June 22, 2009 – How's Your Branding?

"Just fine", you may say. Here are a few things you may want to think about what your brand says (or doesn't say) about your company.

Branding is monumentally more than a company's name at the top of a weekly memo. It's the face of the company for the entire world to see. Branding is quite literally the foundation for a company's entire marketing communication. Without solid, well thought out branding, everything else is far less effective. Your brand is what establishes your credibility as a provider of goods or services and acts as a promise to your customer. Good branding for any business, large or small, begins by having a solid fundamental sense of who and what the brand is and stands for. Ultimately, effective branding will express who the company is and what it offers to your customers in the blink of an eye.

Arguably, branding is one of the most important aspects of a company's identity. In many ways, it is the company's identity. Why, you may ask? 1.) Because your brand is the voice of the company. 2.) It's what customers identify with and relate thoughts and feelings about your company to. 3.) A brand is a company's personality, and we all know how much personality says about anyone or anything. Branding is so important, in fact, that it alone can be the key to success because it's what greets the customer before they even know what you offer.

So, we've established that your company needs rock-solid branding, but what should it say about your you? First and foremost, your company's branding should communicate your mission and deliver a brand promise. One of the major reasons successful companies focus so much of their effort on branding, is because it's what ultimately differentiates them from the competition and raises them above the "noise" in the marketplace. The most efficacious branding campaigns are able to convey a message and feeling about the company in the shortest of instants. Think Nike, Coca Cola, Microsoft. Each of these companies have brand identities that instantly communicate their value and mission without any confusion.

One of the most recent and successful branding ventures was Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. The message was strong, the logo clean, and the impression memorable. Whether you voted for him or not, the message was consistent and not easily confused or lost in any clutter. Comparably well done has been the "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" campaign by Apple. The message is unchanging and always answers the question, "why should I buy a Mac?" or "why is a Mac better?". Their clean design and memorable content also helps them stand above the crowd and has helped the campaign reach icon status.

At Urban Geko, we eat, sleep, breathe and live branding. Outstanding design is only one of the tools we use to achieve a strong, cohesive and memorable branding message. In order to develop the most effective branding campaigns and packages possible, we strive to become as knowledgeable about your brand as you are. Once we understand the very essence of your brand, we use our keen sense of design to craft a message that will tell your clients exactly who you are, what you stand for, and what you provide. Our creative capacity will help to establish your brand, increase recognizability and maintain consistency. Whether you're starting from scratch or breathing new life into a moth-eaten brand, Urban Geko can put you on the path to success.

June 15, 2009 – Creativity Gone AWOL?

Creative block. It happens to all of us eventually, and to some more often than others.

So, what happens when the creative juices are clogged, choked, plugged or otherwise stopped up? The obstruction needs to be cleared by whatever means necessary. Here are some ways to thwart the beastly block of creativity.

:: Sleep on it.
Your brain borders on hyperactivity at night while you're dreaming, often solving problems from your creatively stumped waking hours.

:: Walk it off.
Take a 10 minute break from work, go outside and get some fresh air. Even a short break can give you an opportunity to look at your project with fresh eyes.

:: Art imitates life.
Look to your personal life or hobbies for ideas or concepts that may stir up the winds in your creative doldrums.

:: As good as new.
Try doing something you've never done before. Many times, new experiences prompt your mind to work in different ways, possibly unearthing ideas.

:: Clear as mud.
If you're at a complete and total loss for even the smallest shred of an idea, get another briefing on the project. A little clarification can do a heap of good since creative blocks can sometimes be the result of a lack of information.

:: Anything.
Sometimes, something truly accidental can break a creative block. From the mundane to the insane, an act as simple as eating lunch can spark an idea that launches into the stratosphere.

June 9, 2009 – Is Graffiti Art?

Graffiti can be defined as "unauthorized writing or drawing on a public surface" and has been in existence in some form or another since before the days of the Roman Empire.

The word "unauthorized" can imply that the result is somehow unappealing or offensive, which in many instances and to many people, it is. But what if the unauthorized drawing is a work of art worthy of being framed or placed on exhibition?

