1 Design Source News & Tips

Helping Fans Engage on Facebook (and other Social Media)

2011-09-16T04:31:00.000-07:00

by Morgan Mann

I've been getting a number of questions about Facebook pages and how to engage and grow your fan base. And there are a number of great articles that saying that average number of fans who will engage in your page's posts (like or comment) is only 3 - 7.5%. ¹ However, I've seen that number higher and can share some of my secrets.

I help manage the Door County facebook page and can tell you that they have a whopping 65% engagement! How do we do that? We talk to our fans like they're friends.

Ask Your Fans to Join In
It sounds simple, but it's important to make the types of posts that bring up the level of engagement and in the process fans. Act like they are your friends. Ask for them to join in! How was their day? Share a photo, story, or tip. Then repackage and repost.

For example, this past week on the Door County page we didn't just post that the colors are changing and a link to the Color Report. We started a "Fall in Door County" photo album with a couple of photos and invited fans to add pictures — giving them a piece of Door County while they're away.

We did a similar post in August with Sunrise and Sunsets and had a 2.43% level of feedback with 582 likes across the pictures (at the end of August) and over 60 fans submitted photos — and of course, the numbers are still growing.

Answer Your Fans Questions
It seems like a no-brainer, but you need to check your page and respond to those who have engaged with you.

Are they asking questions?
Answer to the best of your ability or put them in touch with someone or place that might know. This not only helps one particular fan, but also the others reading the post who might have the same question. And also leads people to know you as a resource and knowledge base.

Are they posting pictures or links?
Tell them what you think about their post. Was it and informative article? Say what thoughts resonated with you. Or was it a beautiful photo? Give them an inside secret to another location nearby that is similarly spectacular.

Share Insights & Ask Your Fans to Share
Have you reached a milestone? Whether it's your millionth customer or 1,000 fans. Post a "Thank You" and ask for others to share the great experiences your giving you them. Give your fans a reason to boast about them knowing about you first!

Make a Game Plan
You know that you're not supposed to be too sale oriented online and just blather on about your next latest deal. But what do you post then? It's time to make a game plan.

Write a list of topics that you like to hit on. It might be the weather, scenic photos of your area, packing & travel tips, etc. If you can't come up with ideas, start looking around your industry or other successful companies and see what others are doing, and then keep a inspiration list. Be sure put your own spin on things though. Remember to put your business cap on and be what YOUR brand is instead of your competition.
Then pick 2-3 days where you're going to make your posts. You can look at your insights to see what days people really interact with you, or find potential days you'd like to ramp up more. You can choose time specific types of posts with certain days like a (Tuesday Tip) for example, or you can just make it random. The key is to make the commitment to post and stick to it.
To make things easier and use your time effectively, set up a program like HootSuite (which is free) and spend time once a week programming in your posts. They'll go out when you tell them to, and you won't have to think about it every day. It's a great way to keep your commitment without having to keep it at the forefront of your mind.
Don't be the only admin. Just like in your regular job, you can't run your business by yourself. Bring in your trusted associates or employees to help, or hire a company to help. Just remember that you all have to speak from the voice of your brand and business which is why a game plan is so important.
Don't forget to check back in once a day on your actual Facebook Page so you can respond to questions or comments. It doesn't have to be lengthy, but try to plan for at least 15 minutes a few hours after your post goes out or at the end of the day.

Time Your Posts
Sometimes it's all about timing. Think about your product or service and when people use you. If you're a restaurant, post a great picture of your feature at 4pm when everyone's thinking "what's for dinner tonight?" If you are a plumber, it's the midnight call that you get most often, so time your posts after dinner. You're company's name might be the last one they've seen that night and come first to their mind when they're in need.

Everything has a schedule, and if you study your customers enough, you can figure out when they're wanting your service.

Give-Aways & Gimmicks
I'm sure I'll have a few detractors, but I'm not a fan of give-aways — unless you normally do that as part of your marketing strategy.

You have to be true to your brand and the strategy you have in place for marketing your business. If you are constantly giving away your product, why would anyone want to buy it? They'll just wait for the next deal to come around. Or worse, they'll think that your product or service isn't worth your regular price since you have to give it away.

Another reason gimmicks don't work is because they don't always bring in your true target market. People might join your page solely for the give-away and never engage again. This brings your engagement levels down and doesn't get you quality leads for your business.

The only person you're making truly happy is the customer who wins your contest. Everyone else could potentially feel like it was a waste of their time to comment or post and that will make them less likely to engage again. Plus, that bad taste in the mouth might be the last feeling you've left your "friend" with about your brand when they might be needing your services. Be a good friend and try leave a positive message that's fun and easy to share.

Wrap Up
I hope this post gave you a few ideas to try or made you think of even more. Let me know what's worked for you and share your knowledge. I look forward to hearing from you!

Morgan Mann is owner of 1 Design Source, a marketing and advertising firm located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (in the popular tourist destination of Door County). She has worked with large and small companies helping them reach their customers and increase their effectiveness. Join her facebook page to get more helpful insights and tips at Facebook.com/1DesignSource.

Resources
¹ A Study of Fan Engagement on Facebook Pages: http://visibli.com/reports/fbstudy

Cottage Website Redesign

2011-08-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

Introducing the new Door County Cottages website created by 1 Design Source which includes 360 tours! Centrally located on the peninsula, each cottage was hand-built and have been newly renovated this year. For a truly relaxing vacation, this is the place to stay!

Website: http://www.doorcountycottages.com/

B&B Website Portal Redesign

2011-08-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

Introducing the new contemporary website for Classic Inns & Resorts of Door County, Wisconsin! Created by 1 Design Source in a custom (non-wordpress) CMS system, the lodging owners are able to login individually and update their personal information while a Super Admin manages the rest of the site — an affordable, easy solution!

Website: http://www.classicinnsandresorts.com/

Egg Harbor Visitor's Brochure

2011-05-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Tourism Brochure
Client: Egg Harbor Business Association, Egg Harbor, Door County, WI

http://www.eggharbordoorcounty.org/

Egg Harbor is located along the western coastline of Door County along the bay of Green Bay. It has picturesque views, exciting local events, and a wonderful community of shops, restaurants, lodgings and activities. It has even been recognized as one of the Coolest Small Towns in America (Budget Travel, 2010) and the Best Small Town in Wisconsin (Wisconsin Trails magazine, 2011) among a smattering of other awards.

Their brochure had been redesigned the year before, but they wanted to change some things in it and make it more of their own. Working with the EHBA team, we sourced, added and made photos larger. We included more events, reworked the map so that it was more user-friendly, and even found room to add in the additional members that joined without adding pages and increasing the cost of printing.

In addition, we added Wi-Fi and Pet Friendly icons to listings and inserted QR codes in a few places to help engage the brochure reader. We brainstormed reasons why you should visit Egg Harbor, and we included the history of the naming of Egg Harbor.

It was a very lively project, with lots of activity and excitement. This 28-page brochure is sure to have an impact on those who pick it up and can be requested on their website.

Design: 1 Design Source, Sturgeon Bay

Social Media Presentation

2011-04-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

I was able to be one of the presenters along with Dina Boettcher of Boettcher Communications for the Door County Women in Business, Let's Get Social meeting held at the Newport Resort in Egg Harbor yesterday morning where over 30 Door County business owners came to learn – what a great group of influential women.

Here is a recap of what I said and a link to the PowerPoint presentation I showed. I welcome your comments and thoughts and hope you can utilize some of the information provided.

Slideshow:

See the presentation larger.

History Lesson
Social Media has been around since the beginning of time. It's how we learned about new things, it just didn't involve computers. Today's "Social Media Era" started in the late 1990s with websites like MySpace and Friendster and with the emergence and acceptance of Facebook in 2006, the global community that is available to "like" your business has grown and is listening.

Below is a graph of the History of Social Media which you can see larger by clicking on it.

Source: http://blog.skloog.com/

The social landscape changes constantly. Recent developments in social media include:

Google Realtime Search Quietly Adds Quora, Gowalla, Others (April 25)
Google's coupon service Offers is now live in select cities (NYC, San Fran, Portland). (April 21)
Yahoo Sells Delicious To YouTube Founders (April 27).
Social Network Pioneer Friendster To Erase All User Photos, Blogs And More On May 31.
Facebook launches Deals. (April 26)
Still in the testing phase :: Facebook has made several new self-serve ad targeting options available to a test group of users, including family status such as “Parents”, “Engaged (< 6 months)”, or “Newlywed (< 1 year)”, as well as “Has birthday in < 1 week”. Those in the test group have the option to target ads to broad categories of interests, such as musical genres, types of sports, activities such as photography, and professional categories such as real estate, in addition to traditional precise interest targeting.

