Web Design Sticker Shock: Adobe Muse is the Answer

Web design sticker shock: Adobe Muse is the answer 

By Yetta Blair 

You know your business website needs to be updated.  It looks like something built during the 70’s.  Photos, design and colors are all outdated.  You have added new services and products that aren’t represented on your website and staff members who have moved on are still listed as active employees.  But, after contacting a few web design firms you are stuck in sticker shock.  You want your updated site to be professionally designed, creative, cool and fresh, but do not want to spend an arm and a leg doing it. There is a solution.

Find a design firm that offers web sites developed with Adobe Muse.  

Adobe Muse is a very good option for small businesses, medical groups, churches, non-profits, musicians and more, yet few Louisville design firms are offering this option to their clients. 

Adobe Muse is a graphic designer’s web tool.   It is focused on allowing graphic designers to create websites without having to write any code. This saves time and money without sacrificing creativity, and sites being developed with Muse are fresh and unique looking. 

Many small businesses have past experiences with tools that make Web design simple enough for those who aren’t developers. Disgotech and GoDaddy are two that come to mind. These products put Web design in the hands of the masses, but it has quickly become easy to identify a site that is developed using one of these services and by someone without graphic design skills.  One thing about Adobe Muse that stands out to me is that sites designed with Muse are not immediately obvious. 

I do believe there is a time and place for everything and Adobe Muse is not the best option for all website developments.  Some websites may require a developer to use HTML/CSS.  I get that.  The parameters of the project support this type of development. But, there are some projects where the requirements can be met or exceeded using Muse and at a cost savings to the client.  I see that as just smart business.

Muse is the new cool kid on the block and if you are looking for a professionally designed, high quality website at a reasonable price, consider talking to a firm that offers sites designed in Muse.

What The New Twitter Profile Has to Offer

Visuals have become increasingly important in social media and now Twitter, an information and text-heavy platform, has updated its look to one that focuses on a more visual user experience.  Here are some of the top features of the new Twitter profile update, including the proper dimensions to use. 

This update is now available to all users on Twitter. Updating your profile will give you a more professional look and show that you are active and up to date on social media. Click HERE to get it.

Updating Logo is a Good Way to Create Company Buzz

Updating Logo is a Good Way to Create Company Buzz 

By Yetta Blair 

Think about the last time you updated a room in your house.  Maybe you replaced the carpeting with hardwood floors or you replaced the outdated pink ceramic tile in your bathroom.  Remember the feeling of excitement and joy it brought when you invited friends over to show off the new changes.  You created a buzz and a feeling that is lasting.  You can do the same for your company by updating an out of date logo.  

Taking your logo out of the vault, and dusting it off every five years is a good way to keep things fresh and create a buzz about your company.  And, updating your logo doesn’t have to be a daunting task.  Here are a few tips to simplify the process.

1. Keep your company’s message and personality in mind when updating your logo.  Changes should always strengthen and reflect core values.
 
2. You do not have to throw out the old to bring in the new.  Sometimes, you just want to tweak what you already have. Maybe updating some elements and colors is all you need to do to give it a fresh updated look.  This will insure you do not lose the brand awareness that you have built over the years with the current version of your logo.
 
3. Keep social media in mind. Does the old size work well with social media?   If not, be sure to include a version of your updated logo that works with Facebook, Twitter, linked-in, etc. 
 
4. People remember shape first, color second and content third.  We have a built-in memory connection to the meaning of shapes and color. Skilled designers can update your logo in a way that reflects your company’s message and personality while keeping these elements in mind.

Your company logo is a symbol that represents the company, and its service or products.  And remember, you do not have to throw it out completely and start over to give it a fresh, up to date look.