June is the scheduled release of The One Bride Guide!  The free magazine designed for brides along the South Texas Coast.  We are all very excited as we get ready for distribution and the magazine's kickoff party!

This brings to mind something that we like to to every day at the office.  HAVE FUN!  I know it may not look like it from our website and blog, but all of us like to enjoy ourselves even while we're at work.  Believe me, you can have that balance of hard work and fun.  For example, The One Bride Guide is our way of bringing together these two essential elements in business.  It's something that we are able to put together, ensuring it retains MC's attitude while generating revenue at the same time.

So, go out and have fun in your business.  Oh and by the way, pick up our magazine while your at it.

-Sergio 

Lets face it, cutting corners in business is not a smart idea.  Although we are all guilty of doing it at one time or another, cutting corners will inevitably cast a shadow on your professionalism and your work.  Avoid it at all costs!  As for cutting corners in design, this is also not a smart idea.  Businesses that incorporate quality design into their company's brand are known and respected worldwide.  Take Coca-Cola for example.  When you see the distinct shape of their bottle, even without a label, you know its a coke bottle.  That's great design!  Cutting corners will only lead to going in circles while the competition is taking the lead in sales and revenue.  Investing in great design means investing in yourself.  Don't cut corners!

-Sergio 

AIGA, The American Institute for Graphic Arts, publishes a nifty little book about why designers do what we do. Click here or on the image to download the .pdf of "Why Design"

According to a recent Fast Company article by Peter Lawrence
www.fastcompany.com/resources/design/lawrence/032006.html

"Design remains the most underutilized and misunderstood tool at the disposal of business.... Those who harness this resource may well see their business thrive and grow without the need for the acquisition of new technology or other companies."

What is the difference between Marketing and Advertising?

Put it this way, marketing is the umbrella plan over advertising. You shouldn't really participate in advertising without marketing. Advertising is a component of the marketing plan. The marketing plan defines the who, what, where, why, and how to fuel your advertising elements and make them relevant.

About.com makes it easy as pie... "The best way to distinguish between advertising and marketing is to think of marketing as a pie, inside that pie you have slices of advertising, market research, media planning, public relations, product pricing, distribution, customer support, sales strategy, and community involvement. Advertising only equals one piece of the pie in the strategy. All of these elements must not only work independently but they also must work together towards the bigger goal. Marketing is a process that takes time and can involve hours of research for a marketing plan to be effective. Think of marketing as everything that an organization does to facilitate an exchange between company and consumer."