Tuesday, April 7, 2015

How to Brand Yourself

Building an individual brand is like marketing a product. The general objective with marketing is to separate yourself from the rest, so you can accomplish your goals, be those finding gainful employment or turning into a celebrity. Start with knowing your image and brand traits, and be unique.

The greatest issue I see concerning individual marketing is an absence of sufficient research and creativity. Individuals have a tendency to get so energized that they neglect to get their work done before making a move. To maintain a winning strategy, take the time to work through what you want your brand to be. Think of it as how you want to package yourself. Like a yellow arc for McDonalds, or a bulls eye for my favorite shopping center, Target.  

Individual Branding 2015

  • Define your general goals. Be particular and list your objectives and goals. Is it to end up known as the best in a certain industry, employment with a successful company, or to start your own business?
  • Conduct research. What are the successful brands you can follow?  What would you be able to realize from what others are doing?
  • Determine your image qualities. What descriptive words describe you as a brand? What do you want your message to be?
  • Create your approach. Your blueprint ought to incorporate more than simply marketing yourself in social networking – it needs to incorporate all parts of you, as an item. Characterizing your arrangement needs to incorporate the unmistakable attributes of individual marketing including clothing, hair, cosmetics, conduct, verbal and non-verbal correspondence.


Your strategy additionally needs to incorporate the particular online networking viewpoints you'll use to pass on your new individual brand (for example, LinkedIn, Facebook , Twitter, YouTube) and how you will utilize each of those perspectives to assemble your image.

Manage your image. Proactively deal with all parts of your image, guaranteeing these angles are in a state of harmony and that they keep on fortifying your image traits and business corner. 

For instance, your LinkedIn picture ought to be accurate and current, your Tweets and any social networking posts ought to be relevant to your business, and reflect your beliefs as a person.  Make sure how you represent yourself online is true to yourself. Branding has to be consistent.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Content Marketing 2015

The internet is ever changing. As you market you business, you have to keep up with the current tools. Take a look at this article.

The Only 6 Content Marketing Tips You Need for 2015

"Content continues to be one of the most important aspects of online marketing; however, methods are rapidly changing. In 2015, successful businesses will be the ones that understand this dynamic shift and develop a strategy that accounts for new changes."  Read More

source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/drewhendricks/2015/03/23/5-things-a-startup-must-do-to-raise-a-venture-round/
3/23/15


Main point for 2015: Use social media and focus on content, content, content.


Thursday, October 6, 2011

How to Make 5 Bucks Online

Do you have special skill that you would like to get paid for? Perhaps you are a nutritionist, a writer, or a great cartoonist. What ever your skill may be, as long as you can offer it online, you can post it on a site called Fiverr.

At Fiverr.com you can offer your service, or "gig" at $5. Simply create an account, attach it to your paypal account, and then start offering your services.

Some Popular Fiverr skills

Writing
Editing
Art
Music
Video
Gifts

If you have a special talent you'd like to sell, try Fiverr today. If you get a following you could make more money. And after you get a hang of the site you can offer more gigs.

Good luck on your Fiverr adventure.

Questions/Comments? Email Me

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Use Blogging to Drive Traffic to your Site

Drive traffic to your site. Learn how. Purchase the "Blog and Chat to make my site popular" guide for only 29.99 and receive 2 FREE reports "Connecting every site your on" and "The TV addicts guide to riches".


If you'd like to take part in this one time only sale: Contact Me

Don't wait! Learn how to make your site popular, high on the search engines, and make money!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Make Money by Blogging

The definition of a blog (a contraction of the term "web log") is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog)

While most people think of text and writing when they think of blogging, you can also create a photo blog, a video blog, or an audio blog (known as a podcast).Blogging is a great opportunity to express yourself and share it with the world. The majority of blogs are non-commercial and more or less serve as a personal online journal or diary. Only a very small percentage of people who commercialize their blog are financially successful, but it IS possible to make money by blogging.People who make money by blogging typically focus on a very specific topic or theme. Most of these people have been doing it consistently for at least six months. And with few exceptions, they all spent the first six months writing without making any money. You really CAN make money by blogging, but you need to develop your readership first, and that takes time.


