-Shannon A Engler
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Business that have recommended Shannon Engler
Thank you, to all the businesses over the years that have taken the time to write a written recommendation for me. I sincerely appreciate your kind words.
-Shannon A Engler
-Shannon A Engler
Saturday, May 5, 2018
What times are the best time to post on social media sites?
So when is a good time to post on your social media sites? You can Google Images "best time to post on social media", and you will have many suggestions that pop up giving you suggestions for each app / platform. Over the years, watching people and my own experience I found 4 key times that I like to post for B2B type businesses. The first time is around 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. I post at this time because there are many people especially younger generations that use their phone as an alarm clock. As they're waking up often times they are checking their social media sites, primarily Facebook. I would like my pages to be the first thing they see in the morning. The second time I like to post is around 11:30 am. I like to post at this time because when I am out to lunch or see people on their lunch break oftentimes I see them on their phone, checking social media. Another time that I like to post is around 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. I post this time because that is when a lot of people get off work, and you guessed it they are checking the social media sites on the way to their vehicles or shortly after they get home. The last time I like to make sure that I have a post going out on social media is Sunday afternoon, between 11:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. . I was once told, that is when the most people are on Facebook. It is always good to look at your post Analytics and see when you're posting, what days of the week are getting the most views and interactions. Also what are you posting that is getting the most likes and interactions. You may find that your industry would be better posted at different times. For an example a bar or a bail bonds company may find that it's better to post in the late-night or wee hours of the morning. So pay attention to your target audience and try to put yourself in their shoes. Be creative with what you post and have fun with it, posted several different times and see what works best for your company. What works for one company is not always going to work for another business type. The best research is your own research.
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Logo Creation & Logo Design
In this article I will go over a few things to think about and give you some other options and companies you could refer to for logo design.
I recommend that you read my post on fonts and logos on signs and vehicles, so you have some incite on how your logo will function before you create your logo:
http://shannonsheknowsmarketing.blogspot.com/2017/03/fonts-colors-for-signage-vehicle.html
Some things you may want to walk yourself through before you start working on a logo:
What are your competitors doing to market their
business? Are you doing it better? Or can you improve?
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Companies that can help with logo creation or updating your logo:
If you like a more hands on approach, these websites may be for you. Be sure when you are working with any artist that you get the kind of package that offers you a vector file: .ai or .eps, a tiff that has a transparent background, it is great for websites; and a jpeg that you can use on your invoices and social media. The vector files will not open on your computer but when ordering products, will be exactly what the artist will be looking for.
No matter who creates your logo, if you buy a logo package, be sure you know exactly what comes with your package up front. The best packages would include:
I recommend that you read my post on fonts and logos on signs and vehicles, so you have some incite on how your logo will function before you create your logo:
http://shannonsheknowsmarketing.blogspot.com/2017/03/fonts-colors-for-signage-vehicle.html
Some things you may want to walk yourself through before you start working on a logo:
Business Name: _________________________________
Services/Products: (Your business offers)_____________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Services/Products: (Your business offers)_____________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
List current things you are doing to market your business or you plan to do this year: Anything you would put your logo on. (Star items you plan to do.)
___Business Cards_______ ____Vehicle Graphics____
___Sign on Building______ ___Window Graphics____
_Social Media: FB, LI, ____ __Networking/Chamber__
__Brochures/Rack Cards__ ______________________
______________________ ______________________
______________________ ______________________
______________________ ______________________
- Some things to think about:
How will your logo function on your marketing materials? For example if you choose a round logo, how much space will you have on vehicles or a sign that may be long instead of square. I usually tell people if you have a round or oval logo; or a full color vs black and white logo. Consider having two versions of your logo that you brand equally. Maybe it's a one color vs full color or a round vs rectangle. What size will your letters be? They say a 4" letter can be seen from about 100 ft away, what is your viewing distance? Will your letters be big enough for people to read your signs, banners, vehicle graphics and other branding pieces?
___Business Cards_______ ____Vehicle Graphics____
___Sign on Building______ ___Window Graphics____
_Social Media: FB, LI, ____ __Networking/Chamber__
__Brochures/Rack Cards__ ______________________
______________________ ______________________
______________________ ______________________
______________________ ______________________
- Some things to think about:
How will your logo function on your marketing materials? For example if you choose a round logo, how much space will you have on vehicles or a sign that may be long instead of square. I usually tell people if you have a round or oval logo; or a full color vs black and white logo. Consider having two versions of your logo that you brand equally. Maybe it's a one color vs full color or a round vs rectangle. What size will your letters be? They say a 4" letter can be seen from about 100 ft away, what is your viewing distance? Will your letters be big enough for people to read your signs, banners, vehicle graphics and other branding pieces?
