Inviting You ...

Wow - I didn't realize how long it's been since I blogged. The Holidays and almost a full month of being ill put quite a bind on my time. But it didn't keep us from meeting our December 22, 2008 deadline for the launch of Katie McAuliffe's Joyful Invitations Website!


Katie and I worked through several ideas on this large site and decided on a method using inline frames so that visitors never leave the joyful invitation website, even though all orders are placed through the companies she represents. The results were GORGEOUS, functional, and catered toward SEO. After less than a week, Google has already indexed her pages.

Congratulations, Katie and Joyful Invitations on having the most beautiful invitation website on the world wide web.

A custom blog? Why not!

Over the last few weeks I have been working with Joyful Celebrations and Modeling Do It Yourself to create a blogspot that is as unique as their websites. If you know a little about html and how it works, or you are comfortable with having your website hosted on your local server instead of with Google and blogspot, this can be accomplished very easily.

NO MORE TEMPLATES!

Well, maybe not any ... I start with the template, and customize the style sheets and html off line and load the codes right back up.

Joyful Celebrations Blog: Katie loved the three column look, but blogger had none to offer in their templates. So our mission was to create a pleasing compliment to her two websites, but allow her to add the gadgets in a left and right side bar. See the results!

Modeling Do It Yourself has a club for young women who dream of being a model: Cashley's Club. They needed their blog nestled within their password-protected environment, so we set Cashley's Modeling Blog to host directly into a subdirectort of their website.

It's Party Time!

Today, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time, Joyful Party Favors - the online store for all your wedding, birthday, anniversary and party needs - had it's official launch! Watch as we track it's progress over the coming months.

Congratulations to Katie, owner of Joyful Celebrations, LLC! Our next project: Joyful Invitations.

Joyfully Creating

In following along with the progress on Joyful Celebrations, the website design process is well underway. The Joyful Party Favors website is nearing completion, with the final pages going in place as this is blog is being typed. Joyful Invitations has currently has a placeholder page and will the pages are scheduled to be constructed following the party favors website. Katie and her friend Jann (Modeling Do It Yourself), both from Florida, are keeping me busy this month. They are absolutely wonderful clients to do business with.

Getting Creative with Everyday Images

Part of being of website designer as opposed to a website developer is the "designer" part. In my opinion, to design means having the ability to be creative. It means being able to take everyday items and turn them into something custom and uniquely your own.

Let's take this image - taken quickly this morning when both my cat and Holly the Squatty Dog wanted to be on my lap. The initial image was this (yes, that's me peeking in).

As a website designer, in minutes, this cute (but nothing special) image could become the background or banner for a custom-designed website.







Whether it is given an "etched" effect ...

Made to resemble stained glass ...

A softened black and white ...

Given a color overtone ...

Or just all mixed up ...

Everyday images can become a graphic to make your website unique.

Are you ready to talk about your custom website design?

A Month for Giving

October seems to be the month of giving for Flying Change Webs & Graphics. For the second year, I have donated a website design to the Falmouth Education Foundation Fall Ball - their major fundraising event for the year. I donated the same size website to and the online auction by the Maine Cancer Society, promoting a cure for breast cancer in Maine.

Giving through organizations like this is a great way to promote your business and help your local organizations. And even more important, IT JUST FEELS GOOD TO GIVE TO OTHERS!

Step 2: Let Us Do You A Favor!

That's the slogan for the first part of the website for Joyful Celebrations. Katie McAullife has the shell picked out and ready to work with for her Joyful Party Favors website. Now that the shell is defined we will be working together to place the text, photos, and links within the pages. It's coming together very nicely and Katie has been wonderful to work with.

SEO Success for Dream Acres

Back in the Spring of this year, I worked on cleaning and redesigning the site www.dreamacresec.com for friend Angie Morin. It is featured in the Redesigned Websites: Before & After section of my website. Like many of my clients, her goal was to be seen better by Google and other search engines. After just a few months, she ranks #1 in a search for Equestrian Center in Maine.

