We’re shaking things up over here at Bourn Creative! With Brian stepping in as CEO and Operations Manager and the addition of two new team members, Bourn Creative isn’t just about me and my expertise anymore!

We’re updating and upgrading all of our materials and will continue to do so over the next few months as we continue to build the business not only around our clients’ needs, requests, and desires, but around our growing team’s amazing talents and expertise!

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A website is a basic business requirement. Second only to establishing your brand, creating your website is the most important task you must accomplish when starting a business.

What bothers me the most is that most smart business owners blindly turn to a graphic designer or web designer to design them a site that makes them “look cool” to their competitors.

Here’s the problem with that approach: Your competitors aren’t going to buy from you or hire you.

Website design isn’t about your designer adding another edgy piece to their portfolio that pushes the boundaries and makes them look cool to other designers.

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As a graphic designer, I often provide the design files for the projects I am contracted for to the client or to a printer for final output. Many times I get a call or an email from a frantic client worried that they can’t open one of the provided files or they don’t know what the file type is for.

Typically the files types the average person will not be able to open are the files with the extensions AI, EPS, and PSD. Each of these three file types require a special software program used by designers, printers, signage manufacturers, and promotional product manufacturers.

Here is a quick list of the different file extensions you may come across when working with a graphic designer, what each of them stand for, and how the file format is used.

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While design is my specialty, I can’t create a logo or design that represents you without your help and your insight. After all, no one knows you better than you! The logo and graphic design development process is an interactive process and I encourage you to be fully present when we are working together to ensure you receive a logo or printed piece that fits you or your business perfectly.

Here is a brief outline of the seven step logo design and graphic design process that I use for each project:

CREATIVE BRIEF.
In this first step, I gather all of the information possible from you. I ask questions and get to know your needs, desires, and expectations. The information gathered in this step is then compiled into a creative brief to be reviewed and approved by all decision-makers.

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Whether you are a business owner or a service professional, I can bet that when it comes to marketing, you’re feeling more than a bit overwhelmed.

I can also bet that even though you may be an expert in your niche, keeping your marketing pipeline full of new customers isn’t your specialty.

That is why I want to share with you three things that you always need to think of when you are working on your marketing materials.

1. Think of Your Mother.
Write the content and design the piece with your mother in mind. Your mother represents a great cross-section of your audience. Would she understand the message? Would she understand the action that you are asking her to take?

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This post is the third in a series based on the Ali Brown Shine event in Las Vegas. Check out my previous posts I Didn’t Really Come For All The “Woo Woo” Junk and Billionaire Entrepreneur Coach Makes Social Media Blunder.

At the end of the Ali Brown Shine event, I was speaking with some ladies in the lobby area and one asked me if I had my brand/business card evaluated by Ali’s billionaire business coach during one of the breaks.

No way.

I have to say they were a little surprised. You see, they had assumed that as a branding/marketing expert that I would love to get advice from someone so important.

When they asked why I wasn’t one of the women huddled around this billionaire business coach for jockeying for a few words critiquing my business card, my answer was simple.

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