The best place to watch what's coming and going is connecting to the main companies themselves or watching Facebook pages like Mashable, TechCrunch, or of course our FB page, 1 Design Source.

New Marketing Trifecta
Including your other traditional avenues of marketing, a new marketing "trifecta" is now a consideration you should pay attention to when planning your marketing strategy for your business.

Source: 65 Terrific Social Media Infographics

Global Trends
Some of the trends that we're seeing in Door County include the Geosocial, Group Buying, and QR Codes. Facebook Commerce will start to take a front seat as well, and there is always Social Search.

Source: TIG Global, interactive marketing company for hospitality and travel.

I'll talk a little bit about each one and why they're important:

Geosocial sites including Foursquare and now Gowalla (since Google just bought them) are important ways that tourists with smartphones are finding what's going on in the area, where to eat, and where to stay. Your business is likely already there because you aren't required to put it on sites like Foursquare, so it's best to be watching the conversation and engaging the group using it.

Group Buying includes sites like Groupon, and now Facebook's Deals and Google's Offers. A few places in Door County have already done a Groupon deal. The things to consider about making an offer is if you would give the offer normally and confirm expiration dates and limitations.

QR Codes are the squares that are popping up in print marketing and other unique places throughout the advertising world, and in Door County you'll notice quite a few of them in the Visitor's Guides, local advertising and elsewhere.

The things to consider with QR codes is providing a unique experience for the person who will be snapping a photo of the QR code. Take them to more information about the product or service, have it dial your number, don't just make it a link to your homepage which is likely right next to the QR code within your advertising anyway (unless you have a very long URL).

Facebook Ecommerce is something that is relatively new and hasn't had a huge presence in Door County's social media savvy businesses yet. But it will be. You will be able to link your hotel's booking engine within Facebook and sell products.

Average Time Online for Americans
Nine hours! That includes a Google survey that claims 39% of smartphone owners use their devices in the bathroom. (Hmmm, toilet paper ads anyone?)

Source: WIRED Magazine

B2C Trust
This infographic defines the new trust model that we find today thanks to social media. Consider talking your fans like your best friend or how you would if they came into your store. Remember, your fans liked your business. If your talking about the local area or an upcoming area event, be sure to tie it to your business.

Source: Hotel Marketing Strategies

Social Media Team
With all the time people are on social media, it feels like you should be on that much too. But the reality is that you have a business to run. How can you get it all done? Enlist a social media team of experts. This is a nice simple example of whom you could enlist to build your team.

Source: Hotel Marketing Strategies

Social Media Policy
With your team in place, you should have a Social Media Policy. How do you handle working with good and bad comments? What can your ambassadors give away? How often should you be posting and what should you be saying? These are just a few things that you need to spell out for your team.

Below is a graphic that is an example of a Community Management Scenario Map which might help you start the conversation within your company.

Source: David Armano

Where You Should Be
The top four places a Door County business should be is Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. Facebook is the largest social media network at this time and more likely than not, your demographic is there. Twitter is another popular tool that is heavily utilized in the tourist industry. YouTube is the second most searched engine behind Google. Put some clips of your business or you/your team at work and link back to your other marketing efforts. And LinkedIn is where you can connect with other business owners to ask questions and find your next great employee.

Being in Door County, you should also look into your presence on Foursquare, Gowalla, and TripAdvisor, if you haven't already.

All of these sites are free at this time. They offer different marketing opportunities and reach different demographics. Try to change your messaging between the mediums even if it's the same topic to keep your messaging fresh.

Contact Me
You can find me and my advertising/design business on:

Facebook.com/1designsource
Twitter.com/morgan270
LinkedIn.com/in/morganmann

_______________________________________

Morgan Mann is Creative Director and Owner of 1 Design Source which is located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. If you have questions about your social media strategy, get in touch with the links above or call 920-743-5754.

Facebook Questions, Things To Consider

2011-03-28T01:18:00.001-07:00

Facebook released a new feature on March 24 where you can ask questions both through your business pages, and for your personal profile.

In testing out the new feature, I've found a few things to consider when using it:

Standing Out from the Crowd
Your question may not stand out much in the newsfeed when other posts have photos and video links included. It could differentiate the question post because of that. But as most of us know, photos and links equals engagement and neither of those are options within the Question feature (yet).

Keep It Short & Sweet
In writing answers, you must keep in mind the amount of space an answer will be given. It appears that 40 characters is the magic number, and then it gets cut off. You can rollover the answer area and have an ALT tag (caption) show the whole answer, but you will have to consider the initial portion of your response more closely so that it will engage someone to initiate the rollover.

This could be a major hindrance to gain indepth answers, but works great for yes-no-or-maybe questions.

Sharing with Friends
If you've found a question that you want to know the answer to or are trying to make the question go viral, you may click the "Ask Friends" button on a question. This pops up a box containing all of your friends whom you can check off.

The major draw back at this stage of the game, is that you cannot use the segments you've created for your friends. Instead you must either start typing the name or scroll through an alphabetic list.

Remember You're on Facebook
If you answer or post a question, everyone can see it whether they're your friend or not — including businesses, clients, your Mom, and others. This is a gold mine for marketers and hiring agents, but also takes privacy away.

These are just a few of the things I've found that deserve some thought. Feel free to share what you've found when using this new feature.

Door County Peninsula Vision Care Brochure Design

2011-03-08T08:23:00.001-08:00

Optometrist / Eye Care Brochure
Client: Peninsula Vision Care, Sturgeon Bay, Door County, WI

http://www.peninsulavisioncare.com/

Peninsula Vision Care was looking to update their brochure to match the look of their newsletter (right) and breath new life into it. They needed a new layout, photography, and some massaging of the message inside.

Incorporating similar elements and colors helped bring the branding across their collateral materials giving them a more cohesive marketing presence. We reviewed the text used within their website and other marketing materials to help select and massage the message, and we also worked with Jason Mann Photography to include some photos of the new office space and the team, making the piece both reflective and informative.

In completing our full service care, we sourced printing from both internet companies and locally. Wanting to stick with local vendors and because of previous experience with them, Peninsula Vision Care selected On Time Printing in Sister Bay.

Design: 1 Design Source, Sturgeon Bay
Photography: Jason Mann Photography, Sturgeon Bay
Printing: On Time Printing, Sister Bay

Door County Retail CMS Website

2011-01-21T12:12:00.001-08:00

Fashion/Retail Website
Client: Something Fishy, Egg Harbor, Door County, WI

http://www.somethingfishyjewelry.com/

Something Fishy needed a website that could be updated with new merchandise frequently, so a Content Management System was in order. But since they deal in fashionable goods such as great bags and stylish jewelry, they needed a fun, funky site that helps them show off.

Easy to manage, exciting for the customers, and a great project to work on.

Jam Label Design

2010-12-10T13:52:00.000-08:00

Jam Labels
Client: Inn at Cedar Crossing, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Reordering labels meant it was time to update the look to that of their website and other marketing efforts. The Inn at Cedar Crossing's Cherry Preserves jam labels needed to showcase their homemade from scratch cooking, the local color of Door County's abundant and tasty cherry crop, and also give the charm of their spectacular B&B.

Retail Business Cards

2010-12-10T13:40:00.000-08:00

Retail Business Cards
Client: blue ivy contemporary, Sturgeon Bay & Fish Creek, WI

Looking to get their new logo into their marketing efforts blue ivy wanted their business cards redesigned; the front being vertical and the back horizontal — very contemporary.

Website Updates

2010-12-10T13:32:00.001-08:00

Fleetwood Custom Homes Website
Client: Fleetwood Custom Homes, Door County, WI

http://fleetwoodcustomhomes.com/

Websites don't always need designing. Some just need some reworking to make them rise in the search engine rankings and to update a look. Fleetwood Custom Homes' website needed just that. A few pages had never been built out, and Search Engine optimization had never been tested or implemented. We helped them update their site and continue to monitor their rise in the Search Engines.

Business Christmas Holiday Postcard

2010-12-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

2010 Holiday Card
Client: Dovetail Gallery, Egg Harbor, WI

Wanting to send something out to their beloved clients that thanked them for their loyalty and give them a piece of Egg Harbor. Owner, Kathy Beck took a photograph of a sunset from the deck of the gallery which became the front of the postcard, while mention of gift ideas and a special offer were mentioned on the back. And the typography gave the thank you message an elegant feel.

