Graphic Design

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Sara's Interview - Podcast with Small Business Consultant

On January 5th I had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed by small business consultant, Sue Whitaker, owner of the The Business Lovemaker and talk show host. Sue and I worked together on her branding and new Business Lovemaker website. During the project, she asked if I would be a guest on her radio show knowing her nationwide listener base would receive some business insight since they are generally entrepreneurs.

Sue interviewed me for 1 hour asking me about my background, my inspiration, how I balance my right and left brain with the type of work I do, tips for business owners and web development, and more. Take a moment to listen to my podcast about business* and keep your ears peeled for a little gift for you at the end. If you have some feedback, please comment below (this is my first interview since being on NPR and CNN for my women's surf shop in 1997, so I was a little nervous).

*If you are having problems playing the audio file, you can right click on the link to download and play on your computer.

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10 Ways to Help Your Business This Year - Resolutions for your Business

Happy New Year!

Many people have mentioned that they are planning to work on their business after the New Year. So, the time has come and many are wondering what to do. Below is your business' New Year's resolution in 10 ways to help grow your business this new year:

1. Get organized: Have receipts flying around and file folders everywhere on your desktop? Create a system to help streamline your paperwork and information. It will streamline your day down the road.
2. Get clear: Get very clear on your messaging, your price structure, and your services. Carve out 2 hours per week to get these three done. This will not only streamline your day, but will also help you clearly get your word out to customers.
3. Establish your goals for the year: What is it you really want? How many more clients do you want or products do you want to sell each month? Sit down and create realistic goals for the year, then break them down per month. Then reflect on what is realistic in terms of your current workforce, hours per week, etc. If your goals exceed your fulfillment, then your goals need to also include growing your fulfillment side of your business.
4. Create a plan based on those goals: How are you going to reach those goals? Create a plan for marketing, advertising, promotions, R&D, etc. Create an overall plan for the year, then break them down per month, and even by week. Assign tasks to employees, coworkers, or even to yourself on your calendar. As much as it seems like a good idea, do not just throw a contest, do not just have a sale, do not just have a newsletter, do not just make a video, etc. You NEED a plan so your efforts invoke a call to action that you WANT to have happen.
5. Create a ToDo Calendar: Finally have some time to work on your business but can't prioritize, let alone remember what you were supposed to work on? Create a to-do list that links to your calendar and assign these new tasks you made from your plan above. Create a system so you constantly return to this list throughout the day so you get in the habit of seeing what is next on the list AND get the successful feeling of crossing your tasks off.
6. Reiterate your message: Let the world know about your message and services by reiterating them on all marketing materials, including your website.
7. Make time for YOU: You are not a machine and you do your best work once you are rested. So schedule some time for you during your busy week. It sounds counterintuitive, but scheduling an hour for a walk, yoga, massage, run, or just some reading time that is strictly for you, will help reenergize you and get you working more efficiently.
8. Get realistic: Does your task list have 40+ things on it each day? Maybe it is time to hire someone? Can a professional help you get something done right in 2 hours that would take you 10 hours to do just okay? Wouldn't it be worth having that professional help you with that task each month so you can spend those 10 hours making money? Or perhaps hiring a mom or high school student who needs some filler work a few hours per month to organize your office or do some errands for you? No need to hire someone to do your main tasks of your business. Just someone to help with the small tasks. Make your life easier and in doing so, you may be helping someone else out who needs some extra work.
9. Learn some more: Stay on top of your industry by subscribing to blogs or Linked In groups that pertain to your business. No need to enroll in hours or hours of classes (unless mandatory for your licensing). Just subscribe to the endless feeds of information on the internet. You will not only stay up to date on new technology and tips, but will also learn about ways to become more competitive in your market.
10. Get real help: Totally confused with what you are doing? There are thousands of professionals who can help you get streamlined in your business and in your day to day living. Spending a few hundred dollars here or there to get you on track may most likely help you earn thousands down the road. it IS worth the investment. If you don't know what to blog about, what or when to be posting to your social networks, how to properly create a newsletter that drives traffic, how to properly hold a contest or sale, how to make a video that converts, or if it all feels overwhelming, contact me or another professional and we can create a plan to make this work for you.

Above are just a few ways to help you get your business on the right rack for the year. Taking the time to help your business grow will prove both profitable and rewarding.

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Artist who does Web Design

People often visit my website to view my fine art and then say, "Wow! I had no idea you created websites too!" They later ask how I can be both an artist AND do something so left-brained like web design and marketing? For me it is easy because they are two passions of mine: I absolutely love to push myself creatively AND I am passionate about finding ways to help people pursue their own business visions.

So what is it that I do for businesses?

When I am working on a business project, I wear many, many hats, including:

• project manager
• SEO and marketing consultant
• graphic artist
• illustrator
• html/css programmer
• UI/UX designer
• content editor
• business coach
• and confidant

Brand development and marketing require someone who can keep the vision in mind while overseeing and executing the daily tasks of the project. From owning a few different businesses and coaching several more, I have had regular practice on how to address the unique nuances of each industry. I work with business visions in mind as I get the realistic details in order and figure out what needs to happen on a daily basis to make a deadline. However, I understand the creative side too, so I get results that are eye-catching and memorable to your target market.

To understand the completeness of a project, the project manager needs to understand how each part works, what is most important for that component to work, and then blend the parts into a perfect marriage. That means someone who understands the visual, marketing, programming or printing, and clients needs.

Each project may sounds simple: "I need a website." "I need a poster." "I need a sign illustrated." But behind each project is a multitude of tasks that need to be done correctly to make your project worthwhile. Before choosing your web designer or graphic designer, look at their portfolio and see if they have the experience to help you with your project. Make sure their past works are something you may like for your business. And read their testimonials. And next time you'll get a better feel why so many people choose someone like me, an artist who does design.

