Having a client confess that they are having their daughter's friend's brother (a sophomore in college) take over marketing services for their brand is always a cringe-worthy moment. Most companies and organizations, especially those in their formative years of finding their footing within their given market, often seek avenues of cutting costs to benefit the growth of the brand. Quite often marketing or visual branding is the first casualty of growing pains - and can often be the death of your brand. Your brand is important to the credibility of your message and marketing that is effective and strategically designed creates a memorable impression on your consumers - it allows your customers and clients a window into your company's mission and your ultimate goal of growth and success in the marketplace. "If a company is willing to focus on creating a clean and functional design that is easy to use, then that could be an indicator of what using their product might be like." - Business News Daily Visual branding and communication are key to successful brand marketing and the success of your company depends on how effectively you are perceived by your potential consumers. Each item from your mission statement and logo - to your social media posts and marketing materials - have a vital role in the growth of your brand. Marketing your brand in a professional and strategic way contributes directly to your brand's credibility and perpetuates brand awareness. Brand awareness is important when launching new products and services, and it drives consumers' decisions when differentiating between competing companies. Creating brand awareness requires developing a budget for marketing your brand which may seem impossible at times, however it is a crucial element to the survival of any brand. Professionally designed, strategic marketing materials are the face of your brand and you need to make the best possible impression in order to retain credibility and trust for future consumers - and investors alike. Your daughter's friend's brother may aspire to be a great creative and he may come cheap - but are you willing to forego your brand's success in order to get it done cheap? Ask yourself these questions: Professionally marketing your brand, creating brand awareness and increasing your chances for success does not have to come at a hefty price. Dow by Design is able to truly listen to the mission of your company, understand your goals, develop a strategic marketing plan and fulfill that plan with professionally designed materials (print & digital) - in order to help you make your best impression in the marketplace. Help your daughter's friend's brother by allowing him to finish high school or college - once he gains some experience - he will do great!!! For now, let the professionals help you stay on the road to success... Contact Liz Dow at liz@dowbydesign.com and let's talk about how we can get you there without breaking the bank. #Marketing #Creative #Strategy #Graphics #Advertising #Freelance #Printing #Digital #Professional #Branding #Logos #BestAdvice #DigitalMarketing #AdvertisingandMarketing #VisualDesign #BusinessDevelopment
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Are you hitting the campaign trail this season? Clean, professional-looking campaign materials can help make or break your chances to win, whether you are running for the first time or a seasoned politician seeking re-election. Cutting corners on your campaign materials can make you look unprofessional, lose credibility and kill your campaign.
Dow by Design is a freelance design and print management firm owned and operated Liz Dow. With several notable and successful campaigns under her belt, Liz is able to get you on the road to campaign success with materials that will grab your constituents' attention and communicate your message effectively. "The materials you created made our campaign kick-off look super presidential. Having you manage the design and printing of all of our materials is greatly appreciated!" Dow by Design can help you gain a following with eye-catching designs, reach the masses with strategically targeted direct mailers, and help spread the word and keep your name fresh in the minds of your constituents with professional-looking banners and bumper stickers. Need the bug? No problem. Liz Dow is a member of the Pressmen's Union Local 3, Graphic Communications Conference, International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Designs by Dow that include the union label are produced in conjunction with our favorite, local union print shop. Let Dow by Design handle the design and printing of your campaign materials, so that you can focus on the issues that are truly important in your community and to the success of your campaign. Afterall, with a design by Dow - your campaign is already winning. For a full list of services, please email liz@dowbydesign.com. Visit the Dow by Design online portfolio at www.dowbydesign.com. Advertising Agencies and Marketing Firms looking to get ahead of their competition must engage the best strategy for jumping ahead of the rest. With ever-changing processes and technologies, it can be challenging [and expensive!] for an agency/firm to maintain a team in-house who are capable of keeping up with the fluid essence of the creative industry.
