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We post weekly tips, tricks, and marketing advice to help grow your business.
Girls’ Night Out: Friends Photo Shoot
Sometimes you just need a break from the daily grind. And what better way is there to de-stress than spending a girls’ night out with your friends? Well, that’s exactly what we did last Friday. We actually had so much fun that we had to share about the experience on our blog.
Sometimes you just need a break from the daily grind. And what better way is there to de-stress than spending a girls’ night out with your friends? Well, that’s exactly what we did last Friday. We actually had so much fun that we had to share about the experience on our blog.
Our very dear friend Nicole (a.k.a. Coco) arranged for us to have a slumber party themed photoshoot. Sounds interesting, right? So we purchased matching PJs, scheduled hair appointments, and before we knew it, the day had finally arrived. We were so excited to get pampered and enjoy a girls’ night out!
The photographer who orchestrated this whimsical little event is Stephanie of S & Company Portrait Photography. As we were getting our make-up done in her Cheshire-based studio, she served us a fruit and cheese plate … poured us some Prosecco🍾 … and made us feel completely at home!
The photo shoot couldn’t have been any more fun.
Playing dress up and jumping on a bed while throwing around confetti … when’s the last time you did something like that?!
And did we mention there was Prosecco involved?
Within a few days after our shoot, Stephanie emailed us a link to the photos. We loved them all! Going through the album, it was quite evident how much fun we really had that night.
Here are a few of our favorites.
The three amigas: Katie, J, and Coco
Katie be like: “Fill that glass homie!!” Seriously, she really said that.
More Prosecco, please.
Girls’ Night Out 2019
Want to relive a piece of your childhood and let loose for a night? We’d definitely recommend scheduling a girls’ night out shoot with Stephanie! We had a blast and so will you.
How To Make A Mood Board On Pinterest
Mood boards can be incredibly helpful in the website and branding design process. In this blog post, we’re going to explain the benefits of creating a mood board and how you can make one using Pinterest.
Mood boards can be incredibly helpful in the website and branding design process. In this blog post, we’re going to explain the benefits of creating a mood board and how you can make one using Pinterest.
What’s a mood board?
Remember back in the day when you used to make those colorful collages out of magazine clippings? You’d forage your favorite publications for photos, words, or quotes that inspired you and then excitedly glue them to a poster board. Well, that’s the same concept behind a mood board!
Me and Katie attended a networking event this month and we made old school inspiration boards. How did we do?
When we’re working with a website design or branding client, we have them make a mood board on Pinterest (which, by the way, is much easier than using magazines, scissors, and glue). When searching for images, we ask the client to keep their target buyer persona in mind and choose the things that would inspire them. Remember, when designing a website or brand, it’s more about what your target customer will like than about what you like. (However, if you and your target customer happen to like the same kinds of things, well … that’s even better! It makes creating your mood board a bit easier.)
How To Create A Mood Board For Branding Or Website Design
Step 1:
If you don’t already have one, write a clear and detailed description of your target buyer persona. This step is key! Again, your brand and website needs to resonate with this person. If you need help, we recommend reading HubSpot’s blog post: How to Create Detailed Buyer Personas for Your Business. In it, there’s a free Persona Templates Guide you can download.
Step 2:
If you’re a creative entrepreneur, chances are, you already have a Pinterest account. If you don’t, you’ll need one for this exercise! To do this, go to Pinterest.com and enter:
Your email
A password
Your age
(Note: You can also sign-up using your Facebook or Google account.)
Step 3:
Once you’re logged in, access your profile by clicking on your name in the top right corner of the screen. Then scroll down the page a bit and click on the Boards option that’s underneath your info. If you’re an active Pinterest user, you’ll see all of the boards you’ve already created here. If you’re new to Pinterest, this area will be empty.
Step 4:
Within the Boards section, click the red plus sign to Create Board. In the pop-up box that appears, you can name your board Mood Board (or any other fun name you can come up with). Then click Create.
Step 5:
Now it’s time to fill that board with all the things your target buyer persona would love! When you create a new board, Pinterest will offer up some ideas for it. You can search through those ideas or start typing words in the search bar at the top of the screen. (Note: searching is an easy task when you have a crystal clear description of your target buyer persona!)
As an example, we’re going to show you an actual buyer persona profile (below) so you can make the connection on how the details might affect your search.
Name: Carly
Age: 34
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Relationship/family status: Married (no children)
Pets: Boston Terrier
Education level: Bachelor’s Degree
Occupation: Interior Designer
Annual income: $90,000
Favorite Blog: Design Hunter, Eye Swoon, House of Brinson
Magazines or books: Anything Lisa Scottoline and the latest Pottery Barn catalogue
Hobbies: Sketching rooms/outdoor scenery, yoga, collecting art, and cooking healthy meals
Brands: Pottery Barn, RH, White House Black Market, Hello Fresh
Social media platforms they spend time on: Pinterest, Instagram
TV: Everything HGTV and Food Network
Based on Carly’s profile, here are the search queries we used to fill our board!
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Interior Design
Philadelphia Signage
Fruits
Vegetables
House of Brinson
Pottery Barn
Career Woman Quotes
Scenery Sketches
Artwork
Yoga
The most important part of Step 5 is: Do NOT overthink it! Search terms that are related to your target buyer persona and pin anything that stands out to you!
Here’s the board we came up with for our example buyer persona, Carly …
Take a step back and look at your mood board as a whole. Are there any common elements that stand out to you (i.e. colors, patterns, fonts, objects, etc.)? Jot them down because they can be incorporated into your website and/or brand design!
