Stop spending hours in trial-and-error trying to get the design to look right. You have better things to do!
It’s a long story (you can scroll down to read the extended version).
The short version is the Municipal Liaison's (ML) pinback button maker was broken. Without it the traditional button for the Midway Madness event would be missing.
Midway Madness and other events are the glue that hold my local NaNoWriMo region together. The designs on the materials provided ensure variety, grow and maintain attendance at events, and increase fundraising.
The buttons in particular help attendees celebrate how many words they wrote during the writing event. Without this button, tens of thousands of words would be left behind in laptops - their birthdays missed. Something had to be done!
I banded together with the ML and we created a button to celebrate the birth of those words!
I've gone on to help other geeky businesses and organizations have their customers come back again and again by: celebrating their own traditions, supporting a STEM camp for girls, and more! (details below!)
Here’s What I’ve Been Up to Recently
- I post weekly videos on my YouTube channel, where I share with you a behind-the-scenes peek into how I work and how I run my business.
- Pivoted from pinback buttons to marketing design so that we can achieve your goals quicker and more efficiently.
Let’s get on with the longer story!
But first, here are a few of the best posts at normalnotfound.com:
The First Thing You Need to Know Before Buying a Pinback Button Kit
Is It Illegal to Sell Fanart?
How to Ship Pinback Buttons
How to Make a Pinback Button
30 Days Without Social Media: How It Went
Pinback Button Equipment Guide
Normal Not Found Rebrand Case Study
NaNoWriMoTown Collaboration: NaNoWriMo 2014 Case Study
Making a Pinback Button: Brainstorming the Concept
Making a Pinback Button: How to Sketch a Design
A Tale of All the Things
Things did not go well that year. I was missing something vital in my strategy. I was focusing on whatever I wanted to make instead of what the market wanted. Even though my original work was enjoyed online, they were not as appreciated at conventions.
Geeky Collaborations
Celebrate Science & Support Girls in STEM with Craftypodes
NaNoWriMo Detroit Region 2014 Midway Madness Collaboration
The Day Job Shuffle and a Rebrand
There were other challenges though. The same year I started my business, my day job ended. It was an art and design school and they were letting people go in preparation for the closing. In four years, I've lost and gained a day job four times. This has provided significant challenges for my business.
During that constant shuffle of jobs, I also changed my business strategy. I used to work with everyone and anyone that wanted to come to me for custom buttons. I was also spreading my product offering too thin by offering pinback buttons and perler bead art.
The Rebrand of Normal Not Found
I rebranded and changed my focus to only work with geeky businesses and organizations. I changed my product offering as well. I make pinback buttons so that geeky businesses and organizations can grow and strengthen their communities.
Even though I felt like I was starting over. I needed to get my head back in the game. I did this by making content. I completed VEDA to have over 30 videos on YouTube. I have blog posts to go along with them so you have a transcript to read with the video.
Even though I felt like I was starting over. I needed to get my head back in the game. I did this by making content. I completed VEDA to have over 30 videos on YouTube. I have blog posts to go along with them so you have a transcript to read with the video.
Blog and Video Content Took Off
I showed behind-the scenes peeks at my morning routine, how I prep my week and how I make pinback buttons. I got into detail and share the design phase, printing, cutting and punching process of button making.
This content gives you a peek into my world for you to see more about my work and my life. I made new content for a couple months and then pivoted to something that would serve you better: teaching design and self-initiated projects.
Teaching the Craft and How to Use Them
Self-Initiated Pinback Button Projects
Self-initiated projects strengthen and hone my skills.
Here are pinback button case studies:
I'm inspired by the amazing geeky businesses and organizations I see around me. The timeless parts of the geeky community (the love of games, comics, books, art, science, fantasy, etc) are celebrated when we join forces! I take this inspiration to practice my skills at all times. I'm sharpening my skills every second I get. This ensure top quality work from me so that your customers come back!
The Pivot - From Pinback Button Products to Marketing Design Service
The more I talked with wondrous geeky businesses about using products for marketing, the more I realized I was holding both of us back by only focusing on making pinback buttons. This lead to my pivot from the pinback button product industry to marketing design.
With marketing design, I can better help your business and organization with the design you need - that's custom to your needs! Pinback buttons aren't the best marketing tool for everyone. (Read more about the pivot here.)
Here is Where You Come In
Marketing design is a tool to help you reach further than you can on your own and to fill holes in your marketing and outreach.
Without it, you're unable to focus on what really needs doing:
- Write that chapter that needs to be written
- Finish that art piece for your next show
- Catch up on inventory!
I want to hear from you!
What's your biggest struggle when it comes to marketing design - design for your marketing materials? Email me at toni@normalnotfound.com!