In This Issue

	When Not to DIY
	Protecting Your Mobile Office
	Client Profile
	Cool Tools
	Q and A

News

Recent Launches: Architecture West, LLC; Portable Rental Systems; H.M.S. Protocol & Etiquette Training; Skyview Homes at Lakota Canyon Ranch; and Black Swan Image Works.

News Flash:
If you're a Wordpress user, did you know that Wordpress 2.5 was released at the end of March? Consider upgrading your version; the new dashboard has some significant changes, mostly good. ;)

When Not to Do It Yourself

I read an article recently in BusinessWeek SmallBiz that got me thinking about my clients and the reasons they give for why they're looking for help with their websites.

The article is called "A Web Site in a Jiffy," and it's all about how the wonderful tools you can find on many of the big hosting company websites can help you build your business a pro-level site ‘in about an hour.’

On behalf of all of my clients, I have a few issues with the author's assertions.

First, when you build a site using a tool like the ones you find on GoDaddy or 1and1 or Yahoo, you don't get a 'pro-level site.' What you get is a simple site that's usually filled with a lot of outdated and unnecessary code that's not so friendly to the search engines.

Because it's dropping the content you type in into a layout you choose from a selection of templates, you're assured that your site will be one among dozens or hundreds (or even more) that look pretty much exactly alike. You can modify a template only so far on most of these sites, changing colors and fonts but not usually any of the major design elements.

Many of my clients originally came to me after using one of these sitebuilder tools for a year or so. They reported frustration with the inability to get away from the templated look and often with customer service (when you pay almost nothing, you tend to get little in return). They wanted more flexibility than the add-ons offered by their host. They recognized that a one-size-fits-all solution was no longer in the best interest of their growing businesses, and they were ready to move up to a website that was custom-tailored to their exact needs.

More Than Just A Pretty Site

A scrupulous web designer brings much more to the table than the ability to ‘make it pretty.’ He or she understands design principles and can help you develop a layout that's both pleasing to the eye and enticing enough to capture the attention of the visitor in those critical first seconds of a visit. Many designers understand web standards and best practices for writing clean code. Most know the importance of testing across multiple browsers, as well as desiging for accessibility.

They have a grasp of search engine optimization and know how to use accepted techniques within code and content to help your site rank well in Google. They can advise you about the importance of fresh, regular content updates and incoming links to the health of your online business presence. And they can help you make decisions about the types of content and interactivity you'll use on your site, including e-commerce tools, blogging, and content management.

Finally - and perhaps most importantly - a good designer can help you decide what to do with your site once it's up and running. Launch is just the beginning when it comes to business on the Web.

Here's hoping that magazines like SmallBiz might spend some time helping business owners learn how to find a trustworthy and reputable web design firm to partner with them in the evolution of their online presence, rather than how to save money and take matters into their own hands. I think most of my clients would agree that doing it yourself is not always the best solution.

Protecting Your Mobile Office

If you're like me, you use your laptop computer as a mobile office. It spends a lot of time with you at client meetings, on airplanes and and in the local coffeeshop.

What would happen if your laptop got stolen? Would it hurt your business or your employer? Could it even put your client relationships at risk?

Help keep your laptop and data safe by considering these tips:

The Kensington Notebook Lock - ever wondered what the little oval-shaped hole on the side or back of your laptop is for? It's the connection for a cable lock that you can use to secure your computer to a table leg, desk or other hard-to-move object. Take a second and lock your machine before you get up to order another mocha.
Keep Records - Write down the serial and model number of your laptop and other portable equipment. Did you know you can often add computer equipment to your home insurance policy?
Laptop Alarm - Bet you didn't know there was such a thing. If you travel a lot and use your laptop in airports or other busy places, you might want to consider one of these. It can be configured to sound an alarm when the computer is turned off or unplugged, or when the mouse is moved.
Surf Safely in Public - Use a product like Hotspot Helper to securely connect to public Wi-Fi. And always use strong passwords and good security software including a personal firewall on your notebook.

Client Profile

This time we're featuring Skyview Homes' Lakota Canyon Ranch site, launched in 2008 (www.skyviewlakota.com). This site is owned by Skyview Developments in Fort Collins.

Skyview Developments approached us about redesigning three sites - two for their properties in New Castle, CO and Gillette, WY, respectively, as well as their main business website. The requirements were that the the two homes websites be very attractive and suited to their properties' geographic location, as well as easy to use and get around.

Red Kite started with Skyview at Lakota, an energy-efficient series of upscale homes just west of Glenwood Springs in Colorado. The site has a distinctively Colorado look and feel. We used a mix of on-site photography provided by the client and stock photos to come up with a rustic yet clean design.

On the Homes showcase page, we used a simple Lightbox script to allow users to click on and enlarge the photos without making them open a new page. The final effect is a clean page with an added benefit in ease of use - see it in action here by clicking on the image to the right (NOTE: You'll need to be viewing this in your web browser to see the effect correctly).

Skyview was pleased with the rugged but elegant look Red Kite provided for the Lakota site, and we're nearly done with the second site for the Gillette, WY development. The Gillette site has a more High Plains look and feel, but provides much of the same high-quality content to help prospective homeowners get to know the company and its offerings.

Cool Tools

Are you into digital photography, or do you have hundreds or thousands of product shots on your computer? Do you just get frustrated searching through folders looking for that one picture?

Google has a great solution - get Picasa. It's free, it's neat and the main thing I like about it is that it shows you nice big thumbnails of all the images on your computer from one location. You can do a small amount of image editing, but really it's an image organization tool more than anything else.

Q and A

Who's In Charge of Your Domain?
Would you let your contractor own the lease to your brick-and-mortar store? Probably not! And your host or designer shouldn't own the domain name you use for your business.

Make sure that you are listed as the administrative contact for your domain name. If you don't understand what I mean by that, take some time and learn. It's really that important - it could one day affect your ability to continue doing business at the current Web address you use.

How to find out who's listed as the contact for your domain:

Visit http://www.whois.net and type your domain name into the Whois Lookup box. The next screen will either show you who the contacts are for your URL or will provide a link where you can find that information. If you are not listed under 'Administrative Contact,' login to your domain registrar's site and change that, or have your designer or the person that handled your domain registration change it for you (and make sure you verify that it's been done). If you aren't the Administrative Contact, you are not billed for the domain name and it really doesn't belong to you.

Referrals

Red Kite is 95% referral-based - give us a referral and we'll reward you for the favor when we contract with your friend or colleague. If you know someone who might be interested in our services, let them know, or let us know at 970-372-2125 or info@redkitecreative.com.