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Articles on Small Business Branding, Logo Design, Graphic Design and Web Design
I've been writing articles on Brand Design and all its' components—logos, marketing material design, websites, Visual Vocabulary, color and more—for the last several years. The articles are all archived here.
These will give you a basic idea of how to start work on developing your brand, or if you're looking to work with a designer, then these have a good amount of insight into my philosophy and how I think about design for small businesses.
You may reprint any of the articles listed here in your newsletter, on your website, or in a publication. Just include the "About the Author" section and a link back to this site!
Hot Off the Press
Should You Print Your Own Marketing Materials?
June 2009
Clients often ask me if they can print their own marketing materials in order to save money. This is a tricky question, because, yes, of course it's possible to print your own marketing materials so long as you have access to a printer and some paper. So, of course, you can either take a PDF from your designer and print it, or lay something out in Word or Publisher and run it off.
Read More >
How to Design Mailing Labels in Microsoft Word
June 2009
Small businesses might find designing a set of mailing labels to be a cost-effective way to brand their business mail and packages.
... To cash in on these advantages, you need to know how to design mailing labels in Microsoft Word. Here are the steps you'll need to take, along with instructions on how to lay the labels out.
Read More >
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Design Article Library
Logo Elements
The Three-Part Harmony in Your Logo
The 6 Jobs of Your Logo's Icon
The 4 Jobs of Your Logo Font
The 5 Jobs of your Logo's Color Palette
Keep Your Logo Simple
Logos
Logo Design Questions: Answered!
9 Keys to an Effective Logo
Types of Logos: Text, Symbol and Combination Logos
Is Your Business Ready For A Logo?
What Your Logo Designer Needs to Know About Your Business
How to Get the Logo You Want
A Logo Isn't A Tattoo! Why Your Personal Tastes Have Nothing To Do With Your Logo
A Logo Without Your Name... Can Be A Big Branding Pain!
No Logo?: Launching a Business Without a Logo Can Sabotage You
Time to "Get Over" the Rainbow (in your logo, that is)
Logo Files: Versions Of Your Logo That You Should Own
Logo Redesign
Why Entrepreneurs Divorce Their Logos (And Why It's A Bad Idea)
The Domino Effect of Changing Your Logo
Signs It's Time To Redesign Your Company's Brand
Rebranding Is an Excuse to Party in Your Business
Small Business Branding and Brand Definition
What Is A Brand?
The Layers of Your Brand
Why your Business Brand Shouldn't Be An Exact Mirror Image Of You
The Four Red Light Factors For Your Business Brand
Focus Your Definition
Branding Is Like A Fairy Tale...
How To Avoid Having To Market Two Separate Businesses Even If You Offer Two Services
Brand Differentiation
Define Your Difference: To Stand Out and Make Your Business Shine
How to Determine Whether You've Chosen a Good Niche
The Great Fear of Niching... and Why You Need to Get Over It!
The Truth About Your Competition
How Your Business Should Act Like A Snowflake
Brand Identity
15 Reasons Small Businesses Need a Brand Identity System
Connecting With Your Customers Through Your Brand Identity
9 Keys to Building a Stand-Out Brand Identity
Attract More Clients With A Brand Identity
Three Brand Identity Myths That Will Bring Your Business Down
Four More Brand Identity Myths
To Tag Or Not To Tag?
Splitting a Brand Design Project Between Two Design Firms
Marketing Material Design
What Order To Design In?
Making A Great First Impression With Your Marketing Materials
Designing Temporary Materials to Get You Through A Branding Emergency
Create Your Marketing Machine to Plan for Marketing Success
Top 3 Must-Have Marketing Pieces
The Marketing Money-Pit
How To Stand Out At A Trade Show
Marketing Tips
Business Card and Stationery Design
Business Card Basics
Make Sure Your Business Card Stands Out
Contact Information to Include On Your Business Card
The Two-Sided Business Card Debate
Does Your Small Business Need A Digital Or A Printed Letterhead?
How To Design A Digital Letterhead That Works
Envelope versus Mailing Label: Fight
Follow Up Materials
Follow Up With Your Clients
Why You Need To Get An Email Newsletter Service
Designing Your Email Newsletter
Visual Vocabulary
All About Visual Vocabulary and How It Can Help Your Small Business
The 9 Advantages to Using a Visual Vocabulary in Brand Identity Design
The Building Blocks of Visual Vocabulary: Consistency
The Building Blocks of Visual Vocabulary: Flexibility
Font Basics for Branding Your Small Business
Website Design
How Your Small Business Can Benefit from Having a Website
How to Make Sure Your Website Won't Need a Do-Over
How To Make Your Website Structurally Sound
Why Isn't Your Website Working Well?
