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About Graphic Design

About Graphic Designgraphic design

A graphic designer is a graphic artist that conveys information through visual solutions. These solutions promote or enhance a service, product, philosophy or entity. The term graphic design can be applied to a wide variety of positions. A good graphic designer has strong interpersonal and marketing skills and a keen eye and knowledge of electronic media packages.

Graphic designers work with a variety of materials including film media, animation, sound, images, illustrations, text, color and white space. Before beginning a project, a graphic designer will identify the needs of their client and consider the needs of the targeted audience, taking into account social and cultural values. The graphic design process typically begins with an electronic sketch of the layout, followed by a mock-up presented for approval.

In small graphic design operations, services offered might be limited to designing flyers, business cards, informational pamphlets and advertisements. A more experienced graphic designer might also offer distinctive logo design and full branding packages.

Graphic designers might also design websites. These types of graphic designers are often referred to as webmasters. This position requires vast knowledge of scripting languages and an active interest in staying ahead of the latest web design technologies.

Alter Impact offers businesses both large and small quality graphic design and web design services. With over thirteen years of experience, Alter Impact offers business card design, logo design, advertisement design, website design and full branding packages. For more information about how we can help your business, please contact us today.

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Dealing with Negative Reviews

Dealing with Negative Reviewsnegative reviews

Everyone knows that a good reputation is crucial to the success of a small business. Today, consumers spend hours researching businesses online before they even decide where to shop. Just one bad online review can do some serious damage to your business’s reputation. Fortunately there are a few things that you can do to turn these negative experiences into a positive one for your small business.

First, let’s discuss what NOT to do when you receive a bad review online:

  • Deny that the problem exists
  • Argue with the reviewer
  • Ignore the review
  • Attempt to cheat the system by asking other customers to post good reviews

If you really want to combat negative reviews you must be aware that they exist. Monitor social media pages and online review websites carefully and respond to all concerns. However, if the review isn’t serious, or if the reviewer is using anger and abusive language, your best option is to ignore it. These are the type of reviews that should be flagged, reported and removed.

When addressing a negative review always keep it professional and respond with tact. Passive aggressive and sarcastic comments will only increase the problem. You can either respond to the problem publicly to demonstrate to readers that you are addressing the situation, or respond privately if you disagree with the reviewer.

Apologize to the customer and ask for suggestions on how you can resolve the situation. Remember to keep responses consistent. When you actively respond to negative comments, other potential customers can see that you are engaged and that you care about your customers.

Alter Impact has been providing quality web and graphic design services from Orange County, California since 2002. For more information about how we can help you market your business, please contact us today.

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Optimizing Images for the Web

Optimizing Images for the Weboptimizing images for web

For most websites, images take up the majority of download time. Visitors to your website decide within seconds whether they will stick around. If your images are not properly optimized for the web, they will take too long to load, possibly causing you to lose potential customers. There are many ways to optimize your images. One way that can have a significant impact on the overall speed of your website is to make your graphics as small as possible.

Generally, you want to keep your images no larger than 12KB and the total size of each web page including all images, HTML, CSS and JavaScript no larger than 100KB. 50KB is even better. In order to make your images as small as possible you must use special graphic editing software.

Perfectly optimized images:

  • Are in the right format for the web
  • Have the correct dimensions
  • Are cropped
  • Have a reduced GIF index
  • Have the ideal JPG quality setting

There are three image formats for the web:

  • GIF
  • JPG
  • PNG

GIF is used for flat color images, JPG is used for photographic images and PNG is good for both types of image when you do not need your images to appear on mobile devices.

Most cameras capture images that are much larger than the average web page can display. You can create smaller images simply by changing the dimensions of the image.

Images should be cropped as tightly as possible. Cropping not only makes images smaller, it also helps define the subject of the image by removing unnecessary background noise.

GIFS include a color index of colors that are present in the image. However, a GIF index might include more colors than are actually displayed. By reducing the index to only the colors in the image, you reduce the image’s file size.

The quality setting of JPGs can be adjusted. The smaller the quality setting is, the smaller the file will be. However, adjusting the quality setting can affect how the image looks.

Alter Impact has been creating quality websites and graphics for over twelve years. For more information, please contact us today.

 

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Top Benefits of Professional Graphic Design

Top Benefits of Professional Graphic Designbenefits of professional graphic design

In today’s competitive world, there is more emphasis than ever before to make your business stand out against the rest. This is particularly true for businesses that are trying to make an impact on a specific market. One of the best ways that a business can stand out is by having a great looking logo or image that grabs the attention of their intended audience. However, some businesses do not have the resources to create these types of graphics on their own. These businesses should consider enlisting the help of a professional graphic design company. Let’s take a closer look at the top benefits of professional graphic design.

Some businesses simply do not have the artistic abilities in-house to create a great looking logo. A graphic design company can help your businesses brainstorm ideas in order to come up with something that adequately represents your company. In addition, hiring a graphic design company frees up your resources and allows you to concentrate on your business.

A great logo helps consumers understand who you are as a business and gives them an attachment to your brand that will hopefully convert them into customers. A professionally designed logo can help your business stand out, build a reputation and illicit a positive response from your customers. An experienced graphic design company understands how important your company’s image is. They can help you create a logo that attracts attention and adequately displays your company’s beliefs.

When potential customers see a professionally designed logo they know that the company put a lot of time and thought into their image. This makes the company appear professional and consistent in the eyes of their customers.

Alter Impact has been creating professionally designed logos and graphics for over twelve years. For more information on how we can help you brand your business please contact us today!

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Marketing your Business with Postcards

Marketing your Business with Postcardspostcards

Postcards are a quick, inexpensive and effective way to market your business. Postcard marketing is an excellent way to attract new customers and keep your current client base informed and in touch. Let’s discuss the best ways to market your business with postcards:

  • Keep them simple
  • Decide in advance where you will aim your marketing
  • Postcard designs should be thought out and professional
  • Use postcards to help brand your business
  • Keep a record of how many customers respond to your postcards
  • Distribute postcards by mail, by hand and via bulletin boards

In today’s high-tech world, many people try to use every option available to them. Resist the urge to use too many different fonts or colors on your postcards and never overload your customers with too much information. For many, your postcard will be the first impression your business gets to make. You will want to be sure that postcards are memorable and worth keeping.

Postcards can be specifically made to focus on specific zip codes, carrier routes, residences or businesses. They can be sent to the households of certain income brackets, property values, age groups, purchasing habits, lifestyles, hobbies and demographics. The more targeted your mailings are, the better.

Poorly designed postcards will most likely end up in the trash. Postcards should be thought out and professionally designed in order to attract the most possible attention for your business. Additionally, professionally designed postcards can be used as part of a larger marketing strategy. Your card can be used to alert buyers that you will be calling them about your product.

Postcards can be used to help brand your business by keeping your name in the public’s eye. They can also be used to let your established customers know that you’re still around and ready to do business with them. Brand familiarity begs for respect and can solidify a company’s reputation.

Postcards make it possible to track the success of your marketing campaign. Perhaps the easiest way to accomplish this is by asking customers to bring the card with them in order to redeem a special discount.

Postcards can be distributed in a number of ways. They can be mailed, handed out at trade shows, stuffed in publications or displayed on bulletin boards. Anything goes as long as you get your message out to your intended audience.

Alter Impact has over twelve years of experience designing effective postcards and business cards. For more information about how we can help brand your business, please contact us today.