Quote of the Day: February 26, 2014

The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity.

– Peter F. Drucker

By the end of this year, this quote and post will be looked back on as the beginning to a transformation of Dakota Visions Photography.  The only thing constant in this world is change.  We have responded to the changing landscape in front of us and have made stepped up to the plate to face this challenge head-on.

Stay tuned.  We've been in our cocoon for a while, but it is just about time to spread our wings - and let the world know what we have been doing.

 

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

 

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

How Colors Affect Your Conversion Rate

The color used in a graphic design may not seem important, but this extremely important detail can account for 85% of the reason why we purchase a specific product.  Color can increase brand recognition by 80%.

Combining all the tools contained in the infographic below should make it simple to come up with a combination that will fit the brand you are designing for and help your client reach their brand goals.

Courtesy of: Quick Sprout
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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

How To Increase Your Google+ Engagement

As a graphic designer or photographer, your marketing plan should include Google+.  Whether you are leveraging Google Authorship or or using Google+ as a place to share your larger photographs or design works, it doesn't take very much effort to increase your engagement on Google+.

Follow the tips in the following infographic, and you'll start noticing more traffic in a jiffy!

Courtesy of: Quick Sprout

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Double Your Facebook Likes In Just 5 Minutes Per Day #Infographic

Even with all the talk about the decrease of organic reach on Facebook, for a graphic designer or photographer - Facebook remains a powerful tool for effective online marketing.  Facebook now has more than 1.3 billion users, a large pool of potential clients even if you don't want to pay for your posts to be promoted.  But it does take a plan, hard work, and some dedicated effort to garner the likes and social interaction.

In the graphic design or photography world, Facebook plays right into our strengths.  Photos and visual content generate 53% more likes and 104% greater engagement than a standard text post.  But it's not just posting relevant, quality contact.  You have to interact with other pages and followers frequently to maximize your reach.  Sound overwhelming?  Well, it's really not.  Here is a great infographic by Who Is Hosting This? on how to "Double Your Facebook Likes In Just 5 Minutes Per Day."

Leave a comment below if you have found another great way to increase your engagement or likes on Facebook.



Source: Who Is Hosting This?

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Social Media in a Nutshell Infographic

Just the facts, Jack!  Embrace social media for what it is, a business - a big business.  Which social media channel is right for you?  Anyone of them or a combination - it all depends on what you can afford to keep up with and continue to feed with good, quality content.  Whether it's visual social media generally found on Facebook or Pinterest, or links of every so sweet information on Twitter.  Find what works for you and use it.  No one can provide a one size fits all.

So here are some facts, Jack - to help you make your choice.  Enjoy Social Media in a Nutshell, the infographic.


Source: Text Marketer Bulk SMS Services
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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Not So Thoughtful Thursday Love & Herbs Quote: February 13, 2014

OK - Sometimes, you just have to let your hair down and go with the flow.  Especially if you live in Washington or Colorado!  (Oh, let the hate mail begin...)

Ovid is generally listed amongst Virgil and Horace, his older contemporaries, as one of the three canonic poets of Latin literature.  He was the first major Roman poet to begin his career during the reign of Augustus, and the Imperial scholar Quintilian considered him the last of the Latin love elegists.  But I'm pretty sure he had no idea that one of his most famous quotes would take on new meaning as the recreational marijuana laws of Washington and Colorado have been passed.

But for today, he creates a great little meme for how to get over love in Washington and Colorado...

"Ah me! Love can not be cured by herbs." - Ovid*

*Unless you are a legal resident of WA or CO.

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Ovid Fact Source: Wikipedia

Pinterest: It's All About the IMAGE!

If you haven't figured it out by now, Pinterest is one of our favorite social media channels.  Our Social-Graphics board has over 3,100+ followers and 100's of thousands of interactions.  One of our pins has had close to 1,800 re-pins!  This visually oriented, super social channel allows you to connect with your more visually oriented clients.  It's a perfect tool for inspiration, or even sharing design ideas with potential clients before a contract is signed.

If you are just starting out on Pinterest, you may find it intimidating.  On Pinterest, the brand or the person doing the pinning is not the most important piece of the puzzle - it's the pin!  Pinterest puts the almost all of the importance on the image itself.

This concept carries all throughout Pinterest.  Just because you have re-pinners, doesn't always equate into followers.  While those of us in graphic design and photography don't have much problem with being visual, some businesses may have this problem.  Do you get it?  Pinterest is all about the science of the image.  And last but not least, depending upon your clientele, most men just don't get Pinterest.

So whether you are just starting out on Pinterest or whether you are a seasoned pro looking to extend your marketing reach, this infographic from QuickSprout will help increase your engagement on Pinterest.

And while you are at it - don't forget to give us a follow on Pinterest!



Courtesy of: Quick Sprout

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Double Your AdSense Earnings in 5 Minutes a Day

Admit it.  Unless you've spent hours on the internet looking through all the quick-hits and "do this & that" articles about Google's AdSense, you probably are just winging it on your blog with trying to generate some income from advertising.  The funny thing is, some of the best ways to increase income with AdSense are also some of the easiest.

Doubling your AdSense earnings doesn't have to take months.  By making a few simple changes in size, placement, and the way the ads appear on your site, you can see a dramatic increase in earnings.  Read on with this infographic put together by Who Is Hosting This for more:


Source: Who Is Hosting This.com

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Thoughtful Thursday Quote: February 6, 2014

"Good design is obvious.  Great design is transparent."
-Joe Sparano

How do you get there?  You get there by taking care of the details, by polishing and refining the lump of coal into a finely, cut diamond.  When it really comes down to it, the more advanced a design is the less visible it becomes unless you're looking for it.

“When everyone has the same Mac and the same internet, the difference between hackneyed graphic design and extraordinary graphic design is just one thing—the ability to see.
Seeing, despite the name, isn't merely visual.”
 - Seth Godin

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Secrets Of A Killer Blog Post [Infographic]

So you have a blog, but what do you do with it now?!  Companies who post regularly attract up to 88% more leads each month than those who don't.  The question becomes: "How do you execute a solid strategy of timely, eye-catching, and productive posts?"

It really is a science - right down to writing a title for your blog post.  To learn more, and help launch your blog into being a productive part of your business plan just follow along with the steps of this great infographic put together by Who Is Hosting This.


Source: Who Is Hosting This.com

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

How Social Media Influences Purchase Decisions [Infographic]

Since the social media took the turn to becoming a more visually based world, the question of whether or not to use social media for your photography or design business has been asked.  The argument over copyright issues continues today, but this infographic emphasizes the importance of using social media to sell your photography or design products.

4 in 10 Social Media users have purchased an item online or in-store after sharing it or marking it as a Favorite on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest. 71% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase based on social media referrals.  78% of respondents said that companies' social media posts impacted their purchasing decisions.  After marking an item as "Favorite", 50% of the purchases took place within a week and 80% of the purchases took place within 3 weeks.

Check out the infographic from invesp titled, “How Social Media Influences Purchase Decisions – Statistics And Trends” to learn more.


Infographic by- Invesp

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC