We are delighted to be working closely with professional voiceover artist Martin West in the re-design of his small business website for Mooncraft Productions.

As well as refreshing the overall look of the site, we are creating a landing page video to showcase his voiceover talents and designing a hard copy CD showreel of his previous work.

Can't wait until the website goes live.

Get your small business noticed this month with a beautifully designed exhibition banner.
The offer price (£195) includes design, production and delivery of a 85cm x 2m pull-up banner (including any VAT incurred).
Visit our small business special offers page for more details.

As much as we love helping other companies to make a big impression at trade fairs and exhibitions – we are very excited to be exhibiting ourselves.
Come and meet us at the Hertford and Ware Business Showcase. Thursday 26 September at the Hertford Theatre. Come meet us at stand 39 - If you drop off a business card at the stand, we'll send you some design/ marketing vouchers!

And if you need help preparing for your own stand/ pitch at a trade fair - get in touch!

Happy Birthday YouTube! One of the most recognised and well-used URLs in the world was activated on 14 February 2005, and in just eight years, has grown into one of the most powerful broadcasters in history.

It streams an incredible four billion (plus) videos per day; from piano-playing cats to disturbing frontline footage taken by Syrian rebels. It can make global superstars overnight; from the ubiquitous Gangnam Style (over one billion views) to Fenton the dog.

And businesses big and small are hungry to make the most of this dynamic and fast-moving medium.

The marketers holy grail of course is for their video content to go viral. With an accountant-pleasing media spend of zero, their marketing message has the potential to be seen, and more importantly shared, by millions of potential customers across the world. A marketing wet dream if ever there was one.

Although viral success can never be guaranteed, it does happen.

In 2012, Bodyform released a beautifully witty and self-mocking video 'apology'  in response to a (fake? or genuine?) customer's feedback. Over 3.6 million hits plus extensive PR on the back of it.

But, with few exceptions, successful marketing through YouTube or Vimeo requires the same level of thought, planning, creativity, attention to detail and production values as any traditional TV or radio advertisement.

This ethos of quality in marketing applies equally to the small business owner as it does to global brands.

A poorly-produced 'home movie' featuring a small business owner talking blandly straight to camera for 5 minutes can damage a fledgeling brand rather than promote it and drive sales.
On the other hand, a well-crafted, professionally-produced video can be a truly powerful and surprisingly affordable marketing tool.

• Websites and emails with video content are far more likely to be read/ interacted with than ordinary text/ image content.
• Video immediately adds a human face to your marketing communication. Ultimately, people do business with people.
• Video allows you to demonstrate your product or service dynamically in a way which text alone would struggle to do.
• A professionally-produced video carries a certain kudos. It shows you really do mean business.
• Versatility. Video can be hosted on YouTube or Vimeo. Directly on your website. Embedded within an email. Played in-store or at point-of-sale. Played as part of an exhibition/ conference display. Viewed via laptop or iPad as part of a sales pitch.

If this has whetted you appetite to add video to you next marketing campaign, get in touch.
Sunflower will work with you to create a script that presents your marketing message clearly, compellingly and memorably. I work with a professional production team to ensure your video presents your brand in the best possible light.

Have just taken delivery of four new car door advertising signs.
One side promoting Sunflower's design service, the other my copywriting service.

If you are looking to place some advertising, whatever the medium, please get in touch.

I look forward to seeing how I can help promote your business.

When you think of the great surrealist, you'll probably summon up images of his outlandish moustache, melting clocks, giraffes on fire, or a lobster on a telephone. You are less likely to think of lollipops and daisies.

In 1969 Dali was having coffee with his friend Enric Bernat, the founder of Chupa Chups, the Spanish lollipop manufacturer. Bernat had been making lollipops for just over a decade and was thinking about developing his brand. Dali started to doodle on stray pieces of newspaper and soon came up with the now iconic 8-petaled daisy design.

The logo design has remained unchanged since then and Chupa Chups has gone on to be a truly global brand.

The logo's success is down to the same factors that underpin all truly great logos. 

The design is wonderfully simple; a child could easily draw the logo in crayons using just a few basic colours.

The logo is very adaptable too. It performs its job, equally well, online, in print, on a POS display, on the side of a delivery van or, of course, on the top of the world's most successful lollipops. Again, this is due to it's simplicity.

