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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 […]

Posted in 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 […]

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 […]

Posted in Networking, 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 […]

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 […]

Posted in Graphic Design, Print & Package Design, Tips

Why Your Website Images Shouldn’t Come From Google

The visuals on your website are important. Not only do they help tell a story and enhance your credibility, but they make an instant impression. In fact, researchers estimate the human mind can process images one thousand times faster than text. That means potential customers notice the photos you use on your web pages, at least subconsciously, before they ever process any of your actual messaging. Understanding the power of images isn’t just about knowing which ones to use, however. It’s also about knowing where to find them. In particular, to realize you should be purchasing royalty-free images from sites like istockphoto.com instead of snatching them off of Google. From […]

Posted in Website Design

What the Spec?

Why You Don’t Want Unpaid Design Submissions Should you ever ask a graphic designer or creative agency for spec work? Although it used to be a fairly normal way to do business, we don’t think so. In fact, we’ve made it a Tingalls Graphic Design policy to politely turn down any requests for on spec proposals relating to websites, logos, or print projects. Before we explain why, let’s take a moment to explain what “spec” or “on spec” work actually is. It basically means that a potential client comes to an artist or agency and asks for a sample. That sample could be a logo, a mockup of a web […]

Posted in Graphic Design

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, […]

Posted in Tips

What is an Hour of Great Design Work Worth?

Occasionally, when we are in the process of meeting with new clients, we will notice a pause in the conversation – or even a raise of the eyebrow – when we mention our hourly design rate. This usually happens when the client has been meeting with a freelancer who quoted a much lower rate, and maybe even less than half of what we charge. Sometimes they are too polite to ask, but we can tell they always want to know: where does the money go? And is it worth it? Only you can decide what makes sense within your marketing budget, of course, but we would like to take a […]

Posted in About Tingalls

5 Extra Touches That Make a Web Design Special

Usually, when business owners talk to us about web design, they are particularly interested in layouts, logos, and colors. However, as important as these elements are, it’s often the “extra touches” that separate good websites from great ones. It’s the smaller details that bring everything together and make your pages stand out. What are these extra touches that make such a difference? Here are five should pay particular attention to… #1 Photos and Images Because the human mind picks out images faster than text and other webpage ingredients, we are naturally drawn to photos, drawings, and charts. The visual elements your web designer chooses for your website shouldn’t be random, […]

Posted in Website Design

50 Years of Color

From the psychedelic ’60s to the expressive ’00s, color has always been an integral part of how a culture expresses the attitudes and emotions of the times. What was your favorite decade of color below?

Posted in Color

Two Hidden Details that Make or Break SEO

For most business owners and marketers, success in search engine optimization comes down to a simple equation: use more keywords and get more links, then watch as traffic flows to your website and new customers show up day after day. It’s a simple strategy, but a winning one… right? In theory, that’s the way things should work. However, this narrow approach to SEO overlooks something important. Namely, that more search traffic doesn’t necessarily mean more sales. In fact, it could even mean fewer, if you are bringing the wrong visitors to your website or letting an over-emphasis on search optimization ruin your message. To see why this is so important […]

Posted in Search Engine Optimization, Website Design

15 Great Blog Topics You Can Use Today

Every marketer on the planet knows you need lots of fresh content to attract attention from Google and succeed with search engine optimization, but getting started on new blog posts can be difficult.

Posted in Copywriting & Blogging, Tips

Best of Design Blogs

Continuing our end-of-year blog round-up, this week’s topic is design. We’ve pulled together our most popular blogs about design. These blogs cover topics from package design to logo colors. Check ‘em out and see if we haven’t answered your design questions. Packaging Design If you manufacture any sort of product, you know how important packaging design is. Regardless of your industry, there is a bevy of competing products. So how do you get your product recognized and ahead of the competition? Read more… Love Your Logo The history of logos is long and varied and somewhat out of the scope of this piece, but take just a moment to think […]

Posted in Copywriting & Blogging, Logo Design, Print & Package Design, Website Design

Tingalls Blog - Marketing Tips & Tricks