Friday, May 25, 2007
Filing System for Artwork or Photos
Some small business clients have problems retrieving artwork or photographs when working with their designer for custom websites or printed marketing material. Here is a tutorial on how to save, store, and retrieve graphics on your computer. Advice is based on using Outlook for email, and selecting "folder view" in the toolbar of My Documents. The steps may be slightly different depending on your email program, but use the program help files to adjust the system.
1. Create a New Folder in My Documents
Go to My Documents and click on "file" in the menu located in the upper left hand corner of the window and next select "new" and then "folder".
This creates an empty folder entitled "New Folder" and the name should appear immediately and be highlighted in blue with white lettering. Do not click or hit enter, simply begin typing on your keyboard and type "Artwork". The new folder should now be there with the title Artwork.
If the folder is still named "New Folder", right click on the name and select "rename". This will highlight the name again, so just type "Artwork" to rename it.
Note: Do this on all artwork or photos received before you delete any email. If you find an email with something that you need to send to someone, open that email and click "forward" to send the original email with the graphics attached. Just fill in the "to" address, and click "send".
2. Store Artwork or Photographs from Your Received Email
Open your email program and find any email from a person with artwork attached. Click once on that person's name to highlight that email. Next, look at the top of your email list and there will be a title bar for the column "From". Click on the "from" bar, and the program will rearrange the order of your emails and show all from that one person together in one list. Once done you may restore the list in date received order by clicking on the title bar "received".
Next, double click on the first email with artwork attached to open the email. Under the subject box will be "Attachments" incuding a file name or zipped folder name. Right click on the file and then select "save as". This opens a new window with your My Documents list of folders.
Find the folder entitled "Artwork" and double click on that to open the folder, and then select "save". This saves a copy of your artwork to the Artwork folder. Continue and do the same on all artwork or photographs received that you want to store.
Note: After saving to the folder you may want to "unzip" files that were sent to you in a zip folder. Once saved to your My Documents artwork folder, right click on any zip folder and select "extract all" and it will automatically unzip the individual artwork files and add them to the folder.
3. Store Artwork or Photographs Received on a CD
This is similar to graphics received by email. The only difference is the source. Place the CD in your CD drive, and for most computers the file list opens automatically. If not, go to My Documents and locate the drive name containing the CD under My Computer to see the list of iles on the CD. To copy files to your hard drive right click on the file names on the CD and select "send to" and then "My Documents" to transfer all from the CD to your hard drive. Remove the CD and store it in a safe place as backup.
Next, under My Documents, locate the same files, hold the CTRL key, and then right click the file names to highlight each. Once highlighted, left click on any one and drag your mouse to the "Artwork" folder icon. Release your mouse, and all files will be copied to the artwork storage folder for you to retrieve later.
4. Retrieve Stored Artwork to Send in a New Email
Open your email program and create a new blank email. Complete the "to", "subject", and write your message. Next, view the menu across the top and click on "insert" and then "file" to add an attachment. This opens a new window with your My Documents list of folders. Go to the "Artwork" folder and find the file or zip folder that you want to forward and double click on the file, or single click and select "insert".
Confirm that the attached file is displayed in your email next to "Attachments" under your "Subject" box, and then click send to email the artwork.
If any of the terms are unfamiliar, or you use a different program than Outlook for email, you may use the help files to adjust your filing system.
Later when you need to retrieve or forward important artwork or photographs, you will have a system in place to do this quickly and easily.
1. Create a New Folder in My Documents
Go to My Documents and click on "file" in the menu located in the upper left hand corner of the window and next select "new" and then "folder".
This creates an empty folder entitled "New Folder" and the name should appear immediately and be highlighted in blue with white lettering. Do not click or hit enter, simply begin typing on your keyboard and type "Artwork". The new folder should now be there with the title Artwork.
If the folder is still named "New Folder", right click on the name and select "rename". This will highlight the name again, so just type "Artwork" to rename it.
Note: Do this on all artwork or photos received before you delete any email. If you find an email with something that you need to send to someone, open that email and click "forward" to send the original email with the graphics attached. Just fill in the "to" address, and click "send".
