BlogmyQuery – BMQ

Google is the world’s largest business directory – any search brings up a huge number of competing organisations trying to get noticed.  As more traffic is driven by Google each day, it is becoming a necessity to stand out in search listings.

 

Since June 2011, you may have noticed pictures of authors next to search results for their articles. These authors have linked their work to their Google profiles in an effort to attract more clicks – a picture and byline can draw attention towards a page, and can link to other work by that person.

There are obvious potential benefits to a Google authorship profile – a photo and name are eye-catching and will make a website stand out next to other search results, but some have suggested that it isn’t worth it.

Having your name and picture displayed in search results requires setting up an account on Google plus, the search engine’s answer to Facebook. Authorship has been criticised as just one way for the search engine to use its domination to promote Google plus.

Tying your professional design work to your Google profile can make some people uneasy, especially if you use Google plus in a social capacity – mixing your personal and professional life online can be a concern for some people.

However, there are other benefits to having an authorship profile beyond seeing your picture next to search results. As Google gives better rankings to websites linked to Google profiles, authorship can boost your visibility to potential clients. Perhaps most importantly, a Google profile makes your work more personal – if a client can see who is behind a website, they will feel a more personal connection, and may feel more comfortable hiring you.

Your Google profile can also display a wide range of other design projects you have done, in effect an online portfolio.

A Google authorship profile does require work to set up, and a degree of professionalism on your authorship profile, but the advantage of adding a personal touch to your work will make it worth it for many.

How to set up a Google authorship profile

First, you need to set up a Google plus profile at plus.google.com. Fill in your details, including a professional picture and some of your details. For Google to verify you as a legitimate author, your profile must be fleshed out with some detail about you, but edit your privacy settings to make sure that certain private details, such as your telephone number, are not made public. The more active you are on Google plus, the more Google will trust you, resulting in higher search rankings.

When editing your profile, add the websites where your content is hosted to the ‘contributor to’ box. You must then link your website to your Google plus profile, which can be done by providing an email address that links to your website, or by adding some simple code to your website.

Google will then take some time to verify you as the author of the work, but eventually your authorship profile will show up alongside your search listings.

The post Google authorship profile: A do or don’t for design professionals? appeared first on Design Reviver.

As potential customers, people come to an exhibition or to your office to find the next diamond in the rough, the designer that will understand their business needs and someone with a creative streak.
In one short meeting, or even if they simply visit your stand and you are too busy to talk, how do you make sure that the opportunity to convert them from potential customer to actual client isn’t wasted?
First impressions are important! Often at product launches or industry conferences and exhibitions you get just one chance to make an impact on that prospective client. Scribbling your name and email address on a tea-stained post-it note will get you remembered, but for the wrong reasons! Always be prepared – carry a few business cards on you and regularly top your wallet up.

Prospective clients will shop around at an exhibition and will end up taking a bagful of brochures, leaflets and business cards home with them. We have all done it. The likelyhood is that they will only contact a small fraction of these so the aim is to be as different and innovative as you can so that you are remembered for the right reasons. Avoid having a typical corporate business cards design – aim for something more unique.

The way people do business has changed and as a consequence, business cards have changed too. They used to be standard, the more raised and gilted the lettering; the more important your role in a business, but then they needed more information on them: A logo, your full address, telephone, cell phone number and normally a hook line. Now that people are used to being sent to a website to view your portfolio, you really need to provide three things:

1. A website address
2. An email address
3. A reason to take a look at your website and contact you

So, how do you get the client to contact you first rather than chasing them up?

Be creative, generate intrigue and interest. Have a point of difference! If you’re a designer, show them what you would be doing for their business. If you can’t do it for yourself, why would they hire you?

MiniCards are a great idea. Half the size of a normal business card, they might be little, but they do pack a mighty punch! With a variety of different uses, it’s sometimes tricky to list them all – event cards, name cards, mini business cards, swing tags, gift tags, save the dates, promotional cards and cards to show off your photography or design. Unique in size and shape MiniCards work well with Printfinity, our option to print a different image on every card in a pack. Fan them out and ask people to pick a favorite, fill a giant wine glass with them, attach them to retro sweets, or place them in with customer orders as a cost effective way to brand your products. Printed on thick paper stock and finished with a matte laminate, the cards have a smooth satin feel. They’re smart enough to promote your brand, and a fun way to open up a conversation. You will find that everyone does a double take when they first see a minicard.

MOO Giveaway With Design Reviver

Design Reviver are pleased to be working with the guys at MOO.com in offering a giveaway to win some of their MiniCards and Business Cards! In case you?ve not come across MOO before, they are business card printing specialists, but also love to print greeting cards, MiniCards, stickers, postcards and labels – MOO do it all!

A Little More About MOO

MOO was born from a passion of beautiful, high-quality print and design – they make creating and printing your own unique visions so easy. You can choose one of their business card templates or upload your own artwork to create truly unique, creative products.

Competition Prizes

Grand Prize Winner – 1 lucky winner will win a set of 100 MOO Business Cards AND 100 MOO MiniCards.
Runners Up Winners – 4 runners up will win a set of 100 MOO MiniCards.

How to win

To be in with a chance of winning one of the MOO prizes, all you have to do is leave a comment below and tell us how you would make your business cards stand out from the crowd. Be creative, fun and most importantly unique! If you make us smile you’re in with a great chance of winning some great prizes.
Winners will be selected from the comments below. Please remember to enter a valid email address so we can send you your free stuff.

The post How To Make an Impact with Eye Catching Business Card Design appeared first on Design Reviver.

Are you a web designer or developer who wonders if you are getting paid what you feel your skills are worth? Although earnings will always vary depending on geographical location, basing your skills set and experience on a solid foundation of raw talent is still what really counts in this industry.

With the employment of graphic and web designers set to expand by between 7% and 13% by 2018 this infographic will give you a better idea about the areas in which you should be honing your skills in order to improve your salary.

Average Salary for Web Design and Web Developer jobs

Dona Collins is an infographic artist, blogger and financial writer at CreditLoan.com. When she is free you can find her on twitter and other times you can find her writing articles for creditloan blog.