J. S. Collard Design

Making Lives Better Through Advertising Arts

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TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION SUSTAINABILITY

GreenDrop-Recycling-Station-JSCollard-DesignJ.S. Collard Design worked with Pacific Cascade Corporation to update, inform and let students, corporate customers and clients see the importance of reducing one’s carbon footprint. Allowing them to participate shows an organization’s values are in alignment with sustainable practices.

Students learn about reducing, and their environmental impact while using the GreenDrop Recycling and Waste Collection Station. GreenDrop is more than a durable diversion container. GreenDrop is a practical device that provides teaching moments throughout the school year.

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Data Has No Personality

For years now, Analytics, Target Market, Customer Demographics, Data Cultivation have been the focus of CEOs and CFOs alike.  These statistics have become the driving force in the development of marketing materials.  Don’t get me wrong, the data needs to be taken into account, but not overshadow the marketing message.

But making all marketing channels data driven exclusively is like handing your brand over to a bookkeeper.  Now I don’t want to disparage accountants, they’re great at doing payroll, taxes, and such.  We all have our own expertise and speciality!  I don’t want to even begin to understand the workings of the IRS, and I don’t think marketing and creative development where required classes to receive an accounting degree.

Consumers are bombarded with thousands of advertising impressions daily.  Consumers want to establish relationships with companies who have the personality they can identify with and this is projected through the creative.  Data by itself only is cold and has no personality.  Creative is the mechanism that gets you to entice your prospective customers.  So, how are you doing?

If your message is boring, what consumer wants to spend time with you?

Blending data with creative and clever solutions will cut through the mediocre, and make your business stand out from your competition.  Getting noticed is the key.  You first have to get their attention and then you can develop them into a customer.

MARKETING TOOLS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

In preparing a effective marketing plan for a business, there are certain tools that are absolutely necessary to ensure success in the market place.  Your marketing tools need to look professional so they will reflect your credibility. Established or new businesses who take the time to build a consistent image will engender trust. Companies that don’t focus on brand run the risk of appearing small, cheap, or inexperienced. Discerning customers will know the difference, and choose accordingly.

You want your product or service to stand out from your competition. Why should a prospective customer choose you?  Your individual marketing tools are the elements that help in the customer acquisition process.

If you’d like to discuss this further, contact me, or give me an old fashion call – 1.360.573.9393

Chrome will start showing security warnings on websites

Starting October 2017, Chrome (version 62) will show a “NOT SECURE” warning when users enter information in a form on an HTTP page.

All websites should now be HTTPS (SSL certificate). Websites now get an SEO penalty for not having it. This is part of Googles shift to secure the web. Browsers have also jumped on board and are starting to throw warnings at people when they are entering any information into a form if the site is not https even if that information is sensitive (i.e. name or email address).

So we definitely suggest moving all websites to SSL.  If your site truly isn’t collecting sensitive information or doing financial transactions, there is a  free WordPerss plugin that should be adequate.

Host providers can typically install the certificate on the site, then either use an SSL plugin or preferably edit the URL in the Database.

If you’d like to discuss this further, contact me, or give me an old fashion call – 1.360.573.9393

Have You Looked At Your Website Lately?

Have you looked at your website through the eyes of your customers or perspective clients?  You are familiar with your site and may think it’s easy to navigate, but someone new to your site may have difficulty finding the information, products or solutions you provide.  To create a pleasant experience for your site visitors, try to keep a few simple techniques in mind:

  • Website MUST be responsive – site formats to the user’s screen size, platform and orientation
  • Website must be visually pleasing
  • Consistent with your Brand
  • Layout and content is easy to navigate
  • Employ intuitive navigation principles
  • Use extensive imagery to convey messages quickly

These are just a few principals to help you improve your website performance.

If you’d like to discuss this further, contact me, or give me an old fashion call – 1.360.573.9393

Hate Crimes Don’t Need To Be Met With More Violence

I’m not happy with what I saw on the news last night.

Protesters pulling down Civil War statues and stomping on them as if they were the culprits of contemporary hate crimes and domestic terrorism.

They’re trampling on their heritage and trying to erase what actually happened.

Instead, we should learn and keep those monuments intact, we should learning to cope with different opinions, not cover up and forget what happened.  We should learn from our past so we don’t repeat them in the future.

Those who pulled down the statue are just as single minded as those they oppose.

Your Brand Consistency

Making sure your Company Brand is consistent, you need to have a cohesive plan in place to promote your business.

Your marketing efforts should consider:

  • Consistent look & feel of all marketing materials from online to outgoing messages
  • Identify and build relationships with your target audience
  • Promote your services and understand what challenges your target audience wants to solve

If you need any help, I’m available to discuss your marketing needs.

Contact me, or give me an old fashion call – 1.360.573.9393

ParkingZone Rebranding

Logo-Design-JS-Collard-Vancouver-ThumbJ.S. Collard Design worked with Pacific Cascade Corporation (PCC), the parent of the ParkingZone who is the largest provider of parking facility supplies and valet equipment, to launch a newly re-branded version of its website, www.ParkingZone.com. For the new website, the ParkingZone first had J.S. Collard Design create a new original logo to strategically build and strengthen it’s new brand experience.

Key features of the site include a streamlined, inviting design that is responsive on all devices including smartphones, a more engaging user experience with a reorganized navigation and augmented search capabilities, increased security protocols, while maintaining its popular Live Chat capabilities, payment options including using a Purchase Order for our customers who have setup terms for convenient 24/7 on-line shopping, and showcasing the largest selection of parking, traffic, and valet supplies on the web.

Additionally, the new website has far more features including improved links and instructional videos on individual product pages. “We’re excited to roll out our remodeled website with all of its new capabilities,” said Mark Curtis, President of Pacific Cascade Corporation, who is featured in the Home page intro video. “It’s great to welcome our customers to our website and share something of ourselves in a fun and friendly way. We want to let our customers know we’re here to help them find any product or solution that will solve any challenges they may experience in the daily operations of their parking facility.”

deanna meyer, PCC Website Coordinator, explained, “the site’s refreshed and simplified look, improved navigation and better product content, and optimization for mobile devices gives our customers an improved way to interact with the ParkingZone online”. She added, “the site includes timely Promotional items as well as the latest innovations in our Just Arrived section.”

The new logo, designed by J. Scott Collard, Marketing Director and Graphic Coordinator for PCC and principle owner of J.S. Collard Design , has been updated with clean graphic elements and employs a custom designed logotype exclusive to the ParkingZone. The website design then followed the new logo brand guidelines and pallet to frame the new look and feel of the updated website.

“This was a highly collaborative re-branding effort between our in-house staff and support personal that culminated in a new experience for our customers,” added Curtis. “We are pleased with the final product and hope everyone who visits our site to either order a product or look for industry white papers will feel the same”.