Just Imagine!

Imagine your lifestyle is magazine released quarterly by Reid Media offering everyday lifestyle, wealth and financial solutions and ‘down to earth advice from some of Australia’s leading financial advisors’. With distribution of over 40,000 copies to clients from Australia’s largest independent group of accountants and financial advisors, as well as an estimated 10,000 copies sold in selected News-agencies and distribution in Qantas lounges nationally, the wingspan of such a publication is notably large.

Imagine your lifestyle magazine– notice the strong visual identity?

Although No Grey is not directly linked with this financial sector, we are familiar with the work of Marguerite Picard, Dr Tina Sinclair and Tricia Peters (the dynamic group of women behind MCA– The Melbourne Collaborative Alliance).
When working on the graphic design package for MCA we became acutely aware of how unique their offerings were. Providing clients with a holistic, collaborative approach to divorce and separation, MCA’s one-stop-shop style is refreshingly simple and ‘court-free’. Clients are provided with financial help, legal advice and counselling in one round-table consultation– no lawyers, no fuss, no unnecessary stress or disputes. They are a unique group of individuals providing a services unavailable anywhere else Australia-wide.

So, when we were made aware of MCA’s recent feature in Imagine your lifestyle magazine, we couldn’t help but feel excited and extremely chuffed for the ladies’ success. The article itself is quite comprehensive, detailed and glowing of MCA, and we have been informed that a number of enquiries have already resulted from the feature.

Imagine your lifestyle magazine, Autumn/Winter 2012. Cover & MCA feature, page 1/2

Imagine your lifestyle magazine, Autumn/Winter 2012. MCA feature, page 2/2

Receiving exposure at this level is extremely exciting and potentially rewarding. Having said this, the extent of success is directly related to how prepared you are for such a break. Luckily for MCA we helped them develop a strong graphic design package with dynamic website and holistic identity before the circulation of the article. So, when readers ofImagine your lifestyle magazine log onto the advertised website, they are met with a professional page with concise and convincing graphics, which mirror the review.

A strong visual identity and graphic presence brings validity to a business. Gaining exposure (like this magazine feature) is just one step in the process. There is no point waiting around for your big break before considering branding and visual identity– because by then it is too late. Business and individuals need to be prepared, so that when your break finally comes you are backed up by a strong visual package– you have a functional website, logo, business cards and visual identity. It makes you look more professional to potential clients and will make them more likely to pursue any interest sparked from the magazine article or feature, online review or simply word-of-mouth referral.

So, once again, I have been reminded of the importance of investing in quality and extensive graphic design. Being a graphic design agency we deal with clients on a daily basis who are unconvinced that spending money on developing a functional website or creating a visual identity is superfluous to their business’ success. We are here to tell you that backing yourself up with a strong graphic design package will validate your business in the eyes of potential clients and gain their respect and confidence in your services. I know myself that I am more likely to pursue the service of a company if they have a professional looking website and at least appear to take some pride in their marketing.

In wrapping up this thought process I bring your attention back to MCA and the recent feature in Imagine your lifestyle magazine. We can sleep easy knowing that when people come to the end of the article, and log onto the website (www.melca.com.au) they will be met with a carefully designed and functional website– providing contact details and further information as to their unique services.

The Melbourne Collaborative Alliance website– designed by No Grey

The Melbourne Collaborative Alliance was prepared for this break, and they will revel in the success that comes as a result. Don’t cut yourself short of potential success– keep on top of things and be prepared because you never know, your big break may be just around the corner!

Read more about the Melbourne Collaborative Alliance website on the No Grey website.