What are your competitors doing to market their
business? Are you doing it better? Or can you improve?
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Do your current marketing materials have a consistent brand/look that you use on everything? ___yes ____ no
What is your company colors? _____________________
______________________________________________
What fonts do you like? ___________________________
What is your company colors? _____________________
______________________________________________
What fonts do you like? ___________________________
Do you have a logo? _____ yes ______ no ____ I want one
_____ I want to update mine. How: __________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_____ I want to update mine. How: __________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Do you ask for referrals? ____- yes ____ no
Do you ask how people heard about you? ___ yes ____no
Could you use more business? ____ yes ____ no
What will you do different this year to increase your sales? _______________________________________________
What can you stop wasting time on, that is not increasing your sales? ______________________________________
_______________________________________________
Do you ask how people heard about you? ___ yes ____no
Could you use more business? ____ yes ____ no
What will you do different this year to increase your sales? _______________________________________________
What can you stop wasting time on, that is not increasing your sales? ______________________________________
_______________________________________________
Companies that can help with logo creation or updating your logo:
Miles Kramer with Leonis Creative 785.220.9796 miles.kramer
No matter who creates your logo, if you buy a logo package, be sure you know exactly what comes with your package up front. The best packages would include:
- Vector File: .ai or .eps (remember you won't be able to open, but it will save you from having to pay another company from recreating it. This is used for large format jobs like signs and vehicle wraps especially. However could also be needed for things like screen printed t-shirts or pens.
- Tiff: Has Transparent background, great for websites or flyers you make yourself in programs like word document or publisher.
- Jpeg
- Branding Guide Sheet:
-Should include your logo in black and white vs color
-Colors Listed in CMYK & PMS (Pantone Matching System) and sometimes will include the RGB Colors for Websites and TV color pallet.
- Font Names Used in Logo
- Any spacing guidlines or rules you prefer with your logo
- May have other specifications or important notes listed as well.
- All rights for your logo signed over to your company.
https://logojoy.com/ - This one is my personal favorite. You will want the Premium Package at the very least, it runs $65. They have a bigger package for $299 you can choose as well.
https://www.designmantic.com/logo-design - Not sure on cost, but they do offer a DIY option so you can add your own personal flare to the logos you put together with their templates.
https://99designs.com - This site allows you to start a logo contest and then designers will design logos for your to look at and choose from. Prices range from $299-$1,299. I have friends and clients that have used this, and they liked the process. I myself have never used this site.
I hope this article has been helpful for you. Feel free to contact me if you should have any questions.
Shannon A Engler
785-383-8139
ShannonAEnglish@gmail.com
785-383-8139
ShannonAEnglish@gmail.com
Monday, December 18, 2017
Google My Business Ap you must have!
https://www.google.com/business
Click on the link above to get started. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Friday, March 31, 2017
Fonts & Colors for Signage & Vehicle Graphics
Have you ever looked for fonts to use on your projects? If you have then you are probably aware of the thousands of fonts available to use. Some fonts are better to use for signs and moving billboards aka your vehicle graphics than others. Some things to keep in mind when you are thinking of fonts and designs for your signs and logos.
Viewing distance is very important. Your logo is most likely going to be used on a sign at some point, and most signs are rectangle shape. It would be good to know what the letter size would need to be for people to be able to read it. This is the general size chart we go by:
100 ft ---------- 4" Tall Letters
250 ft ---------- 10"
350 ft ---------- 16" - This roughly a City Block
500 ft ---------- 22"
750 ft ---------- 33"
1000 ft -------- 43"
1320 ft -------- 57" - 1/4 Mile
When thinking of your signs, rather they be on the front of your building, a free standing sign, yard sign, vehicle graphics or magnets... size does matter. I once saw a 18" w x 12" vehicle magnet that looked like it had a paragraph on it. You could not read it very well, and after a few seconds of looking at it, people loose interest. Make sure your message is short, sweet and to the point. Grab their attention with graphics and make sure in those few seconds they see it they know who you are and what you do. Chances are they will google you to get your contact information when they need you. (So make sure they can find you when they search for you, that is a whole other topic, we can chat about a different day.)
