Did you know that 83% of information processed is done visually? Let’s face it, we are a visual culture and that isn’t going to change anytime soon.

Recent proof continues to prove that our affinity for visuals is growing:

• Instagram, a photo sharing application just sold for 1 Billion dollars.

• Pinterest, a photo scrapbooking website generates more referral traffic than Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn combined.

• Just take a look at how Facebook is progressing with Timeline… you will notice that layout is a lot more visual than the old layout and results with our Facebook accounts show that images receive the most “likes” and “shares.”

Here are some ways to take a visual approach online!

1. Let Your Website Attract Through Pictures

Do not forget that your website is still the heart of your online marketing — and probably your overall marketing!!

Here at Infinite our website receives heavy traffic via search engines for people looking to hire a “Search Engine Optimization” firm. Receiving this feedback from our analytics, we developed a visual banner on the homepage that communicates directly to visitors who are inquiring about that service. The highly-visual graphic banner is one of the highest “clicked” elements of our site!

For your website think about using:

• Real photography! Photographs of your staff and facilities build greater trust.

• Call to action banners that include benefits/results/ and promotional offers.

2. Videos Make It Easier

If you have a product/service that is both expensive or is technical and needs explanation, video is an absolute must!

People would rather watch an instructional video than read an instructional manual. Check out the video we created for Vocado, a project-management service for vocational schools (the video is framed in the iPad):

3. Infographics Get More Attention

Infographics are very popular right now and provide you a great opportunity to receive increased exposure.

Copyblogger, a leading resource for copywriting and content marketing developed an infographic about grammar mistakes that many of people make entitled, “15 Grammar Goofs That Make You Look Silly” (click to view). Between January 1^st and March 5^th they received 15,000 visits to their website just from the infographic on Pinterest.

Think about ways that you can make your content and information more visual so that it appeals to our natural preference for learning.

4. Facebook Timeline Banner/Twitter Background

This is prime real estate to use exciting visuals that personalize your brand. Our approaches to creating these are to include images of people because of the fundamental business rule that people buy from people and those who they identify with.

Make sure you include images of your staff, customers and of your facilities. Facebook fans and Twitter followers love images; we’ve seen this proven, as the timeline banner we created for Sally Kashani DDS (above) has received 12 likes already.

Infinite Communications is proven in creating visual imagery that is appealing and delivers results. Don’t take an apathetic approach. Contact us today (818) 990 9843 to design your engaging content. We promise to make it visual engaging!

A father and son both own cabinet installation companies, the son’s business is thriving while the father’s is struggling, what is the difference? Why is the son’s business working with larger corporate clients and earning greater profits?

One significant difference is that the son invested in branding his company while his father never did. When we talk about branding, we are not talking about just a logo, we are referring to the set of tools used to market a business and the experiences your customers have with your business. It is the perception you want people to have about your business.

Using visual and verbal consistency to promote your brand is a great first step. Building a brand is not about short-term results but about long-term results, it takes vision and dedication. And yes, every small business can accomplish this, here are the ways we worked with our client Cheyenne Dental Group to build a successful brand:

1. Defining the business and how we want to be perceived

Cheyenne Dental Group was started by Dr. My G. Tran, DDS, a dentist younger than most of his peers. He wanted to emphasize that his office incorporates the latest technology that is more advanced than surrounding competitors. However, unlike other state-of-the-art practices, Cheyenne Dental Group is affordable for most patients.

2. Determining the audience

Cheyenne Dental Group’s focus was to penetrate the Las Vegas community, a community that is saturated with dental practices, so we focused on a target audience – younger families and young couples. Research showed that the female in the family generally makes healthcare decisions; and the brand identity was developed to connect with the female audience. Dr. Tran wanted his patients to feel comfortable that his practice can provide comprehensive care for every family member.

3. Telling our story, one that people will remember

The visual illustration we developed of a young couple dancing on grass and a smiling cloud, exclaiming “When you smile…The world smiles back.” is an advertisement that the community has associated with Cheyenne Dental Group over the past 3 years. The ad was meant to signify that having a healthy and beautiful smile makes a positive impact. Along with the illustration we included a coupon that provides a financial incentive for people to experience care at Cheyenne Dental Group. In this ad, we were able to accomplish two things, show that Cheyenne cares about the health of a person’s smile and provides it at an affordable rate.

4. Consistency and details matter

Cheyenne’s colors, logo, and curved styling are all a part of their visual identity system used on all marketing collateral to maintain a consistent brand identity. The curves in the design are supposed to portray friendliness and engage the female audience, while the metallic shine on the logo communicate the cleanliness of the office.

We used these design elements and messages on all of the practice’s print collateral, web design and email marketing. Patients began to quickly identify what the logo, pictures and colors represented.

5. Follow-through with the customer experience

The perception you build with the branding design and messaging has to align with the reality of your service. Nike and Apple do a great job bringing the brands to life, when you walk into those company stores there is a specific experience they provide.

Again, Branding is not as simple as a logo, or consistent designs, it is a holistic approach of how you portray your business and follow through. Cheyenne Dental Group has been very successful with its brand; it makes a promise through visual and verbal consistency and keeps the promise with the patient experience.

