The folks in the office know that I've been back on my David Ogilvy tip since I've been openly spewing his knowledge of late. Ogilvy's words and I have the same relationship that most people have with a favorite movie, song or book... I pick him up every 6 months or so, overdose on his prose and I'm excited about the industry again.
For the uninformed, the guy started his agency on Madison Avenue in 1949 and the biggest change during his tenure in the heyday of the "Biz", was that Television became a more important medium than Print to Advertisers.
So, it begs the question, "What could he have said that was so damn important to us today?" The answer is nearly everything...
Let's take a look at a few of Ogilvy's many points on "How to produce advertising that sells" and how they relate to today's design world:
Do your homework.
A great point. Just like back in the heyday of print, as designers today, we must rely on research to get us through client engagements, meetings and projects. Research remains the cornerstone of any project today (about 70% of any project's time should be spent on it) and if you disagree, you're probably wondering why clients aren't returning your calls.
Positioning.
Positioning your ads in the most appropriate publications and on the most effective pages continues to be the cherry on the top of any design project. You can do a fantastic job on something, but unless someone can see it and react to it, it's a useless effort.
Brand Image.
The image, as they say is everything. If you are a client, be sure that your brand and agency of record are in sync. Branding encompasses and revolves around a singular message when you're working in Print, Web, Motion Graphics, Audio or Video.
The evolution of web design has nearly come full circle in a period of 16 years. From the "first official" web site (a single page explaining the definition and purpose of the World Wide Web) - to standardized web development today, many things have progressed, yet very little has changed in the code.
With the second incarnation of the World Wide Web (Web 2.0), many designers who continue to work in this medium after the "dot-com" bubble burst, are once again using rules developed over ten years ago by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), and practicing what is called "standards-based" web design. Standards-based web design eliminates the extra code and unnecessary graphics of late 1990 web development practices, allowing web designers to create web sites that are easy to update and maintain for clients.
A trend that is occurring more rapidly now within the web design community is the open sourcing of code and the global sharing of ideas. del.icio.us and Stumble Upon allow web visitors to share their bookmarks and favorite websites. JavaScript effects libraries, such as moo.fx and script.aculo.us, offer readily-developed code in a communal atmosphere, while online tools like Blogger and Flickr have made it free and easy for people to share ideas and photographs.
Clients understand that the web is not just a means of reproducing company information but it can be a tool where they can interact with customers on a very personal level. The development of communities around a brand creates a close association and at times, fanatical following with customers. By allowing site visitors to interact with, and sometimes even comment on, their own content, vital, "open source" communities are being created. With the addition of other tools, such as mobile devices, the online experience offers unparalleled brand integration.
Today, clients are looking for web designers that can creatively persuade their audiences to interact with their site and allow their employees to share internal information effectively and easily. Specific technology platforms are no longer the issue. Figuring out unique ways to connect a brand online to its intended audience is the "hottest topic" at hand.
From an interview with Dave Fletcher from HOW Magazine
The best way to generate new business is to continually produce the best work you can for existing clients. Positive word of mouth is exponentially more powerful than a dozen "million dollar" promotional ideas. Create evangelists of your agency/studio by going the extra mile every time.
When it comes to discussing the companies featured, Clutch Business Analyst Alaina Stevenson said, “The marketing and IT spaces are changing, and what we saw in these companies is an ability to stay updated on emerging technologies and continually please their clients… professionals like Andrew Defrancesco are exceptional at providing quality deliverables and services.”
According to best local search engine optimization training, companies are evaluated on their ability to deliver quality services, past and current clients and projects, as well as verified client reference reviews featured on their Clutch profile. Marketing is a time-consuming task in and of itself, but it is worthwhile. Sonary has provided some of the best email marketing tips on their website. To learn more about local SEO best practices, read Cortney Fletcher reviews. This course teaches you how to modify your content, and website design to make the website easy to index by the search engine spiders, and if you own a business and you need to pay your staff every 2 weeks, using online tools for this is the best choice. This way, SEO helps you boost your Business website's ranking in the Search Engine Results Page. The ndis plan management rockhampton is where you can find better financial managers to help you sort through your budget.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair or Patch an Asphalt Driveway?
Written by Kathryn Pomroy
Photo: Comstock Images / Stockbyte / Getty Images
The typical cost to repair or patch an asphalt driveway averages between $1,000 and $3,600
From hedges to flowers, you work hard to keep your home’s exterior looking nice. But when your driveway needs patching or repairs, it can detract from curb appeal.
While the typical asphalt driveway repair cost is between $1,000 and $3,600, most homeowners pay $2,300. Fixing cracks or small holes can be as low as $100 to $300. But major repairs that require asphalt resurfacing might cost as much as $3,600.
If the pothole or crack is small, you could fix it yourself. In that case, you might pay between $20 and $40 for a 50-pound bag of asphalt solution, get the best small load ready mix concrete near me deals.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair or Patch an Asphalt Driveway?