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New Logo Design

I have had the fun opportunity to work on new branding with several new businesses in Truckee, Lake Tahoe, Reno and throughout the country in the last year. One of the essential components of branding is logo design. Logos are a visual stamp of your business entity. Having a concise logo makes it easy for people to recognize your company's products and services with a quick glimpse. It it part of the protection of your company's assets through trademarking. It also leads to brand recognition and, if all goes as planned, consumer confidence. I added a handful of my new logo designs to a new page called Logo Portfolio. If you are thinking about taking the leap to becoming an entrepreneur or are need of a business facelift, give me a call.

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Last chance to buy Laughing Sun Clothing

Laughing Sun Clothing is being absorbed in Sara Zimmerman Art, Illustration and Design. NONE of the current designs will be reproduced. We have limited quantities of the designs you all loved so get them now while we still have your size. Everything is 50% off.  While items last, save up to 50% on clothes online at LaughingSunClothing.com or visit our booth at Truckee Thursdays.

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Laws of good branding

Branding and corporate identity are what gets your business seen and remembered. Investing into good branding makes all the difference in the world.

Imagine you are an upscale restaurant serving entrees that start in the $35 range. Imagine you decided to skimp on paying for good branding and lettered your own sign, your business cards are do-it-yourself from VistaPrint, and your menus are black and white photo copies with a little clip art of some shrimp scampi at the top. What does this say about your restaurant? To me, if a business deliberately shows that they are skimping on their branding, it makes me feel like they may be the type to skimp on other important items like their licensing, quality of products, etc. Therefore, good branding is imperative on so many levels.

So what is good branding? Logo Orange breaks down branding essentials into 22 laws in their post called the Big Page. Here they review the items most necessary to getting branding that works for you, including Expansion, Quality, and Publicity. Click to read more about the steps involved in good branding and work with your designer and marketing consultant to get you a brand that speaks to your customers (and entices them to make a purchase!).

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Truckee Thursdays T Shirt Design

Truckee Thursdays is a super fun outside festival that happens throughout the summer months in Truckee, CA. It's an event of all ages, featuring music, food, beer garden, play area for kids, and vendors of all sorts. This year, the Truckee Downtown Merchant Association launched a t shirt contest for Truckee Thursdays. The idea was to capture the feel of Truckee Thursdays while being appealing to both men and women.

I created a concept, sketched it out, then painted it with inks. Once dried, I scanned it, cleaned it up in Photoshop, then imported and outlined it in Illustrator. I added some features, tweaked some things, and brought in a fun font. The final design was submitted and accepted as winner of the 2011 Truckee Thursday t shirt contest. To purchase your own, look for the Truckee Downtown Merchant Association's booth during Truckee Thursdays. Then come by and see me as I will have my own booth too!

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I'm an official Green Business

When I was in UCSC, I received my bachelor's in Environmental Studies- a degree which was known then as the most depressing one around. I learned a lot about the theory of making change and reducing our carbon footprint. But then I got married, had a baby... and we all know how it goes from there. It takes a concerted effort to reduce, reuse and recycle and I am doing my best to incorporate these ideas into my art and design business. To lessen my impact, I recently switched over to biodegradable bags for my prints and 100% post-consumer waste backings for my greeting cards. I use reclaimed cabinet doors as canvases when possible, and do as much as I can electronically to cut down my paper waste. I am happy to announce that my efforts in my business have been recognized by Keep the Sierra Green as a Green Business Leader! I have a long way to go- there are so many ways to change. What simple things can you do to make your business green?

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Come see me at Truckee's Earth Day 4/23

The Tahoe Truckee Earth Day celebration is a great festival for all ages. The event is entertaining and educational and this year, I will have a booth. I will have a booth set up with prints, greeting cards and shirts plus smiles for everyone. Come by the booth, located in the smack dab middle of the event to say hi from 11-5 this coming Saturday, April 23rd at the Village at Squaw Valley. See you then!

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Illustrated Map for Wedding Invitation and Bag

I had the honor to create a super fun illustration for an upcoming June wedding. The mother of a bride contacted me with some fun ideas, wanting a map to feature the places wedding guests would visit. The map would be screened onto a bag as a wedding favor AND used as a directions card for the invite. The process required 3 separate artworks and some diligence in Photoshop and Illustrator.

1. First I drew the map out with tracing paper. Each revision, I sliced up the tracing paper until I had the final paper.
2. Second, I laid the tracing paper over a sheet of Saral transfer paper over Arches Cold Press paper and then traced the tracing paper. This left a light line on the paper.
3. I then used India Ink to ink the first set of lines.
4. Once that was done, I scanned in the images into Illustrator and using Live trace, I was able to outline the images. I had to go in and clean up many of the curves that didn't transfer.
5. Separately, I started another artwork using the same technique outlined in step 2. When the lines were laid in, I started in with a background wash of quinacridone sienna acrylics.
6. When that was dry, I worked in about 3 other layers of greens, tans, and blues. When done, I scanned in that image.
7. I brought that image into Photoshop and then, brought in the inked lined image. I locked that image and started messing around with the colors, blotching them and touching them up so they would match up with the landmarks.
8. In another document, I used Live Trace to outline some lined drawings of the structures. Once those were brought into Illustrator and traced with Live Trace, I then used Live Paint to fill the structures in.
9. I merged all the files together in Illustrator for the final product.

This final map was used on the wedding invitations and screened onto wedding bags as wedding favors for the guests. Needless to day this was a time-intensive project, but the end-product was well worth the time involved. Here's how it came out on the bag: