Graphic Design: art, science or art?

Do one of the three? Is it something else? Or are all three at once?

  Any times I have come across to customers, friends or acquaintances with the same question: "Graphic design is an art, science or art? '. The truth is that it costs to achieve an ideal answer for those who believe that this profession is one of these three areas individually. My immediate response is: graphic design is both art and technical science. The designer as author, creator and originator of ideas, is certainly an artist who carries out projects intervening creatively and solve problems of communication with aesthetic standards. But that resolution is preceded by a thorough analysis of the problem to solve. Therefore, through methods, graphic designer seeks to achieve always a theoretical support to creative resolution. Ie, the scientific through the application of a method for solving a problem is present. And without doubt the graphic designer uses technology to finally capture their work, through all forms of information technology, audiovisual technology or simply through a corporeal part of any kind. Throughout my career, my experience was showing that the broader spectrum of technology is assimilated, the freer we are to create, while we are more efficient in terms of time, as much delimit the testing process- mistake.

  A designer must be all the time consuming design to feed his eye-critical, but must also keep abreast of new printing technologies, developments in the field of Internet and mobile applications, the potential production level signage and point of sale, etc.. The graphic designer is strongly related interdisciplinary programmers, printers, industrial designers, designers, visual artists, photographers, sign makers, and in all cases, have the opportunity to continue learning. You just have to keep that need to expand the cognitive horizon. And what do you think? Does the graphic design is art, science or art? Do one of the three? Is it something else? Or are all three at once?

Graphic Design as a sales tool

But just think of all that we see in supermarkets, the stores we visited, and clothing products we buy, regardless of where they live or what our socioeconomic status, graphic design is something that surrounds us and influences in some way in our purchasing decisions. They can have the best sales pitch, most original sentence will not have all the desired effect if it is not enhanced with a good image or design, whether a magazine ad, spectacular, banner, flyer, etc.. Graphic design is something we see everywhere, and is what first captures our attention. The color, illustrations, logos, graphics and other image we see influences how we read and perceive a message. So graphic design is not something you can do without. Whether applied to web sites, multimedia presentations, magazines, advertisements, stationery, etc.. The design is something that defines the way we perceive a business, product or service. Submit a business card simple as it seems, can be the difference between getting new customers, higher sales, other suppliers, business contacts, or lose all of the above. A well-designed logo, accompanied by a consistent design and related to the business it represents, can help you build brand, to be remembered, and that is something we all want to remember our business. So graphic design is a tool that can help your business grow, if you go with real professionals, or it may be counterproductive if you use any printer that offers "FREE graphic design." A sober and with the right colors can represent reliability and robustness, and may attract a specific audience, with sales and slogans sentence appropriate a dynamic and attractive colors can attract other public and provide insight quite clear what your business, coupled with a good sales strategy, design your ad, web site, business presentation, billboard, you can give the best results, and above all, do you remember, to re-buy , create loyalty and trust. Therefore, the design is a communication tool, important and which should not do without, is not the same take your car to your neighbor who study mechanics in high school, taking him to a specialized service, or will you?

Investing in creative services, graphic design can be one of he best investments you make if you want your business to grow, provided that they combine a strategy of promotion and sales, will become a tool that will repay economically and will help your business is identified in the middle of your business or industry.

How many "P" is the marketing?

 

Marketing management is also design management.

  Many "P" is the marketing? In 1960, E. Jerome McCarthy presents The four Ps (The four "P" of marketing), a traditional view of marketing that divides into four interconnected parts: product, price, communication and distribution. Today this classification has evolved, and the four "P" of marketing we have moved to the thirteen "P" of marketing. They may even be more, according to the author that we consult:

1. Process
2. Product
3. Price
4. Promotion
5. Place
6. People
7. Planet
8. Partioning
9. Positioning
10. Probing
11. Profit
12. Planning
13. Prioritzing

