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Posted on 04/11/09 9:27:05 PM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply  |
Poster Design (feedback required)
I've been working on a poster design for a work colleague to advertise his side-business of patios, paving and garden work. I'd like you to cast a discerning eye over the design and let me know if any of the design fails. The Polaroid photo frames are Smart Objects which I can place pictures of his previous work when he gets them to me. The blank box area n the middle is for the text regarding what type of work he does which I gather is quite an extensive list. The Phone Number and Mobile numbers obviously aren't real at this point but they are also in a Smart Object for easy update. The background texture isn't his but it's there to give you an impression of what it would look like when he supplies a photo of one of his designs. The gnome was cartoonised from a photograph. All constructive criticism welcome as I'd like to do a really top job on this. Becky |
Posted on 04/11/09 10:47:06 PM |
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Mark Goodwin
**** Posts: 261 Reply  |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Hi Becky, Although Marketing is supposed to be my specialist subject, I don't very often give out unsolicited advice. However, for what it's worth: 1. Use the acronym of A.I.D.A, to check if the poster (or advert) works. A = Does it get my Attention? No! The name of the company very rarely will get anyone's attention. Whereas, FREE PATIO SLABS! Will most certainly stop anyone who is the market for a Patio. (Not that I'm suggesting he does it for free! Just an example). I = INTEREST. Once you have the readers attention now is the time to get their interest in the product. D = DESIRE. Once you have created an Interest in the product you must now create a desire, tell them how they will benefit from owning this fantastic patio! A= ACTION. Once all the above have been addressed, tell the reader what to do! Tell them to take action. PHONE NOW! I said by one yer get one free... phone NOW! (Example?) 2. Be careful with the fonts you use, I'm sure you well understand the power of the typeface and what it can covey to the reader. Be sure that the font provides the reader (potential customer) with the correct perception of the product or company. The correct perception is that which the vendor wishes it to be. 3. On a poster I wouldn't consider using more than two different typefaces. And, I wouldn't be tempted to use a hand-written script type font, mainly as on a poster at a distance it could be difficult to read. 4. Finally, it looks like the poster is in Landscape, consider Portrait before committing, on a poster the upright view usually works better. (depending on what the product is and what use the poster is to be put to. I hope that helps a little. If you want to email me direct to discuss further please feel free. Good Luck _________________ Mark Goodwin If you do what you have always done, you'll get what you've always got! |
Posted on 05/11/09 09:13:05 AM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Thanks Mark very indepth reply. I think however it's a bit on the hard sell side for what he wants though. I'm a busdriver and so is he, he does the patios and paving as a side line. So Buy One Get One Free and Free Paving Slabs are probably not in the range of this small side business. He is a highly skilled gardener and paving specialist - whatever the actual term is and maybe he would like to get out of busdriving and create a proper business from this. However, I think he wants to keep it as informal and friendly as possible. We get lots of Double Glazing companies giving us the Hard Sell approach all the time - espcially the B.O.G.O.F. deals and personally that leaves me cold to them as if they are pressure selling - which in essence is what they are doing. Lee wants to give the impression of being a friendly local guy who is very skilled and can often do the job cheaper and more professionally than many of the larger businesses. You have given me something to think about although I think it's quite important to Lee to get the name across as he's stepping up this little side line beyond the usual word-of-mouth and referrals as the company (if that's what you can call it) didn't have a name until now. Not that I'm playing down the importance of what you have said - I just feel at this time the degree of selling the business shouldn't be like the heaps of leaflets you get chucked through your door everyday saying BUY, BUY, BUY!!! I agree with you about the fonts the Handwriting font was simply to go on the bottom of the Polaroid pictures as if handwritten so there I think it fits I also feel it's fitting for the personal guarantee of the work done as if Lee is giving his own word. The Arial font I think i suitable for the Phone numbers as it keeps it clear. The Logo I felt wanted to be stylish and classical befitting of an English Garden yet clear and legible - Arial is too cold for that purpose and Handwritting to illegible for the purpose. The main Text will be in Arial for legibility that's 3 fonts which I don't think is over doing it and conveys a more relaxed sense of here is something a little more personal and special than your usual "gang of blokes in a van type business" I hope that makes it clearer. |
Posted on 05/11/09 09:20:22 AM |
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laddition
femme fatale Posts: 585 Reply  |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
J'aimerai beaucoup te répondre de manière approfondie, mais les mots me manquent! Alors que personne ne soit fâché si je le fais en français... J'aime bien l'idée, vraiment, je trouve l'exécution très jolie, mais ça manque un peu de relief et de peps, non?? Je ne veux pas critiquer, je serai pas capable de faire quelque chose comme ça, moi! ^^ _________________ Mais je me connais, je lâcherais pas l'affaire.... Je vais piquer de grève comme on pique une colère... Plus têtue que tous les vieil homme et la mer... Pour que continue le combat ordinaire! |
