Seasonal Spam

Apologies for neglecting my blog recently, I've just been tied up with turkey and business :) Hope everyone had a lovely holiday -- I know I can't wait for the next!

Speaking of the season, I'm sure a lot of you have noticed an unusual amount of spam. Some of it comes by way of filling out forms on your site as jibberish, to emails about Viagra sent from your very own email account. There's typically a seasonal spike in spam, just as you would receive excess piles of junk mail and catalogs.

The only answer I can give for this is that spammers are capitalizing on the holiday spirit. They'll insert seasonal-oriented keywords into URLs, subject lines, and embedded images. There's more online shoppers these days and it's easier to get through filters with their black hat keyword tricks. According to Symantec's State of Spam report, gift cards, electronics, replica products, and pharmaceuticals were hot items being promoted in these spam messages. Gift cards and electronics were some of the top selling items offered by legitimate marketers, again showing the threat that spammers have on legitimate businesses by risking the quality of the channel.

There's not much you can do but wait out the season, but here are a few suggestions to get through it:

• Make sure your email settings are properly set up. You can alter your email filter options, and enable Spam Assassin and/or AntiVirus protection.
• Install a CAPTCHA on your site forms. A CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Turing Test To Tell Computers and Humans Apart) can prevent spam robots from completing and submitting forms. Learn more about how to install one here: http://www.captcha.net/
• Don't use your real email address to sign up for newsletters, contests, etc. Instead, create a separate account solely for these sign ups (such as Yahoo Mail or G-Mail). Once an email address is in the hands of one spammer, your Inbox is sure to be filled with lots more.
• Watch out for checkboxes. When you do join a network or shop online, tricky little checkboxes can go unnoticed. Pay close attention to phrases like "Yes, I'd like to...."
• Ignore Delivery Failures of messages you did not send. The cause may be a worm or a spammer, and it's probably not on your computer.

While you can't prevent all of it from getting through, these few things should certainly help to cut down on the amount of spam you'll receive through the holiday season.

Political Photoshop Humor

Gotta love Photoshop -- so many fun things you can do when you have a lot of time on your hands. Especially around election time! I've gathered lots of amusing Photoshopped images with McCain, Obama and Palin. Enjoy!

... And my personal favorite...

Destined to be a Designer

Who knew we were destined to our career paths!

I read this article on CNN -- more like stole from Allison's blog ;) -- that was quite entertaining -- and seemingly accurate! It's an article about what careers are best suited for us based on our zodiac signs. For instance, I'm a gemini...

Gemini (May 21 - June 21) Gemini's need a profession that keeps them motivated and interested -- no two days at work should be the same. Gemini from the survey reported working such jobs as art/design/architecture, nursing and personal care, sales, law enforcement, firefighting and machine operation -- all of which are right up a Gemini's alley.

How true! Find out what you were born to do:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/10/15/cb.astrology.career/index.html

On another note, my hibiscus is still alive :)

EMG: Emerging 30

Eisen Management Group has been selected as one of the 2008 “Emerging 30” by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. According to the chamber, “Your rapid growth provides a solid example for other small businesses in our area. Locally owned small businesses like yours are the backbone of our nation’s economy.”

The Greater Cincinnati public relations firm is owned by noted public relations leader Rodger Roeser, an APR accredited PR practitioner and former award winning television, radio and print journalist. Roeser serves as the agency president and chief creative officer, and his firm provides expert communications counsel and implementation for clients from across the globe, including Russia, Canada, Latin America, England, South Africa, and of course, the United States. EMG has an office in Northern Kentucky and a satellite office in Cleveland, Ohio, and currently employs 14 public relations, advertising, social and new media, and web specialists.

“We are honored and humbled to be in the position to achieve this award,” Roeser said. “It is a credit to our clientele and the hard work of everyone in every position at this agency, with whom I have the distinct pleasure to work. For this small town country boy who grew up with little more than gumption and work ethic, this truly is a testament to hard work, resolve and resiliency.”

Roeser served as the 2005 president of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. He also hosts a national online radio program, “That Marketing Show,” and recently launched a local online television news magazine called “Business Focus.” He continues to write for numerous publications, including the Cincinnati Enquirer.

EMG clients served range from industrial and manufacturing to restaurant and retail. The firm also works with other advertising agencies across the country to assist them with their public relations and new media campaigns. The agency was recently awarded the 2008 Communicator Awards ‘Award of Excellence’ for package design for its work on the Taiga Bioactives flagship brand Dr. Krane’s KoolLips, and was the only agency in the entire State of Kentucky and the only agency in Greater Cincinnati to be so recognized.

