COMPETITION: Design a Banner Win a Personalised Rose

[MarkPearson]

I am running a competition to design a banner that promotes my business www.rosesbydesign.com

The business is personalised roses and the banner/s needed to promote this

You can enter as many times as you like.

This competition will be run on this forum and 1 other business forum.

Images for the banners can be taken from our website.

BUSINESS / BANNER BRIEF

Rosebydesign.com sell unique personalised roses for every occasion! Customers can have their own message or image printed direct onto the petals of beautiful fresh and silk roses.

The banner needs to attract attention and use clear, close up image of our product.

It must contain either our logo, the words rosesbydesign.com or rosesbydesign

Can be plain for animated.

Text on banner is up to you, whatever grabs attention...

Some of our current banners are here.

http://www.rosesbydesign.com/affiliates.php

We are looking for improved banners with more clear images of our product.

Banner Sizes

120X60 and 468X60

Themes

A winner will be selected for the following themes:

Valentines Day Personalised Rose Banner
x1 120X60 and x1 468X60

Mothers Day Personalised Rose Banner
x1 120X60 and x1 468X60

General Personalised Rose Banner
x2 120X60 and x2 468X60

PRIZE

Any banners that are used for our final affiliate program will win a personalised single stem rose inc free delivery (worth £12.99)

8 final winners will be selected on Wednesday, 21st Dec at 7pm

Entries must be sent to markpearson1980@aol.com before the closing date above.

Any Questions: email or PM me or post below....

Good Luck!

[MarkPearson]

I have just created a page with the best images all together

http://www.rosesbydesign.com/bestimages.php

[MinuWeb]

Hi Mark,

Nice idea but if you want a professional banner you would be better of paying £20 - 50 for it. Not sure how many people would spend a couple of hours designing a banner on the off chance that they might get a rose worth £12.99

[DarrenC]

Vshosting,

But look at it another way - look at the potential new business winning a comptition on a forum could bring.

[MinuWeb]

There is that, maybe the kind of think a newer designer would enter.

Although I would be tempted to use a company like http://www.wowbanners.com and get a set of 3 for about £60 (although they are not taking orders right now there are plenty of other companies around like them)

[MarkPearson]

Yes, I am aware that I can get banners made by lots of companies, and it will be cheaper for me to do so than give away that many roses as prizes.

But my logo was designed by Tim, from this forum who entered the logo competition and was delighted with his roses for his girlfriend.

The reason I am doing a competition is, I will get lots of different peoples design styles, which is a very good thing. Where as if I went with one designer I would get one style.

I will be listing all banner competition entries on a new page on my website and linking to it from both business forums I use to get feedback as the competition progresses. I will also add a name and contact details/web address under each (if the designer wants me to) So it could bring them some exposure.

Its just a nice way to get the forum involved in the growth and development of my new business. Members of this forum have helped me from the start and I hope are proud to watch it grow.

[Rob Holmes]

I know from a personal point of view if I've got an idea and a passion for something then the money (or lack of it) doesn't really come into it - I'm sure some people would do it just because they a) Love doing that sort of thing and b) want to maybe help.

Rob

[creospace]

It's the taking part that counts, not the winning :)

Gary

[DarrenC]

IF I could design a banner I'd join in..

[creospace]

Get in touch with your creative side...

[Rob Holmes]

Get in touch with your creative side...

Or creative designer :D

Rob

[Coding Monkey]

Thanks what I was thinking, Rob

[DarrenC]

My creative designer is on here already. :D

[CaroCaro]

I love it, it is for the fun of it, something nice, joining together to assist each other etc etc. Of course he could go and pay for someone to do it, but he has just thrown a nice idea into the pot. If you don't want to play, then don't! Blimey, where did all the love go?!?

[Eagle]

^ I can see your point - but it's not about 'love'. Love doesn't pay the mortgage or feed the family!

Just imagine if I asked all the accountants here to prepare my books and I'd then select the one I think did best? There'd be howls of protest and, I suspect, very few takers - if any!

Why do people (in general) think a designers' time and skills are any less valuable than say, a plumbers or a solicitors? Ah, that's right - we simply hit a button and 'it all happens'... :roll: ;)

Don't get me wrong - I'm not being a grouch (just making a point) - but there are many designers who baulk at contests with little or no return. Entering contests or doing 'spec' work is actually against the membership terms of some designer's unions/associations. (As an independent, none of which I'm a member of! :))

I'm not totally against the contest aspect, but there should be some real value in it - for the winner at least. One of the members here recently benefitted from a freebie (more or less) from me but the deal we struck was mutually beneficial.

I expect you'll get a few entries though and of course; best of luck! :)

[Jayne]

Yes Eagle, if you want top quality than it must be paid for :D

I love helping people, but it is nice to be helped back. It's your living so it must hurt somethimes to be be asked for freebies all the time.

Jayne :D

[MarkPearson]

Hi Eagle,

I do see your point.

I pay my designer well, but she happens to be pretty busy at the moment!

She produced my last batch of banners which I am pleased with.

Now I have new images, I would like to get some more banners done as well as joining www.paidonresults.com affiliate program.

I am not offering NOTHING for the designers efforts

If someone has a spare 30 mins to 1 hour to create a banner then join in.

If not, don't simple as that.

It might actually get the people with good entries some future customers as their work will be compaired to others and members on each forum will have a chance to make comment

[Coding Monkey]

Mainly agreed, Eagle. I pay my designers a bloody fortune. Wouldn't have a company without them and I certainly want them to be enthusiastic about the work, so won't rip them off on price. If they're working for crap money, they won't care, the client will get something useless and my company will suffer.

But, back to the competition.....

Edit: Thought I'd add, nothing against the competition, let anyone join in. Just thought I'd add to Eagle's points. If I had any form of design talent I'd join in purely to be the 'best'.

[Richard Conyard]

Mark,
You might want to post at http://www.jumpforward.co.uk after all competitions for designers (and student designers who are looking to increase their portfolio), is what it's there for (as well as other things).

[Admiral Collections]

Oh for goodness sake. It's a lovely idea, simple as that. I know this is a business forum, but come on there is more to life than making money all the time. I am the same as Darren, I would enter IF I could create one too. When I looked at the competition it never entered my head to think 'ogh why doesn't he just go get his banner designed elsewhere...groan, moan, bah humbug!


Lighten up, feel the love, have a go and be a cool bean!

Nic :wink:

[MinuWeb]

Oh for goodness sake. It's a lovely idea, simple as that. I know this is a business forum, but come on there is more to life than making money all the time. I am the same as Darren, I would enter IF I could create one too. When I looked at the competition it never entered my head to think 'ogh why doesn't he just go get his banner designed elsewhere...groan, moan, bah humbug!


Lighten up, feel the love, have a go and be a cool bean!

Nic :wink: So if you were a professional designer you would enter contests in the hope that you might win a prize if you won and live on what exactly ?

I agree it is a "nice idea" and unfortunately mainly benefits the under 18's non business or tax registered that want to earn a bit of cash in hand.

My company *could* enter such things, but I would have a hard time convincing the 2 designers that work full time for me to work on the basis that they *may (if lucky) * be paid in goods.

There are so many people working in design and hosting that do it for pocket money, that do not pay taxes etc that lower the cost of these services to a very low level and it also ruins the level of professionalism in the industry. *contests* like these do absolutely nothing at all to help......

In the line of Eagles post, I am going to build a house next year, already bought the land for it. Does anyoneone here want to build it for me and *if* I like it I will give them £100,000 of hosting services?

Going out for a meal tomorrow night , should we in at 12 restaurants and eat in all of them and only pay for the one we like the most....

[MarkPearson]

It looks as if this post has got some people backs up.

Now that is understandable and sorry to those who are offended!

But I must say you can hardly compaire a £100K house build that would take many months to build and many thousands of pound in costs.

For those of you in the business that don't want to enter, then this is a post to avoid and reply to the other selection of posts on the forum.

I was appealing to the people on here who have a spare 30mins to and hour to create a banner to enter the competition.

Alternatively, I could have divided the approx £105 RRP worth of products I am giving away towards a prize fund.

