1. eFax Free – with this service you can receive faxes to your email account for FREE! This is perfect for individuals who do not fax a lot but need to receive a fax occasionally. eFax Free will allow you to send 2 faxes for free as well. They also have a paid membership where you can send and receive faxes for as little as $16.95/month!
2. FaxZero.com – this is a basic service for those that want to send a fax every now and then. The service is free, you can send 2 faxes today with a maximum page limit of 3 pages per fax. There is a cover sheet that will include 1 advertisement from the company. There is also a premium $1.99 fax. With premium you can send a fax with up to 15 pages and there is no ad on the cover page or you can choose no cover page at all. This is a good alternative to paying a monthly price or buying a machine for a few faxes a month.
3. Kall8 – is an amazing toll-free and local number provider and the provider of choice for Cosmic Creations! It is a fully integrated system with an online office to manager all your Kall8 features. They also have a referral program where you can earn a $5.00 credit for every client your refer – so, do us a favor, copy and paste our toll-free number in the referral section when you sign up 866-536-9721. Thanks! This service is as low as $2.00/month and 6.9 cents per minute when someone calls your toll-free line. There are voice mail options, call block, call forwarding, and more!
4. SocialGo.com – create a free social network similar to Cafemom, Myspace, etc. Social Networking is one of the hottest forms of media on the web right now. Boost your business or exposure by creating a social networking site!
5. TheMomPack.com – a Mom Pack is a nifty method of exchanging advertising materials with other moms. The advertising materials are used to make “mom packs” and then distributed by the moms making the packs. It is a great way to get your name into communities nationwide!
6. QuickBooks.com – QuickBooks offers  a basic online version of their popular software for just $9.95/month. It can be accessed anywhere you have an internet connection and will allow you to create invoices, collect money, pull 40 Standard Reports, Manage Unlimited Customers, Works with iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android devices. They also have a plus version with more features. You can try it FREE for 30 days and there is no contract, so you can cancel anytime! QuickBooks Online is our program of choice.
7. Jing.com – Jing is an excellent source for creating videos of on-screen action or take pictures of your screen. You can share your videos through IM, email, and the web. Jing is perfect for creating informational videos, training videos, and more! There is a free and pro version of this service available.
8. SimpleVoiceCenter.com – This is a free service for recording a message tree. Ex: “Thank you for calling ABC Company. For Billing, press 1. For Support, press 2, etc.”
9. SimpleVoiceBox.com – This is a free message recording service. It would be excellent to record updates, training materials, product information, or just about anything you can think of. It is pretty much unlimited in length making it very versatile. You can choose to allow people to leave a message at the end or you can disable the feature.
10. FreeConferenceCall.com – This service is main home for Simple Voice Center and Simple Voice Box. They also offer free conferencing for small conference calls. Simple Event – conferencing for large groups. Simple Blast – send a recording to up to 1000 numbers. There is a complete list of their products on the website. Many are free and a few are paid.
11. Meebo.com – An instant messaging platform that allows you to sign-in to all your instant messaging accounts in one convenient location. Meebo works with just about any instant messaging service you can think of. Best of all, it is FREE and Online Based or Desktop Based!
12. YugmaFree.com – Yugma free web conferencing allows anyone, anywhere to instantly share their desktop and ideas online with others. Yugma Free web conferencing account allows you to invite up to 20 attendees – plus, receive a free 15-day trial of Yugma Pro. Use Yugma web conferencing for team meetings, webinars, sales presentations, online training, tutoring, brainstorming and more.
13. ConstantContact.com – This is one of my favorite Email Marketing solutions! They offer a 60 day risk-free trial they does NOT require a credit card. Constant Contact offers Online Surveys and Event Marketing as well.
14. NutShellMail.com – This service allows you to get updates from Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, and LinkedIn all in one email. Cosmic Creations uses this service and we love it!

We hope you enjoyed our first post in honor of “Motivating Moms Week” here at Cosmic Creations!

Until next time…

Design Giveaway Details

You can register for the design giveaway ONE time per business/blog/website, per day. The Entry Fee is free! We will be giving away a custom designed 125 x 125 Button Ad for our winning mom. We will also post an exclusive featured interview with our winning mom – it is a fantastic exposure opportunity for your business, blog, or website! Register Here.

Bundle Specials

We will be discounting our Website Development Bundles 20% off of the listed price on our Bundles Page for any purchases made during Motivating Moms Week! We will also knock $5.00 off your design price for every purchasing mom you refer!

