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Fonts and Typeface: The Serif Series #1

February 3rd, 2012 by Angela

Serif Font & Typography Allographics & Design No doubt you have heard copywriters and designers using a variety of lingo pertaining to fonts and typography. Serif versus San-Serif is the most common discussion, especially when combining font/type styles within a design project.

To help lessen the confusion let’s introduce some basics on the different font and typography definitions and provide some visual assistance.

Serif fonts and type, also known as Slab Serif or Egyptian, contain additional details (feet, loops, hooks) on the ends of the strokes. There are four groupings of serif type: old style, transitional, modern and slab serif.

Serif type is widely used in traditional printed material such as books and newspapers. Studies of on-screen (usually referred to as fonts) use are more ambiguous, suggesting that low screen resolutions make serif fonts more difficult to read and tiring the eyes. Serif Font & Typography Allographics & Design

It is believed that the serif type originated in the Roman Alphabet when lettering was painted and chiseled into stone for signage. Around the mid 1400′s printing was introduced bringing the handset blocks of type to Linotype systems using hot lead to create strips of type. This printing technology gave rise to new designs of typefaces. Today, the selection of serif typefaces number in the thousands.

The first example people think of for a serif font or type is Times New Roman. This is the standard default font for most word processing programs and desktop publishing programs. We have included a showcase of a variety of serif font and type styles…some you may recognize but were not familiar with their names.

Allographics & Design specializes in web, graphic and social media design and consulting. If you would like to learn how we can strengthen your online branding and marketing or to book a workshop to better understand the major social media tools available for your business, contact us for more information.

Web Design and Social Branding Solutions – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Categories : Design Basics, Fonts & Typography, Web Design

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Facebook Timeline for Brand Pages?

December 26th, 2011 by Angela

So as Facebook announces the over due public release of Timeline to personal accounts, the buzz is already starting about a Facebook Timeline for Brand Pages (Business/Fan Pages). Business Insider

What will this mean for Fan Pages? We really do not know. We will have to wait for the anticipated February 29th, FMC Facebook Marketing Conference to see what is in store.

BUT…in the meantime…some questions are going to come up as all of us speculate on the future of the current Fan Page layouts, especially following a major change only just made in early 2011. Here are a few questions many of us may ask:

Will the 5 photo strip images be replaced by the large Facebook Cover? Surely this will happen, right? So much for the left side tower, but this will be much better for branding.
How will designers and developers adjust to the new branding source. Not knowing the state of the changes…this will leave many scratching their heads wondering about the many apps developed for Brand Pages.
What about custom landing tab pages? Since many developers and businesses count on these apps, it would only make sense that Facebook would continue supporting these features since they brought the iframe programs back. But that logic may not apply…we are talking about Facebook.
How will the two column layout enhance branding for businesses? Will the About area replace an Info page with optimized content?
How and where will Facebook provide the convenient left side navigation? Will it be located in a prominent location at the top of the page similar to the current About area on personal profiles? This may be a good thing…always preferred the old “Tabs” located on the top of the page myself.
Will “likes” “talking about this” and “reaches” still be included on the Brand Pages? I can’t imagine Facebook not continuing this with all the major changes to the Insights metrics….but how will it look?

No doubt all these questions and so many more will be answered over the next coming weeks as news spreads. I for one am excited since I always felt the Timeline setup was better suited to Brand Pages, but it will be interesting to see how Facebook users will adjust considering the numerous complaints made with the Activities feed and Facebook Timeline for personal profiles.

Social Media & Online Marketing Training – Oklahoma

Categories : Facebook, Marketing, Social Branding, Social Media, Web Design

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Jump Start Your Online Marketing with Patrick Allmond

November 20th, 2011 by Angela

Patrick Allmond’s Wild West Online Marketing CD

Are you just getting started with your website and social media? Would you like to sit down with Patrick Allmond and Focus Consulting but just can’t fit it into your budget yet? This is the best way for you to get started – a full 13 hours of online marketing expertise from our Wild West Online Marketing Radio shows.