The daisy is unfussy. Often, adding embellishments, a wide colour palette, and special effects (an easy temptation in the Adobe age) will make a logo less immediately recognisable and unique to the brand. Just because something "looks cool" doesn't mean it is the best solution for your brand identity.

As a result, the logo is an immediate, striking, memorable and timeless image. Dali certainly knew a thing or two about creating those.

Sunflower's design work will not be in the same league as Dali's. However, I am a firm believer in the power of simplicity–it doesn't always win awards but it does win sales.

The sample logo designs below were created for Dimples, an infants' apparel and equipment retailer.

I would be very interested in your opinions on which of the two designs you prefer

Logos are your unique visual identity. They should be functional, communicate directly to your core customers and should clearly reflect your brand's values

Sunflower creates bespoke logos which are unique to your brand. Get in touch and let Sunflower take care of your next branding project.

Dubious innuendo aside–I'm talking about the small but mighty business card.

More than your mobile, more than your laptop, that small slice of tree pulp is one of the most versatile, cost-effective and downright essential tools in your business/ marketing arsenal.

• Be a networking master–Going to an exhibition, networking event or even popping down the shops, don't leave home without them. You never know where you might bump into your next client.

• Use them as impromptu advertisements, pinned to noticeboards etc.

• Use them as a circular. Include them with your mailings. A potential client might well 'bin' your mailing but hang on to your business card just in case.

If you are thinking about getting your first business cards or maybe re-stocking your current supply, read on:

It goes without saying, your card should include your: Name, title or function [if not indicated by your company name or logo], business mailing address, landline number [and/ or mobile if you move around a lot], email address and company website.

If social networking is a key part of your marketing strategy, include your Twitter tag, LinkedIn profile etc.

Include your company logo and tagline if you have one.

Unless you work for a widely-known brand/ company, use both sides of your card.

The reverse side can include a short summary of your core [3-5 max.] services. Just enough information to give the recipient an idea of what you do. Not an essay. You still want to leave them with a reason to visit your website or order your catalogue.

There are many ways to get your business cards on the cheap.

If you run an informal, low-key, hobby type business you can probably get away with printing them off at home. Designing your artwork with MS Word and some clipart.

Many online providers such as Vistaprint offer business card services at good rates, as long as you don't mind using one of their generic designs.

However, as a rule, the more professional and unique your service, the more professional and unique your business card should be.

A bespoke, professionally produced business card is a potent sales tool.

Your business card represents YOU. Do you want to appear professional, dynamic and trustworthy? Of course. Your business card must reflect this.

A business card on quality paper stock, laminated, possibly embossed/ varnished, and professionally designed/ laid out can really set the right impression. The impression that you were willing to take the extra care, effort and investment. That you take your business seriously. This can only inspire trust.

In this post I'll be highlighting some points to think about when designing and laying out a newspaper advertisement.

White space
Most local papers are extremely text heavy. Not just the editorial, but most of the other ads too.

Readers' eyes are unconsciously looking for a rest from all that text. So give them one.

Including a generous amount of white space [any space in your design which does not carry either text or an image] can really help your ad stand out from the page and be more appealing and readable for the reader.

Kill the clutter
Local papers are usually very busy looking. Make it as easy as possible for readers to notice and read your ad.

Try to steer away from busy and overly-detailed graphics and photographs. Strip your copy down to just the essentials.

Illustrations and photos are a powerful way to reinforce your message, But be careful. 1-2 strong images will strengthen your ad. Over 2-3 and your ad  can easily start to look cluttered.

Use Borders
To help your ad stand out, give it a border. This can either be around the outside edge of your ad [like a photo frame] or an internal element of your ad design. For example, using bold blocks of colour as a background to your ad can really help it stand out from the heavy black and white text of the editorial.

Make your ad branded
And I don't simply mean slapping your logo as large as possible in the right hand corner.

Every element of your ad; the colours, layout, typeface, paragraph style, style of photography used and the character of your copy should be unique you your advertising.

Your ad should be immediately recognisable from a distance as your ad–even if it were written in Dutch.

The final post in this series will be coming soon. I will be discussing testing ads in a campaign.

I'd love to hear your feedback on the blog posts so please feel free to leave a comment below.