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We offer creative marketing strategies to help your business grow!  http://metrovista.com

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It doesn’t take much to make Ribshack Foods look great, but we’re glad we can help through our printing services!

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Just a small glimpse of some Metrovista magic in progress!

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There's a reason the authentic and bold succeed. Dare to take risks in your marketing and graphic design services. 

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7 Branding Mistakes You’re Probably Making

Your brand is your reputation. Make sure you have a good one.

So you’re a small business owner. Your doors have been open for quite some time, you have a few regular clients, and your website is up and running. And yet, your phones do not seem to ring as much as you expect. You paid for a digital marketing campaign. You have a great location, skilled staff, and a great product. What could you be doing wrong? Could it be that you’ve made a few branding mistakes?

“But wait, I paid a couple hundred dollars for that logo! What’s wrong with my branding?”

To build a good brand, you need to at least have a fundamental understanding of what it takes to build a brand. Many businesses, big and small, make mistakes with their brand. Even some of the biggest marketing firms have made incredible blunders, so do not feel too bad if you’ve made a few yourself.

But how do you fix it?

The Most Common Branding Blunders

1.Your Brand is Inconsistent

So you paid a decent chunk of change for graphic design services for your logo. But did you invest any time or money into determining the right colors, preferred images, fonts, or brand voice? If your logo is light blue on your website and business cards but purple on social media, you’re mixing up messages. On a quick scrolling glance, someone may overlook you, expecting to see a bright blue logo in search results. Inconsistent branding can lead to high bounce rates, customer confusion and a decreased confidence in your brand.

As shown in this brilliant infographic from Elle and Company Design, the perception of your brand begins from the second someone sees your logo. Take note in the vast differences between what a yellow-centric logo conveys, versus a blue one. A food brand would perform much better with a yellow logo, but probably not so much with a blue one. A financial institution, however, would be considered more trustworthy using shades of blue, over sunny, attention-grabbing yellow.

You can avoid a major branding blunder through consistent color and design choices.  This helps to build trust and recognition, which is essential in marketing. Take the time to make a formal guide for these things. It doesn’t even need to be lengthy. A spreadsheet or a one-page document will suffice for most small businesses. Making this guide available to your employees helps ensure that your brand will have proper representation at all times.

2.Your Brand is too Trendy

Obviously, you do not want to look like you only recently discovered the internet. That does not mean you need to emulate the hippest and edgiest spots in town to stake your claim. If you’re not a trendy, downtown start up, you do not need to brand yourself as one. Know your core identity and target audience and build around that. Like with interior design, timeless never goes out of style. There are elements of branding that have stood the test of time, like crisp clean logos, and eye-catching color schemes. Would you hire a law firm decked out in millennial pink? Aim for somewhere between classic and classy before you venture into new and disruptive unless of course, that’s your brand.

A great example of true-to-product branding is Norah by Earth. The pet-forward, naturally-derived intent of this dog shampoo brand is communicated through its use of earthy tones and a dog-centric logo. From the packaging to the newly-launched website, every asset works in tandem to convey “this is a brand I can trust.”

3. Your Brand Name is Attached to All of the Wrong Things

Just because your company’s name or logo can be somewhere, does not mean it needs to be everywhere. Do you attend EVERY single social event you are personally invited to? Probably not. Sometimes, the party is just not your sort of crowd. Likewise, not every product or promotional opportunity serves the mission or perception of your business. Like when one of the world’s most well-known toothpaste companies decided that they were going to take a swing at making frozen foods. Mmm… cool mint lasagna! This is one case where less is more. If you expand your product line, services, or offerings, make sure the connection is crystal clear. Exceptions to this rule include gum companies, Velcro distributors, and cling wrap. Sticking to the wrong things might make for a great marketing campaign for them.

4.Your Content Has Bad Copy

Does your website read like the transcript of a late night infomercial? Do your social media posts read like a high-schooler talks? What about your direct mail printing? As with the other point about inconsistency, a consistent copy is necessary to build credibility. Also, do you want to sound like either of those? Unless you are the site for P90x or the Instagram for Forever 21, you might want to bring in a copywriter to tighten up your brand’s voice. Aim for unique and accurate. People will be suspicious of you saying you’re the best in Orlando if no one else in Orlando has said so.

