I’m very excited to announce that Naomi and Jamie of Itty Biz have just released their very first eBook:

• SEO School: How to Become an SEO Ninja
  

Note: There’s a discount code at the bottom of the post…

I was lucky enough to know about this eBook well in advance of it’s launch day (today) so I already purchased my copy last week! I can’t wait to start reading it and implementing some if not ALL of the tactics to my web site and blog.

I’ve hired Naomi twice already, with another consultation setup for tomorrow afternoon, so I have no doubt whatever expertise she’s able to share through an eBook will be invaluable to say the least.

Here are some of the things you’ll learn in SEO School:

This is direct from the Itty Biz web site below - I figured it would be best to tell you exactly what’s included rather than try to paraphrase. Naomi is, after all, a marketing expert!

• How to figure out what you want to rank in Google for (it’s not what you think)
• How to maximize the number of people searching for your keywords while minimizing your competition
• When you want to optimize, and when you don’t
• Where to find free tools — what you should pay for and what you shouldn’t
• What to do about the Google sandbox
• How to get creative with your SEO — it’s not just stuffing a bunch of keywords in and crossing your fingers
• How to tell whether your niche is profitable — will you ever be able to rank for what you want?
• Black Hat SEO vs. White Hat SEO — it’s not just for Westerns anymore
• How to capitalize on long tail search terms — the ones that the big guys aren’t even trying for
• Competition reconnaissance — how to know what you’re up against (Hint: ninjas are involved.)

In addition to the background stuff, you’ll come away with concrete, actionable ideas for what you can do to improve your Google ranking TODAY:

• 8 critical optimization tricks you can start using on your own site right now. Even if you don’t know anything about SEO. Even if you don’t know anything about websites.
• 6 ways to maximize the power of your inbound links, the thing Google looks at first

There are also two special sections at the end:

• For Bloggers Only: The 3 reasons you NEED a blog, even if you can’t write - 7 blog-specific ways to improve your SEO
• The Future of Google: What to know and do now so you don’t have to redo this stuff again every six months for the rest of your life.

Special Offer - $9 OFF until July 1st

For a limited time - until July 1st, 2008 - you can get $9 off the eBook with Discount Code: MovingDay

You can’t go wrong with that, now, can you? Be sure to get your copy of SEO School: How to Become an SEO Ninja today!

Wishing all of the Daddy’s and Daddies-To-Be a very Happy Father’s Day!

I hope you are able to kick back and relax with your family today!

Author’s Note: I wrote this post on Saturday, May 31, 2008. Something I couldn’t publish right then, but had to get down “on paper” to be sure I remembered my thought process. I hope it will help some of you reading, who might be going through a similar dilemma - wondering if or when it’s time to take the freelance / solo plunge. As of the time of publishing this post, everything is official - I am FREE!

Times They Are A-Changing

Big, big changes have been in the works! I am almost completely FREE!

I just finished drafting my resignation letter for my full time job of over 9 years. Yes, that’s right, I’m going to be taking the “freelance plunge” - 2 more weeks before I officially go solo and can call myself a self-employed entrepreneur.

This is something I’ve been looking forward to for such a long time now! Anyone who knows me knows of the insane hours I’ve been keeping - working 60-70 hours a week, with not more than 4-5 hours of sleep a night. All to juggle working a full time job, running my own web design business part time, and not to mention that thing called having a life - which in my case is heavily centered around an almost 3 year old.

What Made Me Decide It Was Time?

Let me tell you… this didn’t come without a LOT of preparation and thought. My poor husband has had to deal with the worst of it, LOL. My friends and family, and even general acquaintances have been so incredibly supportive. You know who you are, if you’re reading this!

My AH-HA Moment

I had my “AH-HA” moment last weekend - the Sunday before Memorial Day. I was playing outside with my daughter in the sandbox, while sitting in a lawn chair right beside her. Watching and hearing her play… looking up at the clouds floating and birds flying by in the sky… hearing the relaxing sound of wind rustling through the palm trees… watching the squirrels playing (and napping) in the trees…

A combination of things in that single moment, made me realize THIS is what it’s all about.

