Rotolo Media

Typography and the Aging Eye: Typeface Legibility for Older Viewers with Vision Problems

2009-05-10T09:55:00.004-04:00

by Paul Nini

The population is rapidly aging and becoming a larger share of the marketplace. Thirteen percent of the population is currently over 65 years old. In 30 years that group will double to 66 million people. People change as they age. Sensory, cognitive and motor abilities decline. The built environment is not typically created with the needs of the aging population in mind. How does the choice of typeface in signage systems, for example, impact the older viewer who is experiencing vision problems typical to that age group? Are certain typefaces more suitable to the aging eye?
Loss of light
Human vision declines with advancing age. Although there are neural losses, the major decline is due to changes in the eye’s optics. The pupil shrinks, allowing less light to enter the eye. The pupil’s response to dim light also... (read the entire article)

13 Twitter Tips and Tutorials for Beginners

2009-04-20T18:19:00.003-04:00

by Darren Rowse on April 18, 2009 in Twitter for Beginners

Just starting out on Twitter? Looking for some Twitter Tips to get you started?

Twitter is bound to have a load of new users today as it is being featured on Oprah - so I thought it might be a good day to share some tips for the beginner Twitter user who is just getting going with the medium.
What’s in it for Your Followers? - How to be Useful on Twitter
10 Easy Steps for Twitter Beginners - good sound advice and tips on getting going on Twitter
8 Sure-Fire Ways to Tick off the Twitterverse - a few things to avoid on Twitter
5 Ways I Benefit from Twitter - this outlines why I love Twitter in my business of building blogs
Defining Your Twitter Goals - this one is more for those who want to use Twitter for other purposes than just letting their family know when they’ll be home.
How to Set up a Twitter Account - most of your are probably past this one but it could be useful if you’re a ‘Pre-Twitter’ user.
5 Steps to Model Successful Twitter Users - an exploration of a few ways that Twitter is being used
Think Like a Toddler and Find Your Voice on Twitter - using the analogy of growing up as a kid to growing as a Twitter User
Twitter in Plain English - cool video on the basics of Twitter
What Twitter Application is Right for You? - looking at some of the tools people use on Twitter
10 Traits of Highly Effective Twitter Users - some good advice for growing your profile on Twitter
How to Get More Followers on Twitter - a question many ask. If you’re not a celebrity to start with - you might want to read this.
6 Ways to Maximize the Use of Your 140 Characters - basic ‘Tweet Writing Tips.

To keep up to date with more Twitter Tips and Tutorials for both individuals and businesses wanting to get on Twitter - follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our news feed.

Clipped from: http://www.twitip.com/13-twitter-tips-and-tutorials-for-beginners/

Rotolo Media Performs Direct Mail Campaign for Arthur Murray Dance Studios

2007-11-23T14:43:00.000-05:00

Jennifer and Victor Holguin are good friends with Michael Rotolo and owners of the Arthur Murray Dance Studios franchise of Southampton, New York, playground to the rich and famous.
The Holguins approached Michael to conduct a direct mail campaign to take advantage of the upsurge in interest in dance after the appearance of television shows Dancing With Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, and movies like Strictly Ballroom.

We decided to go with a larger than standard postcard that would stand out among the mail better. We saved money by using stock photography that is supplied to the franchise by Arthur Murray Inc. corporate as part of the franchise package. By making the card itself a coupon for 2 free private dance lessons we monetized the piece with value beyond just an info piece of “junk mail” and gave people a reason to hold on to it. Rotolo Media also oversaw the mailing by contracting one of our affiliate mailing houses to label and mail each piece and comply the mailing as CASS sorted and certified to further save both postage costs and time through the mail system.

If you’re in the Southampton vicinity Jennifer and Victor would welcome you to stop by the studio and see what fun you can have through Arthur Murray Dance lessons. Contact them through ArthurMurray.com.

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

Trikuti Hires Rotolo Media for Their Band Media Kit

2007-11-23T12:14:00.000-05:00

When Trikuti, an enormously popular band with twenty-something Long Islanders, decided it was time to get serious about marketing themselves they asked Michael Rotolo for advice. One of the most important things he decided the band needed was the kind of media kit that they could proudly circulate to promote themselves. Bands that are seeking representation, air-play, and of course a deal with a major label, need to present themselves in a professional manner.

Trikuti band leader and lead singer, Scott Seader, understood this and put his trust in Rotolo Media. Although its all about the music when it comes down to it, if your not taken seriously and your demo never gets a listen, then what’s the point. Scott appreciated the need to put together a media kit that would distinguish the band from the myriad other home-baked discs that come across the desks of radio-station DJs, and record-label execs everyday. Its important for bands to understand that while they may be consummate musical artists they should seek the talents of a graphic artist to package their work and create attractive collateral printed materials to help the band gain notoriety.

Michael Rotolo had a ball in the studio with the band encouraging the guys, who had never done a photo-shoot before, to loosen up and get a bit zany. We cranked up the music and just had the guys get as kinetic as possible while Michael shot upwards of 200 frames. It was a fun afternoon and yielded a lot of great moments on “film” that the band will use for printed pieces, swag and their web photo gallery. We settled on creating a 4/1 glossy piece that shows the band in color on the front and then a description of the band and members on the reverse in black and white.

The piece is inserted unfolded into black folders with slits for holding the cd featuring four of their best songs to present to record labels and radio stations. When mailing to newspapers, fans, etc. the piece can be folded down in half with the cd in a glassine sleeve. For Trikuti this project was a necessary investment in their future, for not much more than a good amp, Scott made the decision to have Rotolo Media handle an important part of crafting their visual image. Now that we have some nice pieces under our belt and some good photos, the creation of additional printed materials such as posters, postcards, t-shirts, and other swag will be easy and the expense will be minimal.

To save the band some expense we decided it was best to supply them with print-ready PDF files that they could take to any Kinkos and print these pieces as they needed. The cd art was furnished as a 2-up template corresponding to an Avery cd label.

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

Kristen Boyce Swags It With Rotolo Media

2007-11-20T01:09:00.001-05:00

Its no secret that Michael Rotolo loves live music. So when one of his favorite local New York City country and soul music stars Kristen Boyce needed a t-shirt design he was all over it. Kristen’s known for singing her heart out and getting her fans to also so it was only natural to come out with the design you see here. Support this local fast-rising star and purchase her album From Detroit to Nashville here at CDBaby.com.

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

Brigitte Designs Produces Direct Mail Piece With The Help of Rotolo Media

2007-11-20T00:43:00.000-05:00

Dave Stetson and his wife Brigitte, owners of Brigitte Designs, wanted to reach jewelers with the news of their newly imported line of sapphire jewelry. Brigitte Stetson designs and manufactures overseas this gorgeous line called the Rainbow collection. This collection is comprised of pieces made entirely of naturally occurring colored sapphires. The sapphires are meticulously chosen and placed to create a gradual rainbow gradation across the length of the bracelets and the solitaires are explosive with colorful radiance.

Dave and Brigitte asked Rotolo Media to design a mailer showcasing in a very spartan manner this beautiful collection. They wanted an utterly clean design with nothing to distract from the pieces themselves. We decided to produce the piece as an oversized postcard of 5.5 x 8.5 inches with a high gloss aqueous coat for a nice sheen and to pop the photography. The pieces were photographed against a white background but were further silhouetted in pre-press to display crisply against the white background of the coated stock.

The Scriptina typeface was chosen for its graceful lines and carefully hand-kerned to complement the elegance of the jewelry collection. Rotolo Media was able to help Brigitte Designs save critical advertsing dollars by brokering the printing through one of our many trade-only wholesale printing sources. See these beautiful pieces at their website BrigitteDesigns.com.

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

Stallion Security Company Hires Rotolo Media for Logo Design

2007-11-20T00:05:00.000-05:00

Stallion Security a new division of Patriot Security hired Rotolo Media for its logo design. Michael Rotolo had previously done work for Alex Bartoli, a principal in Patriot Security, so when Patriot Security decided to create a new division Alex phoned Michael. Alex came with a strong visual image for what his company wanted embodied in their new logo. To quote him “We want a civil-war cavalry soldier standing up in his stirrups as his horse is rearing up. We also want him to be carrying the American flag and we want to somehow have this superimposed over a flag.” The only aspects of Alex’s described vision that needed to be modified were the instances of the flag in what he wanted Rotolo Media to design for him. We couldn't design the flag as it was during the civil war with all the stars on the blue field, they just couldn't be digitized so that an arm patch could be sewn out properly— they would be too small. So we stylized the flags, giving the one in the soldier’s hand a single star and matching its position closely to where one would occur in the background flag. We also had to specify a slightly brighter blue thread so that the blue field of the soldier’s flag would not get lost against the blue of the background flag. Alex and his partners at Patriot Security were elated with the results.

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

Image Culture Asks Rotolo Media for Logo Redesign

2007-11-19T22:05:00.000-05:00

Keith Roberto of Image Culture, a website enabling photographers to create online portfolios, asked Michael Rotolo of Rotolo Media for a redesign of their existing logo. Keith was looking for something “slicker” as he put it— a look more in keeping with the Web 2.0 aesthetic springing up all around us. Rotolo Media created a combination logo/wordmark for image culture that allows for some nice latitude in how it’s used. The “ic” logo can stand on its own and will no doubt come to be recognized as synonymous with the image culture website and the various online services it offers.

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

Rotolo Media Creates Posters and Postcards for The Drakes

2007-11-19T18:06:00.000-05:00

Rotolo Media has created swag for the popular Long Island band The Drakes. The Drakes’ music was featured in the hit movie “School of Rock” starring Jack Black. The poster was created so that The Drakes could personalize it for each upcoming gig by handwriting (neatly I hope) the gig date, time and venue. This is a common suggestion on our part for bands with limited budgets for promotion so they get the most mileage out of each printed piece. The postcard was likewise not date specific and was left blank on the back so they could also be personalized and mailed out to their list of fans or left on counters in local record shops and bars. The postcard advertises their hit CD.

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

Rotolo Media Developes Brigitte Designs Website

2007-11-18T19:25:00.000-05:00

When Dave and Brigitte Stetson, owners of Brigitte Designs, an upscale line of colorful sapphire jewelry, wanted a web presence they hired Michael Rotolo. Clean and simple was the order of the day for Brigitte Designs, so that the exquisite jewelry could have center stage. More a brochure-wear project than an ecommerce site the Brigitte website’s goal was to provide a venue for a display of their gorgeous color graduated natural sapphire pieces and stunning brilliant solitaire designs. The users can click on any piece for a larger-than-life photo from which all the fine details of any Brigitte Designs piece can be seen. Because these offerings, though reasonable for what they, are pricier than your typical commodity sapphire pieces, the Stetsons chose to generate interest through the stunning photography and chose rather than display the pricing on the website, to encourage would-be buyers to call them to discuss their line personally. Having seen these beautiful pieces personally Michael Rotolo would also encourage anyone looking for a truly unique and gorgeous piece of jewelry to contact Brigitte Designs. View this website at BrigitteDesigns.com.

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

2nd Generation Landscaping Chooses Rotolo Media

2007-11-17T19:02:00.001-05:00

When Jimmy from 2nd Generation Landscaping approached Rotolo Media he wanted to try something new. For a local Long Island landscaper the standard Pennysaver ads and Yellow Pages were not generating the new customers he was seeking. We sat with Jimmy and determined that there was a wealth of untapped potential right under his nose in the homes all around his current clientele. We designed and manufactured a colorful and attractive door-hanger illustrating the range of landscaping and hardscaping services offered by his firm. Now as a standard marketing practice Jimmy periodically has a 2nd Generation Landscaping crew member simply place a door-hanger on every home within several doors of each existing account which is not currently a customer. As an added kicker a neatly custom handwritten post-it is added which reads to the effect "We just installed a new walkway for your neighbor at 28 Elm Street. Ask them how they liked working with us." These notes add a personal touch, show that he is proud of his work and is not afraid to have a prospective new customer ask someone he's just completed work for how they enjoyed the experience of 2nd Generation Landscaping's meticulous attention to detail. Rotolo Media also suggested using about a third of the print-run to double as rackcards by simply trimming the diecut door-hanger hole off. Jimmy was able to persuade some commercial retail clients to prominently display the rackcards in high traffic areas. To further conserve his limited advertising budget Jimmy chose not to purchase exclusive rights to this design so Rotolo Media retained the right to repurpose this art for any other landscaping firm which might seek a similiar product and Rotolo Media sourced the printing through one of its many trade-only wholesale printers. Another win-win project for Rotolo Media and our happy new customer 2nd Generation Landscaping.

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

Synergy Ministries Commissions New Logo and Corporate ID System from Rotolo Media

2007-11-16T14:54:00.000-05:00

Synergy is a Christian Counseling and Educational ministry specializing in facilitating and improving the dynamics of social communities which are engaged in goal-oriented activities. To put it simply the goal of Synergy’s work and education is to see groups relating and working together at their maximum potential. Larry Carrino, the founder and Counselor at Synergy, came to Rotolo Media for a new logo and corporate ID system which would communicate their ideals.

The idea of incorporating hands into the logo was discussed as one goal in the design of Synergy's ID. We were pleased to be able to deliver on Synergy's desire. By using stylized iconic hands in such a way as to communicate the coming together of individuals in partnership we created both a logo as well as the "S" of Synergy in their wordmark; a kind of logo within a logo. The Synergy hands logo will be used on its own as in the examples below of the watermark effect in the banner and business card and will with proper branding efforts no doubt come to be recognized apart from the wordmark.

Look for a website and other newmedia projects to follow as Synergy has expressed their strong desire to commission further designs from Rotolo Media.

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

Quasi Enterprises Seeks Rotolo Media For Sell Sheets

2007-11-15T23:19:00.000-05:00

When Quasi Enterprises, the manufacturer of “The Quasi”, a stackable and wall-mountable storage tower for cds, dvds, and data discs, needed marketing materials they came to Rotolo Media. Quasi Enterprises manufactures quality high-fashion media storage solutions for the college-age and twenty-something computer geek with everything. The ever-popular “The Quasi” is the mainstay of their business because of its mounting versatility, quality build and generous range of fashion colors. With the ever-growing craze in “modding” and “pimping” computer desktop cases with neon accessories, The Quasi brand media storage towers, available in a host of metallic color finishes, looks great on any modders desktop. Quasi Enterprises wanted a simple, clean sell sheet that illustrated their product and showed the range of colors available. This sell sheet will be used by Quasi Enterprises and its distributors to sell the Quasi line. Laser-safe inks were prescribed by Rotolo Media so that the back of the sell sheet could be printed as needed with up-to-the-minute pricing, promotional terms, and other vital information. The ability to run these glossy offset-printed pieces through the office printer as needed insures that Quasi Enterprises will save money by avoiding expensive trips to the dumpster disposing of obsolete sales flyers due to out-dated information. Rotolo Media was pleased to provide on-site art-direction during the product photography shoot as well as the ad slick design.

Promote Your Business with a Company Blog

2007-11-15T14:52:00.000-05:00

In today’s world of ecommerce a blog is no longer an option but a necessity. What better way to communicate the expertise you’ve accumulated in your arena of business than to regularly publish an original article or share a link to important content your audience might not otherwise find. Blogging is an essential part of the process of establishing yourself and your business as valuable and expert resources in your field. The following article outlines 10 points to consider in establishing or maintaining your company’s blog.

clipped from www.nytimes.com

As the head of your company, you're ideally positioned to lead an informal debate on the current issues that face small business owners and entrepreneurs in your market. So why not pen your thoughts with a CEO blog or company blog that's visible to your customers, clients, and others who might become inspired by your

NYTimes.Com Aggregates Third-Party Content, Marks Transformation of Media

2007-11-14T14:45:00.000-05:00

As you will see by reading my blog it is a fusion of content that I have written along with an aggregation of the kind of content written by others that I want to share with you. This is a vital part of the content revolution we are in the midst of experiencing on the net today. This article about The New York Times implementing this same strategy is a fascinating look into this new phenomenon. I hope it goes a way toward explaining it all to some of the less initiated among my readers.

clipped from publishing2.com

NYTimes.com wasn’t the first traditional media brand to aggregate third-party content — and it certainly won’t be the last. But the New York Times, once considered the national newspaper of record, represented one of the last bastions of the traditional media approach to content, i.e. we produce it ALL ourselves.

And if anyone makes a credible run at doing it all by themselves, it’s the Times, which generates a prodigious volume of the highest quality content every day.

But in a networked media world, where news consumers have access to EVERY piece of

What Offline Business Owners Must Know About Online Storefronts

2007-11-13T14:48:00.000-05:00

Some important points to remember when transitioning to the web or adding an online store to your traditional brick-and-mortar business model. It’s a whole new game!

clipped from www.freeinternetmarketingcourses.com

It’s amazing and unfortunate that many website owners inadvertently put up barriers that discourage site visitors from actually doing business with them. This is especially true for people with brick-and-mortar businesses who are trying to build an online presence and who do not yet understand the differences between online and offline marketing.

If someone walks into your local storefront, especially if they’ve had to drive to get to it and drop a few coins in the parking meter, they’re at least partly committed to spending some time in the store. They either want

Ten Low-Cost Ways to Promote Your Business

2007-11-12T14:42:00.000-05:00

All small business owners know the challenges of keeping their business in the eyes of the buying public. I thought I would share this excellent article detailing ten ways to do just that without going broke!

clipped from sbinfocanada.about.com

Business promotion is to running a successful business as practicing scales is to playing the piano well; it may not be a thrilling activity in itself, but you just have to do it! You should spend at least an hour a day on business promotion or planning how to promote your business (and more is better, if you can fit the time in)!

