Category Archives: Tips

Tingalls Tips for Celebrating the Fourth of July

What do you do when your blog post falls on the 4th of July? Offer up a few of the team’s favorite suggestions for celebrating America’s Independence Day, of course! Continue reading →

Posted in Tips

Can Your Web Design Pass the Five Second Test?

You know the saying; you never get a second chance to make a first impression. It’s logic that also applies to your company’s website. Wouldn’t you like to know right away people’s first impression when they hop onto it? Luckily, there’s a short test (five seconds short to be exact) that can do just that. The five-second test is a method that’s easy to conduct without a lot of setup and gives you valuable results fast. Acting on the results this logical method offers could be the difference between an engaged audience that goes on to gather more information on your website or one that bounces off to another site … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Practices, Marketing your brand, Tips, Website Design

Get Better Clarity and Focus with a Vision Board

Now that we’re well into 2018, it’s a good time to check in to see where we’re at with our goals for the year. Although it’s no longer January, there’s still plenty of time to accomplish great things! Our team here at Tingalls recently created our annual vision boards to help us clarify, and be mindful of our goals. It was a lot of fun, and we created some truly inspiring stuff. What exactly is a Vision Board? More than a simple craft project, vision boarding is a tool that helps us craft the life and business we want. “A vision board is a tool used to help clarify, concentrate … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporate Culture, Creativity, Goals, Tips

10 Tradeshow Tips for Success

1. Listen! My most important tip is to listen to your booth visitors. Ask open-ended questions like, “Tell me about your business” or “What do you like best about what you do?” Find out first if they have a need your company can fill before trying to sell them. 2. Keep it Simple. Think of your booth as a billboard. Too many graphics or text blocks can be distracting to people walking by that just “need the facts” quickly. Enlisting the tradeshow design experience of firms like Tingalls Graphic Design can be a valuable step in your tradeshow preparation. Graphics should be professional yet eye-catching to spark the interest of … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Practices, Creativity, Tips, Tradeshow Marketing

Do I Have to Include LLC in My Logo Design?

We get asked this question a lot during our logo design process. It’s right next to why does my logo color look different on my website? You can find the answer to the second question here. For advice on that initial question of whether your logo needs an LLC included in its design, we asked the experts. According to the lawyers we asked, the short answer is maybe. Because, as part of your company’s entity formation, you are required to include the LLC in all of your forward-facing client correspondence. This includes your marketing pieces. As Leslie Elkins, Co-owner of Kramer. Elkins & Watt, LLC says, “The only requirement for a logo is … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Practices, Logo Design, Tips

Tingalls 7 Rules for Logo Design

At Tingalls, we have developed a reputation for being amongst the very best in Wisconsin logo design. However, while lots of clients tend to assume our success with branding has to do with an innate sense of artistic talent and creativity, that’s only part of the equation. In fact, we always try to adhere to seven firm rules about logos, and advise the business owners we work with to do the same. Here are seven things you need to remember if you want to end up with a logo that’s stunning, unique, and memorable.. #1 Keep Things Simple Often, clients have a lot of things they want to “say” with … Continue reading →

Posted in Graphic Design, Logo Design, Tips

10 Google Analytics Stats You Should Be Watching

Do you ever wish you could have your customers tell you exactly what they want from your website? Wouldn’t it be nice if they would let you know in advance which articles they would read, offers they would respond to, and ads they would find compelling? While you’re not likely to get these kinds of insights in an email or survey, the information isavailable to you if you know where to look. The only problem is that most business owners and marketers ignore the one reliable source of data they have on customers and behaviors: Google Analytics. Completely free and immensely valuable, Google Analytics can tell you a great deal about where your … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Best Practices, Goals, Google, Tips, Website Design

7 Ways to Stay Healthy and Energized at your Desk Job

Do you work in an office? If so, then you already know it can be great for your paycheck, but not as great for your health. In fact, sitting at a desk can make you lethargic and lead to weight gain and other health problems if you let it. The key to that statement, though, is “if you let it.” As it turns out, there are a number of ways you can stay healthy and active, even if your job has you sitting still from 9 to 5 (or longer). Here are a few things you can try starting today… #1 Exercise before you get to work – You’ll be … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporate Culture, Creativity, Tips

How Can I Get More Blog Readers?

