Ramon's Blog: Evolve or Die

Need a Kickstart?

 

You learn something new everyday. Yesterday, I found out about Kickstarter, which pegs itself as the “world’s largest funding platform for creative projects” while meeting over coffee with one of my long-time clients and former co-workers, Jeff Ambroziak. Jeff’s the inventor of the Ambroziak Infinite Perspective Projection (AIPP) which is what he uses to create 3D maps called PopView Maps.

Jeff and I both used to work for Jay Walker at Stamford-based idea laboratory Walker Digital, and before his Walker days, Jeff had already published a book of 3D maps called Infinite Perspectives. Now in our post-Walker Digital days, we both found ourselves coming together to work on the next evolution in his 3DMap Technology: developing “National Geographic” style 3D maps that folded down and contained colorful collages, and plenty of small nuggets of trivia and interesting information. I’ve designed these types of maps for Jeff in many different forms, for science, for travel, as postcards and as posters.

 

Here's a sample of a Mars poster we worked on together:

Here is an actual Ambroziak 3D PopView map of the Yosemite Valley (you’ll need to put on some 3D glasses):

 

 

Recently, Jeff’s maps were on display at the Underline Gallery in NYC and the large-scale 3D framed prints were available for sale. The show was called “Infinite Perspectives: Places I’ll Remember.  Here’s the link to the Press Release:

 

http://www.underlinegallery.com/exhibitions/infinite-perspectives/infinite-perspectives-press-release/

 

Back to our meeting. Yesterday,  Jeff and I met about kicking off his next project: a 3D map of the moon. This is where Kickstarter ‘kicks’ in.

 

Jeff explained that he had recently launched a Kickstarter project to fund the printing of a full-resolution, two-sided “National Geographic-style” 3-D moon map. "Kick-who?" I had no idea who Kickstarter was at this point, nor had I heard of it.

 

Similar to last week’s blog about Snaptags, I was learning about new technology via my clients.

 

What is Kickstarter? (from Kickstarter.com)

Kickstarter is the world's largest funding platform for creative projects. Every week, tens of thousands of amazing people pledge millions of dollars to projects from the worlds of music, film, art, technology, design, food, publishing and other creative fields.

A new form of commerce and patronage. This is not about investment or lending. Project creators keep 100% ownership and control over their work. Instead, they offer products and experiences that are unique to each project.

All or nothing funding. On Kickstarter, a project must reach its funding goal before time runs out or no money changes hands. Why? It protects everyone involved. Creators aren’t expected to develop their project without necessary funds, and it allows anyone to test concepts without risk.

Each and every project is the independent creation of someone like you. Projects are big and small, serious and whimsical, traditional and experimental. They’re inspiring, entertaining and unbelievably diverse. We hope you agree... Welcome to Kickstarter!

 

Pretty cool isn’t it?  If you are not an entrepreneur or in the market to kick off a project, you can still spend time on Kickstarter ‘discovering’ that new great creative project.

 

Here are some sample Kickstarter projects:

http://www.kickstarter.com/discover

 

Jeff started out with a modest goal of $5k to fund this new 3D Moon Map project. He is up to $17k and the pot is still growing. There are still 5 days left. Check it out (and make sure you watch the video):

 http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1651739037/popview-3d-moon-map

 

 Jeff Ambroziak and PopView Maps in Wired Magazine

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/02/3d-moon-map/

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/tag/perception/

 

I think you’d agree that this funding option is one worth 'kicking' around a bit as you develop that next new big idea. 

 

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Ramon has over 19 years of experience in award-winning, market-proven, print collateral, marketing material, iphone/ipad app and website design specializing in corporate identity and branding. Ramon’s passion for entrepreneurial design was borne out of 10 years as Creative Director for Jay Walker at Walker Digital, the Stamford based idea laboratory and business incubator holding over 300 US Patents. Ramon served as Senior Art Director on the start-up launch team behind Priceline.com, a Walker company and invention. Most recently, Ramon's logo and identity work was selected to be published in "Typography and Enclosures" the fourth book in the Master Library series by LogoLounge.

Need help with your brand identity or want to overhaul your existing brand? Contact: ramon@peraltadesign.com

 

Follow Ramon on Twitter @Peralta_Design

 

Let us know what you think about Kickstarter as a funding option for your new business.

 

Oh Snap!

It’s no secret.  I’m not a fan of QR Codes. I’m convinced these hideous square monstrosities are merely a passing fad, a marketing gimmick used to make clients appear to be tech-savvy or on the cutting edge. My main gripe with them has always been that they simply don’t work. Let me clarify, they don’t work the way they should… yet. Not only are they terrible to work with, the ugly little black boxes are supposed to be magically scanned by your smart phones (read: you’re supposed to take a photo of it with your phone camera) and then when you run the scan through a QR code reader (which you have to download and install) it will then magically take you to a URL (which you could have typed 10 times into your web browser by now). OK, I need to keep the energy positive and by now you know I’m not a fan.

 

That said, I still have clients that insist on appearing tech-savvy and cutting edge that request I use them. Don’t get me wrong, there are some clever ways to use QR codes, I just can’t think of any right now. I did see a Youtube video once of rapper Lupe Fiasco’s marketing experiment where he projected a QR code onto the side of a building. Fans flocked to it like zombies and snapped pictures of it. Once scanned, the QR codes pointed fans to a free album download. I thought to myself, OK, that is pretty cool. Unfortunately, when I see QR codes in printed material, I don’t get the same reaction.

 

This week I had a client reach out to me for some marketing materials. They were attending several shows throughout Europe, and they wanted some swag to hand out. Brochures, folders, flyers, etc. and they wanted me to place SnapTags and QR codes on them.

 

SnapWho? I have to admit that I hadn’t heard of SnapTags until I was tasked with using them, and of course I quickly Googled what it was and started reading up on the little gizmo.

 

SnapTag where have you been all my life? This little invention just may be what I’ve been waiting for: that new technology that will make the QR code disappear. Here’s an example of what a SnapTag looks like. Let me know when you find it:

 

 

 

OK when you’re done checking out Rihanna, look in the lower right hand corner. That little circle with the Facebook logo in it is a SnapTag. Pretty cool.

 

What is a SnapTag?

 

In a nutshell, SnapTag is a Unique Code Ring Technology. It’s also a patented technology (which means its not FREE). The guys at Denver, CO based SpyderLynk have invented this nifty little new and improved “QR code on steroids” that incorporates your logo. This makes it not only beautiful to look at but also serves as a branding tool.