You promote your business by getting the word out. The first axiom of business promotion is that

Some Top Ideas About Design From Some Top Designers

2007-11-11T14:50:00.000-05:00

Good design is an essential in today’s marketplace whether you’re creating objet d’art, industrial tools, furniture or websites. Thankfully the Web 2.0 trend is pushing clean and functional design to new heights. Read here the learned opinions of 15 of the best designers in their respective disciplines and glean the essential elements that they all share in their appreciation and execution of transcendent design.

clipped from www.fastcompany.com

Everywhere you look today -- from buildings and landscapes, to commercial products and public services, to Web sites and print products -- design has taken on new meaning. Design isn't just about decoration; it's a critical component of how we communicate, collaborate, and compete. But behind the "look and feel" of any good design are a host of carefully conceived principles: fundamental propositions that define the essence of the design. The trick for all businesspeople today is to learn those underlying rules -- to think like designers. With that in mind, Fast Company asked 15 top designers -- creators of buildings, furniture, products, Web sites, costumes, and labels -- to deconstruct something that exemplifies great design to them. More important, we asked them to tell us what we can

Basic Definitions: Advertising, Marketing, Promotion, Public Relations and Publicity, and Sales

2007-11-10T14:30:00.000-05:00

New or small business owners frequently get confused by the various terms and aspects of the world of advertising. I found this to be a concise but clear little set of definitions to help explain these often elusive terms.

clipped from www.managementhelp.org

It's easy to become confused about these terms: advertising,
marketing, promotion, public relations and publicity, and sales.
The terms are often used interchangeably. However, they refer
to different -- but similar activities. Some basic definitions
are provided below. A short example is also provided hopefully
to help make the terms more clear to the reader.

One Definition of Advertising

Advertising is bringing a product (or service) to the attention
of potential and current customers. Advertising is focused on one particular product or service.
Thus, an advertising plan for one product might be

Rotolo Media Offers Full Service Discount Printing Services

2007-11-04T10:53:00.000-05:00

Michael Rotolo has been working directly with printers for over 16 years. Over the course of countless projects in which printing services were required he has developed many wholesale relationships with some of the very best printers in the country. These trade-only relationships enable Rotolo Media to contract print services at a significant discount over any of the several popular “Printing-For-Less” type websites. Let Rotolo Media pass those savings on to you. Be sure to ask Rotolo Media for a quote on your next print project. Let Rotolo Media help develop a program for supplying your frequently produced advertising pieces, company forms, business cards, etc. so you can turn your savings into cash available to other aspects of your company budget. Be sure to ask Michael Rotolo about new print-on-demand technologies and strategies that help companies avoid the obsolescence of their printed materials that leads to needless and expensive waste. Rotolo Media can explain how print-on-demand implementations among many benefits also help to streamline operational overhead, improve cash-flow, and decrease warehouse/storage requirements. Choose Rotolo Media to save your hard-earned marketing dollars whenever you need design or printing services.

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

Top 5 Business Card Blunders

2007-11-02T14:24:00.000-04:00

Check out this short but helpful article on avoiding the basic pitfalls of business card design and printing.

clipped from www.thestreet.com

Nothing is more important to making a good first branding impression than your business card. In addition to the information included, a card's look and feel also sends a strong message about your business. That's why I'm perplexed by the many poorly designed business cards I see these days. Just because you can log on to various Web sites, "design" and print cards for free, doesn't mean you should.
The cardinal rule to creating a good business

5 Keys for Direct Mail Success

2007-10-12T14:18:00.000-04:00

Whenever I tackle a direct mail campaign I begin by going over the following 5 keys (5 more to follow) with my client. Regardless of whether they have used direct mail as a strategy in their sales and marketing plan before I believe I cannot stress these points enough. If you carefully incorporate these key points in your next mailing you will definitely improve your results.

1.) Make Your Piece Personal

The days of "Dear Resident" are over folks. We've all received our share of personalized direct mail before. Even if we consider it junk mail the fact is it would be even "junkier" mail if it wasn't personalized. If you're sending out a mailing that includes a letter or anything that begins with "Dear So-and-so… " it must be personalized. Obviously, the degree to which a piece can be personalized varies but there is no shortage of mailing list brokerage sources that can supply you with a list that has more than simply the vitals of Name, Address, etc. One caveat though, a letter can be overly personalized in the sense that you do not want to gratuitously repeat the valuable information you've gone to lengths to obtain. I once received a direct mail piece that must have mentioned my name, Michael, and my recently purchased Honda thirteen times within two short paragraphs. It's great they got my name right but I could barely figure out that they were attempting to sell me an extended service warranty. Needless to say they did not make an effective impression.

2.) Make A Headline. And Make It BOLD!

Consider this your one shot at reaching this list, it shouldn't be (more about that later), but write your copy and design your piece as if it will be. Use typography wisely. Emphasize at least one of your unique selling points boldly. Perhaps a different typeface, but certainly a larger point size is necessary. If when you hold your piece out at arms length and squint all you see is a uniform block of grey—then it needs a headline, badly.

3.) Emphasize Your Offer

Always include an offer in your campaign and give it emphasis. Do not let it remain buried in middle of your ad copy somewhere. Whether its a special discount, a rebate, a free gift or bonus—shout it from the rooftops. Your offer may be so compelling that it could warrant emphasis in your headline copy. You must of course be certain to mention it at least twice depending upon the length of your ad copy. It is a general rule that you should put an expiration on the offer. This is a time-tested truism that people will respond, all other things the same, significantly more often to an offer that will run out. This is called "pull". The more response a mailing gets the more it's said to "pull".

4.) Make Use of Whitespace

Sometimes what you leave out is as important as what you put in. Don't crowd your piece with the ad copy. Be as pithy as is reasonably possible given the parameters of your mailing (size of the paper, number of pages, etc.) while still doing justice to what the piece is trying to accomplish. By keeping your ad copy trim you'll have the luxury of spacing your paragraphs amply and offsetting your headline somewhat from the rest of the copy. Remember, what designers call "white space" is not a waste of good paper, and it need not necessarily be white. White space is the open space that should be carefully left free between your mailing's major design elements. It can be as simple as spacing out your paragraphs generously—try leaving two or three line returns between next time. This gives the eye a "breather" and makes looking at—let alone reading—your piece more enjoyable to your prospect.