Building Traffic for Your Blog

If you hope to make money by blogging, it is imperative that your blog be easily found at the search engines. This means you need to post regularly - at least three times per week. A blog post can be any length, but search engines prefer a minimum of 150 words. The average length is 150-400 words (3-7 paragraphs).It pays to research in-demand keywords to draw traffic from the engines. Niche market research will also help you determine which words and phrases offer the highest cost-per-click (CPC) if you are considering pay-per-click advertising like Adsense.To increase your chances of being found online, research in-demand keywords related to your subject and then use them throughout your writing. This is a predictable way to generate traffic and a common SEO strategy.Making money blogging usually a slow process – you should count on a minimum of 6-12 months before you start making money, and that’s if you’re very strategic in your keyword research and consistent in your posting. Most people start off posting regularly and then get sidetracked. If you intend to make money by blogging you need to ensure you will still be interested in your subject a year from now.


Make Money Online for Free

Most successfully monetized blogs have a theme. Whatever you topic, if you can develop a following of people (your traffic), who like to read what you write and who subscribe to your blog, you have the potential to make money.If you like to write, proficient with online research, or if you have a strong opinion or a passion for a subject, there’s a good chance you can entice people to subscribe to your blog and/or follow you on Twitter. There is an abundance of lousy websites and blogs out there so you need to figure out what makes you different.If you are patient and diligent, blogging can be an amazing way to make money online. In the upcoming weeks we’ll explore different ways you can use your blog to make money online for free.


source: 4/8/10 http://www.how-to-sell-information-online.com/make-money-by-blogging.html

Where to start: blogger.com or wordpress.org

Friday, April 2, 2010

NEW in Web Design for 2010

Keeping web sites new and fresh is a creative job. While using what has worked in the past, and continuing to build upon what we know, we can make sites bigger and better.

Check it out!

1. Over sized Logos/ Headers

To make an unforgettable impression on the visitor, the trend for 2010 will be over sized logos on an equally over sized header. These types of headers can take up the entire screen, but with one important note. Visitors will not need to click anything, just scroll down. Big headers do the job of a splash page without forcing your visitors to click anything.

Main Idea: Huge headers that make your visitors remember you.

2. Sketch/ Hand-drawn Design

Hand-drawn design is not exactly new, but we all know that it is still on the fringes of web design. Many designers admire the style but are afraid to create their own sketches because of the “I can’t really draw” attitude. If you look at the most popular hand-drawn websites (and relative to other types of trends, there are only a few), you will notice that most of your fellow designers can’t draw. These designs are not exactly headed to an art museum, but they do convey a sense of whimsy, and blur the line between cold web and personal interaction– the ultimate goal of the internet. If you can doodle, you can sketch for web design.Sketch in 2010 will become more elemental, and not as much the main focus of a web design. It will be used to personalize standard web copy in new and exciting ways.

Main Idea: Sketch becomes an elemental part of corporate design.

3. Slab Typefaces

Slab typefaces are relatively new, although they’ve been around for over 200 years in traditional media. To get a good visual definition of slab typefaces, think of the old Wild West “Wanted” posters. Those bold letters are slab typefaces. Slab typeface is commonly all capital letters and are bold and imposing. Many designers have shied away from slab typefaces in the past because logos and headers were smaller and more understated. However, combined with the trend toward larger headers, slab typefaces demand the reader to take notice.

Main Idea: Slab typefaces is used to bravely express who you are.

4. Typography

Typography is one of the most difficult trends to tackle which is why it will remain fresh in 2010. With all the cries for usability, web designers are afraid of using new and different fonts. The idea of mixing varying font sizes together is completely unthinkable. Fonts are meant to be explored, twisted, and molded to fit your purposes. With the correct placement, a website that utilizes Typography as its main design element will be more interesting to a reader than overloading the same site with tons of photos.

Main Idea: Typography is young, but will continue to be a part of web design.

5. One Page Layouts

One pay layouts challenge you to edit away what’s unnecessary. In 2010, this trend will move away from the quirky navigation and become more minimal in its approach. Think of these websites as business cards. These websites will be more of a one-stop-shop for how to locate you and your work on various other sites– your blog and your social media hangouts.

Main Idea: One page layouts will be more about personal profiles and less corporate.

