Promo Creep
Hustle harder.Run more ads.Spam people.Interrupt.Make the logo bigger.Make it spin.Add some click bait.Wait, lets make videos.Post again.Post again.Add more blurbs.Push the press release to irrelevant people.Do one more ad.Use AI to create faux intimacy.Get the word...
Web Strategist vs Web Designer
A solid website is more than a collective group of great looking pages. It should work seemlessly with your entire marketing strategy while effectively communicating who you are. In addition, most great websites are scaleable and are capable of doing a lot of the...
Tell A Great Story
Today I was reminded of a great piece I once read by Seth Godan when I was asked by a client to "amp up our presence on Facebook". Were they really asking for a great story? A great story is very different than a promo. We are drowning in promos. I wish more people...
2023 Pantone Color of the Year
Along with color trends that are discussed below, a design trend to watch for in 2023 is the use of Collages of all types. It may be nostalga from the 50's - 70's but I think its a combination of image fatigue and the desire to say more with less while being just a...
Leverage Credibility With The Right Public Relations
The reason we focus our efforts largely on media relations is simple – first and foremost, it is 3x more credible than paid advertising and has also proven to be one of the most effective marketing components for building brand reputation and facilitating credible,...
Your Business Needs A Blog
WordPress currently powers about 45% of all websites. That’s a big marketshare when you consider how many players are in the content management system (CMS) world. In fact, WordPress is robust enough to powerful enough for even companies like Sony Music, BBC,...
Supercharge Your Marketing
Understand these 5 key principles of human behavior and you will look at your marketing in a different way. Even if you are not a marketing expert, or don't care to be, the real difference between strong and weak marketing lies in understanding how people...
How to Increase Your Website Traffic
You get LOTS of emails for consulting, software and other business services to assist you increasing your website traffic. There probably is some merit in many of these offers but you may be stepping over dollars to pick up pennies. Go through this quick list and see...
How much do headshots cost?
Pay for only what you need One of the most common questions I receive from the website is do you do headshots (aka portrait) and how much do they cost? So I've done a brief post so I can send a somewhat intelligent response without too much typing. Headshots have...
5 Tips to Improve the SEO of Your Website
Try these before you go overboard with SEO Here are 5 tips to improve the SEO of your website. Search engine optimization (SEO) can seem like an impossible game with ever changing rules against an unseen opponent. It's tough that every single website is at the mercy...
Go old school
Back to the future When you think of marketing these days most of you immediately think of Social Media Platforms or Advertising on Google at the cornerstone of your marketing program. And that’s the problem. Most business have become so accustomed and dependent on...
Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens
An Open-air Holiday Light Show Now thru January 2, 2022 Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens features more than two million lights illuminating Selby Gardens and the walkways. Don’t miss a holiday photo opportunity, children’s arts and crafts, activities, and...
Orchid Photography Workshop
Selby Gardens Orchid Show 2021 As the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads and ferns, epiphytes, and tropical plants, Selby Gardens hosts an orchid show each fall focusing on different themes and...
Logo Design Tips
At Imagica we get asked to do lots of logos, usually by new business that have yet to develop an identity or, on occasion, by an existing business that has grown beyond what was initially crafted. Logos represent one of the most difficult tasks for most designers...
You May Need a SWOT Analysis
What Is a SWOT analysis and why do I need one? “SWOT” is an old school acronym for a process that involves taking a close objective look at your business or brand’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You’re probably already know most of them, but...
The Value of Referrals
If you don’t have a referral marketing strategy in place, you’re giving up a substantial amount of revenue and probably spending much more on your marketing than necessary. Referrals from happy customers or clients represent your best opportunity to grow, but they are...
Questions to help you conduct a SWOT analysis
A SWOT analysis is a fundamental tool for your business to more accurately target your marketing efforts for the greatest return. To help you in the process, here are some good questions to help get you started in the process. Questions that can help you conduct a...
Why You Should Advertise
Why you should advertise isn't always a simple concept. Sending email is free, creating a Facebook page is free, reaching out on Twitter is free, IG pages and posts are free, cold-calling is free, PR can be free, reviews are free, referrals are free, and advertising...