5.) Whenever possible include a "Do-Something"

When it comes to tried-and-true strategies of direct mail, the "Do-Something" as I like to call it, is a sure-fire winner. A do-something is any element in which the recipient must— as the name more than implies— do something. Publisher's Clearing House, for those of us old enough to remember, may well have invented this tactic by requiring us to tear out of a sheet of little thumbnail magazine covers the little stamp corresponding to our magazine of choice. There is something to the human psyche that just responds like a little child to the idea of sticking a sticker, punching out a perforated shape, or tearing out a stamp. So whenever possible, incorporate a dosomething in your direct mail piece.

Look for Keys number 6 through 10 in my next post…

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

Full Color Business Cards

2007-10-06T14:12:00.000-04:00

With the advent of digital printing technologies and the proliferation of dedicated 4 color process printing presses there is absolutely no reason for the typical business to go without a full-color business card. Many business owners, especially start-ups, make the mistake of simply assuming that such a card is too expensive. All too often the result is a trip to the nearest Staples, Office Depot or local quick printer for the old-school thermography (raised ink) on vellum card stock. Unless you're in a very traditional line of work such as a lawyer or a banker these business cards simply do not pull their weight.

Why not instead take advantage of what a well-designed full color card can do for your business. A custom design can make the best use of the limited real estate available on the traditional 2″ x 3.5″ card. Your options include printing with full color on one or both sides, and the pricing of late will pleasantly surprise you. Printing the back in color also adds very little cost to the project and doubles your usable space. Those of you like me though who like the option of writing notes on business cards might want to second guess that decision since it's next to impossible to get a ballpoint pen to write on the slick surface of these coated cards.

Many industries today have developed what amounts to almost an unwritten rule of including a photo of themselves on their business card. Realtors for some reason almost always do nowadays but if you're among any number of other sales related industries this might serve you well also. Let's face it, how many times do we grab a business card throw it in our wallet or purse and then only look at it again weeks or months later. In such cases a photo may be just what is necessary to jog the memory of someone we spent appreciable time with but who wasn't ready to act upon using our goods or services. In my opinion your photo on your card can make the difference between your prospects remembering the time you invested in answering their questions and explaining the benefits of what you can do for them versus their simply tossing an otherwise more generic card in the circular file.

I would be remiss if I neglected to emphasize the role of good design with respect to business cards. Good design is crucial to the effectiveness of every business card and to any printed piece for that matter. Just because you have the option to print in almost every color in the rainbow does not by any stretch mean you should, nothing screams amateur more than a garish psychadelic cocaphany of color. The ability to print a full color card means that you can judiciously create, with the help of a design professional, a card which stands out among the pack. You can prominently display your logo and branding elements, bring in your company's color palette, and as we've mentioned, include your photo or even photographs of your products or services.

These benefits mean you can support (and not undermine) all the other efforts you're making in putting your best foot forward. Nothing makes me cringe more after spending time with someone whose just given an otherwise decent presentation than being handed, for lack of a better word, a lousy business card. Perhaps I'm more sensitive than most but a poorly designed or printed card communicates to me that this person or company just isn't ready to compete with the guys in the big league. I can't help but feel as if the lack of effort in this area might also be indicative of a lack of effort in other areas. Nothing smacks of this more than the use of the all too available templates that allow even a precocious eight year old to print a business card for his lemonade stand from Daddy's inkjet printer. Please do not commit this atrocity to your business image unless you're stranded in some third world country and find you've run out of your regular cards. Now, as for running out of cards… well, I'll spare you that rant for some other time…

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

About Michael Rotolo

2007-10-03T20:36:00.017-04:00

Rotolo Media was founded in 1999 by Michael Rotolo as a small design firm (formerly Rotolo Design). Michael began his journey into the aesthetic and graphic arts as early as thirteen years old as an artist and photographer. Michael spent his formative years growing up in Merrick, New York. After High School he pursued a degree in Computer Science and Mathematics and a minor in Theatrical Arts with an emphasis in Dance from Harpur College at The State University of New York at Binghamton from which he graduated with honors. While spending a couple of painful years in the world of corporate America as an insurance Underwriter Liaison to Information Systems Management for Allstate Insurance, Michael concluded that life was simply too short to neglect working at something that actually put a smile on his face; so he pursued an education in Interior Design from The Fashion Institute of Technology to bring some creative sanity into his life. Finally seeing the light, he quit the insurance industry and moved to San Francisco to work as an Interior Designer for the firm of Design Express Inc., a residential and commercial interior design company. It was during his years in San Francisco that Michael became a Christian. As a passionate Christian the desire to combine several talents and communication-based skills into the discipline of publishing literature glorifying to God was a calling too powerful to be denied. In 1990 he relocated back to New York.

In 1990 Michael was hired as the Executive Director of an upstart book-publishing ministry called Calvary Press. Under Michael’s direction Calvary Press grew to be recognized internationally as a source of quality and aesthetically pleasing Christian books in a day when a “good-looking Christian book” was an oxymoron. During his tenure at Calvary Press he attended New York University for their Certificate Program in Book Publishing.

Sadly, in 1998 Michael was forced to leave Calvary Press as a result of serious corruption rife throughout the ministry and the church (Grace Gospel Church of Merrick, New York) which owned Calvary Press. Michael tried to urge repentance and reform at the ministry and church but all efforts were purposely frustrated by Michael Gaydosh, the Senior Pastor, who was found a short time after Michael Rotolo's departure from Calvary Press to be involved in an elicit relationship with a minor.

After a hiatus, Michael continued his career as a Christian Publisher by founding his own publishing imprints of Reformation Press and Great Christian Books. Rotolo Design (now Rotolo Media) was also established at that time for the accomplishment of more secular graphic design, publishing and new media projects.

For more business related info please also see my LinkedIn page. For more personal info about me see my Facebook profile.

