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Even in Mooresvile, NC

Posted on July 17, 2008 | Filed Under Fun Stuff

Sunset in North Carolina
photo by Jeff Cooper

We may be known as “Race City, USA” because of NASCAR, but we can also get some sunsets beautiful enough to rival the coast!

What Helps Calm You?

Posted on July 10, 2008 | Filed Under Fun Stuff

My calm...

I have this right outside my office window! :)

My calm...

Expectations and Etiquette in Your Projects

Posted on July 8, 2008 | Filed Under Business Image, Smart Business

What?!I’ve been around for a long time….well, 13 years, anyway. During that time, I’ve seen and heard it all. I’ve had people ask me to copy things word for word and color for color (WHAT?!?!?!), and I’ve had people say things to me that I wouldn’t say to my neighbor’s annoying pet monkey!

When you reach a point in your business where you need to hire a graphic designer, a copy writer, a marketing specialist, or any such service provider, there are things you should keep in mind…

FIRST:

Unless the professional you’ve hired is a total stick in the mud, afford them some common respect and courtesy. After all, you chose to hire them for this project, so something about them made them your choice. If the person doesn’t “get” what you want right away, that doesn’t mean they deserve to be treated as if they’re an idiot (or even called one). To these types of professionals-time is money…it’s what they sell, and they don’t want to waste it any more than you do.

Reaching the perfect “zen” in a project takes time, perseverance, patience, and insight.

This leads us to the SECOND thing:

Smart BusinessProviding the materials requested in a timely manner, and filling out questionnaires in their entirety will only help to insure that you receive what you want more quickly. Your business should be an open book when you’re completing this type of project (not financially, just everything else). And there’s no such thing as “long-winded” when it comes to descriptions and preferences.

We’ve talked about how you should behave, and what you should provide. Now, let’s talk about

WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT

GUIDELINES

You should expect to receive some information about exactly how the professional you’re working with “works”…deadlines, timeline estimates, how overages are handled, etc. What are the cancellation fees, and guarantees involved in your project.

RESEARCH

Even if your project is simple, it will still require research. What kinds of things are researched? The latest trends, industry standards, competition, viability, and market knowledge are all elements that should be included. Expect a part of your fee to go towards research when using a true professional.

Read more

Redirects and SEO

Posted on July 1, 2008 | Filed Under SEO

Website SEOMost designers know it, but many who build their own website may not. Did you know that the way you redirect your pages and domains has an affect on your Search Engine Optimization?

A 301 permanent redirect is best. This can be accomplished using your .htaccess file on an Apache Server, or with a little extra effort on a Microsoft Server. To see full instructions and more information on how it makes a difference, visit Bruce Clay’s SEO Newsletter.


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