Thursday, November 17, 2011

Dental Marketing Chicago


Dental Marketing Chicago

Dentists can benefit from marketing services such as a custom websites and SEO strategy that will set them apart from other practices. We have the ability to create strategies to compete at the highest level of competition.

We have developed a solid and comprehensive strategy that includes search engine optimization, customized web design, identity and branding development and social media and reputation management services. Let us consult your company ondental marketing or medical marketing for search engine optimization and web design solutions that are essential to business growth and the economic health of your practice.

For example, when you search for a dentist or medical professional of your specialty in your area, is your website the first to appear in the results section? If not, it's time to launch a more aggressive Search Engine Optimization (SEO) campaign.

Promoting dentistry can promote good health in your community. Promoting quality dental and medical care is your obligation as a professional in the health industry, and we can help to build your practice.

Dental Marketing ChicagoMarketing for Dentists in ChicagoChicago Dental Marketing
Marketing Company in Chicago

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Chicago Graphic Design: Corporate Branding and Identity Design

Chicago Graphic Design

Being in a Marketing role, I realize the importance Corporate Branding plays in the success of a business. What I have noticed, however, is the large amount of businesses today which think otherwise. Many business’ perceptions of Corporate Branding remain stuck in this idea that branding a company and its products is some sort of “icing on the cake”—so to speak. Branding has become somewhat mundane in the minds of some business individuals and takes a back seat to other business-generating practices. As far as I’m concerned, what those businesses are missing out on is a chance to move their products and services to the forefront of consumers’ minds; this would, in turn, create more business for these companies. What better way to generate business than to use brand recognition and recall to your advantage? I know in my mind, the choice is simple: give branding the proper attention it deserves and increase overall business through customer brand loyalty.

Chicago Graphic Design

To shed some light on this topic, and to provide simple solutions for business who are interested in shaping their brand, I have provided a few branding tips:

1. Establish Your Market

It will be very difficult for your company to achieve its business objectives if there is no clear direction in which it is heading. The first step to finding your company’s “direction” is to establish your target market. Identify the type of individual you are targeting down to as much detail as you feel fit; overanalyzing your market, however, can cause difficulties with relaying your brand to your audience, as it will be hard to “zero in” on the message your company would like to portray if there’s too wide a range of details to sift through. Establishing a direction to pursue will be easier if your company has a clear vision of its ideal customer. Once your direction is clear, you will be on the right track to start targeting customers through your company’s branding efforts.

2. Identify Your Core Competencies

Whether there are a few competitors in your field, or even hundreds, there is a way to make your brand break away from the clutter. It all comes down to identifying what your company can do better than its competition—it’s core competencies. These core competencies are the building blocks of what makes your company’s products or services attractive and valuable to your target market. Recognizing the importance of communicating your business’ core competencies to its target market will give your company an edge over those few or many competitors in the field.
Chicago Graphic Design

3. Create Your Image

When branding, one of the most important things to keep in mind is the image that your company is portraying to its potential customers. Brand image is a powerful thing; it can make or break a company, regardless of how great the products and services seem to be. Ideally, companies want to get to a point when potential customers have positive brand recall and recognition; this can be achieved by having a focus on embodying the company’s core values and expertise in its field. If your company’s brand image is firmly established, you will need to put extra effort towards making it where you would ideally like it to be in the minds of consumers. If you are just starting out, it is much easier to shape your brand image, however, the challenge your company may initially face is brand recognition and recall. Whichever the case, brand image should not be something to put on the back burner!
Chicago Graphic Design

4. Engage Your Audience

Above all, a company which recognizes the importance of developing and maintaining relationships with its customers and target market knows one of the key practices in business: engaging with your audience. Perhaps one of the most overlooked practices, staying connected with potential and current customers, allows you, as a company, to have a substantial amount of control over the public’s view. It’s great that your company has Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, WordPress—and so on—but how can you get real value if you are not staying active within conversations? The options with social media are abundant and by not engaging with your potential and current customers, you are missing out on building a presence in your field. The opportunity to have virtually direct dialogue with your audience is one which can showcase your core competencies and if necessary, do damage control to correct any negative attention you may be getting. With social media, companies can not only discover their target market’s opinions towards their products and services, they can also shape those perceptions to ultimately drive business.
Chicago Graphic Design

What I’d like to get across to everyone reading this blog is the notion that branding should be present and apparent throughout a company’s processes, employees and customer relations. It neither deserves, nor is beneficial, for a company to have branding as merely the “icing on the cake.” By putting branding at the forefront of each and every aspect of business, companies can shape people’s perceptions and behaviors toward their products and services to strengthen customer relationships.