2. Store Artwork or Photographs from Your Received Email
Open your email program and find any email from a person with artwork attached. Click once on that person's name to highlight that email. Next, look at the top of your email list and there will be a title bar for the column "From". Click on the "from" bar, and the program will rearrange the order of your emails and show all from that one person together in one list. Once done you may restore the list in date received order by clicking on the title bar "received".
Next, double click on the first email with artwork attached to open the email. Under the subject box will be "Attachments" incuding a file name or zipped folder name. Right click on the file and then select "save as". This opens a new window with your My Documents list of folders.
Find the folder entitled "Artwork" and double click on that to open the folder, and then select "save". This saves a copy of your artwork to the Artwork folder. Continue and do the same on all artwork or photographs received that you want to store.
Note: After saving to the folder you may want to "unzip" files that were sent to you in a zip folder. Once saved to your My Documents artwork folder, right click on any zip folder and select "extract all" and it will automatically unzip the individual artwork files and add them to the folder.
3. Store Artwork or Photographs Received on a CD
This is similar to graphics received by email. The only difference is the source. Place the CD in your CD drive, and for most computers the file list opens automatically. If not, go to My Documents and locate the drive name containing the CD under My Computer to see the list of iles on the CD. To copy files to your hard drive right click on the file names on the CD and select "send to" and then "My Documents" to transfer all from the CD to your hard drive. Remove the CD and store it in a safe place as backup.
Next, under My Documents, locate the same files, hold the CTRL key, and then right click the file names to highlight each. Once highlighted, left click on any one and drag your mouse to the "Artwork" folder icon. Release your mouse, and all files will be copied to the artwork storage folder for you to retrieve later.
4. Retrieve Stored Artwork to Send in a New Email
Open your email program and create a new blank email. Complete the "to", "subject", and write your message. Next, view the menu across the top and click on "insert" and then "file" to add an attachment. This opens a new window with your My Documents list of folders. Go to the "Artwork" folder and find the file or zip folder that you want to forward and double click on the file, or single click and select "insert".
Confirm that the attached file is displayed in your email next to "Attachments" under your "Subject" box, and then click send to email the artwork.
If any of the terms are unfamiliar, or you use a different program than Outlook for email, you may use the help files to adjust your filing system.
Later when you need to retrieve or forward important artwork or photographs, you will have a system in place to do this quickly and easily.
Labels: advice, photographs, tutorials
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Atlanta Marketing Firm Site Intro
Meet Scott Campbell, owner of an expert marketing company in Atlanta named Impact Marketing. My theme covers design advice for websites and artwork for print, and I'm adding links to expert advice for small business owners for marketing, sales, finance, and operations.Visit Atlanta's Marketing Center at www.impactyourcompany.com to explore topics including business growth implementation, direct marketing, internet marketing, small business marketing, marketing research, marketing plans, marketing campaigns, marketing strategies, internet advertising, and advertising campaigns.
Scott Campbell provides paid services for marketing systems and consultation, and his blog features small business marketing tips in a series of articles that are very well written. Scott freely provides timely advice to current trends without the hard sell. Giving freely is one standard I consider before adding links to related resources, so visit Impact Marketing and decide for yourself.
TAGS: advice online marketing advice small business advice small business resources atlanta marketing
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Small Business Blog Posting Advice
Get the most out of your small business blog with this advice to overcome writer's block and come up with new subjects for your blog posts. This post includes excerpts from the full article I wrote and published online which is linked below.
Write short paragraphs and cover one aspect of what you present in each. Visitors want information quickly; so long paragraphs should be avoided. Short posts of 1-2 paragraphs are fine, too. Most website content is quickly scanned, so headlines and the first few words of each paragraph may be all that most visitors view before deciding to read details, or exit.
Include key words relative to your subject, and place some near the beginning of sentences for each paragraph, so your visitors get the general feel as they scan your post. Search engines will visit and index your blog content, too, so key words are important for attracting the search engine crawlers. Always check spelling and grammar before you post.
Google Alerts and blog labels are two techniques to help you generate new blog post ideas. Each will be presented in the report Blog Your Way to Fresh Content from my series of free PDF SEO Reports about do-it-yourself small business website promotion that I began to release early in 2007. Some of my clients could not wait, so here's a preview of how to use these two techniques to come up with post ideas for your blog:
1. Google Alerts is a free service that delivers links to content by email. Once set up, you automatically receive a collection of current news stories or related content by email with summaries and links to the information. Visit the Google Alerts page to get started, or find details in my full article Small Business Blog Writing Tips.