Classic & Dynamic Design Solution

2010-10-02T03:57:00.001-07:00

Mayline Casegoods Sell Sheets
Client: Mayline Group, Appleton, WI

Working with printing representatives for the Mayline Group, we created the layout for a multiple sell sheets that the client and their dealers will be able to update dynamically through a website content management system and then print on demand.

Logo :: Jack Island Charters LLC

2010-07-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

Jack Island Charters LLC Logo
Client: Paul Woerfel, Fish Creek, WI

Jack Island Charters offers both charter fishing and duck hunts in the northern Door County, Wisconsin. They came to us needing a logo, business card, rack card, and website.

We created a logo that has a contemporary feel while capturing the action of fishing and a duck hunt and works well in both color and black-and-white. It is to be used on identity packages, truck and boat decals, rack cards, website, clothing, and more.

Business Card :: Jack Island Charters LLC

2010-07-29T09:35:00.001-07:00

Jack Island Charters LLC Business Card
Client: Paul Woerfel, Fish Creek, WI

After the logo was complete, we worked on creating a brand system that would be used across the board in marketing materials and created this unique business card that not only showcases the contact details of the captain, but also tells the story of the business visually.

Brochure :: Jack Island Charters LLC

2010-07-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

Jack Island Charters LLC Brochure
Client: Paul Woerfel, Fish Creek, WI

Working within the brand created earlier, we created a rack card showcasing the two main services of Jack Island Charters LLC, Charter Fishing and Duck Hunts on a private island. These will be distributed at area hotels, restaurants, and visitor's bureaus.

Website :: Jack Island Charters

2010-07-16T07:12:00.001-07:00

Jack Island Charters LLC Website
Client: Paul Woerfel, Fish Creek, WI

http://www.jackislandcharters.com

A simple website design was what was required for Jack Island Charters LLC. They were looking to showcase a few images, have a gallery, put up pricing, and get some new business with their website.

Website :: Lakeview Suites

2010-07-07T07:19:00.001-07:00

Lakeview Suites Website
Client: Ridges Resort, Baileys Harbor, WI

http://www.doorcountylakeviewsuites.com

One of the guest houses available at The Ridges Resort is truly spectacular and deserved it's own website promoting it's relaxing and comfortable atmosphere.

We designed a simple but powerful site, sourced stunning photography, and wrote and edited existing copy. And we also designed the logo.

Inspiration: Marian Bantjes

2010-07-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

TED.com Talk
Marian Bantjes: Intricate beauty by design
Filmed Feb. 2010

I'm going to begin by reciting a poem. "Oh beloved dentist: Your rubber fingers in my mouth ... your voice so soft and muffled ... Lower the mask dear dentist, lower the mask."

(Laughter)

Okay, in this presentation, I'm going to be putting the right side of your brains through a fairly serious workout. You're going to see a lot of imagery, and it's not always connected to what I'm talking about. So I need you to kind of split your brains in half, let the images flow over one side and listen to me on the other. So I am one of those people with a transformative personal story. Six years ago, after 20 years in graphic design and typography, I changed the way I was working and the way most graphic designers work to pursue a more personal approach to my work, with only the humble attempt to simply make a living doing something that I loved. But something weird happened. I became bizarrely popular. My current work seems to resonate with people in a way that has so taken me by surprise that I still frequently wonder what in the hell is going on. And slowly coming to understand that the appeal of what I do may be connected to why I do it.

These days, I call myself a graphic artist. So where my work as a graphic designer was to follow strategy, my work now follows my heart and my interests with the guidance of my ego to create work that is mutually beneficial to myself and a client. Now, this is heresy in the design world. The ego is not supposed to be involved in graphic design. But I find that for myself, without exception, the more I deal with the work as something of my own, as something that is personal, the more successful it is as something that's compelling, interesting and sustaining. So I exist somewhat outside of the mainstream of design thinking. Where others might look at measurable results, I tend to be interested in more ethereal qualities like does it bring joy? is there a sense of wonder? and does it invoke curiosity?

This is a scientific diagram, by the way. I don't have time to explain it, but it has to do with DNA and RNA. So I have a particular imaginative approach to visual work. The things that interest me when I'm working are visual structure, surprise and anything that requires figuring things out. So for this reason, I'm particularly drawn to systems and patterns. I'm going to give you a couple of examples of how my brain works.

This is a piece that I did for The Guardian newspaper in the U.K. They have a magazine that they call G2. And this is for their puzzle special in 2007. And puzzling it is. I started by creating a series of tiling units. And these tiling units, I designed specifically so that they would contain parts of letter forms within their shapes so that I could then join those pieces together to create letters and then words within the abstract patterning. But then as well, I was able to just flip them, rotate them and combine them in different ways to create either regular patterns or abstract patterns. So here's the word puzzle again. And here it is with the abstract surrounding. And as you can see, it's extremely difficult to read. But all I have to do is fill certain areas of those letter forms and I can bring those words out of the background pattern. But maybe that's a little too obvious. So then I can add some color in with the background and add a bit more color in with the words themselves. And this way, working with the art director, I'm able to bring it to just the right point that it's puzzling for the audience -- they can figure out that there's something they have to read -- but it's not impossible for them to read.

I'm also interested in working with unusual materials and common materials in unusual ways. So this requires figuring out how to get the most out of something's innate properties and also how to bend it to my will. So ultimately, my goal is to create something unexpected. To this end, I have worked in sugar for Stefan Sagmeister, three-time TED speaker. And this project began essentially on my kitchen table. I've been eating cereal for breakfast all of my life. And for that same amount of time, I've been spilling sugar on the table and just kind of playing with it with my fingers. And eventually I used this technique to create a piece of artwork. And then I used it again to create six pieces for Stefan's book, "Things in My Life I've Learned So Far." And these were created without sketches, just freehand, by putting the sugar down on a white surface and then manipulating it to get the words and designs out of it. Recently, I've also made some rather highbrow baroque borders out of lowbrow pasta. And this is for a chapter that I'm doing in a book. And the chapter is on honor. So it's a little bit unexpected, but, in a way, it refers to the macaroni art that children make for their parents, or they make in school and give to their parents, which is in itself a form of honor. This what you can do with some household tinfoil. Okay, well, it's what I can do with some household tinfoil.

(Laughter)

I'm very interested in wonder, in design as an impetus to inquiring. To say I wonder is to say I question, I ask. And to experience wonder is to experience awe. So I'm currently working on a book which plays with both senses of the word, as I explore some of my own ideas and inquiries in a visual display of rather peacock-like grandeur. The world is full of wonder. But the world of graphic design, for the most part, is not. So I'm using my own writings as a kind of testing ground for a book that has an interdependency between word and image as a kind of seductive force. I think that one of the things that religions got right was the use of visual wonder to deliver a message. I think this true marriage of art and information is woefully underused in adult literature. And I'm mystified as to why visual wealth is not more commonly used to enhance intellectual wealth. When we look at works like this, we tend to associate them with children's literature. There's an implication that ornamental graphics detract from the seriousness of the content. But I really hope to have the opportunity to change that perception. This book is taking rather a long time. But I'm nearly done.

For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to put an intermission in my talk. And this is it -- just to give you and me a moment to catch up.

(Laughter)

So I do these valentines. I've been sending out valentines on a fairly large scale since 2005. These are my valentines from 2005 and 2006. And I started by doing just a single image like this and sending them out to each person. But in 2007, I got the cockamamie idea to hand-draw each valentine for everyone on my mailing list. I reduced my mailing list to 150 people. And I drew each person their own unique valentine and put their name on it and numbered it and signed it and sent it out. Believe it or not, I devised this as a time-saving method. I was very busy in the beginning of that year, and I didn't know when I was going to find time to design and print a single valentine. And I thought I could kind of do this piecemeal as I was traveling. It didn't exactly work out that way. There's a longer story to this, but I did get them all done in time, and they were extremely well received. I got an almost 100 percent response rate. (Laughter) And those who didn't respond will never receive anything from me ever again.

(Laughter)

Last year, I took a more conceptual approach to the valentine. I had this idea that I wanted people to receive a kind of mysterious love letter, like a found fragment in their mailbox. I wanted it to be something that was not addressed to them or signed by me, something that caused them to wonder what on earth this thing was. And I specifically wrote four pages that don't connect. There were four different versions of this. And I wrote them so that they begin in the middle of a sentence, end in the middle of a sentence. And they're on the one hand, universal, so I avoid specific names or places, but on the other hand, they're personal. So I wanted people to really get the sense that they had received something that could have been a love letter to them. And I'm just going to read one of them to you.