Chicago Marketing: LinkedIn and Marketing your Business

Chicago Marketing Company

In the world of social media, there are three major giants: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Two of these, Facebook and Twitter, are widely popular due to the platforms commonly being used for social and business benefits because of their well-known user interfaces. LinkedIn, however, is somewhat of an anomaly, although it maintains 120 million professional users. When I became a new user of LinkedIn, I was unaware of how to actually utilize it appropriately. From that moment on, I vowed to eliminate that feeling for others—I will shed some light on the abyss that is LinkedIn to help others explore its entire potential.

LinkedIn is a social media platform that allows professionals, Chicago Marketing Companies, seasoned veterans and recent graduates to connect, while listing credentials and an assortment of beneficial work force fields. LinkedIn’s interface actively fashions itself as a dynamic and more-personal resume. A user’s profile page is a way of enhancing his or her “personal equity,” as well as being found by other individuals, many of which range from old college friends to colleagues to recruiters. One key suggestion that many people overlook is the idea of optimization when using their LinkedIn page. Optimizing a profile or webpage is based in the conscious and organic use of the keywords that are relevant to your work history. This allows you to be found in LinkedIn’s search results associated with those keywords.

LinkedIn hosts 75 Fortune 100 companies using LinkedIn Hiring solutions and hosts 2 million companies with LinkedIn Company pages. Therefore, it has transcended the classic manner of finding a career and has now become a great place to encounter career opportunities. However, to be utilized correctly and gain career momentum, I suggest individuals demonstrate consistent participation, increasing your appeal to major corporations. Your stability in participation can set you apart as an industry expert or an individual who is eager to excel beyond expectations. Networking is a stepping stone in one’s desire for success, as the common phrase “Its not what you know, but who you know,” plainly explains. If leveraged correctly, following interesting companies, linking to the most connected people and frequent interaction with your existing network will provide endless possibilities.

LinkedIn is a great resource for a seasoned professional’s move to a new career, a recent graduate’s transition into the work force, connecting with industry leaders or keeping up with peers within a niche industry. So, take a break from Facebook, refrain from tweeting for a second and embrace the commonly untapped resource that is LinkedIn. Don’t let your unfamiliarity prevent you from your next big break!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Schaumburg Designers: More than Meets the Eye!

Welcome to Schaumburg Marketing Company's creative blog. 
Here you'll find a plethora of information on Schaumburg Marketing & Design, Schaumburg Graphic Design, Schaumburg Web Design and Schaumburg SEO.

We Design with YOU in mind.


At SMC, a Creative Agency, we put you first. We listen to your ideas and consider your marketing and business goals every step of the way. We take a personal approach with your projects. We get to know you and your business personally, which helps us accurately interpret your needs and integrate them into your design solutions.



Our design process is a straight-forward approach which is guided by our clients' ideas and objectives. We manage the timeline of your projects by focusing on your schedule so your business needs can be met.
Who are we? 
The Schaumburg Marketing Agency's creative marketing team is comprised of talented Graphic Designers, Web Designers, Programmers, Writers, SEO Experts, Marketing Strategists, and Photographers who work together to create design solutions that work for you and your business.

We have a simple philosophy. Hire the most dedicated and creative people who love to work in a creative environment and are passionate about what they do. The result is a team that loves to design, write, program, and market. This philosophy is what has transformed us into the respected marketing company it is today. We not only create innovative designs and brand solutions, we love having the opportunity to build relationships with our clients.

Our proven track record as a leading Schaumburg Graphic Design Firm and Creative Agency lets us take pride in our ability to create and implement the most strategic and creative marketing solutions for you and your company.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Chicago Marketing: 5 Phases of Logo Design


The best logos in existence did not simply pop into existence when the graphic designer put his pen to the paper. They went through a process. This process is sometimes rigorous and takes years to perfect. The Apple logo went through many different phases and took 30 years to get to the stage they're in now! Take a peek at the following process and see if you're going about it the right way.

