http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:01:16 GMT en-us http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/using-infographics-to-communicate-complex-ideas.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/using-infographics-to-communicate-complex-ideas.cfm Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:33:09 MDT One big trend in website design over the last 12 months has been the increased use of infographics to communicate complex ideas. What is an infographic? Unlike a boring charts or stale bar-graphs, an infographic communicates otherwise boring subjects (like auto financing) in an interesting and graphical way. Below is a great example of a infographic. So why not consider using a well desinged and compelling infographic on your next website project. --> ; Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player. --> Source: How Fast Does A New Car Lose Value http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/want-to-get-rid-of-physical-receipts-and-business-cards.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/want-to-get-rid-of-physical-receipts-and-business-cards.cfm Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:30:19 MDT If you're a business owner like me, then you probably know how much of a pain bookkeeping can be. You have lots paper reciepts and even more in your email inbox. It can be a chore to either scan or enter them by hand into your accounting program. Now there's a solution that will make youre life much easier. Just yesterday I found a new servicec called shoeboxed.com. They give you pre-paid envelopes (simular to the ones you get from Netflix) that you shove all your reviepts into and they do all the scanning and data entry. Everything shows up in your shoeboxed.com account. It even can automatically sync up with your Quickbooks or Freshbooks. Best of all, they also have an iPhone/Android APP that you can just scan your recipts with and they end up in your account. I just started using it yesterday, so I'll report back in a few weeks to let you know how I like it. http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/cave-creek-run-with-the-bulls-publicity-stunt-or-great-tourism-idea.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/cave-creek-run-with-the-bulls-publicity-stunt-or-great-tourism-idea.cfm Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:18:46 MDT This October 15th in Cave Creek, Arizona you'll be able to run with the bulls, just like they do in Spain. So is this a great idea or just crazy publicity stunt? You decide. www.runwiththebullsusa.com. I can't wait to check it out. http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/an-update-on-health-care-reform.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/an-update-on-health-care-reform.cfm Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:35:54 MDT My friend Allan Zee from Argeus Benefits Group sent me some great information on healthcare reform that I wanted to share with everyone. Here's what Allan has to say. No matter what plan emerges from the debt talks in Washington, future Social Security benefits will be trimmed back. The following article by John Schoen at MSNBC.com explains. As Congress and the White House continue their dysfunctional dance toward financial Armageddon, the elusive, $4 trillion Grand Plan that would include Social Security and Medicare reform has fallen off the table. But in the early stages of the budget battle, a series of proposals surfaced that provide clues to what broad reform of Social Security might look like. There’s widespread agreement that the program needs fixing. When first created in 1935, the earliest retirement age was 65, a year older than the average life expectancy. Today, with the average life expectancy at 79, beneficiaries can begin collecting at 62 and might well http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/phoenix-design-week-is-coming-october-5-18-2001.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/phoenix-design-week-is-coming-october-5-18-2001.cfm Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:05:56 MDT Phoenix Design Week is Coming October 5-18, 2001 Phoenix Design Week was started in 2009 to help connect the Phoenix design community. Each year we put together a conference and a week of events and exhibitions meant to bring our community together. 20 + events this year. http://www.phxdw.com/ http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/great-resources-for-naming-your-business-or-product.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/great-resources-for-naming-your-business-or-product.cfm Mon, 11 Jul 2011 11:12:42 MDT Choosing the right name for your company or product is a very important decision. Here are a few good resources to help you pick the perfect name. Igor's Company naming guide Igor International, one of the world's top naming firms, has put together an excellent guide to company naming. They generously offer it in two formats: soul crushing (122 pages) and moderately irritating (28 pages). Igor's brand naming tools In addition to their excellent company naming guide, Igor also provides a variety of useful company naming tools, including taxonomy charts, theory pieces, studies in effective brand naming, and their brand naming blog. Catchword company naming tools For the last seven years, Catchword has been blogging about company naming and product naming. In addition, they've put together a great set of naming tools, including educational videos, a brand name visualizer, and an excellent brand naming manual. Wordlab Sinc http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/charity-bbq-this-friday-to-benefit-the-sydney-hudson-foundation.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/charity-bbq-this-friday-to-benefit-the-sydney-hudson-foundation.cfm Tue, 24 May 2011 19:11:55 MDT This Friday my Micheal Regan with The AMT Group is hosting a charity BBQ to benefit the Sydney Hudson Foundation, (a non-profit that helps speical needs children). The BBQ is open to everyone, so if you're near the Scottsdale Airpark this Friday, they'd love to have you stop by. When: Friday, May 27th From 11:00 - 1:30 Where: In the Scottsale Airpark 7848 E. Redfield Rd Suite 10 Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/let-your-customers-book-real-time-appointments-online.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/let-your-customers-book-real-time-appointments-online.cfm Thu, 05 May 2011 14:58:31 MDT A few days ago my friend Eric Jackson at Verispect TrueVision Promotions turned me on to a cool new website. It's called Tungle and it allows your cusotmers to book appointments with you based on YOUR availability. They visit your Tungle page and see a calendar of your actually availability, then they just click a button to book an appointment. I'm still trying it out so I'll let you know how it works out. http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/big-business-networking-event-on-monday-may-9th.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/big-business-networking-event-on-monday-may-9th.cfm Mon, 02 May 2011 17:30:25 MDT NetworkingPhoenix.com is hosting a big business networking event next Monday, May 9th at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort. I went to last years event and it was a good networking opportunity. Networking Phoenix Mixer Also, be sure not to miss Los Tres Amigos Mixer - With Phoenix & Scottsdale Chambers next Tuesday, May 10, 2011 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Los Tres Amigos Mixer http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/how-to-set-up-a-facebook-custom-iframe-landing-page.