Step 6:
If you purchased a website or brand design package from LMG, you’ll need to share your mood board with us. To do this, go into your board and copy the URL from your web browser. Then, paste that URL in the Mood Board section of your Branding Prep Planner. (If you made your board secret, you can share it with us by clicking the little icon of a person with a plus symbol at the top of your board. Search Little Marketing Genius and then click Invite.)
Mood boards are super fun to create. And by building a board from the perspective of your target buyer persona, you’ll end up with a fantastic visual of what inspires them. Give this exercise a spin and comment below with your findings!
Looking to take your small business to the next level? We can help design a brand your target audience will love! Book a free 15-minute consult with us to get the process started today!
Small Business Website Design Packages
Take a look at your website. Do you love what you see? Do your visitors love what they see? Think of your website as another face of your company. If it doesn’t represent your style and brand then it’s time for a change.
The Little Marketing Genius is now accepting new 2019 website clients!
Take a look at your website. Do you love what you see? Do your visitors love what they see? Think of your website as another face of your company. If it doesn’t represent your style and brand then it’s time for a change.
We’re Now Accepting 2019 Website Clients
If your small business website isn’t where you want it to be, make 2019 the year you invest in transforming it. It will be worth every penny … that, we can promise you. We’ll collaborate with you to ensure your new website accurately and professionally reflects your small business. Using eye-catching imagery, clean white space, and creative copywriting, we’ll bring life to your brand online. And we’ll help you incorporate lead generation tools that will work for you 24/7.
Getting a visitor to your website is a big enough challenge. Keeping them active and engaged once they’re there … well, that’s a whole different story! However, with a balanced mix of great content, seamless functionality, and enticing CTAs, it’s absolutely possible. And together, we can make it happen.
If your current website is outdated, uninspiring, or just plain confusing, you’re giving your competition the perfect opportunity to swoop right in and steal potential customers. Let us help!
The Process
Working with us is not the typical agency experience. We’re focused on small business owners who find value in professional marketing. We’ll get to know you and your business so we can build a site that’s perfect for you.
It all begins with a FREE 15-minute consultation. We’ll take a look at your current site and together we can begin the process for making it so much better. From there, we’ll:
Create or update your brand image if needed
Determine the design and functionality elements that you want
Plot out keywords that will help your site rank in search results
Strategize how and where call-to-action buttons will be used
Develop a plan for blogging if desired
Make recommendations for opt-in gifts or downloadable content
Construct a project plan
Build and launch your dream website!
We offer solutions that fit your needs.
The Packages
Just like every small business, each small business website is unique! We offer two different packages based on what you’re looking to accomplish. Purely Pineapple (a maximum of six pages) is our most basic package. Need branding and copywriting, too? Our The Pina Colada is the package for you.
NOTE: If you pay in full for either of these two packages, you’ll receive a 5% discount! For up-to-date pricing, please visit our Web Design page.
If you need something that’s not included in one of our two packages, take us up on a free 15-minute consult so we can gather the information we need to prepare a custom proposal for you.
Is working with The Little Marketing Genius right for me?
We understand. A website is a big investment for a small business … and one that should be taken seriously. So how would you answer these questions?
Do you place great value on having a beautiful website that your visitors will love?
Are you willing/able to invest at least $2,000 for the project?
Would you make it a priority to submit feedback and/or necessary content that we need from you while designing your website?
Are you excited to get this party started?
If you answered Yes to all four of these questions then, YES … we’ll make a perfect fit!
Don’t let another minute pass of being dissatisfied with your website. Book your free consult with us today!
Love Your Logo - 50% Off Small Business Logo Design
Fall back in love with your logo by letting us revamp and energize the design! From now until 11/30/17, you can save 50% off this service. Keep reading for more details ...
Pictured here: Cupcakes from one of our favorite local bakeries, Nora Cupcake Co of Middletown, CT. We’re not only obsessed with their Irish Car Bomb, but with their boldly stated brand as well! The hot pink and black color scheme plus big, blocky letter “N” equals a logo done right!
Your logo is a face of your small business. Does it accurately capture the essence of who you are? If not, now is the time to freshen it up! Fall back in love with your logo by letting us revamp and energize the design! From now until 11/30/17, you can save 50% off* this service. Just select Logo from our A La Carte Menu and use discount code LITTLE50LOGO at checkout.
On the fence? Use our checklist below to see if your logo passes the test.
The Clutter Test: Does your logo look too busy? While it’s important to convey a message and differentiate your business through your logo, cramming in a whole bunch of colors, text, and design elements is not the solution. Simple and timeless works best.
The Versatility Test: Can your logo easily be printed on a T-shirt or a small item like a pen? What does it look like in black and white? Or how about just a single color? Logos with overlays and background imagery do not translate across different printing applications. Your logo should be versatile and have the ability to be placed on a variety of back drops without losing its integrity.
The Resolution Test: A logo should be designed in a program like Adobe Illustrator and saved as a high-resolution .eps or outlined .ai file. What all this jargon means is that with the right type of file, you can blow your logo up to fit a billboard if you wanted to and it won’t become distorted, blurry, and crappy looking.
If your small business logo needs a makeover, now’s the time to redesign it at a savings!
*One per client. Offer is for new clients only. Expires 11/30/17. 50% off discount applies to a logo design service off our A La Carte Menu. Incidentals are not included (i.e. purchased fonts, printing, upgrades to service, etc.).