"You've never really been sure of this, but I can assure you that this quirk you're so self-conscious of is intensely endearing. Just please accept that this piece of you escapes with your smile, and those of us who notice, are happy to catch it in passing. Time spent with you is like chasing and catching small birds, but without the scratches and bird shit." (Laughter) "That is to say, your thoughts and words flit and dart, disconcertedly elusive at times, but when caught and examined -- ahh, such a wonder. Such a delightful reward. There's no passing time with you, only collecting -- the collecting of moments with the hope for preservation and at the same time release. Impossible? I don't think so. I know this makes you embarrassed. I'm certain I can see you blushing. But I just have to tell you because sometimes I hear your self-doubt, and it's so crushing to think that you may not know how truly wonderful you are, how inspiring and delightful and really, truly the most completely ..."

(Laughter)

(Applause)

So Valentine's Day is coming up in a couple of days. And these are currently arriving in mailboxes all around the world. This year, I got, what I really have to say, is a rather brilliant idea, to laser cut, to laser cut my valentines out of used Christmas cards. So I solicited friends to send me their used Christmas cards. And I made 500 of these. Each one of them is completely different. I'm just really, really thrilled with them. I don't have that much else to say. But they turned out really well.

I do spend a lot of time on my work. And one of the things that I've been thinking about recently is what is worth while. What is it that's worth spending my time on and my life on in this way? Working in the commercial world, this is something that I do have to struggle with at times. And yes, sometimes I'm swayed by money. But ultimately, I don't consider that a worthy goal. What makes something worthwhile for me is the people I work for or with, the conditions I work under and the audience that I'm able to reach. So I might ask: Who is it for? What does it say? And what does it do?

You know, I have to tell you, it's really difficult for someone like me to come up on stage at this conference with these unbelievably brilliant minds, who are thinking these really big picture, world changing, life changing ideas and technologies. And it's very, very common for designers and people in the visual arts to feel that we're not contributing enough. Or worse, that all we're doing is contributing to landfill. Here I am, I'm showing you some pretty visuals and talking about aesthetics. But I've come to believe that truly imaginative visual work is extremely important in society.

Just in the way that I'm inspired by books and magazines of all kinds, conversations I have, movies, so I also think, when I put visual work out there into he mass media, work that is interesting, unusual, intriguing, work that maybe opens up that sense of inquiry in the mind, that I'm seeding the imagination of the populace. And you just never know who is going to take something from that and turn it into something else. Because inspiration is cross-pollinating. So a piece of mine may inspire a playwright or a novelist or a scientist, and that in turn may be the seed that inspires a doctor or a philanthropist or a babysitter. And this isn't something that you can quantify or track or measure. And we tend to undervalue things in society that we can't measure.

But I really believe that a fully operating, rich society needs these seeds coming from all directions and all disciplines in order to keep the gears of inspiration and imagination flowing and cycling and growing. So that's why I do what I do, and why I spend so much time and effort on it, and why I work in the commercial, public sphere, as opposed to the isolated, private sphere of fine art. Because I want as many people as possible to see my work, notice it, be drawn into it, and be able to take something from it. And I actually really feel that it's worthwhile to spend my valuable and limited time on this earth in this way. And I thank you for allowing me to show it to you.

(Applause)

Website Launch :: Dave's Tree Service

2010-06-22T07:00:00.001-07:00

Dave's Tree Service Website
Client: Dave's Tree Service, Jacksonport, WI

http://www.davestreeserviceinc.com

Dave's Tree Service was looking to move their existing site from a free hosting situation and upgrade their look-and-feel as well as set up professional email addresses. Working with them, 1 Design Source created a website that showcases the history of their business, touts their products and services, and allows them to update their photo gallery, text, and animated quote feed.

Restaurant Advertising

2010-06-21T14:29:00.001-07:00

What's Your Food Mood Ad

Client: Liberty Square, Egg Harbor
Photography: 1 Design Source
Design: 1 Design Source

Christmas Catalog

2010-05-12T08:01:00.001-07:00

Christmas Product Catalog / Brochure
Client: Hansen Fundraising, Green Bay, WI

Working with printing representatives for Hansen Fundraising, we created the layout for a brochure that the client will be able to update dynamically through a website content management system and then print on demand.

Door County Photographer Business Cards and Wedding Book

2010-05-12T07:31:00.000-07:00

Photographer Wedding Book & Business Cards
Client: Jason Mann Photography, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Door County photographer Jason Mann needed a book that showcased a few of the beautiful weddings he shot during the 2009 season. We worked with him in selecting a few photos from each wedding and completed the design, layout, and handled the print sourcing for his 8x8 books.

We also took 50+ of his best shots from the past year across the spectrum of his work to create mini cards. Collect them all.

Software Deployment Solution Web Banner Ads

2010-05-10T14:43:00.000-07:00

Web Banner Advertising
Client: Inedo LLC Company, Berea, OH

Software Developers, Inedo came back for a second project targeting developers with software deployment problems, giving them a solution that would allow them to "kill the dragon" of long-winded or botched deployments. Two campaigns were created in three sizes that will appear on blogs, forums, and industry news sites.

Both concepts employ the medieval time period of heroes conquering dragons. The first a shadow of a successful knight subduing a dragon. The second, an illustration of a night intercepting a dragon within a sunset.

Wedding Logo and Invites Featured on Real Colorado Wedding Blog

2010-04-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

As featured on: CoutureColorado.com

Photography: Cheryl Ungar
Flowers: Fleur Decor
Bridal Gown Deigner : Legends by Romona Keveza
Bridal Gown and Fur Wrap: Felice Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: Each bridesmaid picked out their own dress.
DJ: Elite DJ
Wooden Bench and Table Numbers: Medicine Wolf Company
Rings: Movado
Wedding Logo and Programs: Morgan Mann of 1 Design Source
Rehearsal Dinner: Tabernash Tavern
Favors: Jam jars from Sharkey’s in Fraser, CO
Cake: Tea Cup
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Colorado
Bride’s Hoodie: Girl Extraordinaire

Ridges Resort Logo & Website

2010-04-22T17:49:00.001-07:00

Door County Resort Logo & Website
Client: Ridges Resort in Baileys Harbor, WI

http://www.ridges.com

The Ridges Resort was looking for a simple upgrade to their website, a fresh color scheme and a new logo. Photos are displayed large whenever possible, a new Upcoming Events listing and Featured Room sections on the homepage are inviting, and with personalized training, they are able to make updates to their site themselves.

Resort Email Campaign

2010-04-18T10:51:00.001-07:00

Resort Email Campaign Success Story
Client: Door County Cottages, Egg Harbor, WI

How do you utilize your email list? Dale Laviolette of Door County Cottages in Egg Harbor had a list of email addresses that he had been collecting for the past few years, but hadn't utilized them. With the start of Spring and to celebrate the 2nd birthday of the resort's mascots, Dale's dogs Norma and Garrett, we helped Dale start a Constant Contact account and created a custom email template inviting people to a discounted stay.

Constant Contact reports that the average open rate of a Hotel, B&B, or Inn is only 19.8%.* Through the use of a good list, simple messaging, and providing a value added incentive, our open rate of 52.6% was phenomenal. With this great success, Dale is going to be adding more features to his websites to acquire additional email addresses and will continue doing simple offers to thank his customers and generate more business. A great success story!

*Average open, click-through, and bounce rates of Constant Contact customers.

Facebook Business Page for a Stylist

2010-04-18T10:29:00.001-07:00

Facebook Business Page
Client: Hair & Makeup Stylist, Denver, CO

Facebook: Leslies Arts

Leslie Snyder is a multi-talented stylist who creates beautiful, intricate hairstyles for brides as well as providing makeup styling, skincare and spa services. On top of that, Leslie designs and creates jewelry.

We helped start the flow of conversation adding photos of recent work, posting recent published testimonials and articles about Leslie and her work, and we utilized an application that allows you to make custom HTML tab pages to recreate her promotional cards for each of her services, and help direct people to more images on her site.

Bridal Hair and Makeup tab.

Custom Jewelry tab.

Door County Resort Website

2010-04-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

Condo Resort Website
Client: The Landing Resort in Egg Harbor, WI

http://thelandingresort.com

To keep in line with branding and brochure completed earlier this year, we have created a complete web site redesign that shows off the great condo suites available for vacationers in Door County.

The site includes:

Easy reservation booking
A custom look to their reservation system
A custom Blogger template that acts as their "news" page
New photos of all suites and the building amenities and exterior
Floorplans for each suite, made for the first time in the history of the resort
Specials that the client can update themselves
Contact form + more

We also set up a Facebook presence for the resort and incorporated a application that allows their blog posts to feed their Facebook page. And 360's of all the suites are still to come.

It was a very full and well-rounded project that shows the power of branding and what a fresh look to your marketing can achieve.

Dog Jewelry Donation Postcard

2010-03-30T05:03:00.001-07:00

242 Donation Postcard
Client: No 242 Collection

Rooted in the notion that dogs and their adoring owners share an unbreakable bond, No. 242 Collection jewelry collection was created for the pet that has everything. The jewelry is made in pairs which fashionably coordinate the "au courant" canine and their owners who spoil them silly, and through the end of June they're donating 5% of their sales to Project Ruffway which supports the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation. This postcard created by 1 Design Source will be handed out at their store and sent out to past and present clients.

Wedding Invitation

2010-03-30T04:58:00.001-07:00

Wedding Invitation
Client: Chris & Jess

Custom made wedding invitation. (Certain info is blurred for privacy reasons.)

Wedding Monogram at Work

2010-03-29T01:39:00.000-07:00

Marti and Kevin's wedding was this past Saturday, and here is the monogram design at work. Congrats you two!!

Monogram was branded into columns
of wood used as table markers.

The monogram at the top of the dining menu.

Theatre 20th Anniversary Logo

2010-03-04T14:31:00.000-08:00

American Folklore Theatre 20th Anniversary Logo
Ephraim, Wisconsin, Door County

Playing on an outdoor stage at Peninsula State Park and on indoor stages across the state, American Folklore Theatre actors are equipped with guitars and voices that tell stories of legend and lore. Since 1990, this troupe has been providing original musical tales about some of America’s most intriguing people including John Muir and Mark Twain.

AFT was looking to have a logo that showcased their outdoor venue including twilight and stars. We worked from a photograph to make the logo vector based so it could be flexible in its usage. It has been screen printed on t-shirts and mugs, as well as various other applications like their Facebook profile picture.

Quote from the happy client:
"Thanks for your great and efficient work on this project. We're hoping to make wide use of it this year and hopefully beyond. We'll definitely look to use your services again down the road."

Dave Maier, Managing Director
American Folklore Theatre

How to Create New Paying Customers for Your Resort & Restaurant

2010-02-23T12:37:00.000-08:00

I read these articles today and thought they were worth sharing.

How the Resort Industry is
Using Social Media
http://mashable.com/2010/02/23/resort-industry-social-media/

A few ideas gleaned from this article to boost business:

Host a Blogger Retreat similar to the outreach some business organizations do for journalists.
Find prominent bloggers in your demographic (Moms, Bicyclists, Nature Enthusiasts, the Dating & Mating Life, etc.) and ask them to come to your hotel and stay for a time giving them breaks on price, free dining, or whatever is in your budget in return for a post on their blog.

Article Excerpt:

"In a similar fashion, Utah’s Park City Mountain Resort has broadened its reach by tapping into the mommy bloggersphere. The company’s Snow Mamas blog features five to six mommy bloggers who write about their ski trips. Each mama gives tips on dining, budget, lodging, and ski gear for the whole family."

Another article worth reading is:

Starbucks Gets Its Business
Brewing Again with Social Media
http://adage.com/digitalalist10/article?article_id=142202

Article Excerpt:

Let's get this straight right away: Return on investment in social media is not measured in how many friends you have on Facebook or how many followers you have on Twitter. It's not calculated in trending topics or YouTube comments. It should, in fact, be held to the same criteria other marketing channels are: Did it move your business? ...

Starbucks' advantage could easily have been squandered. "If we had approached it not from 'what you know and love about Starbucks' but as a marketing channel, we would have taken this down a path that would have been very different," he said. "This was not [built as a] marketing channel, but as a consumer relationship-building environment."

Tips gleaned from this article include:

Learn why customers like you and return to your business year-after-year. This will tell you what they want from you in Social Media. For example, do people always mention how helpful you are at mentioning what is going on in the area? Then have a Calendar of Events section and/or a Best Things To Do & See Area and fill it with what you would tell a customer, not what someone wants to pay you for. Tweet and post items of interest that fall in line with what you normally do for your every day patron. Be who you are in real life, not a marketing machine.
Tell everyone about something new in a fun, engaging way. Do you have a room that you've just redone or new menu item you're excited about? Have a reduced rate coupon available to those who download it off of your website or Facebook page.

If giving away things doesn't work for you, change the premise of the coupon to be a sneak peak. For example, "Become a Fan & Be One of the First 100 People Invited to Our New Banquet Facility's Pre-Open House." This will bring new fans and excite your customer base.
Share your soul. Does your company really care about a particular group enough to donate time or money to? Involve your fans! Tell them about a benefit you're holding, post pictures of your volunteer work in the area, ask them to share pictures of how they spent their vacations with you. Again, engage your customer on a human level, not as an advertiser, and you will be rewarded.

Article Excerpt:

The secret to Starbucks' social-media success is, at least in part, the fact that it plays it cool. "It's not like we started our Facebook community, got to a million people and started pushing offers at them," he said. "We built up a community of people who enjoy engaging with our photo albums from our trip to Rwanda, who loved to have these shared moments around their favorite drinks." Then, fans started asking the company what was going on, and how they could be included.

Don't hire a marketer or PR person to do your posts for you. I know, this sounds counter-intuitive coming from a person who makes a living as a graphic designer, but it's important that YOU are the voice behind the scenes. It's great to use an informed source to help you set things up or lead you along the path of social media, but the core of your company was built on its own values and services. Let your company do the talking from the inside out, and you'll be seen as more trustworthy to your fans and customer base as well as be rewarded in your bottom line.

Article Excerpt:

Unlike many marketers, Starbucks doesn't run its Twitter feed out of its PR department. The chain's voice on Twitter is Brad Nelson, 28, a former barista who rose through its IT ranks.

When the company was looking for ideas to re-engage with its core customer in 2008, Mr. Nelson suggested that he begin a Twitter handle for the brand, and it now has 775,000 followers. The brand relies on the 28-year old to translate the Starbucks experience for the online community, search out confused or disgruntled consumers, chat about store offerings and even crack jokes.

I hope these articles give you some great ideas to implement. Let me know what you come up with. It's always great to see companies succeed in giving their customers what they want.

If you liked this post, be sure to become a fan on Facebook so you don't miss any upcoming tips & tricks.

Have a great rest of the day!

Morgan Mann is a graphic designer with over a decade of experience working in the in-house ranks at Einstein Bros. Bagels and with small restaurants and resorts utilizing her creativity and strategic brainstorming to help them bring success to their business ventures. To see more of her work, visit her website at www.1designsource.com.

Door County Gallery Advertising Put to the Test

2010-02-22T10:10:00.000-08:00

Project: Quarter Page color ad for Door County Living Magazine
Client: Dovetail Gallery, Egg Harbor, WI (Door County)

Wanting to test their old style of advertising (seen left to appear in the Door County Go Guide) and branching out with their new look, Dovetail Gallery asked for me to create an ad that had the look of their new website (recently released this winter).

In addition to the obvious layout differences, the two ads showcase different art pieces and the one above also mentions the Egg Museum which they've only minimally advertised previously. They'll be paying close attention to the people who come into their store to see which ad brings in more customers.

Which one do you prefer?

Banner Ads

2010-02-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

Web Banner Advertising
Client: The Alliance Code for Excellence,
an Inedo LLC Company, Berea, OH

Software Developers, The Alliance for Code Excellence, work to clean up the world of code through the sale of their Bad Code Offset product. Money raised through the purchase of Bad Code Offsets supports the various Open Source Initiatives that are performing vital work towards the salvation of our future code base.

The Alliance was needing a banner ad that engaged programmers to join the fight and purchase their product. It would be appearing on a software Q&A forum frequented by programmers, and the ad design had a variety of rules that needed to be applied including no animation.

I came up with a concept that went on the premise that a majority of programmers are also gamers and turned a one-ad contract into a campaign. These ads tap into their second love and engages them to join the battle, rescue of the bad coders, and make the world a better place.

Resort Tourism Ad

2010-02-08T10:36:00.000-08:00

Hotel Resort Tourism Advertising
Client: The Landing Resort, Egg Harbor, WI

This ad will appear in the Door County Lighthouse Walk program for the 2010 season. The design is cohesive with their new look and feel which is being rolled out this year. See the brochure, rate sheet, and logo redesign.

Hotel Brochures

2010-02-05T13:09:00.001-08:00

Hotel Logo Redesign, Sales Brochure & Rate Sheet
Client: The Landing Resort, Egg Harbor, WI

The Landing Resort in Egg Harbor was looking to update their look-and-feel across the board starting with a refreshing of their logo. Not wanting to take away from the branding and goodwill created with the previous design created some years ago and because the logo still represents the goals, service and standards of The Landing Resort, we opted to simplify the logo instead of doing a complete redesign.