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/how-to-set-up-a-facebook-custom-iframe-landing-page.cfm Fri, 08 Apr 2011 01:45:21 MDT This is a great article about creating your own custom designed page for your Facebook fan page. Click here to read. http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/good-news-for-arizona-businesses.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/good-news-for-arizona-businesses.cfm Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:48:15 MDT The Senate voted Tuesday to repeal a health care reform provision that requires businesses in Arizona and across the country to file a 1099 form with the Internal Revenue Service any time they spend more than $600 a year with another business. By a 87-12 vote, the Senate passed legislation repealing the 1099 provision, which was included in health care reform as a way to help pay for that measure. Third-party reporting of income makes businesses less likely to try to hide income from the IRS, according to supporters of the provision. Businesses already are required to file 1099s for payments of more than $600 to unincorporated service providers. The health care reform bill expanded this requirement in 2012 to goods as well as services, and applied it to all types of vendors. Small businesses contend this expansion would create a paperwork nightmare, forcing many of them to file hundreds of 1099 forms instead of just a few. Senate passage of the bill, which previously cle http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/looking-for-the-right-information-try-databasepoolcom.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/looking-for-the-right-information-try-databasepoolcom.cfm Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:20:03 MDT Need a list of Canadian Fastfood and Restaurants, or maybe a list of every direct mail company in the US? Then check out www.databasepool.com. This is a really interesting concept for a website. They sell lists of anything you can imagine. http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/a-great-new-way-to-accept-online-payments.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/a-great-new-way-to-accept-online-payments.cfm Sun, 27 Mar 2011 15:52:34 MDT If you're business processes online payments or even monthly recuring payments, then you should take a look at www.BraintreePaymentSolutions.com. They are a merchant account and payment gateway in one. Their fees are much more competitive than many other payment solutions and they are very easy to work with. http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/great-small-business-tool-openvbx.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/great-small-business-tool-openvbx.cfm Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:59:08 MDT I'm always on the lookout for new and inovative tools to help me with my business. Today I stumbled upon really interesting website called openvbx.org http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/urban-ministries-of-durham.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/urban-ministries-of-durham.cfm Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:52:12 MDT This is an interesting site for Urban Ministries of Durham. It's a advocacy/fundraising awareness campaign that challenges you to make the tough decisions required when you have very little money and can barely eek by week to week. Very well done. Takes a few seconds to load... http://playspent.org/ http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words-great-new-productivity-tool.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words-great-new-productivity-tool.cfm Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:26:35 MDT As I business owner I'm always on the look out for tools and tips to help me get more done in less time. Just the other day I found a great piece of software called Jing. It's a very simple program that lets you really make videos of your computer screen and share them with other people. So next time your about to write a long email explaining how to do something, why not just create a simple video. You can even record your own voice to narrate the video. http://www.techsmith.com/jing/ http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/asba-holiday-business-networking-mixer-thursday-dec-16.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/asba-holiday-business-networking-mixer-thursday-dec-16.cfm Tue, 07 Dec 2010 20:45:51 MDT I've been involved with the Arizona Small Business Association for the last 6 months and have found it to be very positive for my business. Next Thrusday, December 16th, the Arizona Small Business Association (asba) and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry for a special holiday networking mixer at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM). When: Thursday, December 16 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm Where: Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Scottsdale, Arizona Cost: ASBA and Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry = no charge non-members = $10 Register At: http://www.asba.com/events/event_details.asp?id=135099 http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/website-videos-done-right.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/website-videos-done-right.cfm Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:12:36 MDT Adding video to your website is a fantastic way to really pump-up interest and add some stickiness to your site. But no one wants to watch a long, boring, drawn-out video. Here is is a great example of a web video done right. http://mckinney.com/work/clients/gold-s-gym/spotter-iphone-app http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/are-all-the-good-domain-names-taken1.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/are-all-the-good-domain-names-taken1.cfm Tue, 05 Oct 2010 13:16:39 MDT If you've ever had to help name a business (or just wanted to set up a brand new website), then you know how difficult it can be to find that perfect domain name. Then you'll appreiciate this great article I found on CNN.com today. Now a day's businesses have to get far more creative in trying to find a .com domain name that fits their busienss. As Brannon Cashion says, No one is naming a company Apple anymore. Those days are really long gone. And isn't that the truth, but with a little creativity and some old fashioned hard work, you can still find a great domain name. Read the full article http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/web/10/05/good.tech.names.taken/index.html?hpt=Mid http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/3-simple-ways-to-get-paid-more-by-clients1.cfm http://www.scottsdalewebsitedesign.com/blog/posts/3-simple-ways-to-get-paid-more-by-clients1.cfm Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:56:31 MDT Here is a great article I found at WebDesignledger.com. It's about simple ways you can add value for your customers so that you can earn more money. It's well worth reading. 3 Simple Ways to Get Paid More by Clients As freelancers, we all want to make more money. But freelancing doesn’t scale, so there’s always a ceiling. There’s a limit as to how many clients you can take on, right? So how do you make more money, if you can’t or don’t want to take on more clients? Well, if you’re better than average in what you do and can put in just a little bit of extra effort, you can get paid more by clients. Yep, there are 3 simple ways you can get paid more by clients – the same clients you’re currently contacting. You’ll be expanding vertically rather than horizontally, as they say. No, there’s no scammy tricks, or magic pills, or sleazy sales tactics. There are simple tweaks to what you’re already doing that’ll