Missing Body Language?

I read a post on Facebook this morning that caught my attention and developed into a 2012 goal.

The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said.

—Peter Drucker

Resolution #1

In 2012, I will visit all of my clients/prospects in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area in person vs conducting meetings strictly by phone.

Expect a call from Joanne soon :)

Happy New Year!!

Why I Strive for Customer Satisfaction

When I worked at Honeywell in the mid-90s, our CEO always talked about the importance of delighting our customers. That idea has stuck with me ever since.

Although we may have fallen short from time-to-time, our primary goal at Indigo Creative Solutions is to DELIGHT our customers.

The past three years have been personally challenging. As a result, I've noticed that the level of my customer service is not up to my usual high demands. Although I have tried hard not to let my personal life interfere with my business life, there is no denying, my customer services skills have suffered.

This afternoon, though, one of my clients that we built a website for last year referred her father to me to build his new website. Her recommendation made me feel real good! And it reassures me that we're on the right track to reaching the high customer service goals I have for Indigo.

If you have any suggestions on how we can further improve Indigo's customer service, I'd love to hear from you!! Although nobody likes to hear criticism, if we don't know there's an issue, we can't fix the problem. Please write me at joanne@glasspoole.com and don't worry about hurting my feelings. What I want to know is how can we serve you better.

Help Me Reach My Facebook Goal!!

We only need 195 more Likes to reach our goal of 1000 by the end of the year.

Who do you know that absolutely loves The Doors, and of course, Jim Morrison?

Please share this link with them! Thank you for your support and friendship.

www.facebook.com/jimmorrisonproject

How to Create a Social Media Marketing Schedule

If you've dabbled in social media for awhile, you've probably noticed that it's a time consuming -- you can lose hours just reading posts, looking at photographs, following links, listening to videos and chit-chatting with friends (e.g., socializing).

Although social media is a fun chore, for it to make business sense, it needs to be a productive chore.

John D. Leavy,  the founder of InPlainSite Marketing, a digital-marketing strategy firm, and author of Outcome-Based Marketing: New Rules for Marketing on the Web, provides a social networking agenda in his article How to Create a Social Media Marketing Schedule.

Color Psychology and Online Marketing

In 2001, I wrote an article on how to choose colors schemes, which is still a top landing page on my site. Color has the ability to elicit all kinds of emotions, so picking a color scheme that will reflect the tone of your business (logo, website, business cards, etc.) is an important first step.

One of my favorite sites is color combos, which makes choosing complimentary colors easy and is great for researching color schemes.

This morning I came across an article entitled Color Psychology and Online Marketing, which not only discusses color theory, but also what to watch out for if your website is targeted toward an international audience. The last thing you want to do is insult your customers by using the wrong colors.

New Site Launched: Aerovex Systems

I am pleased to announce the launch of Aerovex Systems's new website. The site was developed in Joomla 1.5 and features an online store geared toward high-end hair and nail salons. Search engine optimization was provided by Debi Norton of BRAVO! Interactive Media, who worked in collaboration with Indigo.

Thank you, Jacob Hodara, for your help with the development of this project.

www.aerovexsystems.com

Want to stand ahead of the crowd?

I'm into the third week of my Certified Social Media Strategist class and am relishing in the potential out there to stand ahead of the crowd. What I'm finding is that there is a lot of work to be done to get it right on the social web. Most of us just have the tip of our big toe in the water.

This week, we did a Four Quadrant Assessment assignment examining a company's brand, competition, customers and partners. My classmate and I tackled the customer assessment, and what we found is although Company X had a well-rounded social presence, they weren't very sociable--there was very little interaction going on between them and their followers.

Most of us don't like to be criticized, but if you look at criticism as constructive, you will find many opportunities to not only improve your products and services but also your relationship with your customers. Don't be one of those companies who ignore customer complaints on the social web; use this golden opportunity to listen to what your users want and engage with them. That's what social networking is about!!

Read Jay Baer's blog post: 70% of Companies Ignore Customer Complaints on Twitter.

The Importance of Backing Up Your Joomla Site

Something weird happened over the weekend -- one of my client's websites was hacked. To make matters worse, all of the files on the web server were erased. In my 11 years of developing websites, that has never happened... It was a new site, so we had a pretty recent backup of our own, but just imagine...

On Friday, I spent about an hour and a half making updates to the website, so I know for a fact before the weekend, everything was good. Like I usually do, I made a backup of the site with Akeeba Backup, but I didn't download the file to my hard drive, because I felt confident it was safe on the web server.

