For the
last few months, we’ve been trying to share one article a day with our
colleagues and clients via Twitter (@InfusionStudio1). Just one
article – often a blog post really. Something that will take mere minutes from
your day to read. But that will keep you thinking for some time afterwards.
Most of the articles and posts we share relate to small-business owners, or else the ideas they contain could be applied to a business of any size. And we toss in a few design-related ones each week. Nothing too technical, usually an article that would also be of interest and/or inspiration to a business owner venturing into the world of logo design or advertising. Or maybe something that’s just for fun, like the best design books of the year or the world’s coolest office spaces.
And
now, for those whose lives do not move at the speed of Twitter, we’re going to
start a weekly round-up of our recommended articles.
Earlier
this week, the Infusion Studio team was talking about how often we all wear our
“customer hats.” Small-business owners are often so busy putting on and off
their accounting, marketing, legal, product development, creative, etc. etc
hats, we never think to step back and pretend to be the customer. “How
to Examine Your Business from a Customer’s Perspective” from YFS Magazine walks you through four ways
in which you can give your business this important critique. Highly recommended
– whether you run a plumbing company or a law practice or a nail salon or...
fill in the blank.
In keeping with the customer-hat theme is “Reality Check: What You See vs. What They See” from Fox Small Business. A quick read that will get you asking four questions to determine the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. For example, how often do you use the words “I/we” in your promo materials, versus the customer-oriented “you”?
This week’s recommended design article, actually a book review, “100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design” from Brainpickings.org is fun inspiration for anyone struggling to come up with their next marketing idea. Check out the examples of design firsts, ranging from the cover of a 1962 teen magazine (representing the first time teenagers were treated as adults from a marketing perspective) to “found typography” (the use of everyday objects to represent letters of the alphabet). Tossing around suggestions for your new ad or flyer will take on a whole new scope after you scroll through these innovative ideas. Suddenly, nothing is off limits – and isn’t that what brainstorming is all about?
Check back here next Friday to see what we're reading in the coming days -- or follow us on Twitter (@InfusionStudio1) for the daily recommendations. Suggestions always welcome!
In keeping with the customer-hat theme is “Reality Check: What You See vs. What They See” from Fox Small Business. A quick read that will get you asking four questions to determine the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. For example, how often do you use the words “I/we” in your promo materials, versus the customer-oriented “you”?
This week’s recommended design article, actually a book review, “100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design” from Brainpickings.org is fun inspiration for anyone struggling to come up with their next marketing idea. Check out the examples of design firsts, ranging from the cover of a 1962 teen magazine (representing the first time teenagers were treated as adults from a marketing perspective) to “found typography” (the use of everyday objects to represent letters of the alphabet). Tossing around suggestions for your new ad or flyer will take on a whole new scope after you scroll through these innovative ideas. Suddenly, nothing is off limits – and isn’t that what brainstorming is all about?
Check back here next Friday to see what we're reading in the coming days -- or follow us on Twitter (@InfusionStudio1) for the daily recommendations. Suggestions always welcome!
