web marketing Archives - Moonstruck Marketing

Special Techniques and Finishing Touches for Business Cards

We all know that a true masterpiece is only complete once the finishing touches have been added. So when you are designing your business cards and you are ready to have them printed ask yourself: Have you added on the finishes touches you desire? Creatively designed business cards can stand on their own but did you know that there are a variety of special techniques and finishing touches you can add to your card to really wow your audience.

Here are a couple of special technques you can add to your next graphic design project:

SPOT UV COATING

This special finish is achieved by applying a clear varnish to an area of the card that you want to draw the

June 19th, 2012|Graphic Design|

Successful Email Marketing Tips

Putting together an email marketing campaign is a great way to reach out to clients and share information with them. But with the average business owner receiving so many emails on a daily basis, it is important that yours doesn’t get lost in with all the others. Here are some great tips on email marketing and how you can make your next email campaign get you the results you’re looking for.

Don’t Cram Everything Into Your Email

If you’re sending an email or newsletter you may have a lot of information you want to feature in the message. But the more information you pack into an email, the higher the chance the recipient’s eyes will simply skim right over

June 11th, 2012|Moonstruck Marketing|

The History of Graphic Design

Have you ever wondered about the origin of the industry you work in? Or how the trade was developed and during what century? Well the other day while doing some research on graphic trends I found a website that was all about the history of graphic design. I was amazed to learn some extremely interesting facts about what I love to do. For instance, there’s a whole section on how handwriting evolved and developed into print.

I found that this information can help you expand your skills and open your eyes to some great ideas that have been repeated through time. So if you are a web developer, learning the history of the computer sciences and the start

May 2nd, 2012|Uncategorized|

Top Tips For Naming Your Business

Deciding on a good brand name for your business is imperative when starting up your business. The best brand name is the one that can travel around the world easily and without any language or trade names problems. You need to choose a name which is broad enough to give your business enough room to grow and expand. And most importantly a brand name should convey you business message is an understandable and clear way.

So here are some great tips to keep in mind when naming your business or product or service.

Make it easy to spell

Ideally your name should only need to be spelt once to a new client. Names that are difficult to spell should be

April 26th, 2012|Branding and Identity|

Great Business Tips for Facebook Success

Facebook is a great way to connect with friends, family, and co-workers around the world. Although it was designed as a top social media site it has become a highly effective business tool.

According to BizBest.com, an estimated 42% of small businesses in the U.S. now have a Facebook page. And about 70% of small businesses overall plan to use social media this year. It’s great for marketing your products and services, share contacts, and connecting with your customers. Here are some smart ways your business can use Facebook to their advantage.

Avoid the “business hours” trap

Most businesses post content to their Facebook pages during the middle of the day (roughly 10 am to 4 pm). But that’s not

April 5th, 2012|Moonstruck Marketing|

Top 10 Websites for Designers

Sometimes even web designers need to check out other websites for ideas. Check out these Top 10 Websites for Designers listed in a recent article of HOW Magazine!

Jessica Fortner Illustration: Portfolio of Toronto-based illustrator Jessica Fortner, who is co-founder, editor and designer of the online arts magazine Squidface & The Meddler. A design enthusiast, she is particularly fond of sustainable design, interface design and typography.

Ruud van Eijk Design: The portfolio of Ruud van Eijk, a young designer from the Netherlands, has a frenetic energy and outrageous color palette.

Klas Fahlen: Swedish illustrator Klas Fahlen combines a vintage sensibility with contemporary style.

Ten Paces and Draw: Ten Paces and Draw is a blog about collaboration and illustration that features sketch

March 28th, 2012|Moonstruck Marketing|

Marketing Tips For Every Start-Up Business

In recent times, many people have stepped away from working for someone else and have decided to begin a business of their own. Owning and operating your own start-up business is something many people strive for yet many face obstacles along the way. Although the concept may come easily to you, there are many hurdles to jump before success can be achieved. Here are some tips to follow so you can start up your own business and achieve your goals and ultimately your dream business.

Go Where Your Customers Are

While trade shows, social media coverage and other outlets are important; nothing beats face-to-face customer interaction. If you’re using social media and your customers are too, make sure you’re

March 24th, 2012|Moonstruck Marketing|

Looking for Graphic Design Inspiration?

Websites and social networks are great resources for finding and sharing inspiring images. Most designers looking for a little creative inspiration for website sites look to other innovative web designers to get their creative juices flowing. However, the web is not the only places to seek out for inspiring images and artwork. Sometimes professional graphic designers turn to local museums for a dose of inspiration for their work – and to share their creativity with others. Below is a list of some top museums around the Tampa Bay area whose art can often motivate your next big deign idea.

1. St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts

Established by Margaret Acheson Stuart, the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts’ collection

March 18th, 2012|Branding and Identity|

WHY CAN’T I USE AN IMAGE FROM THE WEB FOR PRINT?

Have you ever downloaded a picture off the Internet and printed it only to find it blurry and pixilated. Although using pictures found on the internet is easy and free, many people aren’t aware that it will not only result in poor quality but most of the time it is also illegal to download most images.

The main reason the images look so blurry is due to the low resolution (level of detail). In print projects, resolution is key. If the image that you use doesn’t have high enough resolution, they will appear fuzzy or blurry. Most professional printers require a minimum of 300 dpi for all images at the final print size. DPI, which stands for “Dots

March 6th, 2012|Graphic Design|

Graphic and Web Design Competitions and Contests

If you are a graphic designer, web designer, or just plain creative you may be interested in checking out some design competitions to help showcase and recognize your artwork. Below is a few of the many design competitions and how you can be a part of it. It’s not only great for networking, and inspiration, but you never know where your next big opportunity awaits!

Harpers Wine and Spirit 2012 Design Awards

Harpers Wine and Spirit is calling for entries to its 2012, Design Awards. The awards are aimed at businesses that have recently re-designed or launched their drinks brand, or to agencies that represent a well-designed and innovative product.

The Design Guild Mark 2012

The Furniture Makers’ Company are calling

February 23rd, 2012|Branding and Identity, Graphic Design, Moonstruck Marketing|