The latest posts from Reverse Design http://www.reverse-design.com/blog Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:33:57 +0000 FeedCreator 1.8.0-dev (info@mypapit.net) http://www.reverse-design.com/images/reverse-design-pos.png http://www.reverse-design.com Feed provided by Reverse Design. Click to visit. http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/84
LLMC, the Lincolnshire Leadership and Management Centre based at the University of Lincoln, has launched its website today – designed by Reverse Design. 
http://bit.ly/IognPq or www.llmc.org.uk 

The site has been created to present the LLMC's support offered via the University's Business and Law Faculty to SMEs in our area and across the UK, through its people, courses, events and facilities. From my experience of the Robust Futures programme for small and medium-sized businesses, I can honestly say that the input into Reverse Design ha..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:28:44 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/84 http://www.reverse-design.com/blog/83
Yesterday, after delivering a talk at Nottingham Trent University, I had a little time to spend before catching my train back to Lincoln. So, I wandered up to the Castle Museum to see the travelling Anish Kapoor exhibition. It featured a few of his smaller, early works which I believe are not frequently displayed. In this small, intimate show in the upstairs long gallery, you can see the beginnings of experimentation and investigation in movement and the propeties of materials and surfaces. For example, the smaller works using red wax pointed towards the development of the monumental..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:23:40 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/blog/83 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/82
I'm sure that most business owners would shout No!! But is this what is happening in practice? Well, yes and no. According to a recent Marketing Donut survey, word-of-mouth marketing through referrals and recommendations, are currently replacing more traditional methods, such as direct mail and directory listings. Linked In is a great example of the power of this approach.
I believe that these low-cost, slow-burn marketing methods have their place right alongside companies' existing communications tools. Of prime importance here are corporate websites. However, although most S..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:17:51 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/82 http://www.reverse-design.com/blog/81 Check this out! A Conneticut-based designer and illustrator has been drawing something, anything, every weekday for the last four years. Tomorrow will be the 1000th and final drawing. Have a look, here: http://kck.st/rrPULV 
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:34:50 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/blog/81 http://www.reverse-design.com/blog/80 If you know of any talented young creatives, needing funding or support to launch their ideas, why not point them towards IdeasTap. It's a fantastic information resource.  www.ideastap.com
 
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:50:31 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/blog/80 http://www.reverse-design.com/blog/79
Reverse Design will be making a presentation to the BizMidlands networking group on the importance of design and identity for small businesses. The talk will focus on how good design can create marketing tools that enhance and sell products and services.
 
Where?
Holiday Inn, Brayford Wharf North, Lincoln LN1 1YW.
 
When?
Friday 18 November 2011, 8.30 am – 11.30 am.
 
More details on our News page.
 
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:50:37 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/blog/79 http://www.reverse-design.com/blog/77  
What is your corporate message and how are you getting it across? Reverse Design and other Lincolnshire creative agencies are presenting a special half day Bootcamp, exploring ideas for corporate identity and branding.
Where? The Robert Hardy Suite, Bishop Grosseteste College, Longdales Road, Lincoln LN1 3DY.


When? Wednesday 2 November 2011, 8.30 am – 2.00 pm, with lunch included 
 
Organised by Russell Payne & Co Chartered Accountants, Lincoln.
Specialists in Business Growth.
 ]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:59:19 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/blog/77 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/76  

HOW TO CREATE A BRAND: A GUIDE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
10: HOW TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE AND AFFORDABLE SMALL BUSINESS BRAND IDENTITY
 
In this blog series, we've looked at definitions of what brands are and what they stand for. We have also examined some of the tools within their brand identities that they use to communicate with us, as consumers.
 
In this final series post, we'll look at a 10 Point Plan for creating an effective and affordable small business brand. Although there are distinct differences between creating a brand ..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:04:44 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/76 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/75  
HOW TO CREATE A BRAND: A GUIDE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
9 BRAND IDENTITY: WHY YOU NEED A DESIGNER
 
So far, we've looked at what brands are, what they stand for and looked at the tools they employ to communicate with their audiences. Here, we'll look at how professional help from qualified and enthusiastic professional can help you to create a brand identity that will become a valuable asset to your company. 
Please note the distinction between 'brand' and 'brand identity'. Your brand embodies the totality of what your customers' experience..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:20:16 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/75 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/74  
HOW TO CREATE A BRAND: A GUIDE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
8: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
 
So far, we've established what brands represent; the promises (and means of fulfilment) that companies or organisations make to their audiences, as well as how they fulfil them. Also, that there is a visual presentation, or 'brand language', used to distinguish individual brands when communicating with those audiences.
How can these ideas and elements be combined effectively to produce brand communications that demand attention? Put simply, they must all work togethe..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:14:14 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/74 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/73  
HOW TO CREATE A BRAND: A GUIDE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
7: BRAND LANGUAGE: CONSISTENCY
 