The Balancing Act of Making Everyone Happy With Your Website
Stop Making Excuses. Your Website Must Match Your Other Marketing Materials
5 Easy Ways to Establish Your Brand Online
Building A One-Page Website
Starter Website Plan for a Service Business
Pages to Include in Your Website
Creating Your Home Page
Get Your Website Launched!
The Art of Website Maintenance
Signs It's Time To Redesign Your Website
Search Engine Optimization and Website Promotion
Search Engine Optimization: It's Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You
Why You Won't Get Instant Gratification From the Search Engines and What to Do About It
Why All The Search Engine Secrecy?
Why Starting A Relationship With The Search Engines Can Be Hard
The Search Engine Trinity
Do You Really Need To Come In First Place?
Your Small Business's Search Engine Ranking Emergency
Getting Your Website Noticed by the Search Engines
How Search Engine Optimization Helps Small Businesses
How to Make Your Website Search-Engine Friendly
You've Created a Business Website: So Now What?
Color
Choosing the Right Color Palette
Color Part 1: Accuracy
Color Part 2: Formats and Systems
Time to "Get Over" the Rainbow (in your logo, that is)
Design Execution
13 Tips for Finding a Graphic Designer
9 Tips for Getting the Best Work From Your Graphic Designer
Good Design Doesn't Get Done In A Day: Part 1 of 2
Good Design Doesn't Get Done In A Day: Part 2 of 2
What Rushing Your Design Project Really Means
Planning Ahead for Visual Consistency
Digital Printing vs. Press Printing—A Comparison Guide
Guest Article: Trademark Basics by Hoang-chi Truong
Technical & Business Articles
Tech Tips
Meeting Expectations
How To Make a Screenshot
About the Author
Erin Ferree, founder of elf design, helps small businesses stand out from their competition so that they can connect with their best customers. She does this by working with business owners to define their brands, and then using that definition to create logos, marketing materials and websites that show how they shine. She also believes that all of a business's brand materials should be not just pretty, but also designed effectively and strategically. This produces a winning combination of materials that communicate visually, look stunning and are designed effectively, which help her clients reach their target audiences.
She writes profusely about design, branding and marketing, and distributes her thoughts on these topics through her eBooks, her blog at www.not-just-pretty.com, and in free articles in her newsletter and on her website, because she believes that all entrepreneurs should have access to information on how to make their brands effective.
You may reprint any of the articles listed here in your newsletter, on your website, or in a publication. Just include the "About the Author" section and a link back to this site! 
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I read your article correlating site design and house architecture and so enjoyed the metaphor that I went to your site. I'm really impressed with your work and inspired to learn more about color usage in corporate branding, specifically.
...I'm going to sign up for your newsletter now.
— Jo Hawke
I very much enjoyed your newsletter, this morning. So many of today's ezines contain nothing useful. Yours is a refreshing change. Helpful info on working with design and designers. Brava.
— Sue Johnston
Wonderful article on "Search Engine Optimization" today! While I know most of these things I don't do them. Hence, the reminder is invaluable!
— Shirley M. Carolan
I especially want to acknowledge my sincere gratitude for all you have offered in advice and in posts and on your blog. Your information is invaluable and I have learned a great deal. I can't do all that I've learned from you but try as I might!!! If I counted every dollar for every hour I pussy-footed around changing my blog template... not signing up for emailbrain sooner — trying to do it my way to save a few $$, and trying to do the Amazon thing on my website — I could have bought a Lexus!!!
I am very grateful for the time and effort you take to respond to questions. You are truly, truly talented.
— Maggie Keenan
I have been really impressed with your site ever since I first found it a couple of months ago. You seem to really know what you're talking about and have a genuine desire to help people in their businesses.
— Allison Chambers
"Thank you so much for writing this article about letterhead. I had reached
the same conclusion, but appreciate hearing it from a professional. I appreciate reading
your newsletters..."
—Michele Zwillinger, PRC
SnoopPro Research
Erin,
A big thanks to you for your web site and the information you offer to others.
I am an executive coach and trainer in Homewood AL who has had difficulty deciding what and how to create a website. Your designs were very clear and specific. Because they are, I was able to 'inscribe my thoughts' inside a 'web box' (that's my name for it, anyway).
In addition, I was able to 'see' how to compose the home page while limiting my more lengthy discourse to specific described pages.
— Kyle
My articles have appeared online at:
Microsoft Office Live
Creative Latitude
RainToday.com
AllBusiness.com
Women In Consulting Best Practices Direct newsletter
Women In Consulting Consultants Direct newsletter
HillsOrient.com
The Your Membership newsletter
SalesPractice.com
WECAI.org — the Women's ECommerce Association, International
The Holistic Business Journal
websitemarketingplan.com
And in print:
Women In Communications newsletter
The Marblehead, MA Chamber of Commerce newsletter
The San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce newsletter
Dynamic Graphics magazine
Even on podcast!
Lee Hopkins' podcast
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