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	<title>Banner Design Blog</title>
	<atom:link href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://bannersmall.com/blog</link>
	<description>Company Blog for BannersMall</description>
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		<title>13 TIPS FOR DESIGNING AN EFFECTIVE BANNER AD</title>
		<link>http://bannersmall.com/blog/13-tips-for-designing-an-effective-banner-ad/</link>
		<comments>http://bannersmall.com/blog/13-tips-for-designing-an-effective-banner-ad/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Apr 2011 06:51:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bannersmall.com/blog/?p=81</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[1. A neatly designed banner has a long-lasting affect in the minds of prospective customers. Therefore, it pays to use a clean banner design instead of a bloated one. 2. Never use silly tricks, as they tend to either irritate or misguide people. 3. Keep account of every penny, even if the designing project is [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a class="post_image_link" href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/13-tips-for-designing-an-effective-banner-ad/" title="Permanent link to 13 TIPS FOR DESIGNING AN EFFECTIVE BANNER AD"><img class="post_image aligncenter remove_bottom_margin" src="http://www.bannersmall.com/blog/images/tips.gif" width="566" height="245" alt="Design tips" /></a>
</p><div>
<p>1. A neatly designed banner has a long-lasting affect in the minds of prospective customers. Therefore, it pays to use a clean <a href="http://www.bannersmall.com" target="_blank" >banner design</a> instead of a bloated one.</p>
<p>2. Never use silly tricks, as they tend to either irritate or misguide people.</p>
<p>3. Keep account of every penny, even if the designing project is assigned to an amateur. This will help you to keep track of the money spent during the campaign.</p>
<p>4. Cluttering your banner with too much text will make it less effective.</p>
<p>5. You will be able to successfully gain the attention of web surfers by making the text stands apart.</p>
<p>6. The formula for success varies from one banner ad to another.</p>
<p>7. You can also the logo as a medium to brand your company by inserting the URL, name, and logo.</p>
<p>8. Well designed web banners provide information in an attractive manner.</p>
<p>9. Ensure that the banner is designed by a trained graphic expert if you want it to look professional.</p>
<p>10.  Customer satisfaction, banners, and flash don’t go hand in hand.</p>
<p>11.  The GIF file will load at a faster rate only if the size is below 15 KB.</p>
<p>12.  Clients will prefer factual information compared to unrealistic promises.</p>
<p>13.  You can achieve better results by placing the ad in popular (customer responsive) locations.</p>
</div>
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		<item>
		<title>Banner Design &#8211; Get the most out of it</title>
		<link>http://bannersmall.com/blog/banner-design-get-the-most-out-of-it/</link>
		<comments>http://bannersmall.com/blog/banner-design-get-the-most-out-of-it/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Apr 2011 06:52:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bannersmall.com/blog/?p=77</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many advertisers have started using banner ads as an effective and inexpensive tool to increase traffic on their websites. I am sure you have wondered how they were able to attract so many customers and what you could do to divert at least a portion of that traffic. Well, what if I said that you [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a class="post_image_link" href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/banner-design-get-the-most-out-of-it/" title="Permanent link to Banner Design &#8211; Get the most out of it"><img class="post_image aligncenter remove_bottom_margin" src="http://www.bannersmall.com/blog/images/get.jpg" width="347" height="346" alt="get the most out of banner design" /></a>
</p><p>Many advertisers have started using banner ads as an effective and inexpensive tool to increase traffic on their websites. I am sure you have wondered how they were able to attract so many customers and what you could do to divert at least a portion of that traffic.</p>
<p>Well, what if I said that you can accomplish this by focusing on <a href="http://www.bannersmall.com" target="_blank" >banner design</a>. Yes, indeed. But, you will need to follow a few guidelines included below to ensure a smooth transition. You will also have to track the <a href="http://www.bannersmall.com" target="_blank" >banner design</a> results to determine what needs to be re-structured and redone.<span id="more-77"></span></p>
<p><strong>1. Find a similar website:</strong></p>
<p>Start by looking out for websites that offer products and services to a similar group of customers (same target group). E.g. If you are a company that sells cosmetic products, you may probably want to explore the sites associated with popular/branded organizations.</p>
<p><strong>Please Note:</strong> The other enterprise should not perceive you as a threat/future competition.</p>
<p><strong>2. Price and barter methods: </strong></p>
<p>Confirm if the cost of advertising your product/service on a specific website is within your budget limitation. This is because sites that have higher SEO ranking charge more. You may want to consider the possibility of exchanging banners with the administrator of the site.</p>
<p><strong>Please Note:</strong> Targeting the same group of customers is bound to increase traffic, save money, and create a win-win situation for both the websites.</p>
<p><strong>3. Placement:</strong></p>
<p>Is another important aspect that attracts traffic to the website and decides the success of your <a href="http://www.bannersmall.com" target="_blank" >banner design</a>. You also need to ensure that you get profits on your returns because popular websites charge a substantial amount of money for the renting out the ad space.</p>
<p>(a) Early advertiser’s believed that placing an ad on top of the page would result in more conversion/sales. However, it has been recently proved that this theory works only if the web banner is extremely attractive and if you don’t have to scroll down.</p>
<p>(b) Others feel that internet visitors will tend to ignore a banner ad placed at the bottom of the web page. Therefore, it is better to place the <a href="http://www.bannersmall.com" target="_blank" >banner design</a> at the top.</p>
