Survey Results: Branded Email Addresses Critical to Professional Image

We had nearly 500 people take our survey about email addresses, and the response was clear. If you run your own business, you need to register your domain and use an email attached to that brand name on all business materials.

Entrepreneurs and business owners should not use free email addresses such as gmail or yahoo in places like their business cards. If you're doing that, you're making a serious error.

70% of your colleagues think you look unprofessional and may even view your business as a scam.

In addition, people think you are lazy, cheap and possibly a fly-by-night organization.

Read all the results and comments in our white paper (available as a PDF download).

Mail On Mark, Custom-Branded E-Newsletters — SAVE 50%

Many of our clients use email marketing to promote their businesses, and we've been desiging and developing e-newsletters for several years. After working with a number of different third party vendors, we've recently launched our own e-newsletter service called Mail On The Mark. We're taking our branding and design expertise and packaging it into an easy-to-use e-newsletter service.

While our competitors force you to use their generic templates and make you do all the set-up work to get it to started, we build you a uniquely designed and custom-branded blueprint for your e-newsletters. Then, all you have to do is enter your content, upload your email list, and send it. It also has amazing reporting and ensures that you are in compliance with Anti-Spam laws.

We will be offering 50% off the set up of all newsletters until October 31. So take a look. If you need help transferring your email lists from Constant Contact or another provider, we'll be happy to assist!

Give me a call at 207-761-4230 or email me: ebrackett@visiblelogic.com to get started.

Coburn Communications: New Logo

Coburn Communications is a Maine-based PR company. The company previously had a logo with a nautical flag feel, but it needed updating.

This logo design harkens to the nautical traditions of Maine with the striped flag similar to the "C" flag used on boats. It also feels reminiscent of rugby shirts and the Cubs logo. The result is a logo that's energetic, has a sense of history and also colorful.

You can see the business cards in our online portfolio.

By the way, Coburn Communications is one of our partners who helps us with developing copy and marketing strategy for our clients! If you're looking for help with the text to go along with the design, we've got you covered.

Educational Endeavors: Web Site Redesign

Visible Logic has been working with Educational Endeavors for about 5 years. We designed the last iteration of their web site in 2006 and we're excited to have redesigned and redeveloped their new site.

We took the opportunity to make changes to both the design as well as the functionality of the site. However, we made sure we kept the same brand identity, by using consistent, but not completely repetitious design elements.

The goals of the web site redesign included:

• Adding a content management system (we created a custom theme in WordPress).
• Adding a slideshow on the home page to make the home page more engaging.
• Updating and reorganizing content to make it more in line with their current offerings.

Read more about the redesign and redevelopment process in this blog post, or see the site live at www.educationalendeavors.org

From Our Blog: WordPress, Airline Branding, Color Systems

I Thought WordPress Was Supposed to be Easy? 5 Myths Busted
WordPress is a blogging and Content Management System (CMS) that we love to use to build our client's sites. However, some people who try to do it all on their own (building the design and functionality from scratch) get frustrated. The key to making it easy to use, is to have a professional do the design and set-up for you. Then you have a very intuitive and friendly system to update and maintain your content. Read more.

Airlines: Weak Brand Identity and Poor Service Translate to No Customer Loyalty
If you've felt confused about "what is branding" an examination of the major US airlines may help you understand the combination of brand identity, customer service and promises that go into buiding a successful (or unsuccessful) brand. Read more.

CMYK, RGB, PMS: Color Systems Defined
Using the proper color system for your needs is critical to accurate color reproduction. Learn about the differences between CMYK, RGB, and Pantone colors and when they are appropriate for use in print vs. web, etc. Read more.