Research! Research! Research!
Research is the most important phase of a logo design process. Research includes asking the client questions about their likes and dislikes when it comes to graphic design. It should also include research of top competitors logos and creative styles. In addition, researching your client's target market comes in handy and helps you tailor your design to their specific needs. The most important reason you've been hired as a Graphic Designer is to help your client and their business become easily recognizable.

Development
Everybody handles this stage in their own way. Creative Graphic Designers like us prefer to take the information we've gathered, start with word association, brainstorming, a play on graphically describing words on paper and then move into Illustrator. This process is the most time consuming or SHOULD be. It will be greatly affected by how much time and effort put into the research phase of the Logo Design process. 

Proofing
This is the first presentation to the client, where you will show them what you've been working on all this time! The presentation is half the battle, as you need to sell your design even after doing so much work on it. Graphic Designers all around the world have spent ages on a design that is not only beautiful but inspiring and could have been the next great Apple Logo, but the client hasn't liked it. Don't get too attached to your designs because they may end up in your rubbish bin.

As a Creative Marketing & Design Firm, we have a lot of competition. But we know that when we sit down with a client, our sales techniques are going to win the day. If you feel as if you're not on the up and up on Sales Techniques, look into getting a class or forcing yourself to give more presentations. It will only help!

Completion
It's finished finally! After all the time and effort put into the design, time spent with the client, and finally finalizing after your hard won presentation, you've arrived at the point in time where you deliver your product. And preferably get PAID too. Be sure to give your client multiple file types to work with as most printers take .jpgs, .ai, or .eps files.  They may also ask for .pdf, .png, or even .gif and .tiff files. Be sure to have a copy of each. This makes both yours and your client's life much easier.

Follow Up
The best way to lose clients is to not follow up with them. Make sure you follow up with your client, as this might be the connection between you and your next gig! 

Tips
1. Dont be lazy - do your research!
2. Don't rush!
3. Don't shortchange your client on proofs and designs

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Chicago Marketing: Reasons Advertising Fails

Chicago Ad Agency
Advertising exists to influence behavior. Period. Much of it doesn’t. Here are the most common reasons why:

Super Bowl Syndrome
Have you ever recalled a funny TV spot but forgot the advertiser? Many marketing consultants get so caught up in being entertaining they forget to sell, as is the case with many Super Bowl spots. Ad creative should be inextricably linked to the selling proposition. 

Lots of Explosions and No Plot 
That’s how some movies are reviewed, and the description fits many ads too. A special effect is a thin disguise for the lack of an idea. Technology has placed numerous bells and whistles at our fingertips that may distract our audience from the message. Resist the urge to apply elaborate dissolves, exaggerated graphics, and overwrought sound effects. (This applies to PowerPoint decks too!) Simple communicates better.

Harried Soccer Moms and Chimps 
Some marketers continue to develop ad concepts based on clichés, such as talking babies, pets that are smarter than their owners, and men who would rather watch football and drink beer than be romantic. How can an ad stand out if it looks like so many others? (Enjoy a parody here of clichéd PSAs in which spokespeople finish each others’ sentences and endlessly repeat key phrases.)

Committee-Sourcing 
Even if an ad agency starts out with a solid concept, its potential effectiveness is often watered down by too many “experts” in the kitchen. Advertisers who feel obligated to address every opinion offered by every member of every focus group, committee and board often miss the mark with external audiences.

Egos at Play 
When you see a business owner appearing in his own advertising, you know he’s likely more interested in personal celebrity than advertising effectiveness. Few CEOs are good as spokespeople. For every Frank Purdue and Lee Iaccoca, there are thousands of car dealers and roofing contractors who are pathetic in front of the camera and don’t seem to know it. Even less effective: featuring their own kids’ in the ads.

“Lowest prices! Highest quality! Best service!” And most claims! 
So many that it’s hard to believe one organization can live up to them all. When building a logical case for a sale, screaming promises at the prospect sounds desperate. Pick one brand advantage to stand for — it’s more believable and more memorable. 