Big mistake!!!

In the past several days, I have exchanged a number of emails with the hosting company who didn't take responsibility for their server being hacked -- instead, they pointed fingers at us for not choosing good passwords...

So why am I sharing this very embarrassing, hard lesson with you? To warn you to be proactive, make regular backups, and download backup files to your own server (e.g., computer). You need to protect yourself from evil hackers looking to do your business harm.

New Site Launched: Mast-O-Card

I am pleased to announce the launch of Jamal Robinson's new website. The site was developed in Joomla 1.5 and features a business directory of vendors offering discounts to students attending Indiana University-Purdue University in Fort Wayne.

Thank you, Gloria Brumley, for your help with the development of this project.

www.mastocard.com

Why being a minimalist makes sense.

I designed my very first website in the spring of 1999. Since I'm not a graphic designer -- although I have a keen eye for design -- I've been marketing myself as a minimalist designer. The advantages of a minimalist design:

• User-friendly - much easier for people to find what they're looking for.
• Search engine friendly - much easier for search engines to crawl and index.
• Faster download speeds - since a minimalist design uses fewer graphics as eye candy, the pages download much quicker (good for both people and search engines).

This morning, I read an article by Mohammad Moradi entitled 15+ Inspirational Examples of Website Redesign. What I found looking at the before and after screen shots is that the vast majority are utilizing a minimalist design.
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New Site Launched: Wendie Pett

I am very happy to announce the launch of Wendie Pett's new website. The site was developed in Joomla 1.5 and features an online store and a blog. Coming in the near future will be a full-featured members only area.

Thank you, Jacob Hodara, for your help with the technical aspects of this project.

www.wendiepett.com

New Site Launched: 340 Defense

I am very happy to announce the launch of 340 Defense. The site was developed in Joomla 1.5 and features an online store, as well as an online shooting range reservation calendar.

Thank you, Gloria Brumley, for your excellent work on this project.

www.340defense.com

Dizzy yet?

Click image to see what I mean.

I don't feel inferior. Do you?

I came across this article, Overcoming the Small Business Inferiority Complex, and my initial thought was why should we feel inferior running a small business?

I have been self-employed for eight years, and I love the entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners. To start a small business takes a high degree of skills sets (you wear a lot of hats), confidence in ones abilities, perseverance in not giving up when the going gets tough, people skills (you need to be able to work with many personality types), organization & attention to detail, just to name a few of the attributes small business owners must possess. People who successfully run small businesses are not lazy and they're certainly not inferior in intellect or wherewithal!

If you run a small business, be proud--most people are destined to work as employees, not employers.

New Site Launched: Advanced Optics

I am very happy to announce the launch of Advanced Optics. The site was developed in Joomla 1.5 and is fully optimized for the search engines.

www.advancedoptics.com

Do you think Facebook should be nervous about Google+?

I was invited to join Google+ about three or so weeks ago. In that time, I've piddled around with circles, have posted a few links and have commented on other people's posts. But, I haven't made a concerted effort to use it like I use Facebook... yet.

Do I think Facebook has some serious competition here? I sure do!! Google+ takes what we know and like about Facebook and makes it better in a lot of ways:

Circles

My absolute favorite feature of Google+ is, without a doubt, circles. What I like about circles is that it provides an efficient way to organize your contacts by friends, family members, peers, clients, whatever... Then, on your wall, you can filter your news stream by circle, which makes it easy to weed out "the noise." Since I am anal about organization, circles are right up my alley!

Layout

In terms of look and feel, Google+ and Facebook share similar designs. Comparing the two, Google+'s profile page is way less cluttered than Facebook's. Google+ utilizes a two-column layout versus Facebook's three-column layout. There's more white space in Google+, which is easier on the eyes (and brain).

In Google+, underneath the profile picture, is a "Send an email," button which makes it quick & easy to send a private message. I like this feature much better than Facebook's rather obscure "Send a New Message."

No More Typos

In Google+, you can actually edit posts. I sure wish Facebook had that feature.

Navigation

Another thing I like about Google+ are the icons adjacent to the search bar, which makes it easy to navigate the site.

Quick Access to Google Tools

The toolbar at the top of the page is an easy click to all your favorite Google tools and gadgets, which makes Google+ not only a social networking site but also a productivity site.

Everything in one place--how cool is that?!! Now that I think about it, I'm going to make Google+ my start page!

If you are not yet part of Google+ and would like to be invited to join, please drop me a line.

