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By Theresa, February 26, 2010 9:37 am

Check out these great tips on saving some extra cash, something we should all be doing more of, in my opinion!

http://bit.ly/cgl4cz

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By Theresa, January 12, 2010 9:47 am

Graphic Design Basics

Helpful Tips for the Do-it-Yourselfer

Designing your own ads can be fun, as well as practical, however there are many things to consider when attempting to put together an ad for print. Layout is always a concern, as you want to be sure to pull your reader into the ad. Typography, the type of graphics and photos you select, and your target market are just some of the other factors to consider when designing an ad for print.

I’ve put together some basic information to help you get started.

Know Your Target Market

Age will make a difference. Is your market in their early twenties, or are they in their forties and need slightly larger print? Are you designing for a specific culture? In general you’ll want to keep things like reading skills, color and white space in mind, so that your reader can quickly assimilate the information you’re trying to give them.

Layout

Layout is an important element. You want the readerseyes to flow over the material and not jump from one area to the next. The conventional “Z” pattern for western cultures is an effective way to convey your message. Start in the upper left corner, work across to the right and then back to the left again, going top to bottom. Our eyes sweep the page in a Z sequence, seeing images first, then headlines and display copy, finally text.

Another layout option is the grid. Grids can be in many configurations, but they naturally keep content organized and help direct the reader through the page.  As a rule, everything on the page should align with something else. Break alignment only for emphasis, and sparingly within a piece.

Here are some additional guidelines to follow when thinking about your ad layout:

• Use borders when you want to frame and draw attention to information (e.g., table of contents, calendars, special notes).
• Draw attention to boxes or images by using borders with a drop shadow.
• Allow the edges of text columns and artwork to create the illusion of borders.
• Only include layout elements and copy that support the message.
• Use graphic devices such as white space, rules, and images to help the reader understand the content.
• Avoid cluttered backgrounds that make reading content more difficult.
• Increase leading (white space between lines) to lighten the look of the page.
• Leave plenty of white space around type and graphic elements (an eighth to a quarter inch depending on size relative to the layout).
• Leave a little more white space at the bottom of a page relative to the top of the page (e.g., 0.75 inch at the top and 1 inch at the bottom). This will optically balance the page so it won’t look like it is slipping off at the bottom.

Graphics and Images

All too often, poor photographs and graphic images will be used, which greatly distract from the design and the overall appearance of the advertisement. Take care to use images that are clear and sharp, have proper composition and will display the subject in an attractive manner. Poor graphics portray an unprofessional presence. You want your reader to remember your ad for the product or service you are promoting, not for the terrible photograph you used to try to sell them on your company.

• Find a balance between images and text. Too many images can confuse the reader, but too few can leave the ad dry, or boring.
• Keep the style of your images consistent.
• Use graphics and images to direct the reader through the material.
• Be careful that the images used can be reproduced without losing resolution.

Typography

Don’t forget to give typography the consideration it deserves. Effective, powerful ads are created with just typography alone, so be sure to pay close attention to this detail.

• When using more than one type face, make sure they are very different (e.g., a fancy script font, and a sans-serif block font).
• Never use all caps for body copy.
• Never use all caps with highly decorative typefaces.
• Use justified text to be more formal.
• Left justified ragged right is more personal.
• Look for visual gaps between letters or numbers that may occur because of the shapes of the adjacent letters (AT, AV, Te, Wa, 11, etc.). To correct this, use kerning. Kerning is the removal of incremental space between the offending pair.
• Always have someone who did not write the copy, edit the copy.
• Always proof your copy for misspelled words.
• Be careful when reversing type, white or light color, out of a background.

When in doubt, because portraying a professional result can be critical to the success of your campaign, if not your business, contact your graphic designer for help. They can help you put together an ad that will be attractive, efficient and portray your product and your company in a professional, well thought out manner.

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By Theresa, December 8, 2009 8:09 am

While bookkeeping may be a mundane task for most small businesses, it is definitely one of the most important aspects of a successful small business. Errors, omissions and incorrect information can cost a company significantly when tax time approaches.