The bird icon's linework and the circle encompassing it was simplified. The icon and the typography now work together by positioning the landing bird onto the ascendor of the "d" which makes a natural post within the logo. We also tweaked some of the lettering relationships and created a refreshed logo that feels bolder, more stable, and it continues the legacy of a great resort.

From there, we then moved on to the Brochure and Rate Sheet.

The Sales Brochure showcases a fresher look that comes from research and strategy towards attracting more families to their condominiums which are surrounded by nature and is close in proximity to both the local beach, park and marina as well as the local shops and eateries.

We hired a local photographer to take aerial shots, measured rooms and built floorplans for each of their suites, wrote the text, created a map, and sourced stock photography as well as took additional photos of the property to create a visually stunning 4-panel brochure.

The Rate Sheet combines the traditional rate sheet and the packages into one brochure. The combination of the two pieces and designing the sheet with two colors helps save on overall printing costs and creates less paperwork for staff.

The design works as a stand-alone piece, and it also fits within the Sales Brochure for easy distribution by mail as needed.

Next up is the website and identity package, coming soon.

Photographer Business Cards

2010-01-28T12:46:00.000-08:00

Photographer Business Cards
Client: Jason Mann Photograpy, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Working with a newly designed logo and color scheme, I created a business card that showcases the talent of photographer by displaying 50 different photos throughout his pack of business cards, enough to make any collector work for years to aquire them all!

Interior Design Magazine Ad

2010-01-28T12:33:00.000-08:00

Interior Design Magazine Ad
Client: Jenny Lee Miller, Sturgeon Bay, WI

A certified Interior Refiner and Feng Shui Practioner, Jenny Lee evaluates and transforms your home or office environment to maximize sales, attract renters, or increase personal health and productivity. From updating and remodeling projects to a room arranging and decorating, Jenny Lee makes your environment work for you!

In keeping in line with the design from her brochure, I created an ad and descriptive text that introduces the new exciting offerings of Feng Shui and Interior Refining to Door County residents and lovers of Door County. The ad will be appearing in the upcoming Spring issue of Door County Magazine with the thought that "Spring cleaning" and refreshing your home and work environment will inspire some to think of Jenny Lee Miller. Call her today, she's really great to work with!

Restaurant Special Menu Advertising

2010-01-28T12:26:00.003-08:00

Restaurant Special Menu Ads
Client: Inn at Cedar Crossing, Sturgeon Bay, WI

In keeping with the design of their website (InnAtCedarCrossing.com) completed last year, I worked up both a color and black and white ad design that could be used in local papers to share their offerings for special dining menus and events. The ads have been well received and are easy for the client to update without a high, revolving cost involved.

Wedding Monogram Designs

2010-01-28T12:12:00.000-08:00

MK Wedding Monograms
Client: Marti & Kevin, Denver, Colorado

Weddings are an exciting event and a merging of two people's lives. It was a great honor to work on this monogram using the bride and grooms first letter initials and working with the theme of a rustic Colorado wedding along with expressing what a fun couple of people they are.

The monogram (above) has appeared on their invitations, and wedding guests will see another monogram (right) branding their steaks at the reception.

Dovetail Gallery Website

2009-11-25T02:33:00.001-08:00

Dovetail Gallery Website
http://www.dovetailgallery.com/

A website redesign for a ecclectic gallery website that features everything from tradional paintings to egg art. This Door County business was looking for a fresh take on their web presence.

1 Design Source worked with the artists in residence to capture the feeling of their brand as well as organize and tell the story of their gallery and museum. We also expanded their ecommerce offerings from 20 items to over 75 and implemented and incorporated a Facebook business page and video interactivity.

Blog Template Design

2009-11-16T12:26:00.000-08:00

Simply Crafty Cards Blog/Website
http://simplycraftycards.blogspot.com

Wanting to have a web presence without the costs associated with a typical website, we worked with Simply Crafty Cards to create a blog template where they can add new products as needed and create different categories without the need of contacting a web designer.

The blog also feeds into their Facebook business page showing their fan new designs as the become available, thereby decreasing the need to have a email database and having to send out time consuming emails to potential and past clients.

Interior Design Sales Brochure

2009-11-04T13:20:00.001-08:00

Jenny Lee Miller
Sales Brochure

Jenny Lee is an interior refiner and feng shui practitioner who is just starting her business and new to the area. We worked with her designing a logo and this brochure along with a few other pieces in addition to giving strategy advice on what markets to target in the area.

The sales brochure shown here includes an inside flap showcasing a before-and-after reveal of a room that Jenny Lee helped to refine. We contracted and art directed a local photographer, wrote the copy, designed the layout, and sourced printing options.

Christmas Event Poster

2009-11-02T12:21:00.001-08:00

26th Annual Sturgeon Bay
Bed & Breakfast Christmas Walk
Poster and Ticket

1 Design Source was approached by the people who run the Sturgeon Bay Bed & Breakfast Christmas Walk to redesign their poster and ticket for the upcoming 2009 event. They were looking for something with more color than previous years as well as a new look. So with little less than a week to get things designed, edited, and completed, I created two designs for the poster to choose from with the winner being the above selection (green starlight Christmas tree) and the opposing design pictured right (bulb ornaments).

From there the ticket design followed suite of the poster design, but in black-and-white for cheaper reproduction costs. It included a detailed map of the area showing the locations of the eight B&B's to be toured, as well as other information about the event. And to round out the campaign's marketing efforts, a newspaper advertisement was also created to match.

Here's the flyer/poster in action as seen in one of the storefronts along 3rd Avenue in Sturgeon Bay on November 9th.

Photography Logo

2009-11-01T09:17:00.001-08:00

A new game: Which one would you choose?

These are the choices for a client looking for a new logo. His target market is 18-80, mostly female, wedding, portrait, family segments. So, which one would you select as the winner?

(I will post the actual winner a few days from now, so you won't be in suspense for too long.)

Logo & Business Card Design

2009-10-14T00:03:00.000-07:00

Logo and business card design for an interior refiner/ feng shui expert. It was a neat project that lead to some interesting places in the research phase. I used a traditional Japanese ink brush technique and hand painted the logo and brought it into Illustrator turning it into a vector and applied some personalizing touches to the font, combining letter forms for better flow.

Yellow Pages Ads

2009-10-13T23:48:00.001-07:00

Dr. Paul of Dentistry by Design needed a new look for his yellow pages ads, so we designed two looks for him to choose from and after a few tweaks came to the final versions seen above. The linework and large images and color blocks should make the ads stand out from the area competition. It will be fun to see these in print.

Cancer Seminar Brochure

2009-09-26T05:54:00.000-07:00

Project: 2-Panel Cancer Seminar Brochure
Client: Sacred Life Center, Sturgeon Bay

Providing only a press release, logo, and some additional details about the event, Scared Life Center needed a brochure that told the story of Cancer and a willingness to beat it.

1 Design Source helped to write/edit the copy, designed the layout and typography, and selected stock photography to create a 2-panel brochure that could be used as a handout (folded) or as a poster (not folded, showcasing the inside panels only). With the brochure being designed in this manner, as well as in black-and-white, allowed the client to print and produce the brochure for a minimal printing cost.

Arist Meet & Greet Flyer

2009-08-13T09:33:00.001-07:00

Join the Katie Gingrass Gallery at Liberty Square on August 22nd for a meet and greet with artist David Schaefer! See more of his work at the Katie Gingrass Milwaukee Gallery website.

1 Design Source did the layout for some local Door County newspaper advertising as well as the handout seen above. Hope to see you there!

Tshirts + Social Media = Success

2009-08-13T03:58:00.000-07:00

A unique way to use social media. Price structure: it only cost $1 for a company to have him wear its schwag on January 1st, $2 on the 2nd, etc. until December 31st, where the price would be $365. And in 2010, he has two "shirt-wearers"...

How To Be Smarter Than Your PR Agency: Webinar Findings

2009-08-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

I attended a webinar put on by Hubspot.com today about PR strategies in relation to Traditional vs Social Media releases.

