[Project Complete] $200 Template for Sales Training Business - June 3 deadline!

[peggyoneal]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 7D138941F)

Hello everyone, :)

I am acting on behalf of my client/partner since I've personally
used the great talents here at Design Outpost before. ;)

We are looking for a template that will be for a "sales letter" for her sales training/coaching site. She sells a selling system package so it's technically an ecommerce site.

Any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! We look forward to seeing the usual great talent here at Design Outpost!

Best,
vdc and peggyoneal


Company name:
High Point Selling System

Company profile:
We are a sales training, business coaching company presenting live weekly teleseminars. Our mission is helping people attain their goals with cutting edge strategies to ultimately make more money.

Domain name:
http://highpointselling.com (do NOT like template at all) and http://academyofcoaching.com (better template but do not like the logo stretched along the top portion closing off the top from the rest of the site).

What is the scope of this project?:
We are rebuilding / rewriting / redesigning the site. We do not like it at all.

Who is the intended audience?:
Small businesses, sales persons, sales managers, sales teams, retail sales, insurance sales, real estate sales, customer service reps, self-employed, entrepreneurs

Mood or tone?:
We want the template to be open with a white background. Color border lines are ok. Not too bold.

We would like a professional, tasteful look, yet warm, inviting and artistic. Some specs: we'd like the navigational link area on a left panel - rather than across the top. The top left will be designated an area for the logo (which we are doing at the same time as the template w/Design Outpost in the Logos forum). We do NOT want a big top divided portion... like her current site http://highpointselling.com (http://highpointselling.com) - there can be border lines dividing top section, but lines should "flow", nothing bold or oppressive... and want it to remain open - no closed borders anywhere.(Hope that makes sense)!

Color psychology?:
Lots of white space, simple, professional, linear, warm, inviting, tasteful, artistic.

Any dynamic elements?:
Any navigation on left panel rather than across top. There will be a Contact form, About Us, Shopping cart, blog (possibly), Newsletter (can be placed on right side), Opt in (can be place on right side).

Who are your main competitors?:

http://www.selling-without-selling.com (http://www.selling-without-selling.com)
http://www.salestrainingassociates.com/
http://www.dalecarnegie.com/

http://strategiccoach.com/ (http://strategiccoach.com/)
http://www.leapfrog-strategies.com/consulting.php
http://sellingtobigcompanies.com/

What resources can you provide?:
Logo is being designed at the Logos forum, not sure what pictures would be desired, fonts should be no smaller than Ariel 2 (but are open to other round fonts), color schemes = white background, no bold borders.

Websites you like:
http://www.leapfrog-strategies.com/consulting.php

Deadline:
June 3, 2005

[vdc]

:yawn:

Is anyone here??

Can we see some samples soon?? Wanted to get as many design samples as time allows - regardless of the June 3 deadline!

Please?
Any takers to get this project rolling forward?? ;)

vdc

[Lori]

I am interested in participating... I am just waiting to see how the logo contest turns out :)

[vdc]

Thanks for letting us know, Lori, that we will see something from you... but please feel free to show us something anytime... we're open for anything right now to give us ideas!
Thanks,
vdc

[Lori]

VDC,

I really need the logo to design something... The logo is my base for the creative concept of the design...

With that said, I have a design that I did previously for a client of mine that was NOT from DO and he went another avenue.

I am more than happy to show it to you to see if it "gets your mind rolling"..

Further, if you want the photo of Peggy in the design, can we get a large clear version of it :)

[vdc]

Thanks for responding so quickly, Lori... we are probably not going to use that photo of Peggy... if we use a photo, it will be an updated one and appear later in the site content.

I think we're open to seeing anything at this point since we've seen nothing so far! :D So bring on anything you've got.

Not sure if it's the deadline or the logo issue, but we'd like to see some samples from as many designers out there!! :confused:

Please?? :weep:
Valerie,
aka: vdc

[Aliska]

Hello
I will gladly join to your contest as soon as I have logo. Coz I think design, logo and colour palette is associated.

