Clue Design

When you think of a famous corporate trademark or logo, what’s the first one that springs to mind?

Whether you thought of the famous black tick that Nike boasts or the “Golden Arches” from McDonalds, that little graphic has worked its wonders because it has left a permanent message in you mind.

A logo is the most impressive element in enhancing the customers of a company as it brings an immediate recognition and symbolisation towards your business; creates a sense of professionalism and can assist in promotion. Tips to designing a logo:

• Learn what a logo represents: How can a logo represent your business and how can your business benefit from a logo design?
• A logo must be describable- You need to be able to describe your logo because if you can’t, then how do you expect your customers to explain your business to others.
• A logo must be memorable- Just like the logos which pop into your head, you want your logo to leave an impression in your customers memory.
• A logo must be scalable- Your logo should be small and clear enough for company uniforms, hats and headers on newsletters/documents, and simple enough to be able to clearly stand out on billboards, office fronts and even motor vehicle stickers.
• Learn from others successes and mistakes- Not only learn from them, but also ensure that your logo is distinguishable anc completely unique. A large amount of logos appear all too similiar these days so stand out from the crowd.
• Establish your logo design process by hiring a graphic designer- If designing isn’t really your forte, employ a graphic designer who is specialised in logo design and company branding.
• A logo must be effective without colour- Note that different colours can create different effects and moods towards your design and company:
  Blue- Confidence/calmness/security/dignity/honesty
  Black & Grey- Seriousness/Formality/Elegance/Authority/Distinction
  Brown- Earth/nature
  Yellow & Orange- Optimism
  Green- Nature/health/peace/freshness
  Red- Passion/courage/strength
  Pink- Innocence/ softness/warmth
  Purple- Spirituality/mystery/luxury
  

For more information on how to design a company logo or trademark, or if you are interested in a professional grahic designer to create your logo, please contact Clue Design. info@cluedesign.com.au 
Check out the cool site logo Design Love for more inspirational logo ideas. www.logodesignlove.com

We continue our series of tips to help you write effective website content. Here are three ways to help people who visit your website “get the message” as quickly as possible.

Tip No. 10- Break up long sections of text

When people use your website, they want to find things quickly. Don’t expect them to read every line word for word.
If you use long blocks of text, there is a good chance that what you are saying will not register with many people.
These techniques help them find information quickly

• Bullet point lists, like this one
• Short sentences, with an average length of about 20 words.
• Short paragraphs, about 40 words or less. One-sentence paragraphs are OK.
• Bolding of important words or phrases, in moderation
• Subheadings

The easier it is for your audience to spot the key points, the more effective your website.

Tip No. 11- One main topic per page

Following on from the tip above, another way to make web content easier to understand is to focus on one main topic or idea per page.
There are additional benefits in doing this

• It becomes easier to create a logical, customer-friendly site structure.
• Search engines can more easily identify what the page is about.

Think of your website as a series of topics through which people move. People move from one idea to the next and different people will take different paths.
Better to have short pages and link them, than to try covering a range of subjects on one long page.

Tip No. 12- Make the important stuff obvious

Do you want your readers to see important information first? Of course. Then forget what you were taught at school about writing essays with an introduction first and a conclusion at the end.
Writing for the web is different to writing an essay. Tell people what you want them to know quickly, before they get bored and go elsewhere.
For example

• Write a headline that actually says what the page is about.
• Include the main point in the first sentence.
• Make special offers or calls to action stand out.
• The golden rule is that the more important it is, the more prominent it should be.

  Clue Design provides professional advice about planning and writing effective website content. contact us to find out how we can help you. info@cluedesign.com.au

We here at Clue Design believe in giving the community a chance.

Whether it be students who are currently studying IT, design or programming at Tafe, high school or university and wish to get a little more real-life experience; or undergraduates studying PR and marketing, Clue Design are committed to providing the community with opportunities.

Clue Designs Internship/Work Experience Program

Clue Design are currently networking with International universities and allowing international students to come and work within the company for IT experience and practice. 

Already Clue Design has employed over five international students and numerous Australian students from around Western Australia who have undergone their practical training for 8 weeks within the company.

Each student has benefitted from working in a real-life corporate environment by learning various projects such as: assisting in designing websites, attending professional client meetings, learning how to utilise products such as Mintox Adaptive Content Management System and e-Mail Campaigner, updating the company news page, assisting in developing Clue News, amongst other tasks.
  
For more information on Clue Designs internship or work experience program, please contact the helpful staff at Clue Design today. info@cluedesign.com.au

Department of Humour Analysis
This website had the whole office in stiches! It is hilariously funny, check it out and let it brighten your day.
 http://www.tbshumorstudy.com/main.html

Logo Design Love
Want to know about or view anything to do with logos? From look-alike logos, to old and new logo designs, this website has it all.
www.logodesignlove.com

Pulp Pup Culture
If you’re into design, art, fashion and style, then you should check out
Pulponline, an online magazine which displays the funkiest creations of
lifestyle trends, photography and designs.
www.pulp.co.n

Mindmiester
Mindmiester allows the user to map out any thoughts, ideas or brainstorm suggestions for friends or employees to view and reflect on.
www.mindmeister.com/

Icecream makers Haagen-Dazs promoted its newest luxury icecream by inviting people to bed.

The icecream makers filled a Tokyo musuem with luxury beds retailing at over $2,500 and invited people to lie back, eat their new product while viewing a classical music concert.

