Whitbeck Advertising and Online Promotion

Sometimes, even if you do not have plans of eating at a restaurant, you can be enticed to eat at one because of the attractive menu cover. But, if your menu is bound in a menu cover that is worn out, then the choice is a little bit easier. You will automatically leave the place to search for a better place to eat.

There are several factors in a restaurant that clienteles consider, which is why they patronize a certain restaurant. These factors include the price, the food, the ambiance and even the staff and servers. But before anything else, the restaurant needs to attract customers first. This is where the menu cover steps in.

The menu is the first thing a customer will take a look at and it can really set a good impression if a customer finds the menu cover appealing. A menu cover with a good design has a positive effect for the customer viewing it. The menu cover varies depending on the economic status of the restaurant. It may either be elegant, simple, sophisticated, folksy, native, colorful or even very expensive. These days you can do your own menu covers by following some steps.

Due to the fact that a menu is likely to contain pictures of food, it is a good idea to make the menu cover design nominal. You may first try your designs on a sketchpad. It is smart to make designs that are similar to the restaurant’s theme. You may also add some graphics or a statement that best describes your restaurant. For instance, you may include a picture of an American flag if the specialty of your restaurant is American cuisine. If your restaurant is a pizza parlor, obviously you will include pictures and graphics of pizza. It is also wise to add the logo of your restaurant.

Next, you have to choose what the size of your menu will be. You need to consider the sizes of the table, number of dishes that you will put in the menu and the size of your restaurant. Try different sizes for your menu cover and find the one that suits your taste, your budget, and your restaurant.

It is also an option to add colors to your mock up. Try out several varieties of colors and see which one looks perfect in your eyes. The perfect option is to use a computer when you are making designs. Print it out so you can handle it just like a customer would.

One other thing you may do is to ask for some referrals, ideas or suggestions from the staff and from some of your friends. They can give you good suggestions. Plus, you may show your designs to others and ask their opinion about the design and gather viewpoints besides your own.

However, if you do not have the right equipment and the knowledge about producing menu covers, then it is advisable that you pay for the services of an expert menu cover designer. He can help you with your logo, design, material, and may even give you packages deals that you will find affordable.

No Comments | In: Advertising Media, General | tags: Graphic Design, Menu Cover Design. | #

Graphics designers are in a hot niche right now and they can make residual income online quite easily if they have the right skills. You may have heard how traditional magazines and newspapers are struggling right? Do you know why they are struggling – because smart business owners are finding that they can get a lot more for their money online. For a fraction of the cost of a single ad in major newspaper they can have a beautifully designed website up and running 24/7 to advertise their business.

So what can a smart graphics designer do to get a piece of the action? Well if you already have design flair you have the most difficult part of the equation down. What you need to do though is make sure that you are familiar with the basics of web technology: CSS, HTML and PHP coding skills will all be a requirement if you want to be able to pitch to an online market.

An online designer should be familiar with current thinking about what does and does not work for online users – sizes of banner ads, colours, overall style and design. You could expand your skill set and bring video creation skills to the mix than so much the better. Video blogging and viral videos are a very popular and innovative to drive traffic to your client’s website.

Which brings me to another point. Although you may not be an search engine optimization (SEO) specialist – you need to at least to have the basics so that your beautiful design is not hindering online searchers from finding the website. You should ensure that the website is not purely flash or graphics – Google and other search engines still can’t interpret a picture of a red fire truck – you have to words associated with the image that will tell a search engine that its a red fire truck! Incidentally this is also good practice because blind people use the web and the same technique will talk them through a site that they cannot see.

Now is an exciting moment to be a graphics designer but its critical that you keep your skills current and you’d be very wise to keep an eye on what is needed to become a website graphics designer -what started off as a bit of part-time income to make ends meet could well become the saviour of your career.

No Comments | In: Advertising Media, Make Money Online, Web Design Graphics | tags: CSS, Graphic Design Jobs, HTML, PHP, Residual Income Online, Website Design. | #