Fun Tips & Info

We will be posting fun tips and info for moms through out the week, look for posts tagged “motivating moms” to keep up with the latest!

We hope you will join us in Motivating Moms this week!

1. It’s Free – Setting your business up with a Social Media website is free. There are very few methods of free marketing that will provide the same results as Social Media Marketing. It is one of the smartest investments you can make for your website.
2. Quick Results – Unlike most marketing, Social Media Marketing will yield results quickly. Because you are networking with real people, you will have real traffic coming through your website in a very short amount of time.
3. It’s Versitale – There are many different types of Social Media websites that you can be apart of. From networking sites, to blogs, to bookmarking sites – there is something for everyone.
4. It’s Simple – Social Media Marketing is simple. It is what you already do on a daily basis, networking with people – just online. You can create lasting friendships and relationships while generating traffic to your website at the same time.
5. It Works – Plain and simple. If you stick with it, you will generate traffic to your website even when you aren’t online.

These are just a handful of the reasons why you should be social.  It really is very simple to do and when you Cosmic Creations behind you it is even EASIER!

Until next time…

Cosmic Creations is proud to announce its new Marketing & Finance Manager, Roxanne Godair.

Roxanne will be handling all aspects of our Marketing Services both front-end and back-end. She is also our Finance Manager and over Client & Business accounts.

We are confident that Roxanne will perform above and beyond the expectations of her position and we are happy to bring her aboard!

Help me in welcoming her to the crew!

At Cosmic Creations, our goal is to make this process a fun and rewarding journey. You help us design your vision and we take care of the technical details it takes to make your vision tangible.

Should you have any questions along the way, you are always welcome to contact us!

Okay Moms, this is for YOU! Whether you are a working mom, stay at home mom, or work at home mom we got you covered! From Mommy Cards to Totes Bags, it will all be here, customized just for you and your kiddos! Check back as our product line grows! All Designs can be customized to exactly how you want it, so if it’s not just how you like, send us an email for your initial consultation (they are always FREE)!

While you may think your decisions are based on more than just the color of a logo, package or communication piece, subconsciously we all have a predisposed notion of what each represents; influencing how we choose to relate to the specific product or message being presented.

In business, choosing the right color is just as important as determining the message. Color is the first thing that attracts the customer’s eye, and once noticed, the color may determine the entire tone of the piece. Because much of the human reaction to color is subliminal, and for the most part inherent due to years of experience and conditioning, it is important for businesses to recognize the emotions each color evokes and how to use color to their advantage.

Choosing Color Wisely is Crucial
By examining the current color trends and popular shades used in business, we can determine what puts specific customers in the buying mood, when it’s appropriate to deliver a message in black over white, or if using a hint of color will better reach the intended audience.

With the current state of the economy, businesses want to instill optimism with their customers, employees and shareholders. For the past year, the general sense in business has been mainly doom and gloom, with less than impressive financial forecasts and extensive job losses. Now, as we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s important to recognize that consumers are trying to look toward the future with a better and brighter outlook. Therefore companies are beginning to change their collateral, messaging and tone to provide the same confidence and optimism.

As you most likely know, the Pantone® selected color of the year for 2009 is Mimosa.  Described as embodying hopefulness and reassurance in a climate of change, the warm yellow tone will garner attention but also creates a sense of relaxation. Naturally, humans are drawn to yellow tones since they exemplify the warmth and nurture of the sun. Yellow is seen by the eye before any other color and appeals to both men and women, making it the perfect shade for point-of-purchase displays and direct mail pieces. Dramatic results can be achieved using a bright colored sheet like Astrobrights Solar Yellow and pairing it with a rich iris blue ink color.

Rebirth of Color
Emerging from the muted tones of grays and off-whites that we’ve seen during this time of uncertainty comes the more vibrant shades, in addition to yellow, that’ll begin to take the stage as companies adapt to this new time as well as attempt to connect with a younger generation.  Light greens, oranges and pinks are coming back, representing a sense of renewal and youth. These bright colors tend to attract a younger audience as these colors are seen as fun, cheerful and energetic.

Appeal to the Sexes
While pinks have traditionally been used to communicate solely to women or girls, in the past couple of years the traditionally feminine color is making an inroad into men’s fashion. Although this is an up-and-coming trend, orange and green are more commonly used to appeal to a unisex audience.

If, however, you are only targeting women, the default color doesn’t always have to be pink. While some love it, others hate it. Think about your target demographics, like their age, and the message you are trying to convey to determine if the perception pink demonstrates is how you want your product or company to be seen by a larger audience.