It just goes to show what clean coding and

a little SEO can do for your website.

Step 1: A Joyful Logo

Katie and I have been working together to develop a logo for her new website - Joyful Celebrations. The first samples presented 6 options. We made a few adjustments to her choices and I presented 4 more for her review. With a simple color adjustment we were able to create her new logo in less than a week. GREAT START!

A Joyful Partnership!

Flying Change Webs & Graphics has just been hired by a new company in Florida, Joyful Celebrations, LLC. After just two emails and one wonderful phone conversation in less than 24-hours, a wonderful new partnership has formed.

I am writing about Katie and her business because I was surprised to learn of the difficulty she had finding a web designer that could give her a small, custom designed website with the feminine touch she requires for her initial wedding favors and supplies e-store. Enter Flying Change Webs & Graphics! Giving small businesses a custom website design is what I love to do. The personal communication with the owners makes them more than just clients to me - they often times becomes friends in the process.

I'm looking forward to the building Katie's logo and website in the coming weeks as well as developing a new friendship. Follow along here on my blog as we make Joyful Celebrations come to life!

You can see Katie's blog about her trials and tribulations at the Joyful Celebrations, LLC Blog.

Patience is the Key!

I am within a month of my one year anniversary of starting Flying Change Webs & Graphics. When I first built and designed my website, I incorporated keywords, carefully coded the text for SEO, registered with the top search engines and directories, wrote some quick articles to publish, and acquired links back to my own website.

Several months past and I still wasn't happy with my ranking. I asked an SEO colleague of mine if he could look at my website and give some advice. He said one word:

PATIENCE!

"You're kidding!" I thought to myself. But, being somewhat new to the the art of SEO, I took his advice. As I waited, I continued to read about SEO, tweek my keyword selection, adjust some headline text, page title text, and add links through networking, writing, and all the great new web designs I've given people over the last 11 months.

Today I performed a couple of test searches to see where I stood. My focus and passion is designing websites for small businesses, especially in my home state of Maine. Here is the results I got today on Google.

Search:
Small Business Website Design Maine
Results:
Page 1, Position 5

Other results, using web design, portland maine, and other website design search criteria, placed me within the first 3 pages.

My friend was right ... With all the other elements in place - website design, keyword optimization, and free submissions - patience was all I needed.

If you are ready to experience this same success, contact me now to start your new web design project with Flying Change Webs & Graphics.

The Squatty Dog

I'd like you to meet a member of my family. Her name is Holly. She weighs in at less than 12 lbs. She may be small in size, but she thinks she is one of the horses at the barn.

It's Holly - The Squatty Dog.

Holly is a Jack Russell Terrier that we adopted 3 years ago at a horse show. Now, something should know about me. I've never owned a small dog. I've always had 90 lb dogs. My father always referred to little dogs as "drop kick dogs". I swore I would never have one of those.

But here I am ... with this little dog that is smaller than my 16 lbs cats. And I can't imagine our house without her. She is the sweetest dog, friendly to everyone and every animal. She is not one of those "yip yip yip" dogs. She is small enough to travel easily with us. She attends every horse show and just loves life!

Holly the Squatty Dog and her mindset can teach to small businesses owners a few lessons:

small CAN MEAN BIG

EXAMPLE: Holly will go face-to-face with a horse for a treat. (This is no joke ... I've seen it happen.)
THE LESSON: Small "packages" are often strong and steady. They know their niche and they are proud to stick up for it. Small businesses often have a small, specialized market they cater to. This often makes the small business stronger in that area, so there is no need to be intimidated by the "big guys".

EXAMPLE: Holly runs circles around her black and yellow lab "friends".
THE LESSON: Small can make it easier to move around and shift gears quickly to accommodate changing situations with clients. No red tape ... just trying your best to please.

EXAMPLE: Holly cuddles up with the cats who are nearly DOUBLE her weight.
THE LESSON: The "big guys" and "small guys" can help each other. If a job is too big or beyond your expertise, don't be afraid to refer a client to a "big guy". What goes around, comes around and it could be that the same "big guy" is referring you for a job that is too small for their scope.

Don't underestimate the power of being "small". Know your strengths and use them toward the success of your small business.

The Inspiration of a Proud Mom!

As my logo and website implies, I am, indeed, involved with horses. On a daily basis ... actually, during this time of year I eat, drink, and breath horses because my daughter is a competitive 3-day eventer. She is currently at the Training level and this weekend we were in beautiful Vermont. She and her thoroughbred horse, Billy, performed like stars and, after completing the 3 phases of what proved to be a very challenging competition, took home a 3rd place and was one of only three (3) that had a "double clean" round in the cross country course.

For Flying Change Webs & Graphics, going to these shows is a source of inspiration. The colors, the people, the beautiful horses, and the dedication these riders have to make it through the 3 phases. I come home exhausted, and at the same time energized with new ideas.

When the horse and riders are given the "go" on the cross country course, they are told "HAVE A GREAT RIDE". It's a wonderful philosophy, whether you are riding a horse, building a house, or designing websites: enjoy what you are doing, do it to the best of your ability.

So today, no matter what you're doing today ... "have a great ride!"

Small Means Big

Small business owners are often under the incorrect assumption that they are "too small to have a website". Three pages for $375 is about the best investment you can give your small business. Here's three good reasons why:

1. Even if you never touch your site again (not recommended), it is a great, inexpensive advertising piece. List it with things like Yahoo! Local and it's better than the yellow pages!
2. If a potential client has seen or heard your name, they can search for the name and BAM! there you are on the web, with complete contact information and the information customers want to know ... NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT.
3. A professionally designed website - no matter what the size - tells potential customers that you really do exist, that you are a professional, and give you the advantage over the "competition" (who may not know the benefits of having a web site).

So what are you waiting for? See 2 of the latest small websites designed by Flying Change Webs & Graphics: Blue Heron Self Protection, Evergreen Tree Counseling Service.

Small could be BIG for you, too.

Mac vs. PC - The Middle

I'm finally starting to get used to this new, sleek MacBook Pro. I am absolutely loving the "unity mode" that Virtual Machine for the PC. I have set my desktop to have the mac "dock" on the left running vertically, and the PC task bar runs across the bottom. It's pretty amazing.

One thing I'm not quite hooked on yet is the keyboard. It seems sort of "whimpy" and I've already had a key come off (that I snapped back on). I am also a little frustrated because I can't seem to get the Mac to print to our HP printer. I'm pretty savvy with with the technology, but I haven't figured this one out yet. I'm remaining optimistic that I will once I sit down and really research it.

My daughter is envious. I think my husband is, too (but he won't admit it).

Anderson Landscaping

We started the month of May with the launch of the new Toddy Brook Golf Course website, which is owned by Robert Anderson and Christina Anderson-Benn. This brother-sister team also owns and operates Anderson Landscaping, which ended the month of May with a their own new website as well. The difficulties their past website company gave them in accessing their domain names is far behind them now their new website has put them well on their way to success on the web again!

Macintosh vs PC - The Beginning

Well, for the first time in all these years I had my PC crashed. Fortunately, I saw it coming and was able to get all my files onto an external drive before it had to be laid to rest. For several days now I've been researching, contemplating, debating with my husband on which direction I should go next: a new PC or a Mac. I looked up everything I could find comparing the two - Mac vs PC, PC or Mac for website design, and Mac compared to PC for general office purposes.

I decided on a MacBook Pro.

It was a tougher decision than I thought. I was very comfortable with my PC running XP, but wasn't thrilled with how the Adobe products ran on it. I was due for some new software anyway. I started thinking of my old typesetting days and how I went from a Penta to a Wang to a PC to a Mac ... and fell it in love with the Mac. But the clincher was the fact that this MacBook Pro can also run PC with XP all in one window with the Mac X! The best of both worlds - at least that's what it seems.

So, I will post about this adventure as I progress. Maybe it will help you to make your decision if you should find yourself in a similar situation.

