Lainey Te Whatu, Author at Rocket Fuel Design

Author: Lainey Te Whatu

Rocket Fuel Design / Articles posted by Lainey Te Whatu
20 Logo placement ideas

20 Places to Use Your Logo

Where Should You Place Your Logo Design? So you've invested in getting a logo designed to represent your business and now you want to show it off to the world, but where can you put it? When it comes to finding places to put your logo the options are endless. But some places are better than others and it truly comes down to what your business is all about. You wouldn't expect to see us, a creative marketing company, on a gym sweat towel. But our logo on a set of pencils, now that could work...

Self Isolation Sanity: The Great Lockdown of 2020

As we all move into self-isolation in New Zealand, we are asked to do something we have never done before - yes I am used to working from home, but to completely distance yourself from everyone in your world physically, now that is strange. Lots of things will be changing for many during this time, there is no school, no shopping, no social gatherings, no events. We can't travel, we can't even shake someone's hand or play a game of tag at the park [try explaining that to a four-year-old]. So for me, I will be oversharing during this time as a desperate plea for social interaction. Follow along or ignore me as I endeavour to keep me, my family and Rocket Fuel Design safe. Cheers everyone as we launch into "The Great Lockdown of 2020" Day One The team and I had a video meeting to discuss the needs of our client's during this time and how we could best support each of them. Plans were put in place to make contact with each business owner and discuss the next few weeks. I attended this meeting from the kitchen as my home office had been hijacked by Mr Te Whatu for his work purposes and the living room floor was "hot lava" and the couch cushions were barriers, I suspect to keep baby sisters out. After trying unsuccessfully to put Miss Hunter to sleep, Andre and I took her for a walk to try a different approach. I took him a secret way to avoid the parks because try explaining to a four-year-old that the park is "closed" when they can clearly see that it is not. We found a few animals and hunted some Pokemon before returning home with a *still awake* baby. Lunchtime, then a bit of time in the garden...

Lainey, founder of Rocket Fuel Design at her desk

How And Why I Quit My 9-5 Job

Lainey shares how and why she quit her 9-5 job to start Rocket Fuel Design. I always dreamed of running a graphic design studio. Even while I was still studying, I would brainstorm names and create logo designs. I did manage to take on one or two paid jobs, but I was never good at finding paid work or selling my services. The work I got had to come to me. The development of the Rocket Fuel Design Logo started way back! Once I completed my studies, I applied for a role as a graphic designer at a local real estate company. The work wasn't exciting, but I considered myself lucky. Most of the graduates in my class didn't land jobs in their field of study. I saw the top animation student working at Burger Fuel the year after we graduated, her dreams of Weta Workshop a long way from being a reality. So I did my job with not a huge amount of satisfaction, while on the side I continued to dream of the design studio I longed to build. Then one day something happened. The Marketing Manager suddenly left. The box that I didn't realise I was in, was pulled away and I was given the freedom to explore ideas right there in my job. I didn't need my own business after all!  How lucky was I, I had found a job I truly loved. I treated that brand like it was my own. At one point I even thought about asking the owner if they would let me open another branch of the brand in a different location. I guess the desire to build something of my own wasn't completely gone. Just dormant.  Then the meeting came. The whole team was called in for a very important announcement. We all sat there in...

The History of Social Media from the Very Beginning

The History of Social Media from the Very Beginning It's hard to imagine a time before social media and it's even harder to imagine social media before Facebook. With all the recent scandals, it is easy to tag social media as the evil monster, but let's not forget all the amazing things it has given us - Hello! Cat memes! And on a serious note, the ability to connect with people and businesses all over the globe. This infographic from PostBeyond shows the history of social media and its progression over the last twenty years - yes it's been twenty years! Some platforms have stood the test of time, others not. I feel we also need to mention Bebo - for that was where I personally got my first taste of social media. And although many of us cringe at the thought of what was posted on there. It was the start of a wonderful journey of oversharing. ...

Social Media 101 for Business Page Managers

Social Media 101 for Facebook Page Managers

Social Media 101 for Facebook Page Managers   We had the opportunity to present to a group of Facebook page managers who were looking for some inspiration on improving their pages. While we came into the workshop with our own thoughts to share, during the workshop there was some great discussion that uncovered more tips along the way. Here’s an overview of what was discussed!   The Basics First up we covered the basic page elements that make up a Facebook page and how we could best optimise these for a professional and visually appealing page. The Profile Picture The profiles picture needs to stand alone with your page name, as often this is the only elements from your page that are seen alongside your content in the news feed. Does it make a good first impression? Does it represent the page well? Does it work on a very small scale? Does it fit well within the circle space? Page Name and Username The pages name and username needs to help your audience identify your page to your followers and target audience. Keep it concise Make sure your username and page name match as closely as possible to make it easier for people to find and tag you. The Cover Your cover image some of the most important real estate on your page, as it’s the first thing your audience sees. It can be made up of a photo, video, graphic or slideshow. Ask yourself: Is it professional? This doesn’t necessarily mean in a professional sense, but does it look like it was specifically made for the purpose of representing your page? Does it fit the space? Check it out on mobile, tablet and computer. Does it represent your page well? Does it make sense to your target audience or group? HINT: Use a Facebook template to help you...

Massey Intern Workshop - Creating a Personal Brand

5 Tips for Creating a Personal Brand on Social Media

5 Tips for Creating a Personal Brand on Social Media   I had the opportunity to present to a group of university students about the importance of personal branding and the role that social media plays, particularly when it comes to seeking employment. Because you can bet that your future employer will take a look at your social media profiles before employing you! Like a business brand, your personal brand is how you portray yourself to others. It can be made up of what you say and do, who and what you engage with, your associations, interests and skills. So what are you putting out there into the world on social media? This can be broken down into four parts: Profile - this is what you are consciously deciding to associate or represent your personal brand. It is also the first thing people will see when they search for you on social media. Content - Your posts, photos, hashtags. It is the ongoing content you are creating and sharing. Engagement - Your page engagements, likes, comments and responses to other peoples content. What Others Are Saying About You - harder to control In a world where sharing every moment has become commonplace, here are our tips for personal branding on social media. 5 Tips for Controlling Your Personal Brand on Social Media 1. Setup and Maintain a LinkedIn profile Your LinkedIn profile is your online CV and will validate anything you say in your printed CV. It will be searched by your future employers or clients and should represent your qualifications, experience, skills and interests fully and accurately. Make sure you ask for recommendations and endorsements from those you have worked with professionally. Use the "ask for a recommendation" feature within LinkedIn to make it really easy for them to respond. 2. Conduct a regular Social Media Audit Look at your pages with a...