Thursday, October 16, 2008

Advertising Considerations

Shaffer Design Works, LLC excels in providing it's client base with a variety of marketing vehicles. Rick Shaffer, Principal and Creative Director, says, "With the economy tightening up, Shaffer Design is experiencing a number of our clients requesting more traditional tactical approaches to advertising, that said we have been required to produce some creative and innovative advertising for these folks."

A successful campaign involves many aspects but also follows proven paths. Consider the fact that running more than one print display ad or a combination of print and online can dramatically increase response. For example:

• Your subhead should sum up your business benefit to customers, possibly including a special offer or a unique aspect of your business the others can't match.

• Online advertising is proven that give ready to buy customers exactly what they need to make a purchase decision.

• Online directory usage is growing to highlight your business and show a solution, not a problem.

• A combination of print and online to enhance the customer experience like an emergency phone number, pager or Web address or e-mail. Be sure to list all of your locations and phone numbers.

• A listing in local search engines to reach a broader range of potential customers and leverage similar or overlapping headings, e.g., a florist with ads under “Weddings” and “Corporate Events” and “Funerals.”

• Running two display ads to target prospective customers in nearby areas or in Specialty Guides to reach specific audiences, e.g., “Aviation” or “Medical”. What's more, Companion directories have been shown to deliver twice the ROI of main directories when added to the mix.

• Customers rank multiple locations to stand out from competitors and to provide enough information for a customer to make a purchase decision on the spot. Research proves that doubling the size of your display ad yields a 45% increase in phone calls.

Contact Shaffer Design Works today to experience the ROI for your advertising dollars. With our no how and expertise we can make your company stand out above the rest. Visit: http://www.shafferdesign.com/

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

2008 Northeast Ohio Event Planners Expo


Shaffer Design Works has the unique ability to execute on all creative marketing and brand applications when it comes to your company's next creative event.

Friday, June 06, 2008

Another Successful Website Project for Shaffer Design Works

Recently Shaffer Design Works completed a Website design and development project for a company called C2 Cups. The company specializes in making and distributing cups and lids of all shapes and sizes. Rick Shaffer, Principal and Creative Director says, "The team at Shaffer Design Works played an integral part in Website design and programming the C2 Cups Website and is proud to serve the folks at C2 Cups."


To experience the Website in all its glory visit: http://www.c2cups.com/index.html

Shaffer Design Works specializes in strategic marketing, exceptional graphic design or any marketing or advertising that requires great ideas. Contact Shaffer Design Works today at: http://www.shafferdesign.com/

Monday, April 07, 2008

Website Design and Search Engine Optimization go hand in hand

Creative design boutique Shaffer Design Works located in Streetsboro near Cleveland and Akron, Ohio recently completed a large scale website project that included search engine optimization. Rick Shaffer, Principal and Creative Director of the creative agency Shaffer Design Works says,"The people we employ at our creative offices are more than just design centric individuals they are great thinkers too. We accomplish both large scale Website designs and advertising projects by knowing more than just the latest color trends and typography. You need to be able to put yourself in the clients shoes and sometimes more importantly the clients customer base as well as their potential prospect bases. We are able to do this by successfully communicating with our customers while helping them approach different strategies when it comes to their advertising and marketing vehicles."

One of Shaffer Design Works long standing customers is INEX. With their roots heavily entrenched throughout the aviation community, INEX specializes in aircraft detailing for aircraft both large and small. INEX has service locations throughout Florida, Ohio, Texas and a growing amount of basis on the west coast. While maintaining this national presence, INEX excels at delivering great customer service. Shaffer Design Works has implemented a plan that looks to boots traffic to: http://www.inexaircraft.com/ in the coming months of 2008.

Our design and internet capabilities are second to none. To learn more about Shaffer Design Works providing graphic design to your organizations advertising and marketing mediums across the board, visit: http://www.shafferdesign.com/

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Fashion Photography and Graphic Design

Advertising and marketing specialist with creative direction experience Rick Shaffer of Shaffer Design Works has just finished completing an advertising assignment for a small clothing boutique located in Beechwood, Ohio. Rick Shaffer states,"Executing great design work for every marketing and advertising platform is what Shaffer Design Works is all about. Shaffer Design relishes in the opportunity to exceed our clients marketing expectations and because of our hard working mentality we maintain a loyal long standing client base of diverse and unique customers.


Above is a recent print ad sample that be appearing in the publication Currents: http://www.currentsnews.com/

For creative and promising advertising design contact Shaffer Design Works located in Streetsboro, Ohio near Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. See: http://www.shafferdesign.com/

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Tradeshow Exhibit Design and Graphics

Cleveland graphic designer and marketing expert, Rick Shaffer helps an array of customers with their marketing initiatives. Tradeshow planning, marketing and design is an area that Shaffer Design Works excels in and always produces exceptional advertising vehicles, regardless of the customers demands. To help with planning and execution of your next tradeshow I have outlined a few tips below.

Tradeshow Tips:

– When planning and researching a tradeshow, be sure you can gain or have a chance at gaining at least enough customers to make the event worth while.

– Be sure to have enough business cards printed before hand to handout. This may seem trivial to some people, however you would be surprised at the number of professionals who run out of business cards during or before an event commences.

– When producing tradeshow literature and collateral, be sure to keep it simple and eye catching. Professionals that often visit a show often don't read the literature that is handed out right away, this is why it is increasing important that your literature deliver a quick, clear and concise message to any potential prospect that may visit your organizations display booth.

– When managing or occupying a booth, don't underestimate the power of professional attire. The type of clothing you and your associates choose to wear when managing and attending a booth depicts how serious your organization is. So make sure you and your associates look the part.

Recently Shaffer Design Works, engaged in a project to assist with producing a tradeshow backdrop. An example of an 8' exhibit is shown below.


When considering your next trade event or if your company or organization is looking for great ideas when it comes to large or small tradeshow events and exhibits contact Shaffer Design Works at: http://www.shafferdesign.com/philosophy.php

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Identity Standards

Cleveland based graphic design firm specializing in Advertising, Internet and Marketing brand applications is assisting a large manufacturer with the authoring of an identity standards guide. Brand identity standards guides should include everything that touches the marketing and advertising platforms.

Below is an outline that provides a brief best practices approach to writing and developing a brand standards guide:

a.) Corporate Level applications: business card, (all) stationery applications as well as PowerPoint and Website brand attributes.

b.) Advertising guidelines (layout, font, colors, style)

c.) Signs (lobby signs as well facility signs (also known as environmental graphics) at a corporate and retail level, Point of Purchase should be included in this section as well (however applicable).

d.) A standards manual should also contain catalogs, (print and electronic versions) manuals and any internal document layouts (before and after – if there was recent rewrite, this can help ensure workforce notification and participation).

Finally it is important to have key personnel within the general marketing department help follow-up and be available to answer any questions about brand guidelines. This will help see through continued execution of a re-brand or updated corporate identity standards manual.

Obviously the points above have been summarized and entire pages can be written about each section and subject. However, it is important to remain focused on driving consistency and uniform brand guidelines where applicable within a company or organization.

Shaffer Design Works brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in this category to all of our branding and re-branding projects we engage in. For more information about brand guidelines and standards contact: http://www.shafferdesign.com/