Posts

Logo Design Evolution: From Concept to Final

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Here's a new logo we designed with a brief summary of our logo design process: Start out with a few rough ideas from client (company name, colors and tagline) Put together a mock-up of 4 different concepts Work with sets of four and bounce around between them Limit to 3-4 different fonts Play off a word, idea or symbol and incorporate Generate a PDF and email to client for review Iterate and tweak Client decides on final version Output logo in high resolution (EPS, PDF and PNG) GIF created using CorelDraw, AKVIS Sketch and animated using Adobe Fireworks Patrick LaJuett operates a website design and marketing agency where he supports his clients as a Web technology consultant and search marketing strategy advisor.

Rank Me Button for SEO

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Just press the Rank Me button Inspired by the April Fool's post over at  Bing's Webmaster Blog Ah, if only it were that easy.  Everyone wants to be number one in search ranking.  The problem is, they don't want to put in the time, money or effort. So what can one do?  Well, you can go the route of pay-per-click, and many do.  But in my opinion, PPC should always run in parallel to a solid organic SEO campaign. Patience is a virtue, so I recommend a slow and steady approach to search engine optimization.  Follow the Webmaster Guidelines, and cultivate quality content over time. Patrick LaJuett operates a website design and marketing agency where he supports his clients as a Web technology consultant and search marketing strategy advisor.

Logo Designs Created for Local Business

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We designed a couple of logos this week.  Logo creation is by far the most enjoyable work we do. Something about crafting a new brand identity and seeing it on public display is very rewarding. Check out our logo design portfolio to see the type of work we've done over the past decade or so. Hockey Goalie Training and Instruction Pizza Shop - (Sign at Batavia MuckDog's Dwyer Stadium) Patrick LaJuett operates a website design and marketing agency where he supports his clients as a Web technology consultant and search marketing strategy advisor.

Logo Designed for Start-Up Biz

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Logo developed for a new health insurance consultancy company based in NY State. Logo designed using CorelDraw X6, with bevel and drop shadow added in Adobe Fireworks CS3. Patrick LaJuett operates a website design and marketing agency where he supports his clients as a Web technology consultant and search marketing strategy advisor.

Google Sites SEO

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How to Organically Optimize Google Sites for Search Here are the simple or baseline steps I take when performing SEO on a Google Sites website.  It is not a complete list of Google Sites SEO techniques, but the minimum that I recommend.  I hope you find it helpful: 1. Use keywords in Google Sites Name (i.e., Jeep FC-150 | 1959 Forward Control) 2. Make sure Page Titles are unique (i.e., Jeep FC-150 Specs) 3. Use keywords in Page Descriptions (i.e., Collection of Willys forward control Jeep print ads...) 4. Create a custom footer with name of company (i.e., Copyright 2013 My Jeep FC-150...) 5. Add a new Announcements page populated with interesting keyword rich posts* 6. Enable the auto-generated sitemap page in the links configuration 7. Register a domain with name of company, geographic identifier or service description (i.e., jeepfc150.com) 8. Map custom domain to Google Site 9. Submit sitemap.xml to Google Webmaster Tools and Bing Webmaste

Google Site Developed for Keuka Lake Rental Cottage

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New Google Site features embedded Google Calendar, Picasa Web photo gallery, and more. Need an inexpensive website up and running quickly? Try Google Sites. The rapid development cycle, along with simple to use interface, is very hard to beat. There are limitations on the level of customization. (No JavaScript or inline CSS).  And quality third party gadgets are still rare.  However, the ability to integrate Google apps is a winner.  The built-in micro blogging widget is probably my favorite feature...they just need to open up the public comments. Springer's Keuka Haven - cottage rental website built with Google Sites Google Sites is a structured wiki and webpage creation tool offered by Google as part of the Google Apps Productivity suite.   Patrick LaJuett operates a website design and marketing agency where he supports his clients as a Web technology consultant and search marketing strategy advisor.

New WordPress blog for Hochstein School

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We helped develop the new WordPress blog for Hochstein School of Music. Check it out here .

Salmon Creek in Hilton, NY

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Here's an autumn view from our previous office in Hilton.  Photo has Photomatrix' tone mapping algorithm applied. Salmon Creek in Hilton, NY.

SEO Project Walk Through

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National search marketing campaign initiated for New York State based business, Hunting and Shooting Related Consultants, LLC . http://www.huntsrc.com Let's Take a Walk The Analysis Website architecture audit Keyword research Local listing inventory The Good Client has an existing html website and a WordPress blog Site is aesthetically pleasing and well coded Client reputation is well known internationally The Bad The underlying search engine optimization is lacking National web search yields low ranking for related keyword phrases A couple of blog posts exist, but nothing substantive The Fixes Added Google Analytics code Modified page titles and descriptions Generated XML sitemap Submitted to Webmaster Tools Created a new G+ page Directory submission The Next Steps Establish an authorship schedule for relevant blog posts relating to hunting and shooting safety, accidents and incident investigation Attract quality incoming links from national publications and

Client Communications - Constantly Evolving

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Client communication is critical to my business success. I'm constantly juggling and multitasking. Social media is both a blessing and a bother. Simpler Times My Web design business launched in the fall of 2001. Back then, face to face meetings, emails and phone calls were the ways I communicated with customers (sorry, couldn't do the pager on belt thing). How things have changed With the explosion of mobile phones and social media, I now have customers contacting me via LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.  Trying to keep up with the various incoming messages from all these sources has become a challenge. Time to talk Communication is critical to business success, but it can be a real time vacuum.  As a small business owner, I constantly struggle to juggle the various aspects of running the business. Things like work flow, cash flow, and trying to grow.  I need to be able to respond quickly and concisely to the multitudinous customer inquiries I receive. Email t