One of the first things Prime needed to do for Ackley Business Consulting was to help with a business name and logo design. Because Ackley Business Consulting was a new business, we began by checking into domain names. Once we had purchased www.AckleyBusinessConsulting.com, Prime’s designers were able to start and designed a variety of logo selections for Roger to review. With the logo and business name selected, Prime Advertising designed and printed the Ackley Business Consulting stationary package. A stationary package helps give your business an identity and includes professional design and printing of the key pieces to get your business started: business cards, letterhead, envelope, fax transmittal, Thank You card and Microsoft Word document set to compose business correspondence.

Once the Ackley Business Consulting foundational pieces were completed, Prime’s attention turned to website development. Roger wanted to offer his clients information about his business, while keeping a streamlined look and feel. The new site uses Web 2.0 technology, allowing for a wider design and screen display. Prime also interlinked Ackley’s web pages, helping to create the highest level of search engine optimization. To keep prospective clients updated on Ackley Business Consulting and on relatable news, Prime has incorporated a blog that is designed with the look and feel of the website.

Real-life, action shots are great for any business to have. Using one’s own images helps create credibility and trust to prospective clients. Prime Advertising performed a professional photo shoot, with Roger Ackley performing a live facilitation. With all of the great images taken, it was hard to choose which photos to use!

Ackley Business Consulting is taking off and Roger needed print materials to mail, email and leave behind after meetings. Along with a sharp-looking pocket folder, Ackley Business Consulting has a sturdy brochure. Each piece was carefully planned out to keep the Ackley Business Consulting brand consistent. Now, when Roger speaks and/or meets with business owners, he has all of the marketing materials that needs.

Roger likes to keep his facilitations lively. He is the kind of speaker that will keep your teams attention, giving you the results you desire. Roger is a true expert in the field and we’re all glad he came to Prime Advertising & Design to begin his journey with Ackley Business Consulting.

If you’re in the need of Business Consulting, please visit Ackley Business Consulting, and tell him, Prime sent you!

In response to their own marketing needs, Kothrade turned to Prime Advertising & Design, for a little maintenance of their own.

The first step of Kothrade’s maintenance was an updated logo design. The new logo is an attention-grabber.  The bright red and balanced design conveys Kothrade’s rough-and-ready attitude. Kothrade is ready to get down to business, and now, so is their logo.

After redesigning the logo, Prime Advertising turned our attention upon Kothrade’s website. Prime cleaned up the site, making all of the services Kothrade offers much more accessible.

The new website is modern and clean, showing off Kothrade’s technology and commitment to helping their customers.  Also, using the Element Z content management service, Kothrade will now be able to manage and update their website with any new services they have to offer their clients.

Prime Advertising set up a blog for Kothrade, so that they can update clients with the latest and greatest information about their company. Also, with the blog, they can post current industry information. The blog feeds directly into facebook and twitter, allowing Kothrade to utilize social media in order to further their marketing reach and search engine optimization.

Kothrade has always had the physical tools to meet their customers’ needs; now, with their new logo, blog, and website, Kothrade has added more valuable devices to their tool-belt. Kothrade is better-able to reach out into the communities they serve and to communicate effectively with their clients. Kothrade’s new website says, “The Experience and Equipment to Get the Work Done Right.”—a standard Kothrade holds themselves to, now mirrored by their professional appearance and website.

Prime Advertising was able to dig a little deeper into Kothrade, and in the end, unearthed for them a bright, new image. As Kothrade proves every day—a little maintenance can go a long way!

AWC hired Prime Advertising & Design to streamline their marketing, making it more effective, which included an updated logo, website redesign, blog, e-mail marketing and creating new print ads for the Official Community Resource & Residents’ Guides and City Newsletters.

Prime started with the logo redesign, once that was complete, Prime’s attention turned to their website. AWC offer a wealth of educational information and their previous website navigation was difficult to follow and did not reflect their unique facility that sets Animal Wellness Center apart from other pet hospitals.

Creating a beautiful design and building the website on the Element Z Content  Management System was essential, allowing for easy updates to the website, blog and their email marketing program. AWC needed the ability to keep their clients informed on events, news topics and specials that change regularly. Prime also streamlined AWC’s client communication by programming the blog to feed directly into their website and Facebook page, allowing for one update to reach people in multiple ways!

By making the process of client communication significantly easier and more streamlined, AWC can focus their attention on what they do best, offering advanced veterinary care with a personal touch!

I was looking for a demanding internship in web design/development but I underestimated how rewarding the experience was going to be. The hands-on experience and knowledge that I have gained are valuable tools that will build a strong foundation for future opportunities. I have also furthered my awareness of the importance of web design and development in today’s society. A website is an online identity of a company or individual and needs to be well designed, easy to navigate, and search engine friendly.