As is customary in the language of economics, all these words are in English, so it is difficult to find one in all cases also Castilian words beginning with the letter P, but to move from linguistic difficulties, these thirteen " P 'are the basis of strategic marketing and integrated marketing management, goods, services, environmental, industrial, social, etc. -. Process (Process): Where do we start? That marketing is a process is more than clear, the advice of your own definition. In fact, theAmerican Marketing Association says that marketing is a function organitzativa and, simultaneously, a set of processes for creating, communicating and delivering value to customers, and is also useful for managing customer relationships, of way that benefits both the organization and its stakeholders. And the process starts with our personal account of the thirteen "P" of marketing. Product (Product): What do customers want? What do I offer? What do I sell? What do I buy? Product is any good or service able to motivate and meet the needs of a consumer or user. Product marketing is the variable that is directly related to people and is the backbone around which revolve the other "P" of marketing. Price (price): How much does it cost? How much will I sell? Price is the amount of money the buyer has to pay for a product that will provide a profit. Price is the only marketing variable that generates sales revenue, all the other "P" entail costs and the variables that the organization has control. When setting the price, the organization has three control parameters: A minimum price, which are the costs of the organization. A maximum price, which is what you are willing to pay the client. An average price of reference, which is what competition is charging for the same product, or to recommend different professional groups. Everything is negotiable, but accept a price below cost necessarily mean review the costs of the organization. Promotion (media): How do I to know? How do I know my product, my price and place of sale? Communication is how the organization will meet their target product, price, distribution and other "P" of marketing, because communication is used to inform ("Mr. Proper is now called Mr. Clean"), to persuade ("Enjoy Coca-Cola"), to remember ("Spring is in the English Court!"), to strengthen ("In Carrefour is possible. Payment took me two and three!"), and why not? also to educate ("If you drink, do not drive"). Place (distribution): Where and how can my clients contact my organization and buy my product? Distribution is how the exchange will occur and the physical space where this exchange occurs, the medium through which the organization will provide the buyer the product in place, amount and when the buyer wishes. Distribution is the marketing variable that relates production to the market and people. People (people): Who are my customers? Who are my partners? Is a variable that people born in the marketing environment and rapidly consolidating services in the world of marketing, because people: my client, the client of my client, my staff (employees, suppliers), even my competitors, are vital for successful strategic management of my business. Planet (planet): How sustainable is the organization? How sustainable is the product? Today it fills the mouth with words like ecology, sustainability, environmental friendliness, the three "R" (reuse, recover, recycle), ecodesign, etc.., Because, after all, what is is to protect the planet. Partioning (segmentation): Who are our customers? How many? Where are they? How are they? What do you do? How do they behave? Segment is to divide the total market for a product in smaller subgroups or segments of consumers or potential users (with characteristics similar, but different from other subgroups). It is from this market in terms of various objective criteria (geographic, demographic, socioeconomic) or subjective (psychographic), which is essential for a niche market where our full business potential. Positioning (seek): What do you think my client of my organization, my product, my brand? Positioning is perception, positioning is association of ideas (versus benefits needs). To position is to differentiate ourselves is to place our work. The position works the place of our organization, our product, our brand in the mind of the consumer / user. Probing (test): Will the product, price, communication ("insert here any other list P ') in the market and customers? When I think of the testing of a product comes to mind and that IKEA cabinet with an infernal machine that "torture" to poor seat, but after thinking about it coldly, not such a bad idea. Try a product on the market before placing them on sale, is a relatively simple, you just need imagination and some friends to do the times of "infernal machine of torture" with the products of the organization. In addition, many other research tools or tools that help test a product (or service) in fact are so useful that even used as tools of strategic analysis and evaluation to test policies and programs. Profit (profit): What do you get with this organization? The Dictionary of the Royal Academy of Spanish Language defines "enterprise" as "an entity composed of capital and labor as factors of production and industrial activity, commercial or services for profit (for profit) and the consequent responsibility. " In this sense, the ultimate goal is that the organization marketing make money, cover costs and achieve economic benefits, which does not rule out that the organization may also seek to achieve other objectives more altruistic. Planning (Planning): What to do? How and when to do it? Planning is a process, a cyclical process that facilitates decision-making and, for me, the simplest and easiest model of planning is "Deming Cycle" proposed by William Edward Deming in the early 50 (century) , which has transcended its roots in quality management (another process, such as marketing or design). Plan (Plan): Plan and schedule, including pressing, documented, ask, and so on. Do (do): Internenir Check (check): Monitor, review, assess, monitor and control Act (act): Review, modify, enhance .... and back again to plan. Prioritzing (prioritization): Step by step, how we do it? An alternative choice is selected from various options. Decision making is a process that occurs in different settings (commercial, business, financial.), For which the organization makes a choice among alternatives or ways to solve different situations in which converge a variety of internal conditions (human capital, market experience) and external (environment). In the end it comes down to making decisions that should be prioritized. In short, marketing, as well as the design is a process, so if we substitute "product" with "design" and "organization" with "designer", we quickly realize that marketing management is also design management. The marketing process developed from these thirteen "P" of marketing is a way to play with an advantage and give the customer a minimum guarantee that the design is feasible at all levels: Viability graph. Is it aesthetically pleasing? Do I represent? Do I identify? Technical and operational feasibility. Can you develop? Can you reproduce, manufacture, use? Financial viability. ¿I can afford? Where will I get the money? Commercial viability. Will it work on the market? Economic viability. Will it generate profit? Social viability. Will you give me visibility among my target audience? Mediambiental viability. Is it ecologically sustainable? And answering the question how many "P" is the marketing? I personally stick with these thirteen "P" I have presented, but leave the list open for everyone to incorporate all the "P" that would be useful to develop their own design process, adapt to the market and the environment, find niche markets, negotiate with clients, and market their design projects in a highly competitive global market.

