But what does that really have to do with your organization? And what’s the best way to evaluate your marketing efforts?

On May 3, at M3 • Marketing Minds Meet, we’re joining a group of kindred spirits to compare notes on marketing in today’s economy and how to make sure your business, non profit or agency remains relevant.

Professionals in design, public relations, social media, event planning, market research, videography and intellectual property will contribute to the conversation – Brian Ferrell, CMP from factor 110; Bill Shapard from Shapard Research; Susan Hardy Brooks from Schnake Turnbo & Frank PR; Mike Koehler from Smirk New Media; Caleb Germany from Created By Agent; Julianna Deligans from Hall Estill and, of course, yours truly, Sarah Mason Sears from S Design.

Topics up for discussion include the evolution of branding, the role of collaboration in our industry and best practices in marketing your brand.

We’ve learned at S Design that when it comes to effective marketing, there really is strength in numbers. And we can’t wait to exchange ideas, energy and inspiration at M3.

We hope you’ll be part of the dialog on May 3. Online registration is now open.

You can also help shape the discussion by sharing questions and topics you’d like covered at M3 before the event. Go ahead and start picking our brains on Facebook or send us an email at info@sdesigninc.com and we’ll continue the conversation on May 3.

Building Your Brand Through Social Media.
Every touchpoint with your audience influences their perception of your brand. This includes your social media! In fact, social media now needs to be a solid part of any marketing and communications plan you have. The growth of use shows it’s not going away. Learn from our guest speaker and social media aficionado Mike Koehler how to engage your customers, supplement your marketing strategies and make lots and lots of new “friends” through facebook, twitter, google+, pinterest and more.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The event is $20. A light lunch will be served.

Space is limited and by reservation only. You can reserve and pay for your spot online here.

Please RSVP by Monday, March 26 at 3 p.m.

3120 West Britton Road, Suite S
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120
download a map

In honor of Valentine’s day, we have created a short cheat sheet on how to spark your relationship with your brand. Download and let the world know you Love Your Brand.

Here’s S Design’s Top 10 Ways to Care for Your Brand in the spirit of love and Valentine’s Day.

Top 10 Ways to Care for Your Brand

1  audit yourself; ensure you are who you say you are.

2  conduct market research; ensure they agree you are who you say you are.

3  create a positioning statement to guide your message and communications, both internal and external.

4  create a standards guide; make it required reading for all employees.

5  designate a brand champion to monitor your brand standards in use.

6  pick a typeface and stick with it, externally and internally. make sure your body copy typeface is readable and professional (to your audience).

7  know your Pantone color. you can update your secondary color palette every year; your main color should be consistent.

8  be wary of boredom. you see your message and branded materials every day. the majority of your audience does not. if you change something, make sure it needs to be changed; if you aren’t consistent, you won’t be remembered.

9  police your logo. if it is being applied to anything, make sure the one person in the company who is championing your brand has seen and approved. if it is changed, stretched, unreadable or badly reproduced, don’t shrug it off. stick up for your logo and stick up for your company.

10 outline your goals each year and make a marketing plan. then be strategic in how you spend your  money, and measure your results to make sure you are reaching your audience.

It’s important to remember that these tips are just “acts” that can help you maintain your authenticity — in the end, you’re not your pantone color, you’re the excitement you bring to the table, but the pantone color helps people remember that you bring that excitement each time they interact with you.

Like S Design on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and check out the hashtag #loveyourbrand for more fun links and observations.

Love is in the the air this Valentine’s day. Why not celebrate with a little brand love? Download one of our custom-designed desktop wallpapers and let the world know you Love Your Brand.

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Instructions

PC:
Click on the screen size that best fits your desktop, wait for the photo to load and then right click on the photo and set as wallpaper/background.

Mac:
Click on the screen size that best fits your desktop then hold on the image. Save to your hard drive. In your Desktop Pictures control panel, click “Select Picture” and choose this image. Click “Set Desktop.”

