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Your prescription for design solutions

 C O N T E N T S

LOGO CHECKLIST
1
2 website CHECKLIST

SOCIAL MEDIA checklist

3
4 BLOG checklist

YOUR NOTES

Your prescription for design solutions

 LOGO
CHECKLIST
1

Your prescription for design solutions

LOGO
CHECKLIST
1
Your logo represents your business. It’s the identity of your
brand and should make customers feel welcome right from
the beginning. Use the checklist below to help you visualise
and decide what your logo needs.

1. DEFINE YOUR BRAND

It’s crucial to lay the foundations of who you are, what you stand
for and how it looks in colours, fonts and images. It is a must that
your logo reflects your brand and has consistency.

2. MAKE IT SIMPLE AND PRACTICAL

The most effective logos are often the simplest ones, like Nike,
Apple, and Mitsubishi. Remember to create a logo that is legible
for different areas whether it is narrow, long, tall, short or wide. It
should be adaptable and look good in black and white as well. It
must be easily reproducible. Avoid using clip part at all costs.

3. CHECK YOUR COMPETITORS

Check your competition and make sure your logo stands out
from theirs.

4. ASK YOUR FRIENDS

Feedback from friends is always good (customers, suppliers,
employees, etc.) Ask how your logo makes them feel and what
they think of when they see your logo? If you have that right,
then the comments should match your brand statement.

5. MAKE SURE IT IS USABLE FOR OFFLINE/ONLINE

Consider various file formats needed for your logo, these are...
• PDF – Good for print
• PNG –A lighter weight (smaller file) that works best online for
faster loading speeds
• JPG – Works where you would traditionally use a photo
• EPS – Good for print.

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LOGO
CHECKLIST
6. PROTECT IT

1 Do online research for who is using your name and possibly

similar logos. Check Patent and Trademarks website to see if
there are other companies using your name or a similar logo.

7. MARKETING MATERIAL
If all is okay, start using your logo. Put it on all your marketing
materials, stationery, labels, on your vehicle, etc. [See list at
the end of this document]. Remember your logo is just part
of your brands’ image. Use complementary and consistent
colours, images, fonts, patterns and use it in all that you do.

8. GUIDE
A brand guide ishould be distributed throughout your
business so everyone knows what you stand for – and what
that looks like. Put life into your logo with a full brand ecosys-
tem. The guide helps give your logo consistency for every
size and placement of your logo establishing that branding
your business needs.

9. GENERAL OBJECTIVES AND CONSIDERATIONS

I. What’s Your Key Message?
II. Is it clear and concise?
III. Does it indicate a good reflection of your company’s
values?
IV. Does it reflect your company’s mission and values?
V. Does it resonate with your clients and describe who
you want to be as a company?
VI. Is it unique?
VII. Will it last?
VIII. Is it versatile?
IX. Is it overwhelming?

10. CUSTOMER-FOCUS
I. Will your logo appeal to your target customers [both

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LOGO
CHECKLIST
current and future]?

1 II.

III.
IV.
REMEMBER, YOU’RE NOT YOUR CUSTOMER. YOUR
“LIKES” ARE NOT THE SAME AS THEIRS. THINK OF…
Who are they?
Does the logo speak to their interests and needs?
V. Is it accessible to them?
VI. How universal is the concept?
VII. Could it create confusion or perhaps even be
difficult to understand?
VIII. Was it designed for internal or external needs?

11. RELEVANCY
I. Does it suit the industry you are in and link to a need,
or a problem you can solve?
II. Does it reveal something about your company,
service, or product?
III. Is it descriptive? It doesn’t have to be literal. In fact,
and certainly not overly literal.
IV. Can it be seen in the context of your industry?
V. Your client base?
VI. Your value proposition?

12. DISTINCTIVENESS
I. Does it have a strong and unique feeling?

13. MEMORABILITY
I. Does it have a lasting impression?

Many different psychological aspects contribute to memora-

bility like contrast, colour, typography, etc. Is it engaging,
therefore it can improve recall.