Below are some best practices to keep in mind when it’s time for bookkeeping.

1. If bookkeeping is not your thing, find someone to do it for you. Trained, skilled bookkeepers can help you efficiently keep track of all your income and expenses. They have the necessary skills to do the job quickly and efficiently and they will often prove as a second pair of eyes to find errors and make suggestions.
2. Use a good accounting software program. This will help you keep track of expenses and income into the appropriate accounts. You will know, at any given time, how much you’ve spent on office supplies this year, and how much your gross sales are, too. The ol’ ledgers have gone by the wayside. Use it to start the fire in the wood stove!
3. Reconcile your bank and credit card statements every month. This will help ensure that you’ve not missed entries into your checkbook and that all money going out is tracked and accounted for.
4. Be consistent. Set aside a certain time every week, or month, depending on the size of your business to organize your expenses and income and enter it into your accounting program. By scheduling time for bookkeeping, and sticking to it, you make the task less daunting than it really needs to be. Additionally, by paying your bills weekly, you save money by potentially avoiding late charges.
5. If you invoice your clients, be sure to monitor your collection procedures and outstanding invoices. Payment terms should be clearly written on every invoice you send out. If you work off contracts, these terms should be mentioned in your contract, as well. Set terms at Net 15 or Net 30. When working on long projects, charge at regular intervals. Don’t wait until your bill is so high that if payment is not made you’ll be financially hurt. Cash flow depends not only on how much you make per hour but also on receiving payment in a timely way.
6. Back up your data. This cannot be stressed enough. If you only have one copy of your bookkeeping data file, you risk losing all of your valuable data to a power surge, hard drive failure, or some other tragedy….and believe me, when you lose your data, it’s a tragedy. Whether you back up to a thumb drive, an external hard drive or an online backup service, it’s well worth any expense and time to take care of this important step.
7. Keep a separate business checking account. Not only does this make you look more serious in the eyes of the IRS, it will also help you keep personal and business expenses separate and organized.

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By Theresa, November 21, 2009 4:25 pm

Need a secretary but don’t want a full time employee? Have a mile long to-do list and just need some help? Then take advantage of my Virtual Assistant Service! This is the ideal compliment to my existing graphic and website design services and I can offer you a complete virtual solution!

Q: What is a Virtual Assistant?

A: Virtual Assistants are entrepreneurs who provide professional administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients from a home office.

Q: How can a Virtual Assistant help you?

A: By providing you with services that an ordinary office employee would provide, without the hassle, expense, paperwork and stress of having employees.

Here is just a short list of some of the services I can provide for you:

• Bookkeeping
• Blogging
• Spreadsheets
• Documents/Letters
• Email Marketing Campaigns
• Event Planning
• Project Management
• Proofreading/Editing
• Secretarial Services
• Ebay Listings
• Travel Coordination

and much more!

The possibilities are endless!

Q:How much will this cost?

A: Virtual Assistant services range from $25 – $35 per hour (1 hour minimum), depending on the type of project. I also offer retainer plans for existing clients who know ahead of time that they need enough work to meet a minimum number of hours. Please click here for more information on these retainer plans.

Q:What kind of experience do I have?

A:  I’m so glad you asked. Having been an administrative assistant, a sales representative for a communications cabling contractor, and a store front business owner, I have many years of administrative and project management experience, along with my 10 years of web site and graphic design experience. All of this means that I have the skills that YOU need to complete your projects effectively and efficiently, saving you money.

Call me today to see how I can help you!

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By Theresa, October 27, 2009 2:28 pm

If you’re like most of us, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished and still have a few minutes of sanity to yourself. There are numerous things pulling us in twice as many directions, so staying on top of your game and being efficient and organized is key to successfully juggling life these days.

Fortunately there are proven techniques to managing our time and being the most efficient…..and effective….that we can be. Here are a few of the things that absolutely work for me.