My husband and I moved here a few years ago - we had this house built on the lot that we picked (much more bang for your buck than where we were previously renting an apartment). It finally hit me that we moved to be in this beautiful place - to enjoy each other and our house and our lives - now with a beautiful baby girl… ok, toddler - she’s NOT a baby anymore!

In The Blink Of An Eye

I realize these last few years living here - especially since my daughter was born - have literally flown past me in the blink of an eye. This year in particular has gone by so quickly! And what was I doing? Instead of enjoying the back yard on a regular basis, I was couped up inside this office. Missing out on her growing up - missing out on LIFE!

Now, I must say that I do work from home, and it’s something I am so incredibly grateful for! I have been able to witness so many of my daughter’s “first’s” - her first smile, first bath, first time rolling over, first time crawling, first time walking… heck, even the first time she tried to get something from her Daddy (chocolate covered raisins), and then came to ask me when he said no! Where did she learn to do THAT so quickly! LOL

It’s a lot of the little things, too. Working so much now, I am constantly tired and stressed - thinking of work. So even when I’m with them now, my mind is still at least half on work, if not completely checked-out and wishing I were asleep.

But WHEN?

I had been flip flopping for the longest time, as to if or when I should take the plunge. My initial plan was to wait until the end of the year to make the big move.

I worked my butt off this year, though, and much to my surprise and joy, I realized I had reached a point where I could take the solo plunge much sooner, rather than later. Amazing! I’ve been astonished, to tell you the truth.

But is it safe? How do you know it’s time to leave a steady paycheck for something more? Well, you don’t…

I recently read an interview by Akemi with Naomi of Itty Biz. I’ve hired Naomi twice already, with some more stuff in the works! Anyway, a few weeks ago, I read an amazing interview titled “I Can’t Not Do This” - All I could say is WOW! It’s like she was talking right to me!

You’re Never 100% Ready

To quote my favorite part of the interview…

Any advice for people who dream to have
their own business and yet find it hard
to make the leap?

Make the leap before you’re totally ready. I read in a magazine once that you should never be 100% ready to have kids. If you think you’re 100% ready, you’re missing something. I think the same thing applies to business. If you wait until you’re 100% ready, you’ll be dead before you launch. Be 80% ready. Do the best you can and just go for it…

Jump and the net will appear.

Something about this quote really struck a nerve with me. I literally have the quote up on my bulletin board as inspiration!

When my husband and I were deciding when to have kids, I had said to myself that I was not 100% ready… I don’t think you truly can be! You just have to decide when you are “ready enough” and trust that the rest (knowledge of parenting at that point… running a successful business now…) will come naturally!

Well, this is a similarly life changing event, just in terms of career rather than family - although in actuality, they do all connect as part of the circle of life…

First Things First

So, here I am, on a Saturday night. Planning on a big conversation that’s about to take place at work. Not one I’m particularly looking forward to, I admit. But the outcome of which, is something that I’ve been dreaming about for such a long time now!

It’s time to put me and my family first. I deserve this! I’ve worked hard, and I deserve to be successful.

I’m so ready for this move, and can’t wait to start this new phase of my life.

I hope you’ll join me for the ride!

Author’s Note: I can’t end this post without linking to the great article that Naomi just published yesterday with some amazing advice on starting a home business. THANK YOU, Naomi! You made my day with your post, and to be honest I even welled up reading it. Thank you for Everything!

Welcome to Week 4 of the Get Clients Now! 28 Day Marketing Program!

We’re in the home stretch now! Just 1 more week left to finish up on those Success Ingredients, and to reach your program goal. How is everyone doing this time around?

Success Ingredients - Week 3

Although I’m continuing to make process on all of my Success Ingredients, I have not yet accomplished my goals for these items on time! I’ve got 1 week to finish up, so I know I’ll be a busy little bee this time around!

1. Description of Services - Progress: 90%
   by May 30, 2008
   Missed deadline again - Changing goal to June 13, 2008
   
2. Networking Venues - Progress: 60%
   by June 6, 2008
   Changed goal last week to June 13, 2008 to allow time for #1 above
   
3. Blog Concept / Topics - Progress: 50%
   by June 13, 2008

Daily / Weekly Actions - Week 3

Not bad this week. I almost feel like it’s cheating when GCN lets you give yourself a Y for an item you didn’t do, as long as you hadn’t planned on doing it that day. Again, I’d say this is a motivational tactic. Anyway, not too bad last week in terms of my total number of completed daily/weekly actions.

• Total (# of 10)
  8 -7 -6 -7 - 7

Program Goal - Week 3

Going by my results on the “new prospects” portion of the goal, Get Clients Now! definitely delivers! I’m always amazed by how the daily and weekly actions in my “Filling the Pipeline” program does SO well!

• Program Goal
  10 new prospects / 2 new clients
• My Progress
  140% - 14 new prospects / 50% - 1 new client

As far as new clients, I’m half way there - good, but I’d love to get 1 additional client this week, so I’d be at 100% on this area, too. What I realize is that the goal of signing a new client really is more for the other stages of the Universal Marketing Cycle. Specifically the area on Closing Sales.

• Filling the Pipeline
• Following Up
• Getting Presentations
• Closing Sales

I will be focusing my next program on Following Up, however, as I want to learn as many techniques as possible from all 4 stages. Anyway, the numbers above definitely show that the program works to help Fill the Pipeline by bringing in new prospects!

I’d say the numbers speak for themselves, as far as whether GCN actually works or not! To be honest, what I really need to do is focus on the other stages of the Universal Marketing Cycle.

How Was Your Week 3?

For those of you following along this time around - how did you do last week? Do you think you’ll reach your program goal by Friday? Please share in the comments below!

By the way, the next program which will be starting on Saturday, June 21st - so you still have a few more weeks to decide if you like what you see and want to get the book and give it a shot, too!

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Welcome to Week 3 of the Get Clients Now! 28 Day Marketing Program!

Now that we’re halfway through the program, how is everyone doing? I think Nicole is the only other person joining along on the actual program, lol - but if you’ve been reading our progress thinking about joing in on the next program, I wonder what your thoughts are?

Success Ingredients - Week 2

Something I neglected to write an overview on last week (oversight on my part) was my success ingredients. One of my deadlines was Friday, and I missed the boat… I’m 85% on that item, so I know I have to play catch-up this week.

Overall, I’m making progress on all of them, though, so I still think I can reach these goals by the end of the program.

1. Description of Services - Progress: 85%
   by May 30, 2008
   Missed deadline - Changing goal to June 6, 2008
   
2. Networking Venues - Progress: 35%
   by June 6, 2008
   Changing goal to June 13, 2008 to allow time for #1 above
   
3. Blog Concept / Topics - Progress: 25%
   by June 13, 2008

Daily / Weekly Actions - Week 2

I suppose I don’t need to bore you with the specifics of each daily item, lol - the totals should speak for themselves…

• Total (# of 10)
  10 - 8 - 5 - 2 - 6

I’m happy to say that I rocked it on Monday! Of course, that was a holiday, which meant I had all day to market myself. Thursday was obviously a very poor day in terms of GCN. There was a LOT going on that day for me, though (announcement on that in the weeks to come, so stay tuned!)

Program Goal - Week 2

As for overall progress of my Program Goal… I’m doing great! Way past the half way mark!

• Program Goal
  10 new prospects / 2 new clients
• My Progress
  110% - 11 new prospects / 50% - 1 new client

I’d say the numbers speak for themselves, as far as whether GCN actually works or not! To be honest, what I really need to do is focus on the other stages of the Universal Marketing Cycle.

• Filling the Pipeline
• Following Up
• Getting Presentations
• Closing Sales

I’m more than right on with new prospects, which is my goal with this program - Filling the Pipeline. Actually signing new clients are more along the lines of Closing the Sale, which is the last program.

For those of you following along, my next program will be geared towards Following Up, as I want to work through each of the stages in the Marketing Cycle. But of course, you can do any of the programs - whichever is the area you feel most necessary to furthering your business. In my case I did several Filling the Pipeline programs.

That’s the beauty of the program is that you can custom tailor your program(s) to exactly what you need.

How Did You Do In Week 2?

Please post an update below to let us know how you’re doing at the half way point. And if you’ve been reading along - what do you think? Does it seem like a worthwhile process?

I hope you’ll join along in the next program which will be starting on Saturday, June 21st.

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Just a quick post today to announce new advertising spots on the blog!