6. Huge Images

A close relative to the oversized logo/ header, the huge image does much the same thing. It creates an visual impact that the visitor won’t soon forget. Unlike the oversized header from above, huge images are not part of the site’s branding. Instead, these images draw the visitor into your site, if not for their content then for their humongous size. In 2010, web designers will find themselves more comfortable using these big statements in their design to convey the site’s tone.

Main Idea: Huge images will be used to invite visitors in.


As we’ve discussed before, the desktop perspective has been done to death. 2010 will see a definite change in perspective to a more realistic view. There may also be a move toward side-shot aerial.

Main Idea: 2010 will play around with different perspectives.

8. Interactive/ Intuitive Design

Flash has seen better days. There was a time when you couldn’t visit a website without running into an annoying Flash interface. These days Flash is a lot more relaxed and much more professional. Although some designers prefer jQuery for forms and popups, Flash still has its place in design, especially when done subtly. Flash still has no equal to its interactivity. In 2010, web designers will move toward the more redeeming elements of Flash. Because the average visitor is more web savvy these days, designers will also create sites that are slightly more intuitive than in the past.

Main Idea: Interactive design will make a come-back.

9. Modal Boxes

Modal boxes are a trend that’s picking up steam and will be virtually everywhere in 2010. A modal box is like the popup’s more sophisticated older brother– it’s smooth, good looking and popular. Modal boxes are so easy to design and easy to use, making them the perfect solution for any designer concerned with usability.

Main Idea: Modal boxes will continue to pop up in 2010 designs.

10. Minimalism

Forget the old school minimal websites. Websites of 2010 will continue to feature lots of white space but with bold typology and surprising color schemes. Not all minimal websites will agree with the notion of black and white simplicity. Although minimalism is by nature muted, it will also showcase fresh colors. Minimalism isn’t cold, it’s warm and too the point.

Main Idea: Minimalism will venture into typology.

11. Oversized Footer

Oversized footers may be everywhere already, but 2010 will find them even more exaggerated. The footers of tomorrow will be less of an after-thought and more of an integral part of the design. Look for footers that feature contain random information, such as feed updates from various social media, daily polls, and Flickr feeds.

Main Idea: Oversized Footers will feature less important, but more personal information.

12. Retro

Retro designs are here to stay. Although a lot of the design community admires retro web design, it can be difficult to fully embrace this style without coming across “undone.” The key to retro designs is to be inspired by its tone and underlying playfulness. In 2010, retro design will be expanded as designers find new ways to honor vintage art.

Main Idea: Retro is new.

13. Intro Boxes

“Hi, my name is…” will find an even bigger stage in 2010 as designers recognize the beautiful simplicity of introducing yourself to your visitor. If you’re struggling with making a creative “About” page, the intro box will be your best bet. It forces you to condense who you are into a relatively small about of space. In 2010, intro boxes will push its own boundaries. Instead of the boring hello, designers will find new pick-up lines. And, instead of the left-flanked intro block, 2010 will see boxes in unusual placement, perhaps even in the middle of a page.

Main Idea: New ways to say “hello.”

14. Magazine Layouts

As more and more people migrate from the comforts of traditional press to online infotainment, designers are challenged to welcome them in with an easy transition. There is a move toward the magazine layout, where information is carefully organized on a single home page, giving the visitor an opportunity to explore as interested. The familiar layout will appeal to appeal to anyone who’s ever read a magazine or newspaper, but it will also be easier to use– no flipping pages! In 2010, magazine layout will become very huge for blogs in particular.

Main Idea: Magazine layouts will be used for infotainment sites.

source: 4/2/10 http://webdesignledger.com/tips/web-design-trends-for-2010 By: Jacqueline Thomas

Share your thoughts! Leave a comment below.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Generate more customers today!

The web is a powerful marketing tool, and its at our fingertips.

Get your name and brand out there. Build a following, and find new customers.

There are many things you can do with a website, such as;
  • Advertise
  • Blog
  • Create a Newsletter
  • Brand your business
  • Earn money with ad sense
  • Offer coupons
  • Post Special Events
  • Share photos
  • Create links to your Myspace, Facebook, Linked-In, and/or Twitter pages

Start today:
e-mail: purrfectdsgn@yahoo.com

Or leave me your name and e-mail address here. Just click on comments.


Copyright 2009. Crystal Web Design.