Certified Social Media Manager

Today, I graduated from the Social Media Academy (#SMACAD) as a social media manager.

When I enrolled in the course back in June, I was a bit skeptical, but now having gone through the course, I am elated; not only did I meet some very nice people, I learned the nuts & bolts about social media management.

Am I an expert? Hardly. But I do feel more competent!!

I want to thank my instructors, @Axel Schultze and @Marita Roebkes. I am so glad our paths crossed, and I look forward to enrolling in your October 2011 Social Media Strategist course!!

Following Up On Sales Leads

You know the old saying about how many times it takes to make contact with a lead to turn them into a prospect, followed by converting them into a customer. I believe it is 5-7 times. When I was new to selling, I courted people for a very long time--sometimes more than a year.

On Monday, I took a call from a man wanting to redesign his website. Yesterday, we entered into a business relationship. It would be nice if all new business was so easy, but most of the time, it takes much longer to develop the trust required for someone to risk hiring you.

For me, the average "courting" time to close a website project is 1-3 months. If it takes longer than that, chances are good the project will never materialize, or if it does, will likely be unprofitable.

When following up, if the other party doesn't respond to phone calls or email, I don't chase them. In the past, I wasted a lot of time pursuing customers that were not ready to move forward. The ones that are, I don't have to chase. Of course, it takes a lot more leads to find the ones that are serious and ready to buy, but you save time (and money) not following up with unqualified leads.

If you are looking for a better way to qualify leads, read When to Provide Pricing – and When Not To by Landy Chase.

Side Note: The Association of Sales Executives found that 81% of all sales happens on or after the fifth contact.

Why Contracts are Important -- Especially When You're the Little Guy

This morning, I read an article by Speider Schneider entitled, "Professional Practices They Don’t Teach You In Art School: Contracts – It’s Business!", that hit home.

I have been self-employed for eight years. During that time, my business has gone through its fair share of learning curves. In the past few years, those learning curves have been sharp, because my business is moving out of the freelance world into the small business realm, with larger projects, more overhead, expanded people resources--the works.

Unfortunately, as my business has become busier and more demanding, I have become more lax with my contracts and requesting deposits. I've ignored my own policy of requesting final payment before launching a website. I've been working on the honor system -- not smart -- and find myself financing client projects and trying to collect old debts -- not good.

In the past couple of years, I've learned some hard lessons. I could look at my mistakes as failures, but instead, I view them as professional development. As a business owner, it is my job to figure out how to solve challenges and implement strategies to ensure problem areas are corrected--an extremely rewarding process.

Running a successful business -- no matter how small -- includes writing contracts, enforcing policies, and standing your ground to ensure people don't take advantage of you.

To read Speider's excellent article, click here.

Why planning is an important part of web design

It's happened to me more than once. I spend a certain amount of time with a prospect trying to determine what it is they're looking for, email gets bounced back and forth, perhaps a phone call or two are exchanged, research time is spent in the process, and I think we're making good headway.

Then, nothing...

I wait a little while -- fully understanding that people get busy -- and then I follow-up to see where they're at. Sometimes I hear that the project is on the back burner; other times, I'm asked to follow-up again in a few weeks, because they've gotten busy with a different project; or I'm told of their frustration for having wasted their time and that they've moved on to a different developer.

Do I get offended?

No. Because more often than not, down the road I hear from that person again. They tell me that their project is stalled, the developer has stopped returning their phone calls, and can we help them get their project completed.

Over the years, we have done hundreds of website projects -- most successful, some not. What I have found is the unsuccessful ones, we skipped the planning process. We didn't take the necesssary time to iron out details, establish requirements, set realistic deadlines, etc. In the end, it's been a lose-lose for both parties.

Consider this:

If you were going to undertake the construction of your dream home, would you scribble a quick email and send it to an architect and ask for an estimate? No, you would collaborate with the architect to ensure all of the options and features you want in your new home are considered, and you would go through the planning process to figure it out together, so that the house you're dreaming about becomes your reality and is constructed within your budget.

The same holds true for a website.

A lot of time and energy -- as well as money -- goes into the development of a successful website, so please don't skip the planning process, because taking the time to plan is a very important part of web design.

If you meet with a consultant who cares enough about you that they want to make sure they're a good fit for them (and vice versa) and that they fully understand your needs and desires, consider yourself lucky, because a lot of developers out there will just give you that estimate.