This blog’s audience is mostly comprised of web designers, web developers, freelancers and other small business owners.

Advertisements are located in the sidebar and will appear on all pages throughout the blog. Ads run for a period of 1 month.

Advertising Rates

At the time of this post (May 2008) the new / introductory advertising rates are below. You can always view the most current rates on the Advertising page.

125×125 Banner Ad

• $50/month
• Introductory Rate: $20/month
• 4 Ad Spots Available

Text Link Ad

• $30/month
• Introductory Rate: $10/month
• 5 Ad Spots Available

Please email to reserve your ad spot today!

Banner Ad Design -$20 OFF (Limited Time Offer)

If you would like to advertise, but don’t have a banner ad, I offer Banner Ad Design Services as well.

Banner Ad Design Services / Rates

• For a limited time, get $20 OFF Banner Ad Design
  with coupon code: IDS-BANNER

Mini-Banner Ad Design Portfolio

Below are is a small sampling of banner ads that I have designed both for myself and for clients. To see additional banners that I’ve designed, please view the Banner Ad Portfolio page on the main site.

Wishing everyone a Happy Memorial Day!

More significant than this just being an extended weekend - today is a day to remember those who have lost their lives defending our country.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone mourning a loved one today.

Welcome to week 2 of the Get Clients Now! 28 Day Marketing Program!

How did everyone do last week? I hope it was a productive week! This won’t be a long post today - basically just a quick checkin to show my progress and see how everyone is doing.

Daily / Weekly Actions - Week 1

Below are my selected Daily and Weekly Actions that I setup in Week 1. Under each item is my Yes or No status, as far as whether I completed the item on a given day (I’ve tailored my program as suggested in the book - with my action days being Monday - Friday… if your schedule is different, you can adjust this to your most productive days if necessary).

1. Spend 1/2 hour each day on my Success Ingredient Projects
   N - Y - Y - Y - Y
2. Spend 1/2 hour each day on reading or writing
   N - Y - Y - Y - Y
3. Send 1 letter or email to a new person each week
   Y - N - N - Y - Y
4. Make 1 new community contact each week
   Y - N - Y - Y - Y
5. Post 1 Q/A Question each week (on LinkedIn or Work It, Mom!)
   N - N - N - Y - Y
6. Post 1 Q/A Answer each day (on LinkedIn or Work It, Mom!)
   Y - N - Y - N - N
7. Post 2 blog comments each day
   Y - Y - Y - N - N
8. Post 2 message board posts each day (new and/or response)
   Y - Y - Y - Y - Y
9. Publish 2 blog posts each week
   Y - Y - Y - N - N
   
10. Plan my day each morning (or the night before)
    N - Y - Y - Y - Y

Overall not bad - lots of Yes’ in the list above. However there are also quite a bit of No’s… My totals for the week are:

• Total (# of 10)
  6 - 6 - 8 - 7 - 7

Ideally, you want to average about 8 Y’s per day. So I can see I need improvement. The beauty of this program is that you are able to customize it to fit your needs. If you find that it’s nearly impossible to accomplish one (or several) of your Daily / Weekly items, you can always adjust it.

For example, change your 2 blog comments a day goal to 1 blog comments a day. Judging by last week, that is something I might need to adjust. But I am going to leave my list as-is for the moment and see if I can’t just increase my performance next week. If I find my daily totals are still on the low side, then I’ll reconsider adjusting my Daily / Weekly Actions next week.

A Little Bit of Grey

As far as judging your progress, I find there can be a bit of grey area, because some items are a bit tricky to keep track of. For example, #5 above “Post 1 Q/A Question each week” - I posted 2 questions this week, and gave myself credit for those days.

In GCN, CJ Hayden says that if you had planned to do a weekly item, but didn’t - then you get an “N” for that day. However, if you did Not plan on doing an item, you can credit yourself with a “Y”. So I have a few freebie points in my list from that. Kind of misleading in a way, but I think it’s more to help motivate you - at least as far as sticking to your plans.

Now, take #9 “Publish 2 blog posts each week” - I failed on this one in that I did not publish 2 posts this week. But I gave myself Y’s on Monday and Tuesday because I worked on the posts (even though they have not yet been published). This is where there’s some grey area, LOL.

Program Goal - Week 1

As for overall progress of my Program Goal…

• Program Goal
  10 new prospects / 2 new clients
• My Progress
  40% - 4 new prospects / 0% - 0 new clients

Not bad for just 1 week. I’m almost at 50% of my goal for Prospects after only 1 week! I know actually getting the clients will be more difficult than getting prospects. But I at least have my foot in 4 new doors, LOL, so it’s a start!

A note about how I’m judging these, by the way…

Before starting the project, I already had 5 prospects (so hey - I’ve technically currently got 9 prospects! That’s GREAT!) As far as prospects go, however, I’m only including a potential client in my GCN project goal if they became a prospect AFTER I started the program.

On the other hand, actually converting a prospect into an official client obviously requires a lot more work - much of which is ongoing during the program (for example, I sent out 3 proposals last week). If any of my prospects (pre-GCN or post-GCN) becomes a paying client, then I will include them in my “2 new clients” goal.

Your Turn!

So, enough about me! I want to hear how YOU did this week! I’d say I’m off to a good start, and I hope next week is even better for all of us.

If you’re following the program alongside me, please do leave a comment below, and let me know how week 1 went for you. Are you making any changes to your program goals or daily/weekly actions for week 2?

If you’re not in on the program yet, I still wonder what your thoughts are? Do you think this is something you’d be interested in doing in the near future?

I plan on starting a 2nd program on the blog in June, so you have plenty of time to prepare by getting the book and reading up on it (you don’t have to read the whole book - only about half of it for preparation… the rest of it you read as you follow the program).

Best of luck in Week 2!

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Welcome to Week 1 of my first public Get Clients Now! (GCN) program…

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, lol, be sure to read the first intro post in this series. Basically, I’m publicizing my progress in going through the 28 day marketing program found in Get Clients Now! A 28-Day Marketing Program for Professionals, Consultants, and Coaches by C.J. Hayden.

Class In Session (Or A Preview)

The program itself is starting today, but if you don’t have the book, don’t worry! Just follow along this month to see what you think… if you like what you see, you can pick up a copy of the book, and join in on the next round!

My thoughts being that by posting my process on this blog, it will help make me accountable for my actions - making sure that I actually complete the program and make the most of my marketing efforts.

In doing so, I’m also hoping to have as many of you as possible join in on the process - nothing like a group of peers to help support each other!

And yes, I realize this might not all make sense if you don’t have the book, but this series should at least give a general idea as to what the book entails.

Put Yourself First

As I mentioned in my previous GCN post, I have started 3 programs in the past, but each time I got too caught up in client work that I put my own marketing efforts on the back-burner.

Perhaps the most important quote from the book, and one we as small business owners should live by…

“Make marketing your first priority
instead of the last thing you do”

I’m guilty of putting my own projects and marketing efforts last, whenever client work comes in, so it was very good to read someone else stressing how important marketing is - that it should come first.

I’m starting with that new mantra today!

Program Focus

The book is built so that you can create as many plans with different focuses as necessary, depending on your particular marketing needs:

• Filling the Pipeline
• Following Up
• Getting Presentations
• Closing Sales

In my previous GCN programs, I focused on the first step in the Universal Marketing Cycle - Filling the Pipeline. I plan to complete this program by continuing to focus on this stage.

For those of you joining in on the program, please feel free to design your own program on any of the four stages above.

Action Worksheet - My Program Goals and How I Will Obtain Them

Below are my program goals and planned ingredients and actions for the next 28 days. Don’t forget you can download the FREE marketing plan worksheets from the Get Clients Now web site.

Start Date

• May 17, 2007

What strategies will you use?

• Direct Contact and Follow-up
• Networking and Referral Building
• Writing and Publicity

Where are you stuck or what needs the most work?

• Filling the Pipeline

How much business do you have now?

• $X,XXX / month
  some things you don’t have to post for the whole world to read, LOL

How much business do you really want?

• $X,XXX / month x 2
  I’d like to double my monthly business income

What would that get you?

• Extra money to pay off credit card debt… aka Less Stress!

What is your program goal?

• 10 new prospects / 2 new clients

What will be your reward?

• Me Time / A complete day OFF!
  No work! Sleep in late, take a nap, have an at-home girly spa/pamper day complete with manicure, pedicure and candle-lit bath… aka Relax!

Success Ingredients

1. Description of Services
   This is mostly complete, but I need to tweak existing rates and services, as well as add new WordPress and eCommerce services.
   by May 30, 2008
2. Networking Venues
   I especially want to focus on maximizing my social media profiles by making the most of existing profiles and creating some new ones.
   by June 6, 2008
3. Blog Concept / Topics
   I need to focus on this blog as a business networking tool, mainly by producing quality posts on a more frequent basis, at least twice a week as a starting point.
   by June 13, 2008

Daily Actions

1. Spend 1/2 hour each day on my Success Ingredient Projects
2. Spend 1/2 hour each day on reading or writing
3. Send 1 letter or email to a new person each week
4. Make 1 new community contact each week
5. Post 1 Q/A Question each week (on LinkedIn or Work It, Mom!)
6. Post 1 Q/A Answer each day (on LinkedIn or Work It, Mom!)
7. Post 2 blog comments each day
8. Post 2 message board posts each day (new and/or response)
9. Publish 2 blog posts each week
10. Plan my day each morning (or the night before)

Special Permission

• I Deserve to be Successful!

Now It’s Your Turn

What are your program goals? What do you hope to accomplish over the next 28 days, and which daily actions are going to get you there?

Please feel free to post your Action Worksheet on your own blog, or in the comments below. This will help make you accountable and ensure you actually get this done (and if you don’t we’ll be here to motivate each other to continue).

Best of luck to you this month! Let the marketing begin!

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The Kilpatrick Company, based in Boynton Beach, Florida, has been in the Irrigation and Landscape business since 1958. This year marks the Kilpatrick Company’s 50th Anniversary. To coincide with this milestone, they wanted to drastically update their web site and give it a modern look and feel.

The company approached me in late 2007 to request a re-design of their existing web site. Their old site had been around for a while, and it was time for a change - both in terms of design, as well as the features and information that they offer to both new and old customers, alike.

About the Company

With thirteen locations, and growing, The Kilpatrick Company specializes in Irrigation and Landscape Products, as well as Turf Equipment. The web site currently focuses on their three main divisions:

• KILPATRICK Irrigation & Landscape Products
• KILPATRICK Turf & Commercial Equipment
• KILPATRICK International

“The Kilpatrick Company has been established as one of the largest distributors of turf care equipment in the world with customers in over 35 countries. The company has been named the Distributor of the Year several times by Jacobsen/TEXTRON.”

Project Details

Client: The Kilpatrick Company
URL: www.kilpatrickco.com
Site Launch: March 2008

Project Scope:

• Web Site Site Design
• Front-End Web Development
• Flash Header Animation
• Valid Standards Compliant Tableless XHTML / CSS
• Continued Site Maintenance / Updates

Before

It had been some time since The Kilpatrick Company had re-designed their web site. The old site was much more conservative in nature, featuring a “safe” white background. The old design was based on the shades of blue and green found in the company logo.

After

The main objective for this project was to design a web site for The Kilpatrick Company that has a professional and corporate feel, while still maintaining the company branded blue and green color palette. After a complete overhaul, the site now has a modern edge to it, with colors that “pop” - all while maintaining a clean and simple style.

New features of the site include a flash header animation on the home page - which rotates through images of the company’s three main divisions - as well as a calendar of events, voting poll, and store locator.

As part of regular site maintenance, I update the company’s Bonus Buy’s on a monthly basis, as well as periodically add new locations and make other minor content changes. Site development is not 100% complete yet - there are a few areas, such as the FAQ, that the company is still working on creating content for (I’ll be adding this to the site as it becomes available).

Client Testimonial

It was nice working with iDesign Studios.

Thank you for your hard work in creating our website. Everyone likes it and they are happy with it. We look forward to continuing to work with you.
Thanks again!

Angela P. Thomas, Marketing Manager
The Kilpatrick Company

How Can I Help You?

If you like what you see, please don’t hesitate to visit the main business site - iDesign Studios - to view the complete portfolio, full list of services, or to contact me directly for more information.

I look forward to hearing from you!