The logo plays the most important role in pushing a small business forward. You only have a second to grab someone’s attention with your marketing. You better make it the best and most effective. Using a clip art version or just any other ineffective, meaningless logo will not get people’s attention. Only a unique quality logo makes sense for making a perfect brand identity of your business. 

A well thought out and designed logo gives an impression of professionalism and attention to details. A professional design shows that you care about your business and take pride in everything your company does. This in turn, shows that you will give the same professionalism and excellence in the work you do for others. Your logo is powerful. Choosing the right colors, type, design and font will make all the difference. 

A good logo takes thought and development to make it consistent with your company branding. It is usually the first image people see when they interact with your company. Therefore it needs to speak your company's core message.

Nothing tells a story like great design. Good design sets the stage for a story or article. It's the first thing a reader sees and pulls the reader in and holds them there.

In today's busy world, you are competing for someone's attention as they flip through a magazine, newspaper or periodical. Good design will make a person stop, read and interact with it's content. Not only will they read it but they will experience your story.

Scroll down and see how good design can transform words into an experience.

Illustrations are just as powerful as photos, if not more. Illustrations on a book jacket can sell a book, cause someone to stop and read an article, make someone think differently about an issue, educate someone about a topic or help someone to reminisce about a loved one.

Print ads can still be the most powerful medium for getting your message across.

In these days of digital media such as viral videos, it's easy to overlook the art of print ads, whether small scale magazine ads or massive pieces of billboard advertising.

Despite what you can achieve with software like Photoshop, you still need a concept that's going to stick in people's minds. Scroll down to see examples of print advertising that do just that.

A brochure is the second most important item of advertising a business needs after a website. Although consumers get most of their information about products and services from the internet, most people like to have a hard copy to refer to.

A brochure explains what your business is about and is a useful item to have as you can display it, post it and hand it out. 

Brochures come in all shapes and sizes.

It's easy to forget the small stuff but don't forget the big stuff your business needs in the form of signs, wall displays, billboards and banners. Whether it's an awning over your store front or a trade show display for when you're on the road getting the word out, you need collateral and you need a lot of it.

Below are examples of newspaper design done for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Many of these designs were recognized by the Virginia Press Association as well as other reputable design organizations.

Good stories need good design. Otherwise good stories don't get read. Plain and simple.

Once you have a strong logo designed for your business, carry it through all of your collateral. Everything you send to your audience should carry your identity. The most basic form is on your stationary and business cards.

Below are some examples of consistent and creative branding.