This brings me to my next point, should blue be used to target men? Blue is traditionally a favorite color among both men and women of all ages; however, men have a much stronger preference for blue than women. Blue is often perceived as trustworthy, dependable, fiscally responsible and secure, and in the past it has most often been used as a marketing choice for targeting the male dominated audience in addition to representing financial institutions. Purple is starting to transform the traditional take on blue making it an updated, creative spin on the old color. Connoting a sense of sophistication and creativity, blue-based tones and dark plums are popping up to either put a fresh twist on an old logo or to illustrate a stylish new communications piece. Looking for a color combination that will appeal to a masculine audience? Try using a deep silver or gold ink in combination with royal blue. The rich colors of both convey a sense of mystery, sophistication and prestige.

Environmental Fill
It is important to note that in addition to color, the green movement is receiving a lot of attention, and corporations are under increasing pressure to produce collateral that is both attractive to the eye as well as sustainable. Warm basics, like the color of sea grass and rattan and shades of khaki, moss and thyme are becoming more apparent as companies try to illustrate their environmental commitment. While brown conveys simplicity, durability and stability, some consumers can relate it to dirtiness, therefore be careful when choosing within this family. Terracotta, a color popular among a female audience, can convey an upscale look, while using deep red with dark brown offers up a universally appealing color combination.

Generation Color Gap
As baby boomers begin to retire and the next generation becomes the leaders of tomorrow, companies are recognizing that they now must change as consumers and influencers begin to take on a new form. This new generation has been immensely influenced by technology. Digital cameras, MP3 players, DVDs and cell phones have all played a role in defining the color trends in the past couple of years. Noticing this, companies have used these palettes—think bright, vivid and futuristic hot pinks, silver and bright purples—to attract a younger audience to its products and services.  Furthermore, metallic and pearlescent finishes often tend to appeal to these Generation Y’ers.

While Generation Y continues to grow up and Generation Z  will soon be at their heels, don’t  forget about the classic colors of black and white that’ll always have a place for any communications piece or logo, no matter the audience you are targeting. Black is serious and bold. It creates drama and is often used to market expensive products. There will always be a place for black since the contrast is powerful when used with almost any color. White is simple, clean and pure. The human eye is trained to see white and the brightness of it will make any color stand out.

Colors will always remain a focus and an important part of how we view the world around us. It generates emotions, helps to facilitate a message, and creates a stimulating visual that catches our immediate attention. While specific shades may always connote certain feelings based on cultural or historic meanings, they are constantly transforming to illustrate the steady change in consumers and the society that they are a part of. Understanding the meaning of colors and which appeal to your target audience will allow a company to seamlessly transition as it continues to develop and provide its future services and products.

Courtesy of: HOWDesign.com – this was not written by the Design Studio, rather was posted as an informative article our clients. Read more: http://www.howdesign.com/article/Colorcomeback/#ixzz0tDyV0Eo5

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.

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

Until next time…

A lot of small business owners just starting out have a laundry list of website questions related to the advantages of a website. Many business owners fail to realize that a website can do more for their bottom line than marketing alone.

Below are just three of many advantages of a website often overlooked by small business owners when answering their own website questions and concerns.

1. Increase Your Availability

A lot of website questions revolve around marketing. But beyond marketing, your website can function as an “always on” receptionist and customer service representative — enabling customers to make purchases, ask questions, research your products and services, send you e-mail and download important documents, whether you’re at work or home. Business no longer fits neatly into a 9 to 5 box, so let people find you when they need you!

2. Put An Axe to Expenses

Printing can get expensive! And sadly, a lot of website questions don’t address the money wasted each year on outdated printed materials. Think about how much money you can save by eliminating the need to print new brochures and other materials caused by a move, loss of employee, or changes to your contact information. Websites are less costly to update than reprinting—and the results are immediate! Some of the biggest advantages of a website are due to cost savings created by converting printed materials for use on your small business website.

3. Improve Your Efficiency

You can’t pack more hours into a day, but you can shift redundant work onto your small business website — saving you hours every month! Make a list of all of the tasks, questions and documents prospects and customers routinely ask for and post that information on your small business website. Simply forward customers to your small business website for such things as: hours of operations, directions to your business, to schedule a meeting and to download forms and documents.

Courtesy of: Articlebase.com – this was not written by the Design Studio, rather was posted as an informative article for fellow small and home based business owners.
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Cosmic Creations offers Modern Design at an affordable price! If you need a website, web page, lead capture page, logo, or other design for your business, check us out! We look forward to designing with you!