Create a Small Business Plan Outline

Every business needs a business plan - no matter how small!

What information needs to be in your business plan? What is the order of information that will make the most sense to lenders and investors? You can answer these questions with the business plan outlines provided below.

What are the standard elements of a business plan? If you do need a standard business plan to seek funding — as opposed to a plan-as-you-go approach for running your business, which I describe below — there are predictable contents of a standard business plan outline.

For example, a business plan normally starts with an Executive Summary, which should be concise and interesting. People almost always expect to see sections covering the Company, the Market, the Product, the Management Team, Strategy, Implementation, and Financial Analysis. The precise business plan format can vary.

Is the order important? If you have the main components, the order doesn’t matter that much, but here’s the sequence I suggest for a business plan. I have provided two outlines, one simple and the other more detailed.

Simple Business Plan Outline

1. Executive Summary: Write this last. It’s just a page or two of highlights.
2. Company Description: Legal establishment, history, start-up plans, etc.
3. Product or Service: Describe what you’re selling. Focus on customer benefits.
4. Market Analysis: You need to know your market, customer needs, where they are, how to reach them, etc.
5. Strategy and Implementation: Be specific. Include management responsibilities with dates and budgets. Make sure you can track results.
6. Web Plan Summary: For e-commerce, include discussion of website, development costs, operations, sales and marketing strategies.
7. Management Team: Describe the organization and the key management team members.
8. Financial Analysis: Make sure to include at the very least your projected Profit and Loss and Cash Flow tables.

Build your plan, then organize it. I don’t recommend developing the plan in the same order you present it as a finished document. For example, although the Executive Summary obviously comes as the first section of a business plan, I recommend writing it after everything else is done. It will appear first, but you write it last.

Standard tables and charts

There are also some business tables and charts that are normally expected in a standard business plan.

Cash flow is the single most important numerical analysis in a plan, and should never be missing. Most plans will also have Sales Forecast and Profit and Loss statements. I believe they should also have separate Personnel listings, projected Balance Sheet, projected Business Ratios, and Market Analysis tables.

I also believe that every plan should include bar charts and pie charts to illustrate the numbers.

Expanded business plan outline

Here’s an expanded full business plan outline, with details you might want to include in your own business plan.

1.0 Executive Summary
1.1 Objectives
1.2 Mission
1.3 Keys to Success

2.0 Company Summary
2.1 Company Ownership
2.2 Company History (for ongoing companies) or Start-up Plan (for new companies)
2.3 Company Locations and Facilities

3.0 Products and Services
3.1 Product and Service Description
3.2 Competitive Comparison
3.3 Sales Literature
3.4 Sourcing and Fulfillment
3.5 Technology
3.6 Future Products and Services

4.0 Market Analysis Summary
4.1 Market Segmentation
4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy
4.2.1 Market Needs
4.2.2 Market Trends
4.2.3 Market Growth
4.3 Industry Analysis
4.3.1 Industry Participants
4.3.2 Distribution Patterns
4.3.3 Competition and Buying Patterns
4.3.4 Main Competitors

5.0 Strategy and Implementation Summary
5.1 Strategy Pyramids
5.2 Value Proposition
5.3 Competitive Edge
5.4 Marketing Strategy
5.4.1 Positioning Statements
5.4.2 Pricing Strategy
5.4.3 Promotion Strategy
5.4.4 Distribution Patterns
5.4.5 Marketing Programs
5.5 Sales Strategy
5.5.1 Sales Forecast
5.5.2 Sales Programs
5.6 Strategic Alliances
5.7 Milestones

6.0 Web Plan Summary
6.1 Website Marketing Strategy
6.2 Development Requirements

7.0 Management Summary
7.1 Organizational Structure
7.2 Management Team
7.3 Management Team Gaps
7.4 Personnel Plan

8.0 Financial Plan
8.1 Important Assumptions
8.2 Key Financial Indicators
8.3 Break-even Analysis
8.4 Projected Profit and Loss
8.5 Projected Cash Flow
8.6 Projected Balance Sheet
8.7 Business Ratios
8.8 Long-term Plan

Business plan outline advice

Size your business plan to fit your business. Remember that your business plan should be only as big as what you need to run your business. While everybody should have planning to help run a business, not everyone needs to develop a complete formal business plan suitable for submitting to a potential investor, or bank, or venture contest. So don’t include outline points just because they are on a big list somewhere, or on this list, unless you’re developing a standard business plan that you’ll be showing to somebody else who expects a standard business plan.