So now that we talked about size and visibility, lets talk about the fonts themselves. It is always a good idea to have an idea for what styles you do like and what styles you do not like. Fonts that have serifs, like Times or Georgia, are called serif type, these are considered to be more of a classic font. Fonts that do not have serifs, like Arial or Helvedica, are called san-serif fonts. These fonts are considered to be more modern font types. Although both types, depending on the actual font, can be easily read. Knowing what you like and don't like will help your artist cut to the chase and be able to give you art proofs that are closer to your style. I suggest you browse through your fonts on your computer or through websites like http://www.dafont.com/, that offer thousands of free fonts and fonts you can purchase. Print these fonts out and see how easily they can be read when you look at your page from a distance, or when you are walking by it trying to read it at the same time. This is a way to see how these fonts will read on your signs and vehicles. When working with a trusted marketing professional or sign company, don't hesitate to ask them how easily things can be read on your marketing materials.
Colors can also effect how easily things can be read. Having a contrasting background color and text or logo color is very important. See some examples below that show some color combination effects:
An outline or drop shadow can help make letters stand out when there is not enough contrast between the letter color and background color. However, be careful, sometimes an outline can make a design to busy, which makes it harder to read. This is especially true for moving vehicles or glass window lettering. It is a good idea to have an artist proof the artwork with and without an outline so you can see it. Print your art proof out and put it on a wall, then stand back or walk by it and see how easy it is to read. The last thing you want to do is have a sign or marketing piece made that is not effective.
I hope this article has been helpful for you.
Shannon A Engler
Branding Warrior at LBM Solutios
785-233-1102
Shannon@Logan1972.com
Viewing distance is very important. Your logo is most likely going to be used on a sign at some point, and most signs are rectangle shape. It would be good to know what the letter size would need to be for people to be able to read it. This is the general size chart we go by:
100 ft ---------- 4" Tall Letters
250 ft ---------- 10"
350 ft ---------- 16" - This roughly a City Block
500 ft ---------- 22"
750 ft ---------- 33"
1000 ft -------- 43"
1320 ft -------- 57" - 1/4 Mile
When thinking of your signs, rather they be on the front of your building, a free standing sign, yard sign, vehicle graphics or magnets... size does matter. I once saw a 18" w x 12" vehicle magnet that looked like it had a paragraph on it. You could not read it very well, and after a few seconds of looking at it, people loose interest. Make sure your message is short, sweet and to the point. Grab their attention with graphics and make sure in those few seconds they see it they know who you are and what you do. Chances are they will google you to get your contact information when they need you. (So make sure they can find you when they search for you, that is a whole other topic, we can chat about a different day.)
So now that we talked about size and visibility, lets talk about the fonts themselves. It is always a good idea to have an idea for what styles you do like and what styles you do not like. Fonts that have serifs, like Times or Georgia, are called serif type, these are considered to be more of a classic font. Fonts that do not have serifs, like Arial or Helvedica, are called san-serif fonts. These fonts are considered to be more modern font types. Although both types, depending on the actual font, can be easily read. Knowing what you like and don't like will help your artist cut to the chase and be able to give you art proofs that are closer to your style. I suggest you browse through your fonts on your computer or through websites like http://www.dafont.com/, that offer thousands of free fonts and fonts you can purchase. Print these fonts out and see how easily they can be read when you look at your page from a distance, or when you are walking by it trying to read it at the same time. This is a way to see how these fonts will read on your signs and vehicles. When working with a trusted marketing professional or sign company, don't hesitate to ask them how easily things can be read on your marketing materials.
Colors can also effect how easily things can be read. Having a contrasting background color and text or logo color is very important. See some examples below that show some color combination effects:
An outline or drop shadow can help make letters stand out when there is not enough contrast between the letter color and background color. However, be careful, sometimes an outline can make a design to busy, which makes it harder to read. This is especially true for moving vehicles or glass window lettering. It is a good idea to have an artist proof the artwork with and without an outline so you can see it. Print your art proof out and put it on a wall, then stand back or walk by it and see how easy it is to read. The last thing you want to do is have a sign or marketing piece made that is not effective.
I hope this article has been helpful for you.
Shannon A Engler
Branding Warrior at LBM Solutios
785-233-1102
Shannon@Logan1972.com
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