Here is an index to each show:

2011-01-02 Episode 01, How to run your business from the cloud
2011-01-09 Episode 03, Online Video
2011-01-16 Episode 05, Measuring and generating free traffic
2011-01-23 Episode 07, Getting into eCommerce
2011-01-30 Episode 09, Facebook Marketing
2011-02-06 Episode 11, Buzzding and Online Reputation Management
2011-02-13 Episode 13, Intro to online advertising
2011-02-20 Episode 15, Call 911! My website needs a medic
2011-02-27 Episode 17, WordPress Plugin Extravaganza
2011-03-06 Episode 19, CRMs & Other Online Networking Tools
2011-03-13 Episode 21, The top 16 ways to screw up email marketing
2011-03-20 Episode 23, Getting New Customers/Prospects from your website & The Referral Engine
2011-03-27 Episode 25, Paid and Banner Advertising online

In addition we have included our own custom 25 page social media workbook as well as the Google Zero Moment of Truth. Both are great books, and we will help you get started in the right direct in online marketing.

You can purchase your CD Here: Online Marketing Radio Show with Patrick Allmond

Categories : Facebook, Marketing, Oklahoma City Design, Search Engine Optimization SEO, Social Branding, Social Media, Twitter, Web Design

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Are you Powerful, Youthful or a Mystery? What Website Colors Say About You!

November 14th, 2011 by Angela

Did you know that the fonts and colors your business uses on it’s website can elicit a certain image of your business? Since color is so well connected to our emotions based on our own experiences and a little bit of science, why not explore some of the elements that can effect your websites’ visitor experience.

Social Media & Online Marketing Training – Oklahoma

Categories : Design Basics, Oklahoma City Design, Social Branding, Web Design

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Women Business Owners are the driving force to our 21st Century economy.

October 6th, 2011 by Angela

Women business owners make up over 25% of the total number of companies here in Oklahoma, just under the national 29% figures. With over 80 thousand Oklahoma business women across our state, we are driving force to our local economy and community.

Women make up over 50% of the available workforce and represent 66% of the global spending. These are powerful numbers that support the benefits of starting a business, a key to job growth and our economy. Oklahoma is a thriving state that supports small business and the opportunities for women business owners to succeed is growing every day.

However in order to nurture these potential leaders, more successful women business owners need to be seen and out providing support as role models in order to be a stronger driving force for Oklahoma. We need to be training and motivating women to grow their business and in turn also be there for one another.

Our goal at the Women’s Empowerment Series Business and Leadership is to provide women business owners with that fire and motivation and jump start a new way of thinking in your business. With 12 specialized speakers and trainers, the conference is designed to teach women how to rethink leadership and entrepreneurship and ways to brand and market in the evolving 21st Century.

We would love for you to join us here in Oklahoma City, at Hillsdale College Auditorium (Moore) October 29th 8:30am-5:30pm to experience a full day of training with other business owners from across the state of Oklahoma. Business owners working in the trenches just like you and want to pass along their knowledge and wisdom with practical tools to walk away with and implement immediately.

You can visit our website at TrainWithShane to learn more about the conference and register by clicking on the red Register Buttons.

Categories : Marketing, Oklahoma City Design, Social Branding, Twitter, Uncategorized, Web Design

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The WES Business Conference Buddy Package Kicks off 8-29

August 28th, 2011 by Angela

The WES Mission:
To bring women together to educate, mentor and encourage each other to develop their leadership, self confidence, self-esteem, and professionalism.

This educational format delivers dynamic keynotes, insightful panels, dedicated Q & A and breakout sessions designed to work on your skills, goals, brand and pitch, plus, plenty of break time for networking and meeting new colleagues.

Get ready to..

Discover, strengthen and share your voice
Develop your leadership style
Identify the 21st century business skills you need to succeed
Define your X, It, Wow persona through branding and social media
Blending and leveraging online and in-person networking activities
Get more buzz, bang & PR

Three Modules:

Leadership
Entrepreneurship
Branding/Marketing/Networking

Press Release: Event PR/Marketing on Pitch Engine

October 29, 9a-5p, Hillsdale College Barber Business Center, limited to 140 attendees
Includes the CAB-conference action book, premier gift bag valued at over $1000, lunch, beverage service, FREE parking
Buddy Package: Launches 8/29-9/4, 2 for $200, only 25 packages available!
Early Registration: Launches 9/5-10/16, $130
Gift Bag Sponsor-$300, includes one attendance, item or incentive in all the gift bags, inclusion in web and Eventbrite sites and full exposure in the CAB-to all attendees.