2. Your blog labels are the filing system for your blog that cross references your posts by subject category, so visitors may click a label and view all posts about that subject on one page. Use the list of labels to brainstorm ideas for posts. Again, more details are in the full article.
A large percentage around 25% of new blogs go offline in less than 90 days. One reason is the lack of new and fresh content. Find details in the full article with tips for creating posts for your small business blog and then keep each short and to the point, utilize Google Alerts, and do a review of your blog labels to easily come up with new ideas for posts.
TAGS: advice articles small business advice blog blogger
Write short paragraphs and cover one aspect of what you present in each. Visitors want information quickly; so long paragraphs should be avoided. Short posts of 1-2 paragraphs are fine, too. Most website content is quickly scanned, so headlines and the first few words of each paragraph may be all that most visitors view before deciding to read details, or exit.
Include key words relative to your subject, and place some near the beginning of sentences for each paragraph, so your visitors get the general feel as they scan your post. Search engines will visit and index your blog content, too, so key words are important for attracting the search engine crawlers. Always check spelling and grammar before you post.
Google Alerts and blog labels are two techniques to help you generate new blog post ideas. Each will be presented in the report Blog Your Way to Fresh Content from my series of free PDF SEO Reports about do-it-yourself small business website promotion that I began to release early in 2007. Some of my clients could not wait, so here's a preview of how to use these two techniques to come up with post ideas for your blog:
1. Google Alerts is a free service that delivers links to content by email. Once set up, you automatically receive a collection of current news stories or related content by email with summaries and links to the information. Visit the Google Alerts page to get started, or find details in my full article Small Business Blog Writing Tips.
2. Your blog labels are the filing system for your blog that cross references your posts by subject category, so visitors may click a label and view all posts about that subject on one page. Use the list of labels to brainstorm ideas for posts. Again, more details are in the full article.
A large percentage around 25% of new blogs go offline in less than 90 days. One reason is the lack of new and fresh content. Find details in the full article with tips for creating posts for your small business blog and then keep each short and to the point, utilize Google Alerts, and do a review of your blog labels to easily come up with new ideas for posts.
TAGS: advice articles small business advice blog blogger
Labels: advice, articles, blogger
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Xara Xtreme Door Tag Template
Download this free Xara Xtreme template for creating a custom door tag, also called door hangers, for advertising your business on residential or commercial doorknobs. Get yours hassle-free without any requirement to register. You do not have to signup, give out your email, or name a pet after me.
Direct marketing advertisements using door tags are a cost effective way to promote your business. This Xara file type xar template includes dimensions, guidelines for outside, bleed, and borders for creating a 3 inch (7.62cm) by 8 inch (20.32cm) door hanger with knob die cut. Here's a brief tutorial for using this free template.
The template is color coded showing the bleed area in yellow, the safe area in green, and the top space in red where the tag die cut doorknob hole and slit will go. The safe area defines the space limit for text. Any text outside the green safe area may be blurry or even rejected by the printer for redesign. Photos and background graphics may extend to the edge including the top red section. A preloaded CMYK palette is included in the template, also.
My advice is extending your background (if you use one) to the very top, and perhaps a photo, but nothing important. Obviously the die cut will remove a large round section; yet extending the background will make your door tag more attractive to the reader.
Download the free door tag template here (5Kb zip file, and in IE simply right click and "save target as") to get yours now. Door hangers are popular for advertising real estate, mortgages, pizza delivery, cleaning services, handyman services, landscaping, and more. View a few custom door tag examples here.
In addition, you may want to read the advice in My 5 Second Rule for Small Business Owners to learn about design strategy for graphic art for websites and printed marketing materials.
TAGS: xara templates templates graphic artwork tutorials door tags xara xtreme
Direct marketing advertisements using door tags are a cost effective way to promote your business. This Xara file type xar template includes dimensions, guidelines for outside, bleed, and borders for creating a 3 inch (7.62cm) by 8 inch (20.32cm) door hanger with knob die cut. Here's a brief tutorial for using this free template.
