xamuel17:
In Nigeria , graphic designers make peanuts ... because we don't really appreciate graphic works . I would advice any IT interested person to pick up programing any day ..

I have been into Graphic Design path for more than 5 years now, and I can boldly say that the "peanut" you think they make is due to their lack of positioning. It is not by picking up a programming skills you make millions. I do only Brand Identities and Marketing materials, and that is what I've built empire and a family on. You need to understand there's a difference between building a reputable brand and being a mere designer.

After the outbreak of the deadly 2019-20 Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19), was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the virus has reached more than 100 countries, with the total number of cases now about 100,000.

All over the world, medical experts and policymakers are left with the same questions: How far will the virus spread? How long will the virus last? How many people will the virus kill before it ends?

Just one virus shattered lives, changed the world’s view and system we have been used to. There are roughly 300 million children who are facing school closures. Many cities are lockdown and people are self-quarantined. The market has been disrupted and currency devaluation has affected the prices of many valuables. The competence (or lack thereof) of governments in many countries has been exposed, and it has been shifting control in political and economic power. Many prominent individuals and celebrities have been preaching self-isolation after been tested ‘Positive’ to the Coronavirus.

The disease is now in more than 100 countries around the world, spreading across Europe, America, and Asia. Italy, the home of mafioso’s and the seat of the Vatican, has seen a large number of cases, leading the authorities to impose a lockdown in the north of the country.

Several countries have established travel bans, preventing foreign nationals from entering. Major sporting events around the world have been called off or few held behind closed doors.

One benefit of this Coronavirus fallout is millions of people are going to realize they don’t need to sit in a classroom and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for a meaningless piece of paper that says, “Congrats, you’re educated.” – Ryan Michler

Now the same Nigerian employers who feel “cheated” whenever an employee proposes “Working-from-Home” has been implementing the practice to keep on the workflow. In just a few time many businesses have come to the realization that hours of meetings and agendas can just be simple email exchanges and phone calls. A pandemic canceled social gatherings in most religious countries with a diversity of beliefs.

The rise for remote jobs has made us see that now is the time to embrace technological advancement in business like never before, and appreciate the Work-from-Home system more. There are several tools you can use to keep the work process going and even increase productivity. There are apps that help us communicate in real-time with whoever we want at the time we choose and create an ease workflow environment. Among others here are few useful tools:

If you need to manage your personal task or organize projects with your team, you can use tools like:

​Trello
Asana​
​Basecamp
​Todoist
If you need to schedule meetings with clients, you can use tools like:

​Calendly
​Pick A Meeting
Appointlet
If you want to record and edit videos – perfect for creating simple tutorials and explaining yourself or practice through videos, you can use tools like:

Camtasia
Screenflow
Or it could be you want to do Video Conference with your team, you can use tools like:

Whereby
· ​Skype​
· ​Zoom​
· ​Google Hangouts

I know for sure that this time will pass and the earth would be healed again. But for now, let’s keep safe and practice every preventive measures. But we should also ponder over the vivid and profound lessons of How one epidemic reshaped the system and changed the world.

https://creativedohl.com/how-one-epidemic-has-changed-the-world/

Damilare H. Oyekanmi
Brand Strategist & Creative Designer
[url]creativedohl.com[/url]

After the outbreak of the deadly 2019-20 Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19), was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the virus has reached more than 100 countries, with the total number of cases now about 100,000.

All over the world, medical experts and policymakers are left with the same questions: How far will the virus spread? How long will the virus last? How many people will the virus kill before it ends?

Just one virus shattered lives, changed the world’s view and system we have been used to. There are roughly 300 million children who are facing school closures. Many cities are lockdown and people are self-quarantined. The market has been disrupted and currency devaluation has affected the prices of many valuables. The competence (or lack thereof) of governments in many countries has been exposed, and it has been shifting control in political and economic power. Many prominent individuals and celebrities have been preaching self-isolation after been tested ‘Positive’ to the Coronavirus.

The disease is now in more than 100 countries around the world, spreading across Europe, America, and Asia. Italy, the home of mafioso’s and the seat of the Vatican, has seen a large number of cases, leading the authorities to impose a lockdown in the north of the country.

Several countries have established travel bans, preventing foreign nationals from entering. Major sporting events around the world have been called off or few held behind closed doors.

One benefit of this Coronavirus fallout is millions of people are going to realize they don’t need to sit in a classroom and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for a meaningless piece of paper that says, “Congrats, you’re educated.” – Ryan Michler

Now the same Nigerian employers who feel “cheated” whenever an employee proposes “Working-from-Home” has been implementing the practice to keep on the workflow. In just a few time many businesses have come to the realization that hours of meetings and agendas can just be simple email exchanges and phone calls. A pandemic canceled social gatherings in most religious countries with a diversity of beliefs.

The rise for remote jobs has made us see that now is the time to embrace technological advancement in business like never before, and appreciate the Work-from-Home system more. There are several tools you can use to keep the work process going and even increase productivity. There are apps that help us communicate in real-time with whoever we want at the time we choose and create an ease workflow environment. Among others here are few useful tools:

If you need to manage your personal task or organize projects with your team, you can use tools like:

​Trello
Asana​
​Basecamp
​Todoist
If you need to schedule meetings with clients, you can use tools like:

​Calendly
​Pick A Meeting
Appointlet
If you want to record and edit videos – perfect for creating simple tutorials and explaining yourself or practice through videos, you can use tools like:

Camtasia
Screenflow
Or it could be you want to do Video Conference with your team, you can use tools like:

Whereby
· ​Skype​
· ​Zoom​
· ​Google Hangouts

I know for sure that this time will pass and the earth would be healed again. But for now, let’s keep safe and practice every preventive measures. But we should also ponder over the vivid and profound lessons of How one epidemic reshaped the system and changed the world.

https://creativedohl.com/how-one-epidemic-has-changed-the-world/

Damilare H. Oyekanmi
Brand Strategist & Creative Designer
[url]creativedohl.com[/url]

Brand Naming - Resource and Tips to Easily Ideate and Create the Perfect Name for Your Brand (FREE eBook)

"The most important word in any language is one’s own name" - Anon

There’s no doubt that choosing the perfect brand name is one of the most exciting and important elements of startups… But it is also one of the hardest parts of branding.

The hardest part is choosing the right name that rings a bell and becomes a household name, like CloseUp, Omo, Uber, Pepsi, Apple, Indomie, etc....

But if you get it wrong, you could be the next “Little Hope Cemetery Coffee”. Then you may be forced to rebrand or face brand failure or even aggression.

Building a timeless brand and developing a strong identity takes time and proper researches. Before jumping into choosing a brand name, you need to see this FREE guide I put together to help you easily craft a
name for your brand, that will be memorable. It contains online resources (with links) to help create a brand’s perfect name.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD

� https://brand-naming.gr8.com/

" If you’re interested in business with customers, you’re going to want a BRAND because without it you lack IDENTITY, a PULSE, a PRESENCE, and PURPOSE" - Mary Van de Wiel

"Branding" is an old topic, an overused word and a less practiced technique

The rise of social technologies, opportunities and information has led to an immense competition in building and growing a business which thrives. 

To thrive in a competitive market, you have to STAND OUT. And your uniqueness to stand out is communicated in your brand.

A good branding can make you dominate your niche or make you invisible in the market.

Whatever your goals are, this free eBook is a must-read for all business starters and owners as it provides the basic benefits and resources to start building your own brand in an easy-to-read format.


CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD

� https://business-branding.gr8.com/

I have not been active online as I used to since October 2019. Many called and sent emails to check on me. I was not sick or went on sabbatical. I was planning how the whole of 2020 is going to work out.

I went back to learn and implemented some strategies on how to serve people better and share more values. Then I started creating valuable digital products in the form of (videos and text), on the things people would really need in becoming not just skillful but also successful in starting an online business from your skills, plus every Online Resource Needed to Succeed as a freelancer or digital enthusiast.

Over the years I've spent a lot of time on the internet trying to acquire skills that would put me ahead and be useful in creating opportunities and entering boundaries. From Designing to Content to Digital marketing to Branding.

So on January 1st, 2020, I created an online academic platform with the desire to help many African youths acquire digital skills for little or no fees. I would be using this online platform to give out a lot of online resources and more value sharing.

Then I launched my first online course on the platform, FREELANCING BLUEPRINT: The Complete Guide to Start & Grow a Profitable Side Business ( https:///2PbzDaX )

In this course, you will learn about:
- An Introduction to Freelancing
- The Successful Personal Branding Process for Freelancers
- Setting Up Shop
- Understand Money Matters
- Marketing & Promoting Your Skills
- Where to Find Freelance Clients
- Working with Clients & Getting Paid
- And many other things time won't permit us to share here. But you can see them for yourself - ( https://creativedohl.sch.ng/courses/freelancing-blueprint-the-complete-guide-to-start-grow-a-profitable-side-business/ )

Now, Not Just That! As I promised to offer more value this year, so I will also be giving you these eBooks for FREE:

- How to Make Money in Fiverr
- Freelance Proposal Template
- Emergency Cash with Freelancing
- Getting Started with WordPress
- Freelancing Blueprint in PDF
- Brand Naming
- Business Branding 101

� Yes They Are All FREE BONUSES �

All you just need to do to have access to this exclusive offer is to Enroll:

Investment Fee: ₦5,000

Yes, you will get unlimited access to all these resources for just Five Thousand Naira only and an active email you can use to enroll.

Pay into:

bank: FCMB
acct. no: 5620538011
acct. name: CREATIVE DOHL DESIGN

OR

Click on the link >>> https://paystack.com/pay/freelancing-blueprint

After payment, send your proof of payment to WhatsApp number, +234702440449 or send me an email, damilare@creativedohl.com Immediately.

P.S: Between January and Now, we have added 3 courses on the platform, and more to come before December 2020. We have 13 students so far (I will be giving updates on the number of students that have enrolled).

I will do every sweat I can to make this turn out helpful to many. So help me God!

If you are wondering what it takes to get started out as a freelance graphic designer and you are thinking about venturing into the field for yourself, then this article should prove to help you tremendously!

Freelancing is a natural fit for graphic designers. Several kinds of research show that more than 20 percent of people in the design industry are self-employed. This is because most freelancers in the design industry started designing as a side hustle. Along the line, they build a sustainable business with their passion for the niche, determination, strong business planning, and a solid work ethic.

Now, many companies are having a greater online presence. This means that the demand for brand identities, online marketing collaterals, social media images, infographics and more would be at an all-time high.

Now here’s how you can get started as a freelance graphic designer;

So Why Freelance Graphic Design?

A graphic designer is to effectively communicate the intended message of a brand or a project at hand into visuals, for the audience to relate with. They are various types of graphic design, but designers work on typical projects very often such as visual brand identity (logo designs, business cards), marketing materials (brochures, flyers, print advertisements, postcards), social media pages & images, as well as web banners and many other graphic elements.

So why freelance graphic design? Do you have the right temperament to handle clients? Can you thrive in an office environment, or do you prefer creating your own workspace? Are you motivated enough to commence projects or do you need someone constantly yelling motivation to you before getting work done? Do you have the required resources to successfully run your own freelance career?

These are personal questions you need to answer when deciding whether a freelance graphic design career is the right path for you. But as you make your decision, keep in mind that about a freelance career;

You will have more freedom to do things your way and more flexibility, but you will also have more responsibilities.
You will get to choose your own clients, but that also means you will learn how to manage who you work for.
You will have more time for the things you want to do, or it could consume most of your effective time more than a full-time job.

Learn the Required Skills

Just like every other freelance job that requires a particular skill, graphic design is no exception. You can either go to school and get a formal education design, or you can do your own self-study by utilizing the internet – self-taught designer.

That means you choose to acquire the skills that really depend on your lifestyle and how much time and resources you have.

Going to the university to acquire the skill is a fantastic starting place if you have the time and finances. There are so many great colleges that offer certificates or associate degrees, or you can opt for an online college.

If you don’t have adequate finances or you don’t have enough time to devote to the traditional school learning system, you should consider the option of learning it on your own.

With the wealth of information available at your fingertips, it is now easier than ever to learn everything you need to know about graphic design on platforms like YouTube or Google. You can start an online course on different platforms. A good way to start with is understanding what freelancing is and platforms you can earn money from. I created a course for that purpose, FREELANCING BLUEPRINT(https://creativedohl.sch.ng/courses/freelancing-blueprint-the-complete-guide-to-start-grow-a-profitable-side-business/). There is also a wealth of courses on designs you can choose on platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, Lynda, and many others.

There are various skills you can learn depending on having a general overview of the design fundamentals. You can start out by defining the one area of focus that you want to concentrate on in the design field. It could be the area of brand identity design (logo design, business card design), or marketing materials (brochure design, leaflets design), or simple website design (WordPress design), etc. Learn everything you can about your area of concentrated study.

Start Building a Portfolio

A portfolio (https://creativedohl.com/portfolio/) is every freelance graphic designer’s greatest opportunity in getting more clients. It is one of the most crucial assets of a designer. A good portfolio represents a designer’s experience, passion, and skills, it’s a showpiece to sell your work to potential clients. Even unpaid projects that you have a personal connection to can be part of your portfolio.

Be selective when choosing your works to be used as your portfolio. Only include projects and examples that are the best works you did or you to do.

Using a good profile for your social media presence is another must. It’s the perfect way to supplement and promote your online portfolio and reach out to a wider audience. There are several platforms that offer the equivalent of a portfolio with added social features, like Behance or Dribbble. Having an account and your projects with these websites, it’s a good tool to use in getting feedback on your work, networking with other designers, and connecting with clients.

Start Working From Anywhere As A Graphic Designer

There are many freelancing sites you can use in starting out your graphic design career. Many years back, I started with Fiverr and Freelancer. But I will recommend having your own website set up so that you will have an outside web presence to show your potential clients during any design interview stage. A well-designed website brings you one step closer to gaining the trust of your potential client. It can also include your “Contact Me” “About Me” “Testimonials” pages.

Graphic design is a field that is ever-growing and there is no limit to how far you can go in your business! Therefore, if you are interested in becoming a freelance graphic designer, I urge you to take the first step and start exploring your own area of concentrated study.

To help you get started as a successful freelancer, check out this mini-course, FREELANCING BLUEPRINT(https://creativedohl.sch.ng/courses/freelancing-blueprint-the-complete-guide-to-start-grow-a-profitable-side-business/). I am absolutely sure you’ll find these resources helpful as you begin your freelancing career!

If you are wondering what it takes to get started out as a freelance graphic designer and you are thinking about venturing into the field for yourself, then this article should prove to help you tremendously!

Freelancing is a natural fit for graphic designers. Several kinds of research show that more than 20 percent of people in the design industry are self-employed. This is because most freelancers in the design industry started designing as a side hustle. Along the line, they build a sustainable business with their passion for the niche, determination, strong business planning, and a solid work ethic.

Now, many companies are having a greater online presence. This means that the demand for brand identities, online marketing collaterals, social media images, infographics and more would be at an all-time high.

Now here’s how you can get started as a freelance graphic designer;

So Why Freelance Graphic Design?

A graphic designer is to effectively communicate the intended message of a brand or a project at hand into visuals, for the audience to relate with. They are various types of graphic design, but designers work on typical projects very often such as visual brand identity (logo designs, business cards), marketing materials (brochures, flyers, print advertisements, postcards), social media pages & images, as well as web banners and many other graphic elements.

So why freelance graphic design? Do you have the right temperament to handle clients? Can you thrive in an office environment, or do you prefer creating your own workspace? Are you motivated enough to commence projects or do you need someone constantly yelling motivation to you before getting work done? Do you have the required resources to successfully run your own freelance career?

These are personal questions you need to answer when deciding whether a freelance graphic design career is the right path for you. But as you make your decision, keep in mind that about a freelance career;

You will have more freedom to do things your way and more flexibility, but you will also have more responsibilities.
You will get to choose your own clients, but that also means you will learn how to manage who you work for.
You will have more time for the things you want to do, or it could consume most of your effective time more than a full-time job.

Learn the Required Skills

Just like every other freelance job that requires a particular skill, graphic design is no exception. You can either go to school and get a formal education design, or you can do your own self-study by utilizing the internet – self-taught designer.

That means you choose to acquire the skills that really depend on your lifestyle and how much time and resources you have.

Going to the university to acquire the skill is a fantastic starting place if you have the time and finances. There are so many great colleges that offer certificates or associate degrees, or you can opt for an online college.

If you don’t have adequate finances or you don’t have enough time to devote to the traditional school learning system, you should consider the option of learning it on your own.

With the wealth of information available at your fingertips, it is now easier than ever to learn everything you need to know about graphic design on platforms like YouTube or Google. You can start an online course on different platforms. A good way to start with is understanding what freelancing is and platforms you can earn money from. I created a course for that purpose, FREELANCING BLUEPRINT(https://creativedohl.sch.ng/courses/freelancing-blueprint-the-complete-guide-to-start-grow-a-profitable-side-business/). There is also a wealth of courses on designs you can choose on platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, Lynda, and many others.

There are various skills you can learn depending on having a general overview of the design fundamentals. You can start out by defining the one area of focus that you want to concentrate on in the design field. It could be the area of brand identity design (logo design, business card design), or marketing materials (brochure design, leaflets design), or simple website design (WordPress design), etc. Learn everything you can about your area of concentrated study.

Start Building a Portfolio

A portfolio (https://creativedohl.com/portfolio/) is every freelance graphic designer’s greatest opportunity in getting more clients. It is one of the most crucial assets of a designer. A good portfolio represents a designer’s experience, passion, and skills, it’s a showpiece to sell your work to potential clients. Even unpaid projects that you have a personal connection to can be part of your portfolio.

Be selective when choosing your works to be used as your portfolio. Only include projects and examples that are the best works you did or you to do.

Using a good profile for your social media presence is another must. It’s the perfect way to supplement and promote your online portfolio and reach out to a wider audience. There are several platforms that offer the equivalent of a portfolio with added social features, like Behance or Dribbble. Having an account and your projects with these websites, it’s a good tool to use in getting feedback on your work, networking with other designers, and connecting with clients.

Start Working From Anywhere As A Graphic Designer

There are many freelancing sites you can use in starting out your graphic design career. Many years back, I started with Fiverr and Freelancer. But I will recommend having your own website set up so that you will have an outside web presence to show your potential clients during any design interview stage. A well-designed website brings you one step closer to gaining the trust of your potential client. It can also include your “Contact Me” “About Me” “Testimonials” pages.

Graphic design is a field that is ever-growing and there is no limit to how far you can go in your business! Therefore, if you are interested in becoming a freelance graphic designer, I urge you to take the first step and start exploring your own area of concentrated study.

To help you get started as a successful freelancer, check out this mini-course, FREELANCING BLUEPRINT(https://creativedohl.sch.ng/courses/freelancing-blueprint-the-complete-guide-to-start-grow-a-profitable-side-business/). I am absolutely sure you’ll find these resources helpful as you begin your freelancing career!

If you are wondering what it takes to get started out as a freelance graphic designer and you are thinking about venturing into the field for yourself, then this article should prove to help you tremendously!

Freelancing is a natural fit for graphic designers. Several kinds of research show that more than 20 percent of people in the design industry are self-employed. This is because most freelancers in the design industry started designing as a side hustle. Along the line, they build a sustainable business with their passion for the niche, determination, strong business planning, and a solid work ethic.

Now, many companies are having a greater online presence. This means that the demand for brand identities, online marketing collaterals, social media images, infographics and more would be at an all-time high.

Now here’s how you can get started as a freelance graphic designer;

So Why Freelance Graphic Design?

A graphic designer is to effectively communicate the intended message of a brand or a project at hand into visuals, for the audience to relate with. They are various types of graphic design, but designers work on typical projects very often such as visual brand identity (logo designs, business cards), marketing materials (brochures, flyers, print advertisements, postcards), social media pages & images, as well as web banners and many other graphic elements.

So why freelance graphic design? Do you have the right temperament to handle clients? Can you thrive in an office environment, or do you prefer creating your own workspace? Are you motivated enough to commence projects or do you need someone constantly yelling motivation to you before getting work done? Do you have the required resources to successfully run your own freelance career?

These are personal questions you need to answer when deciding whether a freelance graphic design career is the right path for you. But as you make your decision, keep in mind that about a freelance career;

You will have more freedom to do things your way and more flexibility, but you will also have more responsibilities.
You will get to choose your own clients, but that also means you will learn how to manage who you work for.
You will have more time for the things you want to do, or it could consume most of your effective time more than a full-time job.

Learn the Required Skills

Just like every other freelance job that requires a particular skill, graphic design is no exception. You can either go to school and get a formal education design, or you can do your own self-study by utilizing the internet – self-taught designer.

That means you choose to acquire the skills that really depend on your lifestyle and how much time and resources you have.

Going to the university to acquire the skill is a fantastic starting place if you have the time and finances. There are so many great colleges that offer certificates or associate degrees, or you can opt for an online college.

If you don’t have adequate finances or you don’t have enough time to devote to the traditional school learning system, you should consider the option of learning it on your own.

With the wealth of information available at your fingertips, it is now easier than ever to learn everything you need to know about graphic design on platforms like YouTube or Google. You can start an online course on different platforms. A good way to start with is understanding what freelancing is and platforms you can earn money from. I created a course for that purpose, FREELANCING BLUEPRINT(https://creativedohl.sch.ng/courses/freelancing-blueprint-the-complete-guide-to-start-grow-a-profitable-side-business/). There is also a wealth of courses on designs you can choose on platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, Lynda, and many others.

There are various skills you can learn depending on having a general overview of the design fundamentals. You can start out by defining the one area of focus that you want to concentrate on in the design field. It could be the area of brand identity design (logo design, business card design), or marketing materials (brochure design, leaflets design), or simple website design (WordPress design), etc. Learn everything you can about your area of concentrated study.

Start Building a Portfolio

A portfolio is every freelance graphic designer’s greatest opportunity in getting more clients. It is one of the most crucial assets of a designer. A good portfolio represents a designer’s experience, passion, and skills, it’s a showpiece to sell your work to potential clients. Even unpaid projects that you have a personal connection to can be part of your portfolio.

Be selective when choosing your works to be used as your portfolio. Only include projects and examples that are the best works you did or you to do.

Using a good profile for your social media presence is another must. It’s the perfect way to supplement and promote your online portfolio and reach out to a wider audience. There are several platforms that offer the equivalent of a portfolio with added social features, like Behance or Dribbble. Having an account and your projects with these websites, it’s a good tool to use in getting feedback on your work, networking with other designers, and connecting with clients.

Start Working From Anywhere As A Graphic Designer

There are many freelancing sites you can use in starting out your graphic design career. Many years back, I started with Fiverr and Freelancer. But I will recommend having your own website set up so that you will have an outside web presence to show your potential clients during any design interview stage. A well-designed website brings you one step closer to gaining the trust of your potential client. It can also include your “Contact Me” “About Me” “Testimonials” pages.

Graphic design is a field that is ever-growing and there is no limit to how far you can go in your business! Therefore, if you are interested in becoming a freelance graphic designer, I urge you to take the first step and start exploring your own area of concentrated study.

To help you get started as a successful freelancer, check out this mini-course, FREELANCING BLUEPRINT(https://creativedohl.sch.ng/courses/freelancing-blueprint-the-complete-guide-to-start-grow-a-profitable-side-business/). I am absolutely sure you’ll find these resources helpful as you begin your freelancing career!

Simply put Verbal Identity as a brand’s
Language. It is the term in which a brand describes itself, its products and services. The verbal identity of a brand covers the naming, tagline, tone of voice, communication strategy to the general public, mission and vision.

Compare to the visual identity of a brand in the traditional market, verbal identity has always been considered subordinates in strategy. This is due to the one-way directional method of conventional advertising (newspapers, magazines, radio, billboards, etc.)

The main purpose of a brand’s verbal identity is to make sure that the language being used in the brand’s various communication channels are positively executed to impact the values of the brand. These channels could be social media, search engines, public relations, website contents, direct marketing or more.

5 Processes of a Brand’s Verbal Identity You Should Know;

1. NAMING
A name is one of the most important things in building a brand. It is the part of differentiation processes that stand you or your brand out from others. In choosing a brand name, there are many factors needed to be put in place. A good example is choosing a name that is easy to pronounce and also do a critical search if such name appears appropriate across different cultures and language. A name should be relevant to the course.
It is important to do a legal name search for its availability, such as the Corporate Affairs Commission name reservation (check services.cac.gov.ng). You can also check the URL or domain name availability (you can try Whois.net) and social media availability.

2. TAGLINE
This is like a brief advertising slogan
associated with your brand. In creating a tagline for your brand, you should have the mindset of creating what people can always relate with and communicate to. A tagline is like your “drive”. For example “Just Do It” or “Finger-Lickin’ Good” or “The Happiest Place On Earth”.

A tagline should stand the test of time and not too long-not more than five words. A tagline is like a mantra that must communicate the brand’s promise to its audience.

3. THE MISSION & VISION
Vision is the brand’s goal or ideal towards which one aspires. It is where you see your brand going to. A mission is a set of tasks that fulfills that goal or journey.

Both the mission and the vision of an organization are vital directing goals of the organization. The vision statement focuses on tomorrow and what we want to achieve while the mission statement focuses on today and what we do to achieve it.

4. THE BRAND’S TONE OF VOICE
This is the usual language a brand use to communicate to its audience. It the personality of a brand as expressed through written words. It governs what a particular brand says through contents in any medium, over the years.
Various brands portray various tones- Playful, Cheerful, Outlawed, Care Giver, Aggressive, Comical.

For example; Harley Davidson (an American motorcycle manufacturing company) shows how an Outlawed-Aggressive tone can be applied to the kind of hard-edged, ultra-rugged brand and its kind of customers.

5. WRITTEN CONTENT STRATEGY
This is the overall strategy in communicating with your audience. It is the planning, development, and management of written content (in this context). Content is one of the most powerful digital strategies for brand visibility and communications. It includes communicating the brand’s goals and the means to reach out to the audience. It includes the use of blog posts, case studies, eBooks, white paper, checklists, social media posts, etc.
[url]https://creativedohl.com/what-is-a-brands-verbal-identity/
[/url]
Damilare H. Oyekanmi
Creative Designer, Content Writer and Brand Strategist @ [url]creativedohl.com[/url]

Simply put Verbal Identity as a brand’s
Language. It is the term in which a brand describes itself, its products and services. The verbal identity of a brand covers the naming, tagline, tone of voice, communication strategy to the general public, mission and vision.

Compare to the visual identity of a brand in the traditional market, verbal identity has always been considered subordinates in strategy. This is due to the one-way directional method of conventional advertising (newspapers, magazines, radio, billboards, etc.)

The main purpose of a brand’s verbal identity is to make sure that the language being used in the brand’s various communication channels are positively executed to impact the values of the brand. These channels could be social media, search engines, public relations, website contents, direct marketing or more.

5 Processes of a Brand’s Verbal Identity You Should Know;

1. NAMING
A name is one of the most important things in building a brand. It is the part of differentiation processes that stand you or your brand out from others. In choosing a brand name, there are many factors needed to be put in place. A good example is choosing a name that is easy to pronounce and also do a critical search if such name appears appropriate across different cultures and language. A name should be relevant to the course.
It is important to do a legal name search for its availability, such as the Corporate Affairs Commission name reservation (check services.cac.gov.ng). You can also check the URL or domain name availability (you can try Whois.net) and social media availability.

2. TAGLINE
This is like a brief advertising slogan
associated with your brand. In creating a tagline for your brand, you should have the mindset of creating what people can always relate with and communicate to. A tagline is like your “drive”. For example “Just Do It” or “Finger-Lickin’ Good” or “The Happiest Place On Earth”.

A tagline should stand the test of time and not too long-not more than five words. A tagline is like a mantra that must communicate the brand’s promise to its audience.

3. THE MISSION & VISION
Vision is the brand’s goal or ideal towards which one aspires. It is where you see your brand going to. A mission is a set of tasks that fulfills that goal or journey.

Both the mission and the vision of an organization are vital directing goals of the organization. The vision statement focuses on tomorrow and what we want to achieve while the mission statement focuses on today and what we do to achieve it.

4. THE BRAND’S TONE OF VOICE
This is the usual language a brand use to communicate to its audience. It the personality of a brand as expressed through written words. It governs what a particular brand says through contents in any medium, over the years.
Various brands portray various tones- Playful, Cheerful, Outlawed, Care Giver, Aggressive, Comical.

For example; Harley Davidson (an American motorcycle manufacturing company) shows how an Outlawed-Aggressive tone can be applied to the kind of hard-edged, ultra-rugged brand and its kind of customers.

5. WRITTEN CONTENT STRATEGY
This is the overall strategy in communicating with your audience. It is the planning, development, and management of written content (in this context). Content is one of the most powerful digital strategies for brand visibility and communications. It includes communicating the brand’s goals and the means to reach out to the audience. It includes the use of blog posts, case studies, eBooks, white paper, checklists, social media posts, etc.
https://creativedohl.com/what-is-a-brands-verbal-identity/

Damilare H. Oyekanmi
Creative Designer, Content Writer and Brand Strategist @ creativedohl.com

Book cover, either hard copy or digital use, should make you want to pick the book up or make a purchase. This is because of its attractiveness compels its effectiveness. Its main job is to make people move their attention towards your book and then the contents make them want to buy your book or click links for the digital.

Couple of researches have shown that a book’s cover is more important to online customers than those browsing shelves or library in a bookshop. Think about this; when you visit Amazon or Kindle store, aside the author or title, what is the first thing that made you want to pause and read the content on the book?

This is because book shoppers, mostly online shoppers, often buy on the strength of the cover layout or outlook, the catchy title, the author and many times due to recommendations. But always know that many secrets to books being recommended are due to great contents which are seen after its cover drew the attention.

This is because PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
The topic of a book sells, but the cover compels. Personally, I have purchased so many eBooks online just because of the promising topics and uniqueness in the cover. It’s so disappointing that the contents I find in the book is different from what I had in mind. Now the funniest part is that this does not stop me from buying another, since I am so compelled with the catchy cover and promising topic.

In designing your own book cover, always give your designer the chance to try things out. It’s very ok if you have enough options or ideas you will like to see, but it is very advisable to let the designer come up with his/her creative expertise. You can also show your designer samples of books or images you love, but after he/she has come up with his/her ideas.

To sell more books with great cover design, here are 5 things you should know:


1. The cover should communicate the genre of the book’s content
The genre or the mood of the book for any category, needs to be seen with the help of your book cover. By looking at the layout, imagery, colour & font preference of a book’s front cover, one should be able to tell what category it belongs. There are different colour emotions based on various purposes.

For example, it will be very confusing using a “pinky” palette on the cover of a book that talks “horror” or “sci-fiction” rather than romance.

2. The design imagery should interpret the content
Imagery matters in cover designs. There is this message a particular image can pass that will touch the heart and feelings of a book’s potential readers. It’s not a must to use images that directly interpret the exact contents in the book or the topics.

For example, there are some natural images that give this sense of feeling of hope and they make you feel expectant in what to come from the book. You can check out free stock image websites such as; Pixabay, Pexels – for several illustrations.

Now note this: if you are just starting a career as a writer and yet to build your personal brand to enough influence or credibility, or if you are not “well-known” in your niche, you necessarily don’t need to put your personal picture on the front cover of your book.

3. Research enough Ideas for your cover
One of the most important aspect of your book is that the cover outlook can connect with the target market. This means with the help of your catchy headline and attractive cover, people are able to buy your content.

Therefore, you need to first garner inspiration for what to expect by looking at similar books in the same genre with yours. With enough research you will get enough ideas on what to create or how to explain it to your book designer.

For example, before I start any book cover design project, I first look at bestselling books of the same category or genre. This gives me standard idea on what to come up with for a design.

4. Know your Typography & keep it simple
There are thousands of fonts, which make it a little bit confusing on what exact kind to use on the book cover. But note that there are different fonts for various reasons, as the class of font you use matters.

For example, simple Sans serif, Script and Serif fonts relate well with Love & Romance genre. They are mostly used as the book title or sub-title. But avoid some unprofessional fonts such as; Comic sans, Jokerman, Blackoak Std, Papyrus or any other typeface mostly found in memes.

Always remember that simplicity is key. Keep the number of fonts used in a cover at minimal. At most 3 fonts. Keeping a design simple create this professional outlook.

5. Test your cover design before final draft
Always create room for options. You can create 2 different set of cover for the same book. Then test them among friends or potential market. You can even run a Facebook Ad to see if cover design A has more preference than cover design B.

Also know that this is another form of advertising your book for pre-sales.
https://creativedohl.com/how-to-sell-more-books-with-great-cover-design-5-things-you-should-know/

Damilare H. Oyekanmi (Creative Designer, Content Writer & Brand Consultant @ [url]creativedohl.com[/url])

Imagine your brand logo is the same or similar to another brand !

Many Nigerian brand lack the knowledge of brand identities and relevance. We are used to a system that walks the same path another successful brand trail.

It's no new thing to "copy n paste" a brand we see as competitors. But I speak against plagiarism.

Brand identity is beyond images or visual of a brand. It's the message the consumer receives from the product or person.
Brand Identity is meant to connect brand or product recognition. And speaking of Recognition, imagine trying to tell the difference between Polaris Bank icon and Sparks'.

The branding of a business is not just other's perspective but also the marketing practice of actively shaping a distinctive brand. This include the creativity and relentlessness in building a reputable and communicable identity. This also is the collection of all brand elements that the company creates to portray the right image of itself to the consumer. Your personal or product brand is a life. You can't recreate or modify what has already been created. So copying one is "sinful".

Your logo matters, your consistency in typography matters, your Colour palette matters, the forms or shapes you use matter, your product packaging matters, and your brand style guide matters.

"All of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You"
– Tom Peters

"Branding demands commitment; commitment to continual re-invention; striking chords with people to stir their emotions; and commitment to imagination. It is easy to be cynical about such things, much harder to be successful.”
– Sir Richard Branson

Damilare H. Oyekanmi (Creative Designer, Content Writer and Branding consultant @ [url]creativedohl.com[/url])

1. Sort Out the Practicalities First:
Before you start designing your flyer, you need to think about some practical issues. Yes, this may be dull, but it’s important!
One thing to consider is the format of your flyer—do you want it in hard copy (print) or soft copy (digital e-flyer) format? This is most times determined by your budget.
Electronic flyers are a great choice for quickly and conveniently circulating your flyers via social media or and other digital platforms.
Another thing very important is the size you want the final draft of the flyer to be.

2. Make Typeface the Focus of Your Flyer :
Google ‘flyer designs’ and you’ll almost certainly have a visual heart attack. So many colors, pictures, and ‘look-at-me!’ designs. Flyers are designed to grab your attention, and they all share common features for doing just that. That’s not to say that you should compromise on the quality of the design for the sake of simply catching someone’s eye.
One way of keeping the design classy and eye-catching is to make typography the primary focus of the design. This is where you pass the core message of the flyer design. A well-chosen typeface, set at large size and in a contrasting color won’t fail to catch someone’s eye.

3. Color is Highly Important :
Color is going to be a hugely important part of your flyer design. The right color combination will set the scene for your event, and give your flyer a strong sense of atmosphere. Never forget that there are several colors for different purposes.
Using a set of eye-catching neon styles adds an ultra-cool, atmospheric touch to flyer designs. Don’t shy away from using muted colors on your flyers too. Complementary, vintage-inspired swatches can look friendly, calming and stylish.

4. Background Images Make Designs Look Cooler:
Flat designs can look great but if you want to give your flyer that extra cool factor, you need to think about injecting a bit of grunge into your design. Using images and texture effects in your layouts is a great way to do this. By choosing the right images that go along with the theme of the design, interpretation becomes clear and easy to relate with.

5. Keep It Simply Stupid (KISS) :
Above all being said, keep every design simple. When you check flyer designs from big brands like UBA or Apple, the relating factor is the message being passed across with simplicity. It always advisable to use the number of fonts and colors at the maximum of 3.

This post is contributed by Grace Fussel (Graphic designer and Design writer)

Damilare H. Oyekanmi (Creative Designer, Content Writer and Branding consultant @ [url]creativedohl.com[/url])

Based on statistics, word-of-mouth recommendation is the leading reason why customers buy a product or service. It's the secret "selling point" to most businesses. This is because you are tend to feel comfortable with a product or service that a friend once had experience with. So in building your brand, always know that what other say, in your absence, about you or your brand matters the most in defining an influential personal brand.

So how do you become a brand that word-of-mouth recommendations will always be in favour?

1. Know your brand and competitors:
So many people get into business not because they know much about it but because they know it sells very well. You need to know the A-Z of your brand and most importantly, know your competitors. How do they operate? What are they doing differently? How can you penetrate the market at where they got it wrong?

2. Articulate Your Brand Story:
This story determines how you want your brand to be talked about and recommended. This include your visual and verbal strategy, brand personality and tone of voice, core values and so on. This is what people know you for, and that's what they share to others about you.

3. Identify and Engage your Influencers:
you need to discover the people whose recommendations influence purchase decisions. The goal of these engagements—online or offline—is to tell your brand’s Shareable Story and find ways of working together. Remember, you’re not pitching these individuals; you’re seeking to build a sustainable relationship with critically important influencers. Regardless of your company, product, or brand, there are influencers who can take your recommendation marketing to the next level—but not if you never identify them, engage them and offer them something they will always talk about.

4. Take up any Project like its your last :
I always tell people to go any length in offering quality services even if its for free. Apologies for using this sentence "try not to Bleep up". This is like building a reputation. Put every work to heart as you offer a lasting service that will always compel your customers to share the experience. This is vital. It is as important as the relationship you create with a customer in clearing their doubt, solving their problems and giving them a memorable moment with your brand.
Example, I go any length to search out links or materials for anyone who needs answers in bordering issue that I can be of help.
This do not necessarily need me to ask for the customer to drop recommendations, but they feel so indebted if they don't let another know about how you helped them.

The good news is that once people start recommending and experience some success, they may actually move up to inviting others to share same experience.

Which happens most often to you? Do you go to see a new movie with someone who invites you, or because someone you trust recommended you see it? Think of the movie "Acrimony".

"Recommendation is the easiest, lightest form of evangelism" - Anonymous

Damilare H. Oyekanmi (Creative Designer, Content Writer & Branding Consultant @ creativedohl.com )

There have been many discussion on which Nigerian freelance graphic designer or agency is the best to hire. I’m not surprise that so many so-called “best” have disappointed a few clients and these has created the mindset that most Nigerian graphic designers are not competent enough. But let me make it clear that this is a fallacy. Among the few, I've seen great designers who beginners can always learn from. It’s no surprise that the national carrier logo, Nigeria Air, was designed by a creative agency in Bahrain, regardless of the number of creative brains in the country.



Fact is that there are thousands of talented-creative minds who can be your ideal graphic designer but still needs to work towards their visibility so as to let the world see their craft.
Before you hire, please know that you are not really hiring a designer to do your “graphic” but rather, to listen to your needs and to build relationship to help your business growth, because your brand identity will determine your customer’s perception towards you or your business.

You first need to understand the importance for a logo or brand identity to your company or business. This is crucial because choosing the wrong person will greatly affect the success of your business. Also note that getting the best graphic designer to implement what you have in your head is very critical.

Even when you use professional medium like Fiverr or Upwork to hire a freelance designer or see enough convincing portfolios from various designers on Behance or Dribbble, you may still not get the 100% of result of what you envision for your brand. And at the end of the day, choosing the best graphic designer will be determined by you.

“Design is more than just a few trick to the eye. It’s a few trick to the brain”-Neville Brody

Now to hire the best graphic designer in Nigeria or even any part of the world, here are the 5 things you should know;

1. Set your Design Budget and Time Frame

Many professional designers work based on their client’s budget. This will highly determine the time and energy spent in researching and design thinking. Having a design budget before the ideal graphic designer quotes a price is a good way to determine the result of your work. This will give an expectation of what to come and value it entails of truly being the “best graphic designer in Nigeria (or other part of the world)” you can hire for your project.

“Hiring a cheap designer will cost you more. Hiring an expert will save you time and money”- Anonymous

It is a very wrong idea to rush the completion of a design project. Most brand agencies in Nigeria takes months to formulate an effective brand identity. Even many professional freelance graphic designers take minimum of 2 weeks before making conclusion on the final draft for a logo design. Reason is because logos are like human being. They have soul and identity to protect. A good logo design can’t be rushed because proper research and design thinking from both the designer (or agency) and the brand, has to be conducted before coming up with conclusions.



2. Distinguish among the Types of Designers you want to hire

Graphic design is a very broad term. It’s beyond designing a logo with all the clipart you find downloadable. When someone says ‘I am a designer’, it’s not actually clear what they really do.

Understanding the different creative positions will determine your hiring the right designer for your work. This is because, in the field of Visual art, graphic design is a general term used to describe several creative services in creating images for specific purposes. Graphic designers can work in print media or digital media or agencies. There are therefore various expertise in graphic design;

Logo designers
Web designers
Book designers
Marketing materials or Packaging designers
Brand Identity experts or strategists
UI/UX designers
Motion designers
3D Graphic designers


3. Check the Designer’s Personal Brand

Before you hire a graphic designer which you seems is best for your project, it’s advisable and cost nothing to Google search his name out. Aside his design portfolio, check his social proof and online contents. What are the things he posts about? How has his work or words be influential? What are people saying about his brand? Who are those in his circle? This is expedient because getting the best out of a graphic designer will determine building relationship with the kind of like-minds. You really need to do your home-work in looking out for the right designer to build your brand identity.

Personally, I always find it fun and easy to work with someone who has gone through the stress of searching “Damilare H. Oyekanmi” (http://creativedohl.com/about-me/) or “Creative DOHL Design”(http://creativedohl.com/) before sending me a mail.



4. Check the Designer’s Portfolio

Every design has a naturally style of fitting to your brand personality. Whether he’s good with the skill-set or not, sometimes, may not be fitting to your own style. Reviewing a designer’s online and offline portfolio is one of the best way to hire the best graphic designer in Nigeria or any other parts of the world.

Experience matters, and every creative expert should have an offline portfolio (e-books or pdfs, slides, file images) or online portfolio (links, websites). Check out past work to see the natural style that suits your taste. I have seen several designers who do only iconic logos and nothing else. That is their own style and they have built a brand over it for years. If you are hiring a web designer, request for links of the websites he has worked on. If possible, send mail to the owner of the brand to make enquiry about their personal experience with the designer. Check their designs on their social media handles and possibly people’s comments on the designers.

6. Based on Recommendations & their Communications

A designer who is ready to communicate your ideas, talk well in understanding your brief, talk to you on understanding your brand tone of voice, explain/lecture you on what it really entails to build a brand identity, is a designer who is transparent in communication and a good one to have a deal with. You maybe OK with not needing to talk on the phone to discuss the design project or you maybe OK with reading messages on the design progress and feedbacks. This is up to you determine which designer suits your time and resources. That is why it is required of you to ask as many question as possible till you get every details of him. There is also nothing wrong in letting him/her know what level or kind of communication suits you.

Based on recommendations, it’s not irony by saying “everyone is an expert in their field”. But you can only trust a graphic designer who is being recommended by a friend. Recommendations are valuable, if you know anyone who has a good logo designed, ask them for the name, details and work ethics of the designer. This gives you that feeling of sense of trust towards who you are working with.

Damilare H. Oyekanmi (Creative designer, Content writer & Branding expert)

Let’s face the fact; Whether you have a Business or not, YOU ARE A BRAND. If you have an image, value, mission or vision, you are a brand. After my research on what the word “brand” really is, I came to realize that you can only have either a Personal Brand or a Product Brand. This post is more of the formal.

Personal brand can be as little or crazy as that everyday one word or picture you put online. That is, our online presence and activities has emotional messages of dictating who we really are and what exactly we do. I can tell what you do just by checking your timeline, about, place of work, profile pictures, the groups and pages you added, your likes, the kind of meme your friends tag you with. A good example is a client from India, who was never my Facebook friend, but sent a message to help him with Branding his startup (Harini Advertising), after reading a post of how I helped a company in Bangladesh.
I may not have a website or any “online base” as of the time he needed my service, but he studied my social media activities.

Personal brand is your LOGO
Personal Brand is your identity. A representative of you or your business or generations.

1. This has to do with the emotional message in your colour preference. For example, BLACK represents Authority, Power, Boldness, Elegance etc. RED represents Passion, Love, Anger, Life, Health etc. BLUE represents Professionalism, Trust, Loyalty, Tech etc. BROWN represents Reliability, Earth, Masculinity etc. PINK represents Femininity, Youthful, Beauty, etc. Among others.

2. This has to do with your choice of fonts. For example, Helvetica (the most used font in the world) can be used for almost any niche or business. Trajan can be used in movie theaters or posters, religious, law, marriage, class etc. Garamond (2nd most used fonts in the world) can be used for timeless logos, magazines, websites and long body text etc. Futura can be used for large display, corporate, books, small text etc. Among millions.

3. What message exactly is your logo passing? If people see your design brand identity, what are they thinking of or what are they looking at? For example, McDonald logo represents Breastfeeding. Nike logo represents the wing of a Roman God of strength called Nike. Coca-Cola is a script typeface that represents the Norwegian flag. Among others.

4. This is also your profile picture, social media pictures and covers. And caption attached to them.

5. The Content you share on the media, the values you offer, your goals and aims, your zeal, reputation, perception, mission and vision are all products of your personal brand.
http://creativedohl.com/you-are-a-brand/

Damilare H. Oyekanmi (Creative designer, Content writer and Branding consultant @ [url]creativedohl.com[/url])

Let’s face the fact; Whether you have a Business or not, YOU ARE A BRAND. If you have an image, value, mission or vision, you are a brand. After my research on what the word “brand” really is, I came to realize that you can only have either a Personal Brand or a Product Brand. This post is more of the formal.

Personal brand can be as little or crazy as that everyday one word or picture you put online. That is, our online presence and activities has emotional messages of dictating who we really are and what exactly we do. I can tell what you do just by checking your timeline, about, place of work, profile pictures, the groups and pages you added, your likes, the kind of meme your friends tag you with. A good example is a client from India, who was never my Facebook friend, but sent a message to help him with Branding his startup (Harini Advertising), after reading a post of how I helped a company in Bangladesh.
I may not have a website or any “online base” as of the time he needed my service, but he studied my social media activities.

Personal brand is your LOGO
Personal Brand is your identity. A representative of you or your business or generations.

1. This has to do with the emotional message in your colour preference. For example, BLACK represents Authority, Power, Boldness, Elegance etc. RED represents Passion, Love, Anger, Life, Health etc. BLUE represents Professionalism, Trust, Loyalty, Tech etc. BROWN represents Reliability, Earth, Masculinity etc. PINK represents Femininity, Youthful, Beauty, etc. Among others.

2. This has to do with your choice of fonts. For example, Helvetica (the most used font in the world) can be used for almost any niche or business. Trajan can be used in movie theaters or posters, religious, law, marriage, class etc. Garamond (2nd most used fonts in the world) can be used for timeless logos, magazines, websites and long body text etc. Futura can be used for large display, corporate, books, small text etc. Among millions.

3. What message exactly is your logo passing? If people see your design brand identity, what are they thinking of or what are they looking at? For example, McDonald logo represents Breastfeeding. Nike logo represents the wing of a Roman God of strength called Nike. Coca-Cola is a script typeface that represents the Norwegian flag. Among others.

4. This is also your profile picture, social media pictures and covers. And caption attached to them.

5. The Content you share on the media, the values you offer, your goals and aims, your zeal, reputation, perception, mission and vision are all products of your personal brand.
http://creativedohl.com/you-are-a-brand/

Damilare H. Oyekanmi (Creative designer, Content writer and Branding consultant @ [url]creativedohl.com[/url])

It has always been a belief that before you start a business you must have a budget or certain amount of money, or before venture into any kind of business there must be a fixed amount of capital that is required. But let me break it to you that this belief only limit the mind and strength to acting on even starting your dreams. I have read so many blog posts that advise one to save from salary and then use their savings on investment or spend all on starting their “dream” business. It’s very true to have a planned budget to get a business alive, but not meeting up with such budget doesn’t mean you don’t have any options. There is always an alternative to everything if only we look at it from a different angle.

Having a mindset of needing money as your only hope to venturing into a business can be a limitation to not starting at all. The most important thing in building a business is the mindset. When the mind is positioned in a direction of success without limitations, there will always be alternatives to getting things done and achieving desired results. Therefore, you need to constantly feed your mind with the right materials, words and follow the right people.

In some sense, maybe you already have the needed capital in the form of human resources, equity, assets, gadgets, ideas, the family and friends around you. But you’re just lighting them on fire by not using them. You’re wasting resources by not giving attention to details and utilizing the available options. Instead of using the capital you do have, you’re waiting for paper money to come rescue you from inaction. Sorry to break it to you that the only action you’ll take once receiving the paper money you are waiting for, is to light it on fire.

“You don’t need money to start, you need a new strategy”- Dan Lok

When I wanted to start Creative DOHL Design in 2015, I knew there were need for getting the right training, materials or gadgets to start as a designer. But I positioned my mind to the state of no excuses and looking out for alternatives to the resources I needed. For example; I had no laptop, but I sketched the whole Adobe Photoshop interface on a piece of paper, and that was what I used in training myself for the practical aspect of designing with the software. I also utilized my broken-screen phone to learn all the basics about personal and product branding and connect with mentors and expert in my niche via social media.

Here are 10 Things You Should Know Before Starting a Business Without Money
1. BE SKILLFUL IN YOUR PASSION

It is possible to start a business with very little or no money, if you are hard working in getting skillful in whatever you love doing. When you have the right combination of skills, work ethic and marketing know-how, you become reliable for value. Constantly build on your passions and garner as much experiences as you can. Instead of trying to start a business in a niche outside of your comfort zone or do a business because everyone is going into it, stick to something you are good at, something you naturally do for the fun of it. When you do things you love naturally or have passion for, your bottom line won’t lead to regrets of not making money at the early start of your business. Your bottom line will be adding value to lives and solving problems and at the same time being happy doing your passion and skillful in it.
According to Chris Guillebeau, author of the $100 Startup, “To succeed in a business project, especially one you’re excited about, it helps to think carefully about all the skills you have that could be helpful to others and particularly about the combination of those skills.”

2. ELIMINATE YOUR EXCUSES (EYE)

The majority of people who speak with me about starting a new business or organization always talk about needing capital to start, and as a result of this, they can’t start that business now. People always look for excuses why, what they have not even started, will not work. They always substitute their fears for excuses. They give excuses like; “if I have X amount, I will start”, “I am scared of losing or making mistakes”, “what will people say”, “I don’t have the necessary tools or gadgets to start”, “I like to serve or be someone underling than taking the risk”, “I don’t think this the right time”. There’re always new excuses to new moves. Excuses used to accompany their plans.

The one thing I always tell myself is “No Excuse is Good Enough”. Reason being that there is always another option to everything you use as excuses, because the more you give excuses the more you lose money. There’s always a way if only you try harder and look at it from a different angle. There is always an alternative and human or capital resources you can start with. Just burn your excuses and start acting.

A friend of mine once told me; “I had to burn my excuses and eat my guts, write my first proposal, send to various companies, show up several times for failures, and within 8 months, I became a millionaire”.

3. KNOWLEDGE IS THE MONEY YOU NEED

The mindset towards having money before being successful in business is irrelevant, especially early on in the game. Money won’t solve your problems, but knowledge will. No matter how rich you are to start a business, if you don’t have a standard knowledge of what to do, you will lose your riches to your competitors, costs and to someone with knowledge. This is because the lack of knowledge in execution will have you putting your money towards the wrong things.
When I had ideas of what exactly I wanted to do with my life, I diligently worked towards getting standard knowledge of my niche. I had to spend every dime on investing on myself with trainings, seminars, courses, and feeding my mind with books. I had to do intensive study of my industry. I had to connect with the right people and expert. I worked towards unlearning, learning and relearning before earnings.

4. TIME IS TRULY MONEY

This is a cliché but the truth should be emphasized. Always make sure you’re not lighting your time on fire. Every second counts. Every word and action you put in every moment matters. Make sure every moment is accounted for, because in it lies the funds to your future, and the life that comes with it. The same saying that goes for “spend your money wisely” is the same as “spend your time wisely”. Therefore, time is money. This is reason why I always recommend one to have a Time Management skill.

5. GET A MENTOR

Being mentored by someone save you costs and time in getting things done. A mentor is someone who has gone through the course of what you are about to step into. It’s not necessarily someone older than you, but someone with enough experience in doing what you have not started yet or about to venture in. I have mentors for everything I want to go into. I have people who are experienced in various sectors I find interest in. These persons give me every little details of what I need to know and avoid. This is a short cut to succeeding in whatever niche you to do.

6. DON’T RESIGN YET

It’s very difficult to still be in the 9-5 job and run your own business. But this is the time for you to stretch your capacity and go extra mile. Starting a business from the level zero can be very risky. Starting a business with no little funds to pay bills can be riskier.
When I was starting my business, I needed an upgrade in my skills, I needed to keep up with the trend of how my niche works. But most importantly, I needed a “platform” that will support my bills and give me experience. This made me work harder and restlessly growing my business, as the 9-5 job pay the bills. Immediately my business started to generate revenue, I started thinking about transitioning out of the job.

7. DO IT YOURSELF (DIY)
Many start-up businesses make the mistakes of drawing plans for the number of employees to have before launching the business. Before thinking of getting staff or assistance, you really need to do all the work yourself. You really need to be 100 percent totally involved in that which you started.
“Starting a business with no money” really means that you have to learn to do things that you would normally delegate to an employee. Do everything yourself before outsourcing or getting help for a fee.
You can design a logo for yourself with the help of online tools like Canva, rather than paying a graphic designer to get it done for you. You can manage your social media handles yourself and respond to clientèle rather than getting a virtual assistant or social media expert.
I agree that it’s very exhausting trying to do all the work yourself, but it will save you some bucks and put money back into your business.

8. OFFER A SERVICE.
If it takes 10000 naira to get a product for resell, it may take 1000 naira to offer a service for a fee. You can start several businesses offering valuable in form of services with zero amount. A good example is to leverage on freelance platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, Guru etc. You really don’t need a dime to start, except for phone and a good Internet connection. Even when you plan selling products in the future, offering services can be a good start to rake in money into your business with almost no cost. Offering service can also make you a top notch in your field and finance any other business you planning doing.

9. THERE ARE ANSWERS IN QUESTIONS
When you start asking the right questions to the right people and to yourself, the right answers start coming out. Ask empowering questions that will give you a motivating push to meet and connect with the right people for better results.
Empowering questions like;

What exactly do I need to offer for zero cost?
What problem can I solve for a fee?
What are the alternatives to getting my ideas come to fruition?
Who can I connect with that will fund my business?
What exactly do I find myself doing for fun?
Where do I see my business to be in the next 5-10 years?
When I had no laptop which of course I really needed one, I asked myself “what alternatives can I utilize for getting a laptop?” This question birthed my realization to using a pen and book to learn graphic design and utilizing my phone to study about branding and businesses.
There are answers in asking questions. Just start asking empowering questions.

10. LEVERAGE ON THE INTERNET

Our current generation is so much blessed with the Internet. Most things online are free. You can learn and know anything you really want to by making Google your friend. You can apply for free online courses on platforms like Alison, Udemy, Push CV academy, Lynda, Shaw Academy, edx, Teachable, Hubspot and so many.
You can use the social media to follow and connect with expert in your niche. You can read blog posts of what exactly you want to do or venture into. You can set-up a blog and share valuable content and advertise your brand. You can watch videos on YouTube.
http://creativedohl.com/why-you-dont-need-money-to-start-a-business/

Damilare H. Oyekanmi (Creative designer, Content writer and Branding consultant @ [url]creativedohl.com[/url]

It has always been a belief that before you start a business you must have a budget or certain amount of money, or before venture into any kind of business there must be a fixed amount of capital that is required. But let me break it to you that this belief only limit the mind and strength to acting on even starting your dreams. I have read so many blog posts that advise one to save from salary and then use their savings on investment or spend all on starting their “dream” business. It’s very true to have a planned budget to get a business alive, but not meeting up with such budget doesn’t mean you don’t have any options. There is always an alternative to everything if only we look at it from a different angle.

Having a mindset of needing money as your only hope to venturing into a business can be a limitation to not starting at all. The most important thing in building a business is the mindset. When the mind is positioned in a direction of success without limitations, there will always be alternatives to getting things done and achieving desired results. Therefore, you need to constantly feed your mind with the right materials, words and follow the right people.

In some sense, maybe you already have the needed capital in the form of human resources, equity, assets, gadgets, ideas, the family and friends around you. But you’re just lighting them on fire by not using them. You’re wasting resources by not giving attention to details and utilizing the available options. Instead of using the capital you do have, you’re waiting for paper money to come rescue you from inaction. Sorry to break it to you that the only action you’ll take once receiving the paper money you are waiting for, is to light it on fire.

“You don’t need money to start, you need a new strategy”- Dan Lok

When I wanted to start Creative DOHL Design in 2015, I knew there were need for getting the right training, materials or gadgets to start as a designer. But I positioned my mind to the state of no excuses and looking out for alternatives to the resources I needed. For example; I had no laptop, but I sketched the whole Adobe Photoshop interface on a piece of paper, and that was what I used in training myself for the practical aspect of designing with the software. I also utilized my broken-screen phone to learn all the basics about personal and product branding and connect with mentors and expert in my niche via social media.

Here are 10 Things You Should Know Before Starting a Business Without Money
1. BE SKILLFUL IN YOUR PASSION

It is possible to start a business with very little or no money, if you are hard working in getting skillful in whatever you love doing. When you have the right combination of skills, work ethic and marketing know-how, you become reliable for value. Constantly build on your passions and garner as much experiences as you can. Instead of trying to start a business in a niche outside of your comfort zone or do a business because everyone is going into it, stick to something you are good at, something you naturally do for the fun of it. When you do things you love naturally or have passion for, your bottom line won’t lead to regrets of not making money at the early start of your business. Your bottom line will be adding value to lives and solving problems and at the same time being happy doing your passion and skillful in it.
According to Chris Guillebeau, author of the $100 Startup, “To succeed in a business project, especially one you’re excited about, it helps to think carefully about all the skills you have that could be helpful to others and particularly about the combination of those skills.”

2. ELIMINATE YOUR EXCUSES (EYE)

The majority of people who speak with me about starting a new business or organization always talk about needing capital to start, and as a result of this, they can’t start that business now. People always look for excuses why, what they have not even started, will not work. They always substitute their fears for excuses. They give excuses like; “if I have X amount, I will start”, “I am scared of losing or making mistakes”, “what will people say”, “I don’t have the necessary tools or gadgets to start”, “I like to serve or be someone underling than taking the risk”, “I don’t think this the right time”. There’re always new excuses to new moves. Excuses used to accompany their plans.

The one thing I always tell myself is “No Excuse is Good Enough”. Reason being that there is always another option to everything you use as excuses, because the more you give excuses the more you lose money. There’s always a way if only you try harder and look at it from a different angle. There is always an alternative and human or capital resources you can start with. Just burn your excuses and start acting.

A friend of mine once told me; “I had to burn my excuses and eat my guts, write my first proposal, send to various companies, show up several times for failures, and within 8 months, I became a millionaire”.

3. KNOWLEDGE IS THE MONEY YOU NEED

The mindset towards having money before being successful in business is irrelevant, especially early on in the game. Money won’t solve your problems, but knowledge will. No matter how rich you are to start a business, if you don’t have a standard knowledge of what to do, you will lose your riches to your competitors, costs and to someone with knowledge. This is because the lack of knowledge in execution will have you putting your money towards the wrong things.
When I had ideas of what exactly I wanted to do with my life, I diligently worked towards getting standard knowledge of my niche. I had to spend every dime on investing on myself with trainings, seminars, courses, and feeding my mind with books. I had to do intensive study of my industry. I had to connect with the right people and expert. I worked towards unlearning, learning and relearning before earnings.

4. TIME IS TRULY MONEY

This is a cliché but the truth should be emphasized. Always make sure you’re not lighting your time on fire. Every second counts. Every word and action you put in every moment matters. Make sure every moment is accounted for, because in it lies the funds to your future, and the life that comes with it. The same saying that goes for “spend your money wisely” is the same as “spend your time wisely”. Therefore, time is money. This is reason why I always recommend one to have a Time Management skill.

5. GET A MENTOR

Being mentored by someone save you costs and time in getting things done. A mentor is someone who has gone through the course of what you are about to step into. It’s not necessarily someone older than you, but someone with enough experience in doing what you have not started yet or about to venture in. I have mentors for everything I want to go into. I have people who are experienced in various sectors I find interest in. These persons give me every little details of what I need to know and avoid. This is a short cut to succeeding in whatever niche you to do.

6. DON’T RESIGN YET

It’s very difficult to still be in the 9-5 job and run your own business. But this is the time for you to stretch your capacity and go extra mile. Starting a business from the level zero can be very risky. Starting a business with no little funds to pay bills can be riskier.
When I was starting my business, I needed an upgrade in my skills, I needed to keep up with the trend of how my niche works. But most importantly, I needed a “platform” that will support my bills and give me experience. This made me work harder and restlessly growing my business, as the 9-5 job pay the bills. Immediately my business started to generate revenue, I started thinking about transitioning out of the job.

7. DO IT YOURSELF (DIY)
Many start-up businesses make the mistakes of drawing plans for the number of employees to have before launching the business. Before thinking of getting staff or assistance, you really need to do all the work yourself. You really need to be 100 percent totally involved in that which you started.
“Starting a business with no money” really means that you have to learn to do things that you would normally delegate to an employee. Do everything yourself before outsourcing or getting help for a fee.
You can design a logo for yourself with the help of online tools like Canva, rather than paying a graphic designer to get it done for you. You can manage your social media handles yourself and respond to clientèle rather than getting a virtual assistant or social media expert.
I agree that it’s very exhausting trying to do all the work yourself, but it will save you some bucks and put money back into your business.

8. OFFER A SERVICE.
If it takes 10000 naira to get a product for resell, it may take 1000 naira to offer a service for a fee. You can start several businesses offering valuable in form of services with zero amount. A good example is to leverage on freelance platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, Guru etc. You really don’t need a dime to start, except for phone and a good Internet connection. Even when you plan selling products in the future, offering services can be a good start to rake in money into your business with almost no cost. Offering service can also make you a top notch in your field and finance any other business you planning doing.

9. THERE ARE ANSWERS IN QUESTIONS
When you start asking the right questions to the right people and to yourself, the right answers start coming out. Ask empowering questions that will give you a motivating push to meet and connect with the right people for better results.
Empowering questions like;

What exactly do I need to offer for zero cost?
What problem can I solve for a fee?
What are the alternatives to getting my ideas come to fruition?
Who can I connect with that will fund my business?
What exactly do I find myself doing for fun?
Where do I see my business to be in the next 5-10 years?
When I had no laptop which of course I really needed one, I asked myself “what alternatives can I utilize for getting a laptop?” This question birthed my realization to using a pen and book to learn graphic design and utilizing my phone to study about branding and businesses.
There are answers in asking questions. Just start asking empowering questions.

10. LEVERAGE ON THE INTERNET

Our current generation is so much blessed with the Internet. Most things online are free. You can learn and know anything you really want to by making Google your friend. You can apply for free online courses on platforms like Alison, Udemy, Push CV academy, Lynda, Shaw Academy, edx, Teachable, Hubspot and so many.
You can use the social media to follow and connect with expert in your niche. You can read blog posts of what exactly you want to do or venture into. You can set-up a blog and share valuable content and advertise your brand. You can watch videos on YouTube.
http://creativedohl.com/why-you-dont-need-money-to-start-a-business/

Damilare H. Oyekanmi (Creative designer, Content writer and Branding consultant @ [url]creativedohl.com[/url]

Every day I read about different thought leaders and study the once who have been very successful in their niche. I read about how their “followers” consume and share their contents. Their posts can be a word and it will be more meaningful in the sight of those who adore them.

Why are they successful in what they do and people so much respect them for who they are? What are they doing differently that a mere man can’t follow same trend and be successful? What’s their magic? Mr X (a diligent student trying to create the kind of life he has always wanted) can write a 1000 powerful-word posts with all zeal and fire, but no one will care to read. Mr Y (a well-respected leader in his niche) on the other hand, can write just a sentence and the whole group is “catching cold” with accolades and motivation.

But there’s one thing I was blind to see. One thing that makes the difference between the both individuals. I forgot to calculate and see every time and energy spent by Mr Y to reach that level of success. I didn’t see the years he spent with so many rejections. I forgot to see the sleepless nights he spent with voracious search for knowledge, researches and strategies to attain success. I forgot to truly affirm that the expert today was a novice who never gave up. The expert today was a novice who was mocked and reminded how immature he is. And that expert today is a brand.

Now I remember and can see the power. Now I understand the ‘magic’ behind making constant improvement and never ending steps towards growing. Now I understand how our belief system can shape our thought towards life, and make us see things from a different angle. As a result of this understanding, I created a simple mnemonic to shape my life and constantly raise my standards to a quality life I always want for myself; AMIWA (Always Making Improvement With Actions).

I believe that the level of success we experience in life is in direct proportion to the level of our commitment to AMIWA, to always make improvements by taking actions in our business. Always making improvement with actions in our personal development and relationships. Always making improvement with actions in our spiritual connections to our divine, and also in how we work towards living a healthy life and finance.

The true security and success in life comes from knowing that every single day you are improving yourself in some way by taking necessary steps to learn, grow and add value to people’s lives. This gives me a sense of certainty that I can always learn, that I can always grow, that I can always expand.

Always making improvement with actions (AMIWA) is a belief system that must be constantly practiced in every single moments and activities. It is gradual process. AMIWA means to discover problems in the making and handle them before they become crises. AMIWA means you don’t just maintain the standards on how you presently live your life, but you live to improve your everyday life. If every moment you constantly improve your ability to enjoy your life and take necessary steps, you will experience your life at a level of richness most people never even dream of.

“Small improvements are believable and therefore achievable” – Toni Robbins

No matter where you are or what you do, no matter what you start with and still look novice in it, never forget that always making improvements by taking everyday actions is a key to success. Don’t get stuck. Don’t give up yet. AMIWA works if you commit to it.
http://creativedohl.com/always-making-improvement-with-actions-amiwa/

Damilare H. Oyekanmi (Creative designer, Content Writer and Branding Consultant @ [url]creativedohl.com[/url])

DEAR PARENTS,
Stop comparing your kids' ability to their friends'or neighboring kids. I still wonder when this whole "can't you see your friend" or "the neighbors' kids are better than you" or "useless child" madness will stop. Why don't disown yours and adopt your neighbor's child instead? So many children have been affected by the negative words they have been listening to from their parents or families (their first social institution), right from their young age till adulthood. These words are sinked in, create havoc in one's lives and then passed down to their own kids too. Then we keep singing negative songs down to generations. Why can't parents see one thing their children do right? Why can't you praise him/her for atleast one good performance?
"Weldon, you did great" or "I am so happy to call you my son/daughter" or "No matter what you are the best" or "don't give up dear, I strongly believe in you", words like this have been so much difficult for parents to pour out to their own children. But rather they focus on the mistakes their kids make. They swift to blame, abuse or curse the little child for little mistakes. I faced alot of abuse, curses, blames from my own aunties. They called me all sort of names right from my teen age. They never believed in me, and all this affected my self-esteem. I can boldly say that I learnt nothing but abuse from my own aunties.
Parents listen up, if you don't know before, MISTAKES ARE GOOD & NORMAL, THEY BUILD A CHILD (will explain better in my next post). We must all understand that our children have emotional feelings too. The words you grow in their lives are like seeds which will one day grow into a tree. So why don't you plant the right words and appraisal?
"Parents too need coaching"- Damilare H. Oyekanmi

The first time I bought a sim card was in 2004 and it was # glo . The network so frustrated me that I couldn't just throw the sim away, I broke it into tiny pieces before discarding it.
Fast forward to 2011, I decided to give them a try again when they came to uniben for a show, nothing changed. In 2016, I gave them what obviously was the last try just to be patriotic and buy into the believe that there hyped ads are true, but they didn't fail to disappoint as it appears they have even gone worse.
Until now, over 80% of those I know that use the network are either frustrated with it or have moved over to another network.
Does it mean that the management is dumb enough not to notice the poor service of their network? is that they don't like money? Or does it have anything to do with "the Nigerian factor?".
I can't imagine a billionaire keeping quiet and playing dumb to the plight of his market.
The 21st century isn't about building fancy blocks and making a lot of noise with ads and celebrities that doesn't even use your product.
When you don't work, the people will walk. And they don't do that alone or in secret, they do so with their friends on social media.
I wouldn't be surprised if that network goes into oblivion soon.
And for you "advocate of the cross", before you dub people unpatriotic, you need to be sure that what you advocate for works. Nothing can be more frustrating than buying frustration with your money.
It is not just okay!

But seriously, why will Mike or whoever is priority, spend money in not improving their coverage but rather waste it on wealthy celebrities for the sake of "ambassador".
Dear GLO, get sense