Memorable Advertising

The saying goes "A picture says a thousand words!" and when it comes to advertising it is definitely true. The right picture can convey the benefit of your product or service so well that you need few words to explain it.

Good photographers have a way of capturing the right expression, the ideal mood and ultimately showing off the benefit of your product or service. The investment into the purchase of good photography...or better yet, hiring a good photographer, can make an enormous difference in capturing the eye of your next customer.

Don't clutter your next ad with several bad pictures, and endless dribble of words to try and sell your product or service. Use one excellent photo, a carefully crafted benefit statement, your logo, slogan and contact information. That says it all.

From the quality you deliver to the results a client can expect, quality photography sells the best of your company.

You've paid for it, so use it!

Quick, what colour(s) comes to mind when I say Staples or should I say "That was easy!"? What about Home Depot or San Pellegrino?

If you have paid for or have had a great logo designed for you, then you have taken a good step in the direction of promoting yourself. To really help your customers connect with you, take the next step by using the same logo, slogan, fonts and colours in all your marketing, including signs and even paint in your offices. If you use a palette of colours, create your palette and use those colours consistently, whenever possible.

Consistency is the least expensive form of advertising...but it will yield the best results. Think about it, when your delivery trucks, signs, stationary, shirts and advertising all have the same logo and colours...it is hard to miss it. Your clients will automatically know what services you provide because they will see the same colours and logos...everywhere.

To create your own "Tool Kit" for consistency here is what you should include :

Basic Kit :

• company logo in vector format (needed for shirts, signs and other printing)
• company logo in web friendly formats
• company fonts
• company colours for web and printing (they are not the same)

Advanced Kit (include the following) :

• standard design elements
• standards for the design of stationary and advertising (where possible) 
• standards for vehicles, shirts and other promotional materials

If the Advanced Tool Kit is too much for you, at least have the Basic Kit and do as much as you can to be consistent. The results will surprise you.

It is as much the responsibility of your company as it is the marketing or design agency you hire, to ensure these standards are maintained. But this simple step of consistency, in how you present your company, goes a long way to ensuring a memorable connection for both your current customers and potential customers.

How do you want your visitors to feel?

Custom Signs and Seating                                             Photography © Thorogood Communications

If you have clients visiting your office or store then every area they visit becomes an extension of your brand. There are many options to create engaging spaces that reinforce the quality of your brand and convey the value of your business. Your attention to detail and your client's comfort may even make the difference in winning that next big contract.

For small spaces - just adding a vibrant paint colour with a vinly logo on the wall in maybe silver or gold with some nice, readily available seating options (low cost) can punch up your main lobby. Or take it up a notch with customized seating and relief lettering.

For those cave like echoing lobbies - interlocking seating, large format artwork, with added natural elements can turn a cold reception into a welcome venue.

Don’t forget your outdoors - gardens and pathways leading up to your building can put awe into your clients before they even set foot in your building. You might even change your own perception of your company.

There are many options to suit every budget. Ask us today how you can change your space to be more customer friendly. Oh and, don’t forget the magazines that your clients like to read.

Is graffiti affecting your business?

Anti-Graffiti Coated Outdoor Signs                              Photography © Thorogood Communications

There are a wide range of solutions today to protect your exterior items including walls, signs, windows and even benches. These coatings/products provide protection with a finished surface that does not allow paint to bond to the material. To the graffiti artist, their artwork appears to be intact but the artwork can be removed without having to repaint or replace your exterior items. The removal process varies depending on the coating/product and, depending on your budget, may need to be reapplied after the second vandalism attack however, it will protect your carefully designed signs, building and even murals from having to be totally redone.


Solutions are available for most of your business needs from paints to thin vinyl films. Depending on your needs and your budget, we can help select the product that is right for you. If you are working with someone else, be sure to ask what the options are. If you have the budget, you may be willing to spend a little more and not have to redo the coating for quite a while. If you don’t have budget, you may wish to select a product that will need to be reapplied after the second round of graffiti.