14. SIMPLICITY
I. Is it well put together and clean?
Too tricky or too detailed and risk losing your audience

PAGE 5
LOGO
CHECKLIST
before they even get the message. Simplicity is a hard thing

1 to achieve which is the opposite of what most clients expect.

15. CREDIBILITY
I. Does it communicate quality, expertise, and trustwor-
thiness of your brand?
II. Usually there’s expectations and assumptions people
have of certain types of businesses therefore you need to
project something that’s credible for them.
III. Creating something that is too trendy or fancy may
blemish what you try to perceive to others. Don’t forget your
brand perception is about trust.
IV. This is someone’s first introduction to your business,
so does it inspire the trustworthiness? Credibility and
relevancy vary quite a bit by industry. For example, what
might be totally acceptable for a butcher’s might not play
well for a solicitor.

16. Timelessness
I. Does your logo give the feel of a long shelf life?
If a logo has 10+ years of staying power, that’s a good logo;
and many can last decades, for example like Nike, BMW, etc.
To maximize your investment, make sure your new logo can
last as long as possible. So invest wisley and don’t get some-
thing done on the cheap.
Ultimately, it needs to be timely. Create something timeless.

17. Adaptability
I. Can the design be applied in various technical appli-
cations? Consider black and white (for screen printing or
embossing, etc) as well as in colour.
II. Can it scale up effectively on a billboard size?
III. How about down to a small size on a pen?
IV. Is there a horizontal version (for web banners), a
stacked version (for signage), or can one be optimized

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LOGO
CHECKLIST
to accommodate both?

1 Good planning upfront and creating guidelines helps to

eliminate mistakes on your logo.

18. Extendibility
I. What else can amplify its reach, whether it be exten-
sions or other relationships.
II. Visualize how the logo could be in digital, social
media and customer interactions.
III. Is this a single or solo brand or part of a larger family?
IV. Do you have different products that include or branch
off from the main brand name and logo? Does the logo need
to change and adapt to accommodate various names and
divisions?
V. Can the colour palette influence products, interiors,
etc.?
VI. Word play?

matically inspire potential headlines?

VII. Word play?
VIII. Wit?
Any of these things are added advantages if they’re appropri-
ate to your audience.
19. Depth of Meaning
Does it encourage different understanding or levels of
engagement?

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LOGO
CHECKLIST
Logo Placement Checklist
1 ANNOUNCEMENT
Printed announcement
LISTINGS AND ADVERTISING
CERTIFICATES AND PROMOTIONS
Trade advertisement Business directories Advertisements
Certificates of Apparel
STATIONERY incorporation Binders
Business cards Credit certificates Literature
Envelopes Directory listings Novelty items
Letterhead Licenses Packaging
Mailing labels Permits Presentation formats
Memo pads Yellow Pages
News release form BUSINESS FORMS Banners
White papers Corporate checks Billboards
Reports Invoices Vehicle
With Compliments Slip Payroll checks Presentations
Purchase orders Newspaper
Statements Flyers
ONLINE/SOCIAL Software app Brochures
Email Signature Folder
Web masthead
Web favicon (The tiny EMPLOYEE
SIGNAGE
logo in your broswer tab) COMMUNICATIONS Buildings
Twitter handle Benefits books
Directional
Facebook page ID badges
Doorways
LinkedIn page Medical plans
Exhibit booths
Instagram Pension plans
Pinterest Recruiting materials
Blogger Service awards

PAGE 8
 WEBSITE
CHECKLIST
2

Your prescription for design solutions

WEBSITE
CHECKLIST
2
A great website is about moulding the design and copy
together so it engages through correct information with your
users and in alignment of your business goals. It is about
connecting and bringing results through strategic planning.
Planning is the continual backbone of getting the results that
connect you with the outside world. So, good planning is the
utmost importance to your growth.

ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS

1. What does your business do?
2. Who are your top 3 or 4 competitors? Give their websites.
3. What products or services do they offer and how do they
compare to yours?
4. What is your competitive edge? (List three reasons why you are
a good business choice)
5. What media are your successful competitors using?
6. How do they compare to yours?
7. What are their prices?
8. What is your pricing strategy?
9. What is your goal as an organization? Sell? Network? Influence
opinions? Maybe something else?
10. Do you have a website? What is the website URL?

COMPANY INSIGHTS
These questions look at the competitive landscape and help identify
your strengths and weaknesses.
Your site visitors will be asking:
-What’s in it for me?
-Why should I do business with your company?

SITE OBJECTIVES AND GOALS

1. What are the basic goals of your project? (e.g., branding/
identity reinforcement, improved access to information, direct
sales, corporate communication, etc.)

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WEBSITE
CHECKLIST
2. Establish a strong internet presence, increase marketing and

2 product branding?
3. Increase sales, generate business leads?
4. Support existing advertising, promotional efforts?
5. Offer customer service?
6. Improve or reinforce branding/identity?
7. Improve access to information?
8. Direct sales? E‐commerce?
9. Build business traffic? Increase membership growth?
10. Recruit new employees, post job opportunities?
11. Provide latest information regarding new products/services,
sales, promotions & events?
12. Will you provide a sample portfolio of products online?

DEFINING SITE GOALS

Without website goals and objectives, how will you measure
success? This section sheds light on areas that you may not have
considered before, such as using your website for recruitment,
memberships, etc.

RANK BY IMPORTANCE
1. A web strategy that fits our marketing strategy
2. Modifying and moving existing content to the Internet
3. Building a community of loyal visitors
4. A really great design
5. A really fast deployment
6. Ease of maintenance
7. Beating our competition on the Web
8. Staying within the budget
9. Looking web‐savvy

OTHER GOALS
Look at some of the more intangible aspects of your website and
determine what’s important for you.

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WEBSITE
CHECKLIST
WEBSITE SPECIFICATIONS

2 1. How many pages will your Website have?

2. Do you have a site layout in mind?
3. Can visitors buy a product or request information?
4. What are the main sections or categories you intend to have on
your site?
5. Will you have a shopping cart, order forms or a calendar of
events?
6. Will the site have contact forms?
7. Do you want Flash animation on any of the pages? If so, how
many pages?
8. Direct sales? E‐commerce?
9. Do you have any videos you want to put on your website? If
so, how many pages?
10. Have you seen any sites that you like specifically?
11. What do you like about those sites? Colors, design, layout?
12. Provide links to 2‐3 websites of those websites that appeal to
you.
13. What image do you want to convey with your website?
14. Do you prefer a two or three column layout?
15. Do you want a vertical or horizontal navigation bar? Or both?

WEBSITE DESIGN
Establishing what your likes and dislikes are can be challenging –
but it’s worth it. Use this section to articulate your preferences -
everything from colors to navigation. Also what might annoy you,
whether it be drop down menus to pop-up ads, etc. Let’s find out
what they are.

CURRENT RESOURCES
1. Will you supply all art and copy digitally?
2. Do you have photos for scanning?
3. Do you want your site to use only graphics, only photos, or
both?ny vendor supplied photos or graphics you are authorized to

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WEBSITE
CHECKLIST
4. Do you have photos of you, your staff, your services, or your

2 products?
5. Do you have any vendor supplied photos or graphics you are
authorized to use?
6. Do you have a logo and the digital copy?
7. Would you like us to create a logo for your business? If yes,
would a stylized typeset of your company name be sufficient?
8. Do you have a tag line?
9. Have you written the content for the site?
10. Will you need someone’s assistance in creating the copy?
If yes, do you have this information electronically?
Company brochures Information flyers
Client presentations Case studies
Customer letters White papers