<p>(c) Recent studies reveal that placing a web banner right next to the scroll bar results in more conversion because the visitors never miss it. Sometimes it leads to more clicks than the <a href="http://www.bannersmall.com" target="_blank" >banner design</a> appearing at the top of the web page. E.g. it would be economical to go for small banner ads on the right hand side of the website instead of a big banner at the top.</p>
<p>I hope this has increased your understanding about banner ad placement and design considerably.</p>
<p>So, use <a href="http://www.bannersmall.com" target="_blank" >banner design</a>. in a smart way with the available budget and witness a steady increase in progress.</p>
<p>All the best!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Is Banner Advertising Still Effective?</title>
		<link>http://bannersmall.com/blog/is-banner-advertising-still-effective/</link>
		<comments>http://bannersmall.com/blog/is-banner-advertising-still-effective/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:50:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bannersmall.com/blog/?p=65</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Each advertiser adopts a different method because he/she has a unique set of requirements. Some of them look at the level of engagement by studying click-through rates, while others analyze performance by looking at sales leads. The remaining professionals examine impressions because they use web banners for branding their premium inventory. Banner advertising became famous [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a class="post_image_link" href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/is-banner-advertising-still-effective/" title="Permanent link to Is Banner Advertising Still Effective?"><img class="post_image aligncenter remove_bottom_margin" src="http://www.bannersmall.com/blog/images/banner-work.jpg" width="277" height="398" alt="Banner design work" /></a>
</p><p>Each advertiser adopts a different method because he/she has a unique set of requirements. Some of them look at the level of engagement by studying click-through rates, while others analyze performance by looking at sales leads. The remaining professionals examine impressions because they use web banners for branding their premium inventory.</p>
<p>Banner advertising became famous in the late nineties and the popularity lasted until the beginning of the 21<sup>st</sup> century (2004) when email and search optimization were in its infancy.  Web banners have survived the ordeal because advertisers started using a practical approach to stay ahead of the competition posed by other forms of advertising.<span id="more-65"></span></p>
<p>We have included some tips that advertisers should keep in mind while buying banner ads.</p>
<p><strong>NOTE:</strong> These attributes are not arranged in any specific order.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Targeting Customers Based On Sex And Demography</strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">:</span>Your banner ads should be targeted at people belonging to specific demographic regions, sex, and age for maximum results. Networks and publishers charge a premium rate to target this inventory because each category has a different value.You can run a RON (run of network) campaign for a span of two weeks to gather sufficient data<br />
(information about the demo’s, percentage of females and males). You can then ascertain the value of the sites traffic by collating the visitor details (sex and demography).Use this information while negotiating rates for large websites.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> Be cautious with sites that do not offer free tools to target your campaigns at a specific group of customers.</li>
<li><strong>Advertising Above The Fold:</strong>Spend some time to understand how many banners will be placed below the fold and the extension of the fold. Get the agreement documented on paper. Think twice about contracts that do not promise impressions above the fold.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Day-parting: </strong>The rate for the first half of the day varies from the second half.  You can reduce the advertising cost by finding out at what time your site converts best. The concept is known as day-parting (day-part). It means that you don’t have to pay for the entire 24 hours if your website receives maximum traffic and converts really well during the evenings.<strong>Caution:</strong> Networks and publishers will be willing to day-part for only six or twelve hour increments to maintain a good profit margin.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Participate Actively In Daily Reporting:</strong>Advertisers will be able to track LTV and ROI on a daily basis if they receive a detailed analysis (breakdown of reports). It will help them to take appropriate decisions related to the value of banner placements.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Meeting The Geographical Inventory:</strong>Make sure that the publisher or network provides inventory in the country where you are bound to get traffic. Set up the agreement in written form so they may end up misguiding.E.g. You may inadvertently sign up with in a foreign market (South Asia) for a huge discount even though your business needs traffic from Canada.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Limiting The Frequency:</strong>We have seen that inventory does not convert when it has been not been capped. So, think about it when networks provide you a discount for running a campaign without frequency limitations.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Reciprocate Transparency and Evaluate Creativity: </strong>Send a daily report to your publisher/network especially if he/she is part of an ad network and has employed links to track the performance of creative individuals pertaining to an offer.E.g. If 3214 working through the network promotes an offer (3214 would match to the url sending traffic). And, if the 3214 is using two different banner placements (468X60 and 234X60) to boost a creative theme for Easter. The reporting would be as follows:3214_468X60_Easter_Egg(OR)3214_234X60_Easter_BunnyAlways remember that data is your best friend in times of crises. Therefore, you need to set up a system to monitor and interpret the granular details like theme name, LTV (Lifetime Value), creative size, and ROI (Return On Investment).<strong>Note:</strong> We can interpret following details from the first coding example mentioned above.3214 = Name of the publisher
<p>468X60 = Size of the <a href="http://www.bannersmall.com" target="_blank">web banner</a></p>
<p>Easter = Name of the theme</p>
<p>Egg = Creative’s name</p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> This will help advertisers to take appropriate decisions after looking at inventory that is converting and ones that are not.</li>
<li><strong>Watch Out For Ever-changing Refresh Rates: </strong>It refers to the charge incurred when a page refreshes automatically every 30 seconds. Do not enter into an agreement with publishers, networks or sites that follow this methodology. You will end up losing a lot of money and it will affect the overall performance of your website</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Put Restrictions On New Purchases:</strong>Set a limit on the daily impressions when you are working with the publisher or network. This will ensure that you protect your organization and don’t get burnt during the process.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Banner Advertisements Blocked:</strong> <a href="http://www.bannersmall.com" target="_blank">Advertisement banners</a> have become increasingly popular over the years. This means that users get bombarded by web banners when every time they access the social network or visit major portals. Web browsers have now equipped internet visitors with tools to block banners that are intrusive.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Option To Push Back: </strong>You should have the option to push back on the offer if you do not get appropriate access to demographic targeting, frequency capping, day parting, rates, and reporting.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Be Wary Of The Out-Clause:</strong>You should stay away from networks/publishers that want to get out of the contract in 30 days. Do not sign an agreement with any individual who offers an out-clause greater than 24-48hrs (business days) unless you really trust the person or organization they work for.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Constantly Testing Banner Ad Designs For Success:</strong></p>
<p>Addition to <a href="http://www.bannersmall.com" target="_blank">animated banners</a> be willing to spend a sufficient portion of the testing budget on emerging advertising methods (IP targeted banners, and video banners).</p>
<p>You should constantly obtain reports from the IT department, check the web-logs, and calculate the money spent for things to fall in place. Banner advertising will become profitable only when you execute the procedures in the right sequence.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Thesis WordPress Theme &#8211; Review</title>
		<link>http://bannersmall.com/blog/thesis-wordpress-theme-review/</link>
		<comments>http://bannersmall.com/blog/thesis-wordpress-theme-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:35:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bannersmall.com/blog/?p=56</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Thesis has became one of the most popular premium WordPress Themes since it was launched a year ago by Chris Pearson. This premium template system was designed to serve as the base and support websites/blogs using WordPress. Anyone can use this theme to create, customize, and run a nice looking blog/ website in a professional [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a class="post_image_link" href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/thesis-wordpress-theme-review/" title="Permanent link to Thesis WordPress Theme &#8211; Review"><img class="post_image aligncenter remove_bottom_margin" src="http://www.bannersmall.com/blog/images/wordpress-thesis.jpg" width="425" height="250" alt="Post image for Thesis WordPress Theme &#8211; Review" /></a>
</p><p>Thesis has became one of the most popular premium WordPress Themes since it was launched a year ago by Chris Pearson. This premium template system was designed to serve as the base and support websites/blogs using WordPress. Anyone can use this theme to create, customize, and run a nice looking blog/ website in a professional manner. The interface provides tactical precision by efficiently combining HTML + CSS + PHP framework with easy-to-use controls. All this can be done without writing pages of code. It has become a powerful, safer, smarter, and easier way to manage blogs today.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Why Choose Thesis? </strong></span></p>
<p>Many people have started wondering if it worth paying $87 for a premium theme. I am going to provide an honest opinion about the advantages and disadvantages of Thesis WordPress. I advise you to skip this article if you are going to feel uncomfortable reading this review further.<span id="more-56"></span></p>
<p><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="330" src="http://blip.tv/play/AYGuzUUC" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Design And Easy Layout Customization Option:</span></strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Thesis has a beautifully laid out theme by default and has the right balance of white space. It provides good looks for all types of subjects and businesses. Unlike the old versions you can change the entire layout (columns, width, and the order in which they are displayed) by clicking a few options on the Design Options panel.</p>
<p>It’s possible to easily upload a professional header image or make changes to the sidebars, body, and headlines. You will get a background starter kit after downloading the theme. This will help you to customize the main surroundings easily.</p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> You can use this powerful tool to design the website exactly the way you want.</p>
<p>You can use the new Thesis customization system and the revolutionary generator to test different layouts, and pinpoint font controls. This will help you to produce unique designs without doing any coding. You can use the custom stylesheet and the skins if you want to make changes to the CSS styling and appearance of the website.  The inbuilt customization function can also be used to post/ create rotating photos or videos.</p>
<p>In short, it’s a matter of opinion if you want to spend money on something that will save you a lot of headaches compared to the few inconveniences one may experience by using the free version of WordPress. Technically speaking you won’t have to buy another theme because you will get free upgrades and support.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ease Of Use:</span></strong></p>
<p>You can change your site layout, other site settings, upload site header, and font controls even if you are not aware of CSS/ HTML.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">24/7 Support:</span></strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Thesis WordPress Theme has grown really fast since it was first released. All the future upgrades are free in addition to the remarkable support provided by Chris and the Thesis community. The tutorial and third-party sites are built around the latest WordPress theme.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Built-In Programming Assistant:</span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>Website owners who are not technical sound have a tough time recruiting and guiding a group of PHP programmers. The Thesis control panel provides the option to monitor your website while performing heavy duty work in the background. It helps to put together the visual clarity and typography with mathematical precision.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">35,027 Customers:</span></strong></p>
