It's Your Image

Image is everything, and everything you present conveys a meaningful message, either overtly or subliminally.

Is your logo memorable, or is it royalty free clipart? Does it work in black and white and color? Does it look good on a business card, and a billboard? Does it say, "remember me?"

Choosing the right colors, photos, graphics, and layout are like choosing the right wardrobe, and if it doesn't communicate the proper image, then it's time for a makeover.

Get Real...

And speaking of royalty free graphics, photos and site-templates... what kind of credibility are you communicating when you use the same hackneyed, overused images that have been used on a thousand other websites and brochures: the pretty girl with the telephone headset, and the handsome executive pretending to work – get real.

And that doesn't mean you should plaster your website with do-it-yourself snapshots of your office, annual company picnic, or pet Portuguese Water Dog Buford.

Ring Some Bells

Who doesn't look in the mirror before they go out just to make sure they're making a good impression? So why wouldn't you pay the same attention to your company's image?

Your audience's first impression of you may also be their last. So make sure your logo, images, and other graphics can ring a few mental bells. It's your brand, the one thing that will remind people who you are. And if your image is inconsistent, contradictory, or just plain boring, then you're one click away from marketing oblivion.