The best tidbits I took away from the meeting are as follows (The Excutive Summary):

You shouldn't fire your PR firm and go it alone, but rather be sure they are following guidelines that will lead to the goals you have set for your campaign and company.
How to optimize your press releases:

Use anchor text but use URL in parenthesis.
Don’t use bullets.
Include logo graphic, it doesn't hurt.
Don’t embed multimedia.
Some news services prefer Attributed Quote at the end of release.
Make content crystal clear, be direct and concise.
Use keywords within the release that are long tail (not as saturated with others).
Use a describe headline (Be clear, interesting, and use keywords).
Don’t make headlines too long (80 characters).
Use a header tag for your headline (when your release is on the web).
Don't use ineffective words “catch phrases” like “cutting edge!”
Length of release should be 300-500 words for body (don’t be verbose).

Links (the currency of the internet).

Put links in the first paragraph of the body (since some places only publish the 1st two sentences).
Link to internal pages too, not just your homepage.
Use anchor text (tells Google what your link is about, opportunity to help your website rank).
Make anchor text as your page title as well (increases frequency count for Google).
Don’t repeat links.
Don’t use the same achor text twice .
Set up press room as a blog with RSS .
Set up a unique URL for each press release

The final word.

Syndications decrease 43% over 3 months. (You should have ongoing PR strategy to keep links alive in the web world.)
Traditional releases services are cheaper than online services and offer a higher return for syndication.
Think like a journalist, not like a PR pro.
Have something worth saying (do a small number of news releases).

Watch the full webinar here: Hubspot.com

1 Design Source (http://www.1designsource.com/) offers public relations, advertising, marketing, strategy and creative services and is always keeping up on new trends in the media and marketing world. Join the discussion on here our blog or on our Facebook page.

Door County Waste & Recycling Logo

2009-07-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

Logo Design & Development

Branding was very important in this job. Door County Waste and Recycling is a subsidiary of Little Hoppers brand and therefore needed to reflect that brand while being distinctive on its own.

We kept elements like the arrows, and line work around a large blue space, as well as the overall feel of the typography of the original Little Hoppers brand, while giving the logo its own solid brand. The elements reflect their strong commitment to recycling and green conservation.

>> Are you looking to start or extend your brand?
Here are some tips on the features of a good brand name:

Brand names should be chosen carefully since the name conveys a lot of information to a customer.

A good brand name should:

• Evoke positive associations
• Be easy to pronounce and remember
• Suggest product benefits
• Be distinctive
• Not infringe existing registered brand names

TIP: Save Money on Creative Identity Costs

2009-07-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Looking for a way to bring costs down with your corporate identity? Why not try a rubber stamp! You can do an unlimited number of colors, any size of envelope, business card, and get creative with placement—all for around $100.

See more details about this project here: http://ow.ly/hTaq

Paris Nights Event

2009-06-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

Event poster (as well as utilized as an ad) and menu featuring French themes created for Liberty Square in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin.

Overall Branding Message

2009-06-23T07:56:00.001-07:00

The latest in the campaign showcasing the overall appeal of Liberty Square in Egg Harbor. This will be appearing on the back side of the Pulse newspaper this upcoming week, along with the Gallery Ad appearing in the second section of the paper, seen below.

Local Paper Advertising

2009-06-22T09:23:00.001-07:00

We redesigned some ads to fall more in line with the overall branding look-and-feel for a cute boutique retail shop, Something Fishy in Egg Harbor. Putting important things in red helps give hierarchy to the layout and leads people to read the important things before they move on, and the images of the jewelry are large enough to get a real feel for the pieces.

The response from the client: "OMG... It's perfect!!!!"

Something Fishy sells artist-made jewelry, charms, bags and other fun fashionable accessories. Check out their website for more details: http://www.somethingfishyjewelry.com.

Consistent Branding

2009-06-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

Keeping in line with the 2009 campaign created for Liberty Square in Egg Harbor, these ads show how you keep branding consistent between publications and sizes.

Typography Window

2009-06-10T13:04:00.001-07:00

The typography window of our studio
which you see as you come in the door.

Legal Placement Firm Website Design

2009-06-08T14:15:00.001-07:00

Homepage includes flash animation and rotating quotes.

Inside pages include rotating quotes,
fill-out forms, swap-outs for text and more.

The Advocates: Targeted Legal Resources was looking for a contemporary updated look to their website and wanted some interaction and movement. 1 Design Source created a site that is both contemporary and edgy including sourcing and placing conceptual imagery that is not common for the industry, thereby giving The Advocates a fresh look amongst its competitors.

Grand Opening

2009-06-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

On Thursday evening from 4-7 pm we hosted a Business After Hours complete with wine, beer, food, and live musical entertainment. I personally handed out 150 invitations to area businesses, and approximagely 40 people dropped in throughout the evening. We had wine and beer along with a brass band performing. It was a fun evening.

A full view of this side of the studio with the food spread.

You can see all the photos the photographer now has up.

We set up a photo booth for people to pop in
and shoot their own pictures.

Some of the beautiful flowers given to us.

Some action in the studio. It was nice to have so many
people stop in and welcome us to the community.

Jason Mann Photography and 1 Design Source Team Up to Launch Sturgeon Bay’s First Creative Blend Studio

2009-05-22T10:06:00.001-07:00

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (May 22, 2009)―Jason Mann Photography and 1 Design Source are announcing the launch of Sturgeon Bay’s first creative blend studio, a unique concept that combines contemporary photography with cutting-edge creative design. A grand opening celebration will be held at the studio, located at 58 West Maple Street on the West Side, on Saturday, June 6th from 12-4 p.m. The event will feature studio tours, refreshments, and give-aways. Come and take your own picture in their photo booth—best picture of the day wins a prize. Register to win complimentary sittings for senior, family, and portrait sessions, as well as a $200 gift card for design services.

Jason Mann Photography is a full service photography studio specializing in fashion-forward senior pictures, elegant and stylish wedding photography, fun and creative family and kids portraits as well as unique corporate and commercial photographs. Other services include: professional photo lab services, custom framing, and online proofing.

An award-winning photographer, Jason Mann is a seasoned veteran of the fashion and beauty industries. He parlayed his experience to the wedding, portrait and commercial industries. “I have photographed many subjects, but my favorite is people. My job is to capture someone’s personality in a photograph. I enjoy the challenge,” he explains.

1 Design Source offers design, marketing, advertising and public relation services. Morgan Mann, creative director for 1 Design Source, is already making an impact in Door County developing innovative web sites and advertising/marketing campaigns for local businesses like the Little Hoppers and Inn at Cedar Crossing, Homestead Suites in Fish Creek, and Liberty Square in Egg Harbor. She brings a wealth of experience working with Vail Resorts in Colorado, IBM, Motorola and restaurant giant New World Restaurant Group, which includes the popular Einstein Brothers Bagels brand. In addition, Morgan has worked with clients representing varying fields including real estate, medical, and retail.

She explains, "Whether large or small businesses, our clients appreciate the personal touch and creativity we put into everything we do, and that has been the key to our success. In my design work, clients are often surprised to receive agency-quality work and service at less-than-agency pricing."

Spanning 1,200 square feet, the studio features indoor “white” and “black” shooting rooms, an office suite, sitting area, and hardwood floors. Call today for an appointment at 920-246-8106 (photography) or 920-743-5754 (design). To learn more about the Manns or to view their work, visit www.jmannphoto.com and www.1designsource.com.

Inn at Cedar Crossing Website

2009-05-20T14:23:00.001-07:00

www.innatcedarcrossing.com

The Inn at Cedar Crossing website redesign went live today. The inn was looking for a more contemporary take on "Victorian Bed and Breakfast" while keeping with the colors and traditions of their current brand.

It features 22 pages talking about the inn and its history, the rooms, the restaurant and its menus along with new historical images and photos of newly remodeled rooms. It also works with the popular reservations system, Webervations.

Northern Door Menu Guide

2009-05-01T14:41:00.001-07:00

The Bistro at Liberty Square's condensed summer menu which is going into the new Northern Door Menu Guide coming out this summer. The guide publishes area menus in black and white and distributes the guide to tourists and locals alike. 1 Design Source created the original look of the menu utilizing artwork from local artist, Tim Nyberg and interesting typography and iconography to display the menu items.

Girls Weekend Menu

2009-05-01T14:32:00.000-07:00

The First Annual Girlfriend's Great Eggscape is taking place on May 14-17, 2009 in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. Liberty Square is hosting a few events and a special menu during the event. If you're in the area, stop by and see them.

Learn more about Liberty Square and see the menu.
Learn more about Egg Harbor and the event.

Inn at Cedar Crossing Menu

2009-04-27T09:08:00.001-07:00

The Inn at Cedar Crossing needed a refreshing of their menu cover; giving it a more contemporary look while also bringing in the history of their establishment and the community. We contacted the Wisconsin Historical Society and located some turn-of-the-century photos of 3rd Avenue as it was known then, Cedar Street. The owners of the Inn at Cedar Crossing also located one image with the inn/restaurant prominently shown in its earlier form as a drugstore.

