Muahhhhahhahahaha! The transformation is complete! That’s right – our blog redesign is complete! I’m glad it’s over. It’s harder to design for my own buisness than for my clients. I’m my own worst critic!

Anyway, it was a good way to make a slow summer more productive.

Yes, that’s right – clients can be fired by their designers. It happens all the time, mostly because of a lack of compatibility between client and designer. Generally, though, the designer becomes irritated by the way a client does business.

Here is a quick list of tips to keep you from being fired by your designer:

1. Be organized. One of the biggest complaints designers have about their clients is how clients manage information. If you don’t have your thoughts together, you won’t be able to fully convey what you want to your designer. This results in your designer delivering results that are incomplete or off the mark, which in turn will make you angry or frustrated with your designer. Keeping emails to a minimum, or consolidating lots of tiny pieces of information can also help you stay organized. Get organized before you contact your designer and the relationship is sure to be much smoother.

2. Know what you want. Your designer is not a mind reader. You have to know what you want before you hire a designer. If you don’t know what you want, you won’t be happy with anything your designer sends your way – and your designer won’t know which direction to go.

3. Be honest. Need an extra week to pay your invoice? Don’t care for a concept your designer sent? Just tell them. Most designers are understanding – it’s the nature of the business. But we don’t tolerate dishonesty or no communication. Sometimes a quick email is all it takes.

4. Respect the designer’s boundaries. Most designers have set hours that they take phone calls or work on projects. This is because they have to be in the creative zone to do actual design work. If your designer asks you not to call on Tuesday, don’t do it. If your designer asks you to leave voicemail or email regarding your needs, do it. This will help the designer complete your project more quickly because they won’t be interrupted by calls while they’re working.

5. Pay up! One of the quickest ways to be fired by your designer is to not pay your invoices. If you need more time, communicate that with your designer. Otherwise, get them paid! Most designers need invoices paid quickly for cash flow purposes. Just do it. It’s the right thing to do.

6. Don’t ask for a public critique without your designer’s consent. This may sound strange, but asking for a crtique of a design piece on a public forum is not acceptable unless the designer has given consent. The reason for this is because most people on a public forum do not have the background information needed to make an informed opinion. They may not be your target audience. They may post derrogatory or demeaning comments regarding the design, which in turn can harm the designer’s public image. Asking for public opinion during the design process can also be harmful to your own perception of the design piece. Work it out with the designer, and do public testing together, in a controlled environment.

That’s it! Stay tuned for a post for designers – Don’t Get Fired by Your Client!

Yes, we’ve redesigned our website, and the blog is currently being updated as well. Don’t we look great? We’re pleased with our new look and our new name – Mad Hatter Design + Media. Design + Media encompasses all the things that Mad Hatter is – it’s not just about one aspect of the brand anymore. We design for all types of media, depending on the needs of your business.

So a big thanks goes out to our clients, without whom, our growth would not be possible. Thanks and happy Independence Day!

Not sure about the colors of your new brand? Check out this nifty little tool: Color Scheme Designer

It can help you pick out various color schemes to show your designer. Remember, though, this is not for print colors – only web colors. Your designer will need to match the proper print color, and some blues and reds will not properly translate into print. Just keep in mind that you have to be flexible!

Have fun and happy coloring!

Today’s crazy market means that many online business owners must adapt to change. The public’s taste is changing, and so are budgets. People who could once afford your highest-priced items or services may no longer be able to spend money on them. How do you answer to such a tough call without lowering your prices? Simple. Revamp your website to draw budget-minded people in.

Here’s how to do it:

• Place your lower-priced products directly on the front page. Doing this will draw attention to the “thrifty” products you carry without cheapening your brand.
• Create and implement a marketing campaign featuring your lower-priced items or services. Spend a little money to do this if you need to. Show the public that you aren’t afraid to provide them with something they need and/or want for a price they can afford.
• Increase your “bang for the buck.” Instead of lowering prices, offer additional services or a more features with a product or service you already have. Then feature these new offerings on your product pages. If you’re a service business, develop packages that have true value for your budgeting clients. Blog and Twitter about your new packages, and feature them on your website.
• Offer something for free. How many times have you downloaded a free eBook or business checklist? Find out where your strengths lie and then give it to your potential customers! People love free stuff, and if the free item is good, they’ll come back for more.
• Put your contact information (or contact form) in an easily accessible place. Sounds simple, right? Think about how often you try to find a phone number for a company but have to click through 8 pages to find it. Not fun. Your potential clients will go elsewhere. Help them find you! Bonus if you include your phone number.
• Be focused. If you offer several different products or services, make sure your home page focuses on a theme. The easier it is to find things, the more sales you will make!
• Review your site. Keep this important fact in mind – your site is not built for YOU. It is built for your customers. Have several friends or even your current customers review your website. Then (mostly importantly) act on that feedback!
• Optimize! Make sure your keywords are relevant and working. Utilize Google Analytics to make the most of your SEO. The last thing you want right now is for Google to pass you by. Hire a pro to revamp your content or do some advanced SEO for your site. You won’t be disappointed.
• Be prepared to take a hit. Your sales might be down this year, so recognize that this is okay. Remember it could be far worse. Do what you can to draw customers in, but don’t feel like a failure if you’re not performing as well as you did last year.

Need help getting your site recession-ready? Contact Mad Hatter Design Company for help with graphic design, SEO, and custom blog design.