Cheese Bites

Cheese Bites: The Rubber Cheese Newsletter


October 2007 This month.... Summers gone now and the cold is setting in. We�ve just started thinking about Christmas too! Have you planned your Christmas campaigns yet? This month�s article is from Colin Newlyn or Ology Business. Focusing on the dilemmas of growing your business. Colin has been helping us for the last 5 months and with his help Rubber Cheese are flying high! A very warm welcome to all our new subscribers, we hope you like what you see. Remember to tell your friends too!
Latest Project: Word Of Mouse
	Rubber Cheese have completed the brand identity for the brand new networking site, Word of Mouse. Working closely with the owners, we produced a brand that is modern, has impact and is also highly memorable, adding in a little bit of fun for good measure. We are currently working on the marketing materials and exhibition design. Go Join today! www.wordofmousenetwork.com
Business Help A Paradigm Shift in Business� How many business owners do you know who are up against what may or may not be glass ceilings in the growth of their businesses? Do the barriers really exist or is it simply that they don�t have the self-belief or the confidence to break through? Here�s an interesting proposition � what if business is just like sport? What if it is just a question of honing considerable skills coupled with the removal of certain self-limiting beliefs? Do we really know what our psychological limits are? Remember the sub-4-minute mile: in 1954 it was something that was thought to be simply beyond human capabilities - until May 6th, 1954, in Oxford when a young medical student named Roger Bannister ran a mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. And then, within one year 37 others did it; within 2 years, over 300 had done it. Now that�s a shift in belief! And then there's the paradigm-shattering Bob Beamon super-leap in the '68 Mexico City Olympics (29 ft 2 � inches - beating the existing world mark by nearly two feet!). Not to mention Tiger Woods� astounding 2000 US Open victory by no less than 15 strokes! It has happened in other sports too: quantum breakthroughs that somehow enable the next level of achievement by others, and within a very short time frame. What if that could be achieved in business? Well why not? If you have the skill set and you have the necessary support and coaching, why couldn�t your business take a paradigm shifting leap forward? There is a growing interest in seeking business advantage in this way � by doing what the sports stars do � taking help to build performance enhancing beliefs � having someone along side to keep you ahead of the game. Can you afford not to be one of the enlightened ones? If you want someone to work with to move your business to a new level, then call and tell me about your business. I can then tell you how Ology Business Coaching helps you get where you want to be, faster than you would get there by yourself. For your no-obligation consultation, contact me, Colin Newlyn, on 020 8928 0785 or 07900 247383, or email me at colinnewlyn@ologybusiness.com For more information, see my website at www.ologybusiness.com/colinnewlyn On a personal note Ok, an update on our BT situation! The problem has been resolved, although it�s not the idea situation. We finally got an engineer to visit the studio, how proceeded to rip out a million extra lines that the last occupiers had put in, unbeknown to us. This he said would help with the noise on the line...BUT. We can never get any more than 1/2meg of broadband service because we are 7 miles from the nearest exchange! The further you are away, the slower the service you get. So, we�re thankfully not getting the drops in service that we were, but the broadband is painfully slow, not ideal for us as we�re receiving and sending large files every day. Now, on to better news! We�re working with some great clients right now, one of them being the famous toy store Hamleys! We�re very excited and really enjoying the project, but working really long hour�s right now! See you next time! Mog (Kelly) & Wag (Paul) www.rubbercheese.com Rubber Cheese, now there's a good idea If you know someone who might be interested in receiving this newsletter, please pass it on! If it has been passed to you, and you'd like to receive a regular copy of Cheese Bites yourself, please sign up on www.rubbercheese.com/newsletter.html and receive our free help sheet, "Find the Designer For You!"

SPONSOR THE RUBBER CHEESE TACHE

2 DAYS TO GO!!!
Lordy lordy! Only 2 days to go until the big day of TACHE WARS! It�s been a long time coming but it is finally coming to the end... after nearly 5 weeks of having to pull bits of food out of my hairy lip, and stroking the old slug when contemplating life itself, the day of reckoning is nearly upon us!
Could the tache wars trophy be mine? Who knows!
As long as the best tache wins, we will be happy!
I would just like to thank everyone who has sponsored me so far. The people at Everyman will be very happy. We have raised �350 so far, but we would like to raise some more cash and make a final push to the magical �500 mark!
So for those of you haven't already, please sponsor me by visiting here:
https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/wagtacheo

If you would like to see how the tache is coming along, please visit here:
http://www.tacheback.com/WAGTACHEO-THE-THIRD
YOU CAN�T SPONSOR ME FROM THIS PAGE, BUT YOU CAN VOTE FOR MY TACHE!
ill miss the old fella, but im not sure if my girlfriend will... who knows it might become a permanent fixture on my face, but I very much doubt it... anyhow if you don't hear from me before, I will let you know soon how I get on at the main event.
thank you all for your support
too shay my friends,
Wagtacheo the Third
sponsor link: https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/wagtacheo
Tache updates: http://www.tacheback.com/WAGTACHEO-THE-THIRD

Paul Wright
Rubber Cheese(r)
This e-mail and any files attached with it, including replies and forwarded copies subsequently transmitted from Rubber Cheese are strictly confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivery to the intended recipient, please be aware that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use is strictly prohibited.