But you may be the only company in your niche with a 24-7 support staff! Highlight what you do have, before what you want to have. Be conscious not to use too much jargon either. Write for the person you are trying to target, not for yourself. Or, like marketing guru and entrepreneur Neil Patel said, “All content is not created equal. Some content will go viral, generating tons of hot traffic to your blog, while others will be lost in the archives. If you want more of the first kind, you’ve got to put your readers first.”

5. Your Brand is Too Complex

You do not need the whole color spectrum in your logo. Your website does not need to have a novel’s worth of content. Keep it simple. Simplicity is memorable. With the ever decreasing attention spans of the average person, you want something bold and quick that can stick. Shoot for clean, quick, and simple.

6.You Gave in to Reckless Rebranding

To make it clear, there’s no point in rebranding if people do not even know your brand. Don’t jump the gun on rebranding if you think your brand isn’t quite working. Explore all other options before moving forward. Any changes disrupt the existing relationships with your clients.

7.Your Brand is Insincere

Don’t lie, fabricate, exaggerate, or falsify information about your brand. People will find out, and they will not waste a single moment in calling you out on it. Authenticity sells better these days, even if it makes you look like a “small company” That’s okay! In fact, many larger companies are making efforts to appear smaller than they are. Like your produce, you want your brand to be organic when possible. Reach out to influencers or even past customers to speak about your brand so you don’t have to. A great testimonial holds a lot more weight than a false claim.

If you’ve made a branding mistake or two, it is never too late to fix them. With the help of an actionable branding strategy and Metrovista, your company can position itself into a place of authority, credibility, and reliability. Through promotional products, printing services, and other marketing materials, we want to help your company fix their branding mistakes.

7 Branding Mistakes You’re Probably Making was originally published on Metrovista Blog

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First impressions are everything. Level up your online presence with a site redesign!

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Like Oprah once said, "Walk through life eager and open to self-improvement..."

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Improvise. Experiment. Develop. Create. You never know until you try.

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The Top 5 Reasons Promo Products Work!

For businesses of all shapes & sizes

We get this question all the time at Metrovista. Every “good” small business owner wants to know that they’ll get a return on what they spend. The truth is that, although they are an investment, promo products work!

In fact, there is a science behind why that do. YOUR customers are hard-wired to respond positively to your promo products.  Want to know how we know?

In fact, there is a science behind why that do. YOUR customers are hard-wired to respond positively to your promotional products.  Want to know how we know? Read this blog from Sage World that lists 25 shocking facts about promotional products.

Then, consider these 5 reasons why promotional products will work for any business.

1.  They fulfill the “Give and you shall receive” Mantra.

Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) did a study that found that 85% of consumers who received a promotional product ultimately did business with the advertiser. Why? It’s just human nature to want to give back to someone who gives to us.

It’s why Influencer Marketing works so well. Yet, promotional products are influencer marketing on a much smaller scale. Take Norah by Earth for example. A natural pet product supplier that caters to dog owners across the U.S., Norah by Earth saw an easy way to meet a need while getting their brand message across.

To advertise their best smelling dog shampoo and dog shampoo for odor, the company sent influencers the items you see above, along with a plastic bag holder in the shape of a bone! It makes a dog owner’s nightly walk around the neighborhood much easier. It’s small. It’s affordable. And it’s very effective.

2.  Promo products demand Attention.

If you are giving things away, people will be attracted to you. For example, if you have a booth at tradeshow and handing out FREE items the word will get around and you will draw in new prospects for you to meet. This is especially true if you create something memorable or unique.

Take for instance our own promotional calendar for 2017. It’s just a regular old desk calendar. Yet, the bright, eye-catching graphics and inspirational messages make it an instant conversation piece. Sometimes, just investing a little more in design is enough to make your product stand out for months, or even years in some cases.

According to L.J. Market Research, 60% of customers who receive a promotional product keep it for up to two years! Also, 80% of ALL U.S. consumers own a promotional product and 31% of them own bags.

3.  They have more longevity than other marketing efforts.

They have more longevity than other marketing efforts.

How long does it take for someone to delete an email? 5 seconds? 7 seconds? At the most 10? But how long does it take YOU or anyone you know to throw something away? If you’re anything like me, it’s at least 12 months.  (I still have a branded beach mat in the backseat of my car that was given to me last summer –one of these summers I’m going to remember to use it the next time I go to the beach!)

Our minds are hard-wired to save things. This is especially true if we were given something for free.