While Michael Rotolo is the President and chief creative at Rotolo Media, he also enjoys running a successful Ebay Numismatics Auction website with his father Vincent A. Rotolo Sr. called Fine Estate Auctions see it here. Together they offer fine collectible rare coins, investment grade numismatics and bullion, and other items from fine estates.

Michael’s philosophy on graphic design is that it is a language for the purpose of communicating effectively through the eye. As such, its goal should be to visually organize and aesthetically form a message so that the content to be communicated is done so with the least exertion on the viewers part, without hindering its meaning, and in the highest form, with such inspiration as to make an indelible impression.

In a world and at a time when modern man is literally inundated with information, we have developed the necessary defense mechanism of filtering out only that which communicates clearly, quickly and attractively. While a design must be aesthetically pleasing, it must not undermine its purpose to effectively and with the least effort on the part of the user, deliver its intended sum of information. The benefit of good graphic (informational) design should be to simplify and facilitate communication, reduce unnecessary distracting elements whenever possible, enable us to be more productive, and allow us to enjoy our interaction with it.

This site is a mashup of Rotolo Media case-studies as well as varied articles and links to content which embodies the philosophies of Michael Rotolo as they pertain to design, aesthetics, advertising, new media technologies, and other relevant issues.

Michael Rotolo is available to consult with you regarding your next publishing, advertising, new media or graphic design project. He awaits your inquiries in his studio in the quaint Village of Lindenhurst, New York, a stone's throw from busy Manhattan. If you don’t find him toiling away to all hours in his studio then you can bet he’s at the family’s second home in Pennsylvania making every attempt to catch the record largemouth bass that’s eluded him since ten years of age when he was first smitten with the fishing bug.

The fun of fishing however is only second to the joy of hanging out in the backyard hammock with his son. Michael’s pride and joy and “raison d’dêtre” is his soon-to-be fifteen-year-old son Michael Aaron. Michael Aaron shows incredible signs of following in his Dad’s artistic footsteps and has already written and illustrated a children’s adventure book as well as numerous comic books. He currently maintains an A average in Middle School, earning a place on high honor-roll, has received the President’s Award for Academic Excellence and was inducted into The Who’s Who Book of American Middle School Students. Look for great things to follow.

Our Services

2007-10-03T17:08:00.000-04:00

RotoloMedia is a full-service agency specializing in high-end publishing and advertising agency services. The following is a partial list of functions we provide to the discerning client:

Book Publishing
Book Cover Design
Interior Page Design
Annual Reports
Newsletter Publishing
Newsletter Design
Content Acquisition
Corporate Identity
Logo Design
Letterhead Design
Business Card Design
Marketing Collateral
Product Slicks
Postcards
Brochures
Rack Cards
Door Hangers
Presentation Folders
Direct Mail Campaigns
Mailing List Acquisition and Management
Website Design
Packaging Design
Trade Show Solutions
Banners
Table Throws
Booth Design
Imprinted Carpet

Posted By: Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Contact Rotolo Media for details.

Contact Us

2007-10-03T17:06:00.000-04:00

Please feel free to contact us to discuss your advertising or publishing needs. There is no obligation and we can provide a free quote for any of our many services. Due to our many years of experience and relationships with printers and other related service providers you'll be surprised at how affordably we can deliver your essential marketing and advertising materials. In many cases this often offsets the cost of design which means you get a high-end graphically rich product for not much more than the cost of manufacturing it yourself.

We hope to hear from you today!

Sincerely,
Michael Rotolo
President of Rotolo Media

Email info@rotolomedia.com
Phone 631. 956. 0998

Welcome to Rotolo Media

2007-10-02T12:05:00.000-04:00

In the coming days you’ll find many posts pertaining to marketing ideas, advertising strategies, and graphic design tips and philosophy. We hope you will find this to be a resource for helping you with your next project and we are confident that RotoloMedia can be an integral part in the success of your company’s competitive efforts in the marketplace.

— Michael Rotolo President of Rotolo Media

Posts are available as content for your newsletter, website, or blog with permission and terms. Please contact Rotolo Media for details.

Why Spirit Airlines Sucks - Don't Fly Spirit Air

2007-05-06T16:17:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,

First of all, the real date of this blog entry is 5/6/08 but I had to date it 5/6/07 so it didn't come to the top of my blog. Anyway:

Sorry to include a post completely unrelated to Rotolo Media activities but I had to get this out there.

First, I'd like to say that I was excited to see that Spirit Air had begun operating out of Long Island's MacArthur Airport so I thought I'd try them-- well, that was a big mistake.

The Spirit airline online system of booking your own flights is faulty. This is a huge reason to avoid Spirit Airlines at all costs! When I brought the error in my booking to their attention their answer was: "Our system never makes mistakes!" Yeah, Right!

Then to add insult to injury they they said they COULD rectify the mistake but for a service charge of: get this--- five times the cost of my original tickets!!! Per person!!!

Look to this link for a more lengthy account of the foibles of Spirit Airlines and additional valid reasons why you SHOULD NEVER FLY SPIRIT AIRLINES:
http://www.alexrudloff.com/2007/08/04/do-not-fly-spirit-airlines/

The above account is very similiar to my experience with regard to the F-*-C-K YOU attitudes I got on the phone with the customer service reps I encountered.

If you're smart you will NOT FLY SPIRIT AIRLINES!

