This is a guest post by Ben Johnson.

It is true, if a logo becomes instantly recognizable by the viewers, it gets promoted to the level of being called a brand. Creating a brand identity for any business plays a huge role in today’s competitive world, as the brand infiltrates almost every facet of the company we can see and this is the reason why businesses willingly pay whatever the design agencies charge them for their logos. There are many reasons why design agencies ask for a lot of money from companies and this is what we are going to cover in this article.

There are both small and large scale companies, who want to have a strong identity for themselves. However, not all of them have the budget to approach the top logo design agencies to create their logo. Many question why do these top agencies so costly?

There are a lot of things that contribute to creating a successful logo. A design agency charges you high because it has all the experts under one roof to work on your project. An agency thinks businesses shouldn’t be reluctant in paying more for their logo. They say their designers go through an entire process to come up with a logo which guarantees success. So, high price is justified. Moreover, they charge you more because they are:

• Experienced
• Professional
• Accountable
• Renowned reliable
• Capable of handling large number of accounts
• Loaded with professional logo designers and high quality logo concepts
• Equipped with broader skill set
• Secure to work with
• Frequently available for face to face meetings

Of course if a design agencies charge you more, there has to have the above mentioned reasons behind it. They must have a reputable name in the design industry, gained through ample experience and professionalism. They must have shown reliability to their clients and have produced high quality logo designs which later on got successful and converted into big brands with remarkable identity. Unlike freelance designers, they occupy a physical workplace to accommodate a bunch of creative designers or even more to come up with the best logo concepts for their clients. The software they use cost them thousands of dollars, the computers, the stationery etc.

Moreover, renowned design agencies have their own process of handling different projects. They don’t just start working on the logo right away. The design process of a professional logo designer in a design agency usually consists of:

1. Takes the Design Brief - The designer conducts a questionnaire or interview with the client to get the design brief.
2. Conducts Research - The designer conduct research focused on the industry itself, on its history, and on its competitors.
3. Searches Reference designs - They conduct research into logo designs that have been successful and current styles and trends that are related to the design brief.
4. Does Sketching & Conceptualizing - They develop the logo design concept(s) around the brief and research. They use creativity and know how to design a logo.
5. Gives Presentation - They then choose whether to present only a select few logos to the client or a whole collection.

They go through this entire process with thorough professionalism and years of experience. For this much, they can’t charge you less or something which a freelancer or a starter charges you for your logo design project. If you agree or disagree with my opinion on this issue, do write to me in the comments section. I would love to know what you think of the design agencies who charge companies fortunes for just a logo…but I would again say it isn’t just a logo.

This is guest post from Ben Johnson of Logoinn, custom logo design service provider based in UK.

This is a guest post by Frank Angelone.

It’s funny when you think about, why did you start blogging?  Well, like most people it’s because you love writing.  Although, as you write more and read other blogs and see that other people make money doing it.  At some point you ask yourself, “can I do this too?”  Yes, you can!  Although, it’s really funny the kind of cycle blogging has become.  Most people forget that blogging started because you love to do it and it turned into a career.  Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with that.  It’s really funny though if you take a step back and realize that there are a good amount of people making a career out of blogging.

This is something though that takes a long time to establish because you need to build your viewers that read your posts.  The important thing to remember is even if you don’t have a lot of viewers, you shouldn’t stop blogging.  If you are blogging just for the money, you are doing it for the wrong reason.  If you come into money from blogging, that’s a bonus.  I have always loved this quote from the movie Rush Hour, “Greed will imprison us all.” Could that be any more to the point?  I think it’s a perfect quote.  If you blog and all you see is dollar signs, then the content you publish on your blog isn’t going to be effective.

Why you may ask?  Well it’s pretty simple.  You are concentrating more on money than the content you are providing for your niche market.  To eventually start making money blogging, you need to focus on publishing solid content and finding ways to network with fellow bloggers.  Also, using the many tools to get your blog out there on the internet wouldn’t hurt either. These are perfect examples for internet marketing and the effective work of an entrepreneur.

Keep in mind, blogging was meant to be fun and a way to get your ideas out there.   It’s a way to relieve stress.  Don’t look at blogging as a money maker because you should be enjoying it.  If you make money blogging, well than that’s what we call an entrepreneur!  I don’t have a ton of followers on my blog at http://angelone.tumblr.com but that’s not the point.  I blog because it relaxes me and if I come into money doing it than I have the best of both worlds.  If not, I will still blog because it’s a passion of mine.  Keep this all in mind the next time you see dollar signs!

This is a guest post by Christy Taylor.

Everyone has something they know about and something they can help others understand. What many people don’t know is that what they know can always be made into an article that others can use.