Categories : Design Basics, Marketing, Oklahoma City Design, Social Branding, Social Media, Web Design

How Can You Improve Your Social Branding?

August 9th, 2011 by Angela

First, you may be asking what is Social Branding to begin with? Simply, it is the process and action a business or person takes to bring awareness to their brand using many online and social networking tools along with face to face networking.

Often times this involves combining (Guerrilla Marketing) your website, blog, community forums, social networking sites (Facebook), micro blogging (Twitter), online media (YouTube) and creating an experience with social interaction.

So now that we have defined Social Branding, how can you improve your social brand? Here are 5 techniques to jump start your Social Branding!

Be Unique: It may take a little bit of thought…but believe it or not, every business and brand has the opportunity to be itself. The key is learning how to recognize what can set you apart from your competition and then doing something about it in a fun way! Action!!
Be Yourself: Yes, you want to tell everyone about your business and your brand, but using social tools calls for a fun relaxed approach that allows you to be human and not a machine. Share your personality in your communication.
Guerrilla Marketing: It’s still alive and well, we’ve now evolved it to include so many new online tools and mediums. Be sure to learn how to combine a variety of online and social networking tools and which one work best for your experience, time, message.
Be Consistent: You cannot bring awareness to your brand if you are not sharing it and experiencing it yourself. Did you know it can take 6-7 “brand touches” before someone will remember your brand? An occasional update will not bring attention to your brand.
Be Engaging: Create interaction that speaks the language of your audience. Sometimes it’s not what YOU want to share, but your audience wants to learn more about. Find that stickiness factor that keeps the questions and interaction flowing.

Social Media & Online Marketing Training – Oklahoma

Categories : Design Basics, Marketing, Oklahoma City Design, Social Branding, Social Media, Web Design

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Three C’s of Design

August 1st, 2011 by Angela

Composition

The way in which the components of a design are visually combined and arranged. Composition takes into account placement, grouping, alignment, visual flow and the divisions of space within a layout.

Components

The visual elements used within a design. Photos, illustrations, icon, typography, linework, decoration, borders, and backgrounds are all components.

Concept

Abstract elements of theme, connotation, message, and style. These intangible ingredients of a design or image are critical to visual presentation.

~ Courtesy of Design Basics Index, by Kim Krause

Social Media & Online Marketing Training – Oklahoma

Categories : Design Basics, Oklahoma City Design, Web Design

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Websites 101 Domains and Hosting

June 19th, 2011 by Angela

What is the difference between a Domain Name & a Hosting Account?

A domain name is your website’s address name located in the URL address. It is unique to your brand, name, company or product/service. You register a domain name at any number of companies like HostGator or BlueHost for a period of time say 1-3 years and you must re-register at the end of that time period or risk of someone else registering the name. You can move your domain name to any hosting account you like or own it without hosting.

Hosting is a subscription service where you “house” your website (Domain Name) and it is located on a large multi user server with a database that stores your site’s design, content, files and data. Hosting subscriptions can also be purchased in yearly increments or per month. You can move your site to different hosting accounts whenever you like. If you have agreed to a long term subscription, you can usually still move your hosting, but you may lose any payments for hosting that you paid up front.

Choosing the right domain name for your business and website is important since you want to be consistent with your brand, but also take optimization into consideration. Length of the domain name, how the letters sit next to one another and how easy it is to remember are just a few issues to take into consideration.

When choosing your hosting, the cheapest is not always the best. Do your research. Over selling accounts is a common practice with many hosting services and some hosting services do not monitor full servers well. Too many accounts on one server will slow down your website. Check the reputation and customer service of the company you are interested in hosting with and see their track record on how slow their hosted websites may be and how well they deal with customer complaints and tickets. Last, be sure the hosting account you sign up for can support your needed platform the best. As WordPress developers, we highly recommend the hosting accounts listed above for the best WP support and functionality.

Allographics & Design specializes in web, graphic and social media design and consulting. If you would like more information on our design services or to book a workshop to better understand the major social media tools available for your business, contact us for more information.

Social Media & Online Marketing Training – Oklahoma

Categories : Marketing, Web Design

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Archive for Web Design

Fonts and Typeface: The Serif Series #1

Websites 101 Domains and Hosting

What is the difference between a Domain Name & a Hosting Account?

Our Social Strategy Seminar

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