Business After COVID
The coronavirus has significantly changed the marketing landscape beyond recognition. In business after COVID we have reset most EVERYTHING. Like being last in the league standings half way through the season and now everybody has the same record. Good for some, not...
WordPress for your website
I’ve been building websites for almost 30 years dating back to the days where you coded them by hand using a simple TEXT EDITOR. This was the early days of HTML and there were not many short cuts. Now you have lots and lots of options for your new or upgraded website...
Should you invest in a camera for your business?
Should you up your photography game and bring some in-house? Many people are reluctant to ask a photographer if they should bring some of their work in-house. Have no fear, I get asked this question quite often and have been helping business do a great deal of what I...
Do I need a blog for my website?
The short answer to this is a big, fat “ABSOLUTELY! In fact, if you are on a CMS (Content Management System) like WordPress and not actively using a blog to grow your business you are greatly underutilizing your platform. Here are 5 big reasons to have a blog for your...
Get Some Blue Bunny Funlightenment!
Creative marketing for challenging times Sometimes even a modest initiative can give you a big bang if leveraged in the right way. A prime example of this is by Blue Bunny Ice Cream. A few of you may have heard of it, fewer still have tired it and I'll bet hardly any...
A Tough Job
You think your job is hard. I just received a call from Sarah. A recent graduate of FAU contacting me to say “hello”, see if I was OK and ultimately get me to commit to pre-purchasing tickets to next years Miami Open Tennis Tournament. At a premium price no less. The...
Open for Business
With restrictions loosening in Florida and many other states around the US it’s time to get back to work. No doubt business will face enormous hurdles getting themselves back on line if they were forced to close or even if they remained open. Depending on your...
How Good is Good Enough?
A question I’m often asked by both photography students and business associates is “Why should I buy a camera when my phone takes really good pictures?” or “Why should we hire a “Pro” when our staff can take good pictures with their phones?” Nobody can really answer...
Cinco de Mayo
We could all use a good Margarita right now! I love everything about Mexico - the people, the culture, the work ethic, the language, the food and for sure a good Margarita. If ever the world needed a good margarita, it is Cinco de Mayo 2020. So breaking professional...
The New Normal
The business landscape has changed dramatically, tomorrow’s environment will be different, but no less rich in possibilities for those who are prepared. For many, near-term survival is the only agenda item. Others are peeking through the fog of uncertainty, thinking...
Zoom Meetings
An easy alternative to a traditional meeting for work or groups If you haven’t heard of Zoom before the pandemic I’ll bet you have now. I’ve been using the platform off and on for a few years then all of a sudden everybody was asking me to FaceTime in lieu of meetings...
Fast Track Into The Digital Age
Bet many of you are finding your online presence woefully inadequate. The coronavirus is forcing the issue and is pushing traditional businesses into the digital age faster than most would like. If you are one of the old school businesses that hesitated to embrace...
WordPress is good for business
If you are considering upgrading your website or building a new website consider WordPress if you haven’t already. Once the choice of individuals who wanted an easy and attractive platform to self-publish, WordPress has evolved into a platform of choice for many...
What is your coronavirus game plan?
Having a solid and nimble strategy to deal with the coronavirus will help you get through these tough times Initially nobody had a game plan in dealing with the coronavirus and now seemingly everybody does. Honestly, I didn’t think I was on so many email lists or so...
One Big Thing
I honestly didn’t pay much attention to all the talk about the coronavirus as the media tends to really latch on to any form of sensationalistic journalism these days. That is until I received our first call from a client wondering about a strategy and plan of action....
Ask and You Shall Receive
I'm shocked at how many small businesses dump big bucks into new marketing initiatives targeting new customers without first verifying and leveraging the satisfaction of their current customers. Truth is, if you take REALLY good care of your current clients they...
Private and group photography instruction
Many people don't realize that Imagica has been teaching photography to both individuals and groups for almost 20 years! Photography and how it is used for both personal and business applications has changed greatly over that time and we are happy to share that...
2020 Pantone Color of the Year
Every year I like to post the Pantone Color of the Year as I find it so interesting how it becomes sewn into our culture and very apparent in desing and advertising trends. This is truly a classic color, and just like a good cup of coffee it never gets old. Here is...