 

Here’s an infographic by SpyderLynk that explains it:

 

 

Jackpot! I thought I had found just what I had been looking for. So logically, like I’ve done with QR codes, I tried finding an online resource for generating one. I couldn’t. I spent loads of time on SpyderLynk’s website and couldn’t find a way to purchase one, or generate one either. I’ve put in an email to them to find out what the deal is. If there is a cost associated with it, or if I need start a campaign, I need to know so I can share the info with my client. Until that happens, I’m on a deadline, so yes, unfortunately that means that I’ll have no choice but to roll with the QR code.

 

QR Codes:

Pros: Free

Cons: Ugly

 

SnapTags:

Pros: Pretty

Cons: Not Free

 

The difference here is that SpyderLynk’s technology is patented. It’s proprietary so only they control it (and charge for it) for now. When Denso Wave invented the QR Code to track vehicle auto parts for Toyota back in 1994, they didn’t enforce the patent so everyone has been able to create their own QR generating and reading software.

 

Despite the fact that QR codes have been around for awhile they still don’t really work right. They are still clunky and ugly IMHO. SpyderLynk is a small startup and even though they aren’t going to make the QR code extinct overnight, I already feel like they have improved upon this technology in leaps and bounds. It really is just a matter of time before QR Codes disappear altogether (fingers-crossed). I can’t wait to start using them because they not only have actual marketing functions, but they look really good while doing it.

 

Still don’t know much about SnapTags? You should. Snap-Snap.

 

Do you agree that SnapTags are the “next big thing” ? Since QR Codes are free to use and generate, how do you feel about having to pay for the technology to use SnapTags for your own usage? 

 

 

Resources and other articles about SnapTags

 

SnapTags: How They Work:

http://www.spyderlynk.com/snaptag/how-it-works/

 

Chikodi Chima also blogged about SnapTags back in October of 2011

http://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/09/02/could-social-snap-tags-ever-take-on-the-ugly-qr-code/

 

Publishers Weekly article on SnapTags

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/retailing/article/49922-snaptags-push-scanning-technology-forward.html

 

SnapTags: Will they kill QR Codes:

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2011/10/snaptags-will-they-kill-qr-codes/

 

 

Ramon has over 19 years of experience in award-winning, market-proven, print collateral, marketing material, iphone/ipad app and website design specializing in corporate identity and branding. Ramon’s passion for entrepreneurial design was borne out of 10 years as Creative Director for Jay Walker at Walker Digital, the Stamford based idea laboratory and business incubator holding over 300 US Patents. Ramon served as Senior Art Director on the start-up launch team behind Priceline.com, a Walker company and invention. Most recently, Ramon's logo and identity work was selected to be published in "Typography and Enclosures" the fourth book in the Master Library series by LogoLounge.

Need help with your brand identity or want to overhaul your existing brand? Contact: ramon@peraltadesign.com

 

Follow Ramon on Twitter @Peralta_Design

 

 

Why I STILL Love What I Do

 

Two years ago I was asked to write a blog entry for a website called Business Life Stories. The concept behind this website, which was started by a friend and business partner was best explained by it’s tagline: “Why I Love What I do” and more stories from entrepreneurs, startups and business people.’

 

For a second I thought of simply reposting that blog-post as a way to get out of writing a new one, but despite the fact that this has been an extremely busy week, I still felt I owe it to the handful of those brave souls who are following my blog, to write a new post.

 

For those curious as to what I wrote 2 years ago, on this very topic, from the very same golf course, during this very same time of year. Click here:

http://whyilovewhatido.com/Biz/tag/ramon-peralta/

 

There is plenty of good news to share regarding this update:

1. I shot much better golf (My handicap is lower)
2. My business has grown dramatically over the last 2 years
3. The weather was still perfect this time around
4. I still ended up working in the hotel room while I was there
5. The white slacks in this photo still fit 2 years later

 

Yes, #4. I was still working from Paradise. Folks still find it hard to believe that I would work while taking some time off. This of course is a business trip, an annual golf outing organized by one of my best clients, so I always pack my MacBook Pro. Even though this time around, I did leave behind staff manning the fort, running calls and carrying on with business as usual, I did prepare to work while I was in the “Ponce, Puerto Rico” office.

 

This is why I STILL love what I do.

 

As soon as I touched down in sunny San Juan Puerto Rico, I checked my email (as I do practically every 20 minutes). One of the emails was from a long-time friend and former co-worker from Walker Digital, none other than former editor at Business Week and author of Webonomics, Juice, The Last Lone Inventor, and most recently “Finding Oz’, who most often writes about innovation. Evan was now working at Innosight.com a global innovation and strategy consulting firm.

 

www.Innosight.com

 

Evan wanted to know if I had the bandwith to tackle a new design project. The subject line of his email read: “Design project for Innosight – available?” My answer: of course. Next step was to set up a quick call and with the time difference in my favor, we set up a conference call for that night. The project was small, initially: to design a printable version of the website into the form of a newsletter. The end product would be a PDF complete with articles, photos and links. The task was to make it consistent with the look of their new website. After taking a peek at what they were using as a newsletter, a very bland, dry Word document that looked like an 8^th grade term paper, I assured him that not only was I up for the task, but that I’d have a first draft by Friday.

 

Now keep in mind, this wouldn’t be anything to talk about if I were stateside. It’d be another run of the mill project. But the fact is that my Ponce office is ocean view and the tropical breezes are blowing through my sliding balcony doors. The reaction I got from most people was “Weren’t you upset that you had to work?”. I guess I’m wired differently, I couldn’t have been happier. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for. Evan and I worked closely together at Walker Digital, and we’d been out a few times golfing,  and have had many lunches together. I helped Evan during the launch of his book Finding Oz, designing a series of posters to help promote the old fashion movie screenings of the Wizard of Oz that he held in major cities across the country (NYC, Chicago, San Fran) as a way to promote his book by leading a discussion about the movie itself. All that is well and good, but it is his new gig at Innosight that I was really excited about. We are both huge fans of innovation and technology and for me this also represented another opportunity to work with not only Evan but a new project with a new client. It was a win-win. I was grateful for the opportunity so I took it and delivered. I just don't know any other way.

 

That night we first spoke was Tuesday. By Wednesday night Evan had sent me all the assets, photos and files that I needed to start designing. By Thursday night, I had a first draft that I fired off at Evan which he shared with the Chief Marketing Officer at Innosight. During the days, I was playing between 27-36 holes of golf. My daily routine was:

 

1. Wake up
2. Eat Breakfast
3. Golf
4. Have Lunch (1 piece of Flan per day)
5. Golf (best scores were 85 & 86)
6. Hit the Gym (see #4)
7. Have Dinner
8. Hit the Boardwalk in Ponce (La Guancha) for “Café con Leche”
9. Work in my hotel room
10. Repeat

 

It worked well because each day I became progressively more tired, so that by Saturday night, I was so exhausted that I just passed out and did not hear my brother-in-law’s excessively loud snoring at all. I was in peace. By completing the project (at least the first draft) by Thursday night, I was able to give myself Friday night off so we were able to hang out and enjoy Ponce a bit. I even hit the hotel casino and lost a few bucks on a strange version of Blackjack and the infamous $2 Roulette wheel.

 

The project continued for the following week (quick projects are seldom quick) and now it can be seen on their website and is available for download here:

 

http://innosight.com/innovation-resources/strategy-innovation/index.cfm

 

Click “Download the PDF” in the lower right corner.

 

So yes, I still love what I do.

 

I get to mentor young design talent. I get to travel and play golf. I get to work  with very cool, interesting people. I get to do what I love, which is to design and I get to work anywhere where there is an internet connection, and hopefully a nice tropical breeze and a Mango smoothie.

 

Life is good.

 

------

 

Visit our website at www.peraltadesign.com

Need help with your brand identity or want to overhaul your existing brand? Contact: ramon@peraltadesign.com

 

Flying the Coop: Mentoring an Intern

It started out like a regular day in the office: crazy busy and the phone was ringing off the hook. After the usual morning briefing, everyone had their marching orders and we broke out into different directions tackling the priorities at hand.

At one point, on random restroom break, my intern happened to say those five words that every manager has to hear once in while: “Can we talk for a minute?”

 

“Sure,” I replied and we walked into our office business lounge, a small private suite with soft leather chairs and dim lighting. Perfect for courting new clients and having private conversations with your employees. When you are self-employed, you wear many hats, this time I had to wear my Human Resources hat.

 

Sheepishly, but with direct eye contact he says, “I’m going to be leaving soon, in fact, the 20^th is my last day. I've accepted a full-time position as a Jr. Art Director." The day had finally come, my intern had found a full-time job at a larger agency and he was leaving my firm. He was noticeably very nervous, not sure how I would react, and whether or not the timing was right. Dealing with an intern comes with a heavy burden of responsibility. I’m basically his first boss, his first encounter with real-world structure since graduating college. How I handled this (and every other situation with him) would have a long-lasting effect on who he will develop into as a professional.

 

My reaction was one of a typical proud parent: holding back the emotions (and the selfishness) while expressing how proud and happy I was for him. Turns out the firm that he is leaving to is a client of my firm, a larger agency in lower Fairfield County whom we've done contract work for. A reputable place, and not one that is easy to get into. I was noticably proud and knew that the portfolio of work we had helped him develop and brands we had worked on also helped him secure this new position. I name-dropped a few people that I know still work at his new firm and wished him the best. The time had come for him to fly the coop.

 It’s always scary to try something new, or leave the familiar for the unfamiliar. I gave him a lot of credit for taking the plunge and accepting the position, which was full-time as opposed to what I could offer him. I remember the butterflies you get walking into a new office full of strangers, with every fiber in you determined to do your best work, careful not to make any mistakes. This became yet another opportunity to mentor. I was able to mentor him even as he was giving me his ‘2 week’s notice’.

 

What is a mentor?

According to L. Rose Hollister, “A mentor affects the professional life of a protege by fostering insight, identifying needed knowledge, and expanding growth opportunities. This assistance supplements the coaching an individual already receives from his or her supervisor. Traditionally, the mentoring relationship consists of an experienced executive providing guidance and advice to an associate with less experience. The associate is looking to move up the career ladder, usually by learning from someone who is successful and well respected.”

 

Flying the Coop

Will I miss him? Of course. But only when I think selfishly. When I think of the time it took for him to learn ‘our system’, or how I will have to (at least temporarily) handle the long active project matrix, or how we’ll have to get our own lunches every Wednesday, then yes I do miss him and feel a sense of loss. Wing night out with the printer and the team will also be missing one of the guys. Yes, it is bittersweet, but only when I think selfishly. If I think of the intern, of what the original plan was all about, then I’m actually happy for him. I actually feel like I did my part to make the world a beter place.  When he first arrived, he was very shy what made things easier was that he took criticism well and had a good attitude. That made up for the time it often took to get tasks completed. He reminded me to be patient and to be a better teacher. I knew that the plan was to mentor him and prepare him for a full time job in the design field. I let him listen in on client calls, he took creative direction and yes, he often did grunt work. But that is all a part of earning your stripes in the business. He had some good times and wasn’t treated any differently from anyone else. He joined the company for a Holiday Dinner with one of our largest clients and learned how to carry conversation with total strangers which in itself is a lost art.

I encourage every small business owner or entrepreneur to give a young college graduate the opportunity to intern. Let them learn first hand how to be professional, how to meet deadlines, how to speak with clients and how to close deals. There’s so much more to survival than what they teach you in college. Teach them to work hard, but to have fun and that yes, its possible to do both.  In exchange, you’ll be able to staff up your firm,  and take some of the load off of your desk at a good price point. I told him from day one that because of his skill level, the internship would be a paid one. I promised him that I wouldn’t exploit his talents and that I’d try and throw as many creative projects his was as possible so that he could display his creativity while under my watch.

 

Now its time for him to fly. I’m sure he will do well, and I look forward to bringing a new intern on board, and helping them to get on their feet professionally and provide that guidance that our young people need. Its my way of giving back, and it comes in handy when you need someone to run out and pick up lunch for the crew!

 

RESOURCES

 

The Benefits of a Being a Mentor

http://www.ache.org/newclub/CAREER/MentorArticles/Benefits.cfm

 

The Benefits of a Graphic Design Internship:

http://www.graphicdesigninternship.net/benefits_of_a_graphic_design_internship.html

 

Need help with your brand identity or want to overhaul your existing brand? Contact:ramon@peraltadesign.com

 

 

 

 

Pinterested yet? Not really.

I was so ready to start blogging about how little interest I had in Pinterest, the latest social media site generating buzz around the web, until I started actually using it. Needless to say, if you were looking for another way to be even less productive during your work day, then you’ve come to the right place. Before I knew it, I was ‘pinning’ photos up to my ‘boards’ and having so much fun doing it, particularly since I was getting notified that people were already ‘re-pinning’ my photos seconds after I had posted them. But who are these people? These people, unlike (some) of your Facebook friends are complete strangers. Not sure how any of this works? Not sure why you should bother with it? I felt the same way.

 

Here’s a brief rundown of how Pinterest works pulled right from their website:

Pinterest in a Virtual Pinboard

Virtual Pinboard? I don’t even know what an actual pinboard is, is that like a ‘cork-board’? Yes – Except my real pinboards usually have a few photos, receipts, travel itineraries and random sporting event or broadway show tickets - and nobody would want to look at it. Here's what Pinterest says about itself:

 Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.

 

NOTE: f this all sounds a little ‘feminine’ to you, you’re right. 70% of the ‘pinners’ on Pinterest are women.

  

A few weeks back, I was invited to check out Pinterest by a client who happens to be female. She was raving about it and how great it is and yadda yadda so being that I write a blog about social media, design and entrepreneurship, checking it out seemed like the logical thing to do.

 

My first experience with it was kind of weird and confusing. Like a typical guy, I didn’t read the instruction manual first. I navigated my way around and learned that in order for me to “Pin” anything, I would have to create a “Board”. The set up assistant is very easy, it has a ton of default interests such as “Houses, Sports, Motorcycles and Cars, Food, Places You Want to Visit,” etc. etc. You begin by selecting which of those areas interest you. Then Pinterest creates boards for you based on your selections.

 

Since my original interest in Pinterest was solely focused on how I could monetize Pinterest from a brand perspective and get people “Pinterested” in my design company, the first board I created was for my company Peralta Design. The first photo that I pinned was my company logo. Then I disappeared. Literally, I didn’t know what else to do with Pinterest and was unpinterested (ok last time I’ll use that) and didn’t come back to the site for several weeks.

 

I just didn’t get it. Even today, after going back to it a second time, to really give it a shot before I completely slammed how pointless it was on my blog, I decided to start populating some of my boards with some REAL photos. Some photos of places I’ve traveled and golf courses I’ve played at, and even a couple of my French Bulldog. Going back and forth from my Photo album and the Pinterest user interface was very time consuming. I uploaded about 40 images and it took me a good hour to complete that process. Too much time to kill in my book. Even still, I began to understand that this was another unique way to connect with people. The 'aha' moment.

 

Thanks to my gigantic 27” iMac screen, I was able to keep an eye on my Mail inbox while I was “pinning” away like a madman. Almost immediately after each pin, I was getting notified that someone was ‘re-pinning’ or sharing my images.  Again, the novelty with Pinterest is that these are complete strangers. I still haven’t dug deep enough into the inner workings to determine what privacy settings there are, if any. It also appears that this type of activity is best left for rather generic photos, and not anything too personal.

 

There are two options for pinning:

1. Add a Pin
2. Upload a Pin

 

When you “Add a Pin” you are asked to enter a URL (web address) and Pinterest will automatically pull all the images from that website. For example, I went to Callaway Golf’s website and pulled a photo of Phil Mickelson and titled it “Lefty”. This seems to be the more popular or common way that Pinterest is used. I spent way too much time uploading my photos of the Eiffel Tower and the Hogwart’s School in Orlando before realizing that it probably wasn’t the most efficient way to go about this. I was actually “Uploading Pins” instead of “Adding Pins”.

 

“Uploading Pins” allows you to choose and image from your hard drive or desktop right onto your Pinboard. Again, these photos are best left to be more on the generic side, because anyone can browse and share your photos. I had the most fun with Giants Superbowl photos because they were almost immediately ‘shared’ and ‘liked’ by other “Pinners”.

 

So what can Pinterest do for my business?

 

That’s the real question. Mashable recently posted an article called Pinterest for Brands: 5 Hot Tips by Lauren Drell.

Here’s a quick rundown and excerpts from that article:

 1.    Promote a Lifestyle

“…pin images that capture a lifestyle and/or the essence of your brand.” Check out what other brands are doing on Pinterest for example: Gap is one of the early-adopters. See what they are doing on Pinterest and get inspired.

 

2. Use it like a Focus Group “ Look at the pinners who follow your brand — see what they’re pinning and who else they’re following.”

 

3. Crowdsource  “You can ask fans to pin pictures of themselves with their favorite product of yours and tag you, and then you can easily repin those photos onto a VIP board”

 

4 . Run Contests “Since the site is relatively new, there aren’t that many case studies, but one company recently did a particularly good job harnessing the power of Pinterest. From December 14 through 21, Land’s End Canvas‘s “Pin It To Win It” campaign asked users to create a Pin It To Win It pinboard (in the women’s or men’s apparel categories) and pin 10 to 20 images from the Land’s End site or repin them from the Land’s End Pinterest page.”

 

5. Inspire your Team “There are a lot of inspiring things on the web, and you can create a sort of mood board for your company, pinning things that are relevant, interesting or inspiring to you brand and your team.”

 

A few months back I wrote a blog encouraging businesses to get on Google+ , even though the majority of people are still on Facebook. I said it was like getting to the party early, getting familiar with the lay of the land, and making sure you have a good spot to hang out at. The same advice goes for Pinterest, its so early that you can get in and make mistakes and no one will be the wiser. I’m still trying to really figure it out myself and more importantly get to better understand the benefits from a branding perspective.

Stay tuned because as I learn more, I will share more. One thing is for sure, if you run a company that appeals to women, brides in particular, you better get on this up and coming social network because you’ll definitely have a captive audience.

 

Hopefully this has peaked your Pinterest!

 

 

Resources:

Pinterest for Brands: 5 Hot Tips

http://mashable.com/2012/01/19/pinterest-brands/

 

What is Pinterest?

http://pinterest.com/about/

 

Pinterest Works Better Than Google+

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/pinterest_works_better_than_google.php

 

Always Be Closing: The Scope of Work

I’m a huge fan of Glengarry Glen Ross. In fact, it’s a requirement that anyone who works at my firm must watch it at least a dozen times. Being able to fire off quotes from the movie, especially Alec Baldwin’s motivational speech (probably his best performance ever) where he explains the A-B-Cs of selling real estate: Always Be Closing.  “Get them to sign on the line which is DOTTED! Do you hear me you… (well we can censor the rest, but you get the idea).

 

This is Part Two in a series designed to help creatives and freelancers better communicate with their clients and more importantly be successful at closing the deal.  In my last posting, we covered the ins and outs of The Almighty Creative Brief.  That fabled document that helps you and the client get on the same page regarding where the client is today and where you will take them as a result of your creative work or promotional campaign. It is the first step in gathering and preparing the information you will need to begin the project and execute it successfully. It also is a step toward locking in the deal and for me, an opportunity to engage with the client and get them to invest in the project.

 

Well, what do you do once the client has filled out the Creative Questionnaire and you have what you need for a Creative Brief? What’s next? You take the information that you have received from the client and you turn it into a Scope of Work. Close the deal. Here's how:

 

What exactly is a Scope of Work (SOW) and what are the benefits of having one?

 

A statement of work (SOW) is a formal document that captures and defines the work activities, deliverables and timeline a vendor will execute against in performance of specified work for a client. Detailed requirements and pricing are usually included in the Statement Of Work, along with standard regulatory and governance terms and conditions. – Wikipedia

 

Here’s what a sample Scope of Work Cover Page looks like:

 

 

Cover Page should include:
• Client Logo

• Title of project

• Date

• Contact Information

 

Page 2: Cover Letter (for new customers).

 

I don’t usually include a cover letter for return/repeat customers. The reason I suggest you include a cover letter for new client is that it sets the tone with how professional the experience is going to be with between the client and your firm. It also thanks them for meeting with you, and serves as a recap for how the project will be executed. A digital signature is a nice touch.

 

Page 3: Table of Contents

 

Here is where you list the sections of the Scope of Work in case you are going through the SOW on a conference call, it will be helpful to know what’s on which page.  I produce our SOWs in Microsoft Word and it automatically generates a ToC for you.

 

Page 4: Deliverables  (Very Important)

 

Depending on how many deliverables the project calls for, this is where you clearly outline what you are promising. Be as specific as possible! Don’t include anything that you don’t plan on delivering. If you are building a 5 page website, make sure you specify that. If you are promising 2 rounds of revisions, make sure you specify that. I can’t reiterate that enough.

 

Also, we’ve had ‘sneaky’ clients that have tried to ask us to do more than what was originally outlined in the SOW. When those requests come in, you can easily refer to your SOW document and verify whether or not it was included in your proposal. Additionally (we’ll get to it soon) make sure the client signs the SOW so that if those requests come in that are beyond what you’ve agreed upon, you will have the ability to bill additional hours for a Change Order, (which is different from a revision). I often find that when I tell a client that what they are asking for is a Change Order, and that the meter is running, they usually limit the amount of comments. This section must be done with care as it can protect you from getting ripped off, and vice versa: from a client perspective, they should be reading carefully to make sure that they are getting everything they are paying for.

 

I also often include a time estimate under each deliverable to help put some parameters around the project. These time estimates will appear later in the Cost Summary page.

 

 

A Deliverables page looks like this:

 

 

 

 

 

Page 5: Who We Are

 

This is the page where you list out who the members of your team are. You should include a mini-bio blurb on each team member that will be working on the project.  You can start the page with an overview about yourself, your company or your team. Then list individuals and their work experience. Including URLs for samples is especially helpful if you are including web design in your proposal.

 

Page 6: Project Timeline and Cost Summary

 

I can hear Alec Baldwin screaming “Always Be Closing… Get them to sign on the line which is dotted!” as I begin to share about this section. This is the most important part of the SOW. This is where the SOW not only becomes a proposal, but it becomes a contract. Often times I will go back and forth with a client until the SOW is just right. Then when it is, the client can simply sign and email me a PDF. However, that is a privilege for existing clients only. New clients have to print out the SOW and mail a check for the deposit in order for my firm to start the project.

 

Some things you should include on the Project Timeline Page include:

• Project Deliverables

• Estimated Hours for each Project

• Hourly Rate and/or Project Price

• Projected Time and Cost

• Payment Schedule

 

By listing each project separately, you allow the client to view the SOW as an ala-carte menu. They get to pick and choose. A good strategy I suggest is offering a 3-tiered approach when applicable. For example, on a website project, we may price out a straight HTML job, a CMS, job or even include a Flash slideshow or some other bell and whistle. By showing what they get, and what it will cost, the client can work within their budget and realize that if they want more functionality, it will cost more. It increases your chances of closing the deal. Remember: Always Be Closing… Get them to sign on the line which is dotted.

 

Regarding the payment schedule. If it’s a repeat, regular client, I don’t often sweat the deposit (unless it’s a big project). For new clients, I always try to get 60% of a down payment up front. For long-term projects (3-months or more) I may break up the payment schedule into 3 installments.

 

Here’s what a Project Timeline and Cost Summary looks like:

 

 

 

 

 

Page 7: Terms and Conditions

 

It’s  important to realize that in most cases, the Statement of Work being agreed upon is a binding contract. This is your chance to outline and list all of your terms and conditions. There are many boilerplate terms and conditions contracts available online. Make sure you custom tailor it to your needs.

 

Some items that are covered in the Terms and Conditions section are:

• Ownership of Artwork (important)

• Production Schedule

• Third Party Shipping

• Proofing of Final Project

• Rejection/Cancellation of Project

• Confidentiality

• Payment and Terms

• Acceptance of Agreement

 

Whether you are just starting out or have been freelancing for awhile, its important to be professional in all of your business dealings.  If you’ve been around for any length of time, you may have been burnt before. I’ll admit it. I have been burned over promises of equity, over payment when ‘the funding comes in’ and other nonsense. I’ve heard it all. The purpose of implementing and requiring a Creative Questionnaire and Scope of Work in all your business dealings, whether they be simple logo designs, video projects or large scale web development jobs is paramount to your survival as a designer or as an entrepreneur or as a freelancer. Like an operating agreement in an LLC partnership, you may be friends one day, and not the next. Your contract may be the only thing protecting you from losing your shirt.

 

Nino Brown said it best in New Jack City, “ Always business, never personal”.

 

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statement_of_work

 

Alec Baldwin’s Best Performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-AXTx4PcKI

 

Ramon Peralta is founder of peraltadesign.com and shares opinion, insight and experience on navigating social media, networking, entrepreneurship, tech start-ups, corporate identity/logo and web design...with a dash of optimism.

 

He can be reached at ramon@peraltadesign.com 

 

The Almighty Creative Brief

2012 is already shaping up to be another banner year of exciting projects and growth. Although January is historically a slow time of year, the phone has been ringing off the hook, emails have been flying in and new project proposals are flying out the door. Its important to not get so caught up in your daily grind that you forget to prospect.  To grow your business you must always keep the hopper full and you must constantly reach out to engage with new potential customers.

 

A typical referral will read that “someone needs a website” or it may be that someone is finally launching a business and “needs a logo”.  A new startup may finally have gathered up the funding to begin developing its corporate identity or a business is ready to take their existing branding to the next level and do an entire logo redesign and a full website overhaul. The next step is that I meet with the prospective client in person, or contact them via email or phone. Usually their next question is “what do you charge?” Or “how much am I looking at here?”

 

At this point, my answer is that first thing they need to do to get the ball rolling is fill out a Creative Brief. What I'll actually be sending them is a series of questions. I’ll customize the questionnaire with their name, today’s date, and my contact information. I’ll email the Word doc to them and wait to get it back. For less tech-savvy clients, I have walked them through the brief over the phone, or in a face-to-face, but for the most part, my clients typically have no issues filling out the document and emailing it back to me. It puts the ball in their court, but also lets them know that we are about to embark on some serious business. The answers will serve as the basis for the Creative Brief for the project. The truth is that I won’t start a project without one. A good creative brief is not only vital to my agency, but its also vital to the client. It lays the groundwork and it sets the expectations for the project. It's the first step in the process.

 

A typical Creative Questionnaire for a Logo Design/Corporate Identity project looks like this:

 

1- How would you describe your company, brand or organization?

2- What are the long term goals of your company?

3- What do you want your new logo to accomplish?

4- Who are your main competitors (companies in this field)?

5- How are you different from your competitors?

6- What’s the age range of your target client base?
  Demographic? Male/Female. Young/Old. Helps in creating an overall feeling and impression of the logo. 

7- Do you have a tag line/slogan?   If so, would you like it stated along side your logo?

8- Do you have any specific imagery in mind for your logo?

9- Do you have any color preferences, or existing brand colors?

10- Do you have any colors that you do not wish to use?

11- What adjectives should best describe your logo?

12- What feeling or message do you want your logo to convey to those who view it? Who are your customers? What fields will you try to reach?

13- How do you prefer your logo to be worded or written out?

14- How would you like the typography to appear?
 Example: script, bold, light, hand drawn, custom lettering, lower-case, all caps, etc.

15- Where will you logo be used?
 Example: print, web…

16- Where will your logo primarily be used? 
If the primary usage is for the web, typically horizontal logos work best.

17- What logos appeal to you and why (please provide examples)?

 

A typical Creative Questionnaire for a Website project might include some questions like:

 

18- What websites appeal to you and why?

19- What type of functionality will your new website have? (e-commerce, brochure style, Flash intro, slideshow, etc.)

20- [If they have an existing site] Can we use your existing sitemap to price out how many pages need to be built out? Will you have more pages or less page? More functionality or less functionality?

21- Will you do your own web development and hosting?

22- What do you like about your current site? What do you dislike about it?

23- Are you interested in Social Media Marketing of your brand? (ie Facebook Fan Page, Twitter profile)

24- Deadline: when would you like to launch the website?

25- Write a brief description of what the user experience will be like. What will visitors see and be able to do when they land on your homepage?

 

Next steps:

Once we have this information from the client, we then prepare a Scope of Work document (covered in a future blog), which is basically a time/cost estimate that outlines how I propose to tackle the project, how long it will take and how much it will cost. This Scope of Work document can also serve as a contract. Once you have engaged the client in this process, you will want to close the deal as soon as possible.

A-B-C, always be closing.

 

 

Here is a great slideshow by TrueDigital that explains the process of writing your own Creative Brief:

 

http://www.slideshare.net/truedigital/how-to-write-a-creative-brief-by-true-digital

 

 

What’s a Creative Brief and Why Should You Write One

http://ebizine.com/advertising/writing-a-creative-brief/

 

I hope this helps you better communicate with your clients and  lead to much success. Unless of course they give you the old classic, "I know thats what I asked for, but its not what I want".

 

For more information, you can always reach me at ramon@peraltadesign.com

 

Be Better in 2012

There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self. Hindu Proverb

 

Be Better in 2012

 

2011 is just about over, and as I look back on what type of year this has been, where it began and where we are today, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. It has been a phenomenal year for me both personally and professionally.

Looking back,  here are some of the highlights of 2011 at Peralta Design:

 

• Grand opening of new office space in Shelton CT

• Kicked off new projects for:

    - Scholastic Books

    - AOL Kids

    - Warren Buffet’s Secret Millionaire Club

    - Goldie Hawn’s Hawn Foundation

    - By Kids For Kids

 

• New clients for 2011 included:

    - IP Navigation Group

    - Nucor Steel

    - Florida Dept of Citrus

    - Artyarns.com

     - NetLib

• We hired new staff and forged new partnerships

 

In short, my design company has grown physically and has also surpassed 2010’s gross annual revenue. 2011 was a great year and we thank all of you for your business, support and friendship!

 

From a professional standpoint, 2012 is already looking great as we are poised to launch two new websites for clients on January 3, 2012. We are starting the year with a BANG!

 

Despite the success we’ve had in 2011 and the bright future we predict in 2012, I still feel we can do better as a company, and I know for sure that I can do better as a person, on many different levels. As I look back, I see the areas where we may have fallen short and have outlined a plan of self-improvement for 2012 that will help not only help the business grow, but more importantly will help me grow as a person.

In that spirit, I wanted to share my personal goals for 2012.

Here are the Top 10 Ways to Be Better in 2012:

 1. Always Stay Positive (ASP)

I owe a lot of 2011’s success to staying positive, even when faced with negative situations. Be a part of the solution, not the problem. I’m also a firm believer in the Laws of Attraction and if you take a negative or defensive tone in your business dealings, you will not attract more business. This year I will not carry any baggage, especially when I’m wrong – in 2012 I will promptly admit it, make amends where necessary and keep it moving. Keep it positive.

Albert Einstein said: “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”

 

 2.   Negotiate Better

Be assertive and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want, or what you think your services are worth. The best contracts are win-win and imply fairness to both sides. Your clients have to feel that they are getting value, and you have to feel that you are being appreciated. If you go into a project and it doesn’t feel right, or you ‘bended’ in order to close the deal, you will end up harboring resentments towards the project, the client or both.

 

 3.   Mentor More

This year, as my business grew, my workload increased and our services expanded. That meant I had to hire talent. I also mentored a couple of interns. Over the summer, give some young college student, in my case, an aspiring graphic designer an opportunity at your firm. Our summer intern was unpaid, but we’ve also kept a paid intern in the studio year ‘round. Do we REALLY need an intern? No, but does it help alleviate the workload? Yes and No. The real purpose of having an intern around is to ‘give back’. To teach, to mentor, to help someone who is up and coming gain some professional experience in an ever-increasing competitive market. Do something good and help a young person. Know some good candidates? Send resumes our way.

 

4.   Hire for an Entry Level Position

Sounds crazy to suggest that you should hire in an economy that still encourages you to do less with more, right? But the reality is that if you have enough work for one, you have enough work for 2. The benefits of hiring help are many. You can ‘build a team’, tackle bigger projects, attract larger clients and expand your services. Start out by bringing someone in 2-3 days a week. We expect to grow the business this way in 2012.

 

5.   Promote Better

Nobody likes a showoff. This year our goal is to utilize and harness the power of social media to better engage with our clients and customers. Instead of simply posting recent works and bragging about new awards and client contracts secured, we’ll work to encourage feedback from our fan-base, more testimonials from our clients and let our client’s media coverage and success measure our effectiveness as an advertising agency. I’ll offer more tutorials, more ‘how-to’ blogs and create more informational content that can actually help while promoting our design, branding and marketing services at the same time.

 

6.   Listen Better

Often times I find myself in conversations where I am admittedly simply waiting for my chance to speak, or I blurt out something completely unrelated to the topic at hand. I have found that friends, family members, clients, and staff may in fact only want you to listen. I will work towards being “present” and “in the moment”. Another thing I’m guilty of is starting to speak before the other person has finished. I need to sit and wait my turn. In 2012 I will learn to be more patient when someone is speaking to me (and when I’m on a conference call with clients as well)!

 

7.   The Work/Family Balance

In 2011 I found myself being too busy too attend school events but able to take days off to go play golf. When I did make time to be with family or attend family related activities, it was often with the added distraction of my iPhone. I wasn’t really there 100%. I’m guilty of this at dinners, at movies, at sporting events, etc. The problem with being your own boss or being an entrepreneur is that you can get into the trap of “always working”.  An EAP article linked below states: “Balancing work and family has pay-offs for children, home relationships, and everyone’s future happiness. Recognizing this can help you keep balance in mind.” In 2012, I will keep balance in mind.

 

8.   Communicate

Recently I completely went off on a client over a misunderstanding that stemmed from an errant text message that I completely misinterpreted. Though the phone seems to be going the way of the Do-Do bird, solely relying on text messages and emails as a way to communicate will leave some very serious and potentially damaging lapses in what was meant and what was understood. In 2012 I will pick up the phone and speak or when possible meet in person, visit client’s offices or have more meetings at our offices in order to foster better communication and stronger relationships.

 

9.   Uplug

Earlier this year I blogged about how important to any business owner or entrepreneur to stay plugged in and within reach. Well for 2012 I’m going to do better about unplugging from technology. My mind already races a mile a minute and it doesn’t take much for me to be distracted with my own mental noise during any given moment. The fact that I’m constantly checking my Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and email accounts doesn’t help me connect with those closest to me. I do owe a lot of 2011’s success to the ability for clients to basically hunt me down 24/7 to the disdain of my family, that is. In 2012, I may read your email on the weekend, but it doesn’t mean that I will respond before Monday. I’m even planning a “no-technology” weekend away with my wife where I swear I will leave my iPad and iPhone behind. Good luck with that.

 

 10.  Eat Right & Exercise

Those that know me, know that by this time of year I am basically a garbage dump when it comes to what foods I put into my body. Though 2011 marked the year that I began to utilize smart phone apps like LoseIt and RunKeeper to track my fitness and weight, 2012 will be the year that I do even better with my own personal health goals. In just a few days I will be starting my annual Master Cleanser 10-day fast to detoxify myself and purge all the toxins that came along with 2011. Its an annual ritual that helps to not only clear my body, but it does wonders for my brain and my thinking in general. It marks a new year for me and a fresh start with plenty of fruits and vegetables and minimal meat intake (until Thanksgiving of course).

 

I hope that you can identify with some of these goals for 2012 and I wish you a prosperous and healthy New Year!

 

Resources:

15 Tips to Stay Positive in Negative Situations

http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/09/10/15-tips-to-stay-positive-in-negative-situations/

 

Ten Tips for Negotiating in 2012

http://www.brodow.com/Articles/NegotiatingTips.html

 

7 Powerful Tips To Becoming a Better Listener

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2011/08/7-powerful-tips-to-becoming-better.html

 

Balancing Work & Family

http://www.eap.partners.org/WorkLife/HealthyLiving/Balancing_Work_and_Family/Balancing_Work_and_Family.asp

 

Tips on Unplugging from Technology

http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2010/03/find-a-way-to-unplug-from-technology-or-how-to-escape-the-cubicle-in-your-pocket.html

 

Why Penn State Needs a New Logo

Penn State alumni have it tough.  Displaying your pride with a car sticker, a license plate frame or a sweatshirt with the Penn State logo on it may now attract some sneers and jeers. The name and the brand identity for Penn State has become synonymous with the alleged child-sex scandal and subsequent alleged cover up by the administration. I woke up this morning inspired to write a blog about creative briefs and questions that my agency asks clients in the early exploratory stages of logo development. While getting my morning elliptical exercise in, I turned on the news and once again... bright and early, the face of what has become known as the “Penn State” scandal reared its ugly head… I thought to myself: now THERE'S an institution, a brand that needs to completely change its identity.

As is my tradition, I did a Google search to make sure no one had already blogged on the topic, and coincidentally, I’m not alone in my inspiration, less than 24 hours ago, marketing expert, John Tantillo penned a column for Fox News, calling for Penn State to change its name… NOW.

 

He writes:

"...people’s reactions to a brand name are tied to complex responses related to the brand and themselves. As a result, at certain point “Penn State” will have -- if it hasn’t already—become toxic, meaning that people will automatically, and involuntarily, experience a negative reaction whenever they encounter it."

 

I would have to argue that it IS toxic.  This type of crime goes right to the very core of our being and the brand is forever tarnished, sent to the place of no return, and fast. By comparision, I think of what unfortunate events have taken place at FAMU with the recently dubbed ‘homicide by hazing’ of a university band member and although that is a very unfortunate case, it does not call for a name change, nor a brand change. People walk around and see someone wearing a FAMU or Florida A&M sweatshirt aren’t going to necessarily have a negative reaction. Not the case for Penn State. That brand name is now mud.

 

Penn State Logos

 

To alleviate the negative association with the school name, in addition to changing it as Tantillo suggests, I would recommend a complete Brand Identity overhaul. New name, new logo. New visual identity ASAP. An old version of the Penn State logo looks like this:

 

  

This logo doesn’t bother me so much. It doesn’t “say” PENN STATE. This newer one however does:

 

 

Here is yet another variation:

 

These logos were introduced in 2001. Prior to that, this was their logo:

 

This logo had a very long shelf life: it was the official school logo from 1962-2000.

 

The Quick Fix: Call it PSU

 

1. 1.    STOP CALLING IT “PENN STATE” – let that name die with the scandal. There’s no polishing this one anymore. It’s done. Let it go.

 

1. 2.    Call it anything but “PENN STATE” – Some suggestions:

 

• PENNSYLVANIA U

• PENN U

• PSU (they already own PSU.edu and is the home of their website)

 

I disagree with Tantillo’s position that “PSU” is not a viable option. Although it has already been used in some headlines, I think it still hasn’t been used enough that it can’t be saved. In my opinion , it’s the best option for them right now. It's in their best interest to 'evolve' their brand into something else, but not something that is completely brand new.  

 

Brand expert Dr. Elliot S. Schrieber,  suggests:

 

“In short, the Penn State culture needs to be "blown up." It allowed Joe Paterno and his "cult of personality" to foster and grow. I know that Paterno did not molest the kids, but he allowed Sandusky to exist and, according to Sandusky, Paterno never once talked to him about the issues that were supposedly brought to Paterno's attention in 2002. That is simply unacceptable behavior for anyone.

Penn State must go beyond its comfort zone if it is to rebuild its reputation. If it simply takes measured steps, which it is accustomed to do, it will not rebuild trust and confidence. The consequences of inappropriate actions could be disastrous long-term.”

