New Direction

Every now and then you get a chance. A chance to make a difference, to change direction. They don't come easy nor often. I had one come recently and decided to take it. Come see the new direction I took with my new business partner Margaret Donvan at Temblor Creative Group.

Chances... if you wait, they may never come. So make them happen for yourself. What's the worst that can happen? Probably nothing you can not handle or change or control.

So now this will become soley my place for thoughts. I hope to use it. I am unsure if anone will be listening, but thats ok.

It's been awhile...

You are probably wondering just how long my dog can hold it! I am back and ready to go. Seems I found the time to get this site up and running, but did not carve out the time to keep it moving along. So true for so many. No excuses.

I just had a wonderful photoshoot with Tom and Sue, the new owners of the Chocolate Barn in Shaftsbury VT. It was a very fun shoot and I'm happy with the results. The images are consistent, show the product well and let the website user move rapidly on. What photos should be for the web. And, (bonus) we discovered the chocolate to be outrageously good. I hope Tom and Sue did not weigh-in the product before it was dropped off at the studio! I am sure they are going to do great with the new adventure.

Also just posted images for a new woodworking client, Ray Finan. Ray too is starting on a new venture and will be putting a website up very soon. Ray has some great furniture designs and works some distressed wood details into the pieces here and there for interest and a truly one of a kind feel.

Both portfolio proofs can be seen in the clients proof area.

And the winner is...

Squarespace is the clear winner in my search for better technology. Their features, functionality and ease of use are on par with the best out there with on going development that is cutting edge. What really sets them apart though is their customer service. Clear, fast responses, even at 11 pm on a Saturday night (need to improve my social life). Best ever, period.

And for e-commerce? When adding up clients needs along with anticipating those of future clients, the "needs matrix" gets rather complex. Finding the one fits all solution, without going into a robust development based structure is difficult. I am still working with BigCommerce and believe they are the solution. I am not wavering from staying with a simple solution.

When you try to be a boulder, it gets hard to move. The week, it will begin to move again. For those who spoke up, thanks for the input. One important lesson... when it is live, people are reading. Do not think you can have a live site be in sloppy development/trial mode. It just looks bad!

What's the cost of launching too soon?

How often does this happen? A new website, a new business, a new relationship is brought out to the world premature. It is so hard to hold back. You've been working on this thing in your head at two in the morning for so long, you'll do anything to get it to the next step.

Anything fresh brings new energy. It takes but one point to begin. It takes but a second point to start the spread. Think of a single striking point on a pane of glass. The resulting spread from such a minor fracture can reach to all edges.

So what is the cost factor of starting the spread before your message is in place? Customers come seeking new energy. Face it. What ever "it" is, "it" has been covered. Search for what ever "it",  The answer is there. But the energy may very well not be. And when it is not, no one is coming back.

Make damn sure you have the energy going. Do not launch a second sooner. Pebbles make ripples, boulders make waves. Wait to be a boulder.

How to mash together e-commerce and social media.

Three days, I have immersed myself into the world of e-commerce and social media CMS (content management systems), searching for all-in-one kick butt solution. Several companies seem to be close, but not one of them is 100% there. The marrying of the two worlds seems to be elusive.

I want a system that has the ease of use and result generated functionality of Squarespace with e-commerce of say...  BigCommerce. I have studied endless reviews. Signed up for and tried out a half dozen systems and back ends. Been on the phone with customer service and sales reps.

The ability to quickly put together a highly functioning website and move beyond that is crucial. My value for clients is generating content and delivering it to the right audience. I hope to have final decisions made tomorrow. Time to keep moving on.