We now have some of the best iphone app designers and developers in the world. With our work ethic, eye for design and their experience… There’s no reason you should go anywhere else… click here for a closer look.

Outside of the web world: What else do we have going on? Blake and I are racing in an offshore powerboat circuit where we’ve been sponsored by Global Boat Transportation company Peters & May. We’ve also had our first win in St Cloud… you can catch up on all our racing at www.grattonracing.com

For those of you who are not aware, we lost our father in a tragic boat racing accident in the November World Championships. Our Dad Joey Gratton was not only our father, but our best friend and hero. We miss him very much and have set up a Foundation in his name. You can also see the site we developed at www.JoeyGratton.com

Here is a video of my Dad titled “In His Own Words”… Blake and I feel the same passion about racing as he did… it must be in the blood!

I’ll do my best to keep the blog rolling and updated! Have a great week!

6 lbs 4 oz and such a beautiful little baby. Congrats to Brock and Michelle from XplodeMarketing.com, you’re #1 Sarasota Web Design studio.

The key to creating a successful brand and identity is by first defining who your target audience is and by playing off their emotions. You need to define who you are and what kind of first impression you want to give off. Keep in mind, your logo or website is going to be seen first, so you want to make sure you capture that potential customers attention within the first 3 seconds.

What are some key aspects on creating an identity? In most cases, identity design is based around the visual devices used within a company, usually assembled within a set of guidelines. These guidelines that make up an identity usually administer how the identity is applied throughout a variety of mediums, using colors, fonts, layouts, icons and so forth. These guidelines ensure that the identity of the company is kept coherent, which in turn, allows the brand as a whole, to be recognizable.

On that note, it should also be stated that a designer cannot “make” a brand – only the audience can do this. A designer forms the foundation of the brand, creates the emotion, but the company and its core values are what really DEFINES the brand.

It is the consistency of this core idea that makes up the company, driving it, showing what it stands for, what it believes in and why they exist. It is not purely some colors, some typefaces, a logo and a slogan. Although these are required to continue with the emotion, it is simply not the only thing that can define a company.

There is a major element with creating your identity: Keep your identity continuous throughout your entire company. Your logo, websites, business cards, letterhead, envelopes, email signatures, make sure they are all the same. The goal is to be recognized across large audiences whether they’ve used your services or not. Do not stray from your identity, so make sure when you’re starting your company or redefining your brand, that you do it right the first time and continue with that brand throughout the life of your business.

Here are some examples of companies we’ve worked with who have created not only an identity but also a brand: