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.