Do you ever feel like you and your graphic designer are from two different planets?

You need each other to thrive, but sometimes there’s a break in communication, causing yet another inefficiency in the already complex world of content — a string of emails so full of attachments, revisions and terms so confusing, you’ll never swim your way to the top.

Here at DMD, we’ve experienced both sides of the time warp. We are happy to announce that there are some easy ways to reduce the confusion and shorten those email chains from the start. 

In our previous blog, we talked about the importance of having a mobile presence for your company's online marketing efforts today. Among the facts we pointed out: mobile now accounts for 25% of all Web usage, and 4 out of 5 consumers use a smartphone for shopping. 

Many people using their phones on the go are using them to check email. So how can you make sure your company's email design looks the best on every device? Check out some of our tips, below.

As a small business owner, you know the importance of the Internet to your company — in attracting customers, advertising your services or merchandise, and competing more effectively with the big guys.

And you likely know, or have noticed, that people access the Internet in various ways, from desktops and laptops to, increasingly, smartphones and tablets. We're focusing on mobile here, because your business likely already has a website — but if that website isn't responsive, you're losing out on a growing segment of your ideal and actual clientele.

When searching the web for anything related to design you're going to run into a huge selection. I am going to give you a list of the top 5 that I regularly browse. These sites range from user-submitted work, industry professional insight, design freebies, wallpapers, tutorials and much, much more.

Businesses are always trying to balance keeping costs low and providing the most value to their clients and their brand. If everyone could afford to use Omniture to set up custom analytics and have custom proposals created in In Design, they would. But many small businesses have to make choices every day to make sure they're spending every dollar wisely. That's why I wanted to write a blog this week to let small businesses owners know why graphic design is one area where a small investment goes a long way.

1. We get the job done- right

Have you ever tried fixing something in your home only to make the problem much worse? And in turn end up spending more money and time then you would have just hiring a professional in the first place? We spend years upon years studying graphic design application and design aesthetics. You may have a natural eye for design and may be very artistic but each design program has a huge learning curve to be able to produce what you are envisioning, we can do that for you.

When it comes to branding, consistency is of prime importance, even in social media. Or, perhaps, especially in social media, because that media is of increasing importance today to promoting your company and your products—or, your brand.

Your consumer will spot inconsistencies in your branding, and may lose trust in you and your business because of them. Companies like Coca-Cola have stood the test of time because they have a clear and concise message, look, and feel. You know Coca-Cola when you see it, and that’s how you want your company to be, as well.

Guest Blog from DesignRFix.com

The quality and usability of your shopping cart can make or break a deal. A friendly, sales-oriented shopping cart can smoothen the process of online shopping, and can also persuade visitors to buy more. Needless to say, you want a shopping cart that helps you get more sales and conversions.

While the real challenge is to understand the needs, desires, preferences and idiosyncrasies of your visitors to create an intensely targeted shopping experience, simply following the best practices of shopping cart design and getting the basics right can also contribute to a bigger bottom line. Let’s take a look at what you can do to transform your shopping cart into a powerful sales machine.

Pick a city, start a search, and links to dozens of dental practices instantly pop up.

Clearly, dentists are as aware as anyone of the importance of online tools and social media in growing their practice.

Guest Blog by Dan Stables, Owner of Stables Creative Group

I had a friend ask me recently about the difference between Marketing and Branding. While related and intertwined in application, in definition they are very different.

Branding is the process of creating a unique name and image for a company and/or product in the customers’ minds. Branding aims to establish a significant and differentiated presence in the market that attracts and retains loyal customers.

Predicting the next trend is pretty hard to do, but if you take a look at what was popular in 2013, you will start to see what will continue and what will expand off of those ideas. Every creative wants to come up with something that is their own unique design, but it’s also important to follow visual trends, or at least be aware of them. I recently purchased the December PRINT magazine that recapped the 2013 regional designs. This gave me good insight into what I think may evolve in 2014.