Marketing: The Language of Symbols

I have been assisting others lately develop their marketing strategies from blogs, websites to book covers. In reality, what I am doing is helping develop an author's language of symbols. The letters and words I am typing now are in fact symbols.

Did you know the letter "a" is the symbol for an ox? 

Humans are hardwired to understand and translate the abstract language of symbols to convey information in a short amount of time. It is an efficient system, but also one that can be used for negative purposes. Go to any corporations website and translate their symbols, or marketing logos. What does that corporation tell you without saying a word? Then you will understand the language of silent hypocrisy.

As artists and writers, we use symbols to tell stories. When it comes to brand creation, most artists and writers cannot translate themselves into a marketing strategy. That is where I usually find myself: in between the creator and true genesis. 

So how do artists and writers step out of the shadows to show their readership/audience in symbols what they and their products are all about? 

Writing about Marketing today! 

The Undawnted logo is a great example. It has a Saturn motif. Saturn is the old bearded man that likes structure. Yet, if one takes a closer look, I have shadows in the eye of the storm. I like the paranormal so I threw that symbolism in there, but I also like science and science fiction. So the swirl is indicative of a galaxy spinning around a galactic center of beings and perhaps an Einstein Rosenbridge. The rings could be of a Saturn like planet, but in this case, the rings symbolize the expansion of creativity and consciousness across the universe. 

So look how much I said in that logo for Undawnted: Imagination is Fearless, after all. 

There are some unwritten rules about blogs and websites that many artists and authors shove to the side, so I will help translate those items:

• keep it simple
• only have 2 to 3 clicks to anywhere on your site
• declutter, you don't have to put everything in the menus when a link will do
• white space is golden
• be conservative

When I explain these items, I get blown off. If I go to sites of artists and authors with their Twitter and social media feeds on the side, that is too much input for me. As your audience, I am looking for YOU... not your feeds. I could care less. 

I want access to your writings or your art pieces. And, I want them as soon as I click onto your site. So take down all the noise and replace the noise with a link. 

A blog/website comes down to what you want me to know... in the first five seconds I am there. Are you trying sell me your Twitter feed or your book/art? 

Symbolism takes a hen peck approach. If your main focus is to sell me your works, then don't sell me the secondaries of Twitter and social media. Prioritize. 

If you write and sell writing services... get two different blogs or sites. You can interweave and link to create a support mechanism for both your inventions. I began with art and writing on this site. When I focused on what Undawnted was all about, I moved the art off and created: Sonoran Dawn Studios. Bingo! 

Now if someone needs design and publishing services, that person goes to www.SonoranDawn.com. 

If someone wants to read something unique from every topic under the sun, that person comes to Undawnted. 

Perfecto! 

Always keep it simple. You don't want your blog, website, or logo to look like a Jackson Pollock painting. You want to look like Da Vinci: with style, grace, and purpose. 

I hope I have explained this topic well. 

When you endeavor on a path of marketing, be sure to visit other artists and authors' websites. See what they have done to market themselves to a wider audience. Have a list of what you like and what you don't like. 

Then sketch out what you want then find someone like me to help you translate your world to the universe of readers and connoisseurs of your unique art form. 

If you can do it yourself, even better. I encourage artists and writers to learn other modalities so they are less inclined to pay for services they don't need or want. Services should be there to enhance what you already have, not leave you penniless. 

So do some basic research. Learn what a great marketing strategy is. Ask for help. Get only the services you require. 

Sounds easy, but takes a lot of work!

Have a great and wonderful day!!!  

What can Writers do to Change Society for the Better?

I came upon a celebrity's acceptance speech for an award she has earned as an artist, musician, actress, and entertainer. In her speech, she discussed how she was beaten down emotionally because she was a woman. She had witnessed how women are treated differently than their male counterparts. 

This trend is true in the world of writing as well. Women often change their names to male nom de plumes for a better receivership of their creative works. Men are given more latitude and praise. 

As writers, should we change society for the better by writing about situations that would not garner public outcry and allow our characters to discuss taboos? Is it our moral obligation to touch upon subjects that would otherwise be swept under the rug? 

I had hoped in the aforementioned celebrity's speech that she would have led by example. I would like have to heard her say: since I have endured sexism and ageism, I am doing x, y, and z to combat what I see as unfavorable treatment toward women artists. 

I was left with a sharp criticism but no real solution to the epidemic. 

Women need to support other artists in their field. If someone makes it big, then that woman needs to promote from within the female ranks of qualified and talented women in the pool. 

Women must understand that you can complain all the live long day and nothing will change. If you want to change, you must first be willing to stand up for the change you would like to see. Hate sexism? Hate ageism? Well there are plenty of women in those categories who would fit the bill to change the dynamics of what, or should I say who, is acceptable to be positive role models in our society.

Society does not change overnight. Society has to be guided onto a path of accepting the unseen voices of the world. In writing, literary works often touch upon these themes. In fiction, writers are given more leeway to investigate and expand especially in science and speculative fiction. 

So as a writer, how can you change the world for the better? 

Have a great and wonderful day! 

Another Poetry Submission Accepted

An untitled three line poem has been accepted for print publication.

As soon as the poem has been added to the online magazine, I will be sure to post the link here! 

Another exciting conclusion to a burgeoning writing career. I hope everyone who creates submits their art, poetry, and writing to sites. There is nothing more inspirational as seeing your own work out in the world. 

If you do not get published, that is okay. That means more studying, editing, and crafting are needed. One day all that hard work will pay off. So keep trying! 

Have a great and wonderful day!

Wants, Dreams, and Precious Stones

Most of this weekend I spent in bed. 

I guess I really did too much housework the other day. Hopefully, I can do dishes and vacuum tomorrow. I want to try and keep a schedule on cleaning tasks. 

I'm trying to stay inside when the geoengineering planes are out. They were again today. They flew in the clouds. I could see how the clouds collapsed after a while. 

It makes me so sad. I love weather. I love watching the fat clouds jaunt by in search of other clouds. I like watching storms form and how the rain splatters before it deluges. I miss the natural makings of my desert sky and climate. 

The sunset colors have changed. Orange is more pronounced instead of the delicate rose tints infused with citrines, sapphires, and rubies. How the imagination swirled with the coming of the stars. 

I wish to dream again. Dream in the colors I grew up with. Dream of sunsets and sunrises that shined and awoke the birds. 

I want to be outside, free and fully. I don't want to be afraid of uvc light. I don't want a sunburn at 74 degrees. I want to play. 

Shouldn't we all want to dream in the colors of precious stones? To see how the Earth wears hers at dusk and dawn? I do. Mother Earth should be able to wear her crown jewels any time she likes... 

One day, I hope that she can trade in the laboratory created gems of chemical death for those precious dreams in colors that feed our imaginations.

Over Exposed and No Date to Blame It On

You know when you take a picture and the lighting is all off. You are either too white, too yellow, or too orange? I kind of feel that way today.

I noticed that I needed to let off some steam. 

I can't really do it here or at the Gazette, so I began another blog: Radio Active Dawn. I might even do a few podcasts with my strange sense of humor about the coming apocalypse. Now I feel like Buffy the Vampire Slayer remixed. 

I was in bed with a headache most of the morning. I've had too much pinned up energy and angst. I really freaked myself out with the geoengineering information. I hate when that happens.

With my broken central nervous system it is easy to do. I have to remember to remain calm and bring people the news. I am human and I tend to get absorbed by the bad news. I've got to remember that I am doing positive and good in the world by reporting on this information and not allowing it to remain hidden where nefarious deeds are more easily accomplished. 

Now, if I could only send the elite the bill for my emotional turmoil. It is after all their fault the world is going to hell. Psychos. Here my family thought I was one. hahaha! 

Nope. A critical medical condition that makes you weak and disoriented isn't a psychotic break. Using everyone in the world as a lab rat while you systematically destroy the world is psychotic. 

I'm so glad I can tell the difference. 

Have a great weekend and be sure to visit my other links! 

Cat People and the Hunger Games

The new cat that adopted me outside and lives in my yard/garage, well, I named her Abreen.

We had a cold front move through yesterday and we have had cooler temperatures. This morning, Abreen begged for food and rubbed against my leg. which is a first. I petted her without getting hissed at, another first, and felt how emaciated she was.

Underneath her long and matted coat is skin and bones, it's so terrible. I hate kitties that are starving to death. No wonder she sticks around my yard. She probably doesn't have the energy to roam that far.

How horrible.

I guess from her behavior this morning she now considers me a friend. The rest of the hoard still stay back probably from her hissing and growling during dinner time in the past. Again, I don't blame her. Although, I am still guessing about her gender. Time will tell.

I picked a unisex name for her: Breen. Then I added the A prefix because I do believe she is a she. If not, she responds to Breen, so not harm done. 

I began calling her Abreen a few days ago. I guess she thought that if I am calling her a name then that means she is welcome and safe. Cats are strange and wonderful creatures. If you send out the right energy, then you have a friend for life. If you don't, well, I guess you are not a cat person. 

I like dogs too but I'm allergic to the ones that shed and dogs are too much for me right now. I can't devote walking time or fetch time outside. So cats are better than dogs at this juncture. 

I do hate finding animals that are hungry. I surmise that if Abreen had not come to my home when she did; she would be dead somewhere right now. Just makes me sick. 

No one, human or animal, should play a real life hunger games. There is enough food in the world to go around, no matter what the television or government says. [Clean and safe] Food like water and air are rights. 

It's just too bad corporations and some people don't see it that way. If you refuse someone any of those three necessities, then people die. Isn't that considered murder? Don't we as a species have a moral obligation to others of our kind and to this planet?

Food for thought...