<p>Are relying on incredible design flexibility, lightning-fast loading times, and airtight SEO. It is the most popular WordPress theme used by bloggers around the world.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Updates On A Regular Basis:</span></strong></p>
<p>Upgrades are available at no extra cost and take place every three months. New features are being added to the existing software to ensure that it develops with your business.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Integrated SEO Software:</span></strong></p>
<p>WordPress is considered one of the most search engine friendly blogging platforms. The new version (Thesis) was developed to maximize Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and search engine ranking. However, the way your theme is laid out affects how search engines recognize your site.</p>
<p>Good news is that Thesis uses canonical (search engine friendly) urls, and a clean code structure. Further, you don’t need to purchase additional plugins like (SEO pack WordPress) to specify meta tags and title tags. You can use the features mentioned above to tweak your blog without much effort.</p>
<p><strong>Other Features Available With The Thesis WordPress Theme: </strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Options Manager – Permits customers to save, restore, and backup custom Thesis settings.</li>
<li>JavaScript Libraries – Can be used to add MooTools, jQuery UI, Prototype, and jQuery with a single click.</li>
<li>Multimedia Box that can be modified – You can use the media box in Thesis to rotate videos, random images, or advertise using your own custom code. You can also display different<br />
forms, images, and videos on each page.</li>
<li>24/7 Support &#8211; Customers have access to online help, video tutorials, support forums and assistance of talented staff throughout the year.</li>
<li>Rich Style Classes &#8211; You can follow the instructions included in the built in classes to make your content stand apart. This includes wrapping text around adsense ads or adding a drop-cap, alert box, or a note box.</li>
<li>Hooks &#8211; Is a feature that authorizes you to subtract, modify, or add a new functionality during the Thesis installation. You can make the necessary changes to just two key files while upgrading Thesis.</li>
<li>Faultless Pixel Typography – Thesis provides customers the option to select various sizes, and type of font for different sections in the theme. This results in maximum legibility.</li>
<li>Future Proof Customization System – Customers can make modifications using the custom style sheet and protect it against future upgrades.</li>
<li>Colour Control – You can literally change the color of every element in the theme including background, border, link, text, etc.</li>
<li>Previous coding experience is not required – You can control your website without previous knowledge or experience in PHP, CSS, and HTML.</li>
<li>Thesis Is Stable &#8211; Thesis is built in such a way so that no one can accidentally/intentionally mess around with the core files.</li>
<li>Minimized the usage of Plug-ins – You can use the Thesis theme options panel to manage header and footer codes, SEO, Google analytics, and navigation menu options.</li>
<li>Teasers and Features – The ‘features and teasers’ option enables customers to create a front page with short excerpts, thumbnails, and posts giving it the look of a magazine.</li>
<li>Automatic Thumbnail Creation – Thesis will automatically generate thumbnails for your posts by resizing pictures.</li>
<li>Thesis Options Panel – You can use the control panel to modify different aspects of the framework with ease. You can make changes to the meta data, archive page, page titles, RSS feed, font styles, and appearance of the navigation menu.<strong> </strong></li>
<li>You can add Google Analytics/ Mint tracking code without altering the existing files.</li>
<li>You can configure the layout of your title tag.</li>
<li>You can specify the pages that you want to appear on the navigation menu and regroup them on the fly.</li>
<li>You can use the feed burner link to replace the default feed.</li>
<li>You can upload Youtube videos, add banner ads, or rotate pictures on your site by using the Thesis Theme multimedia box.</li>
<li>Customers have the ability to integrate their own analytics tracking codes, analytics software (Piwik/ Google Analytics), and JavaScript libraries like Prototype, Mootools, JQuery directly into the control panel.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Drawbacks: </strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Instructions have been provided to on how to make the background settings natural and use the widgets in the footer. However, novice customers would definitely appreciate a built in feature.</li>
<li>The steps to customize the header are not very simple to understand.</li>
<li>Unfortunately, Thesis does not have a built in post slider with readymade themes.</li>
<li>You can only add custom styles by using the File Transfer Protocol. This means that it is not possible to overwrite the main CSS stylesheet by updating the theme.</li>
<li>A few improvements need to be done on Thesis before it can be used to create photo blogs with WordPress attachments.</li>
<li>You should have basic knowledge of CSS coding/hire a Thesis coder to achieve the maximum output. The self help and support options can only help you to tweak things to a certain extent.</li>
<li>If you have many trackbacks they are pushed below the comments making it impossible to see the information.<strong>I feel it would be great if the changes are incorporated.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Who Will Benefit By Purchasing Thesis WordPress Theme: </strong></p>
<p>The premium WordPress theme will be useful to both new and experienced bloggers. You could purchase the license for a single website if you want to get a hang of blogging.</p>
<p>The developer license is suitable for a person who deals with multiple blogs.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong><a title="Thesis website" href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/visit/thesis/" target="_blank">Click Here to Visit Thesis Website</a></strong></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion:<br />