An article doesn’t have to be about something big, but it should be something that you care about and that you can express how to do or how to feel. There are probably billions of articles on the Internet with different people’s perspectives, ideas and thoughts. All you have to do is write something that is entertaining and eye catching.

Most articles that work well on the Internet are between 400 and 600 words. They usually have headlines and bullet points to catch the eye as readers pass through. Good information will be passed along to others and before you know it, your website traffic picks up.

The good news is that you don’t have to write all of these articles. In fact, there are several different ways to do this and they are worth the investing of a few dollars. There are article directories and software programs that will do the work for you after you write the first article.

The way the system works is that people read your article and then link to your website for more information. This is called back linking when it is in an article directory and the traffic to your website grows.

The nice thing about article writing is the more you write, the more you have to send out to the directories and the more people can read about you. Finding a niche market that people will read can send you more customers in a very short time.

What People Read

This is where you go on a kind of scavenger hunt because you can find many items that interest you. Look at television, read the news feeds online and read any news that interests you. If it is fascinating to you, chances are people are talking about it. Look for information about the topics you enjoy and write about them. This will generate more creativity, and you will gain more ideas for your own articles.

Chat rooms and message boards also have a lot of information about what people are taking about, and they can be used for topics that are the most current. While you are there, look for questions that people are asking.

Creating articles for your website will take some time, but it is worth the investment to get because over time you won’t have to do as much work in this area. More and more people are coming to websites for their content that they can use.

Christy Taylor, author, is the owner of Virtual Business Connections, an Internet Marketing/SEO/Professional Copywriting firm. For more information on how to generate traffic to your website, visit http://www.VirtualBusinessConnections.com

This is a guest post by Frank Angelone.

Tell me if you haven’t heard someone say this, “I need money!”  I think we all have heard this before because to survive we do need money.  Let’s keep in mind though, even all the money in the world can’t buy happiness.  I know that sounds cliché, but it’s a good mindset to have especially if you run your own business.  You may be the type of person who has all the money in the world, but dissatisfied with your life.  That’s not something anyone wants to deal with.  Although, wouldn’t it be great if we could have both.

You definitely can have both happiness and money; this all goes into how well you sell yourself.  Even though you are making money on the internet and may not ever get to meet your viewers or buyers, you still want to sell yourself effectively.  Now, when I say sell yourself, I don’t mean say, “I’m the best and this is why you want to follow me.”  That’s the absolute wrong way to sell yourself to run an effective business.  When I say selling yourself effectively, look at it as if you are on a date.  When on a date you are trying to show someone the kind of person you are.  Relate this to your business!  By implementing this strategy and showing an interest in your customers or viewership you can develop strong relationships.  It will make them want to come back and see what else you have to offer.  I think you can see how this ties back into meeting someone because it’s the same principal.

By showing people you care and selling yourself effectively your business will translate in more money.  Not only that, but you will be happy as well because you know your business environment is a positive one.  I believe marketing is probably the most vital piece in becoming a successful internet entrepreneur.  Without marketing, there’s not many ways to make money online.  With how many ways to market ourselves on the internet, like Twitter, we have the tools available.  Now, it’s time to go out there, find them, and implement them into your business.

My blog http://angelone.tumblr.com is where I talk about social networks and technology and where I can talk about a topic I enjoy most.  This is also very key when trying to market yourself.  Pick a niche that you feel comfortable with and have knowledge in.  If you choose a topic that you have a vague understanding in, it will translate in the amount of money you earn.  Remember, choose what you like!

This is a guest post by Michael Gaudet.

The Power of Three (Copyright Michael Gaudet 2004)

You know how sometimes when you meet someone you have this strong ‘gut feeling’ that if you work it out, there is the potential for an amazing friendship?

The signals can include:

1) Powerful personal chemistry between you both when you immediately feel comfortable in each other’s presence.

2) A feeling of trust and respect that develops quickly and continues to grow.

3) A flash of understanding that passes between you that affirms you both have complimentary skill sets to bring to the relationship.

4) You soon discover that you both share common goals and interests.

5) You realize that there are certain unique strengths and experiences that you have that your new colleague may be looking for, and vice-versa.

6) You discover that you are both at ease encouraging each other’s ideas and fanning enthusiasm with positive body language.

7) You slip comfortably into the ‘brainstorming mode’ when discussing ideas.

Your ideas seem to mesh with a powerful ‘synchronicity’.

9)You realize that you have a lot to learn from each other and this understanding leads to deeper mutual respect.

10) Both of you find that you share information and tips that have the potential to lead to mutual enrichment, if followed up on.

11) You find that you don’t always have to agree on everything, and that you can easily bounce back from minor scuffles. Just talk it out.

12) Your discussions lead to concrete results within a certain time-frame. ( This is the most exciting thing of all and the most powerful relationship-builder!)

When you start to see the signals click, watch the relationship grow into a multi-dimensional, dynamic force. You have mutually created the potential for a new good friend!

No question about it, when you recognize that this is happening in your life, treat your new friend like solid gold. No kidding, this is not a common occurrence and once you find it is unfolding you are in a position to richly benefit as it is a mutual gain. What I mean by this is that you both have a lot to offer and this is the foundation for a life-long relationship. Do not squander this opportunity when it comes along.

Nurture it!

Michael Gaudet is an artist specializing in large historic murals. See Gallery Gaudet He has branched off into aeronautical design and invented a ‘Ring-Wing’ glider called Skyaak. To read more, visit www.skyaak.com Follow him on Twitter.

This article is a guest post from Frank Angelone. He writes at http://angelone.tumblr.com.

I haven’t been blogging for that long.  Honestly, I have been blogging for a few months now.  Although, I am really glad it is something I decided to get involved in.  I have found a new passion in writing about social networks and technology on my blog at http://angelone.tumblr.com.  During that time I have run across blogs that have given me insight on how to make money online.  From that point on, I had this vision where I wanted to become an internet entrepreneur.  I realized becoming an internet entrepreneur is extremely difficult, but I realized that if I put my mind to it, anything is possible. The title says it all, “A Life of Persistence.”  Persistence is what can get a person through anything and when you work at something your hard work will pay off.

The advice of persistence was given to me by an entrepreneur named Chris Pirillo who has become very successful in his own right.  I believe this advice is key for any aspiring entrepreneur.  Learning how to make money online basically comes down to finding different sources of income throughout the internet.  Sounds difficult right? Well, to be honest, it is.  To find credible locations on the internet to make money, you need to do searching and read a lot of advice from fellow entrepreneurs.  They can lead you to places where you can make money.

I’m guessing at this point you are wondering, where did my first source of income come from?  Alright, you probably don’t really care where my first source of income came from online, but everyone has to start somewhere.  If you remember me saying that the best way to start making money online is to find out from an entrepreneur, well that holds true here.  Once again, Chris Pirillo mentioned a site called Expo TV to do product reviews and I have been making money doing that.  That right there is how you get your online business going and as years go by, you continue to expand your business and find different sources of income.

I would be lying if I said it wasn’t hard.  Stanley would tell you the same thing.  Some people find a business model that works for them and it blossoms quickly and others it takes a little longer.  Although, if you remain persistent, I can guarantee you, good things will come of it.  Nobody who works hard for something walks away empty handed.  I have always loved this phrase, “in order to succeed, you have to fail.”  This is 100% true because failure shows you your mistakes and allows you to correct them when engaging in a new venture.

There are many essential marketing tools out there which can help you with your online business. Here are my top 7:

1. Wordtracker

Wordtracker helps you to search all the phrases that consist of the certain keyword picked by you. It will make your job easier as you will be able to figure out the number of searches occurring in any of the search engines. This will save a lot of your time and money, as you can know whether your idea is saleable or not. You can also get different ideas for your sites, using Wordtracker. Wordtracker can be bought according to your need on daily basis or for the whole year. If you can use Wordtracker properly then you know you can do great business online with no losses at all.

2. Google Analytics

Google Analytics is free to use and gives you the correct information about custom reporting, segmentation, motion charts and others. An easy way to polish your marketing skills can be. It is important that you use a high quality-tracking program that will help you achieve great performance.

3. Crazy Egg Heat Maps

Crazy Egg Heat Maps are essential tools to know where your visitors are clicking. It tells you if certain parts f your website attracts consumers or not. If you find that certain parts are never visited then you know where to draw the line and develop which parts further. It can help you in placing different headers, search and content on your pages. You get quick information about what is going on in your website.

4. 7Search Keyword Suggestion Tool

7Search Keyword Suggestion Tool consists of keyword advertising price research tool and a search frequency research tool. You can get this tool for keyword research and high paying advertisement clicks when it comes to pay-per-click marketing.

5. Digital Point Keyword Tracker

DP Keyword Tracker is an important tool that lets you know whether you have correctly changed your SEO or have hampered your rankings. It will track down your rankings daily and specify the changes.

6. Keyword Discovery – Keyword Research Tool

It is always important to research your keywords correctly. Keyword Discovery Tool exactly helps you research the best keywords, which helps you profit in your business. In order to increase search engine traffic it is important that you stress on certain keywords that will do the trick. This tool will be beneficial as it will help you research keywords and successfully increase traffic.

7. Backlink Watch Backlink Monitor

Backlink Watch is a helpful tool in providing you with a Backlink analysis for free in great detail. It might be a bit slow but what result it guarantees is worth the wait.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post explaining how I brought in 184 unique visitors to my blog… just with a simple trackback that took me 2 seconds.

Like any good scientist marketer, I repeat my experiments to ensure accuracy and precision in my results. So the other day, I wrote a blog post called Web 2.0 Is Dying… Or Is It and linked it to the post on TechCrunch (which then got displayed on the trackback list).

72 hours later…

These are 10 useful plugins I personally use that I feel are being overlooked by others:

1. Insights - Powerful new way to write blog posts by integrating with real-time functions such as Flickr, Youtube, Wikipedia, Search Google, Search Google Images, Blog Search, Google Maps etc. It does all this using dynamic AJAX interface which loads the relevant information to your post in just a few seconds.
2. About Me Widget - An easy-to-use text widget that allows you to add an “About Me” to your sidebar.
3. Theme Tester - Allows you to test out a new theme while showing the old theme to regular visitors (so you don’t have to worry about your visitors seeing odd things happen on the blog while you’re testing with the layouts etc)
4. Blog Metrics - If you’re a stat junkie like me, this is the perfect plugin that allows you to monitor metrics such as average number of posts per month, words per post, comments per post without your own comments, trackbacks per post, words used in comments to post etc
5. GoCodes - Awesome plugin that not only shortens domain names but also tracks the number of clicks. Great for cloaking those long ugly affiliate links as well as reinforcing your brand. All done from the comfort of your Wordpress Admin Panel.
6. Comment Redirect - First impressions are important. This plugin identifies first-time commentors and redirect just those people to a specific page of your choosing (e.g. a page asking them to subscribe to your RSS feed and newsletter)
7. Minimum Comment Length - If you’re tired of those 2 word comments like “great article” or “thank you” then this is the plugin. If people then leave a comment of less than 15 characters, WordPress dies on them with the message “Error: Your comment is too short. Please try to say something useful.”, or whatever other message you decided to give to them.
8. TDO Mini Forms - A highly customizable form that allows non-registered users to submit guest posts. These are automatically turned into a draft and an admin can publish them.
9. Lightbox 2 - Used to overlay images on the current page and features auto-lightboxing of image links.
10. Yoast Breadcrumbs - This plugin allows you to add breadcrumbs to your theme. Great for membership sites and blogs with lots of categories.

UPDATE - 11. MaxBlogPress Optin Form Adder (thanks to Carl for mentioning this - awesome plugin) - Insert option form for your newsletter (e.g. GetResponse, Aweber) just by going through an easy 4-step wizard. Right now, it’s just 100% coding so this is going to make it a lot easier for me in the future

It happens with me. Sometimes I just stare at the blank page struggling to come up with stuff to write about, whether it is blogging, writing an article or creating a new information product.

Here are 7 easy ways to overcome writers block:

1. Freewriting

Just write what’s on your mind and don’t stop. Forget about the grammar, sentence structure, facts, research. The key to this is just to get everything in your brain onto paper. The more you get down the easier it becomes. Stopping mid-way to edit your sentence or researching something on Google will ruin your flow. In fact, this is what I’m doing write now as I’m writing this post.

2. Go Out And Take A Walk

Some of my best ideas come when I’m talking a walk - whether I’m walking home from school or just going for a quick exercise. It helps you relax your muscles and loosen your mind. You need to get your blood moving.

3. Save It For Later

You can always save that blog post or article for later. Save it as a draft and come back to it in the future. Who knows, a new angle may pop up and suddenly the block is gone.

4. Unplug The Internet

Close your email, shut your Twitter off and stop watching YouTube. There’s simply too much distractions on the internet if you’re going to overcome writer’s block.

5. Keep A Blackbook

This is extremely useful and powerful. You always keep a blackbook on or near you, so whenever a spark of genius pops into your head, you can immediately write it down. If you are outside having lunch and you suddenly come up with this awesome idea, there’s a chance you might forget about it by the time you get home.

The dullest pencil has a better memory than the sharpest mind.

6. Read Topics of Interest

Go read articles and blogs related to your topic. For example, if your blog post is about “How to teach an old dog new tricks” maybe you can go read dog training blogs. That way you are able to absorb a wider range of knowledge and able to give you more ideas to write about.

7. Take A Nap

Sometimes your brain just needs a rest from exhaustion and stress. Take a nap and usually the block is gone.

What My Twitter Followers Thought…

I also asked my followers on Twitter how they overcome writer’s block and got almost 30 awesome responses!