If you need help with your Website Design, Social Media Marketing and Business Strategy - give us a call (800) 596-6218!

Social Media Marketing - Why it's not working for your business?

Social media marketing and social networking are superb marketing tools…if they’re used right, use them wrong and they can be a waste of time.


If you’re one of those people who say “Tried it. Social media doesn’t work for my business.”, here are some reasons why you might not be seeing success.

You don’t have a plan.


Social media is marketing, and successful marketing requires a plan. Random tweeting or posting is a waste of time and effort.


You don’t have a target audience that you want to engage (you would if you had a plan!).


Pretty tough to know what to post if you don’t know what your followers are interested in. Remember you are the expert in your business, post interesting tips about your biz and industry.


You’re all about self-promotion.


This is about as effective as thinking networking is all about telling everyone why they should buy from you. If the bulk of your posts include “I” or “me”, you may want to fix them.


You don’t get the “social” part of social media/networking.


Being social requires some sort of interaction…..like sharing and connecting. Commenting on other people’s posts, retweeting, sharing posts that you find interesting, sharing posts that might help someone else, responding when a friend asks a question. If you’re not doing that, you’re doing “solo” media. Lots of luck with that!


You’re not following anyone.


We don’t go along with the “follow everyone who follows you” theory, but we do know that we learn a lot from following the right people (those who tweet about what we're interested in or fun quirky things). So we're always looking for interesting people to follow. And we periodically go through oury new followers to see if we want to follow them in return.


You’re boring people.


If your posts aren’t of interest to your followers, why should they follow you? Or recommend that others follow you? Your network will stagnate. Make your posts and tweets interesting, timely and relevant. If your goal is to gain visibility as a graphic design expert, talk about graphic design and related topics. Trends you’re seeing (or reading about). Helpful tips for prospective clients. And don’t be afraid to throw in the occasional quirky post just to make it fun. Posts that make people smile get shared.


You’re inconsistent.


It’s not necessary to tweet daily….but it doesn’t hurt. I’ve read some tips that say 4 times a day is optimum but that’s assuming you have something of value to tweet about. Watch the people who have a lot of followers, and see what they tweet about and how often. Same goes for Facebook. Don’t post and then disappear for a month. Your followers will do the same.


And don’t forget that your ranking in Google is affected by Twitter and Facebook. The more you tweet and post, the more Google finds you and the higher you appear in search.


You over post and tweet endlessly.


If you have logged on to Twitter or facebook only to find numerous tweets in a row from one person, then you know how annoying that is. Try and space your tweets and posts out during the day. Don’t fill your followers newsfeeds with you you you. They will hide you, immediately.


You forgot about keywords.


One of the best things about Facebook and Twitter is that your posts and tweets get picked up by Google. This not only gives you more visibility but moves your rankings up. Always use keywords in your posts and profiles , this is how people will find you.


You’re using an auto responder to thank people for following you.


Yes, auto responders are convenient and oh so appealing to save time, BUT we are typically following you because we think you may tweet something interesting. Jamming up our email with messages that say “thanks for following me” or “have a good day” are nice and all but hold no value. They’re automatically generated so it’s not like you’re sending them to connect with us.


You’re pretending to connect but you’re really all about selling.


After receiving a nice invite to connect, you say "ok I would love to connect", and the next thing you know you are given the big pitch. That is not connecting, that is being sold.


You’re not being authentic.


Authenticity and transparency are two of the key attributes for a solid social media/social networking connection. Try and portray yourself as someone you’re not, and you’ll get called on it.


You’re not big on sharing.


Since that’s pretty much what social networking is all about, if you ‘re not into sharing, you shouldn’t be here.

QR Codes Mean 'Quick Response' for Small Business

This Is My Town USA QR Code

A QR code (abbreviation for Quick Response code) is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera telephones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded may be text, URL, or other data.



Common in Japan, where it was created by Toyota subsidiary Denso-Wave in 1994, the QR code is one of the most popular types of two-dimensional barcodes. The QR code was created to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.


Although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR codes now are used in a much broader context, including both commercial tracking applications and convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users (termed mobile tagging). QR codes may be used to display text to the user, to add a vCard contact to the user's device, to open a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), or to compose an e-mail or text message. Users can generate and print their own QR codes for others to scan and use by visiting one of several free QR code generating sites.


QR codes storing addresses and Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) may appear in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards, or almost any object about which users might need information. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR code to display text, contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page in the telephone's browser. This act of linking from physical world objects is termed hardlinking or object hyperlinking.


Google's mobile Android operating system supports QR codes by natively including the barcode scanner (ZXing) on some models, and the browser supports URI redirection, which allows QR codes to send metadata to existing applications on the device. Nokia's Symbian operating system is provided with a barcode scanner, which is able to read QR codes, while mbarcode is a QR code reader for the Maemo operating system. In the Apple iOS, a QR code reader is not natively included, but more than fifty free apps are available with reader and metadata browser URI redirection ability. With BlackBerry devices, the App World application can natively scan QR codes and load any recognized Web URLs on the device's Web browse this for compliance.


The use of QR codes is free of any license. The QR code is clearly defined and published as an ISO standard. Denso Wave owns the patent rights on QR codes, but has chosen not to exercise them. The term QR code itself is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Incorporated.



Standard QR code is the QR code standard for applications that possess the ability to handle large scans. A standard QR code can contain up to 7089 characters, though not all QR readers can accept that much data.

Use in Marketing


Recently, QR codes have become more prevalent in marketing circles and have been integrated into both traditional and interactive campaigns. Media where QR codes have been deployed include: billboard ads, guerrilla marketing campaigns, in-store displays, event ticketing and tracking, trade-show management, business cards, print ads, contests, direct mail campaigns, websites, email marketing, and couponing just to name a few. QR codes are of particular interest to marketers, giving them the "ability to measure response rates with a high degree of precision" allowing for easier ROI (return on investment) calculation, thus helping to justify spending on marketing budgets. QR codes also have been used at trade shows and in conferences.



For years marketers have seen the success of QR codes internationally, but in 2011 QR codes might finally be taking hold in the U.S. as prominent endorsements from Target, Best Buy, Macy's, and Post Cereals are exposing the codes to a broad swath of consumers.



Examples:


A QR code was used to promote Lupe Fiasco's album, "Lasers." The album was launched in the center of San Francisco with a massive QR code which allowed fans to scan it with the Redlaser technology in order to order the album early.


The hip hop collective OFWGKTA used a QR code when they played on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon instead of an album artwork which Jimmy Fallon usually presents. The code redirected to a site on the groups homepage.


QR codes have been used to interpret natural and historical points of interest on nature trails and walking tours, adding to or replacing expensive signs.


QR codes are not necessarily new to the world but they are growing ever more prevalant in the United States. As a small business owner free innovative technology can make a difference between staying in business and growing your business. Have questions about how to integrate QR codes and other technology into your marketing plan? Give us a call 800-596-6218 and connect with the Small Business Experts!

What is Social Media?

The best way to define social media is to break it down.

Media is an instrument of communication, like a newspaper or a radio, so social media would be a social instrument of communication.


In simple terms, this would be a website that doesn't just give you information, but interacts with you while giving you information. This interaction can be as simple as asking for your comments or letting you vote on an article, or it can be as complex as Flixster recommending movies to you based on the ratings of other people with similar interests.


Think of regular media as a one-way street where you can read a newspaper or listen to a report on television, but you have very limited ability to give your thoughts on the matter. The flow of information travels from the source to the consumer.


Social media, on the other hand, is a two-way street that gives you the ability to communicate too.



Is Social Media and Social News The Same Thing?


It is easy to confuse social media with social news because we often refer to members of the news as "the media." Adding to the confusion is the fact that a social news site is also a social media site because it falls into that broader category.


But social news is not the same thing as social media anymore than a banana is the same thing as fruit. A banana is a type of fruit, but fruit can also be grapes, strawberries, or lemons. And while social news is social media, social networking and wikis are also social media.


What Are Some Social Media Websites?

Now that we have answered the question of what is social media, we can move on to social media websites. Because social media is such a broad term, it covers a large range of websites. But the one common link between these websites is that you are able to interact with the website and with other visitors.


Here are some examples of social media websites:
Social Bookmarking. (Del.icio.us, Blinklist, Simpy) Interact by tagging websites and searching through websites bookmarked by other people.


Social News. (Digg, Propeller, Reddit) Interact by voting for articles and commenting on them.


Social Networking. (Facebook, Hi5, Last.FM) Interact by adding friends, commenting on profiles, joining groups and having discussions.


Social Photo and Video Sharing. (YouTube, Flickr) Interact by sharing photos or videos and commenting on user submissions.


Wikis. (Wikipedia, Wikia) Interact by adding articles and editing existing articles.


And these websites are not the only social media websites. Any website that invites you to interact with the site and with other visitors falls into the definition of social medi




Is Social Media for Everyone?

Social media has broad implications for businesses -- online or otherwise. There is at least one social media site for everyone:


If you're a professional blogger / content publisher, you might pay attention to social news sites like Digg, Reddit, Delicious, and Stumble Upon.


If you're a freelance designer/writer/whatever, LinkedIn is a social networking site that can help you land gigs.


If you're a main street retailer or restaurant, you live and die by the reviews on Yelp!.


And once the work day is over, you may want to kick back and catch up with your friends on Facebook.

Whatever your opinion on social media - there is one thing that you need to understand. It's not a fad...it's not going away... and there is an abundance of opportunity here for business owners to connect on Social Media.

Social Media Strategies: Using Twitter to Grow Your Small Business

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you understand that Twitter is a phenomenal social media venue where people can glance into your life to see who you really are - in 140 characters or less!

Once you have signed up and your account is active, you’ll be able to post “Tweets” about things that are going on in your business or personal life daily, as well as what you’re doing and thinking about. Now, we're not saying you need to document your entire life’s story, but simply let people know when something worth posting surfaces. We recommend Tweeting articles, links and videos related to your profession or ones that are comical in nature. Think about what you would want to read about and apply it to what your followers might find interesting.

The tweets that you post daily are very revealing about yourself and basically tell others if you have things in common, are a trusted resource, or if you’re just plain crazy! We’ve met several people that are interested in social media marketing, outdoor sports, and others that have the same type of dog. It’s pretty incredible with whom you can connect with in this form of social media.


When navigating on Twitter, pay attention to what other people are saying. If there is a question someone has posted, go right ahead and answer it. When viewing a Tweet that you want to comment on, don’t think, just do it. Twitter requires action, usually repetitive to establish a rapport.


You can even use http://search.twitter.com/ to search for related topics about your business locally. When you answer questions, you’re instantly viewed as a problem solver and a resource. Positioning yourself as an expert in your field and in social media strategies helps people notice your business.


This is a short-list of reasons to use Twitter every day:


1) You can easily establish connections and meet new friends that eventually may do business with you


2) You get fresh, minute-by-minute insight as to what is happening in peoples lives


3) You get access to links to articles folks have read and particularly enjoyed - these can be great ideas and jumping off points for you to apply in your social media strategies.


4) It’s the perfect place to ask legit questions and obtain answers


5) You can connect with people in your local area


6) You can get massive amounts of new business


Twitter is actually pretty easy to understand, you just have to begin today and get familiar with it. We would rate it as simpler than many other social networks that are valuable to your social media strategies - just slightly more complicated. Keep in mind that you always want to add value to a Twitter conversation. If all you do is sell your business and services - you're not really listening to your followers. This is very basic. If you contribute something of value, individuals will thank you and be inclined to remember you. Some may decide to also follow you in return. In its basic form, though, you’ll have gotten someones attention.

The first thing to do once you get on Twitter is to get yourself a user name. Decide which of the examples below you want to mimic. If you want, you can alter the names later, but makes sure you think ahead. In a local niche, review these hypothetical listings below for ideas.


- Plumber & your Name = @PlumberJack


- Regular Name = @MatthewLoop


- Attorney Related = @AttorneyLady


- Name & Area / Location = @JaredMI

- website = @MySiteName

There are customizations that can be done to your Twitter profile page. You don't need to get complicated but do make sure that your photo represents your brand, logo or yourself. Your image in social media should match your business image and be consistent. Incorporate Twitter into your Social Media Strategies yourself of let us help!

How to Get A Business Licenses in Placer County

Here's a review of the information necessary for business owners to obtain a business license in Placer County. Add this to your small business plan:

Requirements:


Any resident or non-resident doing business, in the unincorporated areas of Placer County, is required to obtain a business license. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in any business in the unincorporated areas of the County without first having a business license


* If you are only conducting business within the city limits of Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Loomis, Rocklin or Roseville, you do not need a Placer County business license. You will need to contact the city, where you are located, to check on the business license requirements. There are also unincorporated areas of Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Loomis, Rocklin and Roseville. If you are unsure if you are located in the city or unincorporated area, please contact the county office at 530-889-4120.


Exemptions:


Any person who receives a salary from an employer and has taxes taken from that salary is exempt as are agricultural operations for stock or poultry farms.


Types of Business Licenses:


Three Categories:


1. A business operating in a commercial location in Placer County requires a General Business license. ($127 application fee, $16 annual renewal)


2. Any home-based business requires a General Business license . ($107 application fee, $16 annual renewal)


3. A business that requires additional regulation and review by the County Sheriff's Department, certification of compliance by other county departments, and/or state and federal regulation not typically required of a General Business License requires a Special Business License. ($107 application fee, $16 annual renewal - Home based) or ($127 application fee, $16 annual renewal - Commercial)


Nonrefundable Fee:


The fee is not refundable and must be paid at the time of application submittal. Prior discussion regarding a new business with the appropriate departments is recommended. Depending on the type of business proposed, it may be advisable to contact the Planning Department, Building Department, Engineering and Surveying and/or Department of Environmental Health.


Veterans and Non-Profit:


There is no fee for veterans or non-profit organizations., however, they will require submission of a DD Form 214, showing your character of service as Honorable, for veterans and tax exempt forms from the Secretary of State for non-profit organizations. Please submit these forms with your license application and questionnaire.


Where Do I Apply?


Application forms are available at the Tax Collector's Office at 2976 Richardson Drive, 2nd Floor, in Auburn. The telephone number is (530) 889-4120. The Tax Collector will accept the application and process it. If necessary, the application will be sent to various County departments for review and approval. The Tax Collector will notify the business owner when the process is complete. Make checks payable to Placer County Tax Collector.


If you would like to get a copy of Business License Application Form, go on line to Business Licenses for Placer County and click their live link to print and complete the forms needed.


You will also need to fill out either the home-based business or commercial questionnaire. These are also available online by simply clicking on the appropriate image on the website.


What Is Required?


All license applications must obtain approval from the Planning, Building, Environmental Health and Facilities Departments of the County. Home business must comply with all restrictions, regulations and zoning ordinances required by the Tax Collector, Planning Department and other County departments. Certain special businesses will be reviewed by the Fire Department and Sheriff's Department.


Are There Any Restrictions?


Yes, home occupations are permitted only in the main residence and allow only the residents of the home and one employee, to work on the premises. In addition, other restrictions apply to home occupation types of businesses (Section 1774 of the Placer County Zoning Ordinance). Contact the Planning Department for additional information.


Commercial businesses must comply with zoning laws which include a variety of regulations which may:


• Limit the size and number of signs.

• Restrict outdoor storage or display of materials.

• Require a minimum number of parking spaces.
• Require special permit requirements, etc.


Design Review Committee approval must be obtained for any visible change to properties in many commercial and industrial areas. This includes the required review and approval of signs, landscaping, color changes etc.. Contact the Planning Department for additional information regarding the Design Review process.


The Building Department must approve any structural changes, and building codes must be met for various sizes and types of operations.


Roadside vending is not permitted in the unincorporated area.


ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:


State Board of Equalization, 1-800-400-7115

The Contractors Board, Roseville branch, (hours 8 to 11 am), (916) 782-1610

Fictitious Name Department, Recorder's Office, (530) 886-5600

Planning Department, (530) 745-3000

Building Department, (530) 745-3010

Engineering and Surveying, (530) 745-7500

Tax Collector, (530) 889-4120

Sheriff's Office, (530) 889-7800

Environmental Health Department, (530) 745-2300
Sierra College Small Business Development Center

How to Apply for a Small Business License in California

Basic Instructions to add when Developing Your Small Business Plan


Step 1


First off, make sure you know what kind of business you are starting (sole proprietorship, LLC, Limited partnership, etc.). Because most small business license applications are for sole proprietorships, Registering a business in California requires a few forms. There is the fictitious business name, or DBA, the seller's permit, and the local business license, which can be obtained by visiting your local city hall. Average yearly cost for a business license in California is roughly $75.


Step 2


Once you have a name ready, do a search to make sure that it is unique. Visit sos.ca.gov for California business searches.


Step 3


Visit business.gov for information on local business requirements. Most California business licenses are issued locally, by the city location where the business operates, in addition to the other forms you will need to fill out, which are outlined below.


Step 4


You will need to file a DBA or fictitious business name and have it published in a local newspaper.


Step 5


In California, all retailers and wholesalers will need to obtain a seller's permit, which is free to all california residents. This process is very easy and the forms are available online at the address above.


Step 6


Those hiring employees will need to fill out additional employer forms for tax purposes and business insurance purposes.


Step 7


Several online companies will do the entire process of obtaining a california business license for you, as well as the seller's permit and Fictitious business name. This is a decent option for some people who feel intimidated by the process or are too busy to worry about it themselves.


Tips & Warnings


When weighing whether or not to do the process yourself or have a website process it or you, realize that the cost of having a third party do it is about a $100 more.


If you apply for a business license by yourself, apply in person rather than mailing so you can ask questions and get any mistakes taken care of on the spot.

Website Ideas: Color and Font Roles in Design & Visitor Traffic

If you are choosing to design your own website or seeking to identify whether a graphic designer is right for your website ideas, it's a good idea to understand how color and font choices affect your website design and visitor experience.

First impressions happen in less than 3 seconds - your website is no different!

What role does color play in Website Design and Function?

Choosing the right look and feel in your website design is imperitive to how visitors will respond to your website.If you already have your business logo, you will most likely utilize colors in your website ideas that complement this look. The kind of colors and background you choose determine the intensity of traffic to your website. If the website is full of bright colors that are unpleasant to the viwer's sight, visitors might not like to stay longer. On the other hand, if light and soothing background colors are chosen, and a professional look and feel is imparted through the organization, it leaves a greater impact on the reader. When it comes to your website ideas, logo design, and other advertising and business marketing - be sure you know what your color choices are saying.

Some background on Colors:

Red is the most emotional color that will deliver any one of the following feelings to your visitors depending on the mannerism you use it and intents you have to use it: Energy, strength, passion, eroticism, fire, lust, desire, blood, risk, war, danger, attention and romance. 


Pink is an easy one and is more of a soft color that will deliver the following feelings: Romance, love, friendship, femininity, truth, passivity, good will, emotional healing, peace, calming, affection, emotional maturity, caring, nurturing, sweet tasting, sweet smelling, ethereal, delicacy. It can also give the emotion of devoting to breast cancer. For obvious reasons you can see why the National Breast Cancer Foundation chose this color for the breast cancer awareness month.


Orange is a stimulating color and is used to be associated with life and health. In restaurants it is used to encourage appetite. Orange is also associated with being tropical, fresh and invigorating. Orange usually is associated with the following feelings: warmth, energy, vibrancy, the sun, friendly, intense, joy, tropics, growing things, heat, creativity, autumn, earth, appetite stimulant, and youth.

Brown is an earthy tone and usually is associated with growth and life. When using brown it is usually to associate with health and nature. The typical emotions derived from brown are: earth, materialistic thoughts, home, outdoors, inexpensive, reliability, credibility, comfort, endurance, stability, simplicity, comfort, longevity, intimacy, tranquility, masculine, nurturing, contentment, fertility, generosity, dirt, substance, practicality, and hard work. Brown is best used with a texture to imply these things, otherwise it is simply just to plain of a color.


Gold is a color that exerts wealth and has a general sense of class associated with it. In order for it to be used properly to get these connotations though it must be shiny in some mannerism otherwise it looks cheap. Money and wealth are the two main and universal associations with the color gold.


Yellow is said to stimulate mental activity and be one of the primary colors of attention. When using yellow it is best to not use it too lightly or loses it’s stimulating effects. The typical emotions that are derived from yellow are: intelligence, light, cooperation, sunshine, joy, happiness, intellect, energy, cheerfulness, optimism, purity, warmth, honor, caution (only when used in small amounts), cowardice, imagination, hope, summer, philosophy, uncertainty, restlessness, glory, and enlightenment.


Green is an earthy and calming color that can also imply intelligence also. It also has the implications of money with it but typically only in the US. Typically green is associated with the following emotions: earth mother, physical healing, monetary success, abundance, fertility, growth, renewal, youth, stability, endurance, freshness, nature, environment, tranquil, refreshing, quiet, hope, immortality, health, healing, good luck, renewal, youth, jealousy, trees, grass, vigour, growth, harmony, envy, calm, contemplation, and friendliness.


Blue is the color of wisdom and trust, it is also the favorite color of over 2/3 of the world and is least disliked by most cultures. This may be because the sky is blue and the water reflects the sky making most things seen on the planet blue. It is generally associated with technology and progressive creativity. The most common feelings that people have with blue are: communication, wisdom, protection, spiritual inspiration, calmness, reassurance, fluidity, water, sea, creativity, peace, calming, higher thoughts, the sky, devotion, progress, freedom. trust, loyalty, intelligence, reassurance, artistry, compassion, sadness, tranquility, confidence, security, cleanliness, order, comfort, cold, technology, intellect, ideas, sharing, empathy, relaxation, affection, inspiration, friendship, patience, contemplation, infinity, harmony, non-threatening, and dependability.


Purple is a color typically associated with royalty and is also the most liked color of pre-adolescent children over any other color. When thinking about purple the most common feeling are: influence, spiritual power, self assurance, dignity, high aspirations, royalty, spirituality, nobility, ceremony, mystery, transformation, sophistication, arrogance, dreams, imagination, wealth, extravagance, magic, creativity, energy, ego, ambition, fame, luxury, and power.


White is a pure color and is typically associated with being good and is the most religious color. The typical emotions that are derived from white are: spirituality, peace, higher self, purity, virginity, reverence, simplicity, cleanliness, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good, sterility, cold, clinical, sterility, clarity, perfection, innocence, goodness, light, fairness, safety, positivity, faith, coolness, charity, union, self-sacrifice, holiness, feminine divinity, pristine, chastity and positivity.


Black is a color that has mysterious and sometimes negative connotations that can create the wrong image if used improperly. The typical feelings that are derived from black are: protection, repelling negativity, power, sexuality, sophistication, elegance, mystery, fear, evil, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger, underground, space, secretiveness, night, emptiness, dramatic, authority, prestige, grief, anger, and serious.
 

What role does font play in Website Design and Function?

Most people who come to your site will be looking for textual information. The important visitors being search engines. You will need ample text on your website pages to help with seo - but it will also play a strong role in your website visitors experience. The use of fonts will work alongside your color choices. A font can be understood as a collection of letters, symbols or numbers such as bold, roman, or italic characters. There are literally thousands of possible fonts but you will most likely deal with a few common ones when it comes to website ideas, design templates, graphic designers and social websites like Blogger.

This is because there are only a handful of fonts that look similar that are installed by default on both Windows and Macs. Consequently, these "browser safe fonts" find their way into almost every website out there. Here is an image from screen shots from a Windows machine and a Mac (blue) to show the browser safe fonts and how they compare on each platform.

Some background on Font Styles:

Block Fonts - Arial, Lucida, Trebuchet & Verdana
These fonts are simple and bold. They are easy to read for most people but usually lack in terms of style.

Serif Fonts - Book Antiqua, Palatino, Comic Sans, Georgia & Times New Roman
These can be used to add more style to your text but be aware that they can be difficult to read if too small in size.


All in all, choosing the right combination of colors and the size of the text plays a remarkable role in enhancing the website architecture and overall appearance. Be sure to consider this when coming up with website ideas and designs for yourself or when choosing to hire a graphic designer. Always ask to see their website portfolio. If you aren't sure about something - poll your family, friends and clients. Designing a website is not a perfect science so make sure your put the effort in to ensure it accurately represents your business. Remember - you only have one chance for your website to make that first impression.