I never knew blogging could be such fun, so creative but also demanding. I feel this would be a great time to ask yourself some crucial questions about if you should blog. With this checklist I feel you’ll have your answer.

The five reasons you should blog:

1. Build a network – I’ve already seen that not only am I connecting with new people who have a common interest but I’m also finding more creative methods of finding those people. I also love that it’s global, my blog has been live for 4 days and I’ve had visits from 25+ countries
2. Communicate – It’s a very open way to share your thoughts with a great number of people. A good blog has to include some insight into your daily routine, it might seep out or spill out but the blogs I enjoy are the one where you find the author interesting, funny and clear. Adding personality is critical.
3. Do you journal? – A blog is simply that, you can really mentor yourself via a blog. Are you aware of where you are and where you are heading. It’s a very visible way of tracking how you feel and what it is important to you.
4. Marketing – Blogging is a superb way to introduce you – be it your skills, your experience or your methods and it can drive new business to you without question
5. Enjoy a challenge? – You simply have to be creative. Simply taking ideas and regurgitating them won’t make for a good blog nor will it develop allegiance. Obviously the web is an endless ocean of ideas and it’s how you take an idea and make it your own that will make your blog a success.

The five reasons you might want to just go walk the dog instead:

1. You want to be alone? – Blogging is a solo skill, no teamwork here, not much banter or collaboration either.
2. Repetition – A lot of time on the computer researching, thinking, planning. If you have computer fatigue turn around now!
3. Time – It takes a lot of time to create a worthy blog. More than I ever imagined. Finding the balance will be critical for me
4. Do you finish things? – If I had a bottle of wine for every blog I’ve seen that had 3 posts week one, 2 week two and one a month later and then crumble and die…I’d have many bottles of wine. A blog won’t explode overnight but it will wither amazingly rapidly if you don’t work on it daily
5. Ideas – You have to have them, if you don’t why bother? (see below)

I knew I had to be ready to start a blog. I developed a strategy and an agenda. I researched the potential and decided what framework the blog should take. I think you need a plan similar to this:

Next 1-10 days – Pre-plan 90% of what you’d like to blog about

11-30 days – Plan at least 50% of where you go next

30 days plus – Ensure you have an organized plan of where you are taking the blog

If you think you’re ready to blog we highly recommend WordPress for developers. From our experience it provides great flexibility and customization options.  The range of WordPress designs can allow you to carry your theme/brand into your blog. If you need assistance developing a wordpress blog to compliment your business please contact us.

Tim at greenseedwebdesign

What makes for a classic logo? I think the key elements in good logo design are as follows:

• Simple – The best logos are typically quite simple, too much intricacy isn’t usually overburdened with detail
• Sleek – Clean edges and design so that you can close your eyes and still see that image
• Bold – A quality logo is the first thing a client might see to represent your business (a poor one sadly is also the first thing they see). It needs to be bold and punchy with impact. As a consumer you know logos by the shape and colors – have a second look at the graphic with this article!
• Elegant – A great logo is like a catchy tune, as soon as you see it it’s almost as if it was always there

So, back to my experience…..there’s a reason a logo design can’t be done well for $10, the reasons are there is a lot of planning to the whole design process. I was part of the first 3 steps to follow at which point I stepped back and learned.

1. Consulting – Understanding what your client must have, would like to have and absolutely won’t want is critical.  It’s actually an intricate process if done well but will save many errors in design
2. Study – Looking at successful logos that might contain inspiration or guidance both within the industry the logo is needed for or containing thematic factors that are needed
3. Pencil Time – Sketching some concepts to see where the flow begins and ruling out what won’t work. This is prior to fonts being settled upon. It’s a very creative phase that must be done slowly to work well
4. Compile – A good time to break and discuss what works well and what doesn’t. At this stage fresh ideas seem to emerge from the rubble of concepts that were scrapped
5. Graft – Putting the pieces together, experimenting with fonts, lines and textures. Color and shading plus effects may come into the picture. Then the actual process of putting out 3 great logo examples can be completed

It’s no exaggeration to say over 2.5 hours of work went into the process and the results (I thought) were fantastic but seeing how the path to great Logo is quite twisty was a revelation. Understanding the process now can only make me better consult with clients about custom Logo design and I also see the value in having it done right.

Tell the truth, did you see that the logos above were just parodies?

Tim at greenseedwebdesign

(yes, the photo is my dad and me with his airplane)

I’ve always been a bit of a daddy’s girl. I am more like my father then mom…. a bit of a geek, loves technical things, loves reading, museums and fixing stuff. (I hate shopping!) Growing up, I always wanted to hang out with my Dad in his shop in the garage, in his office near his desk while he worked on paperwork or watching him while he fixed the sprinklers. There are things that my father taught me, not though lecturing but simply being who he is. These are life lessons I have carried forward on in my personal and professional life.

1. Read and learn

Although we laughed at him at the time, whenever we traveled, my father always wanted to visit a museum or bookstore. When we went, there was a 99% chance we would loose him. The history channel was his football game. During my childhood, he would talk to me about history and politics. He would educate me about the world around me. In result, I developed a high need for knowledge and learning. For my father it was World War II, for me it’s new software and coding. Because of my father, the love of learning will always be with me.

2. Never Give Up

I was adopted from Thailand in 1975. During the time it was difficult to adopt children from that region. My parents had to fly to Thailand several times but it was my father’s determination that finally made it possible. He showed me that if you believe in something and want something bad enough, do what it takes to make it happen! I believe  I can own a successful business that provides what I need for me and my family. Although it may feel like I’m always working and spending many late nights to ensure my business grows, the spirit of my father’s determination encourages me to press forward.

3. Always make peace

My father has always been the person who tries to bridge the gap. He is our family peace maker. I know in his heart he wants to just make everyone happy. Yet, I’ve learned being happy starts with yourself. Regardless, he has shown me is that having peace in your life is important.

4. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty

My father was always working on his projects and I have distinct memories of being apart of his hobbies. I remember helping him refurbish his planes and cars… and loving every moment of it. His tool shop is filed with all sorts of gadgets that I could ask questions or wonder what they were for. Sometimes they would be more fun then toys! For people like him (and me) his “shop” is like being a kid in a candy store. In result, one of my favorite hobbies is to be a “do-it-yourself-er” around the house. I installed my own irrigation, fix my own plumbing issues and fight with my pool every day. The dirty work doesn’t scare me!

5. Find something you love and do it well

Son of a Pan Am pilot, my father always knew what he wanted out of his life. I remember when I was 18, not sure about what I wanted, asking him the question “Dad, didn’t you ever not know what you wanted to become?”. I was shocked when he said no.

I didn’t understand at the time, but my dad is a rare breed. Most people in their lives choose a career out of default. I’ve talked to too many people who work but truly don’t enjoy what they do for a living. Too many people go to work and feel like they are stuck. Yet, my father has made a successful living from something he loves. Airplanes! They are his passion and obsession.

The biggest and most important lesson he taught me is to find something in your life you enjoy and make a living from it. I love the technicality of web design and being apart of something bigger than myself. Although frustrating at times, I still get a kick out of seeing designs created just from code. Moreover, I get great satisfaction from knowing the services I offer  directly impact my clients. If its to lighten their load, or design a website to generate more business. I am proud to be apart of their business growth and it makes me happy know I’m apart of their success.

Dad,

I wish you a happy and wonderful father’s day this year. Being who you are has been the greatest gift to me. Much love to you.

Your daughter,

Kimberly at greenseedwebdesign.com

Laura Wintermute, Tamara Hight, and Angie Ramsey – officers of BizEmoms.com

Though designing and supporting the BizEMoms website, I have had the pleasure of working with these dedicated ladies. I will still remember the day I met them to discuss their website needs. I was in awe of the level of organization and efficiently. This was serious business! With their binders in hand, they told me about their mission, hosted events, and monthly meetings where they feature each member. They discussed their goals and vision of being as supportive as possible to the community around them though charitable work and membership needs. It became very clear to me creating a partnership with BizEmoms would provide me not only more exposure, but inspire me to be as dedicated towards my own personal goals as a mother in business. If Laura (pregnant at the time) can attend school, care for her 3 year old, operate a business AND be the president of BizEmoms… then anything was possible!

Ally Loprete, Co-founder of Our Milk Money

Although I never met Ally until last night, she and I had emailed several times over the past few months. We stumble upon each other though another referral, a close friend of my sister. Our mutual friend knew we were both starting business and thought it might be valuable contact.

To make a long story short – Ally told me though email about her organization and mission of being “THE” directory for self employed people and to spread the word as much as I could. It wasn’t until last night I truly realized how her message of purchasing “among” other self employed parents can create a mini-economy. By doing so, you support families and children within your community. As a firm believer of karma where everything you do has a cause/effect – I can understand and appreciate her mission. I admire she is determined to find a venue for other self employed parents find, connect and share resources and services with one another.

