Project Type: Promotional Video

Usage: Company Website, YouTube, Trade Shows,  Presentations, Media Kits

Ad Specialty Solutions president, Brian Hutton discuses the importance of "Staying Power" when selecting promotional products as part of your company's marketing strategy.

Watch it on YouTube: Ad Specialty Solutions

Allstar Advertising has recently completed a short promotional video for Ad Specialty Solutions (a local promotional products company specializing in branded/personalized give-away items as well as awards and apparel). The video features owner, Brian Hutton discussing the importance of “Staying Power” and staying “Top-of-Mind” when considering which promotional item(s) to include in your company’s marketing plan. In order to help illustrate each of Brian’s points, we added a few onscreen text effects and graphics.  The final product is a short, fast paced video that puts a face (his own) on our client’s business while reinforcing the need for his products and services.

Stills used in Twin Air Heating and Cooling's New TV commercials.

Allstar Advertising Breaks into Television!

We are proud to announce that our first TV commercials aired today and were broadcast across Western New York.

Airing on Channel 4 (WIVB) and Channel 7 (WKBW), the two 15-second “Bookend” spots promote our client, Twin Air Heating & Cooling, LLC.

The spots feature Twin Air owners, twin brothers: Nick and Nate Hoffman, along with Linda Potwora (owner of Potwora Agency Insurance) and “Barkley,” Linda’s adorable pug.

Each commercial utilizes still photography, on-screen graphics, original music, a little bit of the “Ken Burns” effect, and a unique Country western-style, Jingle also created by Allstar Advertising.

See the Commercials for Yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlANIPI4X4Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2suHtDHg_uQ

MaryLee's Market takes its Advertising to the streets!

New Identity = New Advertising Opportunities

Allstar Advertising has recently finished work on an Identity Package for MaryLee’s Market.  The package encompasses the design of a versatile new Logo and Business Card, as well as a Vinyl Graphic for the company’s new truck.

MaryLee’s Market owners, MaryLee and Charlie Gray were looking to establish a sharp new professional image for their Online Auction Consignment business.  Since their business involves “Selling Treasures Every Day,” the Allstar team wanted to develop a look for them that was both current and emblematic of today’s online auction/consignment sites. The result (shown above) is a professional yet playful design, characteristic of the owners’ sensibilities.

MaryLee and Charlie sell anything from wedding dresses and family heirlooms to jewelry and even high-performance automobiles. They are easy to talk to and very accommodating in matters of business.

Sell Your Treasures Online

If you have something that you need help selling, or if something shook out of your closet yesterday during that earthquake, call MaryLee at: 716.374.0836 or Charlie at: 716.345.8612. They can also be reached by email or check out their ebay site.

Start Re-Branding Your Business Today!

If you or someone you know needs help with their business’s identity, we are having an end-of-the-month special on our Logo Identity Packages. Call us before September 1st and receive 10% off our packages!

The latest Identity Package created by Allstar Advertising for their client: Ad Specialty Solutions.

Allstar Advertising has recently finished work on an Identity Package for Ad Specialty Solutions (AdSS).  The package   encompasses the design of a versatile new Logo as well as a new Business Card, Letterhead, Envelope, and an Identity   Announcement Postcard to be sent to clients and prospects.

It was also important to Brian that his new Logo would have the proper balance of form and function.  For instance, the Logo had to not only appear contemporary, vibrant, and professional: it also had to be visible and legible when imprinted or embroidered onto a variety of specialty items with different shapes and sizes.  Brian plans to put his brand on everything from trade show items like pens and USB drives to corporate gifts such as jackets and umbrellas. He can also put your logo on any item you can imagine. Just give Brian a call: 716.983.2323 or check out his website for more information:

www.adspecialtysolutions.com.

Get Started Today on Your New Brand Identity!

Check it out on YouTube:

Executive Investigation & Security

Allstar Advertising recently completed work on a promotional video for Executive Investigation & Security, LLC.

This spring, the owner of Executive Investigation & Security, LLC contacted us about putting together a PowerPoint presentation for his upcoming open house. He wanted the piece to reflect the style of the brochures and other collateral materials we had created for his company over the past three years. The PowerPoint would act as a company overview slide show that would later be put into various video formats so that it could play on the EIS website, be burned onto disks and mailed out in press kits, and be played in a continuous loop in waiting rooms and at trade shows.

We began the creative process by outlining EIS’s top services. Then, we gathered photos and information from the materials we had previously created for our client. Once we had a good idea of the themes and sequence of slides, we sought out additional photos and wrote additional copy, thereby expanding on the importance of our client’s services, describing new features and benefits of working with EIS. Then something interesting happened.

While sitting in the postproduction suite, our production guy suggested a few simple text effects, zooms, and pans that would add the dynamics of depth and motion to the presentation. He experimented with a few effects and voilà! Now the piece was indeed a Video rather than a PowerPoint presentation. You might even call it a Slide Show Video since it uses only static images with superimposed text and has no sound. The absence of sound is actually a plus at this stage in the evolution of this video – the idea being that trade show attendees need to be able to absorb information from vendors while walking through an often noisy environment where videos with sound are prohibited.

Allstar Advertising can help you with your next Video:

· Web Videos                           · Corporate Overview Videos

· Promotional Videos            · Client Testimonial Videos

· Slide Show Videos              · PowerPoint Presentations

· Trade Show Videos             · Instructional Videos

· PowerPoint Slides                · YouTube Videos

Please contact us: 716.573.1685 with questions or feedback.
Let us know if you would like to have your business or next project featured in our upcoming email blasts.

Advertising in Buffalo, NY

The Non-Creative Guy is Thinking.

That’s a good question.  While I’m at it, why do we need auto mechanics, plumbers, hair stylists, and doctors? I know what you’re thinking: “Does he really have the audacity to compare himself to a hair stylist?” We need them because they can do things that we don’t know how to do.  Each possesses a unique skill set that is needed by others.  Sure, we can attempt to learn enough about plumbing to replace a faucet; why else would there be Home Depot?  Right?  We can go online and learn how to replace our worn-out brakes; why else would they sell brakes at AutoZone?

Let me ask you this: have you ever replaced a faucet or a set of brakes?  Me neither!  These simple jobs are notoriously more trouble then they’re worth and the learning curve is always a bit steeper than we expect it to be.  One trip to Home Depot becomes three or four depending on which pipe you strip or which fitting you cross thread.  Your one trip to AutoZone becomes a round trip walk, followed by a call to your nearest mechanic who you hope will throw in the towing for the cost of the brake job.

When it comes to creating your Logo, designing and writing your next Brochure, putting together your Business Card or Flyer or Mail Piece or whatever you plan to use in order to generate more business for yourself or your company, leave it to the Creative people! We would be more than happy to sit down with you to discuss the nature of your business and its objectives.  We creative folk have been living, breathing, sleeping, and sometimes even eating advertising; it’s what we enjoy and we would love to show you what we could do for your company.

Of course there are always do-it-yourselfer websites like Vistaprints and do-it-yourselfer computer programs like Microsoft Publisher.  After all, they must exist for a reason, right?  Go ahead, I’m sure your clients and future customers won’t even know the difference.

Top 10 Mistakes Commonly Made When Creating a Brochure:

1. Typos: Promoting your business, as one which prides itself on attention to detail, starts with actually paying attention to the details. Always cross your T’s and dot your I’s because, depending upon your industry, little mistakes may cause big problems and cost you a lot of money.

2. Too Wordy: Promotional literature is often overwritten and redundant. It has been said that technology has shrunk the world. This is also true for people’s attention spans. Being concise will help your demographic receive and retain your message.

3. Blurred Logo: Companies invest a great deal of time and money developing strong corporate identities. Unfortunately, over time, the computer files containing the original artwork can get lost, forcing the individual responsible for laying out the brochure to rely upon low resolution images copied from the company website. In a case like this, it is best to redraw your logo to ensure a sharp, high resolution image.

4. Poor Layout: An unbalanced or cluttered layout may disrupt the sense of flow required for directing the reader’s eye through your information. Having too many focal points is the same as having no focal point at all. This may cause your message to seem unclear and your sell points to get lost in the mix.

5. No Palette: Colors and color combinations elicit emotional responses from people. Choosing the proper color palette can mean the difference between bolstering consumer confidence and offending.

6. Flimsy Paper: It may seem economical at first, but using an unsubstantial or flimsy paper stock can send the wrong message about your company.  It can also serve to cheapen your products or services in the minds of your demographic.

7. Widows and Orphans: A major design faux pas is to leave a word by itself at the top of a paragraph (widow) or at the bottom of a paragraph (orphan). This leaves unsightly gaps in paragraphs that may detract from the overall look of your brochure and hinder readability.

8. Unprofessional Email Addresses: Email addresses bearing the name of your service provider will cause you to appear less established in the minds of your target demographic than ones bearing the name of your business. Changing your email address is an inexpensive way to enhance your professional image.

9. Outdated Information: Brochures containing outdated information can do more harm than good. Listing an out of service call-to-action number or closed locations on your brochure will lead potential clients to dead-ends rather than closed sales.

10. No Call-To-Action: A call-to-action is a short phrase designed to motivate the reader to take action. It can direct your audience to call your business, visit your website, or travel to your location. How else will your demographic know what is expected of them?

Did you notice any of these mistakes on your brochure?

If so, call 716-444-5366 today! We’ll have you looking great in no time.

In our line of work, the Business Card is often overlooked as a marketing tool and part of your prospect’s first impression.  Are you an owner/operator who takes pride in his products and services?  Then why does your Business Card have a clip art plumber and feel like it was printed on a photostat?  Is that your Logo, or a stock design you found on vistaprints.com?  Don’t get me wrong, it’s very tempting to go online and design your own Business Card or try your hand at a number of inexpensive design programs.  After all, starting a new business is exciting and it’s fun to put your own personal touch on the look of your new brand.  The problem is that your new work of art can detract from the perceived value of your products and services.  Consider the following Business Card examples before striking it out on your own:

This is a neat idea, but how many of these things can you keep in your pocket or purse without damaging them and where will your prospects store them? Is there such a thing as being too creative? This one is really unique, but the production time might cause you to be a little stingy with them.

Is there such a thing as being too creative?

Advice:

I would avoid being so creative with the design and materials of your Business Card that the end product no longer resembles a Business Card.  In other words, if the Business Card looks like a piece of trash, if might get thrown away.  If your Business Card does not fit in one of those clear plastic Business Card sleeves, then it won’t be kept with the other important Business Cards and may be lost, damaged, or thrown away by your prospect.  And if you can’t carry your Business Cards in a neat little stack or Business Card holder, then how do you expect to keep them in crisp and perfect condition before passing them out?

This one is really unique, but the production time might cause you to be a little stingy with them.