According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, EMG is currently the fastest growing firm in Greater Cincinnati. EMG also works closely with a number of area non profit organizations as part of its Operation Outreach program, providing pro bono work to such notables as The Brighton Center, The Greater Cincinnati Police Museum and the Newport Firefighters, among others.

The 2008 “Emerging 30” will be recognized during a cocktail reception that will be held at The Newport Syndicate, Newport on Wednesday, October 29th from 5 - 7 p.m.

###

About EMG

Eisen Management Group is a fully integrated public relations and marketing firm, providing strategic communications and marketing counsel, implementation and brand development. The firm specializes in creating growth opportunities for businesses, governmental and public affairs organizations, professional services, restaurant, retail and CPG. The firm also offers a full suite of in house graphic design, audio design and podcasting. Expert team, with guaranteed best agency rates in a fully integrated, responsive environment. More information can be accessed at www.BestCincinnatiPRFirm.com or by calling 859.291.4302.

New Site Launches!

It's been a hectic month -- if you've been wandering where I've been, I've been making websites! We've got a lot of great new clients and they're certainly keeping us busy. Two new sites have launched this week -- meet the new virtual faces of Maile Builders and Eagle Coach Company:

Maile Build
MaileBuild.com
Here you can see before and afters of remodels, read customer testimonials and watch webisodes as a couple's home is transformed with a Maile makeover. You can also turn your "honeydew" list into "honey-done" by filling out your to-do list online -- Maile will provide a free consultation.


Eagle Coach Company
EagleCoachCompany.com
Eagle Coach's new site is easy to navigate, features galleries for each of their vehicles, and dealers can download product spec sheets. We wanted to give Eagle Coach a sleeker, more sophisticated look and aimed to simplify their site, while adding new features that dealers and funeral directors would find resourceful.

Social Media

Wow, it's a lot to keep up with. Every time I think I'm hip and on the bandwagon, a new site or tool comes out that I need to catch up with. I'm aware Facebook has been around awhile, but I never subscribed because I was already a member of MySpace. So far, it reminds me of a cross between MySpace and LinkedIn. Well... it has some really cool tools MySpace or LinkedIn don't have.

A few cool features Facebook provides are 1) recommendations -- it finds mutual friends FOR YOU and 2) you can easily become a 'fan' of businesses, causes, organizations, communities, etc. This is a great social media outlet for businesses to post updated news and events to, give their company a personal touch, and to endorse community relations partners. As customer service and personality seems to be going wayside, marketing through means of social sites is a great way to keep that up.

I'm sure this isn't much 'news' to anyone -- but for those of you who have not yet checked it out because it seems overwhelming, I encourage you to sign up and tool around for half-hour or so.

Top things every business should know about SEO

In a world of constantly evolving technology, it’s easy to trust any “expert” who comes along claiming to know the ins and outs of unfamiliar acronyms. The tips below break down the SEO process and define what every savvy business owner should know when dealing with SEO providers and web designers.

How important is SEO to doing business today?
Extremely. There is a lot of competition out there -- you could have the best looking website in your industry, but it doesn’t matter if no one knows it exists. The “if you build it they will come” mindset is a huge misconception among the less internet savvy. A good website is supplemented by good PR and high SEO results.

How much should an SEO campaign cost? Any guidelines?
Nothing. It should be inclusive to building the site, and completed as the designer constructs the site. There are a lot of scammers out there charging thousands of dollars to implement something that takes little to no time to do. It should only cost how long it takes you to implement -- especially if you’re on an hourly rate. Whether your site is 2 pages or 200, if it is constructed properly and implemented as you go, it should not cost any more than your time.

How can a CEO avoid getting ripped off if they decide to go outside the company to get this service done?
Ask the right questions and for proof of their results. If you’re paying an SEO service, ask for some type of report – evidence of bumping their client’s sites up. And don’t believe it is anybody’s “intellectual property”. You can find this information for free all over the internet. A few other selling phrases to watch out for:

• “We’ll submit you to thousands of search engines.” There are less than five the general population actually uses. And if built right, you don’t even need to ‘submit.’
• “We’ll optimize your meta-tags.” As search engines evolve, less and less rely on meta-tags.
• “We’ll do fresh content.” Unless they are your advertising or PR agency, they wouldn’t know what to update! Usually they’ll just overuse keywords and place irrelevant articles.
• “It’s only $10,000 a year.” You can build and continuously update an entire website for $8,000. What could they possibly be doing for $10,000 a year--or more?

Mac vs. PC

I recently read an article in Popular Mechanics regarding the great Mac vs. PC debate. Of course being a designer, I'm going to say Mac is the mack. It's all a matter of personal taste, but why are PC users so afraid of Macs?

It seems as if PC users assume Macs are difficult and terribly dissimilar. As a matter of fact, the guts of these are very much alike, it's just that the interface of a Mac is much more user-friendly. They both use the same processors, hard drives, etc., but when put to the test, Mac (desktop) fared slightly better -- it ran applications faster, start-up and shut-down was faster, and it launched programs faster.

Yes, it's more expensive, but there is no need to install anti-virus programs maxing out memory, and they are much more reliable, in my personal opinion. Simply put, you get more bang for your buck. Software is expensive, but nowadays -- it's so universal. You can run Adobe software on your PC, and Windows and Office on your Mac.

Mac's operating system is much sleeker and simplistic. It's much easier to find files and applications (which are handy at the bottom of the screen - one click and you're there). Why hassle with going to the Start Menu, Control Panel, blah blah blah? Too much work. It's overwhelming trying to find anything on a PC. That's why I can't stand them. Not to mention, PCs are extremely vulnerable to viruses. Now, that doesn't mean Mac's can't get viruses, it's just much more unlikely to automatically install one, and no one spends the time writing a virus for a mac when only a fraction of the population actually owns one).

Mac's branding campaign is genius. Yes, it could be getting old, but it's so true. With the launch of the iPod and iPhone, the empire is growing even stronger. Just give in, do it. Doooo it. Get a Mac, save some sanity.

Read the Popular Mechanics article here and see the side-by-side »

Tres Dias

Why, Chad Johnson... or should I say Chad Ocho Cinco, did you change your last name? As if the Bengals weren't humiliating enough -- you're going to legally change your name??? That's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Surely your publicist didn't scheme this to make it look like you care that much about your number or playing for Cincinnati. Perhaps more of an ego thing? Either way... absurd. Certainly there's a man-law about giving yourself your own nickname.

It's been awhile since I've blogged... I've just been busy, though I do have a slew of things to post soon. I felt an urge to rant about football. I don't even like football. But this reflects badly on the team as a whole. My husband has vowed to not spend a dime on them this year -- on souvenirs, games, etc. I would, however, consider buying an Ocho Cinco bobble head - only to remember the outrageous occasion. It's like Dion Sanders being a rapper for a minute.

I'll I can say is GO COWBOYS!

Conquering the day!

I feel mighty today :) Not to toot my own horn, but I am having a pleasant day. The most rewarding part of my job, and why I do what I do, is that others are happy. I aim to please and that's what drives me.

I am currently working on a website for a hearse company, Eagle Coach, and I was pleasantly surprised at how excited they are about the work, and may undertake additional initiatives to expand this new brand. That's right, I said a hearse company. Who knew -- it's actually very cool. At first you think drab, morose, but this place is top quality. I had a chance to tour their facility and it is impressive. They get in new Cadillacs and Lincolns and literally cut them in HALF and stretch them out to build hearses and limos. Their craftsmanship is amazing -- the interiors, as well as the exteriors, are top notch. Once I toured the facility I couldn't wait to get started on their materials. First insight we had was that their materials should LOOK like a Cadillac -- bold bordeaux, chrome and sleek shiny black. Not only are they selling Cadillacs, they are the Cadillac of quality. Everyone seemed to agree. So anywho, I was happy they were happy.

Then, I got a call from our Firefighter friends today, who are all in Vegas for some convention, and they've been pimping us out. They handed out cards to other colleagues and fellow locals who had an interest in the work we produced for them. So... we hope to be getting some calls from other fire stations and unions. We always appreciate getting our name out there, and we love working with these guys :)

Anywho, it's Friday... let's celebrate!

Very Clever Flash Animation... about Flash!

You've GOT to check this out -- this is way cool! Indeed, someone had a lot of time on their hands, but this is really clever. A flash animation about... flash animation!

http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs13/f/2007/077/2/e/Animator_vs__Animation_by_alanbecker.swf

Changing Perspectives

It's funny how effective a little controversial advertising can be. I've seen this new campaign out and have heard of some very ignorant reactions...