Believe me, I've been on both sides of the table. I try to treat my clients the same way I expect others to treat me when I'm the client. And when both sides hear each other, the chances for a successful business relationship are greater.

If you're in the market for a new website or a redesign of your existing one, be sure to read this article to save yourself frustration and headaches down the road.

8 great questions to answer before starting a web design project

Joanne's Introductory Video for #SMACAD

After about 50 takes, here is my introductory video for #SMACAD. It was definitely a learning experience as I have never filmed myself before nor fiddled with video editing software. The video was recorded with Debut Video Capture Software and the last few frames edited with Microsoft Movie Maker.

Now, on to my glorious acting career!!

Why is Casey Anthony so intriguing?

Upon her release from jail yesterday, I vowed that I had given Casey Anthony enough of my time, but today she continues to intrigues me.

Although I did not start following her case until the end of the first week of her infamous trial, I quickly became addicted to the soap opera surrounding Casey, her friends and family. It was like a drug--I couldn't get enough.

Each morning (including Saturdays), I made a point to awaken early to catch testimony from her trial, followed by endless hours after court was adjourned to listen to the talking heads on HLN--Vinnie Politan, Jane Valez Mitchell, Nancy Grace, Dr. Drew and Joy Behar (who you couldn't pay me to watch before the trial)--opine the day's happenings.

The Casey Anthony trial was better than any reality show on TV! I found it amazing how a small, obscure family from Orlando was dissected under the microscope. The lawyers and pundits called the Anthonys dysfunctional, but I saw them not that different from other American families, except for the sociopathic daughter who manipulated and connived them with her outrageous lies and criminal activities. An expert liar, she fooled everyone!!

Like the finale of a favorite TV show, now that Casey is out of jail, we must wait for the next big story.


According to Bloomberg, HLN's coverage of the Casey Anthony trial drew its biggest audience since the network's inception in 1982.

Why social media is important for your business

These days the old ways of doing business still work (telephone, email, face-to-face meetings), but if you want to shake things up a bit, add social media to your marketing mix!

I recently launched a website in memory of Jim Morrison (www.jimmorrisonproject.com). During its year under development, I created social media profiles to help create a buzz:

• Twitter - summer 2010 - 2,973 followers
• Facebook - fall 2010 - 485 followers
• Tumblr - spring 2011 - 29 followers

When I launched my site on July 3, the 40th anniversary of Jim Morrison's death, my social media marketing efforts paid off as my site received 995 visitors on its first day!!

That is why I think social media is important for your business.

Photography as an Art Form

I love art. Over the past year, I've developed an appreciation for black & white photography as an art form.

I recently launched a tribute site about Jim Morrison and have been exposed to thousands of black & white photographs from the late 1960s, early '70s. It amazes me how a photograph can capture a person, place,  mood, whatever it is, and bring you back in time, sort of like a time machine.

When I look at old paintings, I don't get the same feeling. A painting --no matter how beautiful -- doesn't produce the same sort of emotion in me that a photograph can.

If girls had a penis for a day...

Normally, not something I would blog about, but this gave me a good belly laugh. Hope you get one too!

Google Launches City Pages

I read this morning about Google's new concept for city community pages called City Pages. So far, they have four cities ready to roll:

• Portland, Oregon
• Austin, Texas
• San Diego, California
• Madison, Wisconsin

At the top of the community page is a link for Business Owners, which is where you'll want to start.

Managing Time

Why am I not a better manager of my own time? Yesterday, I spent the whole day working, and I barely made a dent. And then again, I feel like I made some progress.

Part of my problem is that I love what I do. I love how the Internet is constantly changing. To keep up with all the new trends and strategies, though, is a staggering endeavor. But it's exciting and fun too!

Today, I need to do less learning and more busywork. Truly, I wish I could spend my time learning, because how else am I to grow?

Being on Film

When I was a freshman in college, I was afraid to speak in public. Making that first round of introductions in the classroom was a very stressful experience. I actually dropped classes where making a presentation was part of the syllabus. But it didn't take long to see that getting up in front of the class was inevitable if I ever wanted to graduate, so I bit the bullet and faced my fear.

As they say, practice makes perfect... After awhile, speaking in public didn't feel so scary, and in time, I actually began to enjoy it!

Yesterday, I started my first class at #SMACAD. One of my assignments for next week is to create an introductory video to post on YouTube. Yikes! Unlike my younger years, I have no intention of dropping the class, because of my fear of videotaping myself for the world to see. No, I'm going to bite the bullet and make that video, and the funny thing is my fear is filled with excitement!