Web Savvy Mama Blog: What do you want to learn today?

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Done with school!

Have I mentioned how great it is to be done with school?! Many of you know I started taking classes last year at the Art Institute in their web design program. I didn’t really need more training in web design but I wanted to be able to say I went to college for web design, fine tune my skills in a few different programs and learn the theory behind web design styles. Over all, it was a great experience. I had my last day of class this week and I’m done. Yay! I can’t tell you how many nights I was up at 2am finishing assignments, lol.

The best part? I made my goal of graduating with straight As. Woo hoo. I don’t think they actually graduate people until December but I’m done with all my classes anyways.

So, a very off topic post, but I thought I’d share!

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New Portfolio!

While I plug away designing and working on client sites all week, the weekend is for Web Savvy Mama. This weekend I tackled my portfolio pages. Boy, was that long overdue! I’m in my final classes at school and one of them is tackling our digital portfolios, what great motivation to get my butt in gear and get things finished! You’ll now see more categories to browse in as well as a option to view by client! I’m hoping the new layout will making browsing my past and current works easier as well as more eye appealing. Check it out and let me know what you think!

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Gossip Blog readers get a peek at WSM illustration

Are you a Celebrity Gossip Blog reader? If so, you may have seen some of my work pop up on one yesterday. An illustration I did of Perez Hilton has found its way into the rotating header on his blog PerezHilton.com. With an outfit like that, how could I pass up the opportunity to illustrate it? Sometimes I think I have too much fun drawing, you think?

So there you have it, Web Savvy Mama is turning up everywhere!

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WAHM Secrets Revealed!

On July 30th and 31st (1-2pm cst) you can attend the FREE Grassroots Product Seller’s Conference offered by Michelle Waters Online.

“Would you like to hear the secrets of fellow work at home moms, who have learned how to juggle family life with growing a successful online business?”

Michelle has invited 2 special guests to talk to work at home moms for this event. Join as they tell their stories and answer questions live. Pull up a chair and settle in for a great interactive afternoon that will help you build your business! If you don’t have a microphone, that’s fine too! You can type in chat and get your questions answered that way as well. Your Web Savvy Mama will even drop in to check out this event!

Get the full scoop at Product Seller’s Talk Radio.

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What do I do when I’m not designing?

Andrew Autism videoWell, chances are its still something creative! I often draw, ok, do a lot of drawing. Or edit movies for fun.

When I’m not working on a website I just must do something creative. Whether its drawing or something else… it has to be a challenge or I lose interest fast! Even my kids keep me on my toes! Where do they get the energy?! … if I had half that energy…

So in this holiday weekend post I thought I’d lighten it up and share of of my “free time” creations with you.

jo as a toddlerFirst… here are a few drawings I did awhile ago. Ok, a long while ago, 6years? I found them the other day in the bottom of a box and scanned them in. These are my two oldest children when they were really little.

And I did say edit movies right? Definitely just a hobby but sometimes its fun to play around! Click the video image above and you’ll be directed to the video on YouTube.

So there you have it. No, I’m not creating works of art that will be hanging in the Louvre some day, but it is still fun! Read More…

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A quick note, know your clients or visitors.

I always tell people that one of the first things you need to do when you set up your web store or website is to determine who your target market is. You want to set up a website with them in mind. What do your visitors want to see on your home page? What is their purpose for visiting your site? Does your target market have a specific style or feel about them? You aren’t going to design a website consisting of victorian flowered wallpaper motif for a store that is trying to draw in the 20-something trend setters.

This also is true in other areas of your web presence. How about marketing? Where are you going to place your ads? Whether they are online or off line you want to spend your time placing ads where your target market is. Don’t exchange links just to exchange them. Don’t place an ad just because its cheap. Do your homework and find out where your customers hang out. Are your customers moms? Find parenting groups and other parenting websites that you can advertise on. How a bout a specific type of mom? Then refine your ad placement even further. You want to get the most bang for your buck.

What I said should be common sense, but I’m finding that more and more people are not researching their potential customers ahead of time. Why this little note today? I had an experience yesterday that really illustrated how many companies are detached from their clients. I’ll share for your entertainment.

I’m out with my kids taking a break from the day and I receive a call on my cell.
Caller: “Is this Kristine D?”
Me: “Yes”
Caller: “Hi Kristine, I’m x-y-z from a-b-c. (I was only half paying attention, lol) I offer web design and hosting services. Are you going to be doing any web development soon?”
Me: I’m very surprised at where this conversation is going and manage to say “Uh, No”
Caller: “So you won’t be redesigning your website anytime soon?” (So she knows I have a website, did she READ my website? lol)
Me: “Well, I AM a web designer.”
Caller: “So you won’t be redesigning your site?”
Me: “I design websites for a living.”
Caller: “So you don’t need web services?”
Me: “Uh… no.” It was incredibly hard not to burst out laughing.

I can only imagine that the caller did not do any customer research before making the call. My point is: don’t try to sell ice to the Eskimos.

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