People are so tied up in their ideals that they can't stop for 2 seconds to do research before they start pointing fingers and making accusations. If they knew what the organization was really all about they may change their perspective. Instead, they make assumptions, and hide their identity to point out that this organization is a liar. Who, then, is really the liar? They want to call out liars while hiding behind computer screens and made up email addresses?

There are just some folks out there that feel they are going to save the world with a mask on, and punish others because they don't have the same ideals as their own. Find something useful to do. And don't be a liar if you're going to call someone a liar. Cowards.

What's funny about it... this campaign must be working if people who hate them are giving it attention :) Kudos! Gotta love the world of advertising.

Eisen Makes New Cold Sore Ointment Look Sexy

Featured in PackageDesign Magazine

Eisen Makes New Cold Sore Ointment Look and Sound Sexy for Dr. Krane's
By Larry Jaffee

When you think cold sore medicine, you usually don't think sexy. When women are in need of a remedy, however, their vanity gene kicks in. They don't necessarily want to call attention to the fact that they're using something to deal with their contagious facial blemish.

Canadian bioscience company Taiga Bioactives Inc., headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, needed a way to make its first branded product line, Dr. Krane's KoolLips, to sound and look sexy. KoolLips is a topical ointment for treatment of cold sores that breaks away from the clinical presentation of its competitors.

Read More: http://www.packagedesignmag.com/issues/2008.07/spot.health.shtml

Design Trends 2008

As a full-time graphic artist, I constantly have to keep up with trends and strive to do something different with every project. Over the past several months I've noticed a few design trends that have been prominent throughout magazines, commercials and websites I've come across. Here are a few popular items at the moment:


1. Trajan Pro
I've seen this font just about everywhere -- and admit to using it maybe a little too much lately. It's a lovely font, as an updated alternative to the basic serif fonts. I've seen it in movie titles, in logos, you name it. A close second is OptimusPrinceps, very similar to Trajan. I don't see it going away any time soon, but I'm anxious to see what will be next, when inevitably, it will be overused.



2. Handwriting & Real Objects
Using sketches and real objects, such as post-its and paperclips, give layouts a more dimensional look. It appears lackidaisical, which is the appeal in this casual era. Think Napoleon Dynomite or MTV.

3. Scrapbook
Similar to hand sketching, using realistic scrapbook elements brings reality to the design. With scrapbooking and hand-made cards being so popular, it's definitely been a trend in outside areas.

4. Texture
I love to use texture. I get tired of boxy layouts with lots of lines. I like to see leather, metal, paper, swirls, patterns and glows. It gives it some interest! It's a change up from sleek simplistic layouts.

5. Shapes
Using shapes other than boxes and circles is a step in the trendy direction. Try using scallops, random abstract shapes or scrolled edges to house images, headers and quotes.

6. Add Color
As summer is upon us, I'm seeing lots of vibrant colors -- yellows, pinks, lime greens. Give it some punch! Put colors together you wouldn't normally consider and you may be surprised.

7. Text arrangement
Aligning text in not-so-obvious arrangements is yet another way to stray from boring. Use the layout of text as a design element. I'm seeing 2 and 3 columns, somewhat scattered, arranged in the bottom left or middle of pages. Move the grid around and you'll generate some interest. Perhaps column 2 is taller than column one, the bottoms aligning instead of the top -- Heaven forbid! Be a text-rebel...

8. Going Green
This is no surprise -- everyone is on the green bandwagon and design is no exception. I'm seeing a lot of recycled papers and inks, with 'going green' and 'save on gas' slogans.

Best... video... ever...

glumbert - Stop Sign Re-Design

Newport Firefighters Local 45 Logo Unveiling

EMG recently selected winners for this year's Operation Outreach. Each of us at EMG were designated a non-profit account -- all of which we are exceptionally pleased to work with and represent. I was assigned the Newport Firefighters Local 45, IAFF, to help them gain exposure and to fulfill design work.

I created a new logo and stationery, assisted with event flyers, and helped to publicize their organization. The new logo will be unveiled at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, August 4th at the Peace Bell in Newport. EMG president Rodger Roeser, APR, will discuss the work and why the change, along with Newport Firefighter Mike Volz, who will share the meaning behind the new design, what it means to the firefighters and the residents of Newport, and additional programs the firefighters will be part of throughout the year.

About Newport Firefighters Local 45
Newport Firefighters Local 45, affiliated with International Association of Firefighters (I.A.F.F.), is primarily a Labor Organization representing the members of the Newport Fire/EMS Department in Newport, Kentucky. Established in 1918 Local 45 was one of the first sixty-six locals of the now more than 3100 I.A.F.F. affiliates across the U.S. and Canada. Today, in addition to business of being a labor organization, Local 45 continues to sponsor programs such as College Scholarship Awards, Youth Sporting Events, Holiday Family Assistance Program and Smoke Detector Installation/Maintenance Program. Many of these programs were developed and financed by Local 45 members who were inspired to give back to the community after interactions during emergency responses.

Spacial Design

Recently, I had to coordinate a wedding, and now I'm in the process of redecorating my new home. How is this relevant to design? In a lot of ways. Who knew it would be difficult to decide what I wanted and how it would look all together?

Designing and coordinating in your head and shopping for pieces separately is so much different than designing, say, a pocket folder. In photoshop, I can just select 'undo' if I don't like something, and I can instantly see what I'm doing. Just because I can make a pretty layout on a computer, doesn't mean interior decorating comes easy. I started realizing what I was doing wrong and why it wasn't turning out the way I wanted it to. And it's especially hard because I like so many different styles, and when it's something of my own to create -- the possibilities are limitless, so it's hard to pick a direction and go with it. The more options -- the more confusion!

It's important to compliment the colors and elements you choose. It doesn't have to be matchy-matchy, but it should certainly have consistency.

I'd like to share 3 simple tips on finding direction. I am by no means a wedding planner or interior designer, but I've learned through my own recent experiences and it's all starting to make sense!

1. Color temperature
Be sure to keep all of your colors at the same room temperature. If you have blues and greens, you're working with cool colors, so this will factor in to selecting a cool tone wall paint. If you are using beiges, oranges or reds, you're in the warm color family. This should make it easier to decide what colors to work with.

2. Elements
What elements are you working with? Are they consistent? There are many to choose from - glass, wrought iron, wicker, brushed nickel, dark and light woods, etc. If you're designing a simplistic contemporary room, glass and nickel may work better for you than antique or rustic furniture. Also keep this in mind with accessories and fabrics. Pick a few elements that work well together and keep them consistent and complimentary.

3. Style
Opt for one particular style and stick with it. Your room can be contemporary, retro, traditional or country. Just remember, if you have a traditional style in a room, a modern abstract piece may not work as well as an antique or neutral accessory. Consistency! This should eliminate confusion.

Cool Resources for Designers

Below I've listed a few great resources for designers. These sites and tools have been very valuable to me along the way :)

1 - vector4free.com/
Free vector art packages with lots of themes and styles

2 - www.good-tutorials.com
This is a wonderful resource for Photoshop nerds! You can figure out just about anything, and the tutorials can certainly help newbies get familiar with PS tools and tricks! Also has tutorials for Illustrator, CSS, Flash and HTML!

3 - www.shabbyprincess.com
This is a cute site for digital scrapbooking. You can use a lot of the elements in various projects to add texture and a 3-dimensional feel.

4 - www.dynamicdrive.com/
Scripts for website development. I always encourage to try something new with each site you build.

5 - www.brandsoftheworld.com
Here you can find vector versions of well-known brands. You can also find fonts, photos and other cool resources.

6 - simplythebest.net/scripts
Another great coding resource with step-by-step instructions on implementation.

That's it for now! There's a ton more but it's been a busy day ;) Enjoy!

Pixel Puzzles

If you enjoy puzzles, you'll love this new pixel puzzle book available through BigFlyGames.com, titled Prisma Pixels. It's the first pixel puzzle book of it's kind -- it's in color!

By the end of June, they had sold over 500 copies of the book across the country (including more than 10 internationally). To show their appreciation, Big Fly Games is giving away a FREE set of 24 Sargent Art colored pencils to the person who purchases book number 1000 from the website -- http://www.bigflygames.com. Check out the site, play games online, learn more about Big Fly Publishing, and purchase the book online!

Failure to Perform

So what do you do when a trusted service provider fails? This is something that really burned me up today. It's not just about what happened, but it was a failure to correct the problem on their end or do something to compensate for it.