[vdc]

Ok, Aliska, thanks for your post... I guess we'll have to wait on the logo... perhaps that's why we're not getting any template entries?

Thanks,
vdc

[pod]

Hi VCD
I just want to inform you I will join your contest too and I am just waiting to see your new logo design (like others)

[vdc]

Thanks pod,

Yes, we understand... but unfortunately we've had a VERY disappointing turnout (or lack of!) on our logo project! Sure hope things will turn around....

vdc

[Palmer]

The logo is almost finalized, I'll ask Carol (Taldo) to link me to the files and I will post them in the designers forum...
http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/showthread.php?p=154654#post154654

You may get started on this as soon as possible, you'll have an idea how to work the logo in from looking at the mock-ups in the thread above.

Thanks. :)

[cosmic]

Hello,

Here is a start:

I'm not quite finished with it as yet, still have some polishing to do.
Just wanted to show you where I am headed.

http://www.cosmicwebdesigns.com/design_outpost_contests/highpoint1.gif

[vdc]

Thanks Ken for getting this template ball rolling!!

We will not be placing a pic in the top panel - only text... but I like the ideas you present... especially the llittle ogo on the headline bars...

... keep those idea coming!

vdc

BTW, we really hate the old site and are looking for something very fresh, professional and simple. :o)

[Anne]

Here's a start from me.

It's missing the newslatter part but I'll add that later.
Anne

[vdc]

Anne,

Thanks for your template... a few comments:

-- we want to keep the background WHITE. No colors. Testimonials and Opt ins can be different shades, but main text area should be white.

-- Regarding the navigation panel: we want white background and since you went w/the blue, perhaps you can make the lettering blue? In other words, we'd rather have the lettering dark w/a white background than what you have now (dark background/white lettering)

Thanks again!
vdc

[cosmic]

updates:

http://www.cosmicwebdesigns.com/design_outpost_contests/highpoint1B.gif






http://www.cosmicwebdesigns.com/design_outpost_contests/highpoint1C.gif

[vdc]

Thanks Ken,

Really like the second design in message #16. Can we see the left navigation links in the Blue color bold, like the text in the "Get Free Inside Tips" opt in box? It seems to match the blue in the logo... which is what I'm thinking would be good.

It would be fine to have a light background color for the testimonials on the left... in fact I'd like to see how that would look. You used a grey color background in the text portion for one of the testimonials, but can we see a fresher color - not too drab? Grey seems a little too dull to me. I'm thinking a pastel - lighter blue shade to correspond w/the blue in the logo? But I'm open to your artistic eye's color ideas... :)

Thanks again!!
vdc

[cosmic]

Updates:


http://www.cosmicwebdesigns.com/design_outpost_contests/highpoint1D.gif



With a different font for the nav links.
Centered in the browser on a blue background.
Boxes for testimonials and insider tips



http://www.cosmicwebdesigns.com/design_outpost_contests/highpoint1E.gif

[Anne]

How is this?

[vdc]

Thanks Ken and Anne,

Ken: Like the first template in message 18...
-- Definitely want the template LEFT justified w/white background
-- Although I like this logo placement option, can we see the logo as it was originally (High Point underneath mountain)?
-- Not sure about the nav links turning yellow when clicked?? Let me think on that...
-- What I do like about the 2nd template in message 18 is the way you did the "Get Free Insider Tips" w/the shaded top. Can we see the same for "Testimonials" only without the box frame (want to imply "box" frame but have no lines)... hope that makes sense. Holler, if not! :)

Anne:
-- Do not like the shadow on top of template. We're looking for bright, fresh - shadows imply "something ominous lurking"! :D
-- Do not like the yellow box for "Get Your Free Insider Tips" and don't like the white text. White or slighted colored background, but it's way too dark as is.
-- Same goes for "Testimonials" - background too dark
-- As I've mentioned, we don't really want boxes.... w/the color shades you can imply boxes, but we don't want the lines.

Thanks again!!!
vdc

[Lori]

I just wanted check in and let you know I am designing something for you :)

[cosmic]

revisions:

http://www.cosmicwebdesigns.com/design_outpost_contests/highpoint1F.gif

[Lori]

Hi V and Peggy,

I am at a stopping point and ready to show you the direction I was going.

