Do you have the graphic design goods we’re looking for? All the details are listed below. Please be sure to read everything carefully – attention to detail counts!

Job Title:  Graphic Designer/Production Artist

Position Type:   Freelance/Contract

Job Description:

We’re looking for a freelance/contract graphic designer to work on projects on an as-needed basis. Our Creative Director will provide direction on all projects and concepts to be completed.

• Provide time estimate on project to be completed.
• Prepare work to be accomplished by gathering information and materials.
• Plan concept by studying information and materials and direction provided by Creative Director.
• Illustrate concept by designing rough layout of art and copy regarding arrangement, size, type size and style, and related aesthetic concepts.
• Obtain approval of concept by submitting rough layout to Creative Director.
• Prepare final layout of art.
• Provide files in all formats required for project completion.
• Maintain technical knowledge and skills.
• Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Skills/Qualifications:

Graphic design experience, proficient with Adobe Creative Suite 5 and/or 6, experience with print and digital layout, working knowledge of WordPress and HTML/CSS/PHP a bonus. Must be detail-oriented.

Additional Notes:

Must provide own computer equipment and software. A signed non-compete and non-disclosure agreement will be required.

Compensation:   To be determined.

To apply, send resumé, hourly rates and a link to your design portfolio to Kelly. Responses without rates will not be answered. No phone calls please.

For more information about our agency, please see our website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Sounds like a great deal, right? No, it’s not, and I’m going to tell you why. I am going to take the liberty of speaking for not just our agency, but all agencies and freelance designers alike. Disclaimer: There are absolutely some shady agencies and crappy designers out there that just want to take your money. Do your homework before choosing who to work with on your branding, marketing and advertising. That being said, let’s move on.

Let me start by telling you what that $99 will get you: 73 logos made by a “designer,” who is most likely in another country, and spends his or her days churning out graphics using clip art and various fancy fonts. That’s it. It’s not tailored to you, your business or your market. But, hey, you’ve got 73 designs to choose from, right?

When you choose to work with an agency or designer on your branding, you get a whole lot more for your investment. First, we’re going to learn about you and your business. We’re going to talk to you about your goals, your company culture and learn what sets you apart from your competitors. We’re going to research your market – find out what makes your audience tick and even see what your competition’s branding looks like. We’ll invest a lot of our agency time into making sure we know the ins and outs of your business and what you do. We’ll make sure that with your new branding, you are setting the foundation for success in your business. Your logo and overall branding are what your customers, and potential customers, are going to identify you with for the long haul. We want to make sure that visual mark represents the value of your product or service.

Then we’re going to design a logo that can be used across the board. The design will take into account the many ways you will use that logo – on your website, on your printed collateral, on your product packaging, on signage, screen-printed on t-shirts or other apparel or even embroidered on caps or sweatshirts. A good logo design will work in color or in black and white. The logo you get from an agency will (or should be) appropriate for EVERY application in which you will use it. Typically you will get 2 or 3 logo designs to choose from and/or edit. An agency worth its salt will make sure that it’s an original design that can be trademarked. Once you approve a design, you should get files that you can use for everything: files in color, black and white, vector versions, PDF versions, with and without a background, files with the company name and others that have just your mark.

Yes, when you work with an agency or designer, your initial investment will most likely be $2000+ (for large companies and brands, it can be tens of thousands of dollars); however, when you look at what you get for your marketing dollar, it is much easier to see the value in it. As a business owner, you have to take the time to build a solid brand foundation. If you don’t make that investment, or don’t do your homework on your agency or designer of choice, oftentimes you end up spending even more money down the road to fix your branding mistakes. A good agency can help you not only build the foundation, but develop a strategy to meet your business goals. The $99 guys don’t do that.

Can we all just agree that’s a ridiculous response to this situation? Even if they are going to stick to their policy guns, this is NOT the public statement that should be coming from the CEO. Who is handling the PR for the airline? Whoever it is, is failing miserably. Spirit has become known as one of the worst airlines in terms of customer service and PR. They are also about to start charging up to $100 per bag for carry-on luggage. You read that right – not checked bags, but carry-on bags.

Who actually flies on Spirit Arilines, anyway? I guess some people do because many people have called for a boycott on the airline, and they’ve started a Facebook page calling for action.

Let’s break this down a bit: If Spirit is going to stand by their decision to follow policy, then that’s their choice. However, the first words out of their mouths need to be how terribly sorry they are for Mr. Meekins’ health issues and the truly unfortunate situation that he is facing. That alone would have made them seem human. Showing a little bit of empathy can go a very long way in softening a stance that can be perceived as heartless or rigid. This isn’t an issue of policy or making exceptions. This is an issue of a company going down in PR flames because they are choosing to beat us over the head with the message of what their policy means.

Any company facing any sort of PR issue should remember these key items:

1. Be human.

2. Be flexible.

3. Respond quickly and with kindness.

4. Sensational comments made publicly will be replayed over and over again.

5. One publicized wrongdoing brings to the forefront ALL of your wrongdoings.

6. Remember that you never know the reach or influence a customer may have. (Remember Kevin Smith and the Southwest Airlines debacle?)

We get quite a few emails from various services, and today, one of those vendors was obviously doing some testing on their servers. This is what I opened (names omitted to protect the clueless):

Ha! While this gave me a good laugh, you know my PR brain kicked in and I immediately wondered what would happen to poor “E” and how they would handle it. Just a few minutes later, I got this from “E”:

I will give them credit – their response was quick (within five minutes) and “E” took full responsibility for his mistake. My guess is there are a lot of internal conversations happening at that company right now. I can only assume they are making sure that no one makes that mistake again, checking that their consumers are happy and ensuring the crisis has been averted.

Lesson of the Day: Make sure you are ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE about who is on the receiving end of your emails, bitchez!

Let me start by saying, I’ve been a loyal Mac user since before it was hip… using it for design, web dev, etc. I was content paying more for a product I felt was superior, and was truly steeped in the culture of all things Mac. Innovative ideas, by free thinking people, the opposite of the Microsoft camp. When all that innovation paid off and Apple started emerging as the biggest brand on the planet, I thought “good for them, the good guy finally wins”… That sentiment is quickly fading.

When the iPhone came out and it was only on one carrier (not mine), I suffered through not being able to sync my phone to my Mac, blaming the phone manufacturer. I’d owned and loved an iPod for some time, so I figured I wasn’t missing out on much. Then, I realized Apple had done the unthinkable, they started kicking their biggest, most loyal, fan base right in the a$$. Designers who had been using their products for years were now facing the realization that a large part of their skill arsenal would no longer be useable for any content they wanted viewable by an iPhone, and now iPad. That’s right my friends, Adobe Flash! Initially there were reports from the Apple camp claiming it was clunky, used too much CPU power and killed battery life. Did they think no one would investigate these allegations and just nod in cult-like fashion? Bottom line is there was no slow down in performance or battery life with Flash. The real reason Apple is killing Flash for its internet ready devices is to PROTECT THEIR REVENUE STREAM! What? Where did the free thinking, choose as you please California love children go? They went straight to Corporate America, where independent thinking is sacrificed for the bottom line.

If Apple were to allow Flash a fair shake, you could go play free online games instead of buying them from the App store, and you could watch shows on Hulu instead of buying them in iTunes… all of which Apple gets a solid 30%. IMO that’s pretty short-sighted on Apple’s part, inhibiting development and holding back their loyal customers. Not to mention, pulling from the pocket books of some of its most loyal base, the designers. What about the folks, like me, who are considering buying their first non-Apple technology and looking at Android tablets? What part of your revenue stream will we account for? I’m fine with you being successful and that capital funding great new innovations, but there is nothing innovative about blacklisting technology because it MIGHT affect a very small part of your revenue stream. Is the damage to your brand and its perception among your long time loyals not more important? Go back to hacky sack lunch breaks or whatever the hell it was you were doing before corporate life killed the spirit that made Apple cool, not just trendy.

Before all you PC coders writing HTML5 and Cocoa chime in remember, I’m doing the the unthinkable here, I’m going against his holiness Steve Jobs. In all honesty, I hate to admit it, but I’ll still keep using my Mac. I will, however, begin to look in other areas of technology moving forward… something I never though I’d need to do.

If you’d like to check out some development initiatives that actually ARE innovative, click here to see Adobe’s Open Screen Project. This project will attempt to give users a rich media experience across any device, anywhere (although probably not an Apple device). This is the future my friends: seamless integration of computer, TV, phone, chat. I hope Apple can get on board before they get left behind by companies like Google, who may have an agenda of feeding you every bit of content on the internet, but are smart enough to make that a reality.

Night of Country Music in London

(LONDON, England – PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee, 24 March 2011) – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (UK) and the RURAL TV Country Club have teamed up to host a night of country music and good times in London on Friday, 22 April 2011. The event will be held at Mestizo (The Downstairs) in North London.  Doors open at 8:00pm. The event will feature a Silent Auction with tickets to Dolly’s UK Tour, signed CD’s, signed books, and other exclusive items up for bid. All proceeds from the silent auction will go directly to the Imagination Library project in the UK, which provides books and literacy programmes for children in the UK’s impoverished and rural areas. The evening will feature live performances as well as a DJ and dancing.  Cameron Tiilbury will provide his MC talent. Tickets are £50 and a LIMITED NUMBER of 150 are being made available. Tickets include 1 free drink, light bites and specially discounted meal/drink tickets for Mestizo’s fine, authentic Mexican cuisine RFD/RURAL Country Club Members ONLY are eligible for RESERVED ticket sales, and can purchase their tickets from today by calling Sarah Chase +44 (0)750 300 1499 or emailing her (sarah@ruraltv.tv). All remaining ticket sales will be open to the general public on Friday, 1 April. A web site will be provided for reservations.  Tickets are non-refundable and proceeds benefit Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the UK. For information and directions for the venue, please visit: http://london.mestizomx.com/ PLEASE NOTE: There are currently 2 slots available for country music artists. Serious enquires only, please email Cameron: cameron@camerontilburypublicity.com Artists Booked: Raintown Ahab Christian Sleep Main Sponsor: RFD/RURAL TV Country Club Media Sponsors: Cameron Tilbury Publicity Cowboy Syndicate Kickin’ Media Siren 107.3FM & Southside Broadcasting Venue Sponsor: Mestizo Note: All of us at Cowboy Syndicate are excited to be a part of this event. If you, or someone you know, is in London, definitely consider attending! It’s sure to be a fantastic evening. If you’d like to donate to the charity, be sure to visit their website – what they do is amazing!

]]> http://www.cowboysyndicate.com/blog/2011/03/24/rural-tv-and-dolly-partons-imagination-library-host-night-of-country-music-in-london/feed/ 0 http://www.cowboysyndicate.com/blog/2011/02/07/from-our-uk-affiliate/ http://www.cowboysyndicate.com/blog/2011/02/07/from-our-uk-affiliate/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:19:30 +0000 Kelly http://www.cowboysyndicate.com/blog/?p=413 We’ve just received the latest update from our friends at Cameron Tilbury Publicity! Here’s what our UK Affiliate had to say:

It’s been a really busy new year so far.  In January, we launched rock band One Soul Thrust, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  If you like bands like Heart or Rush, I think you’ll like these guys.  We’re already getting airplay in the USA, Australia, France and the UK.  Their debut single is called Go Home And Melt and it features rock legend Glenn Hughes.

Marlee Scott continues to do well around the world with her single, Here To Heaven; and Jessica Ridley is doing well worldwide too—with her debut single, Flaming Red.

In January, we also signed Canadian Country Music Award-winner, Aaron Pritchett.  Aaron’s new song is called Light It Up and it’s the first release from his fifth album, In The Drivers Seat.  That went to radio around the world in late January—and the response has been incredible!  If you like high-energy country that rocks, Aaron Pritchett is your guy!

On February 1^st, we launched Americana sweetheart, Tia McGraff’s new song, Radical Road—and the early signs are good with radio stations in Northern Ireland and the Netherlands adding the song as soon as they received it.

We’re also doing some work with Americana/roots/blues singer Mati Haskell.  Mati’s debut album features John Cowan and Glen Worf among others.

The Western Swing Authority made it into one of The Alternate Root Magazine’s top-20 albums of the year—an unexpected surprise.  We had great radio response from Texas last year, so we’re hoping to put together a short tour.

These independent artists need all the support they can get, so check them out online and buy their music.  Aside from being great talents, they’re all really good people.

We’re hoping to work with Cowboy Syndicate on some projects this year to make our combined clients true international brands.  Stick around, there’s lots to come!

-Cameron Tilbury Publicity

All of us at Cowboy Syndicate were ecstatic to hear about the artists and how well each of their latest releases are doing! For more information about Cameron Tilbury Publicity, head on over to their website. Be sure to check with them often for more updates and new info on their recording artists!

Most every business recognizes the need to have a presence on social media networking sites. The most popular sites among our clients are Facebook and Twitter. There is definitely more to it than posting random information, so we wanted to share a few basics for your social media plan.

1. Social media is not a strategy in and of itself. It is simply one element of your overall brand strategy. Having a conversation with your customers via Facebook and Twitter should fit into your marketing goals and complement your public relations policy. You should have metrics in place to measure its effectiveness just as you would with any marketing initiative.

2. Social media is not a popularity contest. Many companies assume that the brands with the most followers or fans wins, but that’s simply not the case. High follower counts should never be the number goal when approaching social media. It’s not quantity, it’s quality. The way you engage the followers you have – fostering brand loyalty and repeat business – is the end goal of any successful social media strategy.

3. Social media is not a loudspeaker. Social media is a conversation – a way to engage with customers and receive valuable feedback about your brand. If your Facebook and Twitter posts are just a series of coupon codes and product plugging, you’re making a big mistake – your followers will get bored and start to tune out what you’re saying. Beyond that, you’re missing the opportunity to talk to existing and potential customers and have a real conversation with them about your brand, your products or even what they want to see in the marketplace.

If you haven’t joined the social media conversation, take the time to really think about your strategy. Look at what your favorite brands are doing and figure out how you can do it better for your audience. Already part of the community? It’s never too late to re-evaluate what’s working and what isn’t and redirect your efforts. Most importantly, give your audience a reason to interact with you.

Coming up next – our tips to drive sales through social media.