Cool_Google_Doodles

Since 1998 Google's Doodles have been gracing our computer screens with their punchy colours and eye catching design. 

Some of the days and events they celebrate, most of us, (well my colleagues and I), haven't even heard of, but it always brightens our day and encourages us to learn something new.

Simple and understated, but immediately recognisable as the logo and artists style.

For the avid internet user, the Google Doodle has become an item to be enjoyed and anticipated!

Obviously Google is a pioneering search engine company who like to do fun, ground breaking things like having grass in the canteen and a slide down to the food hall from their offices, so it is true that fun would definitely be a motivating factor in the Google Doodle phenomenon. However; the cold, harsh reality is, if it didn't make them extra money and gain oodles of publicity they probably wouldn't do it.

Like any strong brand, we know what it is when we can't really see it properly.

So for Google, it is a win win situation, people love them, the Google Doodle increases search and it has generated its own little pr whirlwind.

Offshoots like design a Google Doodle, sponsored by Crayola and other industry leaders is a great opportunity for budding artists worldwide to show their talents noticed on the World's most visited gallery.

you can even buy Google Doodle t-shirts, mugs, postcards, posters...the list goes on.

Google archive-much simpler and more the like 'actual' Google logo.

 All that aside, we ❤ Google Doodles! Check out the link for some of the Google Doodle finalists http://www.google.com/doodle4google/

Also, take a look at the Google Doodle store http://www.zazzle.com/googledoodles

We've chosen a couple from the Google Doodle archive and the 2012 competition that are our favourites. Opinions please! 

We ♥ to Doodle-do you?

Okay, so time is precious, especially when you are snowed under in the office; however at First, we believe it is important to take a break so we've found a few cool sites to distract you (temporarily of course!)... Please don't blame us if you get addicted.
1) Pinterest-the perfect combination of pictures, text and expression. Get yourselves an account and get pinning!
www.pinterest.com

2) Doodly.ly-Doodle to your heart's content. Great source of fun and a little bit of inspiration?!!
http://doodle.ly/

3) Jam Studio-fancy mashing up some funky beats? Well, www.jamstudio.com is definitely the place to do it.

4) Remember the Milk-Okay, so not necessarily fun, but quite pretty useful for getting your life in order! www.rememberthemilk.com

5) Crayola-Probably aimed at children but that's okay! Still good fun on a miserable Monday afternoon. www2.crayola.com

Somerset Top 10!

Being a Somerset company, we're always proud of Somerset brands who have made it to the top or are on the up. So, we thought we'd put together a little showcase of our top ten Somerset brands.
From cool logos to exceptional products, each has its own selling point that we want to give a little shout about! Opinions are our own and entries are numbered randomly!

Mulberry
With roots firmly in Somerset (no pun intended!), Mulberry have gone on to be world leaders in the fashion industry. Their exceptional products and unique styling make them stand out from the crowd. Posh rustic and refined country styling pay homage to their rural somerset heritage.

Visit www.mulberry.com

Babycham
Ok, so it went out of fashion for a while but this little deer is truly having a renaissance. Shepton Mallett based Babycham has been in production for over 50 years and still continues to add masses of sparkle to parties worldwide with sales up 50% in 2011. One of the reasons we chose Babycham is the iconic logo. The ultimate kitsch 50's styling but the colours and overall impact ensure each bottle holds its own against today's contemporary drinks brands.
Visit www.babycham.com

Yeo Valley

Rolling hills, happy cows, glorious sunshine and flowers galore. Yeo Valley Organic has been established for over 50 years and has become one of the UK's leading organic brands. Quite frankly, they've got it all right. Packaging, website, tv adverts, company ethos, logo....hence, why they are on our list.

Moooosey on down and check out their site www.yeovalley.co.uk

Clarks

How could we not include them? In the 90's they had a bit of a lull but they are firmly back on track! Cool branding, excellently styled photography, great products. What more can we say?