Rubber Cheese raising some money!

Ladies, Gentlemen, Boys, Girls, Tache Lovers and Tache Haters.
I have until the 27th September to carry on growing my moustache!
Support me - vote for me - love me!
I'm not growing a Tache for my health - I'm doing it to support Everyman, the UK's leading Male Cancer Campaign.
Visit www.RubberCheese.com and click on the link on the homepage for my tache updates, to vote for my tache, or to sponsor me.

So Come on - let's be having you, there's a TACHE WAR to be won.
Support me on this amazing journey to Tache Heaven, and the best Tache on the planet!

Thank you for your help
Many regards
Paul (aka Wagtacheo the Third)
Paul Wright
Rubber Cheese
T: 01279 434488
www.rubbercheese.com

Cheese Bites: The Rubber Cheese Newsletter


July 2007 This month.... I don�t know what is going on with the weather - where has all the sun gone? Oh well, let Rubber Cheese brighten your mood with our fab newsletter! This month�s article is from Paula Gardner of Do Your Own PR. Focusing on how to handle PR as your company grows, keep it in house or outsource? Paula explains the pros and cons of your PR choices. A very warm welcome to all our new subscribers, we hope you like what you see. Remember to tell your friends too!

	Rubber Cheese have finalised the first stages of branding for The Place Setting, retailers of high quality china & glassware, mainly for wedding gift lists. We developed the initial ideas around a sophisticated theme, introducing elegant flourishes to convey the high quality of the items. Branding, stationery, shop signage, gift vouchers & bags have all been produced to co-ordinate. www.theplacesetting.com
PR: Take It In Your Own Hands Or Hand It Over? By Paula Gardner of www.doyourownpr.com Facing facts PR and marketing will help your business become more successful. But the obvious downside of a successful business is that you personally will no longer have as much time to devote to PR and marketing. But handing it over to someone else is a risk - how can you be sure that they'll communicate the passion that fired you up to start the business in the first place? Your choices As you grow and find yourself in this position you really ultimately have four choices. To grow but still retain control, personally, of all your PR and marketing. It may sound great but this is very stressful and if you're planning on doing your PR full time, then why aren't you running a PR company? It's not impossible, but to carry out this option successfully you'll need to be extremely disciplined To hand over PR and marketing responsibilities to another member or members of staff, and train them up to be responsible for this area To bring in a PR professional in-house To employ outside help from a PR company or practitioner Let's take a look at what doing your own PR long-term actually involves. Whether you are planning to outsource your PR or not, this will give you a breakdown of the different tasks involved. You may find that you feel you and your business will be able to handle them no problem, or it may send you into a cold panic where you realise that you'd better start looking around for a PR company pretty damn quick! Research This involves keeping up to date with newspapers, websites, trade and professional publications, magazines, radio shows and TV. Planning your PR strategy This includes market research into what image you need to project to your potential customers and devising a plan with a suitable timescale. To be honest, even if you have a PR company you'll need to be on top and driving this one. Building relationships with journalists and editors This could involve lunches, networking, and going to trade events where you know they will be covering stories. The beauty of doing your own PR is that these contacts are yours and won't be with-held by The PR company or leave with them when an account executive goes onto their next job. Writing PR material This could include web pages, press releases, articles for inclusion on your own and other websites (in exchange for links), articles for the press, newsletters and regular tips and hints for editors. Sometimes the clients still end up doing this even if they have a PR company. Day to day PR Chasing up press releases and phoning journalist with a story; giving interviews; following up past "bites" or interviews to see when article are being published; arranging for photos, links, photographs etc; placing competitions; buying publications and organising cuttings to most effectively impress potential clients. And, of course, co-ordinating all the above so that they run smoothly. Pros and Cons Learning How to Do Your Own PR (either individually, or as a team). Pros * You retain control of the way things go * The contacts you make are your own and you can build relationships with the press * You can portray the passion behind the business much more effectively than someone who is being paid to do so * You and your team will learn skills and unleash abilities along the way that will benefit other parts of your business * This is often the cheapest option. Cons * Time consuming! * If you suddenly thrust PR responsibilities on a member of staff who didn't sign up for this when they started it can cause bad feeling Bringing a PR Person In-house Pros * You'll get all their abilities, contacts and skills - just for you * They can immerse themselves in company culture and product much more easily and hopefully be able to communicate that better than someone on the outside Cons * Cost plus all the other risks associated with taking on staff Hiring a PR Person or Agency Pros * You have access to their contacts * It frees up your time Cons * This can be a very expensive option and fees can run away unless you watch them carefully * You could competing for their time with higher paying clients My own opinion? I firmly believe that small businesses, while they are small, are the best people to do their PR. It's easier for them to inspire the press with excitement and the skills you pick up can be phenomenal. And once a relationship with the press has been built it's more effective to bring in more people into the business to carry that on, and keep it yours, than hand it over to an outside party. Do Your Own PR shows small businesses how to plan and run their own campaigns. Check out their 30 day PR ecourse at http://www.doyourownpr.com/products/do_your_own_pr_ecourse.asp Is it just us, or does everyone running a business have problems with BT? We moved into our current studio Dec 06, and had 3 weeks with no Broadband service due to BT overlooking a fault on our line. Since the end of January we have had a least one day every week where we have no service, a whole week of no service and for the last three weeks, loss of internet every single day for at least 2 hours. Our hosting company have to speak to BT on our behalf as they won�t speak to us direct, and the problem just doesn�t get fixed. It�s wasting so much time that we are looking into moving again - watch this space! Is it just us - send me your BT horror stories! Other than that, things are good at Rubber Cheese. Wag�s been up to the Isle of Mull for a week�s holiday where he narrowly avoided being dive-bombed by a Puffin, and this month my dog has already eaten one pair of socks, one pair of knickers, and piece of work that I needed to keep. Average kind of month really! See you next time! Mog (Kelly) & Wag (Paul) www.rubbercheese.com Rubber Cheese, now there's a good idea If you know someone who might be interested in receiving this newsletter, please pass it on! If it has been passed to you, and you'd like to receive a regular copy of Cheese Bites yourself, please sign up on www.rubbercheese.com/newsletter.html and receive our free help sheet, "Find the Designer For You!"

Cheese Bites: The Rubber Cheese Newsletter


May 2007 This month.... Hoorah! It�s getting warmer...BBQ�s on the way! Rubber Cheese has won an award for our web design services, read more about it below. New projects have been launched and some very exciting ones on the way. This month instead of an article, we have a question and answer section. We help one of our readers with a design & marketing issue. A very warm welcome to all our new subscribers, we hope you like what you see. Remember to tell your friends too!

	Rubber Cheese were approached by Avia International to help them launch and promote new travel company, Blue Marine Travel. A flag motif was included as a key element to the brand. In the Marine Industry it is seen as sign of establishment and trust. We have now completed the design of the brand identity, business stationery, website, corporate brochures & advertisements. www.bluemarinetravel.com

Question & Answer Session Q: I have a php web site that's not getting indexed very well at the moment. It's an Essex based directory site. What other traditional ways can I promote the site at a reasonable cost? (I'm a one man setup working from home in the evenings) Jeff from Essex A: Thanks for the question Jeff. I think we�re all striving to find cost effective ways of advertising & promoting our services so here�s a few suggestions that could help. 1. Links Can you get your own site listed on other relevant sites? Linking doesn't necessarily affect Google ranking but links help "relevance". When Google displays search results, ie from sites that are about Essex it will make your site more relevant when the term "Essex" is searched for. The more relevance there is the more likely your site will appear higher up the pile. 2. Refer a Friend Could you introduce a Refer a Friend scheme when people sign up for a listing? Encourage subscribers to refer other businesses that you can then target. 3. Targeted Leaflet Drop Are there any business centres local to you? You could produce a one colour flyer that could be photocopied or printed cheaply and distribute it to local trading estates etc. 4. Listed on Google? Is the site actually listed in the 3 major SE's Google, Yahoo, MSN? If it isn't Try manually submitting the site once so the Search Engine can spider the site. Does the site use correct Page titles? Does the site generate unique meta descriptions and keywords for each page/category/listing? Does the site use "search engine friendly URL's"? Do you require a link back if you allow a link to another site? This can enhance inward traffic and assist with Google relevance. Any company will ask �how will signing up to this directory help my business?� All you need to do is tell them the answer. Try explaining on the homepage of your site exactly how it will help them, how it will start to raise their internet profile etc. Focus on the benefit and not the features. If you�d like to ask Rubber Cheese a question about any design & marketing issues, please email us at info@rubbercheese.com and we will answer the best ones every month.
The Best Of Hertford Searching the Internet for �local� suppliers of goods and services is experiencing dramatic growth. The advent of fast broadband connections, large numbers of home PC users and the development of search engine performance have contributed to a massive shift away from traditional media such as Yellow Pages, the press and other paper based directories. Enlightened providers of such services now realise that a sophisticated web presence is obligatory if they are not to miss out on this important and growing stream of potential customers. But how do you get more people to visit your website? What causes potential customers to fid you? Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) work, as it has become known is the key to making your website really work for you. A great deal of SEO work can be done with the website itself but significant and cost effective advantage can be gained by opting for inclusion in the new generation of �online business directories� like Th e Best Of series. For a modest �one off� set fee and advertising rates starting from just �10 per month�..yes, that�s �10 per month online directories like The Best Of Hertford (www.thebestof.co.uk/hertford) can significantly increase the flow of traffic and therefore potential customers to your website. �People land on The Best Of�s pages is response to specific Google or other search engine based inquiries for goods and services in a local area� said Steve Wheeler, Managing Director of TBO Media Ltd, owners of The Best Of Hertford. �We can generate more traffic, which means more sales and more profit for website owners. Leaving your site hanging in cyberspace is not going to get you any business�. For further information on how The Best Of Hertford can help your business contact Steve Wheeler on hertford@thebestof.co.uk or give him a call on 01992 880001. Remember, you don�t have to be in Hertford to use The Best Of Hertford! We still need to hear from you! What would you like to see included? Site reviews? More articles? More about what we�re up too? Business book reviews? Get in touch and let us know. Just email me on info@rubbercheese.com with suggestions. I�m just back from my Wedding in Cancun. It was an amazing day, very hot with clear blue skys, not a cloud to be seen. It all seemed to go so quickly but after three weeks of sun I was about ready to come home. We spent a lot of time snorkelling and swimming which I missing now. Poor Wag had a chest infection while I was away, so he was most pleased to have me back at the studio. See you all soon! Next issue out June. Mog (Kelly) & Wag (Paul) www.rubbercheese.com Rubber Cheese, now there's a good idea If you know someone who might be interested in receiving this newsletter, please pass it on! If it has been passed to you, and you'd like to receive a regular copy of Cheese Bites yourself, please sign up on www.rubbercheese.com/newsletter.html and receive our free help sheet, "Find the Designer For You!"

Vote for Rubber Cheese in the Web Awards!

Dear Cheese Bites Subscribers,
We've been entered into The Herts24 Web Awards in association with Beechwood Homes.
We need as many people as possible to vote for us so we can go through to the final.
It only takes a minute (as Take That would say), so please please vote for us by visiting our homepage and clicking the button on the right.
www.rubbercheese.com
Thank you all!
Kelly & Paul
Rubber Cheese

Cheese Bites: The Rubber Cheese Newsletter

February 2007

This month....

A very belated Happy New Year to all our subscribers!

Cheese Bites will be going through a series of changes this year, starting this month. Every other month you'll receive a jam packed edition, full of business tips, special offers and news of our latest projects.

This months article talks about Successful Branding of a New Product, what's involved and the top 5 tips to help you succeed.

A very warm welcome to all our new subscribers, we hope you like what you see. Remember to tell your friends too!

Auspicium specialises in NLP training and NLP courses for individuals and for corporate companies.

A new corporate identity was needed, plus stationary and marketing materials for the launch. A web presence was vital for the company, along with an area where courses could be purchased via a credit card online.

The design of the site had to be inspirational, spiritual, and professional. Imagery had to be colourful and visually inspiring.

Visit www.auspicium.co.uk

Branding a Successful Product

The world today is full of great products, but most will vanish from the supermarket shelves quickly, if they even make there at all.

We as consumers don't engage with the product, we engage with the brand, the emotions related to the product. Take baked beans as an example. Baked beans are just beans in sauce with a few spices thrown in. But that's not what I go and buy at the supermarket, I buy Heinz baked beans and they are different.

Heinz are comfort food on a cold day. They make a fried breakfast complete and they're warm and comforting, like seeing an old friend. Heinz has managed to achieve a place in peoples hearts as a loved brand.

When I buy beans it's the emotion I'm buying into, not just the beans in sauce. So to successfully brand a product we need to first work out your brand values.

You can do this by asking a series of questions.

Who is the core Target Consumers?
What is the Specific Offer the brand is making?
What Differentiates the Brand and makes it unique?
Brand Personality � stated in emotional terms.

It's like giving the brand and personality of its own. Think about your product, what makes it unique?

For example, Innocent Smoothies. The overall value is of being �natural�. That carries across in the product, branding and marketing as a whole.

Once we have all the correct information we can then start to design a brand icon or logo, which will cement the brand in our minds. Where would Heinz be without its �keystone� design or Nike without the swoosh?

There's a lot more to designing a logo than just making it look good. Our aim is to make yours simple and recognisable and eventually as big as Heinz!

Providing the Personal Touch

Did you know that the friendliness and efficiency of the voice who answers a company phone can increase the chances of doing business with a prospective customer by up to 50 per cent?

Kendlebell provides small businesses with a cost-effective, named �Personal Assistant� who will take diverted calls, organise diaries and run the office while the business owner is on the telephone, in a meeting, out of the office or even basking on a beach for a couple of weeks.

Kendlebell is offering business people the opportunity to try the service free. For one week, completely free of charge and with no obligation they will provide business owners with their own personal assistant to answer all their diverted calls.

For further details contact Norma Ingle at Kendlebell (Ware) on 0800 458 3354, or log into their website www.kendlebellware.com. And, while you are doing that, ask yourself. Who will be answering your calls while your line's busy?

Our newsletter will be changing over the next few months. We want to pack in more information to help businesses start-up or grow, but we need to hear from you. What would you like to see included? Site reviews? More articles? More about what we're up too? Business book reviews? Get in touch and let us know. Just email me on info@rubbercheese.com with suggestions.

It's been a great start to the new year with some very interesting clients work. Wag�s been keeping a diary of odd things that happen to us every day, I�ll make him Blog it this week fro you all to see. My wedding is creeping up very quickly now, only 2 months till we fly out to Cancun. Bring on the sun!!

See you all soon! Next issue out April

Mog (Kelly) & Wag (Paul)
www.rubbercheese.com

Rubber Cheese, now there's a good idea

If you know someone who might be interested in receiving this newsletter, please pass it on! If it has been passed to you, and you'd like to receive a regular copy of Cheese Bites yourself, please sign up on www.rubbercheese.com/newsletter.html and receive our free help sheet, "Find the Designer For You!"

Cheese Bites Message

Rubber Cheese


		November 2006 This month.... We have a guest article this month from Paula Gardner of Do Your Own PR. Why PR is a vital part of your online Marketing Promotion campaign. This is the last newsletter from us until Jan 07 so a very warm welcome to all our new subscribers, we hope you like what you see and enjoy the fun! Remember to tell your friends too! We'll be back in the New Year.

I have some very exciting client news to share... it's a little late but I'm sure they will forgive me!

One of our very first clients, Fergus Jamieson of Heavens Above Fireworks recently won both the Best Innovation and Sales & Marketing awards at the West Essex Business Awards!

Heavens Above Fireworks celebrates the life of a partner, relative or friend. They arrange special fireworks displays amongst which will be a number of fireworks specially modified to incorporate the cremation ashes, allowing for a spectacular memorial event and happier farewell.

Fergus and his lovely wife Susan invited Cullen Ward of Prune Promotions and myself along to celebrate the evening in style...there's even a photograph of us on stage collecting the award from Jan Leeming.

Rubber Cheese produced the logo & business stationery for the company and continues to support Heavens Above with ongoing design services.

Check out the website on www.heavensabovefireworks.com

Why PR is a vital part of your online Marketing Promotion campaign

By Paula Gardner of www.doyourownpr.com

PR is often thought to encompass just real life media such as newspapers, magazines and the web, but there's a whole world of online PR that needs attention as part of your business growth.

Why Online PR is so vital

Think about what happens when someone reads your name in a magazine or newspaper. Unless it's a household phenomenon such as Crown Paints or Paris Hilton then chances are they've got to not only remember your name but also the web address too. I don't know about you but I can think of countless occasions when I've come across a business' name in a magazine at the dentists waiting room or a friend's house, thought to myself "I'll have to take a look at them I get back to the office� and promptly forgot all about it. Online PR and marketing promotion means that your name and website address is already there in front of your potential customer. All they have to do is click on it. What could be simpler than that?

It's a Virtuous Circle

Write more articles; get mentioned on more websites and you'll attract more people to your site. Get more people coming to your site and you'll be more likely to appear higher in the search engines when people search under your keywords and phrases. How cool is that?

You can't get much Cheaper than This
In the world of business promotion online PR and marketing is as cheap as it gets - a quick email accompanied by the relevant documents � press release, photographs, articles etc � followed up with a phone call. All it needs is your time � a small investment for such a potentially huge return.

It's Easy To Track

Whilst it's hard to know who came to your site through what article and which offer, tracking online PR and marketing is easy. If you've access to your web statistics you should be able to see the addresses of the sites where people are coming from � and watching how those figures correspond to the efforts you are putting in. And, on that note.

You Can Also See Who's Buying

If you're getting a lot of click through from one particular site but no one's buying you can take a look at why � are they clicking through on a message that doesn't really convey what you are selling? Equally, the sites where people are coming to you and buying are the ones that need your attention. Look at ways that you can strengthen your association with and appearances on these sites through news items, articles, competitions, postings in the forums, comments in the blog etc � and also look for other similar sites where you might the same level of success.

www.doyourownpr.com offers coaching in business pr and marketing promotion

For a free weekly newsletter on how to attract new customers and clients and raise your professional credibility and visibility visit:

www.doyourownpr.com/subscribe.asp



	Rubber Cheese has a lovely new blog called �Now There's a Good Idea�. Want to find out a bit about design? Like to learn some tricks to help your business grow? Then read on for all things creative and the day to day goings on at Rubber Cheese. www.rubbercheese.com/blog


	Highly Recommended! Lead Generation Master Class with Richard J White. www.pro-excellence.com/networking.html I cannot recommend this enough, having been on the course myself. It's helped me network more efficiently and even led to Leads and Referrals on the day! The Lead Generation Master Class is a workshop where you will master a skill that has helped networkers to turnaround their networking fortunes literally overnight by applying a simple and learnable approach. In just 1 day you will learn: 1. How to make it easier for people to refer business to you 2. How to articulate and communicate your business to stimulate referrals 3. How to be remembered by people you meet 4. Learn how to generate more referrals from your existing network 5. How to quickly expand your referral network The learning style is fun and highly participative. You will be learning, working on your business, and networking all at the same time!! The day is designed so that you are highly likely to leave having developed leads or referrals! Swindon: 20th November, 2006 Birmingham 24th November, 2006 London 27th November, 2006 Book Now!!! Tel: 01428 651866 www.pro-excellence.com/networking.html

It's amazing how much can change in a month. A few weeks ago we were looking to take on a new designer, and this week we've been looking for a new studio as our current place is being developed on!

We've found a lovely big, bright studio with a meeting area and separate kitchen. It's still in the countryside and they are happy for Buster the dog to join us there too! We're really excited but it does mean we can't take anyone on yet.

This is the last newsletter from us this year, but look out for a special Christmas message!

Have a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Mog (Kelly) & Wag (Paul)

Rubber Cheese.
The only designers you'll ever need.

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Cheese Bites : The Rubber Cheese Newsletter

Rubber Cheese


		October 2006 This month.... This month�s article is all about Blogging! We�ve just started a fab new blog, but what are they and how can they help your business? Our design work has been featured on TV this month too - read on to find out how. A very warm welcome to all our new subscribers, we hope you like what you see and enjoy the fun! Remember to tell your friends too!

One of the UK�s most successful bicycle distributors, Solent UK, has appointed Rubber Cheese to create a powerful image for a brand new Authorised Colnago Dealer Network.

Colnago produce some of the most desirable bikes in the world. Solent Consumers expect world class sales and after-sales service from Colnago resellers. Solent UK felt it important to create a strong visual identity for the new Dealer Network which includes the UK�s premier independent bicycle retailers.

Working alongside marketing consultant Cullen Ward, Rubber Cheese created a stunning exhibition backdrop and heavily branded point of sale banners. The exhibition backdrop outlined Colnago�s unique history giving visitors to the stand a deep understanding of the brand, its heritage and their contemporary products.

Cullen Ward said: �Rubber Cheese have been brilliant, they have worked beyond the call of duty and produced something truly stunning. Everyone is amazed and delighted at the quality and detail of the job.�

The new Authorised Colnago Dealer network was launched at the Cycle 2006 show, 6-8th of October in the Excel centre, London.

As seen on TV...

http://today.reuters.co.uk/tv/videoStory.aspx?storyID=de444d51e667d08ab72f5a827ce59221e2b1685a

Should you bother with a Blog?

by Kelly Molson of www.rubbercheese.com

For the last two months I�ve been a guinea pig. No, I haven�t been running around squeaking, I�ve been speaking to a new PR coach at Do Your Own PR.

Emily Gordon has worked her magic on me and I�m busy writing press releases, gathering contacts and even thinking about giving presentations! I�ve really enjoyed it even though it�s taken me out of my comfort zone, but the one thing that stood out as the biggest benefit to Rubber Cheese was Blogging.

So why do we need a Blog?

It�s a great way of interactivity with your clients. They can find out more about you and the daily goings on at your company. It�s quick and easy to update, as soon as you hit publish the information is live to the world.

You can share news about your business, if you�ve got special offers, new services, new members of staff or even if you�ve won an award. Breaking news can be live on the internet in seconds. Like a huge on live diary. If your clients have exciting news, share that too.

4 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BOTHER WITH A BLOG:

1 Up to the minute information can be published in minutes.

2 Updates can be made via the web on any computer.

3 Other bloggers can link to your blog for free and people can subscribe to receive email notifications of any updates.

4 Higher search engine positioning can be achieved (search engines love fresh content)

So, what�s stopping you? There are plenty of free blog systems out there including blogger.com or Typepad is a subscription service for the more experienced blogger.

Ours has been built into our website at www.rubbercheese.com/blog so it�s nice easy for you all to find!

Copyright � Rubber Cheese� 2006



	Rubber Cheese has a lovely new blog called �Now There�s a Good Idea�. Want to find out a bit about design? Like to learn some tricks to help your business grow? Then read on for all things creative and the day to day goings on at Rubber Cheese. www.rubbercheese.com/blog


	Highly Recommended! Lead Generation Master Class with Richard J White. www.pro-excellence.com/networking.html I cannot recommend this enough, having been on the course myself. It�s helped me network more efficiently and even led to Leads and Referrals on the day! The Lead Generation Master Class is a workshop where you will master a skill that has helped networkers to turnaround their networking fortunes literally overnight by applying a simple and learnable approach. In just 1 day you will learn: 1. How to make it easier for people to refer business to you 2. How to articulate and communicate your business to stimulate referrals 3. How to be remembered by people you meet 4. Learn how to generate more referrals from your existing network 5. How to quickly expand your referral network The learning style is fun and highly participative. You will be learning, working on your business, and networking all at the same time!! The day is designed so that you are highly likely to leave having developed leads or referrals! Swindon: 20th October, 2006 Birmingham 24th November, 2006 London 27th November, 2006 Book Now!!! Tel: 01428 651866 www.pro-excellence.com/networking.html

We�re in the middle of some great projects too. A lovely e-commerce site selling some beautiful items, can�t tell you anymore until it launches!

Also just finished the branding for a new permanent wedding fayre shop, Maritare Ltd. They launch on October 28th in Old Harlow, Essex so if any of you are local to there, get on down and see Yvette & Amanda. Tell them we sent you!

We need to take on some more help soon in the form of another designer. We�ll be posting a job spec soon but if any of you out there reading this want to know more just email me a mog@rubbercheese.com and I�ll let you know more.

See you all soon!

Mog (Kelly) & Wag (Paul)

Rubber Cheese.
The only designers you�ll ever need.

If you know someone who might be interested in receiving this newsletter, please pass it on! If it has been passed to you, and you'd like to receive a regular copy of Cheese Bites yourself, please sign up on www.rubbercheese.com/newsletter.html and receive our free help sheet, "Find the Designer For You!"

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		September 2006 This month.... This month's article is all about me I'm afraid, and some top tips to finding a job in the Graphic Design industry. More about our new exhibition design service too. A very warm welcome to all our new subscribers, we hope you like what you see and enjoy the fun! Remember to tell your friends too!

We've just completed the complete design for www.star4aday.biz This included a new logo and complete design for their website. They wanted a young, vibrant look that would appeal to both male/female, young and old! We've since produced marketing materials and advertising for the company.

�5 Top Tips to becoming a Graphic Designer, and how I did it�

by Kelly Molson of www.rubbercheese.com

I always knew I wanted to do something that involved art, but I wasn't sure how I could get a job doing it.

After GCSE's I applied for the BTEC National Diploma in Graphic Design. This looked much more appealing than A Level Art and I knew it could help me find work. The course was project based with a final major project, and you worked to a brief, just like in the work place. I don't think I've ever worked so hard in my life! We were taught how to take a brief from a client, research it, solve problems and present ideas each week. The internet wasn't really around then, so it was down to the library!

We had a crit session, like a mini presentation in front of classmates and tutors. It wasn't always nice, but I've certainly got thicker skin now and can take criticism well!

After finishing the course I decided not to go to University. I had applied and been accepted at Suffolk Uni, but I wanted to work and felt it was the right decision for me.

My first job was at a Design Agency in London called Hippo Graphics. The hours were long and the work was hard. A junior position meant a lot of my job was making tea and answering the phone. I found it frustrating but good experience.

After there I moved to a printers in Walthamstow, where I learned how to use Apple Macs and also learnt the print process, which I knew would be a plus for future jobs. After 2 years there I moved to a packaging Design Company, which was a great, fun job. I loved making boxes and designing new ways of them working. I used the Mac a lot more in this job and was also sent on evening classes to learn Illustrator and Quark Xpress.

From there I went to a Promotions Company and finally worked at an E-Commerce place, where I learnt to design for the internet.

Each job gave me new skills, from designing packaging, to designing a website. If it wasn't for the variety of jobs I've had I would never of had the skills to start my own business.

Rubber Cheese really is unique now in the amount of services we can offer our clients, and I know a big part of that is thanks to the job's we've had.

Top Tips for Breaking into the Industry 1. Check out your local colleges for good courses. The BTEC National Diploma is a fantastic starter course for any one thinking of a career in Graphic Design.

2. Subscribe to the industry magazines, Design Week and Creative Review. You'll stay informed of major trends and projects and also who's recruiting.

3. Don't wait for a job to come up, send your CV into companies that you'd like to work for, before they start looking. Make your CV stand out. Try to improve with something original. My CV was made up like a big of Special K � but branded as Special Kelly. I even filled it with cereal and added a free gift.

4. Try different things. I worked in a variety of jobs and learnt different skills at each one.

5. Keep on learning. Any extra skills you can gain will only make you more appealing to prospective clients.

Copyright � Rubber Cheese� 2006


	Highly Recommended! www.italian-sofas.co.uk Italian Sofas beautiful collections of leather sofas feature the finest top-grain butter-soft leather, the strongest and most supple part of the hide. MASSIVE SALE NOW ON - ALL PRICES REDUCED

August is normally very quiet for us at Rubber Cheese, everyone jets off on holiday so we usually spend the time working on internal stuff, like updating our very out of date website.

This year has been completely different! We have had no time at all to work on the website as we've been so busy with client work! It's great that we've been busy but our poor website is looking very old and tired. Keep an eye out soon though, we'll be re-designing it and adding a few new features.

See you all soon!

Mog (Kelly) & Wag (Paul)

Rubber Cheese.
The only designers you'll ever need.

If you know someone who might be interested in receiving this newsletter, please pass it on! If it has been passed to you, and you'd like to receive a regular copy of Cheese Bites yourself, please sign up on www.rubbercheese.com/newsletter.html and receive our free help sheet, "Find the Designer For You!"

To unsubscribe click here

Rubbercheese is registered and operates under UK data protection legislation.
To find out more and to read our privacy policy click here

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Rubber Cheese


		July 2006 This month.... This month's article is by Paul Gardner of Do Your Own PR. How you can become more media aware and get yourself noticed by the press. We've added a new service too, exhibition banner design. A very warm welcome to all our new subscribers, we hope you like what you see and enjoy the fun! Remember to tell your friends too!

We've just completed the complete design for www.poker-chips.co.uk This included a new logo and complete design fof their e-commerce website which our developer then built. We also re-touched all the supplied photography and re-sized the images for the site.
www.poker-chips.co.uk

�Ten Ways to Effortlessly Become More Media Aware�

by Paula Gardner of www.doyourownpr.com

It's fact of life that doing PR for your business means that you actually need to get to grips with all the publications that could be possible opportunities � and this can be overwhelming. Paula Gardner of www.doyourownpr.com sets out ten ways to really pin-point and get to know our target press.

1. Let's start by making a list of all that you usually read (and you can do this as a team if there are more than one of you). Include things that you read for fun as well as business, things that you regularly read whilst sitting outside your client's/MD's office, and websites that you usually visit.

2. Now go through that list and cross out anything that you wouldn't want your business to be seen in, wouldn't do your business any good to be seen in anyway (but do include places where you already have a media presence as this needs to be maintained).

3. Now, looking at your remaining titles and suss out any gaps. If you've only covered one trade magazine, what about the other five that barrage you with requests for subscriptions? If you religiously read the Guardian can you accept that you really should start to become more aware of the opposition? So, here's list two � make a note of all the publications you need to get to know.

4. Now comes the difficult part, fitting them into your daily routine. Understand that you are going to have to move away from your comfort zone. I love to curl up with the Sunday magazines and wallow in materialist lusts (Gotta have those shoes/Nigella's new book/a kitchen like Jamie Oliver (yeah, as if!) but I make myself read the newspaper first, even if the thought makes me yawn. One way that you can do this might be reading through a publication each week on the train before you allow yourself to relax and settle into your novel.

5. If you work in a team you can assign particular publications to particular people and each of you are responsible for reading your own publication and the giving a brief run down of what you think is important along with possible press opportunities in a weekly press meeting.

6. Does your trade magazine have a website? If time is really strained then this is a fall back. Send yourself regular reminders via Outlook or whatever to go and take a look and catch up on the latest news.

7. Make catching up on your reading a little bit of me time - disappear for fifteen minutes with a publication and a cappuccino and make it into a daily ritual that gives you a bit of time to breathe. If anyone queries it, you are working after all!

8. Once you really get into it, you'd be surprised at what possibilities are out there. You'll spot your major competitor being interviewed in a golfing magazine and sneakily dropping his business name in there. You'll see interview on mothers who run businesses in a women's magazine and notice someone from your local networking group on the page. Think outside the box. I was once interviewed for a mobile phone magazine (years ago, when they were pretty clunky!) about how vital it was to carry my mobile with me in case a journalist wanted to contact me urgently. And it was a double page spread with a picture of me and my (clunky) mobile phone and Tower Bridge in the background. Did my business wonders (even though I had changed phone companies by the time it came out!)

9. You can't afford to be smug once you feel everything is under control. New titles open all the time. Make regular trips to the newsagents (big station branches are great for this) and check for new titles. Read what's sitting around in the waiting room of your dentist or your clients and don't be afraid to ask if you can photocopy something if it looks vitally important!

10. Finally, and this is something I urge you to continue doing, always ask your clients what they read - for pleasure as well as work. And, if Dog Lovers International keeps cropping up, you know what you've got to do!!

Paula Gardner is a PR and marketing coach.
To learn more please visit
www.doyourownpr.com/prcoaching.asp or sign up for the Do Your Own PR newsletter at:
www.doyourownpr.com/subscribe.asp

Copyright � Rubber Cheese� 2006


	Highly Recommended! Hannah Couzens! Hannah is a young, digital, professional portrait photographer who brings a fresh approach and huge passion to her work. Having gained experience within the photographic industry, (and not just in the UK!). Hannah felt it was time to bring a modern, fresh approach to her clients and really express herself and her style by opening her own studio. Her friendly personality combined with her professional attitude has helped her build a varied portfolio with a healthy client list. Photoshoots with Hannah are relaxed, informal and best of all good fun! Even the most nervous client will have a great time and leave with a natural set of portraits, which they can be proud of! Check out Hannah's Special offer below! Hannah Couzens Photography 64 Station Road, Cuffley Hertfordshire, EN6 4HA Tel: 01707 870 444

It's soooooo hot!

Believe me, I'm not complaining, I just want to be outside in it! Work is slowing down now as everyone starts to jet off on their summer holidays, so we're taking the time to concentrate on in-house design work - something that usually gets left till last as clients come first. We'll be giving our brand a facelift over the summer so keep an eye out for changes!

We've also got Sam Diamond in for work experience next week, which is all new to us. It's given me an idea for next months article, How to become a Graphic Designer. We'll be sharing how and why we chose to be designers and giving budding youngsters out there some hints and tips on getting into the industry.

I'm off to see Hard Candy at the weekend, which I've heard is quite disturbing. I'm taking Bill with me though and I'm sure it won't be me wincing when we leave!

See you all soon!

Mog (Kelly) & Wag (Paul)

Rubber Cheese.
The only designers you'll ever need.

If you know someone who might be interested in receiving this newsletter, please pass it on! If it has been passed to you, and you'd like to receive a regular copy of Cheese Bites yourself, please sign up on www.rubbercheese.com/newsletter.html and receive our free help sheet, "Find the Designer For You!"

To unsubscribe click here

Rubbercheese is registered and operates under UK data protection legislation.
To find out more and to read our privacy policy click here

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