Cheyenne Dental Group is a lot like Apple and Nike, it promises to provide “the premier dental experience”, and it follows through; from the friendliness of the front desk, to the flat screen televisions, and digital x-ray machines they use for exams.

If you have spoken to a personal trainer or read about fitness, you’ve learned about the importance of your core muscles. Strengthen your core muscles, and you will inevitably strengthen your body’s other muscles. Your website should be viewed as the Core of your online marketing, ensuring its strength, will strengthen the rest of your marketing.

While there is a new popular social media platform or online marketing tool every couple months, your website remains the most valuable asset because of the control you maintain. If optimized, your website is typically one of the top results when someone Google’s your business, so placing your focus here before signing up for that new social media site should be your priority.

Here are 6 approaches you should take:

1. Have a clear and easy-to-see headline that tells people the purpose of your business. Don’t assume that people know what your company does. Using large fonts for headlines that attract attention and descriptive call-to-actions will enhance the user experience.

2. If you’re directly selling a product or service, you should explain why they need to buy and the advantages of your product in a bullet point format.

3. Give to get, if you want to get email addresses for your email marketing or attract more Facebook likes, give something away. For example, a dentist can mail a free toothbrush to people in a 5-mile radius if they join his/her email list.

4. Organization matters, treat each web page with a purpose by driving your visitor with one key message on each page.

5. Make the fonts and messaging on your website legible to all audiences. Contrary to what people believe, older people do read websites, and size 12, light grey fonts may not be legible for them.

6. Use contrasting color/shapes to make certain links and messages stand out.

Infinite Communications specializes in creating web sites and marketing material that are impressive, easy to understand and intriguing. If your business can benefit from our design expertise, call us at 818.990.9843.

You might be in the market for a new company logo, or are starting a new business and the first thing that comes to mind is that you need a logo. You’re shopping around for quotes and getting such a wide range of costs.

Let’s review why you are getting a wide range of prices.

The short answer is “You Get What You Pay For.” The more thorough answer below outlines why it is not smart to skimp out on this necessary investment.

Your company logo is usually the first piece of visual communication that speaks about your business. As a matter of fact, 85% of information processed by the brain of all humans is visual.

A company logo speaks tremendously about your business – is your business?

• Innovative
• Expensive/ high-end
• Affordable
• Long-established
• Family friendly
• etc.

There are many options for logo design, one is an Online logo shop – where you can purchase a logo from a website, it can be a template or a some random designers you haven’t met interpreting your ideas. Having your logo designed by an online shop for a couple hundred dollars is almost guaranteeing that your company logo will not stand out. Most of these designs are “cookie-cutter” templates and that will reflect in what people think about your business upon first impressions.

So is it worth to pay the price for a design firm to customize your company logo?

Decide for yourself. Below is the 4-Step Process To The Perfect Logo that Infinite Communications created and uses with every one of our clients.

1. Logos You Like

Before any logos are designed, we complete a logo design questionnaire. This allows us to know how you want your brand to be perceived and what elements are vital in its design.

The discovery process includes:
• Completed logo design questionnaire
• Research on currently successful logos in your industry
• Exchanging current logos you/we like

2. Sketch Your Vision Into Reality

Now that we know what direction to take your logo we create a series of graphic sketches to illustrate the logo on paper. These sketches include the basic logo layout, composition, and graphic icons we think communicate your brand.

Below are some logo sketches we designed in this part of the process for Blooming Steps Physical Therapy.

3. Black/White Details First!

Colors have a large impact on people’s impression about a logo, including yourself when you are deciding on a final look in this process. Thus, before we provide you color options we first create a detailed PDF file of the final look in black/white.

The advantage is two folds:
• See the logo in full details (high-res PDF)
• Approve the logo layout/composition without being influenced by color choice

4. The Perfect Color Combination

Finally we provide you an unlimited amount of color options to bring your logo to life. We use Pantone color swatches and the latest color-guides to make sure your colors are harmonious and print-friendly!

If you would like to work with us on your company logo – feel free to email us today or call us @ 818.990.9843!

Do you like to impress people?

Last week, I was invited to join a panel at the LA Business Expo with 3 other Internet marketers – we were requested to discuss how small business owners can use Internet marketing to increase sales. After the discussion, each panelist left his business card on the table for the audience of about 100 to pick up – I couldn’t help but grin when audience member after audience member commented on how nice my business cards are. They were impressed.

Our business card is made of silk stock material, has a spot uv for a shine, and is bright yellow  on one side (just to make sure it is noticeable on a messy office desk.)

Because it stands out, it conveys our attention to detail, and is a tangible example of our ability to create extraordinary marketing collateral.

We have to give credit to Emanuel Separzadeh, of Trimax Capital Group – one of my early mentors who gave me a crash course on   starting a business. He harped on us to create a business card that differentiated our company from others. I said  ”wait a Yellow Business card? Won’t that turn off the older business demographic?”

No. He made it clear that it will define our company’s position as a progressive marketing and public relations firm. Its true, we embody our cards, we are young, cool, and love to impress people!

Can your brand design impress people? How can it define your company?

Let us know.