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!
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 […]
Sometimes, new clients come to us with a question that seems all-too-familiar in the digital age: do we still need professional letterhead and envelopes? In our opinion, you absolutely do. That’s true even if you have a small business or a one-person professional practice. In fact, using good identity pieces can be even more important when you are upcoming or independent. Let’s take a look at a few of the most important reasons why… Colleagues and Customers Take You More Seriously When customers or colleagues get professional communications from you and see your letterhead and envelopes, it creates an instant impression. They get the sense that you are competent, and […]
Now that we’re well into the new year, 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 […]
Are you worried about hackers getting into your WordPress business website? If so, you certainly aren’t alone. Cyber threats are a much bigger concern than they used to be, and with so many large organizations being affected by online attacks, smaller businesses are paying more attention to online security than ever before. While it’s true that a lot of smaller companies and organizations are susceptible to cyber hacking, it’s generally because they don’t follow basic online security best practices. To help you avoid being an easy target for thieves on the internet, here are seven ways you can keep hackers at bay from your WordPress site… #1 Use Strong Passwords […]
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 […]
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 […]
There are few things more exciting than watching a brand-new website launch. That beautiful, eye-catching homepage you worked so hard to perfect is finally ready to start impressing customers and pay back your investment. As you bask in your excitement and enthusiasm, though, please remember the launch of your new website is just the beginning. In order for customers to find your new website and appreciate it, you need to promote it to ensure you are positioned for online success. Here are six quick-and-easy tips to get you the results that you want. #1 Announce Your New Website to the World You’re excited about your new web presence. But your […]
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 […]
Do you ever feel as if you are flying blind on Facebook? Lots of marketers do. They realize that the world’s most popular social network gives them a great way to reach out to customers, fans, and prospects, but aren’t sure how to measure the progress they are (or aren’t) making. A good first step to solving this quandary is logging into Facebook Insights. It’s an analytics tool that’s provided for every Facebook business page you create, and can be accessed by anyone who has been designated as an admin for the page. Let’s see how you can use it to optimize your social campaigns and get more from every […]
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 […]
It’s not easy to find and keep subscribers to your email newsletter. That makes it all the more frustrating when the majority of them don’t actually open your messages. You can’t get results from your email marketing campaign if no one bothers reading what you send, so how can you get subscribers to make your newsletters a priority in their inbox? Here are a few quick tips to help you out… Use Catchy, Intriguing Subject Lines In general, you want your email newsletter subject lines to be short, timely, and attention grabbing. It’s important you don’t go too far to get readers to open your message, though. Anything that looks […]
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 […]
In our line of work, inspiring creativity is a must. Generating new ideas and staying motivated on a tight deadline is the lifeblood of our business, and something we spend a lot of time thinking about. Regardless of your profession, being creative and inspired is a good way to keep your edge and separate yourself from your competitors. Here are a few ways you can stay at your sharpest, mentally and emotionally: Try to take on projects you enjoy – It’s always easier to be creative when you’re having fun. So, as much as possible, take on jobs and projects you enjoy working on. Be sure to share this with […]
Forget ad agencies, YouTube Stars, and reality television personalities – the real winners of the social media revolution have been ordinary house cats. No matter where you look, they are chasing yarn, being “jerks,” and launching new memes. Cats probably collectively generate billions of likes and shares every week. And best of all, they do it without even trying. Regardless of whether you’re a devoted cat fan, or more of a dog person, you’d have to admit that felines get their fair share of attention on Facebook and Twitter. And for that reason, they are the true masters of the medium. It’s often been said that even if cats could […]
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 […]