Archive for the ‘business development’ Category
Wow, after updating and reviewing my project management system organIZE, it looks like I have eight open projects this month. Given most of these are mini-sites, design jobs, and small e-commerce solutions but it sure is nice to have a variety of customers and projects to work with. Its my continuing goal to keep a wide range of business interests as well as a wide range of services that can help my customers’ businesses succeed!
I’m continuing to offer the same great service at rediculously quick turn-around time:
- Customer Edit-able content driven websites (and hosting/security)
- Simple-to-use e-commerce solutions (and accompanying payment systems)
- Branding and Designs of all sorts
- Custom solutions for existing/out-of-box softwares
- Numerous website accessories and mini-marketing ideas
Feel free to give me a ring or email me if you want to jump on the bandwagon and a get a great web solution!
After a nice discussion about selling products as well as services at IndieArsenal yesterday, I decided to offer a new service: bulk email / newsletters. I had done research on a number of different companies for several clients and unfortunately most of the rates from other newsletter companies were rather high and required minimum monthly payments. Many of them are obviously geared toward higher-end customers.
I’ve opted into a new service, available to any of my customers, that requires no minimum monthly rate- you pay for it as much as you use it. Essentially payment is based on the number of users you have signed up for your newsletter. Each email will be custom branded to your business and you’ll get your own login and password to use the service at your convenience.
Interested? Contact me today and get signed up!
So, I’ve recently become an addict to some of the new applications and games found on Facebook, and I have to say I’ve been very impressed with a lot of them. Using a mix of PHP, databases, Flash interfaces and access to Facebook’s database API, a number of companies and individuals have rocked out some massively complex games and programs.
A number of my friends and customers have asked me if I develop any aps for either of these devices/websites and up until recently, my answer has been: no. However, I’m posting this to announce that as of this month I’m going to start researching Facebook aps, and will very shortly be obtaining an iPod touch with the notion of developing some aps for it (my iPod finally died after almost 4 years of hard work running my car stereo!).
Stay tuned!
I’m proud to say business is booming this summer! I know I’ve addressed this topic before, but now is the time to be a freelancer. Its nice to have that “busy but not overworked” feeling again. Moreover, its even nicer to be busy and not have the general stress that goes along with working in an office (even though I miss the water-cooler talk).
I’m collaborating with a number of friends and agencies over the next couple of months and, quite honestly, they all kick butt! I’m working with my associates CustomChannels.net to establish some rockin’ home-grown Flash-based radio stations, my buddies at Mindflint and I are cookin’ up some fun and creative web projects, the folks at GraphikCreative and I knocked out some simple quizzes for Sleep Center of the Rockies, the crew at Barnaby and Associates and I are about to produce one of my most ambitious WordPress sites, B-Squared Design and I are collaborating on a nice new portfolio site, and my buddy Doug Koke and I have landed some team design projects.
Whew! I’ll have specific updates on each of these projects as soon as they’re to go. Stay tuned!
Also, if you’re looking to contact me for work, I’m probably going to be busy until the middle of July at least- but that doesn’t mean we can’t chat about a future project!
As you may know, I recently restarted my web design & development business, VectorDefector.com, and couldn’t be happier about it. I don’t think I could’ve picked a better time either. Many of my new freelance friends have agreed- business is good. It seems like with the economy the way it is, freelance / contract workers are more popular than ever.
It makes sense, too. When times are down, hiring a contract employee has great benefits to a company: you don’t have to pay them full time, you don’t have to pay them benefits, and you get the same level of expertise. Additionally, what better time to invest in an inexpensive marketing solution? Websites and online advertising are longer term than print ads, are equally effective, and typically cost less.
There’s plenty of bonuses for us contractors too! I get to sleep late and set my own hours, work with a wide variety of businesses to keep my mind fresh, and have a number of agencies who keep me on retainer as a temporary employee to work as needed.
Yep- cheers to freelancers!
Interested in hearing more tales of freelancers?
Check out IndieArsenal.com.
Today I wanted to make sure to officially announce that I offer quality affordable web hosting as a reseller to 15+ year veteran host ICDSoft. I have offered ICDSoft accounts for a number of years, but have recently decided to draw more attention to it as it really is a great service at a great price. Each package comes with top-notch customer support and a customized control panel that is yours to command. I’ve posted details on pricing and features on this blog.
To check out the details regarding my available hosting packages, and why you’d want to purchase one through me, please review my web hosting page.
I’ve been very pleased to say I’ve been bidding and contracting for more and more jobs that involve both design and development this year. When I re-established my business, it was one of my goals to be the most well-rounded creative professional I could be and admittedly had some rusty spots- design being one of them as it wasn’t a huge part of my last job and practice makes perfect.
I proud to say a lot of my designs and logo illustrations are really coming around. I’ve always thought my metaphor for design was painting on a large blank canvas and the idea is to get one great idea; whereas in development its more like putting a big puzzle together- the painting is already there, you just have to figure out the most efficient order in which to put the pieces together.
It all seems to be relating together well this month. Three cheers for covering all bases: design, development, search optimization and streaming media! Case studies to follow soon.
This weekend I received a report on some of my financial investments and much to my amusement, in addition to information about my losses, my finances crew sent me a comprehensive guide to stress relief. I guess you know what state the economy is in when your finance advisers have to become mental health professionals to keep their customers from going nuts.
I made my first real investments a little over a year ago back when I had a “real” job, and have to say I’m not so pleased with the results so far. Those little red “loss” numbers just keep climbing every day. I’m literally banking on President Obama to turn this economy around.
I do believe, however, its been a mixed blessing for my business. Since the economy is in a down turn I’ve seen a rise in people hiring temp/contract agents to get work done and when things are looking down, people are often opt to go for cheap marketing methods to boost their business. Viva freelance graphic and web design!
I finished reading the revisted version of the book E-Myth by Michael Gerber a few weeks ago. I’m not really a fan of all the trendy “self-help” books out there, but this one had come highly recommended by a number of my colleagues. I typically think most of the topics are common sense, and while many are in this book, I didn’t think it was half bad.
E-Myth - Michael Gerber
Maybe its because I’ve made many of the entrepeneurial mistakes outlined in this book myself, or maybe it just carried a certain entertainment value, but I consider it a success since it still has me thinking about a key theme. The main point Gerber makes is that solo proprietor really has three personalities: the entrepeneur or big idea guy, the techy who gets the work done and the manager who keeps it all organized; to really be successful one must try to encompass all three.
Thumb through it if you haven’t done so already, and I’m going to keep trying to be the best entrep-tech-ager I can be.