The position was supervised by Shauna Smart, the Web Project Manager at Prime. I worked closely with the Web Designers and Web Programmers in preparing customer sites for go live. Projects for the internship included daily meetings and tasks assigned to me by Shauna. My internship at Prime predominantly focused on building and maintaining websites for numerous clients. I contributed to all phases of the process, and learned aspects of building a website that I had little experience with prior to the internship. I gained experience from the beginning of projects at the customer estimate phase through the final phase of go-live.

An aspect of web design that I had not been introduced to previously, was the use of a content management system (CMS). At Prime, I was able to work with the company’s in-house CMS called Element Z.  Becoming familiar with Element Z taught me how to place content within a site, edit HTML code, upload files/photos to the file manager, and also use the dashboard to navigate around the system/site.

While I am excited to get back to school and finish out my senior year, I am sad to be leaving my internship at Prime Advertising & Design. I have enjoyed working with the staff and learning to apply my education in the work force. I appreciate all of your time and guidance these past three months. I cannot thank you all enough for all that you have taught me and for making my internship such a rewarding experience.

The choice of Comic Sans as a font for what can only be described as an angry rant demonstrates that Gilbert (or the person who posted on his behalf) is clueless about the impact fonts have on audiences. What was intended to rally the troops and unite Cavs fans behind him in a “who needs LeBron James anyway?” movement, backfired terribly and opened Gilbert up for an onslaught of criticism. Using Comic Sans was akin to writing a note and dotting every “i” with a smiley face – it just didn’t convey the outrage he felt after hearing James’ decision.

This episode illustrates how readers and viewers can see something and have an opposite reaction to what was desired – simply because the wrong font was chosen by someone who didn’t take the time to consider its impact. It’s a cautionary tale for companies who are marketing their services to specific audiences – and it applies to much more than just fonts.

If you’re trying to attract young families to your restaurant, use photos of parents and children – not seniors and singles. Looking to lure the 20-something crowd to your bar? Steer away from illustrations showing teenagers and middle-aged couples. Or if older folks are a demographic you’re trying to capture, you should probably keep the point sizes larger and use fewer words.

Always keep in mind that your logo, the colors you choose, fonts, point sizes, photos used in print and on the web, and anything you may link to from a blog or a Facebook or Twitter page,  will be instantly associated with your business. If it doesn’t fit with your brand and conflicts with your intended objectives, don’t do it.  And if you ever find yourself the owner of an NBA franchise and want to get something off your chest, have someone else double-check your post before sending it off.

HR Examiner said Buss’s blog “is a constant and useful flow of commentary and information designed for the HR/Recruiting community. It’s no accident that he is the top-ranked person on our list of the Top 25 Online Influencers in Recruiting.”

Prime is proud of Jason’s personal career accomplishments and his commitment to helping businesses find quality staff members. To read more about him, check out his blog at: www.thetalentbuzz.com.

Prime Advertising & Design knows that marketing your business is not just about focusing on one area, it is about using a variety of media together to reach the greatest amount of potential clients possible. With this game plan in mind, Prime has helped Heating & Cooling Two diversify its marketing in a variety of areas.

In the fall of 2009, Heating & Cooling Two launched a redesigned website featuring a content management system (CMS) that allows staff to regularly update the site to better serve customers. Some of new site’s features include:

• An e-commerce section where clients can buy filters online
• The latest “Hot Deals” and specials
• The ability to create redirector links. This allows for marketing materials to have a URL (www.heatcool2.com/specials) linking clients to a specific page on the site. This feature also allows for statistical analytics to show how many people are visiting this location on the site, showing marketing effectiveness.
• Visitors can request maintenance for their furnace or air conditioner online or request an estimate.
• The Heating & Cooling Two blog features updated information and helpful tips for visitors and provides a reason for people to come back to the site.

In addition to the new website, Prime created a full marketing package for Heating & Cooling Two including Comcast cable television ads, radio ads, advertising in Community Resource and Residents’ Guides, city newsletters, and direct-mail pieces. We also feature the company on our digital indoor advertising network at Hennepin County service centers.

Prime Advertising & Design used its awareness of the latest trends to help Heating & Cooling Two market its services and increase the company’s exposure to potential new clients. Check out Heating & Cooling Two’s new website at: www.heatcool2.com.

A potluck featuring dishes with names like “Severed Snake Parts” and “Bloody Compost,” was served, and we washed it down with eyeball apple cider. A ghoulish time was had by all! Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Looking to open up the communication between themselves and Credit Union professionals, CUhire decided to add a blog. Readers can visit their blog or subscribe to the RSS feed to receive up-to-date information on employment & recruiting trends and best practice information specific to the Credit Union Industry.

Since launching their blog on March 10, 2008, the average daily users has increased 62%! CUhire  has done a great job of continually adding new posts & bringing the latest credit union news to it’s readers. They also have started a weekly tradition on Wednesday’s called "Weekly Water Cooler Talk & Links" which summarizes recruiting news and hot topics from other Credit Union sites, newsletters and blogs. Check out this week’s post.

We look forward to seeing how CUhire continues to grow their business & relationships through their blog.