</strong><br />
New features (loop API, and Google Fonts) and the time spent on development have made Thesis king of the hill. It has increased the design capabilities of a novice user to a great extent. The built in SEO with internal framework is amazing. Most people like Thesis WordPress Theme because it is easy to customize, beautiful, clean, crisp and flexible to operate.</p>
<p>The lifetime support and upgrades are not available with the services offered by other providers. Saving a premium product will definitely save you a lot of precious time. You can try the product and apply for the money back guarantee if you are unhappy. It appears that Thesis will continue to be a driving force in the development of WordPress themes.</p>
<p>In short Thesis would provide a solid foundation for anyone who wants to turn blogging into a serious profession.</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a title="Thesis website" href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/visit/thesis/" target="_blank"></a><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><a title="Thesis website" href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/visit/thesis/" target="_blank">Click Here to Visit Thesis Website</a></strong></span></h2>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
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		<title>Distraction &#8211; The greater evil at work</title>
		<link>http://bannersmall.com/blog/distraction-the-greater-evil-at-work/</link>
		<comments>http://bannersmall.com/blog/distraction-the-greater-evil-at-work/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 08:42:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bannersmall.com/blog/?p=48</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The overall satisfaction of performing a job is reduced because of interruptions and distractions. Employees are expected to do more with less resources, guidance, and time. This takes a toll on relationships within the organization causing resentment, anger and dissatisfaction. Lets identify some of the most common distractions before we discuss about the methods to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a class="post_image_link" href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/distraction-the-greater-evil-at-work/" title="Permanent link to Distraction &#8211; The greater evil at work"><img class="post_image aligncenter remove_bottom_margin" src="http://bannersmall.com/blog/images/999.jpg" width="315" height="397" alt="disctraction" /></a>
</p><p>The overall satisfaction of performing a job is reduced because of interruptions and distractions. Employees are expected to do more with less resources, guidance, and time. This takes a toll on relationships within the organization causing resentment, anger and dissatisfaction.</p>
<p>Lets identify some of the most common distractions before we discuss about the methods to tackle them:</p>
<p><strong>Phone Calls: </strong></p>
<p>Many of us have the urge to immediately answer a phone call made to the office line or our cell phone. We feel that it would be inappropriate to ignore/switch off the phone even if it is connected to an answering machine. There is a feeling that it might either tarnish our image or disrupt the relationship with our auto mechanic, real estate agent, friend, doctor, coworker, customer, lawyer, accountant, boss, or family member.</p>
<p><strong>Unscheduled Meetings: </strong></p>
<p>Meetings without specific action steps, good facilitator, clear agenda, or the right people will only result in waste of time, energy and resources.<span id="more-48"></span></p>
<p><strong>Instant Messaging and Internet Access:</strong></p>
<p>Online chat is often over-used as a communication tool. Thus, the employees lose focus when multiple popup windows appear on the screen/ become visible at a regular frequency. Internet access is another culprit that enables a procrastinating employee to spend productive time searching for irrelevant topics on the internet.</p>
<p><strong>Technology Problems: </strong></p>
<p>Poorly working (computer freezing), non-functioning equipment (hard drive crashes, printers out of toner), server issues, loss of power would definitely result in a lot of stress and frustration.</p>
<p><strong>Office Environment: </strong></p>
<p>Office ergonomics play a major role in increasing efficiency and productivity. Employees may find it hard to concentrate if the office is messy, chairs are not comfortable, temperature is inappropriate, no privacy, excess noise, poor lighting, and offensive odors.</p>
<p><strong>Attitude of the Employees: </strong></p>
<p>Stress, frustration, needless worries, and talks like “I am not smart enough”, “I cannot do this”, will result in poor performance and pave the way to negative behavior and actions.</p>
<p><strong>E-Mails: </strong></p>
<p>Most of time people receive large quantities of unsolicited e-mails that occupy a significant portion of their in-boxes. Sometimes, they get mails from unrealistic recipients seeking an immediate response to their query/problem.</p>
<p><strong>Individual Needs: </strong></p>
<p>A company should either directly or indirectly cater to the psychological, safety, social, and physical needs of its employees, their family members and colleagues. Further, addiction to caffeine, workaholism, and smoking also effects productivity.</p>
<p><strong>Inadequate Training: </strong></p>
<p>Workers are bound to experience frustration, ego, fear, and embarrassment if the employer does not match their skill set with the appropriate job.  It is also important to provide adequate training to tap the potential of the employees.</p>
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		<title>Tough times call for tough measures</title>
		<link>http://bannersmall.com/blog/tough-times-call-for-tough-measures/</link>
		<comments>http://bannersmall.com/blog/tough-times-call-for-tough-measures/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:32:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bannersmall.com/blog/?p=30</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Frankly, it’s difficult for us to be content, satisfied and happy on every single day. Sometimes we don’t feel like working when we wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Managers and Entrepreneurs find it even harder to maintain positive thoughts in the workplace when the economy is under financial pressure. However, a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a class="post_image_link" href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/tough-times-call-for-tough-measures/" title="Permanent link to Tough times call for tough measures"><img class="post_image aligncenter remove_bottom_margin" src="http://bannersmall.com/blog/images/tough.gif" width="400" height="311" alt="tough times" /></a>