The 10 Commandments of freelance designer

Working as a freelance designer is a creative career path that many choose to take, because if it is true that not all a bed of roses, is not without certain advantages. And while this is true, make no mistake and idealize the situation, because if we do not have for example, the constant pressure of a boss, or a rigid schedule to follow, this does not mean we do not have to be absolutely responsible to our client , or force us to fulfill certain times, if we want both our work and our personal lives have some stability. And at home, there are many temptations around you and that can lead to fall in distraction. To help in your day to day does not lose sight of the 10 commandments that every freelance designer should always bear in mind: 1. Love your work on everything. Safely have good times and others are not so much, stay strong and positive always try to see the good in everything and learn from your mistakes, but one thing is clear, you can only overcome the problems you encounter on the road If the design is really your passion. 2. Thou shalt not take the customer's name in vain. Each customer is now your boss, so you should treat it as such, be serious and professional, always meets the deadlines to which you have committed, and try to adapt, as far as possible to your requirements, taking into account He also expects that you as professional as you advise.   3. Sanctify the holidays. When you work from home is easy to lose track of time or even often do not know neither the day in which you live, flee from this habit. Try to work subject to a time and above all respects the holidays to relax, it is clear that there will be exceptions, but these exceptions do not become the norm.   4. Honor your father and your mother ... and by extension family and friends. Your mother, your father, your wife, children, brother, sister, dog, cat, hamster ... are a key part in your life, and as such you should take care, however do not let them invade your space or working time. When you're working at home, many will think that you are available all day, handles this if you want to be constantly interrupted and lose much time.   5. Do not kill your creativity going on for hours watching television. It is very easy to say you need 5 minutes to rest, lie on the couch in front of the TV and that they become 5 minutes in 5 hours! It is important to rest frequently, but perhaps television, couch and the cushions are not the best option.   6. Do not commit impure acts. Stay away from the fridge! With the refrigerator at your fingertips, you can continually tempted, on the contrary there are people who completely forgets to eat. Set your meal times and try to meet them, is essential.   7. Do not aislarás. Do not think that reading the news online or communicate with your friends on Facebook is enough. You will spend many hours at home, so you have to force yourself to go out, have a coffee with friends, walking the dog ... ultimately distracting.   8. You shall not bear false witness or lie to her. It's okay to try to sell you the best possible way, but do not lie about your skills. If you do, you end up having a hard time unnecessarily.   9. Not suffer further unhealthy habits. Do not give up, a daily shower is never over, eat healthy, try to exercise and rest the hours needed. As they said in ancient Rome "mens sana in corpore sano" (a staple).   10. Do not covet the designs of others. It has not always be in your best creative moments, so there will be times that your designs are brilliant and some not so. Do not look for the solution trying to copy designs of others, but always looking for inspiration to find your own creative line, plagiarism, is not well ;)

The design

Increase sales of our product over the Internet involves being aware of a lot of variables that come into play in the virtual space. These variables do not necessarily have to do with the product itself, as mentioned in another article, but come into play to achieve that visual aspects of web visitors and potential customers to pay more attention to our enterprise. Something that seems not unrelated to how to increase sales, maybe it's something that we underestimated too soon. For example, the design of a company logo. The company logo serves to reinforce the identity of our company, and on the Web, have a strong identity is essential, because the infinite competition can be generated. Some tips for creating a logo are not to be used more than three colors, must have a readable text, a logo should be attractive even in the range of colors of black and white, do not use visual effects such as reflection or light flashes , always avoid complex details (a logo should be, above all, simple), use a maximum of two sources in the logo, it should be easy to describe, in others. These suggestions do not guarantee increased sales, but greatly help to create an identity on the Web. Another relevant aspect is that involving the design of the home page. On the home page must include all information that is essential to both our company and our product. And that content must be balanced. Do not forget that to increase sales, it is necessary to have the esteem of potential customers. Avoid, if possible, an HTML template that is art. It is better to hire a webmaster and have an original design. This will make us distinct from our competitors. And if we hire a good webmaster, get along with the design, another set of benefits. These benefits are, for example, the structure optimized for search engines, as well as different ways in which Internet users can interact with the Web, such as contact forms, image galleries, among others. A good first impression is a basic charter to increase sales of our site. A section on us, with company information, contact details, history of entrepreneurship and its history, a picture of us, and relevant from the point of view to build trust with visitors, are also options that should not miss When deciding a visual design for our site.

The graphic designer learns all the time

A profession that keeps you in constant contact with many areas of knowledge, enriching both personally and professionally. Design studio [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlAR13lMbTM&w=500&h=400] To the astonishment of one of my children to confidently answer a question that a priori beyond my competence, I realized something very valuable to my work gives me a graphic designer. The final question that conversation was: "And you, Dad, how do you know that? '. The answer, 'Because I am a designer. " I find great appeal to this peculiarity of my profession, which sometimes is absent in others. I'm not talking about "professional development in design"-something off, of course, as the duty of every designer, along with learning new tools, read articles of interest and participate in events related to the profession-but the fact of learning to from everything around me. My job I permanently linked with areas of industrial production, agricultural, technological, financial, scientific, governmental, research, education, etc.. Each client is a new challenge, which requires me to compile an immediate and intensive learning about communication problems to solve. And this leads me sometimes to know how wine is produced in a warehouse, or understand about complex financial products, or to study different effects of a particular vitamin complex, the different communication needs in the areas of a supermarket, or just interiorizarme on how a multiplex inside. All this greatly enriches me as a designer, a professional, and ultimately as a person. The learning function, therefore, should be on every time you launch a new project, adding value as a visual communicator, but always adding the problems to be solved, that-no choice-it will always be embedded product information, service, event, etc.., in short, the object of communication. In my experience I have had to learn about many different areas so I would be impossible to detail them in this note, but whenever there is a topic of conversation related to one of them, I lit the spark of memory, bringing back memories of some work linked to the theme and all the implications of immersion and learning that took place during this project. Immediately I started to remember details and I find myself speaking fluently on small bubbles of champagne and its relation to product quality or importance of the quality of water and flour in the making of a baguette. A graphic designer has the opportunity to learn about many things throughout his life. It's a matter of being open to new experiences that design brings.

The Ascension of Graphic Design

Graphic design is a field that has been increasing over the last decade. Demand for graphic designers is very evident, since a growing number of small business owners are promoting their businesses through various media. Employers often hire graphic designers to create a logo design, web design, product design and / or advertising. The use of graphic designs extends across all media, television, books, movies, newspapers, magazines and the Internet.   Cooperation between a graphic designer and client is essential to create a desirable product. Graphic Designer is responsible for promoting the accuracy of their skills and listening carefully to customer needs in order to carry out the request because they are ultimately present to the entrepreneur's vision come to life and Finally, make your business grow. The integrity of the mark must be taken into account while designing being created. Moreover, the tone of their previous ads usually must be reflected. For example, if the company in question is usually presented in a humorous way, then the overall tone should be followed. Similarly, if they are known to have a message from the family, the design should not venture into anything too risque. All graphic designers must know how to meet the needs of the business owner without losing the creative quality of their work. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlAR13lMbTM&w=500&h=400] Mark of the company must be incorporated into the designs as well. Some of the most recognized companies in the world such as McDonald 's, the Trump Organization, Shell, Kodak, and Target, have used a wide extent of the company brand. A clear, powerful logo is often the most effective. When trying to create brands of this type, the designer must have some understanding of psychology and have conducted research on the effects of certain forms and colors in the human mind. Americans see thousands of products and daily announcements, so any design that is forming must be able to stand out from the crowd. This does not necessarily mean that the scales of bright colors or bright colors should be used, but the designs should be creative, interesting and explanatory. Integration mark which extend along several products that are desired.   Package design is as important as the logo design and advertising, as it is often the most tangible of advertising customers to find. A great package design is attractive, informative and appropriate product and company. Customers are exponentially more likely to consider buying products that are fresh, innovative and intriguing, of which appear to be cheap, irrelevant and unimaginative. The logo design should be offered in the package for greater brand exposure.   Ads handmade almost all have been on the road to computer literacy domain is essential for any graphic designer. High-powered software technique is always used in the creation and distribution of products and designs. Because of these technical applications, go to school for graphic design is not always necessary, but is very useful in most situations. These days, graphic design is spreading beyond the knowledge of Photoshop. A good web design is essential too, because almost all major businesses in the world owns and operates a website. The art of web design is often tricky to learn, but it is important to reach customers. With the continued expansion of Internet and various forms of media, working in graphic design and web design are increasingly available and needed. At present, the role of graphic designer is not only to build advertisements and beautiful pieces, but also to serve as a liaison between the brand and the general public. Therefore, graphic designers are very valuablebecause they are partially responsible for making the experience of successful business income.   Cooperation between a graphic designer and client is essential to create a desirable product. Graphic Designer is responsible for promoting the accuracy of their skills and listening carefully to customer needs in order to carry out the request because they are ultimately present to the entrepreneur's vision come to life and Finally, make your business grow. The integrity of the mark must be taken into account while designing being created. Moreover, the tone of their previous ads usually must be reflected. For example, if the company in question is usually presented in a humorous way, then the overall tone should be followed. Similarly, if they are known to have a message from the family, the design should not venture into anything too risque. All graphic designers must know how to meet the needs of the business owner without losing the creative quality of their work.   Mark of the company must be incorporated into the designs as well. Some of the most recognized companies in the world such as McDonald 's, the Trump Organization, Shell, Kodak, and Target, have used a wide extent of the company brand. A clear, powerful logo is often the most effective. When trying to create brands of this type, the designer must have some understanding of psychology and have conducted research on the effects of certain forms and colors in the human mind. Americans see thousands of products and daily announcements, so any design that is forming must be able to stand out from the crowd. This does not necessarily mean that the scales of bright colors or bright colors should be used, but the designs should be creative, interesting and explanatory. Integration mark which extend along several products that are desired.   Package design is as important as the logo design and advertising, as it is often the most tangible of advertising customers to find. A great package design is attractive, informative and appropriate product and company. Customers are exponentially more likely to consider buying products that are fresh, innovative and intriguing, of which appear to be cheap, irrelevant and unimaginative. The logo design should be offered in the package for greater brand exposure.   Ads handmade almost all have been on the road to computer literacy domain is essential for anygraphic designer. High-powered software technique is always used in the creation and distribution of products and designs. Because of these technical applications, go to school for graphic design is not always necessary, but is very useful in most situations. These days, graphic design is spreading beyond the knowledge of Photoshop. A good web design is essential too, because almost all major businesses in the world owns and operates a website. The art of web design is often tricky to learn, but it is important to reach customers. With the continued expansion of Internet and various forms of media, working in graphic design and web design are increasingly available and needed. At present, the role of graphic designer is not only to build advertisements and beautiful pieces, but also to serve as a liaison betweenthe brand and the general public. Therefore, graphic designers are very valuable because they are partially responsible for making the experience of successful business income.

Web content: a priority not yet understood

In addition to the functionality and graphic design, website should not forget that your success is based on content to offer his audience. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlXug_mFZfQ&w=500&h=400] Our highly visual culture, coupled with an intrusive marketing that bombards our senses every second, can be the cause of the exaggerated importance we give to the movement, color and form. Therefore it is very common for a client who hires us to carry out its Web site, the first thing out (and perhaps only) is the sketch graph.   A customer always expects to see the sketch graph of your site. Does the text? Ignored.   In our work at Astrolabe, we are frequently surprised faces every time we explained that the sketch we will deliver only after completing a rigorous process of information architecture and content collection. But when our customers see the result, they understand that clarity, relevance, effectiveness and quality of content in a direct impact on:   The association that the user of their particular expertise on the site with the company. The principle is simple: just as is the site, the company, its services and products. It is a variation of the maximum of the lore that says that things seem to its owner. Building trust and credibility in the services or products. Building trust is the combination to deliver a clear and concise message that matches the needs of users and the actual supply of the sender. The positioning of your website in major search engines. Finally, people look for content. Or are you dear reader has ever looked at Google words like "beautiful and moving site", "lively and cheerful website" or "logo spinning on its axis?" Remember your most recent search on Google. She looked content, right? What constitutes a good web content?   Not only texts we mean when we talk about content.   The Web content can be graphical, textual and multimedia. They consider these to be good content for the web as:  

• They are designed for the Internet.
• Meet the objectives of the site.
• Respond to the needs and user tasks.
• They have a good production.
• They respect the standards and Web accessibility.

In the specific case of textual content, the Web has its own editorial style, different from the form. The screen resolution (72 dpi normally), the average seconds per page, the break in the linearity of the site and, above all, the power of determining the user, require write texts that allow a quick read. Of course, good typographic design will help the reading efficiency.   The contents of the Web is much more than a printed brochure.   It is common for corporate and institutional sites inherit the texts developed for a printed brochure or portfolio. But keep in mind that as the radial language construct does not fit the television format, or the television to print media, web content must have a particular construction that meets the challenges and exploit the benefits while the medium.   So when you consider hiring the "Web site design", do not forget to demand "content design" rather than any sketch graph.

Effects for your photos - 8 ideas to keep them alive

Digital photos are great, but often only we post directly to a web page or we stored on our computers. But now for some years, Big Huge Labs provides relevant and practical projects related to photography, which can be done in a short time, with few demands on the capacity of your computer.   The site includes over two dozen projects that can be printed and / or posted on the web. The projects cover various ideas for posters, business cards, calendars, wallpaper, pocket album, CD template for cover, slideshow generator, and more. Each project Big Huge Labs is based on a template, and the process to complete projects is as follows: Hockneyizer This example is based on what is called the project Hockneyizer, a structure similar to Polaroid frames based on a selected image. 1. Selects and loads one or more photos as the project that you are making. If you have pictures on Flickr.com or a Facebook account, you can access them from Big Huge Labs site, or you can upload from your computer. 2. Customize the background and other parts of the project. 3. Just click the button "Create" and your project will be completed in less than a minute. You can save and download a copy free web size of each project, or you can open an account for high resolution prints. While projects that are on the site are excellent, I would like to highlight some, and also point out some other resources that the site has to offer. Motivators This project allows you to make a poster that promotes motivation, as many times you see sold in stores for gifts. You can create your own title and subtitle adapted to your photo. Cube This is a good project for kids. You need a set of six pictures that are copied to a template, which can be printed on paper and fold into a cube. Color Palette Generator If you're designing a website and want to define what color or colors blend better on design studiowith the main photo of a particular page, or if you are looking for a color to frame your photos, this small resort can be very helpful. Once a photo is loaded, in a few seconds to display a palette of colors to suit the selected photo. The best digital camera Another practical resource that provides the site is a list of "best cameras and models to create and upload photos to Flickr." This list is updated automatically according to EXIF ??data obtained from photographers who post images to the Flickr account. Each camera model listed has a link to Amazon.com product page for the selected camera. Pocket Album This project involves creating a small album of selected photos. The album is small enough to not really need all sizes of termination of the project. It will be enough paper to print the project mate. Slideshow If you're trying to create and post a slide show on the web. Big Huge Labs offers a really simple way to do it. However, each photo you want to use the slide show must be charged on a website with a URL for each particular image. The best thing is that your photos are uploaded to Flickr.com. After selecting your images and create your slideshow, you get a URL for the show host on Big Huge Labs Many other projects and resources that exist in the Big Huge Labs site are primarily for members of Flickr.com, but there are enough creative projects for anyone wanting to do interesting things with digital images.