A service we used for an online store changed their control panel and some of their settings. Our client called us frantically -- you couldn't actually purchase anything in the store! Nothing was working. Of course, this came as a shock, and come to find out, a lot of other things went wrong! Things were named wrong, some products were missing altogether, etc. etc. I called tech support and they simply tell me I have to go back in and enable doo-dads and make these changes to each individual product. Ex-squeeze me? All 50? And who gets billed for that??? But I'm told they can't do it, or they'd have to charge. So we're all losing money on their mistake. Tragic.

Ok, mistakes happen, especially with technical jargon, I understand that. But customer service is key. I had really expected them to say "oh, we'll take care of it, sorry about the inconvenience" or "we'll be sure to waive this month's bill, we're very sorry." The guy on the phone was very nice, but I guess I just expected the cost to be eaten by them somehow. After all, we're running a business here.

Let's say I buy a set of dishes -- I get home, open the box and find a chipped bowl. They wouldn't tell me "use superglue!" Likely they'd exchange it, right? Or order you a new set, waive the shipping. Anywho, I could care less if something awry happened -- but I'd never shop there again if they told me to use the superglue. I'd remain loyal customer no matter what if they went out of their way to resolve the inconvenience. Don't ever think that goes out of style... it goes a long way.

UPDATE:
A co-worker of mine had blogged about the same incident recently, noting the company name. Her blog entry (not our letter to customer service) caught the attention of a representative and he has since been in touch with us to help resolve the situation. Now that's what I'm talking about!

10 SEO Tips

Here are a few basic tips on implementing SEO tactics:

1. Keep it Simple
You do not need to use multiple versions of every keyword all in the 1st page of your website. Do not stuff meaningless words or spend too much time on metatags. SEO pros agree that these tags are not as important as they once were. Just use a few obvious key words or phrases and concentrate more on your page titles, and No. 2 below.

2. Name your images, and use Alt Tags effectively.
By simply adding alt tags to your images and naming them strategically, the search engines will index them accordingly. For example, instead of naming an image "bluelogo.jpg", name it "YourCompany_Logo.jpg" and attach an Alt tag such as your company name or key word.

3. Keep your site fresh.
Update your site as frequently as possible. Each time you update your site, the search engine spiders will crawl back to it. This will also give incentive to visitors to keep checking back, giving you more traffic and bumping you up in search engine rankings.

4. Site Map
Large sites should always include a site map, which should be accessible from every page. This will help the search engine robots find every page within two clicks.

5. Blogs, Press Releases, Newsletters
Drive traffic to your site through multiple outlets. Anything that has your URL available will increase the amount of clicks you will receive and how often you appear in search results.

6. Avoid Flash-Overload
These days, some search engines are able to pick up Flash code, but it is highly recommended to stick with traditional HTML or similar code for search engine readability. A flash site or intro page could get in the way of a robot search.

7. Submit to Search Engines Yourself
You don't need to pay a service for submission. Likely, you could end up spending a lot of money just to be penalized or banned. Choose a few of the most popular sites to submit to and only do so once.

8. Crosslink
Use keywords as anchor text to link to other pages within your site. This is useful for sites that contain many pages. The more keywords that link to a specific page the better.

9. Validate your code
Ensure that you do not have broken links or images by using a tool, such as the WC3 Validator. It is also recommended to use a program, such as Jayde, to check relevant keywords. These programs will show you how search engine spiders may see the website.

10. Relevant and Multiple Domain Names
Make sure that your domain name properly stands for who you are. It is best to have a domain specific to your company or what you do. When search engine visitors search for "consultants" and you're a consulting firm, it should be part of your URL. For example, if your company name is ABC Consultants, but your domain name is abandc.com, when a user types "consultants" you likely won't pop up. The more domain names you have, and the more specific they are, the better chance you'll be within the first few pages of a search.

It's about time...

I've finally decided to start a blog! In my 10 years in the advertising/PR industry, I've learned a lot. Still, everyday I learn something new (goes the old adage) and so I've got a lot to share, question, and rant about.

First, I'll start with a little bit about myself. I'm 28 years old, recently married, and reside in Cincinnati, OH. I'm the VP of Creative/Web at Eisen Management Group. Outside of work, I'm a busy-body -- keeping up with family, friends and the married life. My mother would say "you don't let grass grow under your feet!" I guess that means it will give me a lot to write about :)

I started this blog to share some insights and best practices in design. I didn't say I was a great writer, otherwise I'd be blogging about best practices in writing! Design is what I love, it's a hobby as much as it is a career. And it's more than just making something "pretty." Here, I'll post tips and ramblings on whatever crosses my path!

Enjoy~