So my hats off to you ladies! You definatly deserve it……

Kimberly at greenseedwebdesign.com

Today I read a really interesting article about blogging and momentum. Pro Blogger explained how one blogger uses a “point system” to hit his daily goal for while working a full time job. He strives to reach a 50 point goal by attributing values to different tasks. For example:

• 2 points for emailing another blogger with a link to a relevant post
• 3 points for an IM conversation with a blogger in your niche
• 2 points for answering a reader’s question via email
• 10 points for a long blog post
• 5 for a short one
• 2 points for a comment on a blog I’ve commented on before
• 5 points for commenting on a site I’ve never commented on before
• 1 point per comment on my own blog
• 10 points for installing a new module/plug-in, etc.

For the past few weeks I’ve struggled with keeping up with regular postings. I know I can come up with a array of reasons why I haven’t…. from moving my office to working on current projects. Although I am not proud to admit it, I KNOW I have neglected my biggest marketing asset… my blog! Implementing this type of system would make it easier for days I don’t have time or have a mental writer’s block. It also would isolate the other areas you can complete that don’t include article writing.

So for me – here are some of my ideas i would add to the list of points:

• 10 points for a tutorial post
• 5 points for an article that references a client
• 15 points for a press release
• 5 points for a blog post
• 5 points for a blog directory submission
• 2 points for a “News Flash”

So, I’ll keep the momentum, try this point system and strive to reach my daily blogging goal.

Since my significant other, Tim  and I both operate home businesses, we realized we needed to make a change. Our desks too close to the kitchen. We used our dining room table for sorting and shipping. His inventory was in the living room on shelves away from his PC. Where we relaxed was where we worked. Although it was organized chaos, there was really no distinct boundary.

Recently,  we took upon the daunting task of consolidating. He moved everything into one separate room where he could manage the inventory near his desk. I isolated my desk away from any major family activity but close enough to see my children while they are playing. We are still unpacking but I am thrilled we now have specific areas dedicated towards work and family.

When planning our new layout here are things we considered:

Place for children: For younger children, you will still need to keep a watchful eye while working. Many times children just want to be close to you. To resolve that issue, strategically place a couch or bean bag where they can play near you, with the understanding they do not bother you while you are at your desk.

Place for relaxation and entertaining: Create a space in your house that has no signs of a home office. In this area, create a soothing atmosphere with the use of candles, warm fabrics, comfortable furniture and the things you love and enjoy. Not only can this space become your escape zone, but also can be used for welcoming friends and clients.

Place for eating: Don’t use your kitchen table as an extension of your office desk. Not only will it look cluttered, you will also be tempted to never use it for eating. Never eat at your desk as you will not only be unfocused but also it’s unsanitary. Your meal time should be something you enjoy and it allows you to recharge and refuel for the work ahead.

Place for your inventory and materials: If you sell products and house your inventory at home, make sure you don’t need to walk though the house in order to find what you need. Keep your products as close as possible to you. Also, make sure you have enough storage space near your desk for other items such as files, marketing material and supplies.

Place for your schedule and reminders: I believe planning and staying focused is the key to home business success. Set aside time in your day to plan family responsibilities such as laundry, dishes and cleaning the pool. What has helped me is to also have an alarm clock where i set periodically throughout the day. When I am engrossed in a project, it’s much easier to stop if I have alarm beeping at me vs a clock that’s too easy to ignore.

What I have learned: Although working at home offers many benefits such as flexibility, being your own boss and creative control, it also has it’s own challenges and logistics. Before you dive into the world of a home based business, consider all the angles.

When people create businesses, most people know about writing a business plan. Business plans define your business and your goals serving as your companies resume. If you take it one step further, marketing plans are strategic paths of increasing sales and customers. They are critical not only to review how your business is operating but where you can improve. Marketing plans are useless if they are just stuck in a file cabinet or filed somewhere in your documents you never read on your hard drive. So get your marketing plans out or create a new plan. Be diligent about review and execution!

Areas to consider when writing your marketing plan

• Establish and double check your unique selling proposition
• Find out what customers really want by surveys and market research
• Assess your competition, strengths and weaknesses
• Include lead generation options such as collecting names, email address, telephone numbers, etc
• Set up contingency plans for high or low sales cycles
• Develop and redevelop your marketing strategy based upon your customers needs and attitudes in the industry
• Evaluate your marketing plan often. Analyze what works and doesn’t.
• Focus on niche markets to target your marketing efforts
• Don’t compete on price alone
• audit your current customer database looking for duplications, errors, or content that is no longer irrelevant (changes of addresses, businesses that do not exist)
• Share your marketing plans with management to inspire, contribute and rally behind
• Don’t forget branding. Consider all areas where you can include your brand in your business.
• Explore different marketing options – blogs, article submission, sponsorship, pay per click advertising, incentives, donations, gifts, fliers, affiliations and banner ads