Posted on 05/11/09 09:44:42 AM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Merci de vos commentaires, laddition Si je vous comprends correctement vous dites it' ; les regards de s assez mais lui manque le point d'être un feuillet/affiche d'affaires? Je suis d'accord avec vous. L'homme qui veut cette affiche veut qu'elle soit sans cérémonie et amicale. Il conduit des autobus pour une vie, de même que font I. Ainsi c'est une entreprise de petite entreprise pour lui. Je fais des excuses pour mon pauvre arrangement du Français - I' ; m utilisant un programme de traduction a appelé Bablefish. Love, Becky |
Posted on 05/11/09 1:06:55 PM |
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Mark Goodwin
**** Posts: 261 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Hi Becky, I totally understand, and I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that I was suggesting a 'Hard Sell' approach, that is the last thing I would suggest! Of course I didn't expect your friend to actually use the BOGOF as a banner, it was just an example? I wish him lots of luck with (what we call) his 'Hobby Business'. Worth bearing in mind that if he truly wants to make any sales, and therefore to be taken seriously the basic principals of marketing apply. Good luck, I'm sure with your PS skills the finished poster will terrific. Cheers _________________ Mark Goodwin If you do what you have always done, you'll get what you've always got! |
Posted on 05/11/09 1:13:42 PM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Thanks Mark I appreciate the advice although I'm struggling to think how I could apply the principles to the poster. I wasn't being ungrateful just explaining that whilst not so much a hobby it is still only a small business in the making - I think if it does take off he will probably chuck in his job as a busdriver. But at the moment this is just for some business over the Winter period when things can get a bit slow for him. He offers cheap rates because he can do smaller jobs and still make some money from it. I doubt he could make any offers at this stage. |
Posted on 05/11/09 8:39:35 PM |
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Luis
Six-String Synthesist Posts: 236 Reply  |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Hi Becky. I think there are some changes that could be made. I hope you don't mind that I created something to give you some ideas. 1.) I would leave out the polaroid for the pictures and just have an outline around the photos with a Drop Shadow. 2.) As for the Gorgeous Gardens text, I think it need something to make it look nice. I have one idea that might work. Since both words begins with G, why not use one G and have the other text smaller as shown below. 3.) I'm not sure about the gnome. I personally would take that out. 
I hope I gave you some ideas. Luis |
Posted on 05/11/09 9:34:42 PM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
That's lovely Luis better than my idea - I especially like the text down the right edge. Hmm I'm kind of attached to my gnome lol but I think your design is more to the point - Thanks for the ideas. Becky |
Posted on 05/11/09 10:15:58 PM |
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Paul 2007 thru 2010
Lego Legend Posts: 361 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Posters and leaflets are very hit and miss. More miss I have found. At work, we designed an A4 flyer. It was folded into three so it had 6 panels to it. We spent a week or two designing it. It was advertising a canvas printing service.(i.e. you send us your photo and we will print it onto a large canvas). Our prices were really cheap. We had 10,000 flyers printed. We left 2500 of them at various types of shops. They put them on their counter in some proper plastic stands. Another 2500 we dropped door to door. We made one sale and had one enquiry. We had a great bonfire this evening with the other 5000. The last thing you want is to give the impression that he's an odd job man. "no job too small and garden waste removed" type of thing. I think everything Mark said is still relevant to his small sideline. People don't need to know he's a bus driver by day. Why not make it appear he's a full time landscape gardener. The worse thing that can happen is he has to turn people away. The "Action" that Mark mentioned was only an example. But if you don't tell them to do something, they wont. You could end with something like "Call us now and save 20% in our pre-Christmas offer !!". No one knows what the real price would be so he's not losing anything. |
Posted on 06/11/09 00:00:41 AM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
I agree with what your saying Paul I'm more leaning towards Luis's design as it seems to be a happy medium not too formal and yet stylish and professional looking. I will ask Lee if he want to put any offers on this poster. BTW I'm not getting paid for this it's purely on a friendly basis and I wanted to stretch my skills as mostly I've never had a crack at doing anything that will get this much publicity. |
Posted on 06/11/09 00:57:24 AM |
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Luis
Six-String Synthesist Posts: 236 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Hi Becky. I'm glad you liked what I created. I tired to keep the look of your original poster but with some small changes. Luis |
Posted on 06/11/09 11:14:47 AM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Thanks Luis I'm working on a revised posted based heavily on your design that way I have 2 designs to take to Lee - but I would expect your design is one he'd go for - mines a little too quirky. |
Posted on 07/11/09 05:46:35 AM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply  |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Becky There is sound advice here from both Mark and Paul, who is absolutely right about the take up rate. No matter how good the artwork, people discard it because there is so much advertising around, our brains are just swamped. There is a true saying that 'people buy people' and in my experience word of mouth is an absolute winner. The key with selling is to meet your desired market and target effectively. My suggestion would be that your colleague takes photos of work he's completed and talks to local Garden Centres / bullding suppliers. Most have a list under the counter of local people because they are asked if they can recommend anyone to do the job. As Paul has alluded to, spray and pray does not work. Luis has done a great job and if you think a poster is the answer, then I would follow his design and the advice given by the guys. Less is more with this kind of thing and you do need a hook and a strong call to action. Be prepared though to visit the shop / garden centre where you wonderful work is displayed and see it covered with something delivered that morning. Make sure it is prominent and out of reach from jealous competitors, who will tear it down without batting an eyelid. I would go for the personal route every time. Nick |
Posted on 07/11/09 11:07:19 AM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Thanks Nick. Lee will provide for me the photos and text shortly. I've mentioned to him about the prominence of any offers or discounts that would sell his work and he already has some discounts in mind so I will be paying a lot of attention to promoting these discounts above all. At this stage, while I'm enjoying the feedback, it has got a little sidetracked from the reason why I posted. The text and photos I haven't got yet and will work on them as I get them, mainly due to the fact that Lee dropped his mobile phone which has his photos on it and the screen smashed so he's in a bit of a dilemma about how to get the photos off the phone. But when he works that issue out and also gets me the text (which he should be dropping off today) then I can think about what bits of text to promote - especially the offers. The main reason why I posted my leaflet here though is regarding design at this stage - because at the moment, other than Luis, I've only been given business advice rather than design advice. If the leaflet and poster is really going to get noticed the text alone isn't going to sell it. We get leaftlets pushed through our door on a daily basis around here and while what they offer may seem okay and fine the design leaves me shocked as if knocked up in Microsoft Word in 5 minutes, I can imagine them saying: "Yeah, the text is fine just drag and drop a clipart of some window and a door and print it!" this alone make me angry and I throw the bloody thing on our coal fire the second they land on hallway floor 
I love the business advice it is really solid, I really appreciate it and I will use it where I can - but what I need is some ideas in how to create a visual sell of the service Lee will provide along with the text - So the Text will play high priority (Discounts and Offers - Phone Now etc.) but I want to also hit hard with a double wammy of great graphics, so that people look at this leaflet and think "Wow! This guy has gone to some effort with these leaflets!" and if Lee's competitors are ripping down his posters then I would consider that to be a high compliment
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Posted on 22/11/09 10:58:21 AM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
An update to the poster/flyer design I've gone with Luis design over my own as it looks far better. The advice from people has been excellent especially the business advice which I would never have had the first clue about and also to Luis' excellent eye for design. 
I'm still waiting on the images but once I have them the leaflet is good to go. One question I have though, Lee is going to take the final design to the printers should I save the design as a PSD document, TIFF or something else - to be put onto a disc? |
Posted on 22/11/09 3:18:17 PM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Becky, I hope the following will be useful. Good call to action, but I would just say 'Discounts Available'. The decal could be made smaller to give more room to the photos, which will grab the readers attention. A picture says a thousand words and I suggest using no more than three key pictures, i.e. 1.Gardening - lawns / landscaping / trees etc 2. Patios / decking 3. Sheds and fences Then place the appropriate words next to the picture. The current format jumps from one topic to another and I believe there needs to be more structure here. The use of capitals should be consistent, i.e. Commercial Work A couple of typos, - maintenance (half way down) and Fencing (just above) Domestic and Commercial Work Undertaken would be more positive than 'considered' and I would be inclined to just say 'Competitive Prices'. Be sure they are though. It's probably accepted the he will be friendly and will work hard. Given that the price will be for the job, I would replace this sentence with 'No job too big or too small', if that's the case? I think the key here is to get the maximum message across in the least number of words, so suggest using punchy phrases like 'All our work is guaranteed'. This is a key selling feature and was prominent in the suggestion offered by Luis. I would adopt a similar approach. Perhaps use a different and bolder font for the four business related statements. Therefore the activities will sit next to the appropriate picture and the selling points would be bolder below that. I think Luis was on the right lines. Nick |
Posted on 22/11/09 4:08:50 PM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply |
Re: Poster Design (feedback required)
Thanks Nick - the fencing typo was partly my falut and also Lees handwriting he wrote something like looks like Frenching - I don't know if that's a gardening term but I assume he meant Fencing - however I failed to proof read what I was typing. |