The Inn at Cedar Crossing is located on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Louisiana Street in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. They have nine beautiful Victorian rooms waiting to be rented and delicious homemade cuisine made fresh daily.

Join the Social Networking Craze

2009-04-24T23:45:00.000-07:00

If you love social networking and like to be in the know, join us on Facebook!

1 Design Source's
Business Page

Seasonal Menu - Mother's Day

2009-04-20T10:18:00.001-07:00

Mother's Day Brunch and Dinner menu ad designed for The Bistro at Liberty Square. It details the various menu options as well as showcases an event taking place in one of their nearby shops.

The top ad was placed in The Peninsula Pulse, and the ad to the right was placed in The Door County Advocate.

Bakery Menu Ad

2009-04-20T10:14:00.001-07:00

A menu ad for The Bistro at Liberty Square directed towards Mother's Day and bringing fresh, baked goods home to surprise her. This will be appearing in The Door County Advocate

Animated Advertising - Gallery Brand Focus

2009-04-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

An animated ad for Liberty Square focusing on their Gallery and Gift Shop brand. The ad will be appearing on Door County Advocate websites throughout the summer.

Liberty Square is located in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin and at http://www.libertysquareshops.com.

Animated Advertising - Liberty Square

2009-04-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

An animated ad displaying all that Liberty Square and its various brands have to offer. The ad will be appearing on Door County Advocate websites throughout the summer.

Liberty Square is located in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin and at http://www.libertysquareshops.com.

HERBOLOGIE Banner

2009-04-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

Clean, simple banner to use in trade shows and fairs (as shown in the photo to the right at the Door County Sustainability Fair) created by 1 Design Source and printed by FLS Banners in Sturgeon Bay.

HERBOLOGIE is in the process of launching a line of certified organic, therapeutic body products and spa treatments and is opening a storefront at the Top of the Hill Shops in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. They believe strongly in evidence-based formulation of their products and in the relationship between active compounds, the delivery vehicle, and biochemical and physiological effects as well as their product's effects on the environment through smart choices in packaging and marketing materials—making their products consumer-friendly on every level.

Hotel Website

2009-04-17T10:18:00.001-07:00

The Door County resort community has a new wave of fresh website revamps coming out from 1 Design Source, starting with Homestead Suites located in Fish Creek. Their new website includes flash animation, custom 360 tours of the rooms, and incorporates their reservation system into the site design.

On top of the site design, the Homestead Suites logo was refreshed and revived as well.

Let me know what you think: http://www.homesteadsuites.com

Quotes to Think About

2009-04-09T06:29:00.000-07:00

Some great quotes: http://tr.im/ivpp

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

- Colin Powell

“The power of imagination makes us infinite”

- John Muir

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”

- Herman Cain

Patriotic Economic Poster Series

2009-03-19T14:37:00.001-07:00

A series of posters commissioned by Liberty Square in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. They are a play on old war time posters.

Seasonal Menu - Easter

2009-03-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

A special Easter holiday menu created for Liberty Square's Bistro. This ad appeared in both local newspapers as well as throughout their complex and restaurant.

Interior Design Concept

2009-03-11T16:30:00.000-07:00

A concept design for the homepage of Burk Interior Design Group based in Colorado. The site homepage would have a slideshow that would page through multiple large scale images of their "star worthy" work as well as display recent work in a smaller boxes along the right that would change each time the page is refreshed, which leads the visitor to believe the site is being constantly updated (even if it takes a little while to get to those updates).

Inspiration

2009-03-09T04:23:00.000-07:00

A portrait of world-renowned designer, illustrator and typographer Marian Bantjes during her appearance at the recent Design Matters Live event presented by Adobe and the AIGA. Marian shares her love for the design community and the importance of staying connected, even while working from her idyllic rural home studio. She speaks about her transition from a more traditional design career path to a much more personally fulfilling mix of work. Marian has an obvious love for what she does, sharing some of the inspiration for her recent projects as diverse as hand-drawn valentines to the type treatment for the "Want It!" campaign at Saks Fifth Avenue. Marian's insights in this portrait are important for anyone who cares passionately about design and respects the craft of the artist.

Source: Zoom Online, Designing Minds Series

2-Color Newsletter and Insert

2009-03-05T13:02:00.000-08:00

Spring 2009 2-Color Newsletter
and "Save the Date" Insert.

PR Firm, Carolyne Hyde and Associates works with local, national, and international clients seeking to develop a presence in the Colorado community. 1 Design Source has been working with them for the past few years helping them with their quarterly newsletter, eNewsletter, inserts, invitations, name tags and more.

Law Industry eNewsletter

2009-02-27T18:09:00.000-08:00

Targeted Legal is a company who brings top legal professionals and leading law firms together through innovative behavioral interviews and creative human resource approaches. Starting late last year, 1 Design Source developed an eNewsletter that works with their current database and delivery system. The design bridges the gap between their old look-and-feel while working towards their goal of a new look for the coming year which is still in production.

This is the second issue of the eNewsletter that is going out to Law Firm professionals. The full eNewsletter can be viewed on their website at www.TargetedLegal.com, also designed by 1 Design Source.

Third Ad in "Story" Series: Art

2009-02-27T09:03:00.000-08:00

The third installment in the "Story" campaign for Liberty Square.
It features original copy writing, design, and photography by 1 Design Source, with artwork provided by the Katie Gingrass Gallery in Milwaukee. The ad will appear in the upcoming edition of the Peninsula Arts Guide.

Liberty Square is located in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin (Door County). Their website, also designed and maintained by 1 Design Source, is www.LibertySquareShops.com.

Second Ad in "Story" Series: Eating

2009-02-27T07:14:00.000-08:00

The second ad in the new "Story" campaign for Liberty Square located in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin (Door County). This ad features original copy writing and design by 1 Design Source. Both stock and original photography were utilized to tell the story. Photography of the interior of the Board Room and the gift basket were taken by Jason Mann Photography. This ad will appear in Fun in Wisconsin Magazine this summer.

Thought to Ponder

2009-02-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

"Creativity often consists merely turning up what is already there. Did you know that right and left shoes were thought up only a little more than a century ago?"

Bernice Fitz-Gibbon

Want to learn more:
How the High Heeled Shoe Changed History
All About the Shoe, Thanks to Wikipedia

Website Release: Little Hoppers

2009-02-25T12:47:00.000-08:00

New website for Little Hoppers in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (Door County) went live today. It contains original copy writing and design by 1 Design Source. Original photography by Jason Mann Photography.

Check it out: www.little-hoppers.com

Seasonal Menu - St. Patrick's Day

2009-02-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

Holiday Menu Ad celebrating St. Patrick's Day created for The Bistro in Egg Harbor. This ad appeared in both local newspapers, The Peninsula Pulse and The Door County Advocate as well as was used within the restaurant and surrounding businesses.

Fresh Look for the New Year

2009-02-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

Liberty Square's New "Story" Campaign.

First ad in the series featuring shopping with side notes about all the other wonderful things available at Liberty Square, including their Bistro. This ad appeared in the Peninsula Pulse and other variations will be appearing in magazines, newspapers, and for other sponsored events and media throughout the year. The ads features copy writing, design, original and stock photography by 1 Design Source.

Liberty Square is located in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin (Door County). Their website, also designed by 1 Design Source, can be found here: www.LibertySquareShops.com.

Busness Card Design

2009-01-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

Business card design for a networking firm located in San Francisco. They were looking for a business card template that includes a simplified logomark from the design of their web header created earlier.

Web Banner with a Web 2.0 Look

2009-01-12T13:15:00.000-08:00

1 Design Source created a web banner for Massively Networked which included both logo development and layout.

The direction of the design was to appeal to forward-thinking entrepreneurs from around the world who are open to changing the way business is done. The site supports active international collaboration by offering expert advice on emergent online business trends and practical training tailored toward activating the power of the global interactive marketplace.

Brand characteristics are progressive, engaging, bold and dynamic.

To see it in action, click here: http://www.massivelynetworked.com/

Construction Web Banner

2008-12-25T13:21:00.000-08:00

Steve P. Rados, Inc is a heavy construction company that has been around since 1922. They had just competed a face-lift to their website but was looking for a new company logo bar to be displayed.

1 Design Source created a vector silhouette from a construction photo utilized from their existing marketing materials, and created a strong look for the name of the company using bold sans serif fonts. The tagline, "Infrastructure Built Right," was also created to fill in the space as well as explain the business philosophy.

See it in action: http://radoscompanies.com/