Quality communications can be maintained over time. We know the importance of imagery and text when building brand identity, so lets look at keeping some consistency in those messages.   
'Tone of voice' is often mentioned in connection with corporate identities. This means that, over time, we come to recognise the distinctive ways in which different brands communicate with us. With this recognition comes an expectation of how those will speak to us thr..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:32:30 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/73 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/71  
 
HOW TO CREATE A BRAND: A GUIDE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
6: BRAND LANGUAGE: TEXT
 
In advertising and marketing, we tend to think of brands as primarily visual in nature. However, the textual language of brands can be just as powerful, allowing the essence of a brand to remain in the memory long after the visuals have faded from view. 
 


This works in the same way as an 'earworm' – a song (often a rubbish one)that gets stuck in your head and refuses to leave. The difference is that in marketing, it'..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:50:56 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/71 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/70  
HOW TO CREATE A BRAND: A GUIDE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
5: BRAND LANGUAGE: IMAGERY
 

In the next three posts we're going to look at brand tools. These are the component parts of a brand that we all recognise; imagery, text and language.  The last of the three posts will cover how to put them all together consistently to create strong brand communications.
Imagery is an important element of brand presentation. The way in which photographs, illustrations, charts and diagrams and other forms of imagery are designed and used communicate much..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:31:07 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/70 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/69  
HOW TO CREATE A BRAND: A GUIDE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
4: THE UNIQUE SELLING POINT: FINDING IT AND USING IT
  
What's the key to creating a credible brand image? How can you represent what your company does in an engaging way that can really mean something of value to existing and potential customers?
Find something interesting to say, then keep saying it
Here's an exercise for you: compare your product or service offer to three of your competitors. Look at the promises you're making in area such as service standards, quality, value for ..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:31:19 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/69 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/68  
HOW TO CREATE A BRAND: A GUIDE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
3: BRAND VALUE

 


Brands = money.


Or at least, that is the potential they hold. As you'll discover here, this is as important for your small business as for large corporates.
Up until around the mid-1980s, the notion of brand value was essentially an academic, paper exercise. Since then, the measurement and subsequent valuation of brands (brand equity) has become big business, requiring large companies to constantly monitor the relative position..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:59:52 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/68 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/67
HOW TO CREATE A BRAND: A GUIDE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
2: A LOGO DOESN'T MAKE A BRAND
 

Image by Poppy Thomas-Hill

For start-up companies in particular, a logo can only tell people who you are, not what business promises you're making or how your products or services are represented.

So what constitutes the totality of a brand and how it can be used to sell a business more effectively?
A good business start-up can and should be a long time in the making – areas such as the competitive environment, market co..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:40:12 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/67 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/66

HOW TO CREATE A BRAND: A GUIDE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
1: BRANDS AND THE NOTION OF TRUST

'Beans means Heinz'. Generations of consumers have been brought up with this claim. It's a well-known example of how we all make decisions based on trust, whether it is a brand of food or a make of car.


Flickr image by whatleydude
 
Argos:
The promise of efficiency and speed of service.
1)  Find the product code
2)  Use order/pay terminal
3)  Walk out with your item(s)
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:03:49 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/66 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/65  
Starting tomorrow, and continuing over the next ten weeks, I'll be posting a blog series on the importance of branding for small and medium-sized businesses.
 
What you'll find out
– What brands are and what they represent
– Money talks – brands and market value
– The importance of brand loyalty in customer retention
– How you can have a logo, but not have a brand
– How to plan the creation of your new brand
 
You'll get straightforward, practical advice that you can use..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:34:51 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/65 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/64 The Goverment announces today at the CBI that there is going to be greater support for Small Businesses. This will be great news for many of you. Meanwhile we're sure that you'll also be keen to keep your new start up or business moving. So we've dedicated this post to providing you with some handy resources for small and medium business. Whether you're based in Lincoln or London we're sure you'll find something useful for you. If you regularly use other handy resources why not add a comment and share it with everyone?
Smarta
Is a handy online magazine for Businesses. Unsure ho..
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:51:02 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/reverse-view/64 http://www.reverse-design.com/blog/63  
If you want to know how your brand affects your business, don't miss this event!
 
Reverse is presenting a joint workshop with Loven in Lincoln, designed to communicate the essentials of brand creation and protection to startups and established companies. It will give you a valuable understanding of the importance of the brand creation and development process from both a creative and legal perspective. Loven are leading Chartered Patent and European Trade Mark Attorneys.
 
See our News page for more details.
 
]]> info@reverse-design.com (Reverse Design) Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:26:32 +0000 http://www.reverse-design.com/blog/63