I feel that your site is one of those that would benefit from a three-column layout. As well, my thought is that it would be an "elastic" design, and rest to the left, while the header bar fills the browser.

With that said, here is where I am so far...

http://www.zenfulcreations.com/client-files/do/hipoint/gui.gif

[Aliska]

Hello
And my idea in some variations. What do you think?

[vdc]

Thanks to all,

Lori: We do not like the 3 column design

Aliska: For some strange reason, the links you provided are not loading properly on my computer... can you resubmit your entries in the forum format?? I can't really see them as it... sorry.

Thanks again!!
vdc

[Lori]

Thanks for letting me know. I will be unable to redesign something else for you due to time constraints, but thanks for considering my design.

[Aliska]

Hello
I understand and resubmit them
#1

[Aliska]

#2

[Aliska]

and #3

[vdc]

Thanks again!

Aliska: Like your concept for the "top panel"... it's smaller and keeps that top panel from blocking off the rest of the site...definitely like the white, open feel, too. The designs we are leaning toward are the open, fresh looking ones w/no "boxes" or lines that confine or give a closed in feel. Thanks again for your templates...

Anyone else out there wanting to take a stab at this?? :) We're open for more ideas!

Peggy will be back Friday and want to give her a group of templates to choose from! :yes:

Looking forward to seeing some more ideas!!
Best,
vdc

[vdc]

Aliska:
-- Like the 1st template best in message 27. Was wondering if all the headlines could be eithe all bold blue or all black - instead of mixing the blue and black?
-- Also was wondering about the testimonials? Without a "Testimonial" headline, it just looks like generic text. Can you have them stand out a bit more as testimonials (however your creative eye sees it - it doesn't HAVE to have "Testimonials" as a headline if you can think of anything creative, yet obvious -- I'm open for ideas!) :o)

[vdc]

So NO ONE else wants to take a stab at this?? Are we really done here?? :(

Would love to see as many possibilities as possible...

Best,
vdc

[Aliska]

Hello
Changes at my version. What do you think?

[vdc]

Thank you Aliska,

Liked the first one best...

I will be getting together w/Peggy in the next couple of days to go over all these templates.

Thanks to all!!

In the meantime, anyone else's design ideas are welcome!!

Best,
vdc

[SKR]

Hi VDC,

Here is my design.

Regards,

Sarah

http://www.mydezines.com/projects/highpoint/highpoint.jpg

http://www.mydezines.com/projects/highpoint/highpoint2.jpg

[peggyoneal]

We have chosen the template in #22 done by Ken. Thank you all for your wonderful work and your patience! I sincerely apologize for our slow process. :blush: I have been either on vacation or out of pocket on business for almost three weeks, so I just didn't keep up! I apologize for the inconvenience. I am very impressed with your work and your response. Thank you again to all for your participation and contributions. :)

[cosmic]

Thank you for selecting my design. Please let me know if any revisions are required.

[vdc]

Ken,

Forgive me... I'm not a flake, I promise. I thought Peggy was taking care of this and I guess she thought I was taking care of it... so here it just sat for EVEN longer!! :o(

The only revision I can see is having the "headline" text prior to each content paragraph bold blue (now they are not bold)...

After that, perhaps send ME the files so I know it's taken care of...

Thanks for your patience and again, I apologize for the confusion.

Kind regards,
Valerie
aka: vdc

[cosmic]

Hi Valerie,

Here are the latest revisions. No need to apologize, I have lots of patience.

How woud you like this prject delivered? PSD only or PSD + HTML/CSS?

[Palmer]

I can answer that...

PSD + HTML/CSS

[cosmic]

Great! I will get started on this tonight and try to have them for you by tomorrow.

[cosmic]

The final files can be downloaded here:

[admin edit]link removed to prevent theft[/edit]


Regards

[vdc]

Thank you Ken... I have the files now!
Thanks again for your great work and your PATIENCE! :o)
Valerie

[cosmic]

Thank you Valerie, it was a pleasure.