Design to sell. 8 tricks to increase your web sales

 More and more businesses move their move to the Web, and many more even beginners directly online, from which arises the need of websites designed and built to sell. A well presented website achieves the purpose of forming and deliver a strong brand, but looking good is not enough to sell products or services on offer. So, we need to introduce the elements of marketing.

1. Subliminal suggestion

Research shows that objects and images that you see around you can predisposing to certain behaviors. For example, a study on children showed that after having been shown a Santa hat were more willing to share their goodies with others. The cap was implicit in their minds the concept of sharing and giving, and exposure to it internally prepared them to look more positively the act of sharing. In the same study exposed the boys to a logo "Toys 'R' Us," which had the opposite effect to that of Santa Claus cap, making them less willing to share their candy.

When choosing images for your site, think carefully about the message you're trying to transmit. Choose images that are meaningful and which carry the message or feeling. Do not make graphics for their worth in themselves, if not a role, do not have to be there. The cliches, images and photos too view stock are also dangerous because they can not convey the right message in the given context, rather select images that give the effect you want to obtain.

2. Avoid paralysis of the election

There is a marketing phenomenon known as "paralysis of choice." This occurs when too many options offer the user. Choice is nice, but when you present to your customers too many choices, they may feel confused and not knowing where to go. Nobody wants buyer's remorse (when a person chooses an item and later decide you do not agree), so many people spend more time than the selection process should: become paralyzed.

In fact, according to Barry Schwartz, when clients have too many options to consider, they end up avoiding the purchase of a service or task specific or general (Paradox of Choice), and this is precisely what designers need to have either account in our designs.

To remedy choice paralysis make him easier for people to find the product or service to you. Tell them what the benefits of each option, and then suggests that they should choose. You can use visual aids to highlight the most popular product and tilt it to potential buyers. If the product does not suit them, they will choose another, but if you are confused, a choice "default" helps to avoid paralysis.

3. View the product

• When you visit an actual store, say, groceries, you can look at, examine, and sometimes even test the products for sale. You take your purchasing decision based on the information you collected there. Are the tomatoes ripe? Are those pretty red berries? How about the look and smell of that freshly baked bread?
• When you sell online services or applications, you should do exactly the same: show the product. It's amazing how many websites that sell software does not actually show screenshots of their applications. It is true, are intangible goods, digital goods can not touch or smell, but they are goods you can see.
• People judge products based on their appearance. Why?. Because appearance is an indicator, right or wrong, the usability of a product. This is known as the aesthetic effect-usability.
• If a person sees an interface complicated or confusing or in some cases, only a very attractive interface, tends to assume that not very usable or is hard to learn. However, if the person sees attractive interface and simple look, start to imagine how well it works and want to eat. Get people to imagine using your software, and you'll be closer to closing the sale.

4. Let people try it

Once you start using a product, you get involved with him. Once you start to put data into it, start doing your own. Every second that a dedicated user to test a program is a second of your time invested in learning and using your product.

Later, when asked the user whether to buy or subscribe design studio to the product or service, is more likely to say "yes" because they are involved and invested time in it. Naturally, if the product is bad, then people will reject it, but then your priority would actually improve the product until it reaches a satisfactory level.

Recent years have seen the emergence of the business type "freemium" (word formed by free-free-and premium-first line-). This service allows the customer to use a portion of it free of charge, but requires a purchase to use all its features. This gives the person a sample of the total product but not limited to a trial period. This lets you use the product free of charge with no monetary commitment and then go update it if you like.

It is a good model for many online business Software-as-service photoshop, because once people start using your product, is caught with it. He begins to trust him, and when you trust the product to do business or handle your life, then most likely need the premium features of the full product and will be happy to incorporate because it knows your service.