The template is color coded showing the bleed area in yellow, the safe area in green, and the top space in red where the tag die cut doorknob hole and slit will go. The safe area defines the space limit for text. Any text outside the green safe area may be blurry or even rejected by the printer for redesign. Photos and background graphics may extend to the edge including the top red section. A preloaded CMYK palette is included in the template, also.
My advice is extending your background (if you use one) to the very top, and perhaps a photo, but nothing important. Obviously the die cut will remove a large round section; yet extending the background will make your door tag more attractive to the reader.
Download the free door tag template here (5Kb zip file, and in IE simply right click and "save target as") to get yours now. Door hangers are popular for advertising real estate, mortgages, pizza delivery, cleaning services, handyman services, landscaping, and more. View a few custom door tag examples here.
In addition, you may want to read the advice in My 5 Second Rule for Small Business Owners to learn about design strategy for graphic art for websites and printed marketing materials.
TAGS: xara templates templates graphic artwork tutorials door tags xara xtreme
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Streaming Radio While You Work
If you whistle while you work and wish you could listen to someone with more talent, consider streaming radio. I do. The options to have music, talk radio, sports, news, and more is available free from many sources. Some really suck.
My choice for streaming radio (one client mistakenly called it screaming radio - how appropriate) is www.StreamingRadioGuide.com for ease of use, and NO annoying sign-up or advertising.
How easy is it? Visit their website from the text link or banner provided above, and then select from more than 40 categories. Select your category and the next page displays links with a long list of choices including foreign language. Pick a station and click the LISTEN button.
You do not need special software or a new audio player installed. Here's a screen shot of one default player that launches, the HD player for Clear Channel used on their new HD2 and HD3 channels, and by clicking the minimize button it disappears to the task bar on your browser.
Pros: Simple site design and navigation, ease of use, no ads, quality sound
Cons: None (unless prohibited where you work and you get fired for dancing)
Update: Clear Channel with HD Digital Radio is one of many sources researched and updated often by the owner of StreamingRadioGuide.com. In an email message he clarified that he does not provide players that launch from his site, and some stations may not be from Clear Channel. The audio players may vary and are launched as you visit the individual station's website directly from his link. He's done the hard work for you combining many choices with ease of use in one place. Enjoy!
TAGS: advice reviews streaming radio
My choice for streaming radio (one client mistakenly called it screaming radio - how appropriate) is www.StreamingRadioGuide.com for ease of use, and NO annoying sign-up or advertising.
How easy is it? Visit their website from the text link or banner provided above, and then select from more than 40 categories. Select your category and the next page displays links with a long list of choices including foreign language. Pick a station and click the LISTEN button.
You do not need special software or a new audio player installed. Here's a screen shot of one default player that launches, the HD player for Clear Channel used on their new HD2 and HD3 channels, and by clicking the minimize button it disappears to the task bar on your browser.
Pros: Simple site design and navigation, ease of use, no ads, quality sound
Cons: None (unless prohibited where you work and you get fired for dancing)
Update: Clear Channel with HD Digital Radio is one of many sources researched and updated often by the owner of StreamingRadioGuide.com. In an email message he clarified that he does not provide players that launch from his site, and some stations may not be from Clear Channel. The audio players may vary and are launched as you visit the individual station's website directly from his link. He's done the hard work for you combining many choices with ease of use in one place. Enjoy!
TAGS: advice reviews streaming radio
Labels: advice, general, reviews
Monday, May 14, 2007
Blind Blogger Accessibility Software Review
Blind or vision impaired internet users will appreciate the Thunder freeware screen reader from ScreenReader.net In a post last week I commented "Some web developers are resisting or ignoring the concept of accessibility in website design.", and the next day I decided to go further to study screen reader options available to vision impaired and blind persons.
From my research I located 19 software programs with speech synthesizers that read website content aloud, and of these all but 2 were commercial products ranging from $795 to $1500 USD, or more. The freeware from ScreenReader.net based in the UK, and an open source program NVDA created by Michael Curran, with help from James Teh and others in Australia were the only zero cost options for blind and vision impaired people that I could find.
Here is a quote by Roger and Margaret from Great Week for Thunder at The Blind Blogger
I encourage persons with vision who know people in need of a free screen reader to download and test Thunder, and then assist that person with installation and getting started. Website design with accessibility for all deserves more publicity.