The lucky guests were allowed to indulge in as much ice cream as they wished. Now that is a great way of promoting a product. Jealous? Just a bit. http://pzrservices.typepad.com/advertisingisgoodforyou/

Some people prefer ear-piercing, others prefer wearing accessories, but for the crazy few out there, their enjoyment comes from logo tattooing.

If you would like to advertise your corporate image in an “out there” way, why not try a cloud logo. A company called Flogos, (short for floating cloud logos) can create a cloud shaped just like your company logo.

Sweet fashion is another form of weird advertsing getting around. Check out this Louis Vuitton lollypop. Rooftop advertising like this Target rooftop logo is also popular now with Google Earth present. For more weird advertising click here: http://pzrservices.typepad.com/advertisingisgoodforyou/

White Chalk Road
www.whitechalkroad.com.au
White Chalk Road are a leading Western Australian Internet Marekting Firm specialising in SEO, web development and management services.

Energy Process Services
www.eps.com.au
Energy Process Services provides cost effective and reliable compression systems for companies with coal seam gas and conventional oil and gas production and pipeline transportation requirments.

Mines Online
www.minesonline.com.au
Mines Online provides an online platform for companies looking to buy and sell mining projects from around the world.

Oceaneering Marine Brokers
www.oceaneering.com.au
Oceaneering marine Brokers are Perth’s premier marine brokers specialising in quality seafaring vessels.

We have been receiving really postive feedback from clients using Mintox which is great to hear especially after loads hard work & many years in development its good to know that what we have designed and build a system that works! – www.mintox.com

Bernard Shapland
Range Equipment
(www.rangeequipment.com.au)
“With the downturn in the economy we were looking for new lead generation tools, and our old site just wasn’t working. Since dealing with the guys at Clue and upgrading our website to use Mintox we have seen sales enquiries jump from zero a month up to several a week and building, we are talking wheel loaders big ticket items via our website! The website basically paid for itself in the first week. Tell anyone that wants to contact me to give me call.”
Dot Cousins
Aspen Parks
www.aspenparks.com.au
“Our goals were to completely re-vamp the look and feel of our website and to ensure that our web search engine results improved. The success of the web site has been beyond our expectations. We receive complements daily from people who visit our site. We could not have asked for a better design.
We now have a first-rate, easy to navigate website and are consistently ranked high during web searches. The Mintox CMS makes it easy to update and we do regularly, best of all the site has increased accommodation bookings in all off our properties.”

Just some of the benefits:

• Mintox – Increase Sales
• Mintox – Decrease Time to Market
• Mintox – Reduced Business Cost
• Mintox – Produces Leads

Ultimately Mintox is the tool that drives the success of these sites, the real power behind it is the people that are using it, the more they use it, the more they understand it, the more benefits they gain.

Mintox v3.6 is due for release in mid April and it brings a load of new features, performance improvements and new components especially designed to increase and manage sales. For a preview of the latest version call Clue Design on +61 8 9368 0777  or contact sales@cluedesign.com.au | www.mintox.com

We continue our series of tips about web writing. This time we bring you three techniques professionals use to create an engaging style that customers like.

Tip No 7 – Write as if only one person reads your site

• Using the web is a personal experience. Your website might reach thousands of people, but each of them interacts with it as an individual. This means you are really writing for an audience of one.
• Think of the words on your website as a substitute for talking to someone face to face or over the telephone. It’s like having a one-sided conversation with a person you cannot see.
• This tip can also help you overcome “writer’s block”. If you are trying to write and your mind goes blank, imagine that you are talking to someone. Write down what you would say. It’s a great way to get started, although of course you will need to tidy it up later.

Tip No 8 – use “you”, “us” and “we”

• Following on from the tip above, you will connect better with your reader if you use “you”, “us” and “we” instead of a formal, corporate style.If you were explaining your services to a potential customer, you would say what “we” could do for “you”. Because your website replaces that conversation, it should use those words too.
  As another example, compare these two statements
• 1) This company welcomes enquiries from interested job seekers.
• 2) If you would like to work for us, please send us your details.

Notice how the second version is much friendlier.

Tip No 9 – Write in the active voice

• As you might remember from primary school, when you use a “subject – verb – object” sentence structure you are writing in the active voice. The subject performs the action (the verb) on the object.
• The active voice creates sentences that are shorter, snappier and livelier.
• The alternative, the passive voice, generally results in sentences that are more cumbersome.
  Although there are uses for the passive voice, the active voice is usually preferable
  Consider these examples
• Your order will be shipped by us within 24 hours. (passive voice)
• We will ship your order within 24 hours. (active voice)
• Our products are only installed by qualified technicians. (passive voice)
• Only qualified technicians install our products. (active voice)

Master the art of the active voice and see your web content become stronger and more direct.
Clue Design provides professional advice about planning and writing effective website content. Contact us now to find out how we can help you. info@cluedesign.com.au

Bored? Got some time to waste? Click on these links and view our selection of some of the latest and coolest websites.

Your Playground
This site is seriously fun and will definitely waste a lot of time. Become a designer for a day and create your dream playground, colour it, name it and build it up!
http://yourplayground.org/

Save The Words
If you are someone who loves words, learning new words or creating words, then this site is just for you! Add your word and describe its meaning and then spread the word!
www.savethewords.org

Snowdin
This is one of those fun interactive sites and if you grab a pair of 3D glasses from somewhere, it makes it even cooler. Play games, visit certain areas of a town called Snowdin and have fun!
http://www.snowdin.com

Hotel 626
This is a game that you can only play at night from 6pm unitl 6am- or when it allows you to play. It is creepy and well worth the wait. You can go to different levels and view and listen to scary ghostly images and sounds.
www.hotel626.com