The stories are very important to make sales because potential customers to imagine how they will use your product. Let people really try free goes even further. No need to imagine because they can start using it directly and without cost. Allowing people to try your product, either through a demo, a trial period or a freemium model, is an excellent way to gain customers. Now this is not really an element of "design" but it is important to mention here for their potential to lead conversions.

5. AIDA

AIDA is a popular sales strategy, and stands for: Attention, Interest, Desire and Action. It is relatively simple and describes the sequence of events that must take into account to achieve a sale. So, first of all, you capture the attention of your potential buyer. Once you have it, you gain their interest by explaining how your product or service can help.

Then, once he is already interested, you generarle the desire of your product.Please example, a story about how this product has helped someone like your visitor can help you figure out what this product can do for him, and especially what benefits it would bring. Without doubt, the benefit is key here because benefits, not features, sell products.

Finally, you need to make people act. This means buying the product or subscribe to the service. If the person wants your product, you can simply press a button to apply. If you are interested but still unsure, there are some methods you can use to motivate them even more, for example, create a sense of urgency with a limited-time offer or limited quantities available.

Yokaboo has great graphics that catch the eye. Is likely to first read the brief description on the left. Then, the inscriptions on the shirt help inspire confidence. Finally presents a call to action to the right. Another interesting example in Spain is this web of unique gifts.

However, the AIDA strategy applies more to the copy-the real marketing text on the website, that the design, so we need to do in terms of design is to reinforce that copy, make it stand out and ensure that visitors to read. This means ensuring that the first thing visitors see the new really grabs your attention. After the passing of the page will direct their focus to the points that achieve the two goals: interest and desire. Finally, at the end of this flow, we need to convert. Then, call to action: "Order Now", "Sign here." 

It is important to understand that the design just does not sell: need a strong text in place to make the most of the work. The design is here to reinforce and support the text, and not vice versa.

This means you should not design a nice website first and then fill the space with words. Instead, think about the message you want to transmit, type text and then build a design that delivers that. If the delivery truck breaks down, the packets do not arrive, but no packages before the delivery truck has nothing to do.

6. Guide care

To benefit from something like AIDA, you have to lead your visitor through your content. This can align items in a fluid, and use pictures to guide your eyes. For example, if you want to put the spotlight at some point, use a big arrow. Our eyes naturally notice the arrow and look in the direction she says.

Structure your content so that flow into something. Having a bunch of scattered descriptions can be confusing and make your visitors get lost, unless, of course, that all points end in calls to action. If you want to make sure your visitors will not miss anything, orders all in a linear structure so that the user can go. Be sure to finish with a final call to action: sign or download a link.

7. Offer the following action

Always be closing. If you have to design a website to sell something, either a software or Internet service, you always have to think about how close the business on each page. This does not mean quierre fill every page with large buttons "Buy Now" means that when the client is ready to buy, do not have to go looking for the link to check out.

Always have links to the next action to maintain current flow and make sure not to lose the attention of potential buyers. The links to the next action may refer the visitor to a page with more information about the product or page where you can actually make the purchase or signing. These links might say something like, "Ready to order? Click here "," More information "or" Buy Now ".

Do not end the page with a dead end: always suggests to your visitors where they should go next.

8. The Gutenberg rule

The Gutenberg diagram (or Gutenberg rule) is a concept that describes something called reading gravity. This phenomenon consists of a reading habit that occurs in the western world: from left to right and top to bottom. The Gutenberg diagram splits the page into four quadrants: "primary optical area" in the upper left "fallow industry strong," the upper right "Sector fallow weak" lower left, and "Terminal Area" the lower right.

The Gutenberg diagram

This suggests that the lower left of the page will get the least attention in the course of sight through the page from the upper left to lower right, and that our eyes will stop on the lower right portion. How can we use this concept? The buttons and calls to action could be placed in the bottom right instead of left lower, since this is the place that probably will illuminate the eyes of the visitor.

Note that the Gutenberg diagram has better chance of working on pages that have a more balanced distribution of content. If parts of your site have areas that are highlighted by high contrast and strong typeface, then those areas are more likely to attract attention and thus guide the way the user will visit the page.