BestWebGallery.com

DesignShack.com

DesignSnack.com

Flickr’s Web Design Inspiration Collection

SiteInspire.com

TheBestDesigns.com

VandelayDesign.com

WebCreme.com

WebDesign-Inspiration.com

WeLoveWP.com

Studiopress.com

Here are some categories and definitions that will help you navigate social media:

Traditional Communications

• Don’t forget the traditional methods of communication:
• Web Content (yes, I classify this as traditional!)
• Brochures
• Newsletters
• Email
• TV/Radio
• Billboards
• Print Ads

Unlike what some may say, traditional communication is not dead, just different. You need to integrate all of your social media tools with your traditional communications to make your organization’s promotion a complete circle. Include your social media links in your email newsletters. Insert a flier into your product packaging to encourage customers to follow you on Twitter or like your Facebook business page. And we’ve all seen and heard business adding their social media links to radio and TV ads.

Pull it all together and get it connected. Don’t let yourself get too overwhelmed with the number of options. Choose a few that will work best for your industry/business. For example, since Santa Clara Design does not see clients in our office, a location based check-in service would not serve us well. However, for our clients who have local business, location based services should be a key element of their social media campaign.  Choose a few outlets that work for you, and get rolling. Then, you can allow your customers to choose THEIR favorite method of keeping in touch with you and your services, and they won’t be disappointed!

I am beginning a new series on Social Media and Small Business. Really, any business or organization can benefit from this information, but since my primary focus is assisting small businesses, that is where my thoughts point first.

I moved into the social media realm because I saw a need with my clients. Many wanted to get involved with social media, but were terrified and overwhelmed. Many felt they we’re smart enough, quick enough or young enough to “pull it off”. As I began getting more involved personally and with clients, I learned some things that I hope help them and might help you as well!

• First, I want to remind you that there is NO ONE who knows more about your business and the way it best reaches the community with it’s message than owners and employees of the business.
• Media is media. Communication is communication, when it gets right down to it. At one point or another, newspapers, radio, television and the Internet were considered new forms of media and now they’re labeled as “traditional” media. So “new” media doesn’t mean that only “experts” or young hotshots can successfully operate your social-media team.
• Nothing replaces knowledge of the basics of marketing, combined with knowledge of your business-related goals.
• From the beginning, the basic objective of every successful marketing strategy has been the same – establish or develop stronger connections or relationships with people.
• While some may suggest that “everything has changed” and that “traditional media is dead”, I’d like to suggest, rather, that media and communication IS new, more real, more organic, and less controlled. But, it is still very much the same: creating relationships, building trust and demonstrating quality.
• Yes, there are a few technical things to learn, but not that many, really compared to other forms of media – printing, web design, etc… You need a computer, a few accounts and the ability to communicate in relatively succinct sentences!

It’s pretty simple. Communication still all comes down to building relationships. I count ‘success’ not by the number of followers or ‘likes’ I have, but by the number and quality of the interactions that my social media outlets provide me.

More to come!

Since the design element of our work is very important to us, we’ve fine-tuned our methods and have become pretty good at determining our clients design style from the outset.

New clients are given a questionnaire, asking them to think about various design elements. Here are a few things we like clients to consider:

1. Content-focused or Graphic-focused? Do you want your visitors to focus more on the content of your site, or do you want them to be inspired by the feeling the design offers. Content focused sites might apply to news, or heavy blogging sites. Graphic-focused sites might be better suited for sites offering an experience, such as travel, religious sites, certain products, clothing and venues. What do you think will best suit your purpose?
2. Minimalist or Elaborate? Do you like a clean, white background, with a few stand out graphics and clean, readable fonts? Do you like lots of white space and clean lines? Or, do you like plenty of texture, layering and color blends in your design. Would you like your site to have several different areas of interest or interaction? Does a collage look appeal to you? Keep in mind that BOTH styles can be equally informative.
3. Take a look at your brand. If you have a set logo, that is unalterable, that might help you determine your style, especially if you have invested time and money with a marketing professional to brand your business. You can use your branding look and feel to help lead the design of your site. Is your logo clean and sharp, or more artistic. Is it something you want to feature prominently on your site? If so, your logo may be the place to start.
4. Are you developing a relationship or pushing a call to action? What is your site about? Do you want to draw visitors in and have them return again and again? Or, are you trying to have your visitor make a commitment, make a purchase, sign-up or give feedback. Maybe you want to do both. Either way, this is an important aspect of design, since a call-to-action element usually needs to be fairly prominent on the homepage as well as secondary pages on a site. If you are more focused on developing a relationship with your visitors, then you want to highlight your website’s personality, your ‘connectiveness’ (blog interaction, social media, categories of content). Simply said, you want your visitors to find a home to come back to.
5. What sites do you HATE? Sometimes working backward is the easiest way. If you find it hard to put into words what you like, try finding 3-5 sites that you hate and explain why. You might discover very quickly a theme in your ‘dislikes’ that translates quite easily into what you do like.