Visit www.clarks.co.uk

Thatchers Cider

Well, it would be rude not to being from Somerset and all... The growth of music festivals, starting with Glastonbury has seen a huge surge in the popularity of Somerset's liquid gold. Thatchers have truly embraced this and their brand has become one of the front-runners in the market. The logo, website and bottle branding all evoke a real sense of summer in the somerset countryside. We particulalry love their 2012 television advert featuring the story from flower to glass.
Visit www.thatcherscider.co.uk

Styles Farmhouse Ice Cream
Making the transition from small scale cottage business to large, international ice cream producer without losing quality and identity is a challenge to say the least. Exmoor based Styles Ice Cream have embraced this and through passion and hard work have seen unprecedented growth. Launching their Slim Ewe product in the noughties has sent them overseas too. Great products, cool packaging and a love for what they do places them firmly on our list.
Visit www.stylesicecream.co.uk

Fox Brothers and Co Ltd
It's not often that a company stays absolutely true to its identity, but Fox Brothers buck the trend with their high quality heritage brand and products. This Wellington based luxury manufacturer of woollen cloth is internationally renowned and can be found in Saville Row's finest tailors. We particularly love their fabric labels which maintain their authentic heritage branding.

Visit www.foxflannel.com

Brown and Forrest
Hambridge based brown and Forrest are producers of the finest smoked goods which are sold internationally. The essence of the company as a whole is the reason they have made their way on to the list, plus, although they've only been running for 31 years, you'd never know it. With a logo that depicts Victorian grandeur and a well selected company colour palette, Brown and Forrest are history in the making...
Visit www.smokedeel.co.uk

Wyke Farms
Another Somerset favourite-cheese. We just had to add Wyke Farm to the list. They've come a long way in the last few years and have managed to establish their brand at the forefront of people's minds not only in somerset but throughout the country. Their distinctive black and gold logo and bold accent colours can now be seen on shelves country-wide and their vintage themed television adverts can be seen gracing screens up and down the country. A great representation of Somerset and a brave use of colour on the packaging for quite a traditional brand.

Visit www.wykefarms.com

Cotleigh Brewery
Last but not least, Wiveliscome-based Cotleigh Brewery have won their place in the top ten because we love their well designed graphics. They feature some great illustrations of animals, scenery and items of local interest without being cheesey! Full of colour and very distinctive, you can tell a pint of Cotleigh anywhere.
Have a look at www.cotleighbrewery.com

The Year of the Dragon-it certainly has been so far...

Breathing its fire and lashing with its tail, 2012, the year of the dragon, has been a somewhat turbulent and unnerving year so far for businesses throughout the South West and the rest of the UK.

Many of the businesses we've spoken to have experienced unprecedented growth or on the opposite end of the spectrum, sales have bottomed out completely. There's one thing for sure, allowing a business to just drift along, å la year 2000 just doesn't work anymore!

Our offices, like many of our customers', are based in a rural area and we have noticed shops closing on a weekly basis, companies who once thrived disappearing in to oblivion and 'drifters' no longer being able to sustain themselves by just being there.

It's cut throat in the country...okay, so that is a little dramatic, but let's just say what we make up for in countryside views, we certainly miss out on in passing trade and surrounding commerce thus we must do our best to stay ahead of the pack!

Not quite the First Design Print Web mantra, but some simple rules we do our best to embrace and adhere to:

Know your customers inside out.
They are your life source so it's crucial that you are always learning about them, their interests, their habits, where they are and what they are doing.
We ♥ data.

Embrace social media.
It's free, fun-filled and frankly, it's everywhere. It gets people talking, it creates a stir and it's a great opportunity to learn about your potential and existing customers.
We ♥ free promo' tools.

Keep your customers happy.
It's far more difficult promoting to new customers than to sell products to existing customers.
We ♥ happy customers.

Stay inspired.

It sounds pretty cheesy but it is crucial that your eyes and ears are always open. Knowing trends, habits, what's cool and what's not is important for any business. So sign up to blogs, get Tweeting and look out for super cool sites. One of our favourites is www.pinterest.com, an online pin board for things people love from food to fashion to farm shops-it's all there and it's free!
We ♥ cool stuff.

Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate.

It's important for businesses to take stock of their promotion, their marketing, where they are, what they are doing and where they want to be.
We ♥ taking stock.

Stay fresh

Nobody likes a stale brand or product so businesses shouldn't think what looked great 5 years ago still looks great today. Change and refreshment instill confidence in customers and shows your business is always pushing its way forward.
We ♥ being up to date.

Be concise.

Think 'Coke', think 'Apple'...it's immediately obvious who they are and what they do. Okay, so you probably won't have their gazillion pound marketing budget but the idea is clear-don't dilute. Be sure of your brand and your products. Don't be tempted to be reactive...
We ♥ clarity.

