Extreme Makeover ? Small Business Edition

Have you ever watched one of those home makeover shows? You know the scenario. The homeowners have decorated or remodeled their house all by themselves. After awhile, they realize that what they did is unprofessional, it doesn't work, it's not what they want, it's not what they need, it's ugly, or they just flat out despise it. So, they hire an expert designer to help.

After meeting with the family to find out their wants, needs, desires and dreams, the expert takes that information and goes to work, completely making over the house.

The final results are amazing. The differences are like night and day. The homeowners are surprised and utterly astonished. Some laugh and some even cry, because right in front of their eyes, they see what they never imagined possible. It's what they want, it's what they need, it's what they were trying to do themselves, but simply couldn't.

What does all of this have to do with graphic design and marketing?

Unfortunately, most small business owners, like the homeowners, do all their own graphic design and marketing themselves. They design the logo for their small business...themselves. They design the stationery for their small business...themselves. They write and design the brochure for their small business...themselves. They design and build the web site for their small business...themselves. Typically, they do ALL of the graphic design and marketing for their small business...you guessed it...themselves.

It's unfortunate. Because the results of doing all of this...themselves...is similar to those experienced by the homeowners in the makeover shows. The graphic design and marketing materials they have created look unprofessional, they don't work, they don't get results, they look homemade and they aren't functional. Simply put, they're amateurish.

Sound familiar?

What should you do? Let's reconsider the home makeover shows, and determine what the homeowners did right. You can learn something from the homeowners and apply this to your small business.

First. They realize that what they have done themselves, simply isn't working. They're frustrated that what they have done does not work anymore. They know that they need a change.

Second. They realize that they are not the experts in this particular area. They know that they need expert designer help to fix what they have done to make it functional, appealing and successful.

Third. They meet with the expert designer to discuss their wants, needs and desires. They express exactly what they want to accomplish. They also admit that what they have tried to do...themselves...doesn't work.

Fourth. They let the expert get to work. They trust that they will get the results they want and desire. They know the finished product will far exceed what they could have ever done themselves.

Fifth. They get to see and experience the finished result, which is a beautiful, functional, valuable, contemporary, awesome solution that works and gives them the results they wanted to accomplish in the first place.

When it comes to creating and executing the graphic design and marketing materials for your small business, the same results can and will happen for you. But, you have to hire an expert to give your business an extreme makeover.

When the expert is done, the graphic design and marketing materials for your small business will be attractive, professional, beautiful, successful, what you want, what you need and it will accomplish the goals you are trying to achieve.

There is only one catch: you have to stop doing everything yourself.

If you are doing or have done all of the graphic design and marketing materials for your small business...all by yourself...it's time to call in an expert.

Like the homeowners, chances are you'll be surprised and completely amazed. Right in front of your eyes, you will see results that you always wanted, but could not achieve yourself.

Jeanna Pool is President of CATALYST creative, inc., located in Denver, Colorado. She helps small business owners who are really good at what they do, but struggle to market their services effectively to attract more clients on a consistent basis. She can be contacted at http://www.catalystcreativeinc.com or 303.380.9100.

---

Product Positioning for Enterprise Software and Information Technology Companies

Good marketing positioning is like good lying. No, we're not... Read More

Co-Branding in Automotive Service Businesses

In a world of co-branding, point of destination strategies and... Read More

Your Brand is Your Promise! (So What Are You Promising?)

When people mention the word "brand" they usually mean a... Read More

Branding Your Radio or TV Campaign With A Musical Identity (aka Audo Logo, aka Jingle)

You don't think twice about a business card and letterhead... Read More

Corporate Identity - A Rough Guide

A rough guide to corporate identityThe tabloids report the millions... Read More

Internet Branding

Having been in the franchising business all my life and... Read More

Brand Strategy - Brand Identity Guru

If you could have the secret recipe and all the... Read More

Id Buy That: Getting A Brand Mindset

Feel that? The crisp tingle in the air? It's fall.... Read More

Brand Your Name!

Have you ever thought about branding your name? Does the... Read More

Which Of These Words Attract Your Clients

Whether it's your business card, tagline, article title, web site... Read More

Fast Forwarding Your Business

If you think only big corporate names need to think... Read More

The Top 10 Strategies for the Positioning of Success

Many businesses of today are often driven to compete striclty... Read More

Go Ask Alice

One of fiction's finest marketing minds, The Cheshire Cat, once... Read More

Brand Awareness - Brand Identity

About once a month a few of us at the... Read More

How a Great Tagline can Help your Business

"Just do it." "We try harder." "The Ultimate Driving Machine."... Read More

Create a Niche: Stoke Your Market With Affiliate Branding

Propose success, demand performance, and brand your market with appeal.... Read More

Brand Image - Brand Identity - Brand Strategy - Brand Identity Guru

Consumers perceive and accept many brands within a certain trade... Read More

Brand Building 201: Finding The Ideal Way

The strongest and longest lasting brands branch off of an... Read More

How to Work with Your Graphic Designer

As a graphic designer, I can tell you something right... Read More

Not So Stationary Stationery

The elements and functionality of the basic stationery system is... Read More

Differentiate and Dominate

Quite often small business owners will ask me to reveal... Read More

Company Vehicles Have Advertising on Them; Tips on Driving in Parking Lots

Try to avoid backing up whenever possible. Occasionally some one... Read More

The MOST Expensive Mistake You Can Make

Most people who own a small business have a huge... Read More

Importance of Business Branding

Branding is very important to a business, whether it is... Read More

Why Should I do Business With You?

It's the question that is on the minds of all... Read More

Choosing the Right Color Palette

Color is a highly personal experience ? everyone has favorite... Read More

The Trust Issue In Marketing

One of the prime motivating factors in the purchase decision... Read More

Is Your Logo Helping or Hurting Your Business?

The quality of your logo can mean the difference between... Read More

The Very Basics of Design

Design is a very subjective thing, therefore, if you ask... Read More

Living Your Brand on the Web - Part 1

OK, so you took the plunge and purchased your internet... Read More

Brand Identity - Corporate Identity and Brand Value

Companies work hard building the strength of their brands -... Read More

Pressure Washing Companies and Co-Branding

Pressure washing companies often miss what we call 'super niche'... Read More

Business Image

One of the most important things in a business is... Read More