Conclusion:

Doing a little bit of homework beforehand can make your web development experience much more rewarding. From my experience, clients who know what they like and don’t like, and are confident in those opinions are the most enjoyable to work with. It is our job, as the web designer/developer to help you ask yourself the right questions. And maybe to ask more questions after that. We want YOUR input, because we want you to be thrilled with the end result!

The following tips will help you take great photos for your website.

Camera

Know your camera. Read the manual. Use the best camera available to you, but know that most cameras can take very good photos, as long as you know what it can (and can’t do). Learn about your camera’s settings. Use a tripod if you have one.

Shutter Speed: Shutter speed is the amount of time that the shutter is open and is measured in seconds.  The bigger the denominator the faster the speed (ie 1/1000 is much faster than 1/25). It is displayed as a fraction of seconds. So, Shutter speed is key when shooting action shots. A slow shutter speed (say 1 second) would be used in very low light situations, for special effects or when you are wanting to catch some motion in your photography, like a moving car or your son running across the yard in blurred motion. A fast shutter speed (like 1/1000) will ‘freeze’ motion. This is helpful when shooting sporting events or your daughter jumping in mid air!

Here is an excellent lesson on shutter speed if you are wanting to know ALL the details!

Aperture: The diameter of the opening in the lens that allows the light to enter the camera. The bigger the opening, the more light is allowed to enter your camera.  Aperture is measured in f-stops. Larger numbers (f8, f11, f16, etc.) mean smaller openings and less light, whereas smaller numbers (f2.8, f4, etc.) actually let in more light.

If you want a very shallow depth of field (background blurry), you’d choose a very large aperture opening, which would be a very low number. (f2.8)  If you want a very large depth of field (everything in focus), you’d choose a very small aperture opening, which would be a higher number. (like f22)

Here is a great lesson on Aperture from DigitalPhotographySchool.com

and don’t forget ThePioneerWoman.com’s Photography posts on aperture. Great for beginners!

Here is a link to a Glossary of Photographic Terms that might be helpful to you, if you really like to get into the details.

Subject

Are you taking photos of people, or of a product? You will approach each differently. When your subject is a person, you will want to use a close up shot. Focus on their face, or the upper part of their body. Be sure that the individual wears solid, or subtly textured clothing. Nothing obnoxious or distracting. You want the attention drawn to the person, not their funky hat or red polka-dotted dress.

Are you taking photos of a child? Get down on her level. Is she having a hard time smiling? Trying carrying on a conversation about something she likes, or make some animal sounds and have her tell you what animal she hears (I’ve seen this work well with my own children!). Or, don’t worry about the smile. Just have them look at something in the distance. Sometimes pensive shots can be very powerful!

Are you taking photos of items that you are trying to feature on your website? Consider lighting and background carefully. While some might want to hand off product photography to a pro, who has the supplies the make the job a bit easier, you can do it. Many products can be photographed outside rather well. Choose morning or afternoon light, or an overcast day for best results. Use a sheet, a poster board or other neutral background. Choose your angle to display your object in its best light, and don’t be afraid to get close up. This is where a good lens will come in handy.

Here is a good link the might help you with product photography.

Lighting

I always recommend natural light. Almost everything looks better without the harsh light of a flash. Choose morning, afternoon or overcast clouds for good, muted light. You can also shoot indoors, using a nice open window or doorway. Turn off your auto-flash. Avoid having your subject face into the sun. The lighting will be too bright, and not many people can smile naturally while squinting!

Background

Be sure that you do not have any distracting objects in the background of your photo. You don’t need the background to be complete void of action, but make sure that there isn’t a tree branch “growing” out behind someone’s head or a overflowing trash can in the background. Indoors, be sure that surfaces are relatively neat and uncluttered. Outdoors, be aware of reflections, power lines, and other distracting elements.

Make sure there are no components in the background that will distract from your photo. If your photo is of your store interior, make sure the trash can is out of sight. If your shot is of someone working at her desk, be sure that both the desk and area behind the desk contain only a few essential items. On outdoor shots, be aware of power lines, reflections in glass, and other unsightly elements. Also, watch our for objects “growing” out of your subject’s head, such as trees or sign posts.

Editing

Does your image need editing? There are several free online photo editing resources out there for you. But, before you start cropping, sharpening and retouching, be sure that your photo really needs help. An overly edited photo takes away from the subject and leaves the viewer wondering why the subject looks like it’s sitting on the surface of mars or was discovered in your grandmothers attic trunk. Stay away from ultra-trendy effects. Simple brightening, edge shadows and contrast can be helpful. But, some of the more artistic effects might be better saved for your personal images.

Here are a few online editing resources.

Extra Tips:

• Take LOTS of photos! The digital camera has given us the freedom to take tons of photos and the choose the best of the bunch.
• Try unusual angels and settings. Try a photo of someone standing in an old doorway. Find an old brick wall. Photograph your subject from above. Place your object on an old worn out piece of wood or your grandmother’s table cloth. Be creative!

Extra Resources:

• Kodak
• Digital Photography School
• I Heart Faces
• Photojojo
• The Pioneer Woman Photography

Hope this helps! Bring on the awesome photos!

And, remember, Santa Clara Design offers photography services as well, if you ever need any help.

Developing and updating your blog will require an investment of both time and thought, so before you get started, consider whether you can stick to a regular update schedule.

Keep an eye out for future posts on “How to Promote Your Business Blog” and “How to Manage Social Media for a Small Business”

When I say “blog” you might think of your cousin Pam who posts recipes and photos of her cat every three days. You may think that a “blog” has nothing to do with you, your life, your business or your success.

Let me convince you otherwise.

1. Your blog is the perfect place to share your thoughts and knowledge on subjects related to your business, create links to useful information, and post news and other announcements.
2. Use your blog to give your business a personal face and voice. Allow your customers to get to know you and why you stand behind your product.
3. A well planned and managed blog can help you build your professional reputation and gain your customers’ trust.
4. Sharing your viewpoint and participating in the ongoing industry discussions is alwasy a huge benefit to a company.
5. A company should want to be as involved as they can be to manage their online reputation: it’s where your current and future customers are already devoting their time and attention.
6. Allowing customers to communicate with you on your blog shows an openness and willingness to listen and receive feeback. It might be a vulnerable spot, but anyone truly wanting to provide a better customer experience should be eager to receive customer feeback.
7. A blog, linked with social media outlets, can be even more powerful a tool for promoting your business.
8. Your blog should embody the brand of your business. Your employees will certainly come forward with great ideas for posts. Reward their creativity and dedication, allow them to help!
9. A well-done blog makes it easy to add and update content, so there’s always something fresh on the site.
10. SEO value: Despite what some may say, content is still king. Search engines like Google like regular updates, and creating new pages, full of relevant keywords from your new posts is a perfect way to increase the size of your site, and ultimately increase traffic by improving your search engine ranking chances.

Here are the details:

• You must be a Catholic ministry, Catholic Church or Catholic-focused blog
• You will get a free, custom designed WordPress site as per your design style and suggestions
• You will need to pay for hosting
• To enter, please follow me on Twitter, or like my Facebook Page and leave a comment here letting me know you have done that
• You must leave me your email address
• Entries will be closed at midnight on Monday August 15th
• I will use Random.org to select the winner
• I will announce the winner on Tuesday, August 16th

St. Clare of Assisi is my confirmation saint. 9 years ago, I had my second child and decided that I needed to stay home with my children, but contribute to the family coffers. Santa Clara Design was born! One of my commitments has been to offer my skills to the Church, to help promote Her teachings through the media. My business been blessed and I am very thankful my work and the wonderful clients that I have the opportunity to work with.

So, in honor of St. Clare (you can learn more about her here) I want to offer this giveaway as a way to say ‘thank you’ and give back.

Spread the word!

Many people start blogging (as I did way back when) with a free blogging software like blogger, typepad or wordpress.com. These blogs are simple, they’re free and for some people, that’s all they need. However, many bloggers eventually come to the realization that they need “more”. They want more control over their posts, they want more control over their user experience, they want more control over design, security, SEO and a million other things. If you think this might be YOU, then read on. Let me convince you of the greatness of a hosted WordPress site.

1.     Self-Hosted

When you switch your blog over to WordPress.org (learn about the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org here) you will have to have your site hosted somewhere. I highly recommend Bluehost. You’ll have to take a few minutes to purchase a hosting account (around $9/month… not a bad investment) and install WordPress. Bluehost walks you through the whole thing. Or you can have an expert help you out.

The benefit to having hosted blog is that you “own” your content.  This gives you even more power and ability to customize your WordPress installation. And you have control over ownership, code and backups.

2.     Support

This is one of my biggest selling points for clients. WordPress sites have almost unlimited support. First, you have the WordPress forums. This is an extensive network of probably every WordPress question and answer in the world. If it’s been an issue, it’s on the WordPress forum. In addition, there are thousands of WordPress Developers that host their own support forums to help clients, or potential clients. And, if you need expert help, you can always hire a WordPress expert to help you out. Unlike other custom-coded content management systems out there, with a WordPress blog or website, you will always have someone who can help you out.

3.     Design

As a designer at heart, the design aspect of WordPress is what I love most.  A WordPress blogger will have hundreds of thousands of themes to choose from. There are free themes and themes that you can buy. And, if you really want to spruce up your site, you’ll probably want to consider a custom theme for your design. With WordPress, you have complete control over the branding, design and layout of your site. And, man, these sites can look great!

4.     Plugins & Widgets

You can make WordPress be and do almost anything you want! Currently, there are over 13,000 WordPress plugins in the WordPress Plugin Directory. Oh, did I forget to mention that they’re FREE?! Yes, FREE. Just take a look and see what I’m talking about. In addition to these, there are tons more plugins that you can purchase for more complex needs. However, most site requirements can be met by utilizing the free plugins. Widgets give you a simple way to arrange the various elements of your sidebar content. They’re simple, but powerful ways to customize your WordPress blog or website in a snap.

5.     Run an entire website

WordPress isn’t just limited to blogging. In fact, the majority of my clients use WordPress as a CMS (Content Management System). They may include a blog on their site, but they can have pages, a store, photo galleries, contact forms and hundreds of other features on their site.  My clients love this ability to update and change their content when ever they need to. And I love using WordPress as a CMS because it allows my clients to take care of the little things for themselves (who really wants to pay someone to add a paragraph or a photo to a page?) and let me tackle the bigger projects for them. Better use of your money all around!

6.     Run multiple websites

WordPress 3.0 integrated the functionality of WordPress MU (Multi-User) right in to the installation, now called WordPress multisite or MS. Once activated, you’re running a network of websites, each potentially on their own domain. So, you can now run multiple blogs from one installation of WordPress. A bit more complicated than a single user WordPress installation, but with multisite, you can give your visitors their own blog: “visitor.yoursite.com” or a realtor can give each of his realtors their own blog: “individualrealtor.realtycompany.com”. Pretty cool!

7.     Control

As I mentioned before, WordPress gives you complete control over the look and feel of your website. You also have complete control over the code. WordPress  allows you to edit all of the code in your site, unlike the free blogging software out there.  Want to customize your site?  You can!   Don’t know how to do it?   You can find someone who does.

8.     Simplicity

But, WordPress can also be extremely simple if you want it to be. The  control panel for WordPress is very user friendly. When you edit a page or post, you have the option between “visual” view or “html” view. The content editor is a WYSIWYG editor similar to Word.  And there are even built in tools for you to import content from Word or a .txt document.

9.     Comment Management

WordPress offers superior comment management. That’s really important to bloggers! Manage comments from your admin panel, specify comment pagination, threaded comments, spam monitoring, comment notification, comment subscription and much more!

10.   SEO

WordPress naturally offers great SEO-friendly code. WordPress, straight out of the box, comes ready to embrace search engines. Its features and functions guide a search engine through the posts, pages, and categories to help the search engine crawl your site and gather the information it needs to include your site within its database. And, since WordPress works so well as a CMS, adding content is easy. And content is important when it comes to SEO.

The lenses work with any camera phone and attach by a simple adhesive magnetic ring. Turn your phone into a even better tool for your website and/or social media with these super fun lenses!