Graphic Design Hartford CT

In The Spotlight This Week At Wieting Design: Christine, Senior Graphic Designer

February 25, 2020 by Cindy Wieting

We started blogging about our great team members at Wieting Design, LLC. The people who make it possible!! The ones who work hard and the ones who take pride in their work.

In the spotlight this week: Graphic Designer, Christine

Christine is an experienced designer with a demonstrated history of working in the communications industry. Skilled in Advertising, Integrated Marketing, Direct Mail, Collateral, and Concept Development. Strong entrepreneurship professional with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) focused in Graphic Design from University of The Arts.

She has worked with a variety of clients; Wealth Enhancement Group, KMRD, Constellation Energy, Bloomberg Businessweek, Hadassah, Simone Pérèle, Curve Expo, National Geographic, North Shore Animal League, National Wildlife Federation and Union Underground Pub & Provisions, to name just a few.

Christine believes good design must go hand-in-hand with solid strategy and proven results. A project can’t just be visually appealing, it has to work hard to convey a clear message that meets AND beats a client’s goals across multiple marketing platforms.

At Wieting Design, LLC Christine handles all of our newsletters, powerpoint presentations, concepts for new ideas for our corporate clients that are integrated visually and on message from print to web applications.

Website Hosting Connecticut | Full-Service Marketing Agency | CT, NY, NJ

Wieting Design is a full-service design agency in Fairfield County, CT and serving all of Connecticut (CT). We are committed to sharing our experience and expertise in website development, website design, graphic design, search engine marketing (SEM & SEO), and video production to help build powerful tools that work for your Connecticut business. Whether your objective is to grow your reputation, create client loyalty, drive traffic to your website, or set up a marketing strategy, we will adapt our approach to get you the results you need with the services we provide. View our services here or Contact us to learn more.

Why Is Customer Experience So Important?

January 29, 2019 by Cindy Wieting

Many factors determine why people choose to buy including the obvious quality and price point, but did you know that improving customer experience can improve your sales? This is often overlooked, but the way clients interact with your business from start to finish affects conversions, SEO, and brand awareness / brand loyalty.

According to Forbes, “Today, 89% of companies compete primarily on the basis of customer experience – up from just 36% in 2010. But while 80% of companies believe they deliver ‘super experiences,’ only 8% of customers agree. In other words, companies have a long way to go. And, that means there is tremendous opportunity to disrupt a competitor or gain market share in an industry.”

Conversions

How potential and existing clients interact with your company ultimately determines if they complete your call to action or not; from learning more, signing up, visiting a location, or completing a purchase. Your brand is synonymous with the experience it provides. Remember that clients want to be treated like humans and want to know your company cares. Know your audience and know their expectations so that you can provide the best customer experience for them, in turn improving conversions.

SEO

Search engines rank sites based on their quality and relevant content, so improved website engagement can benefit your search engine optimization (SEO) strategy. When creating content and layout for your business site, consider how customers will interact with it. Provide a seamless experience for visitors that keeps them interested, interacting, sharing, and revisiting the site. An improved website experience will decrease the bounce rate and increase your click through rate (CTR) – all working to benefit your SEO. Learn about Wieting Design’s search engine marketing services.

Branding

A good experience makes people want to keep coming back, and in business this builds brand awareness and loyalty over time. The print material, website, social media, physical location, and all interactions with business staff attribute to the experience from start to finish and help define the brand. Consider every touchpoint and how to make it pleasant and memorable for consumers, so that they become loyal customers. Maintain consistency for all points of contact and know that building brand awareness and loyalty will increase your sales over time. View our design and branding services.

Given this information and the importance of user experience, consider how clients are interacting with your business – Are they satisfied? Are they engaged? Are their problems being solved? Consider how the process can be improved from start to finish, because your sales depend on it.

Your CT business can increase sales by improving user experience, and Wieting Design can help. Together we can plan your marketing strategy to focus on the entire consumer experience from initial discovery, learning phase, purchase, and follow up. Consumers are faced with countless options for products and services, but at the end of the day they choose to do business with ones they feel good about. From online interactions to in person meetings, customer experience is vital in decision making. Contact us today for help with your marketing strategy in Fairfield County CT and all of Connecticut. View our past projects.

Wieting Design | Website Design CT

Wieting Design is a full-service, graphic and website design agency based in Fairfield County, CT and serving all of Connecticut (CT). We are committed to sharing our experience and expertise in website design, graphic design, social media marketing, search engine marketing (SEO), and video production to help build powerful tools and campaigns that work for your Connecticut business. Whether your objective is to grow your reputation, create client loyalty, drive traffic to your website or set up a marketing strategy, we will adapt our approach to get you the results you need with the services we provide.

How to Promote Your Business During Holidays

November 30, 2018 by Cindy Wieting

It’s the most wonderful time of the year with lots of cheer, family, friends, love, and business promotions. November comes around and it seems like it may as well be December 25th with so many businesses in full-on holiday mode. While it may seem overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. Take advantage of the season by getting into the spirit and learning how you can master the art of seasonal promotions yourself (note: no carols required, unless of course your clients love them).

