Logo Punch List: Think Your Design is Done? Check These Points First.
Online Newsletters: Your Content Counts
What Are Repetitive Motion Injuries and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
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This issue contains Part 2 of a crash course in negotiation, a punch list for your next logo design or redesign and important content issues for your online newsletter. Our non-marketing related feature is an explanation and description of the causes of repetitive motion injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome.
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-John M. Libonati, Editor
Negotiating to Win (Part 2)
By Dave Yost
In Negotiating to Win Part 1 we discussed how to prepare for a negotiation by doing your homework. In this section we will discuss the six types of power, what negotiation strength helps you to achieve and how to read and control body language.
The six types of power are outlined below:
1. LEGITIMATE POWER - this type of power is defined by title or position. Typically it is the decision maker or the person with the final say.
2. REWARD POWER - this type of power offers some type of benefit to your opponent for agreeing with your stance. For example, a person possessing this type of power might say: "If you reduce the cost of your widget to a point lower than that of your competitor I will buy more ultimately increasing your profits."
3. PUNISHMENT POWER - this type of power is the exact opposite of Reward Power. It will negatively affect your opponent for disagreeing with your stance. For example, a person possessing this type of power might say: "If you increase the cost of your widget to a point higher than that of your competitor I will not buy any widgets from you which will impact your companies profits."
4. SITUATION POWER - various situations allow power to be gained by one party. For instance, if one side has a time deadline you can gain power by waiting towards the last minute so your opponent is pressured to make a deal.
5. EXPERTISE POWER - If you are the authority on something your opponent cannot challenge your points. An example is challenging a Nobel Prize winner in nuclear physics on atomic energy. They are the authority so they have the credibility.
6. INFORMATIONAL POWER - If you have collected more information than your opponent you become the expert and gain Expertise Power.
Before you begin your negotiation, you will want to determine what types of power both you and your opponents possess. Work on giving yourself an advantage in as many types of power as you possibly can.
You will also want to negotiate from a position of strength verses weakness. One party will typically have the upper hand entering a negotiation. Negotiation Strength is closely related to power. You may posesss power going into a negotiation, but if you do not know it or do not use it than you have no strength. Perception is reality; give the impression of strength even if you do not really have it. Finally try and turn weakness into strength.
Body language can be the most helpful indication of your opponent's strengths and weaknesses in a negotiation. Look for these non-verbal gestures; they can be a sign of nervousness/annoyance, honesty/dishonesty or confidence/lack of confidence. Non-verbal communication is usually more accurate than verbal communication. Be careful because it works both ways. Make sure you watch your own body language.
Part 3 in the Negotiating to Win series will discuss specific negotiation tactics to increase your negotiation power, strength and abilities.
Dave Yost is Senior Media Buyer/Planner at Harmelin Media, a Media Buying firm in Philadelphia. Contact him at dyost@harmelin.com or 610-668-7900 xtn. 167
Logo Punch List: Think Your Design is Done? Check These Points First. By John Libonati
Certain items must be accounted for before a new logo is complete. Run through this punch list before you go to print.
1. Does the image accurately reflect your company, its product and services and its people?
Your logo is a visual representation of your company. Show your new logo to employees, clients and associates. What do they think? Be sure your new logo does the job before you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars printing stationery, making marketing collateral pieces and developing your website.
2. Does it photocopy?
Put the new logo and stationery mock ups through the copier. If it doesn't photocopy well, then it won't fax well. Copying well is especially important if networking is a big part of your marketing. Many associations collect and photocopy attendees' business cards and distribute the list afterward.
3.Does it reproduce well in black and white as well as color? This is important for newspaper ads, magazine ads, posters, etc. As the most prominent part of your advertising materials, (at least it should be), your logo must look as good in black and white as it does in color.
4.How much will printing cost?
One color is cheapest to print. Two colors is somewhat more. If you have three colors, you might as well go for four colors, because the price is about the same - expensive. Contact printers to find out how much your stationery printing will cost.
5.Is your logo unique or does it resemble your competitors or others?
Branding is difficult if consumers confuse your logo with a dozen others. This can be seen in many of the dot com logos circa 1999, 2000 - swooshes and bubbles everywhere. Some designers also have a certain style that they like. That's nice for them, but bad for you. Your logo should represent your company, not someone's favorite design style.
6.Will it remain current?
Your logo should last at least 10 years without looking out of date. Think teal in the 90's. Think swooshes and bubbles of 2000. Now think Coca Cola and McDonald's.
John is a partner at Ascension Design, a full service graphic design firm outside Philadelphia. He can be reached at John@ascensiondesign.net or
215-591-1010.
What Are Repetitive Motion Injuries and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
By Joanna Libonati
Tens of thousands of injuries each year are caused by repetitive motions. There are different ways injuries can happen, but they all result from stress or strain imposed on some part of the body from a task's repetitive nature. This includes typing, computer mouse use and recurring motions such as twisting, turning and grasping.
Repetitive Motion Injuries can be quite painful and become progressively worse without treatment, possibly resulting in complete loss of function in the affected area. Tingling, numbness, or pain in the affected area, and loss of flexibility or strength are common symptoms. Hands, fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders and backs are the most common areas affected.
Tendons connect the muscles to the bones. If movement is repeated too often without rest, the tendons surrounding the muscles can become inflamed and blood flow becomes restricted. When tendons become inflamed, they can press against nerves often resulting in numbness and tingling.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common disorders among the repetitive motion injuries. The Carpal Tunnel, at the base of the palm, is a snug canal through which tendons and nerves pass on their way through the wrist from the forearm to the hand and fingers. The nerve that passes through this narrow tunnel to reach the hand is called the median nerve. The Median nerve runs the length of the arm providing motor function to the hand and feeling to the thumb side of the hand including the first three fingers and thumb. If swelling and inflammation from overuse occurs, everything becomes compressed and the median nerve in the carpal tunnel becomes constricted or "pinched". The result is a decrease in nerve transmission to the hand causing numbness and weakness.
Causes of Repetitive Motion Injuries and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
Repetitive Motion Injuries and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome develop slowly over time. They can be caused by:
• Long periods of steady hand movement doing tasks that are repeated over and over
• Holding the same position for a long time
• Working in an awkward position
• Forceful movements
• Not enough time to rest between repetitive tasks
Am I at Risk?
A sampling of the more common places where Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and
Repetitive Motion Injuries occur include:
• Graphic Designers from typing and using the computer mouse
• Computer Illustrators
• Programmers
• Other computer users
• Musicians
• Dental Hygienists
• Cashiers
• Work that demands repeated grasping, turning and twisting
• Some sports such as rowing, golf and tennis
What are the Symptoms?
• Weakness in hands and fingers - dropping objects
• Numbness and tingling in hands and fingers
• Burning in hands and/or wrists
• Pain in wrist sometimes feeling stiff or sprained
• Pain radiating from neck to fingertips or from fingertips to your neck
• Shooting pains from your wrist or hand to your elbow
• Numbness, tingling and sometimes shoulder pain on waking from sleep
If you are experiencing some of these symptoms, don't ignore them. Your doctor can make a proper diagnosis whether Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Repetitive Motion Strain is the cause. Early treatment is key in preventing further damage. My next article will explore prevention and proper workplace set up.
Joanna is a partner and creative director at Ascension Design, a full
service graphic design firm outside Philadelphia. She can be reached at Joanna@ascensiondesign.net or 215-591-1010.
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