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brochure_training2

Whenever I finish a web design job I supply the client with a “technical information” document. It includes complete documentation: eveything from where the domain is registered to dns numbers.

It comes in handy. Got an email today from an I-finished-their-website-four-years-ago-client. It was titled ‘HELP!” and the message just said “urgent…call me”. I checked to see whether or not the website was still online (it was), then called. They’d just changed several computers, somehow losing access to email.  Other clients have had difficulty with automatic website renewal that couldn’t happen because credit card info had changed. Logins and passwords to the account are needed in order to update payment info.

Clients likely have the “technical info” document – somewhere – but I’ve learned it’s better to make sure that I keep my copies accessible. It’s a simple way to provide a value-added customer service that clients truly appreciate.

It’s so much fun to prove, through actions and results, that I’m good at what I do.

Last week I started designing the new logo and assorted brochures for my engineering client. The logo was immediately approved, as was the brochure design. All relate visually to the PowerPoint presentations that are waiting to be finished.

It originally looked like we’d be printing six different brochures: I’ve paired that down to two (“Products” and “Services”). In pricing the brochures I did a bit of research to see what the company had been paying for something they do on a regular basis: copying and GBC binding training manuals. I was shocked. They were paying 400% more than necessary or $14.67 each for a 65 page book – copied book! – that was GBC punched but not bound. Labor wasn’t even included in my calculations.

In the future, they’ll be getting them delivered bound and ready to ship, for $3.16 each. 100 books for $1467.00 vs 100 books for $316.00.

I’m proud…

About “being stuck”.

I don’t like it, but I’ve come to see it (or rationalize it away?) as a necessary part of the process. To me, creativity at it’s best is pure energy transformed. In the case of writing, energy is transformed into words: in art, images. Either way it is both a gift and a draining exercise. Down-time is a needed period of rest, whether we recognize it as such or not. All imho, of course…

What do you think?

The PowerPoint presentation is nearly finalized. There are 105 slides so far, which can be broken into (1) full-day-presentation, (1) short-day-presentation and (2) half-day presentations. Two other half-day presentations remain to be added: one that I need information from the client on, and another that will be included as part of the conclusion for now, but will be expanded upon in the future.

This second phase has been more time consuming, as expected, approximately 40 hours. The material in Phase I was “easy”. Phase II has required quite a bit of research plus building charts and graphs to illustrate pertinent details. I’ve also gone through and added notes for the presenter so that ready answers will be available – in black & white – should questions arise.

It’s all looking and sounding great so far and the client is pleased. This part of the project is on hold for a week while the rest of the information to be presented is sorted through and chosen by the client. In the meantime, I’ve got (6) brochures to start work on.

As much as I despise most of MSFT’s offerings, I have to admit PowerPoint is useful. It crashes at least as often as any other Microsoft product which is, of course, to be expected. Needing to reboot the system forces me to take an occasional break, so I’ll give ‘em that one as a necessary evil which might be good for me.

Anyway – aside from the forced breaks, I’m getting a lot done. This particular client offers three (soon to be four) patented products as well as a slew of services that relate. (I really need to remember to ask permission to use the corporate name, etc.) I suggested, and they agreed, to one large presentation that can be easily broken in to parts.

Taking 24 hours so far, the first draft contains 67 slides broken into two main topics and five sub-topics. Taken together we’ll have a presentation that covers “Why and How”, “Products”, “Services”, “A Case Study”, and “About Us”. Each will be detailed enough to stand on it’s own, and that’s how they’ll primarily be used.

The first part was easy. The next week will be all about adding pertinent points, researching details, and making sure everything flows properly.

The universe, or god, or whatever you call it – does work in mysterious ways. An intriguing new door has been cracked open. I don’t know what’s behind the door, but I know it’s the right door.

It comes from answering an ad at www.craigslist.org 

Someone looking for help with a creative project. She turns out to be a spiritual counselor, soon in need of a website and perhaps some art to visually communicate parts of her teachings. 

I’m going to attempt it here and now (lucky reader – you!), but I’ve always found it difficult to verbalize some things. Spiritual, intuitive, psychic things. My whole life long I’ve felt and sensed and seen those things, I’ve drawn and painted and molded them, but I’ve never talked about them.

All last winter the feeling had been growing on/in me: I am ready to understand on a different level – to learn how to speak about spiritual, intuitive, psychic interconnectedness.

And now the perfect opportunity to do so may have just come to me. The counselor wants to visually communicate some of her ideas. I want to understand some of mine intellectually. It feels like a good match so far.

How cool is that?

I’m currently working on a project where the client had already defined a marketing plan outline. They want to create an email newsletter, update and expand on their current marketing materials, revamp their website, and create a couple of PowerPoint presentations. I agreed to work at their office with their computers and (limited) software because, well – that’s part of what they wanted.

I’ve broken the work into three phases: database creation & testing, print materials, and digital work (presentations and website). Working in their offices with their computers, the project will take four weeks for each phase, or a total of 12 weeks.

Phase I – Build the database. The client’s choice is to use Outlook’s Business Contact Manager database. The data came from sorting through old hardcopy files (some files were thirty years old!). Custom data pages specific to the client’s engineering firm were set up and filled in. 1188 contacts in 671 accounts were created with approximately 50% of contacts having an email address we know of (and several that were guessed at). Then I created and sent this mass “test” email (below):

Not only did this notify past clients of a new email address, it allowed us to check the accuracy of the newly created database. We had a 30% bounce rate, not too bad considering that much of the information was in the ten-year-old range. 1st Mailing – 730 emails sent, 30% bounced, 2% “out of office” replies, .003% requests to be removed from email list, and 0 leads generated.

Reports were filed, the database was adjusted and updated, and the client’s first newletter was designed and approved. We needed our recipients to open an attachment with our next send, so here’s the cover letter to encourage them to do so: 

Subject: News About (our target market)

Hello everyone. 

In an effort to stay better connected with all our clients, friends and associates we’ve produced our first (one page only) newsletter, which is attached. Please take a quick moment to look it over and let us know what you think. We hope to create 3-4 newsletters per year and we hope they are useful and informative for all. We’d love to hear any suggestions you might have.  

Bounce rate was less than 4% this time and six requests for quotes were received. 2nd Mailing - 577 emails sent, 4% bounced (I was still making guesses about some email addresses), 3% “out of office” replies, less than 1% (4 total) requests to be removed from email list, and 6 leads (slightly more than 1%)

The leads are absolutely solid and include one guy that’s been looking for this contact information for six months. In addition we had a total of 9 “nice” responses including thanks, suggestions, testimonials and congratulations.

Phase one down – two more to go…