On Time Launch!

“We met our deadline! We are very impressed on the vast improvement and hope our customers find the same. We went from a dark and dreary ‘rainy day’ site to a visitor-friendly ‘sunny summer day’ in just a few weeks!" (Toddy Brook Golf Course)

Today, Thursday, May 1, 2008, at 10:35 AM, the new Toddy Brook Golf Website was officially launched - as promised! Many golf club members have been anxiously waiting to see the site in its entirety. Of course, with specials being added daily at their cafe and pro shop, tournaments and leagues taking place every week, a website like Toddy Brook is never really complete - it evolves and adjusts to accommodate the needs of the course and the interest of their members.

To make sure their new website is always looking good and offering fresh and up-to-date information, the folks at Toddy Brook Golf Course are taking advantage of the custom maintenance and update program provided by Flying Change Webs & Graphics.

Toddy Brook, I look forward to our on-going working relationship – SEE YOU AT THE CAFÉ!

Walking the Golf Course

Toddy Brook Golf website is moving along well! Their opening day was last week and they have been extremely busy. We are anxious to get their entire site launched on May 1, 2008. This week we've focused on the course walk portion of the website, a feature I suggested to give potential golfers the chance to take a look at all that Toddy Brook's 9 or 18 hole course has to offer.

The current layout allows visitors to http://www.toddybrookgolf.net/ to go from Hole 1 through Hole 18 but moving forward or going backwards. The right column allows visitors to jump to a particular hole.

Hole information and tips is also being provided on each page, along with two photos, typically of the fairway and green. This has been a very rewarding project for all involved, I believe.

Personal Attention & Helping Small Businesses

It never ceases to amaze me how some businesses stay afloat when they treat their customers with disrespect. A recent client, whom you may be following in this blog, ran into this situation recently when they trying to get access to their own domain name. The former host provider not only made it difficult for the client to regain control of their own domain name, but while holding the name "hostage", deleted the website and put a nasty note about business ethics. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

In small communities like we have here in Maine, I would think most smart business owners would know better. Good word travel fast ... but bad word travels even faster!

Once the client regained control of their domain name, I had their original domain name http://www.toddybrookgolf.com/ restored and set to reflect their new domain name http://www.toddybrookgolf.net/. Success for all in the end!

Handling this situation professionally has since brought me several referrals. Personal attention when needed and helping the local small businesses is what my business is all about. I'm looking forward to completing the website for Toddy Brook Golf by May 1, 2008. So stay tuned.

On Google in Less than a Week!

Toddy Brook Golf Course had a gorgeous Spring day in Maine to open. Their website has been making progress as well. In less than 5 days from putting the initial "emergency website" up for them, Google has picked it up. When searching for them by name - which the locals are apt to do - they already appear on the first page. Now that is fast service!

My goal is to show you that even if you run into trouble with your current designer or host provider, there are ways you can get up and running quickly.

Stay tuned as more pages will be launched before the end of this week.

Supporting Local Small Businesses

As I mentiond on my Website Portfolio page and Flying Change Webs News page, I was in a unique situation, allowing me to fully support my philosophy of helping small businesses in Maine and throughout New England. Toddy Brook Golf Course had experienced some trouble with their previous website design and hosting company and needed to get their web presence back ... and FAST!

Step 1: Working together, we were able to put this new placeholder page in on the web within 24 hours. I also re-registered with the major search engines and began listing http://www.toddybrookgolf.net/ in golf directories.

Community Service - There's No Place Like Home!

One of the reasons I love being back home in Maine is the ability to make a difference within our small communities. I have been asked and have agreed to be part of the Falmouth Education Foundation to bring their current website up-to-date and keep it that way! Work will begin in April, so watch as things take shape.

This is why I started my business - Flying Change Webs & Graphics. I knew there were many small, locally owned businesses and organizations that needed to find their home on the web at an affordable price. There's no place like home!

Play Ball!

Flying Change Webs & Graphics just launched the new website for the Falmouth Little League. Originally, they didn't have their own domain name, so it was hard to find the information on the web. Now, with a domain name that everyone can remember - http://www.falmouthlittleleague.net/ - it is already being used by players, coaches, and parents on a regular basis. Just wait until the season starts! Last year, their 11 year old team won the Maine State Championships. PLAY BALL!

Arizona Inspiration

Just before going to Arizona on vacation a few weeks ago I launched a new site for the Maine Clinical Counselors Association . The president of the organization established his base colors from his love for the Southwest. After visiting Sedona for the first time, I can see why! The colors are gorgeous.

Nova Atlantic - Maine's Energy Future

Recently, my husband was a speaker at the Maine Energy Symposium. As the conference drew near, which meant we had to sit down at the same time and finish up his website. We launched it the day before his speaking engagement - the professional look he was aiming for, yet the feel of our home - MAINE!

During the conference, several attendees said they were impressed by his speech - and his website! Now that's what I call fast results! He's like a proud father all over again.

Congratulations to Mrs. Maine 2008!

The Mrs. Maine Pageant has a new queen ... and a new website! Launched just days ago, the new website aims to attract entrants and sponsors for a live pageant in 2009. The dramatic before and after change is highlighted on my website.

Congratulations to Mrs. Maine 2008, Kristin Walton of Brunswick, Maine, on her new title. She is the feature of the new Mrs. Maine United States website and, as she makes appearances around the state, will continue to be pictured on their site.

It doesn't take much ...

Redesigning websites can be so exciting! This week I began working on the website for the International Group I mentioned in my last post - FAUSA. The before and after screen shots below tells it all!

It doesn't take much to make a big difference. This is only the placeholder I have put into up so the very old and outdated information could be removed from the website. It's generating alot of excitment already.

It's gone FROM THIS TO THIS in a few days!

It's a Small, Small World!

During my five years living overseas I was involved with several international women's clubs, one of which was the Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas (FAWCO). I created their first on-line auction site which was used to raise money for the FAWCO Foundation. My involvement with the group connected me with many new friends all over the world, many whom I have sadly lost touch with since repatriating back to the USA.

FAWCO has a U.S. branch of their organization called FAUSA (FAWCO Alumni USA). Several days ago, they contacted me to help redesign and update their existing website. Imagine my surprise when the person I had to contact was one of the same people I worked with when creating the FAWCO auction website! It really is a small, small world out there.

And what better time to be involved in an international organization than this time of change here in our own country. Their mission statement, "to help them [repatriated members] maintain their international ties in order to bring about a better understanding between the United States and other nations." Enough said.

Starting out with a Bang!

The new year has started fast and furious! Only a few days into it and good things are happening for Flying Change Webs & Graphics. First, I submitted my articles to the The Maine Switch with hopes they'd print at least one. As a result, my articles will be featured in my own column - Web Insights, to begin January 10, 2008. Then, on the same day, I was asked to create the web presence for the Mrs. Maine United States Pageant and it's yearly winners.

January 1 - A New Beginning!

I LOVE JANUARY 1ST! Not only does it mean that my birthday is right around the corner, but it brings on the feeling of new beginnings and starting fresh. At Flying Change Webs & Graphics, I thought my "new" beginning would be this blog. It seems everyone is blogging. We'll see where it takes me in 2008.

My goals for web design this year are to continue learning all I can in the industry. I absolutely love building websites and helping the small businesses and non-profit groups I see around me. Website Design has enabled me use both my creative energy and technical talents. I love my job!

Now, I know I'm not the youngest web designer on the block - but I pride myself in knowing more about computers than 90% of those in "my generation" (those of us born in the 60s). So achieving a goal of becoming "the expert" amongst a generation that has never been without computers may never happen (other than in my own mind). But I'll enjoy learning and absorbing as much as I can to provide my clients with the quality websites and web marketing they are looking for.

So for my first post, I'll end with my favorite quote:

"Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right." (Scarlet Begonias, performed by the Grateful Dead, written by Robert Hunter)