 

*Shout about it!* Celebrate your business' success.

In Britain we're often discouraged from shouting about what we're good at. We're all very good at self-deprecation but why not shout about what we're really good at and make it work for us?!

As a business it's important to give your customers faith in your products and services, and to meekly blend in to the background hoping passers by will try you on the off-chance isn't really a strategy that works!

It's quite a simple idea-if you see a company who has won awards or has accreditation it makes you think "yeah, they must be good! I'll use them". What we often take for granted is that they have put themselves forward for such awards, applied for that accreditation and have committed to letting people know just how good they are.

Locally and nationally there are awards for just about everything so why not claim your stake of the prize! From Best Local Food Producer to Best Sports Brand to Best Regional Marketing, there's guaranteed to be a category or an award that suits your business!

It shows a commitment to change, improvement and will give your business credence. Plus, such events are well publicised and offer your business some great free PR and the opportunity to network with some very useful people. 

It's great for your web presence, positively Tweet-tastic and tells people you really mean business! A great place to start is by 'Googling' your local area and the word 'awards' and a multitude of opportunities will arise!

So, get your business name out there, we've listed some great benefits below:

•Gets your business name on the radar

•Free PR

•Great networking

•Improves your business' credentials

•Great staff morale booster

•Avoids a business plateau!

•Some pretty good prizes too...

Visit http://www.smarta.com/advice/sales-and-marketing/pr/how-to-win-awards for more useful information.

★POSTER POWER!★

Since the late 1700's when the development of Lithography allowed poster printing on a mass scale, posters have become part of our culture. Originally the majority of posters were used for political purposes but posters have now become an art form all of their own.  

"For over two hundred years, posters have been displayed in public places all over the world. Visually striking, they have been designed to attract the attention of passers-by, making us aware of a political viewpoint, enticing us to attend specific events, or encouraging us to purchase a particular product or service"  Max Gallo, French Historian.
 

With so many other promotional tools out there, it's easy to forget just how effective a good poster can be. Cost effective, easy to distribute and when used well, a tool like no other!

We always love to seek a bit of good ol' design inspiration, and when researching a project in the office, we came across http://www.posterheroes.org a competition dedicated solely to the world's best 50 x 70 posters. 

A simple concept that puts some BRILLIANT design ideas in the spotlight. A brief is set and designers get to work creating their masterpieces.

Three of our favourites are shown below. We'll definitely be watching the progress of the competition and in the meantime, if you're thinking about going poster-design-crazy, we've got some simple tips for you to follow...

Our top poster design tips are:
★Before designing, be sure about exactly what you want your poster to say.

★Display your message clearly. There's nothing worse than an idea that is so genius, passers-by just don't get it!

★Be innovative! Don't just think top, middle and bottom; think left, right, off center, angled...! 

★Research and be inspired! There's nothing wrong with learning from the success of others.

★Often the temptation is to create a really big leaflet-don't! Please use space wisely!

★Think about your poster's role as part of a wider marketing campaign not just a stand-alone item.

We ❤ QR codes!

A few years ago peculiar little barcode-esque marks started appearing in magazines, on TV screens and have since grown to appear on packaging, advertising and pretty much wherever else you can apply them (including t-shirts!). 

I have to admit, when I first saw and figured out a Quick Response code, I wasn't convinced. I thought it might be another fad that had potential to fall in to oblivion. Some of the original QR codes when scanned went to dead links or websites that just hung and successfully shortened already short fuses! 

Other famous failures include Red Bull's campaign which was displayed in areas such as tube stations where there was no signal allowing you to scan them! 

However; despite such blips, the QR code story has been one of massive success...

Research shows that 52% of people know what a QR code is and a whopping 28% have actually used them! So, this little square really does make the world your oyster as a business of any size if you are trying to get your information out there and aim to get your brand and its products on top. 

Statistics show that at the end of 2011, 27% of adults and a whopping 52% of 12-15 years old in the UK were owners of a smartphone. The figures are set to rise sharply over the coming years with some people opting out of desktops and laptops and selecting to just-go-mobile!

The best things about QR codes from the perspective of a business are that they are free, they give you quantifiable results by linking directly to your website and they make you look like you are tech-savvy, so what's stopping you?! Get code-generating! Our fave generator is http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

http://qrcode.kaywa.com/