Designer Taglines for Business

Taglines are so important for your business. I first learned this in a web design class, where the instructor explained that a tagline should tell the visitor what your website is about in 3 or 4 words. Otherwise people will leave it just as fast as they came.

While many of us are familiar with popular advertising slogans "Have it Your Way" (Burger King), and "Just Do it" (Nike), I thought it would be interesting to give examples of taglines that designers use in their businesses, that express what they do in a few short words. Here they are:


"Photo retouch you can Trust"
www.spencerdesignillustration.com
Illustration and Photo retouch

"Mail is fun."
www.torihiga.com
Tori Higa Stationery

"Life is Colourful"
www.groovyarts.com
Gift Items

"Big Tricks for Small Budgets."
www.ryangraphics.com
Freelance Graphic Designer

"Connecting Design to Message"
www.paynterdesign.com
Graphic and Web Design

"Sooner or later, everybody needs one."
www.getacluedesign.com
Get a Clue Design Studio

"Shaping Brands - Enhancing Lives"
www.productventures.com
Creative agency for products and packaging.

Free Art Licensing Audio Interviews with Experts

Art Licensing Info - the place for artists to learn how to earn an income licensign their art

Tara Reed is offering free recorded interviews for the art licensing community!
Check out
her audio archives page. Here is a sample of art licensing experts she hosted:
  • Art licensing agent, Suzanne Cruise
  • Character licensor Jill Seale
  • Attorney Cheryl Hodgson
  • Artist Paul Brent
  • SEO expert Daniel Tardent


Upcoming Interviews

Don't miss these upcoming interviews she is hosting, where you can call in and ask your own questions:

Wednesday, March 17, 2010: Ask Mary Engelbreit CLICK HERE to submit your questions to Mary.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010: AskTaraReed.com CLICK HERE to submit your art licensing questions.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010: AskPaulBrent.com CLICK HERE to submit your art licensing questions. Paul will also be doing a SURTEX Show recap.


10 Things I learned at the CHA show

Some licensing artists consider the CHA (Craft Hobby Association) show an inexpensive alternative to the surtex show. Here is a great post on CHA at J.Good's Blog. She talks about her experience at the show and what tips artists should know.

Here's an excerpt:

I went to the show having no idea what to expect nor much of an idea of how to prepare or what I should be doing while there. I spoke to a few people ahead of time to get a rough idea of what would happen, but really, nothing beats the experience of being there first hand. Here are a few of the things I learned from the show that I think I can carry with me regardless of which show I might attend in the future. Also, I picked up on information and insight that I think will carry me through working in this industry in general.

Put together a press kit
You do not need to be an exhibiting artist to submit a press kit. You only need to be attending the show as a designer. I didn’t know this ahead of time. So the night before the show opened I made an quick display to hold some postcards I brought. There’s also a press kit contest, yet another opportunity to show off your creative genius...Read Complete Article...

3 Free Upcoming Art Licensing Classes


Wednesday, February 24th
Class: Open Doors and Close Deals: Licensing Your Art
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m. PT / 4 – 5:30 p.m. EST
Cost: FREE!

Topics include: What exactly is licensing and how does it work - Types of licensing - What artists MUST know about the retail marketplace BEFORE starting - Protecting artists’ rights - Royalty rates - Artist requirements - Agent services.

Register now. www.allartlicensing.com/schedule.cfm


Friday, February 26th

Class: Free Friday Q & A
Time: 9 – 10 a.m. PT / Noon – 1 p.m. EST
Cost: FREE!

Artists can now submit questions for the live Q&A during the registration. J’net will answer as many questions as possible during this class.

Register now. www.allartlicensing.com/schedule.cfm


Friday, March 26th

Class: Free Friday Q & A
Time: 9 – 10 a.m. PT / Noon – 1 p.m. EST
Cost: FREE!

For artists who want their art licensing questions, this live phone event lets you ask the questions and J’net provides the answers – FREE!

Register now. www.allartlicensing.com/schedule.cfm


OTHER CONTACT INFO
Jeanette Smith, Pres.
206.533.1490 / ph
jnet@allartlicensing.com
www.allartlicensing.com - Services, Products & Resources for Artists
www.jnetsmith.com - Marketing & Licensing "Creative Marketing for Marketing Creators"

How to Start a Buddy Meeting System


I have used this system by Barbara Sher for over 20 years and I can honestly say if you want to dramatically change your life, and move your art career forward, start a buddy meeting system. Make a commitment to try it for at least 3 months.

The instructions sounds simple, yet the results are dramatic. And best of all, it's free!

If you can't meet your buddy every week, try every other week. If you really feel unable to schedule anything, then that's a good sign that you need to do this! Commit to at least 4 meetings and see what happens.


How to Start a Buddy Meeting System

Its principle is simple: you and a friend meet once a week and work towards both of your individual goals. You team up and exchange support and resources: your buddy provides them for you, and you for them.


How do you pick a buddy?
  • They can be a close friend or roommate, a new acquaintance or a neighbor.
  • Choose someone who wants an action-oriented arrangement, not a social event.
  • Pick someone who is able to offer support for you to reach your goal.
  • If you are close friends, you’re going to have to keep the rambling, heart-to-heart talks out of the buddy meeting. Save them for after hours.
  • Don't be afraid to ask people. Most people are just dying to do something like this.
  • Find someone who also has a goal they want to work toward: Going back to school, starting a business, going on a vacation, buying a house, getting a new job, having an art show...anything!

Buddy Qualities
  • They must be someone whose values you respect.
  • Their goals don’t have to be in the same as yours.
  • Avoid picking someone who intimidates you, or is considerably more advanced than you.
  • Pick someone who is an equal, not a mentor.
A Buddy Meeting is NOT
  • It is not a kaffee klatsch;
  • It is not a beer-and-football party;
  • It is not a consciousness—raising group;
It is a goal-oriented strategy session. If it turns into anything else, it’s not going to work.

How to Conduct a Meeting

1. Select a goal

Each person must have a specific, measurable goal they want to accomplish in a certain amount of time.

For example:

"I want to submit my card designs to 10 companies in the next 6 months." (NOT: I want to get a line of cards together and submit them somewhere.)

"I want to figure out how to reorganize my life so I am able to enroll in digital art classes next semester." (NOT: I want to take classes when I get some free time.)

"I want to have an art show in 3 months." (NOT: I want to have an art show when I get enough pieces together.)


2. Be on time. 

This sounds like a small thing, but it’s the essence of self-respect. You aren't late for an appointment with your doctor, so don't be late for yourself. Your weekly meeting is an appointment with your future and with the person you can become. So no matter how you feel on the meeting day, try hard to be on time. And expect the same from your buddy.


3. Use a clock or a kitchen timer. 

This will structure the meeting and help you keep to the point. Each of you gets a maximum of half an hour, divided up roughly as follows:


4. First 5 minutes: Report in.
  • Tell what you did—didn’t do—in the past week, and if you did it, what were the results.
  • Your buddy will have it all written down from the previous week and will want a know about each item.
  • If you haven’t done any of the things you said you were going to do, you should still have the meeting. Usually you did do something, you just don’t realize it. You can also look at why you aren't able to find time to invest in yourself and your goals.

5. Next 20 minutes: Problems and solutions.
  • Tell your buddy about the problems you ran into, and invite your buddy’s suggestions.
  • If the problems you bring up have an emotional ingredient, air them out somewhere else before you come.
  • Be alert and attentive when your partner is speaking.
  • Watch out for the “yes-but” game.
  • Try to have fun with hard times. You can complain, but set yourself a limit of 10 minutes, so you can get down to brainstorming.

6. Last Five minutes: Scheduling.
    * Make a list of long term actions.
    * Get specific suggestions from your buddy on what you should do for next week.
    * Write down what day you are going to do it.
    * Your buddy should write down your weekly goal also.




    NOTE: All of this information below is found in the writings of Barbara Sher. She has an extensive amount of resources on her website (along with this text) on how to make real changes in your life.


    I would really LOVE to hear about people's experience using this system. Post your comments below.

    Copyright © Barbara Sher

    "Making & Marketing Greeting Cards" seminar March 7, 2010

    Making & Marketing Greeting Cards
    Sunday, 3/7/10 Santa Rosa, California
    11:30-2:30
    Instructor: Ginger McCleskey
    Cost: $65.00


    Learn the ins and outs of the greeting card business. Ginger is a local sales rep who will share her 20+ years of experience in the industry.

    Topics covered in this three-hour seminar include card manufacturing methods, keys to good card design, finding supply sources, industry standards and trends, sales and marketing, and more.

    The class is especially geared toward artists looking for ways to supplement their income without investing lots of money in expensive print runs. Valuable written materials included.

    For more information or to register, contact Ginger at gingerx@pacbell.net or 510-558-8795.