 

In the interest of moving forward from a brand perspective, I suggest that PENN STATE change its name by dropping the “PENN STATE” completely out of their collateral and materials. Here, I’ve taken some liberty with their logo to show what a potential brand overhaul may look like. If they ever to regain their status as the reputable institution they once were, and have any hope of attracting future students and parents to their programs, they are going to need a makeover. We present a mock-up of what Peralta Design would do, were we tapped for this project.

 

Here’s how it might look:

 

  

 

Since there are quite a few other colleges that use the PSU acronym, as an alternate, we present to you a variation where we insert the word “Pennsylvania” into the logo, but it’s clearly not my favorite. It’s our recommendation to drop the “Pennsylvania” out of the logo entirely.

 

Here’s how the alternate might look:

 

  

 

We suggest that Penn State overhaul their identity packages with the quickness. Keep enough of the existing brand (the colors, the mascot and the font) but change what the school is referred to as in the media.  Only then can it truly put this shameful chapter behind. Alumni can go out and purchase the new merchandise and life will go on for the university, and hopefully it will go on for its victims as well.

 

What brands or companies have had to change their names entirely or overhauled their brand identities in the midst of scandal?

http://www.neatorama.com/2009/09/10/companies-renamed-to-hide-from-bad-reputations/

Blackwater became Xe

Philip Morris became Altria

ValuJet became AirTran

WorldCom became MCI

Andersen Consulting became Accenture

 

Resources & Related Articles:

 

Why Penn State Needs to Change Its Name… Now!

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/12/20/why-penn-state-needs-to-change-its-namenow/

 

How Penn State Can Rebuild Its Brand and Reputation

http://www.experts.com/Articles/How-Penn-State-Can-Rebuild-Its-Brand-and-Reputation-By-Elliot-Schreiber

 

Why Some Companies Change Their Logos 

 http://www.logodesignworks.com/blog/why-some-companies-change-their-logo

Need help with your brand identity or want to overhaul your existing brand? Contact: ramon@peraltadesign.com

 

Penn State logos and identity are property of The Pennsylvania State University © 2008. Mockup of the proposed new identity is property of Peralta Illustration & Design LLC and shown for illustration purposes only.

 

 

Create a Custom Facebook Timeline Cover

Ready or not, here it comes: on December 22, Facebook will replace your current "Wall" with a "Timeline". Everyone in the US will have the all-new user interface that features Timeline, a completely new way to present who you are, what you are (and what you said 3 years ago)  on Facebook.  Think of it as a digital, animated, archived scrapbook of your entire life (or at least what you’ve chosen to share on Facebook).

If you are like millions of users who still don’t know what Timeline is, or have an idea, but are still not sure, don’t fret, you are not alone. Before you read any further however, I suggest you watch the video:

https://www.facebook.com/about/timeline

As of today, only 84 of my 1285 friends have signed up for Timeline. Come 12/22 everyone will have it, like it or not.  Although Facebook introduced Timeline back in September, it has, in an uncharacteristically noble display of consideration to its users, seems to have delayed its full rollout until all the kinks have been worked out. I think it’s borne out of being repeatedly accused of forcing new features down our throats and getting even more changes thrown in before we’re done chewing the first batch. Subsequently, users have left Facebook in droves, or at least temporarily deactivated their profiles.

USA today recently ran an article listing the 9 things you need to know about Facebook Timeline:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2011-12-16/facebook-timeline-questions/52010580/1

Here are a few important bullets:

 • Upgrade now (early) so that you can have seven (7) days to preview what your profile will look like with Timeline before going live.

 • Customize your cover photo (I’ll explain how to do it shortly)

 •  Timeline brings back ALL of your old posts. Yes ALL of them.  Again, this is another reason to early-adopt, so that you can delete or hide posts which no longer seem funny or appropriate

 • Privacy settings are kept in tact. I think there are even more privacy settings (thanks to Google+) you can now have more control over who sees what

• iPhone/iPad users: visit the App store and upgrade to FB v4.1 to activate Timeline on your devices

 

How to create a custom cover photo:

Before you get started, think about this carefully: If you could create a billboard for yourself, what would it be?

Facebook isn’t rolling out Timeline for its business pages anytime soon, so if you are a business owner (like myself), an entrepreneur, or are self-employed, you may want to do something of an ad for yourself in this space.

Most people may choose a simple photo, a group shot, or a texture or pattern, but my point is that this is PRIME REAL ESTATE people, so do something COOL with it! 

 1.    You’ll need photo-editing software such as Adobe Photoshop

2.    Create a new image (File/New)

3.    Set resolution to 72dpi & color to RGB

4.    Set image size to 1692 pixels x 648 pixels (23.5” x 9”)

5.    Drag photos, edit type, create backgrounds here, go nuts – this is your new billboard

6.    Keep in mind: your profile photo will fit in the exact spot that its in now

7.    Your photo will start at the 6.25” mark from the top on the left side, so try not to put any words or logos that may get covered up by your photo

8. One photo of you is enough. We don’t need a profile photo of you looking up at the large billboard of you (again) unless this is your thing, then by all means...

9. Facebook is approaching 1 billion users. What do you want them to see?

10. List other social media links, samples of your work, product or contact information

11.  Once you are done creating your ‘billboard’, flatten and save as a JPG

12.  Hover over the lower right of the Timeline cover photo area and click on “Change Cover”

13. Select “upload image” and upload your new JPG

14.  It should fit perfectly, and if it doesn’t, you can simply repeat the process

 

Here are some samples of Custom Timeline Cover Photos:

 

 

 

 For the more advanced image editors (to get a more precise design):

Take a snapshot (or screenshot) of your new Timeline page so that you can design around your profile photo.

Rebuild your custom cover photo at the proper resolution and dimensions once you have a rough layout that will work with your photo

 

Most importantly – have FUN with it!

 

Other options:

Here are some websites that can create a Custom Timeline cover for you:

http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2011/12/15/5-ways-to-jazz-up-your-facebook-timeline-cover/

 

Still not sure how to go about using Timeline or even what it is? (don't panic)

More About Timeline (originally posted on Facebook’s Timeline page)

Preview your timeline

Once you get timeline, you'll have 7 days before anyone else can see it. This gives you a chance to get your timeline looking the way you want before other people see it.

 

Decide what to highlight

To help you get started, your timeline includes some of your top photos and stories. Hide or highlight whatever you want and add anything that's missing.

 

Control who sees your stuff

Only the people you originally shared a post with can see it on your timeline. If you want, you can go back and change who sees a post, delete it or just hide it from your timeline.

 

Still not sure? Go here (maybe you should have gone here first!)

https://www.facebook.com/help/?page=240939812618946

 

Need help designing your custom Facebook Timeline cover? Let us handle it for you.

Shoot me an email at ramon@peraltadesign.com

 

Other Resources:

What is Facebook Timeline? (Only Your Whole Life)

http://gizmodo.com/5843030/what-is-facebook-timeline-only-your-whole-life