Our Clients

2006-12-09T17:07:00.000-05:00

This a partial list of the clients for whom we have been pleased to serve:

Allstate Insurance Corporation
Second Generation Landscaping
Arthur Murray Dance Studios
Hometown Insurance Inc.
Soup In A Bread Bowl, Inc.
Jacob's Ladder Construction
A Vision International Marketing
Encouragement International Ministry
Synergy Ministries
Futuregarden Inc.
Roberto Photography
Synergy Counseling
The Booksmith
First Baptist Church of Babylon
CMP Media
Infinity Marketing
Brigitte Designs
Calvary Press
Gator Guys Inc.
The Omega Institute
Quazi Enterprises
Munchaba Lounge
The Quentin Road Agency
Image Culture
Sentinel Controllers
Q Productions LLC
The Great Debate
Audubon Press
The Bible For Life Ministry
Grace Gospel Church of Patchogue
Fine Estate Auctions
Tammy Trent - Christian Singer
Bob Bennet - Christian Musician
Linda Cusumano - Christian Musician
Mark Galante - Christian Musician
Soli Deo Gloria Publications
Shepherd Press
Bunyan Ministries
Christian Resources Inc.
Great Christian Books Inc.
Patriot Security
K.A.B. Security
Stallion Security

Visit Our Ebay Auction Site - Fine Estate Auctions

2006-04-06T20:37:00.000-04:00

My Profile from a Christian Dating Website

2006-03-26T13:07:00.004-05:00

I wrestled with whether or not to add this info to my business website but being the media guy I am and knowing that this info is a few clicks away to anyone savvy with the right search tools, well... I guess since my life is pretty much an open book anyway... here it is.

This was clipped from my profile at Christian Mingle a popular website for Christians looking to meet someone special.

Introduction

I'm very easy-going and open-minded. I like to be fair-minded and my friends say that I really am. I work hard and with excellence in the things I do but chasing a lot of money has never been my motivation. I would rather work at something that impacted God's people than for some huge corporation even if the salary is better there. I'm told I have a good sense-of-humor and really want to meet someone else who does as well. Laughter is great medicine when life get's you down. They say those who laugh a lot even live longer and I'm all for that even though I know where I'm going when I die. I'm open-minded about the next important woman in my life because I'm trusting that God will bring her into my life. Rather than being super-specific about what I'm looking for I would rather just be open to see who I might meet. I grew up in a very affluent community and I like to have nice things but I don't want someone that is ridiculously materialistic. Life isn't, after all, about the stuff we own.

I'm looking for a fun-loving, laid-back kind of girl. I like people with a generous and warm spirit. I would love to connect with someone who will truly be happy being friends in addition to being open to more. I am serious about my Christian walk but I struggle like everyone else at times. My best match would be someone who understands that and is patient and not requiring perfection at the moment. Growing together as life goes on is so important and fun with the right person. I love to travel and definitely want to meet someone who would enjoy exploring countries and cultures they have never experienced before. My favorite places are by the water's edge-- whether it be the beach or a lake. One of the things I enjoy doing to relax is hearing live music. My business is a creative one and I enjoy keeping the creative juices flowing so museums, art exhibits, concerts, are all things I like to do with friends and someone special. You should be someone that would like to hang out with someone like me and have more than a few of the above things in common.

Gender	Male
Location	Merrick, NY, USA
Age	45
Looking For	Dates, Friends

Height	5' 11" (180 cm)
Build	Average
Hair	Black
Eyes	Hazel
Relationship Status	Separated, In the Process of Divorcing
Children	1
Children home	1 (sharing custody)
Smoking	Never
Drinking	On occasion
Denomination	Other
Religious Involvement	every week
Education	Master's degree
Field of Work	Publishing/Media
Ethnicity	Caucasian / White
Languages Spoken	English

Music	Classic Christian, Contemporary, Folk, Gospel, Rock n Roll, Soul/Rhythm and Blues, Traditional Gospel
Movie	Action/Adventure, Comedy, Documentary, Foreign Films, Mystery, Romance, Suspense/Thriller
Outdoor activity	Biking, Camping/Hiking/Fishing, Gardening, Photography, Tennis, Traveling/Sightseeing
Indoor activity	Clubs, Charity/Volunteering, Collecting, Cooking/Culinary arts, Dancing, Games, Music, Reading
Food	Barbeque, Cajun/Southern, Caribbean/Cuban, Chinese, European, Greek, Italian, Mediterranean
Politics	Conservative
Timeliness	I am usually on time
As for fashion	I'm a somewhat fashionable person

Ideal Match

Age	Between 28 and 42 years old
Distance	Within 30 miles of Merrick, NY, USA
Height	Between 4' 10" (147 cm) and 6' 1" (185 cm)
Body Type	Slender, Washboard, Athletic, Average, I should maybe lose a few
Education	Technical School, Professional degree, Bachelor's degree, Graduate Student, Master's degree, Doctoral degree
Relationship Status	Single - never been married, Divorced, Widowed
Denomination	Assembly of God, Baptist, Charismatic, Christian Reformed, Church of Christ, Evangelical, Nazarene, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Southern Baptist
Religious Activity	every week
Smoking	Never, On occasion
Drinking	Rarely, On occasion

What I'd like to do on a first date...
A perfect first date for me is to meet out where we can hear a live band but still find a spot where we can talk and get acquainted. Perhaps a little dancing might be fun too. I am not a Christian that believes drinking alcohol is a sin, I just think we shouldn't get drunk. So I'm up for a couple of beers or wine to make the evening more relaxed, honest and not uptight. If we really don't click then no big deal, if we have fun then we'll decide how, when and where to get together again.
My past relationships have taught me...
My past has taught me that a relationship no matter how much in love you are or how much chemistry there might be requires a self-sacrificing heart if it will succeed. As Christians we know that we are to esteem others more highly than we do ourselves but that is becoming a trait I see less and less frequently. We need to have a mindset of thinking "How can I make my mates life easier and more enjoyable for them?" Its also so vital to believe that God says "Don't Let the Sun Set on Your Anger" for an important reason, namely that anger and bitterness that is unconfessed and unresolved really never goes away but lies brooding under the surface waiting to explode at another time and so often in the context of an unrelated and slight offense. I want to always be in a state of Grace with both God and my mate.
To me, being a Christian means...
Being a Christian means to me what it means to our Lord who defines its meaning in Scripture. That is to say, that it is not enough to just call yourself a Christian and live a life which does not seek God's will or approval. Going to church on Sunday's never made anyone a Christian. Only a true and personal saving knowledge of the grace of God through Christ's sacrifice for our sins can do it. My life is defined by my relationship with God and by the commitments I have made to serving him. You don't have to be a theologian for me to find you attractive as a potential mate but you should have a heart for God and a godly view on the roles that men and women are to observe within marriage. I will not fight with you about that issue as it is non-negotiable to me, I will just not be able to get deeply involved with you if we disagree on it.
In five years, I see myself
My goals over the next five years are many but first let me tell you a joke I recently heard. Someone asked me-- "How do you make God laugh?"... and the answer was-- "Tell Him Your Plans!" Isn't that true! I've learned that God is in charge and whatever plans I would like to make are subject to His plans for my life. But I'm not trying to avoid the question. So far God has blessed me with the ability to work in ministry for Him and I am involved in a couple. Ideally my full-time salary will eventually be derived entirely from one growing ministry that I am involved in on the Board of Directors. My personal desires over the next five years are, by God's mercy, to marry the woman of my dreams and to have at least one baby together, which is to say that I would be happy with one and wouldn't push for more if you didn't also want another. I know I am not a spring chicken but I'm not exactly Abraham's age either. Ha! You would obviously have to be a little younger than Sarah was. If you are dead set against this possibility we shouldn't even waste a minute together.
My favorite Bible passage is...
Because I am a book person- (I love to read and I publish books too), my favorite verse is: "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." —John 21:25. This brought tears to my eyes when I first read it, thinking about how great Christ is and how much he did just in his three years of earthly ministry, that the world isn't large enough to hold the books that would have to be written to contain the accounts!
One final thing I'd like to mention...
Ladies--- Please don't take it personally when I don't respond to your email, flirt, or invite to chat because your profile has no picture. I'm very personable and just can't relate to the grey silhouette indicating you're too shy, uninterested or unwilling to show the pearly whites. If you want a response I need a picture. Also, I am amazed at those who contact me who obviously haven't read my profile. For instance, I think its plain that I want to have at least one more baby with a new wife, so when you're 57 years old... well... what can I say? I also need to speak to the whole issue of distance. I know people do hook-up who live great distances apart and that it might even be God's will for that to happen in my life but let me explain where my life is at right now. I have a twelve year-old son who is the love of my life. There is no way I could leave this area until he was at least off to college and then I might not want to move even at that time. Also, I am firmly established in a church and in ministries here that also prevent me from leaving permanently or even to jet set around the country looking for love. I am not rich nor do I have unlimited vacation time. I guess this is the very practical side of me talking. So where does that leave the situation? Well, I suppose if you were the type of person that either had little holding you to where you currently reside and could imagine moving for someone (anyone, not me in particular) then and only then could a long distance relationship even be considered. I am not interested in chatting with people no matter how beautiful, interesting, yada yada yada... if its doomed from the beginning because you know you would never leave dear Aunt Sally or whoever, back where you're at and I have lots of "real life" friends so I'm not interested in making "just friends" online. But like I said if perhaps you're highly mobile and/or travel for business and find yourself in New York sometimes AND you really see yourself as being willing to relocate for the sake of the possibility of real happiness with someone--- then sure I'd be willing to begin conversing online with you.

View Photos (3)

Core Color = Yellow

yellow: 39%
blue: 30%
red: 17%
white: 14%

Yellows Are

Carefree	Charismatic
Enthusiastic	Forgiving
Happy	Hopeful
Lively	Optimistic
Outgoing	Playful
Positive	Sociable
Spontaneous	Trusting

How do you match with yellow personalities?

Michael Gaydosh Exposed As A Pedophile and Sexual Predator. Stripped of His Pastoral Credentials.

2006-03-16T21:39:00.013-05:00

Corruption Rife at Calvary Press Publishing

2006-03-16T21:35:00.005-05:00

Michael Gaydosh, John Herringer and Scott Syracuse members of the Board of Directors of Calvary Press and/or Trustees/Elders of Grace Reformed Baptist Church of Merrick, New York, the corporate owner of Calvary Press were all exposed as unfit to remain in office and subsequently removed from their respective positions over the few years following Michael Rotolo's departure in July 1998. To this day none are employed in Christian Ministry.

John Herringer and Scott Syracuse were essentially relieved of duties for what can be charitably summarized as general incompetence.

More greviously, Michael Gaydosh was fired and stripped of his ministerial credentials due to his being exposed as a pedophile and sexual predator. He narrowly escaped prosecution and moved to Alabama. Ironically he continues unabated in the Christian publishing industry at Solid Ground Books.

Although these men escaped direct prosecution, ecclesiastically or otherwise, for their respective corruption regarding the mismanagement at Calvary Press during the years during and after Michael Rotolo's service as Executive Director, he nonetheless feels a tangible sense of vindication for the years in which he sought to expose the malfeasance of these men but was vilified as a liar and a troublemaker.
It turns out that time was on his side and that it was inevitable that eventually the brazen disregard for managing a Christian organization by consistent ethical standards would be exposed.

Any questions or requests for supporting documentation regarding the corruption that occurred at Calvary Press, including that perpetrated under the directorship of Joseph M. Bianchi, a man surreptitiously infiltrated into Calvary Press to continue the corruption that was ongoing by Michael Gaydosh and John Herringer, can be addressed to Michael Rotolo through this website.

Michael Rotolo is still working on a book that will detail the full story of the fall of the ministry of Calvary Press. It will detail the corrupt management of Michael Gaydosh, including his financial misconduct and backroom deals with well known Christian book authors such as Tedd Tripp of Shepherd Press. It will include the full text of the Findings of Arbitration between Michael Rotolo and Calvary Press in which the arbitrator found in full support of Michael Rotolo and detailed myriad points of managerial misconduct on the part of Michael Gaydosh, John Herringer, and Scott Syracuse and which binding arbitration ordered a large financial restitution to be paid to Mr. Rotolo for damages he suffered. A chapter will be dedicated to the corruption within ARBCA, the Association of Reformed Baptist Churches, under the leadership of Earl M. Blackburn, Pastor of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in La Mirada, CA, who sought in the same way that Catholic Bishops often conspire to cover up the malfeasance of Priests, to cover-up the misdeeds of Michael Gaydosh and spare him from an inquiry within the ARBCA organization.