The Almost Final Final Version Of My Ad

Looks good to me! Best of luck, JC!

Honda and Toyota make more money.

Regardless, best of luck. Hope you sell extremely well.

Dave

PS now that I have clicked on the image....preemiment?

Honda and Toyota make more money.

Yupp, and Walmart makes more money on art than Peter Lik.

(I am assuming we are just stating random facts here.)

lol....yes your Preeminence......

Dave

JC to be honest I had never used the word preeminent, but the FAA spell checker does
not like preemiment. (I do know the word)

I think it's a great ad. And a truly gorgeous photo.

The tilt of the top font for your dot com is distracting.
I'd straighten it up to make it most readable.
Also, you might consider centering the text, rather than left justified.

David:
Honda and Toyota sell cars.

Used car salesmen make more money than new car salesmen. Usually. What does that mean about Honda and Toyota? Are they in the wrong business, selling new cars instead of used cars?

If you want to make more money, perhaps you should sell used cars, not art.

*************
JC: Like your ad! Good luck with the show!

Cheryl,

Only GM is in the wrong business. I have to add, their last quarter was
extraordinarily good.

Yes used cars get a much better markup.

JC how about pre owned art?

JC honestly best of luck, just taking the micky out of you.
(Irish slang)

Dave

"The tilt of the top font for your dot com is distracting.
I'd straighten it up to make it most readable.
Also, you might consider centering the text, rather than left justified."

Beat me to it, but I think he already sent it in.

preeminent..FAA didn't correct me, Dave.

JC, you spelled it wrong!! There is no second "m", it's "preeminent!

JC,

I agree with Marlene, and also the drift wood next to the glass bouy doesn't read well as what it really is, looks like a pile of seawweed or something else.





You have so many strong images, that I might have chosen these or a few others. With the bottle, I would crop/clone out that pier in the background.

Most artists shouldn't design their own stuff, I don't, unless it's something very simple. You can go to fivver.com

http://lp.fiverr.com/lp-tv/?u_sou=google&u_med=cpc&u_cam=brand/ge_sh_bd_us&u_ter=one-fiverr_(exact)&u_con=AdID^89684984128^Keyword^fiverr^Placement^^Device^c&gclid=COTF0qjmiscCFZcYHwodrqcNJw

and "hire" someone to design your stuff, for $5 or so and get a good job.

Rich

And just like Honda and Toyota, artists make no income from the resale of their art...just sayin' ;)

You owe me - what - I don't know. a message for your "message in a bottle" - "GO HOME".


my facebook page

Louise,

JC wrote it as Preemiment.....m instead of n.....you have it right.

As I said I never used the word before...so got thrown around when seeing his version of it.

Dave

Rowena,

The whole thing is tongue in cheek, but Honda and Toyota do make money off of used cars.
They sell new parts and service for repairs. They also sell used cars.

Dave

Writing ad copy is an art, Headlines that grab attention and have a call to action are even more difficult. Hiring a writer for a "headlines" type ad is a good investment if the writer is good and you get a great HEADLINE it can by far out produce the cost a hundred fold. Famous headlines "The Lazy Man's way to riches" Joe Karbo, one of my favorites!

Good luck JC.

I didn't try to proof the ad. The words "Final Version" made me think JC wasn't looking for edtiorial services.

Well, he will have to correct the spelling, Cheryl.

I did not intend to proof read the ad either. I stumbled on the problem.

Dave

Didnt like the fonts at all in the top 2 panels (way too busy) and i think more space should have been left on either side of the type, more centred. The image is fine. There are 2 ways to go when putting together an ad with an image Either use one of your best sellers or use one that has the most views even if it doesn't sell that well. The main goal is to attract attention.

Louise,
Yes, the typo should be corrected if it isn't too late... if it hasn't already gone to press.

Well if you ask me,
regarding the picture, it seems to have a hanging horizon
Regarding the Typography, it looks not appealing
Regarding the message, as a reader I would like to be invited to see the show, not to get/grab one pic

But thats only me...

JC...I may be adding my 2 cents a day late and a dollar short, but I agree with Marlene and Rich. I may not be as brilliant a photographer as you are, but I have been advertising my business (not my art, but my agency) for many years. Straight forward ....make the print readable so that it does not distract from your come on feature, your art work. Separate the JCFindly.com and address. You want at least one of them to stick in the readers mind. I have no doubt you will do well.

Nice, J.C. But...part of your text needs a hyphen: "pre-eminent".

And frankly, I don't like the italicized text at all.

Just my opinion, but I've written professionally, for what's that's worth.

Pull the text away from the edges so the ad can breathe; leave some margin on both sides. Otherwise it looks like you couldn't afford a big enough ad (which may be true, but you don't want it to look that way). Change the font to a basic sans-serif. You haven't the room to get fancy and unreadable.


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

If we're voting fonts for consideration, I think as long as you're not writing a paragraph, use a sans serif. It's a better match to your clean photography. It feels more modern.

A nice compromise between sans serif and serif is Optima (Optimum). It gets used alot, but it's a lovely typeface. Clean, readable, has a really nice bolded look.

As far as decorative fonts go, Trajan Pro is a longtime favorite of mine, very elegant but basically should only be used for titles since it's a small caps font. It's gorgeous paired with an old school serif like Cochin (which has a spectacular italic set). Has a nice old world feel. (Mike, I'm looking at you).


Yea, I'm a font nerd.

#fontsforlife

oh yes, sorry, I was thinking keep the black background on JCFindley.com, keep the JCFindley in bright white, but do something to subtly set off the ".com" so your name stands out there on top but it's also clear you have a web site to be visited. I was thinking the ".com" could work as a shade of grey or maybe just a slightly off-white. Just thought there should be a creative way for that top tag to serve a dual purpose - clearly announce you -JCFindley- as well as your namesake .com - so you did not have to repeat JC Findley again right below on the next line.

Regarding the when - my thought was more about letting folks know the hours that the gallery is open - not sure if this ad is more for tourists or locals (or both), but I'd hate to plan on a visit to the gallery after, say, an early dinner in downtown and have it be closed at 5p or whatever time it does close. Same for breakfast and opening hours. Hours just help people plan their day's itinerary, especially if this particular gallery closes early, opens late or is closed on Mondays or something.

I will try that and work on the hours.

Thanks Shawn

Font

I do not have Sans Serif, or Optima. I do have PT Serif.... Or California FB.... and and and AND I DO have Comic Sans. Problem solved.

And exactly what is a serif font?

Still playing with a couple serif fonts.

where did the .com go?
IMO,
it needs to be lighter, closer to the white to effectively work.
"and see his work in person" is a given, not needed. You've already said you are now showing at.....
Eliminating those ords will allow you to space out the rest of the text properly, giving 'now showing at' its own line.

Come see is the call to action that is what the advertising gurus are all about now.

The lighter .com was per Shawn's suggestion. It also gives the hours.

Serif fonts have weight variations and little feet at the end of the letterforms. Those feet are serifs. Flourishes, if you will.

Sans serif, sans being french for "without" are letterforms without flourishing and with less variation in stroke weight.

Arial is sans serif, Times New Roman is serif.

JCFindley, The Panhandles Foremost Fine Art Photographer
now showing
Quayside Gallery 17 E Zarragossa Street, Pennsacola



Who, what, when and where...don't need the why :) Most people will google the rest...hours, phone directions etc.

Huh...wouldn't let me center it properly

what's the physical size of the ad when in print?
Also, why is the abbreviation for street in two caps?

I love it when I type out a long response and my internet dies right as I hit send....

The ad is the size it is on my monitor now in the initial post. That is 5x5 inches in both publications.

Thanks for the font lesson as I am truly clueless on that subject.

Ah the where and when.

Here is the suggestion that made me add that.

Regarding the when - my thought was more about letting folks know the hours that the gallery is open - not sure if this ad is more for tourists or locals (or both), but I'd hate to plan on a visit to the gallery after, say, an early dinner in downtown and have it be closed at 5p or whatever time it does close. Same for breakfast and opening hours. Hours just help people plan their day's itinerary, especially if this particular gallery closes early, opens late or is closed on Mondays or something.

It has merit.

People can Google anything but will they?

While this was there before the suggestion, the downtown part is important. We are in the heart of the art and entertainment district but even locals have no clue where Zarragossa is. They know Palafox, they know downtown, the do not know Z. Hey, they might say, we ARE downtown Google that address. Oh, it is only a block away let's drop by..

On the hours and continuing the above conversation.....

Let's go right after dinner. Oh wait honey, they close at five. Oh, our reservation at Jackson Steak House is at 5:30 let's stop by that gallery before dinner. Great idea.

how about this Who, what, where a better when ... I tend to want to stay away from wording that looks like a paragraph...looks like a lot of blah, blah, blah...sometimes less is more...it is read without actually reading.


JCFindley, The Panhandles Foremost Fine Art Photographer
Now Showing Downtown Pensacola
Quayside Gallery 17 E Zarragossa Street 10 to 5pm

are they closed any days?

JC,

As mentioned, need a brighter .com, use the darker sand color on the left. Lose the "now showing", "downtown" "and see his work in person". All not needed.