[MinuWeb]

Sorry Mark,

It is nothing personal, I am sure there are alot of people out there with time to spare that can produce very good banners for you. The main thing that winds me up is the number of kids that can create extremly good design work and only need pocket money for doing so (they don't pay taxes)

Fortunately only about 5% of my income is from design, however I do know a few designers that are very talented and struggling like crazy because their clients "brothers, uncles, wifes, sister has a son that is good at that kind of thing"

[Eagle]

Mark,

I don't think anyone is necessarily offended as such - but the strength of feeling here does highlight the fact that there's a general (and misguided) perception that designing is easy and that it doesn't take much of one's time.

I'm assuming that most of the designers here are professionals and perhaps the request is just on the wrong type of forum?...

No hard feelings; we're just highlighting one of the problems associated with an already 'embattled' and misunderstood profession. You can see it's pretty much the same over at Shell.

I'm still confident you'll get your banners. :)

Mark :)

[Coding Monkey]

vshosting, I actually call it the "nephew syndome" as everyone has a nephew who is learning web design that will do it for £100.

Also, I have to admit, I know very few people who can do what I'd associate as extremely good design work for pocket money. In my experience, it's all crap for very little.

And I'm not a designer, just in case you get confused by my young looks ;)

[MinuWeb]

And I'm not a designer, just in case you get confused by my young looks ;)

I think you look quite old for a 12 year old.... :D :D (Sorry, couldn't resist :D :D )

[Coding Monkey]

Jealousy if I've ever seen it. You wish you could have a face this good.

Anyway, wasn't there a competition around here?

[www.sitepal.co.uk]

My thoughts

Starting out in business you make mistakes and those of you that have put Mark idea down most probley done something simliar in your early days.

I think that Mark is looking for input and asking us all for help. Perhaps this is the problem when starting out on your own, you miss a team of people to discuss ideas with.

I really think you need to consider everyones input be good or bad. VHosting comments are true and i have to agree with him and it is a professional point of view.

I would say to anyone in Mark postion

If you need help with something in your business just ask for help, trying to offer competition to business people is a bad idea.

They see what you are trying to do and this is why some have attack you.

I think your looking for a new banner and just want others to work with you on it.

Nice idea to offer gifts but folks here want cash

I think your competition idea would work in other ways as suggest by another member.

I wish you luck

Tony

ps my spelling may be bad, been working allday, don't care

[MarkPearson]

Certainly created a stir...... ;-)

The good thing is everybody got have their opinion on the subject matter and thats what the forum is about.

Defiantly opened my eyes to your industry.

Do note my main reason for the competition idea was because my designer is too busy to make me banners and i need them for next week....

[MinuWeb]

Getting back on topic :D

As you need you banners for an affiliate scheme, they will be used by other sites to promote your services in such a way that they can earn a bit of commision as well.

I would say that this is one area where you really cannot afford to skimp, hopefully your banners will be used by hundreds of sites so get the absolute best that you can afford, get them professionally made by a designer that you like and you feel will do your company justice.

If your designer is too busy then look around, find banners you really like, find out who made them and contact them. If you take the time to study portfolios and work with the designer you choose you will end up with a much batter banner to represent your company.

(getting back off topic; if there were a forum dedicated to people selling embossed roses and somone posted a competition "It's my girlfriends birthday on saturday, whoever sends her a rose with the best caption wins a banner" would you enter ? :D )

[clairemackaness]

Hi MArk,

Good luck, seems you've caused a stir. I'm with Nic, take a chill pill and enter if you want and dont if you dont. I'd have a go if I could, but mainly in the spirit of helping you out and having some fun. I do have spare time after all, it is unhealthy to work 24/7.

Just as a matter of interest, have you had any entries?

[Robert]

I say if you want to enter then don't. Professional GFX artists are unlikely to enter.

However, there are a lot of talented artists out there looking to showcase their work, an online CV.

Go for it!

[Admiral Collections]

Mark

Hope you sorted your banner. Let us know the results, or has the competition been closed? I really felt for you when it went crazy, know the feeling all to well, and it isn't a very nice one!


Nic :wink: