Pixels Ink

When it comes to YouTube. Creating engaging thumbnail images is one of the key metrics to getting people to click through to watch your videos.
I recently spent some time with Catriona from Catriona Scott Photography to get shots taken that I will use in my thumbnails. We took a lot of different poses to suit all manner of topics and I'm really pleased with the results :)
We also headed down to the V&A in Dundee to get some shots that I could use on social. So many great ang...les and viewpoints on that building.
It was absolutely freezing that day so my skin may be a little bit more blue than usual :)
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Why we DON’T do ad hoc website amendments

What is the colour wheel? How to use a colour wheel

The Ultimate Guide to Perfecting Your Product Page

"I have to talk about this.
I’ve never thought too much about branding.
It was always at the back of my mind. Something to think about when I’m not “busy”.
... I always thought it was too fluffy.
But as the business has grown over the last few years, I've started to see just how important it is.
Yesterday we sat down with Col Gray to dig deep into what my brand represents.
We started to develop our brand values & brand statement.
It’s given me SO much clarity going into 2019... I've got an incredible new programme launching early next year 🤘"
Those are the words of my client Gavin Bell, who yesterday, along with his partner in crime, Ed, went through a brand strategy day with me. As you can see, it has been a bit of a game changer for Gav as he now has a laser-sharp focus and clarity on his brand.
So many businesses are lacking in this area and just muddle on through, with a muddy water approach to their brand messaging.
If you don't have an excellent handle on who you are and your point of differentiation from your competitors, how can your message be clear to your potential customers? The short answer is - It isn't.
For 2019, make getting more clarity on your brand a key part of your plan for the year. It is foundational branding. Everything else is built on top of it.
If you have shoogly* foundations, it doesn't take much to blow your brand over.
Stay Creative! Col
*Scottish for unstable or shaky.
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I'm going to CMA Kick Off 2019 to start my year off in the best way possible. Who's going to join me there? 🤘🤘
LET'S DO THIS!!
#CMAKO2019 #Cannonball

Logo Design Copyright: Do I own the copyright to my logo?

If you follow my YouTube channel you'll have seen me talk about brand core values, mission and vision. These are staples for any business or organisation.
Something that I am seeing more and more of these days in addition to brand values is the brand manifesto.
This is a more creative piece of work that gets across the brand's emotional 'why'. It is what the brand stands for.
... The manifesto is an internal document. It sets out the culture of an organisation that its members live by.
Sometimes an organisation will show their manifesto to the public, to give an insight into their culture and their beliefs. This can help to bolster a campaign and align customers with their beliefs and values.
I recently completed a poster design detailing the manifesto for the Content Marketing Academy. The poster contains the main headline points of the manifesto, with the full version being:
1. Bigger, Braver, Bolder - Stand up for what you believe in 2. Elevate & inspire others - for you to be successful others must be successful too 3. Strive for progress - do what you love and push yourself to do better work 4. Keep an open mind - unite in our differences, listen to others, and be prepared to learn 5. Stay humble - don’t judge or gossip, be kind, patient and support others
You can check out more about the CMA here: http://bit.ly/cmamembership
Do you have a manifesto for your brand?
Stay Creative! Col
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15 things I’m fed up teaching you about how to improve your blog

This is a really good competition prize for anyone creating content for their brand. The three books they are giving away are excellent.
They Ask, You Answer is a book I highly recommend.

Top 5 important questions for your graphic designer

Give your audience the facts: How avoiding exaggeration builds trust with your audience

Hey folks, I've lapsed a bit on uploading my video content here to my Facebook page...😣
Just so you know, I am still producing videos over on YouTube and if you want to stay informed of when I upload a new one, the best thing to do is to subscribe to the channel 😀
... If you want a notification of when I've uploaded a new video, click on the little bell icon once you've subscribed 👌
Stay Creative! Col
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What colour should my logo be? Industry specific logo colours

9 Essentials of a Personal Brand Website

Can I use a stock photo or image with a watermark? Am I breaking copyright law?

6 Reasons Your Prices Need to be on Your Website

Aldi has started a series of adverts poking fun at Coca-Cola.
The best thing is, rather than take the route of suing, Coca-Cola is getting involved the right way (see first comment).

Very pleased to wake up today to see that my business card has featured in a Creative Bloq article on the most innovative business cards of 2018 :)
Look out for a video on my YouTube channel this week with my thoughts on business cards and why they can still be very effective 🤘
Cheers,... Col
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Love Col's work. He's the best designer I know and I will continue to recommend him going forward.

Col's talents go way beyond design. He can create a brand that will bring you more and BETTER customers. He doesn't just sell this stuff, he lives it through his own brand and continues to push the boundaries every day, staying at the cutting edge of video and content marketing so he always knows the best strategy for your business. And he's lovely :-)

Col has helped me for more years than I care to remember! Totally recommend him for service, design, professionalism and creativity.

Love Col's work. He's the best designer I know and I will continue to recommend him going forward.

Col's talents go way beyond design. He can create a brand that will bring you more and BETTER customers. He doesn't just sell this stuff, he lives it through his own brand and continues to push the boundaries every day, staying at the cutting edge of video and content marketing so he always knows the best strategy for your business. And he's lovely :-)

Col has helped me for more years than I care to remember! Totally recommend him for service, design, professionalism and creativity.

Love Col's work. He's the best designer I know and I will continue to recommend him going forward.

Col's talents go way beyond design. He can create a brand that will bring you more and BETTER customers. He doesn't just sell this stuff, he lives it through his own brand and continues to push the boundaries every day, staying at the cutting edge of video and content marketing so he always knows the best strategy for your business. And he's lovely :-)

Col has helped me for more years than I care to remember! Totally recommend him for service, design, professionalism and creativity.