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2011-03-21T14:28:00.001-06:00

Test

2011-02-10T14:40:00.001-07:00

Illuminating Ideas http://ping.fm/zGlT8

2010-02-27T14:47:00.001-07:00

Digital Twitter and Facebook Business Cards, way of the future? http://ping.fm/Lyk6b

Why Hire a Designer

2009-12-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

Great article I ran across.... Enjoy!

Why Hire a Designer?

The credit crunch is encouraging many people to take control of their lives by starting their own businesses. Startups often try to keep costs to a minimum by making their web sites themselves. A range of products on the market certainly promise to create a shiny web site in just a few hours for pocket change. But in business, as in life, you get what you pay for. Many business owners are learning the hard way that creating web sites without professional guidance is like keeping the books without an accountant.

As a professional web site designer, about 60% of my work is making second or even third web sites for business owners who started with an “e-z site builder” or, worse, left their web presence to a well-meaning relative. The results for these businesses were web sites which cast their company in a bad light, did not appear in search engines like Google, never tracked visitor statistics, were not visible to all site visitors, or worse, got them in legal hot water.

Why “easy sites” rarely are

In the past year I have created two new sites for businesses who made their first sites in-house using programs like Front Page or off-the-shelf “e-z site” software. They were unaware that these programs did not allow their sites to display properly – if at all – in all browsers. While professional web designers know how to create web sites which display properly on any computer and any browser, some DIY web site programs limit a site’s visibility to a single company’s web browser. One client’s existing company site was invisible to 45% of her site visitors. Would you close your shop to 45% of your potential customers?

Many business owners learn too late that several of the “e-z site” web template companies maintain legal ownership of their companies’ domain names. To buy their own company’s domain name back from the “e-z site” company, they must pay them a four figure sum. No responsible web professional would kidnap a client’s domain name for ransom, but several “e-z site” companies consider it their bread and butter. Could you afford to lose your own company name?

The Scottish Business Blog is filled with excellent resources on search engine optimisation – the art and science of getting your site to rank highly in search engines like Google and Yahoo. SEO has become its own industry which merits full-time professionals. Filling in boxes in a template software package is not SEO. Likewise, web analytics – the technology which tracks your web site visitors – should not be relegated to a few numbers in a template box.

Keeping it in the family?

Many businesses leave their web sites in the hands of well-meaning relatives. This leads to the industry joke about “14 year old nephew syndrome”, where web professionals seemingly compete against a business owner’s 14 year old nephew for their custom. No business owner would dream of saying “my 14 year old nephew is great with maths, so I’m letting him handle my business books”, but why do so many take that exact attitude when it comes to their web sites? Having a Bebo page does not qualify anyone as a professional web site designer.

Leaving a professional web presence to a relative also brings in time-wasting personal issues, including bruised egos. I know one small business owner whose web site is being “held hostage” by its creator, his teenage cousin, who is personally offended that the business owner wants to change it. Naturally, they had no written contract, so the business owner has no option but to wait for his cousin to grow up.

And while a contracted professional will jump when told to do so, a relative is unlikely to treat a business web site as anything more than a casual hobby. I proposed a project to a local business and was turned down on the grounds that the owner’s daughter-in-law’s brother has been promising to make them a web site – for over 18 months.

Look, mum, I made this myself!

For some businesses, the problems caused by homemade web sites go beyond personal issues. In business, image is everything, and a DIY web site suggests business owners who cut corners. Homemade web sites send out the message that “I haven’t made it yet, so buy my product and maybe I’ll be able to afford a real web site someday.” Site visitors and potential customers will assume that the business has cut corners with its products and services as well.

Finally, there are also legal risks in creating a web site without professional guidance. One of my clients made her first web site herself at home. Shortly after launching, she received a bill for £2,000 for using a photograph on the site without the permission of its copyright owner. A professional web designer would have secured copyright permissions or used license-free images. Instead, her effort to pinch pennies cost her more in legal penalties than a professional web site would have cost in the first place. The cost to her confidence as a business owner was incalculable.

The bottom line

Some of the “e-z site” packages seem to enjoy rubbishing professional web sites – and their designers – as “complex”, “technical”, and “expensive.” But to quote a Scottish Business Forums member, “If you think professionals are expensive, then just wait until you see how much amateurs cost”. Web sites are complex and they are technical. But they are not expensive. Cleaning up the damage caused by homemade web sites, “e-z site” builders, and bruised family egos is what costs companies far more than they budgeted for in the long run.

A trained web professional will take a genuine interest in helping you and your business to succeed. Whatever issue arises with your web site – whether it involves search engine optimisation, visitor tracking, legal requirements, e-commerce, marketing, copywriting, design, security, or the brave new frontier of web 2.0 - your professionally trained web site designer will work with you throughout the life of your site to give you the best web presence possible.

You just won’t get that in a DIY kit. Get your web site right the first time – hire a professional.

Article written by Heather Burns

2009-12-07T09:42:00.001-07:00

"Marketing is not an event, but a process . . .
It has a beginning, a middle, but never an end, for it is a process. You improve it, perfect it, change it, even pause it. But you never stop it completely." - J. Levinson

2009-12-02T15:36:00.001-07:00

New Illuminating Ideas site launches FRIDAY!!!!

2009-11-05T11:47:00.001-07:00

Check out one of my client's new site.

Client's New Site

2009-11-05T11:46:00.002-07:00

Check it out!

Spalutions! http://spalutions.com/

2009-10-08T11:24:00.001-06:00

YouTube - 'Blank' The Value of Social Capital (http://ping.fm/1ws7C)

2009-10-07T10:02:00.001-06:00

How To Create a Grassroots Movement Using Social-Networking (http://ping.fm/mJCTY)

2009-10-07T09:40:00.001-06:00

YouTube - 'Blank' The Value of Social Capital (http://ping.fm/1ws7C)

GrowingThe Business

2009-10-06T13:37:00.000-06:00

We are growing by leaps and bounds and part of this growth is the launch of a new website and part of the launch of a new website these days is growing your social network. So, what we are asking for here is patience while we wiggle out our new little world and watch this new tool blossom! The links above are not operating yet for the most part, but as time allows (or we should say work time without clients, which is pretty hard to come by, what a blessing) we will get everything worked out and would LOVE to hear form you! So keep watching, Illuminating Ideas has some exciting plans!

2009-10-06T13:24:00.001-06:00

Tending to my clients and growing my Whuffie! :) Bet you wonder what THAT is!

2009-10-06T13:20:00.001-06:00

pinging away! :)

2009-10-06T12:29:00.001-06:00

Check out ping.fm to update all of your social networking sites at once! So cool!

New site... coming right up!

2009-09-21T09:34:00.000-06:00

Just a little teaser, we will be launching the new IlluminatingIdeas.com site very soon! Going to be SO very cool! :)

OK, so it has almost been a year!

2009-09-18T15:07:00.000-06:00

I am focusing in more on my business now that the kiddos are back (and doing AWESOME) in school. I have been building to this point for the last 9 years and the arrival is exciting, but sadly marking the end of an era. Gone are the days of all day game playing and lessons to the little ones, here are the days of working full time and being a grown up again.

So, in my first couple of weeks as a true entrepreneur, I have been rebuilding Illuminating Ideas to be a multi-faceted marketing source. I have picked up being a dealer of promotional products and have made local connections to a screen printer and embroiderer. I have also been spending a lot of time studying social network marketing and have discovered just how important "Whoofie" is in the new social economic environment. In addition, I have also created relationships with dynamic printing companies that will print my marketing designs as well as other designs that have already been created in a much more affordable fashion than my clients have been able to find. As a standard service in web design, we now have the tools to allow customers to edit the content to their own sites without the fear of disturbing the site completely at no extra charge. We purchased the WebCEO software to help clients get the most out of their website marketing via SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

So, give us a call. Let us show you how we can get your new business off the ground, or just pick up where the other guy left off. Illuminating Ideas - Putting a New Face on Business.

Time Flies!

2008-12-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

Man, I can't believe how fast the days go, just when I feel like the day is dragging, it is over and the next has begun.

