Everything Ink

I’ve just completed the preliminary design and content for http://www.newhomeenergy.ca

New Home Energy Management offers services for both home builders and home buyers.  The company was founded in 2008 by Kenneth Holtrop.  Ken has over 20 years experience as a Civil Technician, Warranty Services Representative and Building Science Technologist in a variety of residential and commercial settings.  His company was created to fill a void in the new home market.  This void is that of a consulting company that works in conjunction with both home builders, new home buyers and the bodies that regulate what it takes to have your home certified as a “Green” home by the governing bodies. 

Aside from the services that they offer to home builders and buyers – services like blower door testing, pre-drywall inspections and assisting with completing the Built Green Check list – New Home Energy Management is striving to raise the awareness of the public as to the concerns that we should all have when it comes to the chemicals that are utilized in some new home construction.  Their focus on the programs and dedication to staying educated on new products and processes is a testament to their devotion and belief that we can make a difference when it comes to a greener, more sustainable future.

Two of the companies that Ken works with are Enervision and the Built Green Program. Each of these companies are involved in setting the standards for building practices and energy efficiency of appliances in the home that are required to meet their program requirements and have a house rated within the standards set forth by each company.

I have just completed a week long study of sustainable futures and feel that it’s companies like these that are really trying to make a difference in our environment. Going green needs to start with the construction of our homes. When you start to look at all of the glues and solvents that are used during construction – or the low efficiency appliances that are put into some new homes- there needs to be change.

New Home Energy Management & Consulting is proud to know that they are going to be a big part of changing the face of the planet one home at a time.

….just do it.  – The choice of a new generation.  Got Milk?

Got Milk?

All great examples of company taglines.  Corporate taglines come in two different forms. Those, like the examples above, that don’t really give you information about the company and those that inform you about what it is that the company does.  Which one do you need? That all depends.

Coming up with a tagline for your company really isn’t difficult, if you’ve done your homework and really understand what your company does – sounds stupid I know “What do you mean know what my company does…of course I know!! I sell trinkets.”  Selling trinkets is boring, mundaine and above all doesn’t work as a tagline – Joe’s Trinkets – We Sell Trinkets.  Awesome!!!  That’s going to attract a whole bunch of new clients.  No..not really.  Think, be expressive.  Sit down with a pad and a pen and start brainstorming.  What words can you think of to describe your company or your product.  What sets you apart from your competition.  Words like extreme, maximum, great, or stupendous might seem like the cream of the crop but they aren’t – they have been done, and done and done at least one more time. Try to think about what you offer without saying “this is what we offer.”  If you need to, pick to or three of the words that you have written down that describe your company and your product.

Joes Trinkets – Local. Dependable.

It really doesn’t need to be anymore than this. 

If you would like to see a great list of taglines for some inspiration check these out:

• http://www.taglineguru.com/survey05.html
• http://www.taglineguru.com/sloganlist.html
• http://www.textart.ru/database/slogan/list-advertising-slogans.html
• http://www.dailyblogtips.com/the-best-website-taglines-around-the-internet/
• http://www.taglineguru.com/survey05.html

As you will see in some of these links the tagline can be funny, serious or simply outrageous.  The choice is really up to you and what you feel your clients will be most attracted to.

If your company is ever-changing then why not make your tagline the same way? Change it up. Use your tagline to get the message out that you have a new product or service. If you chose to make your tagline one of the more interesting style of taglines it may just keep people watching you and your company. When I was growing up there was this guy, and I really don’t who found out about this or how, but he changed his answering machine message every week.  So, once a week we would call and just listen to it. What if you could get that kind of response on a tagline? Come on I dare you. 

If you’ve got a great tagline or know of someone who does please leave a comment, if it’s on a website leave a link as well.

Alright – now go out there and make your taglines shine. When you come up with a good one let me know.

I recently completed a simple redesign of the Fyre Ho’z Website – http://fyrehoze.com -

The owner of the site contacted me asking if we could update the site so that they could make changes to it on their own. After an initial assessment I decided that the website could use some additional work.  The website owner is looking at redesigning the site entirely but for now just needed to be able to update the site without having to contact someone.  We took the site and made some minor backend changes.  The original website had no titles on the pages, no meta tag keywords and no descriptions.  This makes Search Engine Indexing nearly impossible.  How can people find your business if the search engines can’t? The website was created using tables rather than CSS for the layout.  CSS allows for site wide changes without having to spend hours altering code. 

The new website looks almost exact to what the old site looked like, but now the owner of the site has the ability to put up pictures, change contact information or any other text on the site. 

The funny thing is most designers would have told him that he “needed” a new website.  I disagree.  The website works for what they need it for right now.  With some minor alterations it will still provide their clients with the information they come looking for.  In the future we will assist them with creating a more up-to-date looking website that still functions the way they need it to and that is when we will be able to add some cool new features.