COLLECTING COLLATERAL
Have a good look at your resources and marketing collateral.
What do you have already and what Needs to be created?
If you have an old logo, maybe it’s time to update to a more modern
look.
How about your old brochures? Is that copy stale? Is it relevant?
COMMON MENU ITEMS
1. Home 7. FAQs
2. About us 8. Forms
3. Services. How many pages? 9. Articles or other informative
Ideally, each service should have topics
its own page. 10. PDF files to include
4. Product categories 11. Links or resources
5. Customers 12. Contact us
6. Testimonials

MENU CONSIDERATIONS
How many sections and pages will your website have?
How much of your marketing assets can be used as PDFS and links?

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WEBSITE
CHECKLIST
CURRENT MARKETING

2 1. How are you currently marketing your Website or products?

2. Are you planning to register your site with local directories and
search engines?
3. Are you planning to use social media to attract visitors to your
website?
4. Do you publish articles about your business on other websites,
magazines, or journals?
5. Are you planning to publish a newsletter?
6. Are you currently advertising on major search engines such as
Google, Bing, and Yahoo?
7. Do you use special offers and landing pages for your
campaigns?
8. What other web marketing avenues do you use? Banner ads,
affiliates, etc.?

WHAT YOU LIKE

Remember, in Website Specifications we asked you to provide
links to 2‐3 sites that you really like. These sites don’t have to be
in your industry sector either.
Make a list of all the features on those websites that attracted
you:
Any bells and whistles you like?
What about navigation or colours? These are important ‐ as it
tells us your likes and dislikes. It might not bear directly on the
final design ‐ don’t forget, we're designing for your audience, and
more often than not your favourite sites can help give us some
great insight.

IMPORTANT FACTORS
When is your deadline for this project?
What is your budget for Web development as described above?
The scope of website development can vary a lot depending on
customer requirements. So you need to provide a budgetary
range for planning purposes.

PAGE 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
CHECKLIST
3

Your prescription for design solutions

SOCIAL
MEDIA
CHECKLIST
3
Use this checklist to run through this guide and find out how
well your business is positioned with social media marketing.

1. What are your top three business goals?

2. Have you defined and described your ideal customer?
3. What challenges would your ideal customers be
struggling with?
4. You know what information your ideal customer is
searching for online before they purchase your products or
services.
5. You have a list of FAQs about your products, services or
industry.
6. You have social sharing buttons on your website and
encourage people to share your content.
7. Your social media posts drive ideal customer traffic to
your website.
8. You are focused on building your customer email
database.
9. You have implemented a plan on how social media can
help build your email list.
10. You have a clear understanding of why you’re using a
particular social media platform for business marketing.
11. You understand where, when and why #hashtags are
important.
12. Use social media for customer service.
13. Your employees know what social media channels your
business uses and why.
14. Your employees are encouraged to engage with your
business online.
15. Your business has in practice a social media policy.
16. You know what to do if a customer attacks your business
on social media.
17. You talk mostly about your business on social media
18. You educate your ideal customers.

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SOCIAL
MEDIA
CHECKLIST
3
19. Your social media strategies deliver real value to your
customers.
20. You use advertising on social media like Facebook and
Instagram ads.
21. You place your customer email list into Facebook and
Instagram and re-market to them.
22. Your business has a page on LinkedIn.
23. You are using images, video, visual content or infograph-
ics for your social media posting.
24. You share other people’s content.
25. You regularly visit and comment on other industry pages,
or even a customer’s page or profile on social media.
26. Parts of your social media marketing are automated.
27. You allocate a budget to social media marketing.
28. Your business contact information is consistent across the
web and social media channels.
29. You have established a business ‘voice’ and ‘tone’ for use
on the web.
30. You should measure your social media.
31. You have an idea of what success on social media for your
business looks like.
32. Engage with influencers
33. Know when to schedule your posts on social media
34. Make sure it is educational, entertaining or informative
35. Use the correct hashtags and keywords
36. Is the voice you use correct?
37. Is the post well thought out?
38. Monitor and measure the impact of your strategies
39. Be helpful to your community
40. Read your competitor’s conversations to learn what
they’re doing and what works.

