Alpine Meadows launches blog.skialpine.com
Alpine Meadows Ski Resort launched their blog today! Check it out at blog.skialpine.com You can also check them out at:
Archive for thoughts
Who should build my website?
Should an advertising agency or a web development company build my website? This question seems to baffle many companies, but why? Why do companies feel like they are going around their agencies back if they hire a web development company to build their site. The simple fact of the matter is that the web is far too big and far to advanced for an advertising agency to keep up with. They simply can’t devote enough resources and manpower for what the web requires. That is why agency developed sites don’t look, function and most importantly, don’t generate the same ROI as a site build by a development company. I overlooked this simple fact for over 6 years and it took me less than two weeks working for Twelve Horses, you guessed it, a web development company, to realize how much more skill, true expertise, and flat out better equipped a specialized company is.
~rg
Bye bye KPS|3 hello Twelve Horses North America
Today was my first day at Twelve Horses North America as a project manager. This is a bit of a change for me, much less hands on then I’m used to but that is where I have wanted to go for a while now. I’m very excited with this change and can’t wait to get past the learning stage and dive into the work. I will keep you posted on my new projects.
~rg
The Family
I don’t like to post family stuff on this blog (you can get all of that at blog.robandshayna.com.) However, as professionals we have to remember that without the support and love from our families we wouldn’t produce work that is truely great. They are the driving force of our happiness and if your not happy, it will show in your work. This shot is my infanite pool of smiles.
rg
The importance of graphic standards / identity systems
Graphic standards… they are expensive, they are complicated, they are time consuming and they are 100% necessary. You will not find a major company without a strong identity system. Why? Simple, they want their image to be clear and consistent across all media.
A logo not only represents the company, it also represents all that it stands for. When a good graphic standard is established and followed the message and meaning is consistent across all levels of communication. This helps ensure that all branding efforts are remembered and tagged to your logo/brand mark.
This is the main principal behind having a consistent identity, and it can be found in many other aspects of marketing as well. In PR you have talking points, things that you say over and over as many times as you can to get your point across. In media buying you have frequency to touch the user with the same message as many times as possible. Even in SEO you try and get as much content relating to a similar topic so search engines see your site as better than the next.
This same core principal applies to your identity system. Think of what happens when presidents contradict themselves or when a company like Albertson’s runs an ad campaign that says you don’t need a membership card to get good prices and then you go into the store and they offer you a membership card. You loose all trust and you no longer know what they actually stand for.
This is no different than seeing a print ad with a logo set in a blue script font and then watching the same company’s TV spot with a purple logo set with a san-serif font. You send a mixed message and that is always bad.
With all that said, it is important to understand that not all companies need a 30 page graphic standards. A two pager with color / size / tag specs will suit most small companies just fine. This should be sent out when ever they have a logo request. Check out a few that I have had a major role in developing.
Saint Mary’s • Sierra Arts • (soon to come Reno-Tahoe International Airport)