Lesson #1 – Make sure you ask for the business. I have just watched a beggar collect at least worth of donations in the last half hour with a sign that says – “I am saving up for a hooker, weed, wine and a steak dinner.” Not one of the people bothered to read his sign and know what they were even donating for. Not the family man with his wife and children, not the group of older people probably in their 80s, not the business man in the suit, nobody. The beggar obviously learned the power of asking, no matter what.
Facts about the heavily advertised and marketed skin care products are less than perfect. The big name, big money selling cosmetics makers of inferior products. That’s why they spend so much money, if you want to advertise your facial care offerings. Their products carry some hefty price tags that they do so they can enjoy very high profit margins. A large part of these profits and then put right back into the companies so that they can engage in fierce competition between each other, brand, advertising, hiring celebrities to do the advertising and marketing, etc. If they lowered their profit margins, and thus reduced their advertising budgets, they want to be going on business or at least close many of its offices.
They spend too much on research and development, either. In the end . their products do not work! If you worked for their products, they are not engaged in such fierce competition in the marketing and advertising. No, the big mark-up price is only because they can afford to pay big bucks to their advertising agencies and marketing departments.
Then you could proceed to tell them in the copy of your ad exactly why your client charges less. Do not be afraid to tell them your motivation and your reasons for having a lower price.
We did everything in style. All of us stayed at the Trump hotel near Central Park and on October 18, 1999 we were in a fleet of black Lincoln limos heading towards Nasdaq. The night before, I tweaked the brand positioning a bit. Instead of the news appearing that we were the second Indian company after Infosys being listed on NASDAQ, I changed it to the first Indian internet company listing on that bourse. The ceremony itself was comparatively business-like. The symbol SIFY went active at a premium on listing. After that we had a live press conference from there with journalists waiting in India. I then accompanied the CEO of Satyam Infoway for live interviews at CNBC and CNN studios.
It wouldn’t hurt, but more importantly, especially at pre-college levels, is your ability and passion for the topic and subject is most important. I think we both agree that you have that.
Logo Modifications – You could get charged for each time you want a change or modification to your logo. If a logo designer asks the right questions, does the research and stays in close communication with the client there should be no need for major changes during the creation of a logo design. Be a good communicator and explain to the logo designer exactly what you want your logo to be saying about your business. As a designer, you should get signed approval for each modification showing that the client was in agreement at the time.