Please don’t feel overwhelmed by this list, if anything, it is only to

give you an idea of the diverse range of ways you can strategise your
social media and what businesses use today, or should use.

PAGE 17
 BLOG
CHECKLIST
4

Your prescription for design solutions

BLOG
CHECKLIST
4
Congratulations on deciding to create your own blog. Obviously
there are many things you need to consider prior to this blog
journey and below is a simple list to get you started.

1. Be clear about your reasons for blogging.

2. Establish what your niche is. What will your blog focus on?
What makes your approach different from other blog sites in your
chosen field?
3. Select your blog name. Make sure it’s easy to spell and
makes sense to your audience. The shorter the name the better
too. Buy your domain name.
4. Purchase a domain name and hosting package. That way
you fully own and control your website and not limited with a
free blogging platform’s policies and technologies.
5. Select your plugins. These plugins are snippets of code
that add special features and functionality to your blog.
6. Create your blog’s About page. Show there’s a real person
behind your blog. Readers check your About page just to see
your point of view.
7. Set your blog goals wisely. What do you want to accom-
plish through blogging? The more specific your objectives are,
the easier it will be to accomplish them.
8. Imagine your ideal reader. You should be able to visualise
him or her as if they were your best friend. What are they like as
people? What attracts them in terms of content? Create a market-
ing persona [a must!].
9. Create your list of blog topics you feel relevant to your
business. What areas would your blog concentrate on?
10. List around ten to twenty keywords. These need to be
related to your niche and blog topics. A short list helps you to
focus your content on these phrases. Try writing at least one
column for each keyword.
11. Create an editorial calendar. Use these topics you have
created as the basis for your editorial plan. How often do you
think you can commit to publishing information. It’s best to start
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BLOG
CHECKLIST
with less posts and then try expanding your publishing schedule

4 over time. Being consistent when you publish is also important.

This helps train your readers when to show up.
12. Writing blog posts. This may seem hard to do, but it’s only
a small portion of your time.
13. Create titles that attract. Remember only one out of five
people will read your article. So be creative!
14. Keep a collection of potential blog titles and content.
Research and find what others use to attract your attention as a
guide.
15. Make your blog post attractive to your core audience. The
presentation is crucial in grabbing the attention of potential
readers.
16. Copyedit your posts. Get it proof read by someone, it is
simple to miss errors and they do look unprofessional.
17. Optimize your blog posts for search. Include your
keyword in the title and URL. Have at least one link to your older
posts and one link to a third party entity.
18. Incorporate other content formats. As well as text, blogs
can also include images, video, audio, presentations and PDFs.
19. Circulate your blog posts. You really need to place your
blogs across other digital platforms and social media. This means
like business website, publications, newsletters, emails, press
release, etc.
20. Measuring how effective your blog is. These results should
be associated with your blog goals.

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 NOTES/DIARY

DATES TO REMEMBER
 NOTES/DIARY

DATES TO REMEMBER
We really hope these checklists are of value to you and help get you started in your business.
At The Creative Pill we dedicate ourselves to creating good design and helping you
achieve your goals.
The digital landscape is certainly an industry that is continually multiplying and
new products, ideas, software and strategies are always being implemented,
created, developed, and changed as we speak. If we can help you in
some small way to reach your goals, then we are delighted.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any further
questions or need our help.

The Creative pill

Your prescription for design solutions

Labrador, Gold Coast, Queensland 4215 Australia

Open Hours Mon- Fri 9-5pm
Phone [+61] 07-55285499 | Mobile 0415514222
www.thecreativepill.com.au
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