Creating Web Graphics for Nutrinsider 3
What is Nutrinsider about?
The very first thing before starting out is the Briefing. In the Briefing the Client explains the context of the project, for who it is designed (target market) and what he expects from the illustrator or graphic artist.
For the Artist it’s just as important to listen carefully to what exactly the Client says – even take quick notes – as it is to read inbetween the lines, to pick up the atmosphere, colour, rhythm etc. Observe HOW the Client expresses what, where he puts his emphasis and what he is passionate about or not. Open up to your Intuition, ask all the questions that clarify your perception of what is being conveyed to you, get into some serious brainstorming if required and put together your version of the mosaique your Client projects in his formulations.
I love Briefings… as I know what explosive end-results can be triggered from these first and often tentative creative moments when the balls start rolling…
Personally and especially in the case of larger projects, I prefer to record these briefings as it frees me up to giving it all my full attention and free flow of thoughts without the fear of losing a point. I am just more relaxed if I know that I can always go back in case I feel I missed something important.
While I miss the fragrant coffees during Briefings and often a nice lunch afterwards with interesting people, I rarely enjoyed the trips and stress when getting stuck in the highway traffic. Being able to work from home via the PC and communicating with the other end of the world via VOIP – and this without make-up and high heels but MadMax purring on my lap – that’s totally amazing! That’s a Lifestyle I like!
So as you might be reading this for the first time, let me give you an idea about the context for Yorgo’s “90-Day Website Demo Blitz”.
Phase 1 – Introduction to the ‘Job’ - Briefing
I knew since a while that Yorgo was just waiting for the right time to show Distributors and Business Associates of big Multilevel Marketing Companies (MLM) – genre Herbalife – a better and more profitable way to build THEIR business under THEIR name (not the Company’s that they don’t own… and as is clearly stipulated in the Rules & Regulations). Building their business means on one side growing their Networks and Organizations (in other words the Business Opportunity) as well as the Retail side, i.e. the Sale of Products. Especially as he had been very successful with his approach back in 2002.
So how about doing YOUR Business – Marketing Herbalife – the right way Online in 2009?
And why pay more?
In his articles on “Marketing Herbalife on Twitter, Facebook and Google” he clearly explains how the times have changed from then to now – especially on the Internet. The most significant change was the immense increase in what Distributors are paying for Google Ads today… if compared with then, back in 2002.
So the solution today to be successful with your Herbalife or any other Business on the Internet is to be where People are looking for you, your business or your products (in terms of keywords) – which is on Google Top 10.
Ah! That’s where you already are … I hear you shout? I know! Google Ads… you pay heavily to appear on the right side of the screen – under ‘Paid Ads’ – where all your competitiors are, your uplines, downlines, sidelines… and you all fight against each other for Traffic… and this at a terrific cost… especially to those at the end of the MLM food chain.
But did you ever notice that there’s a left side as well?
What’s happening there? Too difficult… impossible you say? A Science for Search Engine Optimizers and spiffy Internet wizzards? You have no time for all that… Right? Well… I thought so myself years back, until I learned how to do it right… and I’ve managed top positions within less than 8 hours and this on over 400 if not 800 MILLION search returns. Little just me! An artist!
So can YOU get there too? Absolutely. . .
The question is do you WANT to get there? If so, read on… this is the story how and its living proof… although my part of it focuses on the Web Graphics, my ‘job’.
I just wanted you to see the context that I was already quite familiar with and that was part of my Briefing to understand who was being addressed and why.
Bottomline, this is how the Client sees it:
Nutrinsider for the Online Visitor
To the online visitor or reader… Nutrinsider will be a new site providing him with interesting and entertaining content in relation to the benefits of healthy nutrition, energy, antiaging and vitality. WithOUT any mentioning of brand names.
Nutrinsider for the Website Owner (Herbalife Distributor)
For the Nutrinsider Owner … this Blog is a Herbalife Marketing arm focused on getting his “…lead generator and product page in front of as many interested and ready to act people as possible, targeting the audience at Google, Twitter and Facebook to generate a growing number of sales and downline networkers in a streamlined and mostly automated way.”
A smart and perfectly duplicatible tool that, once set up correctly, will almost automatically build any Online Business, 24/7/365t… at a fraction of the cost.
Phase 2 – Execution of the ‘Job’ (Web Graphics Design)
Having gone through the Briefing, this was expected from me, the Graphic Designer, as a first phase:
~ To explore and discuss colours, fonts, spaces and positionings… and find a fast solution there and then together with the Client. Which we did…
~ From there to create an attractive but uncommercial background promoting a sense of activity and vitality. This background would be used for both the Nutrinsider and Twitter… and it would automatically set a certain ambience that would be picked up in other elements of the website. My job.
~ Elaborate a fat NUTRINSIDER title, which was done there and then. The Client did it himself… cool!
~ To decide on the various Categories following a Keyword Research on Google; which we did.
~ To create some sexy Ads that appeal to our instincts and why we really want to feel good and be fit and flexible even at 80 :) – withOUT showing any products or brands. My job.
~ To pull up some quick banners for the key categories, eg. Sports Nutrition, Antiaging. My job.
The Time for this?
What do you think?
Nutrinsider on track for “90-Day Website Demo Blitz”
In the good old days I would have gone home, thought about it all, made some sketches and then elaborated on the best version… always hoping that all would go well right through to the end, that the airbrush wouldn’t suddenly spit black splashes and I’d have to start all over again… and it would take a day, a week…
These days are over… and I thank whoever provided us with the gift of “Layers” (as in Photoshop) every single day!
Besides… online the clocks tick faster. The Briefing was after lunch and we worked some hours together on the job.
As of about 7 pm I was alone… and at midnight my job was done – at least in a way that we could look at it in the morning, do some adjustments and move into the next phase presto presto!
That’s all-in-all one long day, 10 hours.
BUT… yes there’s a ‘but’ that can make a large difference!
I had already designed and painted some of the graphic elements I used well before chosing to integrate them into this ‘job’.
Yes… as I work on improving my skills as a digital artist I continuously create and prepare original motives, backgrounds, people and all sorts of graphic elements that I can integrate into my ‘jobs’. It’s a good way to save time. As soon as I have my NIKON Coolpix P-90 I will add my own photos again… finally! All this saves a lot of time and gives you instant ideas for any ‘job’ you get.
Creating Web Graphics for Nutrinsider 4
I will explain more of this in my next post, where I will finally go right into the Web Graphics and the Personalization of the Website. I will show you exactly what I did and give you a lot of tips along the way.
. . .
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[...] our previous article we spoke about the Briefing Phase when Client (say an Agency or anyone who contracted you for the job at hand) and the Artist (say [...]
[...] our previous article we spoke about the Briefing Phase when Client (say an Agency or anyone who contracted you for the job at hand) and the Artist (say [...]