TAGS: freeware review screenreader screen reader accessibility website design
From my research I located 19 software programs with speech synthesizers that read website content aloud, and of these all but 2 were commercial products ranging from $795 to $1500 USD, or more. The freeware from ScreenReader.net based in the UK, and an open source program NVDA created by Michael Curran, with help from James Teh and others in Australia were the only zero cost options for blind and vision impaired people that I could find.
Here is a quote by Roger and Margaret from Great Week for Thunder at The Blind Blogger
For the past twenty years and more, talking software for visually impaired users has been a commercial matter and we feel that the high prices have excluded low income users. Like many other enthusiasts, we have learned just how hard it is to introduce an innovation, however worthwhile. So it has been refreshing to receive so much encouragement at a high level. Margaret and I are very determined people and we believe that in ten years time, our customers will be looking back and saying: "Did blind people really have to pay out an extra £800 to enjoy the use of the computer like everyone else? Surely not".Persons on fixed incomes may not know about the 2 free resources, so if a pc costs 3x for a blind person, it must be discouraging if it's not in the budget. I am not vision impaired, so I downloaded and tested the Thunder freeware screen reader to experience as closely as possible what blind or vision impaired persons face. The learning curve during my test and review, and eventual results convinced me that freeware options need more publicity.
I encourage persons with vision who know people in need of a free screen reader to download and test Thunder, and then assist that person with installation and getting started. Website design with accessibility for all deserves more publicity.
TAGS: freeware review screenreader screen reader accessibility website design
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Global Village Realty Site Redesign
A custom website previously done in tables for Global Village Realty, Inc. in Kissimmee, FL was redesigned in XHTML with CSS and launched earlier today. An integrated matching blog was included in the design for a familiar look throughout the website.
Global Village Realty specializes in commercial and residential property, and real estate investment services for Orlando, Kissimmee, and surrounding communities of Central Florida. View their real estate blog here.
The name Global is certainly appropriate. Here is an excerpt from their main website by the owner, Madan Gurdial, "At least 10% of the office share of all commissions goes to non-profit agencies that are working to make our world a better place. We love to be in partnership with others and are open to all ideas, opinions and suggestions that will help make the world a more peaceful and loving place for all of us - in every corner of the globe."
TAGS: small business services custom website design custom blog
Global Village Realty specializes in commercial and residential property, and real estate investment services for Orlando, Kissimmee, and surrounding communities of Central Florida. View their real estate blog here.
The name Global is certainly appropriate. Here is an excerpt from their main website by the owner, Madan Gurdial, "At least 10% of the office share of all commissions goes to non-profit agencies that are working to make our world a better place. We love to be in partnership with others and are open to all ideas, opinions and suggestions that will help make the world a more peaceful and loving place for all of us - in every corner of the globe."
TAGS: small business services custom website design custom blog
Friday, May 11, 2007
Website Animations in Xara Xtreme
On occasion some of my custom website designs include animated gifs, and Xara Xtreme is my software of choice. In general, I am opposed to website animations unless they serve a significant purpose.
Wild or flashy animated gif graphics may violate issues of website accessibility, which may sound strange at first. Actually fast moving graphics may cause seizures in persons with epilepsy, so the decision involves much more than good taste.
I recently created two examples that met my guidelines because first, they were cute, and secondly, each served a practical purpose. Rather than feature each here out of context, you may view my examples created in Xara Xtreme on the actual websites to get the full effect.
The buzzing blowfly in the upper left of the top banner at Australian social bookmarking site Flyblown.com.au was requested by Ric Raftis, the website owner, who is a good friend and fellow custom web developer. The meaning escaped my grasp until he explained that "flyblown" is an Australian term and common euphemism Down Under.
Next, for Roll Screen Solutions in Orlando, Florida, the animation is a product demo of one of their garage door screens in operation. A still photo simply couldn't convey the ease of operation for the retractable door screen, so the animation demonstrated the product with a twist. The animal actor in the demo is the real star.
Using Xara Xtreme the first animated gif was done with 2 frames. The roll screen demo required 36 frames which means 36 separate drawings. Each was done in kind at no charge as statements of gratitude, personal and business.