</p><p><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Frankly, it’s difficult for us to be content, satisfied and happy on every single day. Sometimes we don’t feel like working when we wake up on the wrong side of the bed.</span></strong></p>
<p>Managers and Entrepreneurs find it even harder to maintain positive thoughts in the workplace when the economy is under financial pressure. However, a positive work environment is important for the success of both large and small organizations. Therefore, they have the obligation to pass on the positive energy to the workforce, even if they are running low on positive thoughts.<span id="more-30"></span></p>
<p>Work can become miserable if you start harboring negative feelings and opinions. Nagging and coercing employees in an attempt to resolve the problem will only result in a stale work atmosphere. Good, efficient, and loyal employees will start leaving if they experience efficient poor management/ unwanted stress/ futile attempt to address issues.</p>
<p>One can say that it is a good place to work when employees:</p>
<ul>
<li>Skill set matches their job</li>
<li>Have friends they can talk to</li>
<li>Are praised and encouraged to demonstrate creativity</li>
<li>Feel appreciated</li>
<li>Show a sense of company loyalty and pride</li>
<li>Are doing a good job</li>
<li>Have good relationship with their supervisors</li>
<li>Enjoy working</li>
<li>Think it is fun to work in the company</li>
<li>Are recognized for good work</li>
<li>Feel like they are part of a team</li>
<li>Like coming to work</li>
<li>Are respected</li>
<li>Feel that his/her manager is approachable</li>
<li>Sense room for growth</li>
<li>Are valued for their ideas</li>
</ul>
<p>Read through some of the tips mentioned below to create a positive environment at your workplace:</p>
<p><strong>(a) </strong><strong>Show Interest in Your Team Members by:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Compliment their work</li>
<li>acknowledge their suggestions</li>
<li>Seeking his/her opinion</li>
<li>Smile during the conversation</li>
<li>Maintaining eye contact</li>
<li>Addressing the person by his/her name</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>(b) </strong><strong>Try to Create a Motivating and Encouraging Environment by:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Appreciating your employees</li>
<li>Thanking the staff for their contributions</li>
<li>Adopting flexibility</li>
<li>Cherishing fun and laughter</li>
<li>Rewarding new ideas</li>
<li>Valuing their ideas</li>
<li>Cheering creativity  and risks</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>(c) </strong><strong>Reward and Re-enforce Good Performance by:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Meeting them first even during a busy schedule</li>
<li>Dining with them</li>
<li>Booking tickets to an event/taking them on an outing</li>
<li>Offering discount coupons</li>
<li>Putting up their pictures on the bulletin board</li>
<li>Giving a standing ovation for him/her during a meeting</li>
<li>Writing a letter of appreciation</li>
<li>Promoting him/her</li>
<li>Giving them time off</li>
<li>Allocating/booking special parking space</li>
<li>Complimenting employees with a smile</li>
<li>Using thumbs-up gesture</li>
<li>Saying &#8220;Thank you&#8221;</li>
<li>Making an announcement of their achievements</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>OUTCOME:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Employees will</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Have increased self-esteem</li>
<li>Work harder resulting in more turnover and higher productivity</li>
<li>Feel confident to contribute innovative ideas</li>
<li>Be more committed</li>
<li>Will refrain from indulging in sabotage activities</li>
<li>Show greater loyalty</li>
<li>Refer and recommend others to the company because of good reputation</li>
<li>Look forward to come to work</li>
<li>Become more productive</li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Promoting Your Website Through Banner Ads</title>
		<link>http://bannersmall.com/blog/promoting-your-website-through-banner-ads/</link>
		<comments>http://bannersmall.com/blog/promoting-your-website-through-banner-ads/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:22:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bannersmall.com/blog/?p=27</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Research indicates that web banners do a pretty good job of marketing a service or product.  They help the customers to locate the advertiser’s website and make the purchase by spending the minimum amount of time and money. People have different opinions when it comes to determining the characteristics of a credible-looking banner ad.  Some [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a class="post_image_link" href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/promoting-your-website-through-banner-ads/" title="Permanent link to Promoting Your Website Through Banner Ads"><img class="post_image aligncenter remove_bottom_margin" src="http://bannersmall.com/blog/images/promotion.jpg" width="450" height="299" alt="Post image for Promoting Your Website Through Banner Ads" /></a>
</p><p>Research indicates that web banners do a pretty good job of marketing a service or product.  They help the customers to locate the advertiser’s website and make the purchase by spending the minimum amount of time and money.</p>
<p>People have different opinions when it comes to determining the characteristics of a credible-looking banner ad.  Some believe that it is a classic example of fine art while others simply find it intrusive and disgusting.<span id="more-27"></span></p>
<p>After some performing analysis we found that a credible-looking <a href="http://www.bannersmall.com" target="_blank" >banner design</a> should have a soothing effect on the eyes, provide clear directions to the internet visitor, offer genuine information, and not draw traffic by simply promoting quick-get-rich schemes (e.g. offering a surfer $100 because he is the 9,999 visitor to the home page).</p>
<p>Some advertisers target their audiences/visitors by using a Search Engine feature called keyword advertising. Therefore, the banner ad pops up on the computer screen when the internet user types a specific keyword.  It is based on the theory that web surfers will find banners more appealing because it matches with their search criteria.</p>
<p>You need to remember a few concepts in order to reap the benefits of banner advertising.</p>
