marketing piece.  Let me customize your code with your logo and company's colors.  Check out my website for some uber cool codes that are sure to get you some scans!   www.creativealliancedesign.com

Aren't you QRious?

I'm adding to my list of cool graphic design tricks the art of hacking QR codes! Hacking has a really bad connotation, however, this 'hacking' is fabulous for your business. Not only can I supply you with a QR code, which is an excellent marketing tool, but I can add your logo and company's colors to the code. There's not too many other designers out there doing this, so get yours now and be the coolest business on the block. Your competitors will be so jealous!  To see more totally custom QR codes that I've done for businesses, please visit my website at www.creativealliancedesign.com


Thanks for stopping by!

Marketing Tip #3

Use buddy marketing to promote your business.
For example, if you send out brochures, you could include a leaflet and/or business card of another business, which had agreed to do the same for you. This gives you the chance to reach a whole new pool of potential customers.


For more great tips, visit my website at www.creativealliancedesign.com

marketing on a small budget

Here's tip #2 as promised.  A few days late...dealing with sick kids at home is no fun!


No single marketing effort works all the time for every business, so rotate several marketing tactics and vary your approach.
Your customers tune out after awhile if you toot only one note. Not only that, YOU get bored. Marketing can be fun, so take advantage of the thousands of opportunities available for communicating your value to customers. But don't be arbitrary about your selection of a variety of marketing ploys. Plan carefully. Get feedback from customers and adapt your efforts accordingly.


For more information on how to market your business on a small budget, visit my other blog at www.creativealliancedesign.com

Marketing tips for a tight budget

For the next 10 days I'll be posting a tip a day for small business marketing on a shoe string budget.  Here's tip #1.  For a sneak peak of what is to come check out my other blog at www.creativealliancedesign.com

1. Print your best small ad on a postcard and mail it to prospects in your targeted market.
   People read postcards when the message is brief. A small ad on a postcard can drive a high volume of traffic to your web site and generate a flood of sales leads for a very small cost.

what a QR code can do for your business

Place your QR code on any and every marketing material you have-- your business card, coupons, print ads, or even other websites. You can even put it on the side of your work truck. No matter where you add your QR code, keep in mind that adopting new technology like this is yet another way to promote your business.  QR codes are a sure fire way to drive more people to your website, blog, sale, coupon, etc...and a sure fire way to get more customers.  Visit www.creativealliancedesign.com for more savvy marketing ideas.

QR Codes

We all know that one of the keys to great SEO is making sure you keep your website updated, new and fresh. Whether you do this with a blog, or you change your homepage with new offers, coupons or new products, it serves to show Google that your site is “alive.” For many small businesses in particular, this is a real challenge.

So you already have great, fresh content on your site—what’s next? Do you know what is coming that may benefit your small business?

Have you heard of QR codes yet? They are the wave of the future and if you don't have one, you need one! Contact us for more info at www.creativealliancedesign.com

colors, business, logos and more by creative alliance design

What is your favorite color?  Does your house have a certain color that just keeps popping up?  Seem to buy the same color clothing?  See if this theory on colors is right on or way off base.
http://blog.paper-source.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/new_paper_source_colorscope.pdf

For more information on colors and how they relate to your business and your logo, stop by my website at www.creativealliancedesign.com

color theory - do your company's colors reflect what you want it to?

What are your your company's colors?  Is it time for a change?  Most colors carry emotional and psychological implications.
Red -  hot, passionate, and urgent
Blue -  cool, melancholy, and quality
Green  - nature, health, cheerfulness, liveliness, and friendliness
Purple  - royalty and intelligence
Yellow  - warm, cowardice, and caution

Creative Alliance design in Lake Zurich can help you with your logo and marketing materials so that your image reflects appropriately upon your business.  In advertising, image is everything!  Make sure your colors and message are powerful so you can draw in more customers.

Visit www.creativealliancedesign.com for more advertising tips and ideas.

advertising tips

Interesting. When used in advertising, the following words produce higher response rates:
You
Your
Now
Discover
This
These
Amazing

And, asking a question with the word 'you' in it is one of the best ever advertising techniques.  


For more interesting ideas and tip for your advertising, check out my website at www.creativealliancedesign.com

Welcome to Creative Alliance Design!

Well, we've joined the masses and started blogging.  We hope you enjoy following our blog.  As graphic designers, we will be updating it with recent projects, blogging about ideas, projects, cool stuff, etc.    


Here's a little bit about who we are.  Creative Alliance does graphic design, marketing and advertising.  

Whether your wish list includes a website, logo, brochure, invitation or complete overhaul of your marketing materials, Creative Alliance will help you with all your advertising needs. 

From concept to print, from idea to design, from words to webpage, Creative Alliance will create a professional and unique design for you. With experience that goes well beyond just placing images on a page, we are your one-stop shop for all your advertising and marketing needs. We can do anything from creating or revamping your entire corporate image to helping you create cute announcements for that bundle of joy that just entered the world.  

So no matter what the job, you'll get our utmost attention and creative, unique designs that are made just for you. 

Please make sure you check out our website at www.creativealliancedesign.com and navigate through it to see all that we have to offer.  We are located in the Lake Zurich area outside of Chicago, but do business across the US.  Contact us to discuss your needs and get a free quote.

Expect something different when you use Creative Alliance!

Thanks for visiting Creative Alliance Graphic Design in Lake Zurich!  

Logo Design by Creative Alliance Design in Lake Zurich

Check out some of my favorite logos I've recently designed for small to mid-size businesses.  I've put my favorites on the video on my home page at www.creativealliancedesign.com

Baby Brag Books

back cover

inside front

inside back and the album covers

inside front

front cover

inside back and the album covers

inside front

front cover

inside back and the album covers

back cover

I am now offering these adorable brag books to show off the little treasures in your life.  These small 3x3 accordion style books slip right into your purse to show off to all your friends.  Great for the coffee table too!  Give as gifts to grandma and grandpa, or keep them all to yourself ... they are so cute, you may just have to!  These happen to girlie templates, but I also have boy ones that I will post later.  To order, just message me and I’ll give you all the details.  I also have these for sale at my Etsy Store-Creative Alliance Design.  The average price is $18 per book with a 2 book (same book) minimum order.

If you are a photographer and are interested in purchasing these as templates for use in your studio, just send me a message.

Check out more at www.creativealliancedesign.com