It sometimes seems as if there are more blogs than there are blog readers. That is, lots of companies put fresh posts online every day, but studies show that 90% or more aren’t ever read by more than a few people. Or to put things another way, there are a few blogs with lots of readers, and thousands of times as many that are doing nothing for the marketers that produce them. How can you ensure that your blog falls into the right category, helping you to attract search engine visits and attention from real-life customers? Here are a few proven steps you can take to get moving in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Practices, Blogging, Search Engine Optimization, Tips

What to Do If Someone Has Already Verified Your Business on Google

Have you ever wondered how your business profile appeared on a list of Google searches? Not sure if you’ve actually verified your business on Google? These questions have come up with multiple clients, so we figured we’d share some advice on the blog to help other businesses that may be in the same situation. Here is a short, helpful video that walks you through what to do if someone has already claimed your business on Google. Key points: You need to create a Google account for your business if you haven’t already done so and then you can verify/claim the business right on the Google results page If someone has … Continue reading →

Posted in Google My Business, Google Places, Tips

5 ‘Business Hacks’ to Reduce Stress and Improve Productivity

Psychologists and productivity experts have noted for decades that “engaged” workers tend to get a lot more done. But it’s easy to forget in the midst of busy or stressful times that your employees also need support and encouragement. Below are five simple “business hacks” we use here at Tingalls on a daily basis: Embrace Positivity It’s just as easy to look at the brighter side of things as it is to be grumpy, and the result can definitely increase productivity. We start each weekly staff meeting with an uplifting client testimonial or employees share something positive from their weekend. It helps set the tone for the entire week. Be … Continue reading →

Posted in About Tingalls, Goals, Tips

Why Logos Should Never Start with Clipart

There aren’t a lot of hard and fast rules when it comes to designing logos. But, there is one piece of advice we could give to every designer and client in the world: You should never start designing a logo from a piece of clipart. Why do we have such strong feelings on this matter? Let’s explain… Great Logos Are About Creativity A logo has to be original, and should be created specifically for a certain business or organization. That’s essentially the opposite of what you get from a piece of clipart. Our logo design process begins with a thorough intake of our client’s background, their target audience and what … Continue reading →

Posted in Logo Design, Tips

Networking for Lead Generation: 6 Quick Tips

Are you doing lots of networking, but not getting the leads you’re hoping for? Or, thinking of mingling with other business owners and professionals but don’t know how to get started? How many times have you given out your business card at a networking event, just to have no leads? Either way, we’ve got you covered. Here are quick tips to help you start getting more leads from every networking event… Be Selective Where You Network You can’t get leads if you’re networking with the wrong kinds of people. Even if you’re only attending events on a monthly basis, be selective about which ones you show up to. Take a … Continue reading →

Posted in Networking Tips, Tips

3 SEO Details Business Owners Tend to Overlook

Business owners tend to understand that content and links are the main cornerstones of a search engine optimization campaign. But what they don’t always realize is that there are some other, less obvious factors that can affect their search visibility. Here are three you should definitely keep an eye on… Choose a Reliable Web Hosting Company Having premium web hosting means your website is online more often, loads quickly, and isn’t sharing server space with other businesses For just a few extra dollars a month, you can give your users a better experience and show Google that your website is reputable. Solid Link Structure Having your pages link correctly between … Continue reading →

Posted in Search Engine Optimization, Tips

Why You Need a Professional Business Card

Given that websites, emails, and social media are everywhere these days, clients sometimes ask: Do business cards still matter? Not only are they still relevant, but it’s actually more important than ever to have a professionally designed and printed business card ready to use. There are a few good reasons for this. The first is that humans are visual creatures, and we are prone to making snap decisions. When you have a crisp, sharp, and creative business card, it says something about your credibility as a professional. It tells another person, subconsciously, that you can be trusted. It also suggests that you take your work and your image seriously. Another … Continue reading →

Posted in Graphic Design, Print Design, Tips

Email Virus Alert: “Ransomware”

An article shared by our partner Shawn Nesbitt, Owner of Simple Network Consulting in Madison, WI As a service to our clients, Simple Network Consulting shares updates on critical issues impacting organizations and businesses. These alerts are directed to everyone in an effort to raise awareness about current viruses or malware that are affecting businesses and home end users alike. This Alert focuses on a particular malware attack that can and will cause significant downtime and has a direct impact an organization’s ability to service customers and cause financial harm. Ransomware is where a virus (malware) gets secretly loaded on your computer or into your computer systems. It locks files, … Continue reading →

Posted in Security, Tips

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