Lack of Differentiation 
Most advertisers tout product features. Few tell you why they are a better choice than their competitors. Apple did it 66 times over four years with its Mac Vs. PC campaign. See a sample TV spot below and watch the whole campaign here. It’s a textbook example of brand positioning.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Chicago Marketing Firms Helps Establish Your Brands

Chicago Marketing Company


Chicago Marketing Firms

The Chicago Marketing Firm, Integraphix is committed to help your business succeed in your respective markets. Their main goal is to establish your product brand and trademark in the market. We will help you stand out among your competitors. The designers and marketing specialists at Integraphix are not satisfied that you are on the mediocre end of the spectrum. The Chicago Marketing Firm, Integraphix, will help you place your products in your own unique position. We always go beyond your expectation to help you become more successful in your business.

It is not surprising though that many are satisfied with the marketing efforts of Chicago marketing firms which are all for the benefit of the clients and their respective market. We know far better what is excellence and customer service is all about. Our clients motivate us to continuously excel so that we can help the clients survive in the competitive world of sales and marketing. But we are not only that; we also assure that the consumers are satisfied with the product to maintain loyal customers.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Chicago Marketing Firms: When designing Web Navigations...Simple is Smart






We all recognize the web page in this posting. It's Apple. It's the iPhone. We're on the iPhone navigation button. Easy right? That's what you want. Simplicity.

Choice are a wonderful thing in website navigation, but having too many options on your menu can lead to confusion and a frustrated customer, or worse, a lost sale. Often, business owners are stuck in the mindset that giving customers lots of options is a good thing, but there is such a thing as giving too much!

When you go to the salon, you don't get a menu of hairstyles to choose from, your stylist works out what you like and what works best for your face shape, hair type, etc. If you were to go to that same stylist and she gave you a 30 minute survey to complete before she started cutting, you'd probably walk out right? Again...right.

This is the same concept in web design. You need to choose FOR your customers what will work best for YOUR company and the services/products you offer. You don't have to put every type of product in your navigation. Keep it simple, because more than likely, your customer base is web savvy enough to navigate a website.

Example: You're selling rings online. You've got diamond rings, gold rings, rings with gems in them, rings for men, etc. You wouldn't put all of these options in one menu bar! You have a simple 'Rings' button that your customer can then follow to find the type of rings they want through either a drop down, or a form that narrows choices on the other side of that button.

The bottom line: think broadly about your services and products, and bring this ideas to the table with your web designer and they'll be able to tell you which option will be the best for your market and type of website. Most web designers will have enough experience, especially if you use a Marketing Firm with Web Design services, that they can use effective sales and marketing techniques to help your customers make decisions.

Here are some ways your website might be confusing your visitors:
Poor Navigation
Your customer as to figure out where to go on the website and most likely ends up going elsewhere.

Too many choices
There may be no clear choice or too many choices without a clear indication of which one is the page they want to visit.

Way too much copy
We didn't like reading essays in high school and nobody likes to do it today either. Keep your web copy between 400 and 1000 words per page so your customers aren't getting fed up with trying to find the information they want.

Requiring Registration before purchase
Internet users hate this. Have an option to check out as a guest on your website. The less hoops a person has to jump through, the more likely they are to finish the transaction.

Are you guilty of any of these web crimes? If so, contact Integraphix today for a FREE Consultation on how we can improve your website traffic and boost your sales.

--

Integraphix, the top Web Design Company in the Chicago land area.
Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Email us Directly!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Creative Agency | Integraphix: Creative Agency: Chicago Illinois

Creative Agency | Integraphix: Creative Agency: Chicago Illinois: "Chicago Creative Agency Everybody here has probably sat in a room at some point in their life and been forced to watch a PowerPoint presen..."

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Chicago Marketing Company Integraphix Illinois


Thank you for Visiting Us!





Chicago Marketing Company
Thank you for visiting Integraphix, a Chicago Marketing Company blog!

We've created this blog to feed your need for graphic design, web design, internet marketing and SEO. We hope that we can post innovating and interesting things for you to read, comment on, and pass on to your fellow designers and friends.


Find us on Google Maps under Chicago Marketing Company!