Here are tips for advertising during the holidays without overdoing it or getting lost in all the noise:

1. Get in the holiday spirit and incorporate holiday themes and holiday related content into your marketing strategy on and off the web. By incorporating what’s currently relevant, you can increase customer engagement and even improve your SEO. When choosing a holiday theme (traditional, nostalgic, comedic, etc), remember to stay true to your brand and values; your audience will recognize and appreciate the authenticity.

2. Be consistent with visuals and messaging. Whichever theme you choose, be certain to maintain consistency across every touchpoint; from your website and email campaign, to your social media (Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter) and any printed material for the season. The details matter and by maintaining consistency, you’ll increase your chances of becoming recognizable and memorable to clients. View our graphic design services.

3. Be creative yet targeted. Your holiday promotion doesn’t have to be loud and in your client’s face; it just needs to make a connection and can be more subtle if that’s what your clients respond to best. Try a holiday video or send a customized email. Show clients that you care for them and the community. It’s a time of giving so you can start by giving, too; this can be done by donating to a charitable cause and inviting the community to join, or offering a giveaway or discount to clients for a limited time.

4. Timing is important for the start of your seasonal advertising and end. Start too early and you may annoy, but start too late and your competitors may have already connected with your clients. Don’t just promote during holiday week; take advantage of the entire month of December. Also keep shipping deadlines in mind if relevant. For any holiday specials being offered, be certain to communicate a clear end date to create a sense of urgency so that clients take action as soon as possible.

5. Above all, know your audience and goals. Before proceeding with any marketing initiatives, you must first understand your clients, their needs, and what it is you’re looking to achieve in your promotional efforts. In anything you do, keep your call to action clear; this may be to contact you, make a purchase, visit your location, etc. Keep up with changing dynamics as well, for example remember Generation Z and Millenials make up a large portion of holiday sales, and they’re highly influenced by social media.

Whether you’re looking to connect with existing clients, gain new leads, improve brand recognition, or more – holiday promotions are a great way to get noticed and make a connection with your target market. Many of the tactics listed above can be incorporated into other holiday promotions for the future, and our team at Wieting Design a full service graphic and website design agency in Fairfield County, CT (Connecticut), can help. Contact us for your holiday promotional needs.

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The Use Of Stock Photography or Original Photography

July 2, 2018 by Cindy Wieting

Many companies decide to go with stock photos because they feel hiring a photographer is to expensive. When your building a business and putting dollars into a website, logos, and marketing promotions you have to cut somewhere, right?

But if you use stock photos in some cases you may not connect with the user in that personal way as most people can spot stock photography in an instant. Using professional photography adds a personal touch to make that connection with the user. Using stock photography has its place for sure but where can you use it and where should you not use it? Here’s some pros and cons when it comes to using stock photography and professional photographs.

Stock Photo Are Flawless

With stock photos you can select the perfect shot, they are beautiful, clear and crisp and these days you can buy great stock photography very inexpensively. With the right selection they will convey your message perfectly in some cases. Stock photos can work well if you use a mix of “professionally shot photography” in and around your website and marketing materials. But, remember stock photos are identifiable because most likely they have been used before in other marketing promotions and can be a turn off to some potential clients. When you use your own photos you don’t have to worry about having the same photo somewhere else, and you own it.

Building Trust

If your developing a team page for your website, or if your building a website for a restaurant which will require galleries of various food shots, or if your an architect or a interior designer, you should invest in professional photography. These kinds of business’s demand original photography to showcase your personal work. Believe it or not we have seen many websites for builders and architects showcasing projects through stock shots and its very obvious sending a clear message that something is amiss.

So, in some cases one of the ways to build trust is to use your own personal shots to show your work, and get it done professionally.

As a full-service marketing company in Connecticut, we can guide you about the use of stock photography and professional photography throughout your website and other marketing promotions. Give us call at 203.414.9692 or send us an email.

Wieting Design | Graphic Design

6 Ways Your Small Business Will Benefit From Having A Website

November 14, 2017 by Cindy Wieting

If you’ve been reading the news headlines lately then chances are, you’ve heard some famous brick and mortar stores are struggling to compete with online giants. e-Commerce and physical-retail commerce are merging; businesses that exist in shopping centers and malls are expected to be represented online too. But many small brick-and-mortar businesses are still not online, or not prioritizing their online presence.

Having a website can help people in your community find your business. And that isn’t the only benefit. For those struggling to get online, consider that there are at least 6 good reasons to make it a priority in 2018!

Here’s our list for why having a website for your business is an absolute must:

24/7 EXPOSURE. Why put an end to marketing at six p.m.? Your brick-and-mortar location has “office” hours and people who wish to make a purchase or simply have questions will have to accommodate this schedule. But the convenience of a website, is that people can take care of their business on their own time. They can browse, shop, read your FAQs or send you an email—all while you’re sleeping or enjoying dinner out with your family. So quite simply, the more exposure you have, the better chance you have of making a sale.

CREDIBILITY. Research shows that 89 percent of today’s shoppers prefer to shop online over at a store for the convenience, and the younger generation may even be suspicious of a business’ lack of online presence. Including a website in your branding strategy gives you the credibility that consumers are looking for when they are at the point of purchase. Your website should include a blog where you (or someone you hire) writes posts about your product, service or industry in a way that makes you an expert and the go-to website for information or tips. This furthers your reputation and gives you more credibility, which can, in turn, lead to more sales. People expect businesses to have their own websites, just as they used to expect businesses to have a real physical business address.

MARKETING BOOST. Most consumers are already shopping and searching for solutions online. If your business isn’t online, it is behind your competition. One of the best examples of just how social buying decisions are made, visit Pinterest. For example, search for “wedding” on Pinterest and you will find thousands of ideas, crafts, and — to my point — products and venues that can and are purchased and booked. Pinterest users are sharing the items they want and the items they dream of in a social way online. If a merchant doesn’t have an online presence, that merchant is missing out. There are some who say that when we shop online, we lose something, some kind of a social experience had only from going to a store, walking the aisles, and touching the things we buy before we buy them. There is a sense in which this is true, but online shopping is social too, and as a social experience online shopping has the potential to reach a much larger audience.

PRE-SELL PRODUCTS. Having a business website gives you an automatic internet presence. Think of it as an online billboard. Instantly you have another chance to introduce people to your products and services and another way for people to find you. With a website, it’s easy to pre-sell your products that are still in the production process. All you need is one or two quality photos, an alluring description, and an availability date. Get people excited about your new product well before it ever hits the shelves, and gather the customer’s’ pre-sell orders through your website. Keep in mind that an online presence doesn’t exclude a brick-and-mortar shop; you can always allow shoppers to place the order online but encourage them to pick it up at your location. This is a clever way to get people into the store and create a reputation for being a business with stellar online and offline service.

STAY CURRENT. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 470,000 small businesses close every year. This means that today’s mom-and-pop store owner needs to be a marketer, a social media strategist, a PR expert, a skilled salesperson—and, of course, have a top-notch product to sell. While this may sound like a lot, it is easier to do when you have a website, because much of it is taken care for you. For example, building a website with WordPress makes it simple to optimize your site with keywords for high search engine ranking (marketing), link up to all your social media accounts (social strategy), and include quality photos that, with your eye-catching product description, is sure to draw in customers (sales).

CUSTOMER SERVICE. Finally, consider the opportunity to provide better customer service. An online store can be a great extension to a retailer’s customer service offering, adding to the customer service already provided in store or over the phone. An online store can offer a frequently-asked-questions section so that shoppers can find solutions even after regular store hours. Some online retailers are even using live chat to answer customer questions and concerns. Anytime that you can make it easier for shoppers to get information about anything — from inventory levels to return policies — you are helping to improve customer service.

Wieting Design | Website Design Hartford, CT

Business Card Design. How Important Is It?

October 14, 2017 by Cindy Wieting

Why use business cards in this digital age when it seems that everyone has a digital device in their hands? Is the traditional business card old-fashioned? NO!

Despite its small size, a business card is critical. It’s the first impression most people see of your business. A business card is one of the most important marketing pieces that you’ll develop for your company, since it is typically the first piece of your marketing materials that a new client will see. You hand them out at meetings, networking functions, and social gatherings. How many times do you meet someone at an airport and hand out business card, right?

An attractive, well thought out business card with all the relevant contact information can capture the attention of your potential customer and help your business remain in his/her mind well after your initial meeting. Business cards enhance credibility, professionalism and legitimacy for your business. DON’T SKIMP ON YOUR BUSINESS CARD DESIGN OR THE PRODUCTION OF IT.

Here are our recommendations about business card design and production:

Go with a 2 sided card – one side can be dedicated to your logo/business name while the other side will have all of your contact information. It’s a cleaner look.
Include your website URL, business e-mail address, your name, title and all contact information.
Make sure the color scheme is consistent with your website design, and all of your other marketing materials. Consistency is key.
Make sure the fonts are large enough for a quick read. You don’t want your potential client squinting to read your information.
Avoid plastic business cards, avoid glossy backgrounds. People sometimes like to take notes on a business card.
Use a nice thick stock, we advise no less then a 120# stock. A nice thick stock says “that you care about your card, and you didn’t cheap out”.
Get a color proof before you print. It will show you exactly how the colors will look in actual (final) printing. Color proofs are submitted before the press proof, and provide the chance to make alterations or to correct mistakes. The last thing you want is to print tons of cards only to find a mistake.
Printing is the last stop, so make sure the printer you hire is a quality printer and can answer your questions, and solve problems.

Business Cards Are Still Necessary

Even in this digital age, they’re still one of the best ways to remind people about your business.