Colour is an important factor when choosing a design element, whether it’s used on a logo design, web design as a whole, or even a simple ‘call to action’ button on a web site. Colour sends subliminal messages to people and the majority of us react the same to some colors. Graphic designers are aware of this and make the best possible use of colour to assist in creating actions.
All posts in business
How to easily setup an online shop
There are many ways in which you can sell products online. The easiest is probably via eBay, but it doesn’t give you much flexibility. The other way is Shopify. Shopify is for people and small businesses who want to sell great products through an online shop that does those products justice.
They provide you with a straightforward interface to build exactly the shop you want, hosted on their powerful servers.
Prices start from just $24 per month, which is very reasonable, considering they’ll provide you with web site templates and very easy to use payment facilities. What’s more, you’ll also get a 30 day free trial.
Top 10 Web Site Call to Action Buttons
We must start this exercise by asking, what is Graphic Design? Graphic design is a creative process that combines art and technology to communicate ideas. From logos business cards to stationery to album covers to posters to web sites. Graphic design plays a major part in creating an associated identity to the object or idea that is being communicated.
When it comes to web sites, Graphic Design plays a major part in communication. The seller of the product or service has invested their hard-earned money and they are looking for a return on their investment. To be a successful business you have to earn some cash. It is therefore essential that the ‘seller’ guides the user of the web site down a path which, eventually, will lead to an end result so that the web site can be deemed a success. The ‘result’ part of the equation could be a sale, an enquiry, a sign-up.
A lot of web sites look very pretty, but are they really ‘guiding’ you towards a sale or to take some form of action in the easiest, most efficient way?
I have compiled a list of 10 web site designs that I think do an effective job of reaching the end result – or, at least, move me in the right direction to the end result. I know they work, because I have made a purchase, signed-up or ‘have done as I’m told’.
Apple
Campaign Monitor
Expression Engine
Firefox
Five Simple Steps – Mark Boulton Design
Mint
Mobile Web Design – Cameron Moll
Basecamp – 37 Signals
Xero
… and finally, Google
Summary
All of the web sites mentioned above give me some form of direction through the use of effective Graphic Design. Most of the sites, with the exception of Apple, make me aware of what is going to happen if I do click on where they want me to go. Colour plays a distinctive role in the design of ‘Call to action’ buttons and are, mostly, brightly coloured to form some kind of contrast to the surrounding space.
Sound advice for starting your own business
Good advice for people starting a business can be found here on the blog of an exceptional Web App company 37 Signals.
The barriers which we often put in place to start a business are often only there because someone else wants a piece of your action. You know better than anyone how to run your business the way it wants to be run. You just have to get it done.
Starting a new business in Cornwall
Life throws some strange situations at you when you least expect.
Take starting a business, for example. I could have started my new business when I was young and carefree, but what did I decide to do? Wait until my first child was born. Some could see that as a bad/brave move, but what I really think is that there’s never a good time to do something, you just have to do it and make the most out of any situation that you find yourself in.
You could be dead tomorrow so do it today. My perspective and outlook on life/work changed dramatically when my young, healthy, clean-living sister died a couple of years ago from a ruptured appendix. I didn’t think that things happened like that in this day and age so it came as a great shock to all those who knew her. Anyway, this post isn’t a sob story, it’s to say that if you are thinking of starting a business and being your own boss then go for it. Do whatever you’ve always wanted to do as you’ll only regret it later in life… if you get that far.
Starting a new business in Cornwall, especially, is a scary thought. We haven’t got a huge working population. We have a very seasonal tourist industry. But even if you think of a good idea for a new business, then put a few extra hours in during your day job, work a few extra hours when everyone’s gone to bed (notice the time I’m writing this!!!) and you’ll be surprised at the amount of money you can save, as well as time spent concentrating on your new business ideas.
If you think of a service or a product that can be produced relatively cheaply, then get yourself a web site (I can do you one for £300 – all inclusive) and test the water. Print some flyers out at home with your web site address on it and do some leg work in promoting and marketing your idea. You just have to stay focussed, remember why you’re doing it and I’m sure that your new business in Cornwall could be a venture that you’ll never regret. After all; it’s better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven’t done.