Also, still not crazy about this image,especially if this will be small, 5x5, that blob of stuff won't read as driftwood, looks like seaweed or a dead octopus. The smaller the ad, the more important the components become and vice versa. If you were trying to sell this image, as a 5x5 print and no larger print was available, this wouldn't sell. If this was a full bleed, double truck ad, this would work.

Here's an ad, that I could have never come up with,by myself! I had a friend, a really good designer do this. Took him, maybe 30 minutes, probably less. This works large and also small!



Rich

The image for the month is staying.

Keep in mind, the image shown will be the center piece for my space for the month the ad runs. As such it will stay as a single image and not a collage and it will be an image that wows in person AND one that works for the market demographic. (ie beaches, military, local or nautical.)

As is the call to action. Whether we artists view it as a necessity the advertising world is rather enamored by them, the come by stays for that reason.

While I would love for the ad to pay for itself the first month I am not expecting any measurable returns for at least a year or so of running it. The name is far more important than any single image. The address and where(s) are important and can contribute short term but the name is THE most important part of the ad in the long run.

The font in the top panel with your name looks good except for the different colour .com. It's fine all white.The text in the second panel still looks too busy and cramped. I think there should be more space on either side. I find the general rule of thumb when it comes to text is the more text, the cleaner and simpler it should be. You might also consider fittting in a QR code if you have one.

Well done JC.

Thanks Arlene

It is at the publisher now.

I really like the cleaner fonts. I also think making the .com a different color works to highlight your name. As for the wording, I agree with the others who say it's too wordy.

I would do something like: "Come see the outstanding work of the panhandle's foremost fine art photographer at (gallery, address, hours, etc). "

Rearranging it that way does two things. It puts the call to action first, and it condenses it all to one sentence.

Ooops, I see I'm too late. Maybe next month huh?

Just a suggestion, change "see" to "experience". One does not merely see your work, they experience it.

JC,

If you took the black box with the JCFINDLEY.COM and put it to the bottom below the image
what would happen?

I think people would spend a lot longer time on the read, the image and the domain name.

Dave

I really do appreciate all the input.

I have adopted some and not others.

It is kind of like asking Savad to critique your work. I agree with a lot if not most of what he says. Other things I say, hmm, not for me.

When someone with an advertising background makes a suggestion I consider it a little more closely.

Anyway, I appreciate all of it.

Let's see, I will play with the wording Loree suggested for next month. The "Experience his work" is getting mailed to the publisher on Monday as a change. I like the way the .com is and the black at the top. (The layout of the ad is loosely based on a successful ad that has been around for a while.)

I do think this is important to remember as well. It doesn't have to be perfect and will continue to be a work in progress. I think one can get so bogged down trying to achieve perfection that you end up doing nothing at all. While ALL of my images could be better if only...... Many of them sell well imperfections and all. It doesn't mean I don't constantly try ad improve though.

September ad looks better than the former! Congrats! I still get confused about the irregular use of capital letters - what rule does it follow - it makes it hard to read anyhow...

And why does it say JC Findley.com? Don't you wish to stress the fact that it is a real-life exhibition- not a website ad??

Foremost Fine Art Photographer is a title thus caps. (Yeah yeah, self appointed title.)

Experience should be experience.

I make a lot more on the web than I do at the gallery. While I want people in the gallery I want them on my website even more so the duel purpose ad.

In my 'day job' I work in a creative enviroment where I often have to share an idea with a group for feedback before moving forward. When that happens I'm often reminded of one of my favorite quotes...

"A camel is a horse designed by a committee. "

Case in point.

Your comment about this being like asking Mike to critque your work made me laugh out loud!

You see JC, when running an advertising agency my standard comment to the clients was "you can't have it all, focus on one thing, especially when you have limited space".

Let it look like the gallery has put in the ad, not you, that would make you look more prominent, right?

Quite literally every other ad running in these publications has their website even if the goal is to get people into the restaurant or store.

Frankly, my goal is to make some profit in the gallery but use it primarily to feed web sales. 2500 choices here. Even with double wall space I have 10 medium and 2 large in the gallery.

The dot com is staying.

Not sure about the perceived prestige of a gallery v the artist ad either. The galleries all have paid ads, including Quayside. I am the only artist that has ever advertised in them.

Well than you HAVE a focus, though it was hidden to me by simply looking at the ad.

Go on!

It's a nice mag, JC.
I hope your continued advertising in it will pay off.
I usually check with other artists to see what their experience has been..I noticed in the last issue, there's one portrait artist. She could be a good resource for you