Your graphic design is talking, but what is it saying?
Published May 14, 2012 | 
Everything about a business sends a message: the type of customer service provided, product quality and of course, the branding. Every activity—or lack of activity—sends some kind of message to the world.
The question is, what message does the branding send? For that matter, what message is coming from any of the graphic design projects completed for a company, be it printed marketing material, logo design or social media icons?
It’s easy to assume that the actual words used with a design, from the company name on the logo to the advertising message on a rack card, are the only message. Every component in a piece of design sends a message, including the typography, color usage and graphic icons. These messages can be both intentional and unintentional. It’s important for the intended message to be effectively conveyed, but it’s equally important to make sure that unintentional or subconscious messages do not override or somehow damage the primary message.
One of the most well-known messages found in corporate branding is the arrow in the FedEx logo. If you've not seen it, look at the forward-moving arrow created by the E and X in "ex." All messages that are generated by a logo should work together towards the same goal. (image courtesy of Flickr user adactio)
In an overall sense, a good design should never:
• Be overly complicated
• Have a message that is too vague
• Incorporate ideas that don’t accurately complement each other
Beyond those over-arching ideas, there are questions each business owner should ask themselves when asked to approve a graphic design piece to represent the company. Continue reading
Posted in Branding, Graphic Design, Services | 
Branding, branding message, FEDEX, graphic design, marketing message | 
Leave a commentWant people to open your emails? Here’s how
Published May 7, 2012 | Newsletters remain as one of the most effective and widely used methods of marketing and engaging current and potential customers. Like any marketing tool, email newsletters must be done well to be effective, otherwise the business is simply wasting its own time.
Which box would you rather your company's email newsletters go in? (illustration courtesy of Flickr user dampeebe)
With the potential for tens to hundreds of emails coming in to most email inboxes every day, businesses must compete to get their message seen. Getting email recipients to open an email and actually read and interact with the content is vital—and can be tougher than it sounds.
Email communication should be like social media: engaging. If the message is centered on selling the business, people will disregard the message. Ensuring that recipients are engaged in your message can be done by presenting relevant content, targeting specific audiences and tying everything together with other online media.
Posted in Marketing, Services, Social Media | email, email marketing, email newsletter, newsletter, open rates | Leave a commentWordPress not just for blogs
Published April 30, 2012 | Millions of users worldwide use WordPress including individuals, corporations of all sizes, and nonprofit organizations. It’s generally known as web software for blogging but WordPress can be used for so much more.
We at The Belford Group have started using WordPress as a primary content management system (CMS) for our websites, which means it’s the software we use to create our clients’ websites. We’ve used WordPress for several years to create client blogs (including our own) but we’ve decided WordPress creates such an excellent product that entire sites will now be created using WordPress.
Most clients are not overly concerned what software or program is used to create their website. They just want a website that is functional, informative and visually appealing. Using WordPress to create websites is a major advantage for both the client and the web developer, in this case The Belford Group, because WordPress offers websites that are easy to use, customizable and effective. Continue reading
Posted in News, Services, Web Development | web design, web development, WordPress | Leave a commentRebranding is a different process than branding
Published April 23, 2012 | When a company goes through the branding process, there are specific steps that need to be followed for the brand development to be successful. When rebranding, it might be easy to think that the process will be easier or that it’s not as important to pay attention to detail because, after all, it’s been done once it can be done again, right?
McManus Law Firm recently went through the rebranding process. The Northwest Arkansas law firm's logo went from being red and black to gold and blue.
Rebranding is actually not that simple. Rebranding actually takes additional steps because those who are accustomed to the original branding—including the internal staff—will need to be educated on the changes. Continue reading
Posted in Branding, Services | brand redesign, Branding, corporate identity, logo, rebranding | Leave a commentWant to print AND be green? There’s a way!
Published April 16, 2012 | As Earth Day approaches this Sunday, thousands of tips on increasing environmental awareness are spreading on the Internet. The discussions range from taking personal responsibility to how corporations can be more ecologically conscious.
Last October, we talked about how print materials are still a viable option in the digital age. There’s also ways to use printed marketing materials and keep “Mother Nature” in mind. Continue reading
Google’s new search rules reward good content
Published April 9, 2012 | 
Image courtesy of Flickr user SE Images
The Internet has been buzzing with word that Google might be releasing revised algorithms that will make it much harder for websites that are deemed “over-optimized” to reach the top of search engine rankings. Some see this as “punishing” those sites, but Google officials say they are simply rewarding sites with good content. Continue reading
Posted in SEO Consulting, Services | content, google, search engine, semantic search, SEO changes | Leave a commentBadges not just for law enforcement
Published April 2, 2012 | Look up the word “badge” in most dictionaries and descriptions of law enforcement emblems or ideas such as “badges of honor” will most likely be found. The idea of online badges still seems relatively new but they are rapidly becoming an attractive and functional graphic design product that is used on blogs, websites and other online platforms.
Meet our interns: Courtney Aldridge
Published March 30, 2012 | 
Courtney Aldridge
Name: Courtney Aldridge
College: University of Arkansas
Degree: Journalism with a focus in Advertising and Public Relations — May 2013
What interests you most about your new internship?
Learning how to put all the stuff we are taught in class into real world practice. We learn all kinds of things in class and how huge companies have been successful so it’s nice to be able to put what is taught in classes to work. The best learning is through hands-on experience and I am thankful for the opportunity to do that.
Meet our interns: Erik Northfell
Published March 29, 2012 | 
Erik Northfell
Name
Erik Northfell
College
University of Arkansas, Fulbright College
Degree
Bachelor of Fine Arts, spring 2012
What interests you most about your new internship?
What interests me most in the internship is probably working with a wide variety of clients—something that I don’t have a lot of experience with doing.
Continue reading
Meet our Interns: Jason Ward
Published March 26, 2012 | 
Jason Ward
Name
Jason M. Ward
In May of 2011, I graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. I now hold degrees in Geography and African and African-American Studies.
As a new intern operating a bit outside of my area of study, I’m very pleased to be learning how social media as a marketing tool is continuously evolving and improving. I’m glad to be in a productive environment learning useful skills that will benefit the company, and also any other personal endeavors I may want to promote in the future.
Continue reading
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