By downloading any of the files on this page, you agree that the images are for personal use only and will not be used for reproduction or resale.

Mazaheri Law Firm offers legal services and representation in the areas of employment, immigration, family law and bankruptcy. The firm is multi-ethnic and bilingual, and is well-regarded for their knowledge in a wide range of legal issues and their client-centered, compassionate approach. Consequently, Mazaheri’s services are beneficial to diverse groups of people.

The mark for Mazaheri needed to be professional, classic and authoritative, yet also very approachable. It was also important to communicate diversity—found in the areas of practice, the client base and the lawyers themselves—without focusing on any specific practice area.

The Mazaheri mark is the combination of a condor and a stylized M. The Andean condor, the national symbol of Colombia, as well as many other South American countries, is known as the eternal bird, symbolizing liberty, sovereignty and power. In the M shape, it simultaneously pushes itself to greater heights while enfolding its enormous wings (10-foot wingspan!) to shelter and shield those less powerful. The use of the condor applies specifically to Mazaheri’s diverse background and celebrates the principal’s own cultural heritage. Simultaneously, the condor emphasizes the firm’s formidable strength as a bird of prey, as well as its unbending compassion as a symbol for shelter and protection.

With such a unique and personalized mark, the name of the Mazaheri Law Firm carries with it the power and mystique of the Andean condor.

Custom Holiday Desktop Wallpaper

We all spend a lot of time in front of our computers. Why shouldn’t your holiday begin there? Beautify your screen this holiday season with free custom-designed desktop wallpaper.

640 x 960 (iPhone 4)
1024 x 1024 (iPad)
1024 x 768
1280 x 800
1280 x 1024
1440 x 900
1600 x 1024
1680 x 1050
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1200

Instructions
PC:
Click on the screen size that best fits your desktop, wait for photo load and then right click on the photo and set as wallpaper/background.

Mac:
Click on the Screen size that best fits your desktop then hold on the image. Save to your hard drive. In your Desktop Pictures control panel, click “Select Picture” and choose this image. Click “Set Desktop.”

Custom Holiday Gift Tags

What present would be complete without matching gift tags. Download and cut out these custom-designed holiday gift tags to put the finishing touch on your presents this year. We recommend printing these on cardstock for the best results.

Custom Holiday Gift Tags

Custom Holiday Giftwrap

We don’t want your gifts to be left out in the cold. Here is a custom-designed gift wrap for you to download and print out to make your holiday more beautiful

Custom Holiday Giftwrap

By downloading any of the files on this page, you agree that the images are for personal use only and wiill not be used for reproduction or resale.

Please join us at S Design Inc. for a roundtable discussion:

Growing Your Business with Email Marketing
Every touchpoint with your audience influences their perception of your brand. This includes your email marketing. Learn how to engage your customers, implement your marketing strategies and much, much more.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The event is $20. A light lunch will be served.

Space is limited and by reservation only. You can reserve and pay for your spot online here.

Please RSVP by Monday, January 23 at 3 p.m.

3120 West Britton Road, Suite S
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120
download a map

640 x 960 (iPhone 4)
1024 x 1024 (iPad)
1024 x 768
1280 x 800
1280 x 1024
1440 x 900
1600 x 1024
1680 x 1050
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1200

Instructions

PC:
Click on the screen size that best fits your desktop, wait for the photo to load and then right click on the photo and set as wallpaper/background.

Mac:
Click on the screen size that best fits your desktop then hold on the image. Save to your hard drive. In your Desktop Pictures control panel, click “Select Picture” and choose this image. Click “Set Desktop.”

By downloading any of the files on this page, you agree that the images are for personal use only and will not be used for reproduction or resale.

What present would be complete without matching gift tags. Download and cut out these custom-designed holiday gift tags to put the finishing touches on your presents this year. We recommend printing these on cardstock for the best results.

Custom Holiday Gift Tags

By downloading any of the files on this page, you agree that the images are for personal use only and will not be used for reproduction or resale.