<p>CTR &#8211; The acronym stands for “Click Through Rate”. It shows how many people clicked on the banner after reviewing it. This concept is used measure the exposure and effectiveness of a banner ad.</p>
<p>Advertising Cost Per Sale – The main aim of advertisers is to sell the service or product. Advertising Cost Per Sale shows the relation between sales volume and the money spent on advertising.</p>
<p>CPM – This acronym stands for  “Cost Per Thousand”. It means that the hosting company will be paid a certain amount for every thousand times the banner is displayed on the website. E.g. $20 per CPM, it means that you will have to pay the hosting company $20 for every 1,000 times the banner ad is displayed on their website. Companies can benefit by advertising on a hosting website with lower CPM.</p>
<p><strong>Please Note:</strong> Start off by using a few banner ads in your campaign and continue the process as long as they are effective.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Customer Satisfaction – Old wine in new bottle</title>
		<link>http://bannersmall.com/blog/customer-satisfaction-%e2%80%93-old-wine-in-new-bottle/</link>
		<comments>http://bannersmall.com/blog/customer-satisfaction-%e2%80%93-old-wine-in-new-bottle/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:45:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bannersmall.com/blog/?p=21</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today several concepts have developed around Customer Service. There has been an explosion in the number of books, e-books, articles, blogs, related to Marketing and Customer Psychology. It’s like someone has discovered the means to satisfy the ends. Silly as it seems, each of us were already aware of these concepts when we were young. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a class="post_image_link" href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/customer-satisfaction-%e2%80%93-old-wine-in-new-bottle/" title="Permanent link to Customer Satisfaction – Old wine in new bottle"><img class="post_image aligncenter remove_bottom_margin" src="http://www.bannersmall.com/blog/images/customer-satisfaction.gif" width="400" height="267" alt="customer satsifaction" /></a>
</p><p>Today several concepts have developed around Customer Service. There has been an explosion in the number of books, e-books, articles, blogs, related to Marketing and Customer Psychology. It’s like someone has discovered the means to satisfy the ends.</p>
<p>Silly as it seems, each of us were already aware of these concepts when we were young. That’s right, I am sure that you were sent on errands to buy vegetables, fruits, and other essential commodities. Let’s see how the needs of sensitive adolescents are similar to some of the current marketing concepts. <span id="more-21"></span></p>
<p><strong>1.  Respect your client’s time:</strong></p>
<p>Did you ever end up listening to the personal jumble mumble of a shop keeper/store manager. Someone who starts off by saying how things were in their days, how things have changed, how the world should be, etc. I totally empathize with you if you were a victim of such an encounter. I understand it can be nerve racking to listen to some on go on and on while your friends are waiting for you/ it’s time for your favorite TV show/need to accompany your dad to the baseball game.</p>
<p>Honestly, things have not changed today. We continue to get calls, emails, and personal visits from new or existing companies.  Like old days we would surely appreciate people who make fewer phone calls, write crisper emails and conduct short discussions.</p>
<p><strong>2.  Foresee his/her needs:</strong></p>
<p>We definitely liked visit shops/stores where the people made the purchasing experience easier for us. Like Mr. Perez who knew about what I normally purchased every week. He always used to help me gather the necessary goods even if they had been shifted to another section.</p>
<p>Well, it’s the same in the 21<sup>st</sup> century. We appreciate business owners who make suggestions about products and services based on previous interactions. This saves us the energy, time and makes us feel important.</p>
<p><strong>3.  Find new ways to help your client:</strong></p>
<p>I remember telling Mr. Perez how I felt about percentage calculations. He asked me to visit the shop during the weekend. To my surprise, he had been working on my problem and introduced to me a retired Maths teacher living in our locality. I walked away with tears in my eyes. I never thought that a busy person like Mr. Perez would actually take time to find a solution for my personal development.</p>
<p>I am sure that you will remember a business associate if he/she makes a recommendation to resolve an ongoing business problem. The person is probably trying to make an impressing if he/she continuous sending/forwarding/spamming you with articles.</p>
<p><strong>4.  Show that you care for the community: </strong></p>
<p>I remember the time when Steve’s (my friends) Daisy (Labrador Retriever) went missing. All of us got together and put up her picture around the neighborhood.   When I informed Mr. Perez about the incident, he put up the photo at his cash counter and assured us that nothing would happen to our beloved companion. Daisy was found after a few days but we will never forget the help provided by a simple shop owner to support our cause.</p>
<p>Today…I see companies and business doing their best to participate in social outreach and community programs. This is because they understand that nothing bonds individuals more than making a difference to the people/family/community/world.</p>
<p><strong>5.  Shower them with surprises whenever possible: </strong></p>
<p>I always accompanied my parents to Mr. Perez’s shop during Christmas because, I knew that he would have a gift ready for me. It’s like I was his favorite little-customer/customers son. I never ever felt that he was trying to lure my parents by pleasing me. It was always real.</p>
<p>The same concept would be applicable to any of us today. We would be pleased if a company or business provided us an unexpected service/sold products at low cost/gave us a discount or something for free. You will probably feel on the top of the world if they used words like, “This is a token of my gratitude for your business” in a genuine tone.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion:</strong></p>
<p>I know it sounds stupid always talking about Mr. Perez throughout the post. But, the truth is that building relationships has become more important than ever. There is nothing trivial or insignificant when you are dealing with a customer. Bear in mind that clients help us to earn profits, give feedback, and provide us the motivation to work for the next day.  Clients are more precious than the money we earn.</p>
<p>Surprisingly, Mr. Perez never went to a Business School to learn these concepts. He simply followed his hear to re-enforce relationships by outperforming his consumers expectations.</p>
<p>I end this piece of writing with a quote he once told me….</p>
<p>“Un hombre de honor nunca debe olvidar lo que es porque ve lo que otros están”</p>
<p><strong>It means:</strong></p>
<p>“A man of honour should never forget what he is because he sees what others are.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Tips for selecting a good banner designing company</title>
		<link>http://bannersmall.com/blog/tips-for-selecting-a-good-banner-designing-company/</link>
		<comments>http://bannersmall.com/blog/tips-for-selecting-a-good-banner-designing-company/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 06:07:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bannersmall.com/blog/?p=9</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is crucial to select the right company/agency while creating a new banner ad or re-designing an existing web banner. The guidelines mentioned below will ensure that you select the right banner designing company. The tips should help you succeed without spending a lot of time and money. 1. Find out your need: You need [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a class="post_image_link" href="http://bannersmall.com/blog/tips-for-selecting-a-good-banner-designing-company/" title="Permanent link to Tips for selecting a good banner designing company"><img class="post_image aligncenter remove_bottom_margin" src="http://www.bannersmall.com/blog/images/lineup.png" width="398" height="298" alt="Best banner design company" /></a>
</p><p>It is crucial to select the right company/agency while creating a new <a title="Banner ad" href="http://www.bannersmall.com" target="_blank">banner ad</a> or re-designing an existing web banner. The guidelines mentioned below will ensure that you select the right banner designing company. The tips should help you succeed without spending a lot of time and money.<span id="more-9"></span></p>
<p><strong>1. Find out your need:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>You need to determine what your website requires. This will ensure that you have the appropriate funds to complete the assigned task. It’s hard for a banner designing agency to continue if you frequently change your mind.</p>
<p><strong>2. Perform basic research to evaluate the work:</strong></p>
<p>You will be able to judge the quality of work only if you have basic knowledge about Adobe Photoshop and web banner designing. Go through the techniques, and guidelines for creating effective banner ads on the internet.</p>
<p><strong>3. Review the agencies website:<br />
</strong><br />
You can tell a lot about the agencies potential by reviewing the company website. Spelling mistakes and poorly designed banners show lack of commitment and expertise. It’s like an untidy sales man inviting you to buy insurance.</p>
<p><strong>4. Go through the company&#8217;s portfolio:<br />
</strong><br />
You should definitely take look at the company <a title="portfolio" href="http://www.bannersmall.com/portfolio130.shtml" target="_blank">portfolio</a> and perform a background check to make sure that it is legitimate. It will give you a brief idea about the quality of their work, specialization and expertise. <strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>5. Compare the prices: </strong></p>
<p>Shop on the internet to find about the sizes and rates offered by different companies. Compare the price of your banner designing agency with the rest of its competitors. Ensure that it is not too low or too high. You will definitely be able to make the right choice after reviewing multiple options.<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>6. Try contacting the old clients:</strong></p>
<p>I know that it sounds a little awkward! Don’t forget that word of mouth is the best and most candid form of advertising. The previous clients are bound to share their feelings (happy/dissatisfied). You can find out information about the previous customers by either visiting the <a title="BannersMall Testimonials" href="http://www.bannersmall.com/testimonials.html" target="_blank">testimonials</a> section or asking the agency to you provide the details.</p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong> New companies that do not have a significant number of clients may do a good. This means that you will have to evaluate the banner designing agency using other factors.</p>
<p><strong>7. Check their response time:</strong></p>
<p>You need to find out if the company is keen to address your query. Remember that they should cater to your request even if you are only a small/medium sized business. They are no better than the other money making laggards if they do not respond within a timely manner.</p>
<p><strong>8. Find out if the company is in synchrony with the current marketing trend:<br />
</strong><br />
Online advertising and marketing is evolving on a daily basis. You don’t have to be a subject matter expert to reach a conclusion. Just see if the banner ad designs reflect the latest trends and recent concepts. You can accomplish this by performing a Google search for the topics mentioned below.<strong><br />
</strong><br />
* Do&#8217;s and don&#8217;ts of banner ad creation<strong> </strong></p>
<p>* Designing user friendly banners</p>
<p>* Top 10 banner designing tips</p>
<p>* Basic rules for creating web banners</p>
<p><strong>9. Provide the agency a simple assignment: </strong></p>
<p>It would be wise to test the efficiency and effectiveness of the designing company before you assign a big project. Ask them to create a small banner to judge their skills and see if they can meet a stringent deadline.</p>
<p><strong>10. Employees with good communication skills: </strong></p>
<p>The ability to communicate effectively is of vital importance. They should be able to understand your messages and provide appropriate answers to your questions. The company should be able to explain the outcome of their designing process and how it would benefit you.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion:</strong></p>
<p>Using a banner ad can in your marketing strategies can become a nightmare if you don’t select the correct designing agency. Therefore, it’s important to establish partnership with a company like Banners Mall <img src='http://bannersmall.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' />  that provides efficient and dependable service.</p>
<p>I hope that the information provided above will help you in the future.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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