Several artists use graffiti as a means to express themselves, and whether authorized or not, it can be hard to dispute the graffiti's value as art. One artist in particular, an anonymous Briton going by the pseudonym Banksy, has been using the medium since the mid 1990's as a forum for social commentary. The themes of his art are generally anti-war and anti-establishment in nature and in some cases, have become so popular that the property owner has allowed the art to remain.

The question is this: where does the line between a nuisance and art get drawn and who draws it? Should a property owner remove graffiti regardless of artistic value or public acceptance of the art? Is one person's eyesore another's Mona Lisa?

The answer truly lay in the eyes of the beholder.

June 2, 2009 – Giving Back To Our Community

At Urban Geko, we are committed to doing our part to keep our community and environment clean. Starting this weekend, we will be donating our time to local beach clean-up efforts and doing our part to give back. We believe that keeping our beaches clean is especially important considering southern California is home to some of the most beautiful and popular coastline in the country.

In 2007, there were 22,571 beach closures recorded as the result of pollution, much of which could have been prevented. Although there is no single cause for beach pollution, heavy rain that overwhelms sewage treatment plants and storm drains, and forces waste into the ocean through discharge pipes is a major contributing factor. Swimming in the ocean when pollutant levels are high can be dangerous and cause everything from rashes to respiratory irritation and even hepatitis.

A natural occurrence called a red tide, which is a bloom of microscopic algae, can also be exacerbated by pollutants that the algae feed on like sewage, fertilizer and farm runoff. These algae release a potent toxin which is harmful to sea life, as well as humans, and can cause potentially serious illness.

How can you help the problem? Simple. Don't leave any trash at the beach on your next visit, minimize runoff from your property, and make sure that the only thing going down storm drains is water. We'll be doing our part, leave a comment and tell us how you're doing yours.

June 2, 2009 – What Makes A Website Stand Out?

Many people have tried to answer this question and only the best can get it right.

First off, simple navigation is essential. If visitors to the site are overwhelmed with too many choices, they'll end up confused and click the "back" button. Hand-in-hand with easy navigation is clean, elegant, and creative design. A site only has a few seconds to make a great first impression and show the visitor the "wow factor". Without first class design, intuitive navigation can only do so much.

Next, the content needs to be relevant, fresh and engaging for the visitor. Anyone can dish out the basic "who, what, when, where and why", but turning them into interesting and meaningful components of the site takes true creativity and forward thinking.

Lastly, on top of great design, easy navigation, and intriguing content, the site needs a call to action. Every web site has a purpose and the call to action should fulfill it. Whether "contact us", "request a quote", or "checkout", the call should be clear and easy for the visitor to find.

At Urban Geko, we keep all of these (among other) important ideas in mind when designing web sites for our customers. Our goal is always superb design, intuitive navigation, and customer service that's second to none.

May 27, 2009 – Going Green: Home Electronics

The term “green” gets thrown around a lot these days, but what does it really mean and how far does it go? Everyone knows (or should know) the three basic R’s; Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. We may want to add “Recharge” to the list and rethink our environmentally friendly tactics.

Unplug

For any power-hungry device, like some older digital cameras, consider purchasing rechargeable batteries and a smart charger instead of traditional alkaline AA or AAA batteries. Although it may be a slightly more expensive initial investment, newer technology enables the cells to be recharged in as little as 15 minutes. Over the long run, these systems will pay for themselves many times over and reduce unneeded waste.

As for that plasma TV, you might be surprised to learn that roughly 40% of the power it uses is drawn while it isn’t even turned on. Many high-technology home electronics are energy “vampires” and use much more electricity that you realize. A way to combat these wasteful devices is to use smart power strips that detect when a component is turned off and truly cuts power to it.

When the time comes to get rid of the old iMac in your garage, what then? Even if it doesn’t work, it still has value. Many companies will buy back old electronics or give you a credit towards new ones. Craigslist and other online auction sites are also good to keep in mind, considering many people buy their electronics used and you may be able to recover some of your initial cost. This is a good practice if the parts still work because it lengthens the product’s useful life-cycle and limits the amount of waste that needs to be recycled.

Even though electronics are being recycled, the process still requires energy, much of which is focused on managing the toxic ingredients like mercury, lead and cadmium that went into producing the product. As much as 70% of all hazardous waste that is generated are discarded electronics. Many manufacturers are going to great lengths to greatly minimize the extent to which they use these hazardous elements, including Apple, who is making progress in eliminating mercury from displays and brominated flame retardants from other internal components.

Armed with this knowledge, your next home technology purchase will be easy, better for you, and better for the environment. Being green can be as simple as insisting on efficient, Energy Star rated products that are manufactured without toxic substances, and using smart power strips once you get them home. Remember that being earth-friendly doesn’t stop once you un-box your new gadget. Extend its lifespan, recycle responsibly, and you’ll contribute to keeping the environment healthy for many years to come.

May 27, 2009 – How To Protect Your Online Reputation

In business, reputation is everything. A good one can land you the job of a lifetime, while a bad rap could cost you everything. As constructive as they are, social networking sites, blogs and forums can just as easily become your worst nightmare. Here are some concepts that will give you the insight to keep everything running like a dream.

Staying smart

Using the name of your company or your full name online can inarguably increase brand awareness, name recognition, and spur business. On the other hand, it leaves nothing to the imagination if any faux-pas or gaffes are made, so consider this one carefully. It should also go without saying that mentioning your clients by name or any jobs that are in progress without explicit permission can be a huge liability. Not only is your reputation at stake, but your client’s as well.

Extending beyond company-branded social networking sites, are discussion forums and blogs, which can be just as influential. When blogging or posting on behalf of your company, keep in mind that even though social sites are casual and conversational in nature, staying professional is critical. It’s easy to let your guard down and become too personal for your own good. Discussion forums in particular, have no obligation to remove something that you may regret posting, which makes retroactive damage control difficult, if not impossible.

Just as with your non-online life, it’s generally good practice keeping business separate from your personal agenda. Using an alias can minimize the chances that your actions online could negatively impact your company’s reputation. Couple that with carefully considering what you’ve written before you post it, and you should be in good shape. In combination with good, old-fashioned common sense, you can minimize the chances that the reputation you’ve worked for years to create isn’t torn down in a matter of minutes.

The reputation of a business is one of its most valuable assets and you have the right and responsibility to influence what is said about you online. With all of these ideas in mind, you can help keep these powerful online business tools working for you, and not against you, ultimately building a stronger brand.

May 27, 2009 – The Business of Social Networks

Social networking is for kids and college students, right? Wrong. Businesses large and small are using them to cash in.

So, how are businesses embracing online social media sites? Much like the mid-90’s when companies realized that a presence on the Internet was essential to business, social networking sites are being viewed as a necessity. Virtually exploding on the scene, these sites are offering businesses an opportunity to build a strong constituent of online brand loyalists that will present the company in a favorable light.

Sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn make it easier to reach an audience with a customized brand message, which is an important part of implementing unified corporate communication. And, after doing our due diligence here at Urban Geko, we couldn’t agree more. These new, growing outlets for networking and brand communication are far to powerful to be left untapped.

June 23, 2008 – Search Engine Optimization Services in California

Having a website, no matter how powerful its functionality or how good its design is almost useless if it cannot be found by the major search engines. Search engine optimization (SEO) requires intricate working on your website in order to get it indexed by search engines in the first instance and then get each of its pages indexed deep enough in order to have the keywords you have built into your website start coming up.

Good SEO however begins with clean design and tight HTML code and a well-organised website architecture and the Urban Geko website design team are fully aware of this. This means that right from the start your website starts life in a much better shape than any of your competitors’.

June 24, 2008 – Search Engine Marketing Services in California

A website is a success based on a single aspect of it: traffic. At urban Geko we are experts at applying Search Engine Marketing (SEM) principles that will bring highly relevant traffic straight to your website. By creating a concerted search engine optimization campaign our expert website optimization team will make sure that you get targeted visitors to your site whether you trade locally (in the Los Angeles, Orange County or Southern California areas) or globally.

We shall analyze the best way to market your website to the major search engines and will implement the kind of search engine marketing campaign that will bring you outstanding results, fast.

June 25, 2008 – E-commerce Solutions in Los Angeles

In the eCommerce world cutting-edge web design as well as website functionality matter equally. In order to make your online presence successful you will need a web design boutique which is driven by the passion to excel and has an uncompromising approach to building website designs that succeed. With satisfied customers all over Southern California, including Los Angeles and Orange County we are confident that our cutting-edge, creative approach to your eCommerce and web design needs will provide a website solution that will make a real difference to your business.

Our ecommerce specialists will work to create a website platform that will give you a real edge against the competition.

June 26, 2008 – Animation & Branding Services in Orange County

Your company image is something you should never trust to just anybody. As the Orange County’s premiere branding and animation boutique we have a reputation for producing creative, innovative work in branding and animation that set you apart. Our sophisticated approach to branding ensures that the quality of your company image remains consistent across different delivery platforms. Businesses across Orange County which have used our animation services on their logos or company presentations can testify on the effectiveness of our approach.

Animation and branding for your company are important only when you are serious about enhancing your company image and taking it to the next level of activity. If that’s where you are at, we are ready to help you achieve your goals.

July 14, 2008 – Start Online Business in Southern California and Orange County

Building a website is only the first step in a journey that should see your online business develop. There are few web design boutiques anywhere in Southern California or Orange County that have the grasp of website development that we do. Beyond the cutting edge website design and the up-to-the-minute functionality we help you develop your website so that it is always fresh, contemporary and successful. Our understanding of business models in the ultra-competitive Los Angeles and Southern California markets enables us to suggest website design solutions that save you valuable time, money and effort and help your online business succeed.

July 15, 2008 – Why need a Flash Website for your Business?

There are very specific reasons why a Flash website may help your business promote itself better on the web. In the image-conscious business world of Los Angeles and Southern California business online visitors are used to a certain slickness and interactivity which is difficult to replicate outside Flash. Our award-winning website designs and our expertise at just what works in terms of an online image and online visitors make us the perfect choice to help you achieve your promotional, Flash website design goals. Our ability to analyze the best choice possible for your budget and business makes us the only website design solution for quality, cost-effectiveness and customer friendliness.

July 17, 2008 – Looking for Superior Website Design Service in California?

There are three elements a successful website starts off with: Inspiring design, the kind of interactivity and functionality that makes its online visitors feel their needs are met and cost. In the Los Angeles, Orange County and Southern California area we are the ultimate choice for achieving an online web presence that helps your business win. Our designs, attitude, spirit and ability to think ahead allow us to offer you a superior website design service that fits your budget without compromising quality. If you are ready to take your online business to the next level allow us to help you leave all your competitors behind.

July 18, 2008 – How to Succeed In the Online Business World?

If you are looking to make a tight budget work for you, you need an Orange County, California web design boutique that offers a full service option that extends from cutting-edge interactive website designs to in-depth marketing expertise. We believe that quality has no short-cuts and we know how to cut corners on costs without compromising excellence. Our website design and online marketing expertise make us the secret weapon in your arsenal to succeed in the online business world. Our sophisticated, dynamic websites offer you the ability to control your website after we have designed and implemented it. Our Flash websites create a powerful, online visual impact that can promote your business. Our expertise allows us to guide you on how to best develop your website. All you have to do is decide if you are ready to win.

August 07, 2008 – Building a Website in Los Angeles and Southern California

Building a website is only the first step in a journey that should see your online business develop. There are few web design boutiques anywhere in Southern California or Orange County that have the grasp of website development that we do. Beyond the cutting edge website design and the up-to-the-minute functionality we help you develop your website so that it is always fresh, contemporary and successful. Our understanding of business models in the ultra-competitive Los Angeles and Southern California markets enables us to suggest website design solutions that save you valuable time, money and effort and help your online business succeed.