resource blog

Clients often asked us how to crop, or even reduce the file size, of a photo for their website or blog. For web developers and other graphic designers that use CS3 or 4, it is tempting for us to offer a knee jerk recommendation of Adobe’s Photoshop® as it offers all they need and more. But this presents some problems as our typical clients wouldn’t use it enough to warrant it’s hefty price tag or steep learning curve. So… we struggled to find something reasonably priced, basic enough for their needs and easy to learn.

So last month, while developing wegive.org with The Nonprofit Center, we searched to find just such a solution that their members could use in order to edit their project photos and post unassisted. Alas, we (or rather our amazing client, Tuesday Cetin) found just such a tool. And the best part is that it is not only reasonably priced, but free! Introducing: Pixenate™.

Further research from our team, disclosed a comprehensive resource list of other similar tools on Mashable: see Online Photo Editors. If these sounds like something you need, give them each a try and let us know which you prefer.

People gravitate to others based on shared interest. In life, these groups develop naturally through our everyday relationships such as families, friends and business associates. It just makes sense that they are now reforming virtually, both personally and professionally. In fact, online, professional-based connecting is quickly becoming the most valuable business tool on the web – especially for small and mid-size businesses that rely on referrals for business development.

Among the herd of networking sites, LinkedIn is by far the most popular and easy to use. I recommend uploading your email contacts directly into the web app as many of your associates are already participating and happy to connect to you. They may even be willing to recommend your company or make important introductions to members of their own network. These endorsements can solidify new relationships with prospective customers or simply reinforce client satisfaction among your current clients.

LinkedIn’s Q&A component is a great way to position your company as an expert while supplying a hyperlink opportunity within your response that points directly to your website or biz blog. This is dually important as you attract new users while earning higher website rank from the external link.

Another favorite of mine is Twitter (follow us on Twitter!). While many executives feel microblogging is a waste of their already limited time, I have found that by spending just a few minutes each day connecting with my network, I discover numerous website resources and even tips I may have missed completely on my own. I am constantly amazed at the generosity of colleagues and friends to share their knowledge and my business benefits from their experience. In return, I take another few minutes to post or even re-tweet for my own network of followers.

If you’re not yet convinced, just think about the impact social networks had on the recent presidential campaign. While some past politicians used the internet for fundraising purposes, Obama was the pioneer for successfully integrating technology in order to reach out and organize his voters. He was able to update these voters on breaking news and needs in real time. Your business can do the same.

I suggest you try this new way to network for a week and experience its impact first hand. Then let us know the results.

AIGA Jacksonville invites you to Problem | Solution :: Web Design from Scratch Q&A and Discussion Web Design Roundtable.

ROUNDTABLE PANEL INCLUDES:
Dennis Eusebio - Thought & Theory
Lesley Foster - Brown Dog Creative
Chris Lahey - Station Four
Joey Marchy - nGen Works
Chris Olberding - Station Four

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Web Designers, Print Designers and other creative professionals interested in learning the ins and outs of the web design process

WHEN:
Thursday, October 23
6:00 pm-6:45 pm - Networking with light refreshments 
6:45 pm-8 pm - Panel Discussion

WHERE:
Art Institute of Jacksonville
8775 Baypine Road
Jacksonville, FL 32256 | MAP

COST:
AIGA Members: $5
Nonmembers: $15 | JOIN NOW

Registration:
Please RSVP to aigajacksonville@gmail.com

Technorati Profile

Color Wheel

Color is one of the most important elements of web design. Here is a basic color wheel lesson to help you understand how we select the right color palette for your corporate website.

Primary Colors - Red, Yellow and Blue

Secondary Colors - Two primary colors mixed together. Orange, Green and Violet.

Tertiary (Intermediate) Colors - A primary and a secondary mixed together. Red-Orange, Yellow-Orange, Yellow-Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Violet, Red-Violet.

We refer to color as hue, and tinted or toned when we add white or gray to it. Adding black creates shades.

Colors can take on aggressive qualities when warm and recessive when cool. In other words, yellow, orange and red can evoke strong emotional responses such as anger or energy, while the cooler blue, green and violet can relax and reassure.

Palettes

Palettes are combinations of colors. We select palettes to give websites depth and interest. 

Monochromatic schemes use any shade, tint or tone of any single color.

Complimentary colors appear opposite each other on the color wheel such as orange and blue or yellow and violet.

Analogous palettes include colors that lie adjacent to each other on the color wheel. (green, blue-green, blue)

Applying different palettes to a single design concept can completely change the way to look is perceived.

More on color and how computer monitors effect them coming soon.

Blogging is taking over the world - the corporate world that is. Many executives are complacent in thinking that blogging is just something “the kids these days dabble in.” Many simply stumble upon a blog or two as a result of a Google search. They read the article and then move on. In doing so, they underutilize web tools that are out there for the taking - many of which are free and make blogging invaluable to their own business development (bookmarking, RSS, etc.) See Cost-effective Web Tools and Trends for more.

I find many executives and company owners don’t want to put in the time it takes to develop a blog and in turn a community around their brand. In neglecting to do so, they miss out on many qualified consumers that are too savvy to listen to the typical marketing jargon. These consumers are multiplying exponentially and demand user-centered content that directly addresses their concerns. They want to search for testimonials from satisfied customers, browse well-organized categories and read breaking news (not last year’s press releases). And they want that news expressed in an authentic voice - not one contrived of marketing spin. I discuss the importance of this in my entry, Do You Need a Biz Blog?

So… to blog or not to blog? Maybe these compelling reasons will convince even the most skeptical:

* Community Builders
* Built In Content Management
* Lower Development Costs
* Fully Customizable
* Organic in Nature
* Archival
* Link Drivers
* Revenue Generators

As a web designer, I am witnessing a trend of increasing use of the blog platform as a replacement to the traditional, and often static, corporate brochureware website. I predict that businesses will need to get on the bus by developing their own blogs, or get left behind.

To conclude, as certain politicians lead the way in leveraging the internet to their advantage by welcoming new supporters every day, many executives will see the value in terms of their own businesses and follow. 

The Jacksonville web design creatives at Brown Dog have officially entered the WWT, or World Wide Twitter® revolution! Follow us to see what we crazy dogs are doing when not producing thoughtful, deliberate, and effective web design services for our amazing clients.

Until recently, many companies had to create expensive custom applications to perform basic business tasks. Now many of these applications are available online and easy to customize to your particular industry, and some are even free.

Here’s our list of what’s hot and helpful:

Blasting allows companies to reach a large database of clients through custom email messages, or email blasts, into which the company brand can be integrated by embedding graphics and HTML styles. (Recipients can easily opt out if desired.)

For the more advanced, we recommend Campaign Monitor.

For the beginner (or busy executive), we set up easy-to-use custom email templates at MailBuild.

Blogs allow CEOs, employees or customers to share their thoughts in an online journal. A corporate blog can give the public a more personal impression of the company and can be an additional way to launch products or announce company news. Also, published blog articles generate additional visitors to the website for improved seo. We love WordPress for its flexibility, easy-to-use interface and outstanding plug-ins.

For the seasoned blogger, online tools are available to help promote and manage your blog site - even drive others directly to your website. Check out Technorati.

RSS, Really Simple Syndication, is a format for syndicating news and content of news-like sites. Like blogs, RSS feeds have grown so popular that there are specific tools like Feedburner to promote and track them. Subscribe to our feed in the Meta area at right.

Bookmarking through 
del.icio.us allows individuals to mark useful sites online that they want to visit again later and then share their bookmarks company- or department-wide. To discover or share website content with others, visit Digg.

It’s hard to keep track of all the new options, but these sites are dedicated to announcing and reviewing new products for consumers: TechCrunch 
and Mashable. We keep them both close at hand in our blogroll!

As business and personal communications continue to become more streamlined, companies must keep up with the latest technology to stay relevant. Today’s tech-savvy customers prefer to receive online business communications, like email blasts. There are many ways to conduct this outreach effectively.

“Blasting” is when an email message is sent to a large group of recipients at once. These can be a cost- and time-efficient way to distribute company news. Make it a practice to gather email addresses whenever possible, such as during sales transactions, at networking or sales events or by adding an email sign-up link on your corporate website.

Why blast:

Email blasts are inexpensive and save on printing and postage.

A regular, preset blast is an easy way to interact with your clients.

Emails are easily forwarded by recipients, creating more client referrals.

Clients can opt out of the program if they choose.

When to blast:

Send email blasts early in the day.

Only send blasts when you have something real to offer. Too many irrelevant e-mails will get your messages automatically sent to the trash file.

Use email blasts to launch a new product or service, as an event invitation, as part of a fundraising campaign, as a company newsletter, to augment advertising or public relations campaigns or to gauge customer satisfaction.

A biz blog is an online journal from a business perspective that is frequently updated and intended for public consumption. It is a tool for communicating with customers or employees on a more personal level about corporate issues.

Tangible results will take some time, but many companies post biz blogs because they:

Give the company a voice. They present information from an insider’s perspective. Blogs can show a CEO’s personal point of view, not just their products and services.

Position the author as industry expert. The author shares knowledge and expertise through specific topic-oriented information.

Help to educate an audience. The author has an opportunity to publish fresh, insightful commentary that speaks personally to his clients. Entries should be authentic and should not read like press releases.

Invite feedback. Comments create an open dialogue between author and audience and encourage their participation.

Increase online visibility. Some blogs catch the attention of the media and gain mainstream coverage. They keep the company top of mind with clients and show its technological savvy.

Generate word-of-mouth interest. Viral marketing moves fast and more efficiently than the traditional word-of-mouth approach.

Build an online community. Blogs create a place for like-minded individuals to gather around your core initiatives.

Drive traffic to your Web site. A biz blog will link seamlessly to and from the company’s Web site.

Are free and fast. You can create a blog in less than five minutes at blogger.com or wordpress.com.

Want to customize its look and feel to match your company’s brand, give is a call and we will unleash it.