An asphalt driveway can last for 15 to 20 years. However, cracks and holes can appear over time. When they do, you’ll want to find an asphalt mix that works for your repair and the best price. You’ll also want to decide if you want to hire an asphalt pro near you or do it yourself.
Most professionals will charge you between $1 to $3 per linear foot to repair or patch a small crack. However, the cost of an asphalt patch per square foot is between $2 and $4 to repair a pothole.
The standard driveway length for a single-car driveway averages about 19 feet long. The standard width is 11 feet wide, or a total of 209 feet. To figure the square feet of your driveway, take the length X the width (at the widest part).
So, if you consider an average of $2 per square foot to repair or patch an asphalt driveway, a 209-foot driveway would cost $418. (209 square feet x $2 = $418)
How Much Does It Cost to Repair or Patch an Asphalt Driveway Near You?
Cold or hot temperatures can impact how long an asphalt driveway will last. Plus, it’s possible that UV radiation from the sun can undermine asphalt over time. If you live in an area with seasonal changes, then the price to repair and patch your asphalt driveway can vary quite a bit from the cost in more temperate climates. The length of your driveway also plays a large part in what you’ll pay.
To get an idea of what you’ll pay, here is the average cost to patch and repair an asphalt driveway near you:
City
Average Cost
Phoenix, AZ
$1,500
Houston, TX
$3,400
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
$1,500
Philadelphia, PA
$2,100
Omaha, NE
$900
Chicago, IL
$2,000
Seattle, WA
$2,500
What Factors Influence the Cost to Repair or Patch an Asphalt Driveway?
While asphalt is known to be fairly inexpensive, to figure out a more exact price, there are a few factors to take into account. If you are in an area with very hot or freezing temperatures or the type of asphalt solution you choose can raise or lower your total costs.
Determining how much asphalt driveway repair or patching you can get on your budget varies a great deal.
Here’s a look at the factors that will determine how much you’ll pay for asphalt repair or patching:
The extent of the repair or patch
The part of the country you live in
Cost of asphalt patch solution
Experience of asphalt repair contractor
Size of the driveway to be fixed
Thickness and load requirements
The age of your driveway
If you’ve maintained the driveway
How Much Does It Cost to Repair or Patch an Asphalt Driveway Yourself?
Sometimes you can repair and patch your asphalt driveway yourself. It may be a dirty job and will take time, but you can save money when you do it yourself.
The cost depends on the length and width of your driveway, as well as your location. Cold weather areas may need different patches than warm weather areas.
To give you an idea of what you’ll pay, Consumer Reports lists these DIY costs for an asphalt driveway patch:
Repair Type
Weight
Price
All-weather blacktop patch
60 lbs
$14
Permanent pothole repair
55 lbs
$43
Premium cold asphalt
50 lbs
$17
Permanent pavement repair patch
60 lbs
$33
High-performance permanent pavement repair
50 lbs
$12
Repair or Patch an Asphalt Driveway Cost Breakdown
Asphalt is durable. However, in very cold or very hot conditions, even asphalt can break down, and surface-level damage, like cracks and potholes, can appear. For small potholes and cracks—less than one-fourth inch thick—pros will typically charge anywhere from $5 to $15per square foot.
For large cracks and potholes that may be deeper than surface level, you might pay between $4 and $10per square foot.
theMechanism picked up an Honorable Mention for the re-design of GIANTmag.com from min, the Authoritative Source on Magazine and Media Marketing (Also honored at the event was Christie Hefner, sadly without a single "Bunny" in tow). Dave Fletcher, Founding partner at theMechanism, and attendee of the ceremony said, "We now have a nice placque to hide the fist hole in the wall from the last award we lost, and a heavy little "˜winners' mouse made of crystal to keep our invoices from blowing around our cavernous office lair."
theMechanism’s Founding Partner and Creative Director in New York, Dave Fletcher, prepared his best game face for the “min’s Best of the Web Awards Luncheon” on Wednesday. “We’re thrilled to have our client, GIANT Magazine be nominated for the Best Re-Design category,” said Dave from his “Food Deprivation Chamber” in New York City. “You gotta starve yourself for a $200+/plate luncheon. I’ve convinced myself that they must be serving “all-you-can-eat lobster,” right? And I do loves me some succulent lobster...”
After a hefty re-examination of their previous site, the team at theMechanism worked on restructuring and refocusing the overall look-and-feel and information architecture of WestGlen's web site. The result is a clean, smart and modern Web standards-focused approach to the 35-year old company. See it.
theMechanism's been yapping about this for years, but it looks like the first significant blow has been dealt to corporations. Target has had legal action brought against them by the National Federation of the Blind due to accessibility issues with Target's website. This will be the first of many lawsuits brought against corporations over accessibility. See? There's a reason that we've been building sites to be Section 508 Compliant for years.
