If you are not a client of Simply Creative or you haven’t been over in a while, you may not know that we went through a name and identity change back in June. We initially converted our site over, but the look just wasn’t quite there yet – it was nice but it just wasn’t IT. This month we had some mix-up and issues with our hosting company and our site ended up being deleted – with no chance of recovery. Talk about a panic attack on this end! (not really). I was instantly site-less – how uncool is that for a WEB DESIGN studio?? But like all unpleasant things, something good came from this unnerving event and in the process of redesign, I was able to create our IT!

So, what is the inspiration behind our new stylish, super cute design? COLOR, of course! I went to my all time favorite site of color for designers – http://www.kuler.adobe.com and went on a search for our IT. I took the liberty of naming our new scheme because what is color without a name?!

Deciding whether or not to have your website professionally designed or in some cases, re-designed, can be a question that you have a hard time answering. I hope to break down some of the walls you may face when it comes to Website Design.

There are a lot of free builder programs out there, can’t I just build my own?

Well, technically, yes, you can. But, you need to consider that your website has a voice and it speaks volumes about you and your business. A great way to look at it is, how likely would you be to shop at WalMart.com if the founder designed the website himself through a service like Webs? Not very likely. It’s a proven fact (just look around the internet) that people shop where they feel comfortable at – hence all the major, SUCCESSFUL online sites. Even if your website doesn’t sell something online, you have a message you are trying to speak – and you want your website to effectively communicate that message.

Don’t I need thousands of dollars to have a professional website built?

Absolutely NOT! We can build you a Modern, Professional website for as little as $435! Having a professional online presence doesn’t have to be expensive.

Isn’t it hard to update a professionally built site?

Not at all! We use a CMS (Content Management System) that enables you to easily make changes to any page of your website WITHOUT our help. (But we are here if you want us to be). AND we offer WordPress Platform Training included in your design package.

Don’t I have to pay monthly to host a professionally built site?

Not with us. Our package builder gives you the opportunity include your first year of hosting and your domain name. 

The bottom line is that there are Design Solutions out there that are affordable. A website is a smart investment for any business and whether your investment is time (for free stuff) or a little money (for professional design), you want the end result to speak positively about your business/blog/website.

Your Website Has a Voice – use it to your advantage!

The winners have been chosen for TheThreeMomketeers.com Design Giveaway!

And the winners are…….

Deanna M.

Jenn R.

Amber H.

The winners have 48 hours from the time they received their email notification to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen by Cosmic Creations Design Studio.

Congratulations and thank you to all the entered!

I found this article over on http://www.personal-development.info/articles/action.html as I was looking for something inspiring and motivating to read. The last paragraph was left off because the links are broken.

Enjoy!

When you get right down to it, time management is really about managing your actions. We all want to use the process of time management to allows us to perform more actions in the day, getting everything done that needs to be done and giving us time to do the things we enjoy doing. But time management isn’t a magical cure for getting the actions done that you need to do. It’s simply a tool. A very powerful tool when used correctly, but still just a tool.

For example, you might learn all there is to know about time management – read countless books, listen to CDs, and maybe even attend a few training courses or seminars. But unless you take action to put what you have learned into practice, it will be time and money wasted. And wasting time, as we both know, is one of the worst things you can do.

On the other hand, perhaps you do decide to take some action, and start to do some of the things you have learned. But only half-heartedly. Maybe you create a to do list at the start of the day, but then never refer to it. Or you organize all your existing files, but just throw any new papers into a single pile. Or you do a few of the exercises you have learned, but never do anything with the results you come up with.

But perhaps the worst thing that can happen when using the tools time management offers is to follow the actions you have learned, refer to the information you write down, but then simply not get anything done. In the case of a to do list, perhaps you draw the list up for the day, then just procrastinate on tackling even the first task. You may not even do it consciously – looking back on the day, things just always seemed to “come up” (although if you are following good time management advice, that excuse shouldn’t apply any more!)

If this is happening, it is possible that the issue isn’t time management, but more an issue of motivation.

If the tasks are part of your job, perhaps the work no longer interests you and you need to find another area to work in. If the tasks are for yourself and are related to your personal goals, perhaps the goals you have set for yourself aren’t the correct goals for you? You may have written those goals down because you thought you should, but it’s not really what you want.

Of course it may just be that you didn’t realize you were procrastinating on doing the actions you needed to do, and that realization spurs you on to get everything done!

Ultimately, time management comes down to taking action and applying the methods you have learned to plan your activities, then taking action to do those activities in the most efficient way possible. Everyone can do it – even you!

Unfortunately, the phone book is quickly becoming obsolete and being replaced by much more compact, quicker methods of finding the numbers you need – the smartphone & the computer.

For you, the small business owner or home based business owner, this can either be your friend or your foe.

Having an online presence for your business is a smart investment and you will reap ROI for years to come. Investing in website design moves your small business or home based business to the next level. Your potential clients can quickly and easily find all the information that they need about your business with a quick click of the mouse button.

Your website will work overtime for you and your business. When you are sleeping, you are advertising all over the internet world through your website.  It’s always there and it’s always on. If a potential client decides they need to have their carpets cleaned at 2:00 am, you are there and waiting to provide the information that they want via your website. If you do not have a website for them to find, you risk losing to a potential competitor that has opened up to the world of internet marketing.

Having a website opens up an entire new market of potential clients for your small business or home based business – the world of internet browsers. You have the power to utilize a massive stream of potential advertising and new client opportunities. These opportunities are virtually non-existent for the “web-less” business owner.

Investing in website design will give your small business or home based business a more professional and corporate feel when you are able to offer your new or existing clients the new website address for reference. Having a website designed or developed lets your clients and customers know that you are serious about advancing with technology and that you are aware of the growing needs of  the general community.

Cosmic Creations Design Studio can help you move your small business or home based business to that next level of operation. We offer affordable design & development services that will meet your website needs – big or small. We also offer custom quotes if you can’t find what you are looking for in our pre-defined services.

Seriously consider what a website can do for your small business or home based business and I guarantee that you will be glad you joined the world of internet marketing.

Yes and No.

While the internet is still the internet, it is the websites that we view that determines our Web experience. It determines whether or not we are just reading or reading and writing. What are the website capabilities? Web 1.0 or 2.0 determines the clarity and ease of the website.

Wikipedia defines a Web 2.0 site as:
A Web 2.0 site allows its users to interact with each other as contributors to the website’s content, in contrast to websites where users are limited to the passive viewing of information that is provided to them. Examples of Web 2.0 include web-based communities, hosted services, web applications, social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, wikis, blogs, mashups, and folksonomies.

Web 2.0 isn’t about replacing what people are used too, it’s about working with what we already have to make it better.
Here are some vs. to help you learn the difference between 1.0 & 2.0

Web 1.0 was about reading, Web 2.0 is about reading & writing
Web 1.0 was about companies, Web 2.0 is about communities
Web 1.0 was about client-server, Web 2.0 is about peer to peer
Web 1.0 was about HTML, Web 2.0 is about XML
Web 1.0 was about home pages, Web 2.0 is about blogs
Web 1.0 was about portals, Web 2.0 is about RSS
Web 1.0 was about taxonomy, Web 2.0 is about tags
Web 1.0 was about wires, Web 2.0 is about wireless
Web 1.0 was about owning, Web 2.0 is about sharing
Web 1.0 was about IPOs, Web 2.0 is about trade sales
Web 1.0 was about Netscape, Web 2.0 is about Google
Web 1.0 was about web forms, Web 2.0 is about web applications
Web 1.0 was about screen scraping, Web 2.0 is about APIs
Web 1.0 was about dialup, Web 2.0 is about broadband
Web 1.0 was about hardware costs, Web 2.0 is about bandwidth costs

Web 2.0 will deliver clarity, interaction, and functionality – 3 keys all small businesses need.

We put Web 2.0 to work for your website & blog. Our design utilizes key features of Web 2.0 to make your website user & search engine friendly.

Simply Creative Design Solutions strives to help our fellow small business owner, home business owners, and bloggers drive traffic to their websites. We offer free listings here in our Link & Blog Directory. You can request to be listed by filling out our Contact page. We also list the links to websites that we enjoy from time to time. All Giveaway Winners & Clients receive their links posted in our directory as well.

The Directory

Candy Cane Corner Childcare Center - http://www.candycanekidz.com - Childcare & Preschool services for the Palestine, TX area.

Shiloh Road Learning Center - http://www.shilohroadlearningcenter.com - Childcare & Preschool services for the Tyler, TX area.

Ashes to Roses – http://www.ashestoroses.com - Blog – Here I will share with you my journey of self discovery – the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Classy Family – http://www.classyfamily.com - We would like to bring to you articles, tips, and encouragement in every aspect of your life. Whether you are married or single, with or without children, live in the city or the country, no matter who you are, we want to inspire you to live Classy.

Fuller Brush Mart – http://www.fullerdirect.com/1107959 - We offer high quality brushes, cleaning products, gift items, and many other products.

Arizona Electric Repair - http://arizonaelectricrepair.blogspot.com/ – Electrical Services

The Flip Side Stories – http://twww.theflipsidestories.com - Where seeing another point of view makes a better you. Children’s books and inspiration.

Live Motivated - http://www.urdailymotivation.com- your place for daily motivation to help you reach higher.

Centsible Stewardship – http://www.centsiblestewardship.com – your place for savings, information, and more on being a better steward.