The best advantage a firm can have is to consider the resources available and connect with those resources to secure the absolute best outcome. Being number one. Your graphic design and print management resource is here, and we can save you the time and money you need to look your best and keep your clients happy. Dow by Design is looking to align with ad agencies and marketing firms looking to stand out from the competition. Outsourcing creative resources is a primary avenue to improve your profitability, get fresh creative perspective for your clients, and look like a hero. Some agencies/firms are stuck in the rut of dishing out $55,000+ annual salaries in addition to benefits for a full-time creative staff member. Outsourcing your creative work could save you thousands of dollars in salary, equipment, benefits and more. Agencies and firms that are focused on keeping their clients satisfied and their bottom line in check often outsource resources such as graphic design. Dow by Design is here to help - your "go-to" for graphic design and print management. Print collateral, signage, promotional products, apparel, digital graphics and more. Our vendor pricing is competitive and we will work hard, so you can have more time at the beach this Summer :) Dow by Design is a freelance graphic design and print management firm, owned and operated by Liz Dow. A graduate of N.E. School of Art and Design, where she majored in Graphic Design with a concentration in Advertising, Liz also studied Illustration at Mass College of Art and general studies at Savannah College of Art. Liz started her career in the Art Department at Hill, Holiday, Connors & Cosmopolis and in the production department of Little, Brown and Company's Medical and Law Division. Seeking knowledge of the printing process, she began her career in the printing industry, learning print production and finessing her graphic design and communication skills. Prior to the establishment of Dow by Design, Liz was Lead Creative and Director of Business Development for a local South Shore printing company. Contact Dow by Design to discuss the possibility of outsourcing your creative services at liz@dowbydesign.com. Visit the online portfolio at www.dowbydesign.com Back in the '90's I was in my glory. Working around the clock for a small advertising agency on the South Shore, eating cold pizza at midnight and living the dream. I was young, full of all sorts of creative energy - ready and rearing to take over the advertising world. I had recently graduated from the New England School of Art & Design and had completed my Summer internship at Hill Holiday Connors Cosmopolis, where I was able to get first class mentoring and pack my portfolio with the most creative slicks this side of the Mississippi! Nothing could stop me now!
In short order, I found myself shacked up at a drafting table pasting-up mechanicals with the production assistant....I think his name was Art. Oh the irony! The firm had just installed it's first Mac. It was squirreled away in a dark corner of the office, where I think the Creative Director hoped it would start performing creative miracles independently when no one was looking. As I sat on my stool perched above the next Honda ad to hit the Ledger, I dreamt of sneaking into that cubicle to play with that beautiful box filled with potential and proving myself to be the second coming of David Ogilvy. I would be jolted awake periodically by the Art Director who would be racing by my table shouting "What it is, Liz!" - all I can remember about this guy is that he was full of energy as he ran by my desk at least 20 times a day, he drank Moxy®, and he loved shouting "What it is, Liz!" as he ran by my art table - making me jump 10 feet - every. Single. Time. My time at this small agency was short, as the financial market was crashing and they ultimately folded, not long after a company wide lay-off. Fast-forward 25 years (give or take a few)... I designed my career around learning the best practices for success in the creative industry. I learned quickly that my skill set was versatile and that my creative skills could be not only useful, but a valuable entity to virtually any industry. I learned print production, hands-on, self-taught on the full Adobe Creative Suite, Black Baud Luminate Online, Salesforce, as well as Microsoft Office. I have worked with Emmy-award winning producers, executives in the financial, medical, and retail industries, publishers, authors, lawyers, politicians, and non-profit organizations. The fabric of my career has been varied and has given me the gift of unique understanding of different industries and their nuances. I have found that "listening" has become a lost art among many industries. My success comes from the fact that I enjoy listening to people and really understanding their creative needs. For years, friends and colleagues have begged the question, "Why don't you start your own business?" Well, the answer was complicated. Would there be business to have? Would I be successful at it? What if there was too much business? (Yes, I really asked myself that question!)... In 2016 I found myself thinking that I could truly make a difference in the world by helping businesses and organizations improve their image. Creatively designed marketing pieces with thoughtfully placed words are the tools I use to help make that difference. My friends and colleagues may be biased, because they enjoy working with me and they adore my work because I do something not many other creatives do. I listen. This firm was born from my passion to help businesses and organizations look good. Dow by Design enables me to give personalized service to those seeking professionally designed marketing materials at a reasonable rate. I enjoy what I do and I look forward to working with each and every one of you! |
Word.Telling it like it is - a few words of wisdom on many subjects that may help you in your search for a better looking face for your business. Archives
November 2018
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