TAGS: graphic artwork animated gif artwork example Xara Xtreme
Wild or flashy animated gif graphics may violate issues of website accessibility, which may sound strange at first. Actually fast moving graphics may cause seizures in persons with epilepsy, so the decision involves much more than good taste.
I recently created two examples that met my guidelines because first, they were cute, and secondly, each served a practical purpose. Rather than feature each here out of context, you may view my examples created in Xara Xtreme on the actual websites to get the full effect.
The buzzing blowfly in the upper left of the top banner at Australian social bookmarking site Flyblown.com.au was requested by Ric Raftis, the website owner, who is a good friend and fellow custom web developer. The meaning escaped my grasp until he explained that "flyblown" is an Australian term and common euphemism Down Under.
Next, for Roll Screen Solutions in Orlando, Florida, the animation is a product demo of one of their garage door screens in operation. A still photo simply couldn't convey the ease of operation for the retractable door screen, so the animation demonstrated the product with a twist. The animal actor in the demo is the real star.
Using Xara Xtreme the first animated gif was done with 2 frames. The roll screen demo required 36 frames which means 36 separate drawings. Each was done in kind at no charge as statements of gratitude, personal and business.
TAGS: graphic artwork animated gif artwork example Xara Xtreme
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Quick Test for Website Accessibility
Some web developers are resisting or ignoring the concept of accessibility in website design. There are several tests that small business owners may use to see how your website matches up to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
Here's a quick test that you can perform to test accessibility for vision impaired persons on your website just by changing the text size settings. From the top menu of Internet Explorer 6, or under the Page tab of IE7, select "text size" and then try "largest". Does the text size change on the page? If not, your site is not accessible for these visitors, and the web developer who created your site used a fixed size font.
All major browsers have similar features to adjust text, so view help files if it's not obvious. You may want to test this blog. It uses code for adjustable text size, so vision impaired persons can adjust the text for ease of viewing.
You may perform a more complete test for accessiblity of any website page by visiting the free validator at the HiSoftware accessibility site. Plug in your www address and then check the results. The majority of websites are created with techniques from 10 years ago. To meet accessibility small business owners may need a redesign.
Did you know blind or vision impaired persons have special devices to read pages using speech synthesizers? Accessibility is about more than just vision, so use the resources listed here to learn more.
Code programmed to display pages includes extraneous commands that may interfere with proper presentation of your page content. Bloated or deprecated code and older HTML techniques like tables for layout make web pages difficult or impossible for special devices to interpret because all that HTML code gets in the way. Learn more about Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act here which covers website accessibility in more detail.
Small business owners need to consider the needs of every customer and prospect. By meeting accessibility guidelines online the same way you do with a brick and mortar business, you open the door to persons with disabilities to purchase your product or service.
TAGS: small business advice design advice website design accessibility
Here's a quick test that you can perform to test accessibility for vision impaired persons on your website just by changing the text size settings. From the top menu of Internet Explorer 6, or under the Page tab of IE7, select "text size" and then try "largest". Does the text size change on the page? If not, your site is not accessible for these visitors, and the web developer who created your site used a fixed size font.
All major browsers have similar features to adjust text, so view help files if it's not obvious. You may want to test this blog. It uses code for adjustable text size, so vision impaired persons can adjust the text for ease of viewing.
You may perform a more complete test for accessiblity of any website page by visiting the free validator at the HiSoftware accessibility site. Plug in your www address and then check the results. The majority of websites are created with techniques from 10 years ago. To meet accessibility small business owners may need a redesign.
Did you know blind or vision impaired persons have special devices to read pages using speech synthesizers? Accessibility is about more than just vision, so use the resources listed here to learn more.
Code programmed to display pages includes extraneous commands that may interfere with proper presentation of your page content. Bloated or deprecated code and older HTML techniques like tables for layout make web pages difficult or impossible for special devices to interpret because all that HTML code gets in the way. Learn more about Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act here which covers website accessibility in more detail.
Small business owners need to consider the needs of every customer and prospect. By meeting accessibility guidelines online the same way you do with a brick and mortar business, you open the door to persons with disabilities to purchase your product or service.
TAGS: small business advice design advice website design accessibility
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Advertising Photo Edit Tutorial
This lesson for small business owners is an excerpt from a full tutorial on my main website which is linked below. I use Xara Xtreme when designing full color advertising for the web or printed material including flyers or trifold brochures. Xara software is especially useful for photo edits.
I wrote the tutorial to illustrate before and after photographs of a Jeep that was to be featured as the special of the month for a used car dealer. The second graphic shown below shows how I created this very favorable first impression.
Here are the before and after photographs showing results with Xara Xtreme for edits.
The graphic below shows the technique used to create the effect for making a favorable first impression. The used car dealer agreed the Jeep appeared much nicer on the bluff overlooking a sandy beach compared to the photo I took in their parking lot.
This blog post is an excerpt from my Photo Edit Tutorial Using Xara Xtreme which provides more details about how the photo edit was done for this used car dealer. Large companies have art departments and may not need this lesson, so although I write for small business owners, individuals may benefit from this tutorial, also.
TAGS: small business advice photo edits printed ad design xara design tutorial
I wrote the tutorial to illustrate before and after photographs of a Jeep that was to be featured as the special of the month for a used car dealer. The second graphic shown below shows how I created this very favorable first impression.
Here are the before and after photographs showing results with Xara Xtreme for edits.
The graphic below shows the technique used to create the effect for making a favorable first impression. The used car dealer agreed the Jeep appeared much nicer on the bluff overlooking a sandy beach compared to the photo I took in their parking lot.
This blog post is an excerpt from my Photo Edit Tutorial Using Xara Xtreme which provides more details about how the photo edit was done for this used car dealer. Large companies have art departments and may not need this lesson, so although I write for small business owners, individuals may benefit from this tutorial, also.
TAGS: small business advice photo edits printed ad design xara design tutorial
Labels: advice, photographs
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Sunstate Patios Furniture Site Launch
Another custom website designed in XHTML with CSS has launched for Sunstate Patios in Davenport, FL. An integrated matching blog was included in the design for a familiar look throughout the website. View their patio furniture blog here.
Sunstate Patios manufactures and distributes custom pvc outdoor patio furniture in their Central Florida factory and showroom with direct sale to customers including wholesale and retail dealers.
Products include patio sets in pvc, aluminum, and wicker as well as accessory furniture with stands, chaises, chairs, lounge chairs, umbrellas, and a very wide selection of fabrics for patio furniture cushions.
TAGS: small business services custom website design custom blog
Sunstate Patios manufactures and distributes custom pvc outdoor patio furniture in their Central Florida factory and showroom with direct sale to customers including wholesale and retail dealers.
Products include patio sets in pvc, aluminum, and wicker as well as accessory furniture with stands, chaises, chairs, lounge chairs, umbrellas, and a very wide selection of fabrics for patio furniture cushions.
TAGS: small business services custom website design custom blog
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Custom Blogger Template Design Services
After investing 100 plus hours creating and tweaking a new blogger template for my commercial site, custom blogger template design services are now available. The goal was matching the graphics and color scheme so visitors moving from my blog to the main site and back would see very little difference in the overall look. Here's another good example with the Mannion Custom Painting blog.
Small business customers who have read the first two free PDFs in my series of search engine optimization reports pressured me to get blog information documented sooner than "later this year". I selectively chose a few clients to create custom new blogger templates with matching graphics before this announcement making the service available for all.
Here's some of what you get:
1. a custom new blogger template with matching graphics
2. a 15 page personalized blogger tutorial in PDF format
3. registration, installation and testing of your blog
4. registration and account setup with promotional services
5. promotional tools and advice for blog and ping
6. social bookmarking code, registration, and graphics
7. preprogrammed labels to sort posts by categories
8. a list of copy and paste tags for creating new posts
Please note that my free SEO report series including Google Page One in Just 9 Months are based on my experience from May 2006 to February 2007. The custom blogger templates are only available for the new Blogger or old because those are the only ones I've used. Other brands such as WordPress or TypePad may be considered for custom matching graphics. Just ask.
TAGS: blog blogger template custom website design advice
Small business customers who have read the first two free PDFs in my series of search engine optimization reports pressured me to get blog information documented sooner than "later this year". I selectively chose a few clients to create custom new blogger templates with matching graphics before this announcement making the service available for all.
Here's some of what you get:
1. a custom new blogger template with matching graphics
2. a 15 page personalized blogger tutorial in PDF format
3. registration, installation and testing of your blog
4. registration and account setup with promotional services
5. promotional tools and advice for blog and ping
6. social bookmarking code, registration, and graphics
7. preprogrammed labels to sort posts by categories
8. a list of copy and paste tags for creating new posts
Please note that my free SEO report series including Google Page One in Just 9 Months are based on my experience from May 2006 to February 2007. The custom blogger templates are only available for the new Blogger or old because those are the only ones I've used. Other brands such as WordPress or TypePad may be considered for custom matching graphics. Just ask.
TAGS: blog blogger template custom website design advice
Labels: blogger, templates, websites
Saturday, May 05, 2007
How to Report UCE Spam
Join the fight against Spam. Here's how small business owners can help, and it only takes 1 minute. I was getting fed up after I received identical email multiple times in one day from different Gmail addresses, and each was UCE or Unsolicited Commercial Email, asking for reciprocal links. Following my first impulse to report this to Google, who owns and provides the Gmail service, I learned that both Gmail addresses were fake, or spoofed. Here's my advice on how to report UCE Spam.
If you own a small business in the USA, the Federal Trade Commission will investigate complaints of UCE. To report, all you must do is open the suspicious email and click "forward" and enter spam@uce.gov as the forwarding address, and then click "send" to submit your email to the FTC. You may want to read the FTC's Privacy Policy for assurance your identity will remain anonymous. If you are uncomfortable sending by email, you may complete the FTC complaint form online through their secure and encrypted site.
In the example above, Google was innocent. The spammers used a technique called "spoofing" in violation of the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, and masked their real identity using special coding to avoid tracing. Commercial email solicitations to unknown parties where no existing business relationship exists, must include an unsubscribe option to opt-out of receiving future mailings, also. The identical messages I received from different addresses did not.
Is someone sending junk mail to your small business? Use the FTC forwarding email to report violations. Note: If you have an existing business relationship with a company the rules are different. While it is legal to send email to known business contacts, your email message may not contain false or misleading routing information, but otherwise is exempt from most provisions of the CAN-SPAM Act.
Read this related article that I wrote in August 2006 entitled Don't Ignore Legal Obligations of The CAN-SPAM Act to learn the provisions of commercial email you receive, or send.
TAGS: small business advice reporting spam internet marketing spam
If you own a small business in the USA, the Federal Trade Commission will investigate complaints of UCE. To report, all you must do is open the suspicious email and click "forward" and enter spam@uce.gov as the forwarding address, and then click "send" to submit your email to the FTC. You may want to read the FTC's Privacy Policy for assurance your identity will remain anonymous. If you are uncomfortable sending by email, you may complete the FTC complaint form online through their secure and encrypted site.
In the example above, Google was innocent. The spammers used a technique called "spoofing" in violation of the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, and masked their real identity using special coding to avoid tracing. Commercial email solicitations to unknown parties where no existing business relationship exists, must include an unsubscribe option to opt-out of receiving future mailings, also. The identical messages I received from different addresses did not.
Is someone sending junk mail to your small business? Use the FTC forwarding email to report violations. Note: If you have an existing business relationship with a company the rules are different. While it is legal to send email to known business contacts, your email message may not contain false or misleading routing information, but otherwise is exempt from most provisions of the CAN-SPAM Act.
Read this related article that I wrote in August 2006 entitled Don't Ignore Legal Obligations of The CAN-SPAM Act to learn the provisions of commercial email you receive, or send.
TAGS: small business advice reporting spam internet marketing spam
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Another Custom Template Blog Launch
A custom blogger template was created for Commercial Door and Access, Inc. of Palm Bay Florida, and this addition to their main website was launched earlier today. The advantage of custom matching graphics for the header and footer, plus similar navigation, is integration of the blog with the main site for a familiar look.
The above snapshot is smaller than actual size and shows the first post at Commercial Door and Access who provide sales and installation of commercial doors and hardware, plus handicap and automatic doors and gates.
TAGS: blog blog template custom website design
The above snapshot is smaller than actual size and shows the first post at Commercial Door and Access who provide sales and installation of commercial doors and hardware, plus handicap and automatic doors and gates.
TAGS: blog blog template custom website design
Labels: blogger, launch, templates, websites
Jim Degerstrom