Of course, you have to make your product useful in some way. Grocery bags, sunglasses, rain ponchos, flashlights. All of these things are easy to brand and almost impossible to throw away!

And if anyone every does try to get rid of it, usually they give it to someone else. That’s double exposure for you, and you didn’t even have to pay the shipping fees.

4.  They provide repeat exposure.

According to PPAI 73% of those who used the promo product that they had received stated that they used it at least once a week. Many promotional products are items we all use on a daily or weekly basis. This is repeat exposure that leads to greater awareness over time. The more they see your brand, the more they will think of your company. 

Whether they’re thinking of you while they’re walking their dog at night, shielding from the rain on the way to their car or grocery shopping, the effect is the same. Stay top of mind, and you will stay on top of the food chain in your industry.

5.  They create an instant sense of goodwill.

When you reach out to a new prospect or a customer you could improve their perception of your brand.  52% of those who received a promotional product, according to L.J. Market Research, are more likely to think highly of both you and your business.

Get your brand in the hands of your customers today. The impressions that promo products receive increases brand awareness, exposure and sales – for an investment that is pennies on the dollar!

Need assistance picking out what works for your company? Send a quick email to orders@metrovista.com or call us at 407.331.5100 and we’ll be able to give you some ideas at no cost to you!

We also offer expert web design and graphic design services, along with custom banners and direct mail printing!

The Top 5 Reasons Promo Products Work! was originally published on Metrovista Blog

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Our web developer, Kirby, working hard on a client's site redesign!

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Go Big or Go Home

5 Big Brands That Are Mastering Print Direct Marketing in the Digital Age

If you’re asking yourself, “Does print marketing even work in 2017?”  this report from Forbes should sum things up. The answer is an absolute yes!

At Metrovista we always tell our clients to go big when it comes to direct mail. We want their postcard or brochure to be the biggest thing in their prospects’ mailbox, whether they are sending a postcard, sales letter or product portfolio.

Imagine your direct marketing piece as the Subject Line of an email. If the envelope isn’t big enough to get attention, does it really matter what is written inside?

Just as you should spend a lot of time writing a good email Subject Line, you should also spend a good amount of time on the size of your print marketing piece, the teaser copy inside and (of course) the quality of the graphics.

Not only do you need a stand-out message, but you also need stand-out design. The bigger the better!

This month, we wanted to share with you 5 examples of incredible direct mail pieces that are helping companies make tons of ROI – yes, even in 2017.

1.  Chipotle Uses Direct Mail to Restore their Public Image

Sometimes direct mail is not only smart but necessary. After the brand experienced nationwide backlash from the 2016 salmonella crisis that hit a Denver location. Not much could be said to fix the issue, and the company reporter its first quarter loss. Customers from Boston to San Diego assumed their food was unsafe.

They had to find a way to let people know it wasn’t. So, they offered free food! With an oversized direct-mailer and simple, high-resolution images of the burrito bowl, a best-seller, the image was sent loud and clear. It must have worked because Chipotle stock is slowly inching back up.

2.  Florida Hospital Builds a Brand that Lasts

The medical industry and direct mail marketing go together like peanut butter and jelly. Most dentists and doctors we work with have a monthly dedicated direct mail budget. But we often look to the big guys, like Florida Hospital, to remind us how to do it right.

Friendly, inviting images of smiling doctors and key staff members promise the patient they will be in good hands. Clean lines and simple content reinforce that promise in a way that is easy to understand. “The Right Care. Right Here. Right Now.” Can it get any simpler? Yet it works so well.  We follow similar formulas to help our medical and dental clients attract their attention of their target prospect, whether through direct mail or their digital presence.

3.  Jeep Masters the Art of Subliminal Messaging

This is a brilliant example of how to send “clunky” mail or a mail piece with a grabber item that sends a subconscious message about your brain.

The keychain in the shape of a jeep reminds people of the simple fact that they need a place to hold their keys and those keys might as well be to a Jeep. It’s simple, yet sophisticated.

4.  Bed Bath & Beyond Keeps ‘Em Coming!

We might not all have the direct mail budget of Bed Bath & Beyond (that sends out these big-ticket mailers at least once a month). However, we can all learn something from the home goods chain. When you get a Bed Bath & Beyond postcard in your mailbox, it’s almost guaranteed to be the biggest item in the pile. Our brains are wired to give more value to items larger in size, so we are more inclined to keep it on our dining table or fridge to use for later.

Also, by providing customers with such a flexible offer (20% off ANY item) they make it appealing to anyone – a mother in search of that new zucchini spiralizer or a new college student buying his or her first set of dish towels. It stands out against every item in the mailbox and appeals to every customer it reaches. This is a clear direct mail win.

5.  GAP Inc. Pivots Towards Personalization

They also know their audience very, very well. Most people who frequent this clothing retailer have been loyal to them for years, as GAP had its heyday in the 1980s-1990s and caters to the baby boomer crowd. To make sure these boomers feel the love, they send GAP credit cardholders special gifts, like this birthday offer below. Who wouldn’t stay loyal to a brand that knows exactly what day its thousands of card holders were born? The 25% off is literally the “icing” on the cake of having a big name like GAP remember your special day.

No matter how many people Instagram posts or Tweets dominate our news feeds, our brains are still wired for print. The average customer sees thousands of advertisements online each day. Yet, one well-designed postcard or brochure in their mailbox can be more powerful than all of these messages combined.

Forbes drove this report home in 2015, claiming “Science clearly shows paper can be more impactful and memorable than digital.”

The question is not whether to run a direct mail campaign. It’s how to do it in a way that delivers you more ROI.  Contact us to learn more about our direct mail printing services. We also offer web design, custom banners and promotional products!

  Go Big or Go Home was originally published on Metrovista Blog

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Did you know #Florida is one of the Top 10 fastest growing states for entrepreneurs? 🤗 Way to go! We couldn't be more proud of our state. Running a business is tough and filled with many ups and downs. But when the tide rises and you find your place, there is no feeling more rewarding. From web design to custom banners and signs to promotional products, direct mail printingand graphic design.  #smallbusinessowner #smallbusiness #smallbusinessmarketing#floridablogger #MarketingOnline #GraphicDesign #SmallBiz #SocialMedia#SocialMediaTips #SocialMediaManager #SocialMediaMarketing#Photoshop #OrlandoFL #entrepreneurs #OrlandoFlorida#facebookmarketing #design #WebDesign #GreaterSanford #Longwood#AltamonteSprings #Clermont

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Are your colors spreading the right message about your brand? From web design to custom banners and signs to promotional products, direct mail printingand graphic design.  #Branding #Marketing #Design #Startups #CMO #CEO #marketbigger#designbolder #printbetter #marketing101#smallbusiness #orlandofl #smallbusinessowner#marketinglife #marketingstrategy#smallbusinessmarketing #entrepreneur#businessowners #entrepreneurs #Floridahttp://metrovista.com/contact-us

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61% of U.S. customers will not visit a website again if they had trouble accessing it on their smartphone, tablet or device. Have you gone #mobileyet? If not, what are you waiting for? From web design to custom banners and signs to promotional products, direct mail printingand graphic design, we can help! #mobilefirst #digitalmarketing #SEO#webdesign #MarketBigger #DesignBolder #PrintBetter #marketing#marketinglife #marketingstrategy #marketing #smallbusinessowner#smallbusinessmarketing ##OrlandoFL #Florida #OrlandoFlorida#GreaterSanford #Longwood #AltamonteSprings #Clermont #GraphicDesignmetrovista.com/blog/googles-mobile-first-index/

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Branding is about a lot more than fancy #logos and #websitedesign. It's about character and building a business that people believe in and respect. From web design to custom banners and signs to promotional products, direct mail printing and graphic design. #smallbusinessmarketing #marketinglife #marketingstrategy #socialmedia#socialmediamarketing #socialmediatips #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner#orlando #orlandofl #orlandoflorida #smallbusinessowner #metrovista#branding #brandingideas #smarketing #Florida #GreaterSanford#Longwood #AltamonteSprings #Clermont #marketbigger

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A successful captain never leaves his ships undefended. Protect your crew from all fronts - from web design to custom banners, signs, direct mail printing and graphic design. Ask us how. #Marketing101 # BusinessTips #MarketingOnline #SmallBusinessOwner#SmallBiz #CreateCultivate #Orlando #DowntownOrlando #Entrepreneur#MarketBigger #DesignBolder #PrintBetter #marketing #marketinglife#marketingstrategy #marketing #smallbusinessmarketing #branding#businessowners #OrlandoFL #Florida #OrlandoFlorida

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