So, Halloween.

We were as they call it down south a "House Divided". :) Aaron was an Auburn football player (daddy's alma mater) and Molly was a Georgia cheerleader (mommy's favorite team). They were so stinking cute! We went to a party at some friend's house, it was a really fun night!

Our home renovations phase one is complete! I held a susi and saki party for a ladies dinner club that I have joined in the new kitchen, our first entertaining in the new digs!

We also hosted our first sleepover! That was an experience! We had Morgan, Molly's friend and Kalen, Aaron's friend over. Everything went realy well, considering our inexperience. I was making hamburgers for dinner when Aaron's friend came up to me and announced that hamburgers mak him throw up. Hmmmm... needless to say, he had a hot dog which he doused with mustard, katsup and hot sauce (I am talking dripping). The kiddo did not eat much. :)

And, finally, Thanksgiving. We started the morning with the second annual Thanksgiving morning run. We did the local 2 mile Turkey Trot and this year we ALL ran, even Molly. Aaron put a whipping on the rest of us and finished in 18 minutes, Dad did it in 19.5 minutes and Molly and I brought up the rear in just over 24 minutes. I love this tradtition, don't feel quite so bad about that extra serving potatoes during the feast. I can't believe how fast my little man is gettting. He ate so much this weekend, he just blew Kyle and I away. We noticed on the way to church that he has outgrown most of his jeans in the recent weeks, we had to go buy new ones... like NOW! Such a bitter sweet thing to see your kids grow like this! Wish I could just keep him small!

We had some of Kyle's coworkers over for dinner, it was a nice and peaceful evening with good friends and good food.

So, now, on to Christmas. I am so excited to watch the kids again this year. Christmas is so magical with them around. I will miss my dad so much, I have bee thinking about him a lot lately. But, he is in my heart, my guess is that is the most important place to have him.

That is it in a nutshell from here for now. I am so blessed!

Finally Done!!!

2008-10-30T13:47:00.000-06:00

So, I realized today that it has been forever since my last post. I have been hiding under all of the construction dust from our renovation, and am finally just surfacing in my new beautiful home! Lesson learned: never live in a house that you are renovating... ever again! I will post pictures soon (once I can clean all of the dust that has settled.)

The kids are awesome! Aaron is the strongest reader in his class (hey Mom's are supposed to boast, right!?) and he seems to be doing really well. A few weeks ago, he decided that there were not enough post it notes in our household. So, he decided to take 8 pads and stuff them in his backpack and bring them home. Figures, the one time mom decides to clean the old backpack out... BAM... busted! So, lesson learned... just ask, someone will be happy to give you a pad of post-its.

Molly is still doing gymnastics (she has her mom's grace, poor baby) and loving it. She really loves kindergarten and loves to write and practice reading. But, most of all she loves playing with her brother. They are so darn sweet together. Lesson learned: moving brings youg siblings closer together. :)

I have been a total slacker on the pictures, but I promise to get some up soon. It is amazing how life-sucking and time consuming a renovation is... never again!

Aaron's big race

2008-07-02T16:40:00.001-06:00

Ahhhh, summer!

2008-07-02T15:03:00.000-06:00

Ah, yes the most exciting yet boring time of the year. Especially according to my kids. They are either having blast or are bored and are going to make mommy pay! Aaron is in baseball and is racing BMX right now (he has already completed 2 VBS programs and a week at football camp) and Molly is doing t-ball and gymnastics. Both kiddos are going to be starting swimming lessons next Tuesday. WHEW! Flat wares me out to even verbalize that. Why is it that we moms, especially stay at home moms feel the need to give our kids full time entertainment? Do we just consider this our job? I am finding the sweetest moments of late come when I force them to find something to do by themselves. I see their little wheels turning in their little brains, and, if I ignore the screaming (from the inevitable fights) I really get to reel in the love those kids have for each other. So gratifying for a mom! The days seem to take forever, but man the weeks are screaming by.

On Thursday of last week, Aaron raced in his first BMX race and after crashing in the first qualifier and coming in last, he came in first in the second qualifier and first in the "BIG" race. He rocked!!! SEE ABOVE POST!

We had our first bloody visit to the ER on Saturday night and somehow managed to make it out in less than an hour. Aaron and Kyle were riding their bikes just in front of our neighborhood on "the new road" (they just repaved up there). As they turned into the neighborhood entrance, Aaron skidded on the gravel and, as he says, "bit it". He rode home, little tough dude, and after examination, he and I were off to the ER. After a big ole shot of Laticane, he got two staples in his knee.... OUCH! He was great though, and we hit McD's for a choc shake on the way home jamming to "Another One Bites the Dust"... how appropriate!

Molly has a new hobby of seeing how many hair "pretties" she can fit on her little head, quite amusing! But, luckily she is holding together without any help! She has almost perfected riding on two wheels, we are so proud of her accomplishment, no matter how shaky!

I am loving my new camera! I inherited my dad's Nikon D-70 and it has really inspired me to re-ignite my passion of photography! Thanks DAD!!

We are getting closer to beginning the renovation.... better come soon, I am melting! :)

10 beautiful years!

2008-05-23T17:19:00.000-06:00

Yep... tomorrow will mark 10 of the most amazing years with the love of my life. It seems so short ago that I promised to love myself, I mean Kyle for eternity (if you were there, you know what I mean! LOL For all of the things that I have done wrong in my life, this was the one thing I did so totally right.

I received a letter that my dad wrote to me years ago (1993 - sophomore in college) about the threads of life. How so many threads come together in a lifetime to make a rope. It is a precious letter to me that I only read for the first time acouple of days ago. My threads; God, my parents, my spouse, my inlaws, my kids and my friends really make a strong rope. Sure, there are frayed points of that rope, but overall, it is a strong rope. The strongest thread though is my guy. Always strong, always dependable and always (ok almost) perfect. I am so thankful for my rope, even the frayed parts because I know that further down the line, those frays are complete.

So, to my groom... than you for making my rope whole and strong and dependable. I love you

A brand new day

2008-04-27T14:02:00.001-06:00

Time really moves so fast.

It has almost been a month that dad has been gone. It really is amazing how life and time carries on after the loss of someone you care about. Time is an incredible drug to help sadness. I still miss him though.

The kids are so fun. Being on my own with them has been challenging, but so incredible for our relationships. I love those little critters so much! I can't wait till Kyle gets home we're almost there. It has been interesting having him on the other side of the world, so many cool stories that he has shared with us. I can't wait to go with him sometime! This picture was right after I noticed while doing laundry that Aaron's and my t-shirts were just a couple of inches shy of being the same size. I am wearing his t shirt here and he is wearing mine. Isn't that nuts.... this is going by way too fast!

You know, people are absolutely amazing in the face of helping others. The weekend after I lost my dad and Kyle had left for Australia, here I sat. New town, fresh grief, two children that demanded to love of 2 parents out of one, just lots of burdens to bear. I went to church to feel close to God, but also to feel the love of community. It was so hard... remember the new town part, well, no one knew me here. I sat in church alone, on the verge of tears as I listened to a sermon that I feel could have impacted dad somehow, just too late. I left that morning feeling defeated and sorry for myself. No one took the time to notice I thought, humph... some church. As I stewed and slowly came to realization I finally understood the expectations that I had placed on the people at church. How in the world could these people that had seen my face only a few times know what I was going through. At MOPS that following Thursday, I did it, I let my guard and my pride down and shared with the girls at my table what I had been facing. VOILA!!! My life in Montrose has been wonderful ever since. When I did this, I put all of my fears, my trust, and heart into God's hands... man, that is magical. I have had the best possible time in this new little town without my best pal. I feel at home! Not only have I been able to be full, I have, in some little way, influenced others. One of the gals from MOPS that I enjoyed breakfast with one morning, has come to church with me the last two weeks and is really fired up about God because he has given me the strength, words and light that I have been able to shine and she wants it too! Same with two other women in the community that have told me that they admire that something special that radiates God's love and that they want it. I am finally able to give back what a couple of very special women in my life gave to me. Living in a light that brings others to God by example. (Thanks Leanne and Jill :))

Anyway, new job news. I am being listed in the new Yellow Pages that is coming out here and have been meeting with several influential companies in the community that are excited about adding me to their referrals for my services. I think business will be good here! I have decided to offer eco friendly printing services in addition to traditional low cost, high quality printing services. I am in the process or redesigning my site, so keep your eyes open for my new look coming soon.

I have also started as a Library Sales Consultant for both school and public libraries throughout the western slope. I am the only local sales rep, so this business should take off too!

I registered Molly for kindergarten last week (can you believe it?)! So, I am so thrilled that I have these home based businesses so that I can truly devote myself to my most important job as the mommy of two awesome kids and my amazing hubby! I am so incredibly blessed!

Goodbye Dad

2008-04-12T18:15:00.000-06:00

Why is death, departure from earth and entrance to heaven, so hard for those of us left behind? All stories, even the ones we love, must eventually come to an end and when they do, it's only an opportunity for another story to begin. (Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium) Wise words, but difficult to follow. Dad, while he had many faults, did have a great heart. I loved him and always will.

The hardest part was explaining all of the details to my kids. Thank God for my rock of a husband, I don't know what I would do without that wonderful man! We did it ALL together, it is awesome being part of such an incredible team. We made metaphorical references where necessary and, so far, the kids seem ok with all that has happened. Sure they have expressed fear that something will happen to Kyle or I, but the faith in our family keeps fears at bay.

We, as a family, watched Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium last night for our family movie night and it was significant to me. As you will see, so many quotes touched my heart. I share those here simply so that I can come and find them when I need them and, perhaps, they can help my family and Dad's friends as well.

I miss you dad. I love you!

"When King Lear dies in Act Five do you know what William Shakespeare has written? He Dies. That's all, nothing more, no fan fare, no metaphor, no brilliant final words. The culmination of the world's most inspirational work of dramatic literature is, He Died. It took Shakespeare a genius to come up with he dies. And every time I read those two words I find myself overwhelmed with dysphoria, I know its only natural to be sad, but not because of the words he dies, but because of the life we saw prior to the words" - Mr. Magorioum

Adjusting to change

2008-03-15T15:12:00.000-06:00

We are slowly trying to "fit" into our new community. We went to a St. Patty's Day parade this morning. It was cool and "quaint" and had a true small town feel. I just miss running into people I know or running into friends all over the place. I miss the familiarity of our old home. Time will surely cure this!
I am working on the pictures, they are coming soon, I promise. We reviewed the first set of plans for the house on Thursday and half of the plans are perfect, the other half needed some work. I received a call this morning to expect to meet our builder at church tomorrow for the first set of revisions. This is going so well, I just can't wait to see the finished product!
The kids are doing well. School is going great for both of them, it seems to be a good fit. Today with Kyle out of town we are feeling a bit of the burn of being the new kids on the block without anyone to play with. Again, we will prevail! Tonight is movie, pizza and homebaked cookies night! We are all excited, should be fun!

Here is a site I found with some cool videos about our new home

Move to Montrose

2008-03-12T13:46:00.000-06:00

We have finally relocated to Montrose, CO and have reunited our little family. We are happy to be here, but miss our "family" in Salt Lake. We are settling into our new digs, but are about to uproot again to remodel our home. We bought the house we are in for the land feature; 1.76 acres and backing to a wetland preserve. The kids love the area to run, play and explore! We have a boy second grader right next door, he and Aaron are even in the same class! It all worked out perfect for him... we just need a little girl to move into the house across the street!

Right before we left, Aaron broke his arm doing a landing (like a frog) off of the monkey bars at school. Thank goodness I had just enjoyed a massage, because the madness happened sooner than expected. He was such a brave little guy... he only cried a few tears! I would have lost it, he gets that from his dad!

Aaron and Molly are both doing fantastic! They both love their schools and are enjoying making new friends and exploring their new home. We found a church last weekend that I think we will enjoy very much. So, all in all, things for the Rhoderick's are wonderful.

I will post before pics of the house soon, we are meeting with the builder tomorrow... so exciting!