by Evelyn,
published November 29, 2008
syndicated: 0 | total views: 80 |
word count: 727
laesbarhedsindex readability score: Average Readability
website: http://www.mcleancowan.com
G
raphic design is much different than web design. Just because the two terms have design in their name, there are more differences than similarities. Since I have done graphic design for half my life, I figured that designing a web site would be a pretty simple task. For those of you who are graphic designers, an online portfolio is a great way to get your work out there, but you need to know what it takes to get your site online. First, you will need a domain name and a hosting provider, which is a monthly cost. You can shop around for hosting providers, but usually most of the fees are in the same general ballpark.
After you get your domain name and a server space to host your website, you’re ready to design your website, right? Well, that’s what I thought. It turns out that you need to know the language of the Internet and have experience in things like: 1. writing html code 2. writing scripts 3. knowing how to ftp your website 4. and incorporating any fancy goodies like flash intro.
I don’t want to scare off my inexperienced colleagues out there, so I won’t mention javascript, css, php, and lots of other abbreviations that I swear are made up just to drive us crazy. It feels like the Internet insiders just make things up, but there really are many legitimate coding languages.
So, these are some things involved in creating a web site. Don’t worry -- there are ways around doing all this yourself. You could consult a business that provides web site design services, go through online tutorials, or even take a local class in web development at a nearby college. If you have a busy schedule like mine, I recommend finding a web developer who can assist you.
How do I want my web site to look? Since you are graphic designer, you will want to have a website that represents your best work and is compatible with the style you have developed for your business. It can get sticky if you are having your site outsourced to a web developer and they have their own creative ideas the appearance of the site. Suddenly you become the client, and it’s interesting to be the other side of the fence. Make sure you get the design you are looking for – your design.
Overall, I want my portfolio pieces to speak for themselves, while still being compatible with my website. I decided to keep my design fairly basic, yet effective for displaying my work. Another tip: Keep in mind that some formatting shows up differently on the web. For example, I have an eye for how type should be set. However, on the Internet you have less control of where the type will fall and how it will look on the monitor of the person surfing your site.
How did 17 letters generate new business? The 17 magic letters for me happened to be mcleancowan.com. That’s only 14 characters, but remember to add the www. Yes, my newly updated site. It’s amazing how effective those 17 letters have been for me. Now, my marketing efforts focus on my online portfolio. I can expand my business to a larger market. I save time and money by traveling less. I also have been getting contacts that I would have never received before. I have been getting more requests for bids, which results in more projects!
It’s a good idea to be a bit cautious when responding to unknown clients. Don’t down-sell your services, and make sure you have everything in writing with contracts. Lastly, you are going to want to update your website, just as you would update your regular portfolio of printed pieces. You want people to see your latest work, so updating the site takes some time, but it also shows prospective clients that you’re serious about your business and attend to details.
The internet can open new avenues of cost-effective marketing. For example, you can email existing and prospective clients, with a short and sweet message and a link to your latest work. Now that my website is up, I’m always thinking of new ways to showcase my work. And it’s a great morale booster when a difficult client changes direction in the middle of a project – just browse your own website and take pride in your own talent!
The threshold question to ponder before you decide to invest in the stock market is whether or not you are the investor type. For some people the stock market may not be suited to their personality. This article addresses some of the qualities an inv
Your Google ads are an army of 100,000 tiny salesmen traversing the entire planet for you. And you only have to pay their salaries when the customers crack their doors open to listen to them.
Salesmanship in print is advertising. The same lang
How do you get your website to be attractive? And at the same time do your own SEO? There are many ways to market your site, but through article writing and press releases. This way you have done link building, website promotion and marketing i
It’s not about talent; it’s all about MLM training material
There are many great MLM training materials that are available. There are also a few that are not so great. You need these materials in order to build your MLM business, and you n
The walls of the house or office can be made as attractive and as inviting as one wants. Once the interior of the house is painted, it is ready to be decorated. Wall Decor can range from the purely utilitarian to the exhibition of valuable or cherish
When night falls and darkness comes, the modern city is no longer as dark, silent and lonely as before. People decorate their buildings, shops, hotels with neon lights. They circle their brands, their service on a big post board or even the whole bui
If you have been longing to start a business online you may be coming across terms you've never heard before. You may also have found the opportunities available are overwhelming. Where do you begin?
If you have been longing to start a business online you may be coming across terms you've never heard before. You may also have found the opportunities available are overwhelming. Where do you begin?
Are you trying to start an online business? Are you overwhelmed with the many online business programs available or concerned that you'll lose money by investing in them? While many offers sound too good to be true, there are some very go
Printable version
Publisher HTML version
Post a Comment
Email
Add to Favorites