1. MAKE LISTS! I really can’t stress this enough. After 3 or 4 (or more) decades of storing stuff on the ol’ hard drive (otherwise known as our brain), it’s pretty much full and in major need of a defrag. At least for me, keeping everything in my head just doesn’t work anymore. I find that if I write something down, it lessens the pressure of having to remember it, so I can move on to the task at hand, which is usually trying to get to sleep!
   • Organize your lists by category; i.e. one for shopping, one for tasks. You can even organize them a step further by breaking down the shopping lists by store, and the task list by sub-categories, such as People to Call, Chores at Home, Articles to Write, etc.
   • Prioritize your lists. Pick the top 3 things and as Nike says, “Just do it!” Then cross them off your list and re-prioritize. It’s about pulling your collar up around your neck, pushing your hat down onto your head and riding on into the wind. Once you have even just a couple of items crossed off your list, you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel.
   • Break tasks down into smaller bits. Even if you just have a few minutes, you can get something done that will make the overall task seem much less imposing.
2. Get your work space organized. Clean off the desk so you can find what you’re looking for. Purchase plastic stacking trays and vertical file holders so that you can sort these items into some kind of system that makes sense to you. Next time the ex-husband decides to pull a fast one, you’ll know right where to find that all-important marital settlement agreement!
3. Carry a day-planner or calendar. With business appointments and the kid’s soccer games, this is the only way to know what you’re doing, before you’re actually doing it. A calendar will not only help you schedule future meetings and appointments, but you can also write down everything as it pops into your head. Having a place to jot down your thoughts and ideas is an invaluable tool to stay organized and relieve your self of the pressure to remember everything. You will find that once you’ve made this a habit, you will be lost without it. Once I left mine on the chartered bus after a business seminar and I was frantic for the entire weekend until I was able to reclaim it again on Monday. The mere thought that the person who cleaned the bus might find it and do away with it, nearly sent me into cardiac arrest.
4. Structure your time. Set aside the same time of every day, or week, to complete certain tasks, and stick to your schedule. If you are bad at returning phone calls or emails, set aside the same block of time every day to make sure you respond to everyone. You will feel much more satisfied that it’s done, and your clients and business associates will appreciate the fact that you’re so timely and consistent in your follow up.
5. Begin each day with a time-management session. Sit down for a few minutes and plan out your day. Figure out what absolutely has to be done, and what can be done with left over time, and set about getting those tasks complete.
6. Learn to outsource or delegate. Regardless of the size of your company, there are many things that someone else could be doing for you, while you do what you’re best at….running your business. Why waste precious time struggling with the layout of your brochure, when a Graphic Designer could get it done lickety-split for you? Why spin your wheels organizing that shoe box full of receipts, when your Virtual Assistant is there just to help you out with that? By outsourcing those tasks that don’t directly make you money, you turn your stress into….. (drum roll, please)…..BILLABLE TIME!
7. Stop Multitasking. If you’re writing an article for your blog, then just write. If you’re billing clients, then just concentrate on the invoicing. If you’re deep in the middle of a project, ignore the ringing phone…..you get the idea. While multitasking definitely has its place, studies show that overall, trying to do too many things at once can actually result in having less time, due to the inefficiency and lost momentum that multitasking can sometimes produce.
8. Wake up earlier or go to bed later. I realize this won’t work for everyone, but I work best early in the morning. I recognize this and use this time to its maximum advantage. Figure out what your best time of the day is and use that time to get as much done as possible.
9. Group errands when possible. Plan the errands that need to be done by priority and location. Don’t spend precious time driving across town 3 times, when you can drive from A to B to C in an efficient manner. You’ll save valuable time on the road and the bonus is that you’ll spend way less on fuel!
10. Learn to say no. This is a biggie, but so important! You can’t possibly be all things to all people, so sometimes we have to make those tough decisions.

Drop me a line and let me know what tricks and tips have helped you stay organized and effective in this crazy life!

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By Theresa, October 21, 2009 7:18 am

It’s a fact, most people do not have a clear understanding of federal copyright law. To the average user, if an image, story or article is posted on the internet, it MUST be free for the taking, right? Not quite.

What most people do not understand is that when an individual creates a piece of work, it is automatically given copyrights. Registration with the U. S. Copyright Office is voluntary, and works are protected the moment they are created.

Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “What Works Are Protected.” (from the U.S. Copyright Office website)

There are other forms of protection for individual works, including trademarks and patents. While copyright protects original works of authorship, a patent protects inventions or discoveries, which are not protected under copyright law, however the way in which they are expressed may be. A trademark protects phrases, symbols, designs or words identifying the goods or services of one party and distinguishing them from those of others.

Downloading articles, images or other works from the internet, or using someone else’s work without their permission, in any way, is considered copyright infringement and is illegal, according to federal law. If an individual is found to have infringed on the copyrights of another, that person may be liable for damages up to $30,000 for each work infringed upon. That amount may be increased up to $150,000 for each work, if willful infringement is proven by the copyright owner. In addition, a violator may be liable for attorney’s fees incurred by the copyright owner while attempting to protect his or her own rights.

The doctrine of “fair use” has developed over the years through numerous court decisions. In some cases, the reproduction and limited use of a particular piece of work may be considered fair if it is used for editorial, research or educational purposes.  Determining the difference between infringement and fair use may be difficult, and simple acknowledgment of the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining permission.

While no longer required as a condition of copyright protection, it is always recommended to use a copyright notice as an identifier on your works. This notice typically consists of the symbol or word “copyright (or copr.),” the name of the copyright owner, and the year of first publication, e.g., ©2009 Theresa Sheridan. Use of this notice does not require permission from, or registration with the Copyright Office.

For more detailed information about Copyright law, please visit http://www.copyright.gov.

© 2009 Theresa Sheridan

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By Theresa, October 1, 2009 12:11 pm

Let’s face it, sometimes ideas are just hard to come by. We are so overloaded with things to remember and things to do, that coming up with some newer ways to help promote our business can be challenging.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve jotted down some ideas that appealed to me. Some I thought of myself, some I discovered through all of my surfing ventures of late.

1)      Create a calendar to give away. If it applies, and the photos can relate to your business all the better. Of course, this calendar will have your business name and contact information on it!

2)      Conduct a free clinic or seminar about a product or service that you offer. These can be webinars as well. They don’t have to be complicated, but they do need to be relevant.

3)      Put together a marketing video. Google loves video. When it’s complete, upload it to YouTube and then embed it on your website, and where ever else you can think of.

4)      Write an article about what you know and post it on your website, blog, other websites, everywhere! We all know more about something than someone else does, so promote yourself as an expert in that!

5)      Write a press release and submit it to your local newspaper. There are also numerous websites that you can submit your press release to, and some of them are free.

6)      Create an annual award for something and publicize it.

7)      Join your Chamber of Commerce, mostly for the incredible networking opportunities that it will offer you, but also to show your sense of community.

8)      Volunteer to give a speech, or for career day at a local high school.

9)      Create a customer loyalty program.

10)   Create a monthly newsletter and start an email marketing campaign.

11)   Team up with a non-competing business to offer a promotional package.

12)   If possible, loan your facility out for meetings and other events. This is a great way to spread the word locally about your business and what you can offer.

13)   Spotlight a customer as Customer of the Month. Be sure to advertise this in numerous places.

14)   Start a blog.

15)   Scan the Public Notices section of your local newspaper for Fictitious Business Name Statement announcements and send them a brochure, a business card and whatever your latest promotion is.

16)   Have a treasure hunt on your website.

17)   Write a book, or write an e-book that you can give away for free on your website. People love free stuff.

18)   Help a Reporter Out – Make your expertise available to reporters all over the country who are looking for people to interview on literally every subject you could think of. Not exactly marketing, but could help in the overall exposure of your venture. http://www.helpareporter.com.

19)   Affiliate Marketing – not a new concept by any means, but worth the effort. Check out www.clickbank.com.

20)   Join a leads club. If you can’t find one, start one!

I’ve implemented a few of these myself and have plans to work on a few more. I hope you find these useful, and if you have any ideas of your own that you’d like to pass along, please feel free to comment! I love hearing new ideas.

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By Theresa, September 29, 2009 11:49 am

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