The goal today was to run for 30 minutes. I don’t like to run for time, I prefer to run for distance. When you run for time, there is no incentive to go faster or at a higher incline. The goal is simply to run for 30 minutes. Now “running” for 30 minutes at a 4 mph pace is very different than running at a 7 mph pace. But if the goal is to just last 30 minutes, there is no incentive to go faster because it’s going to take 30 minutes regardless of how fast you are going.

I like to run for distance because it pushes me to get done sooner. You can run 3 miles in 30 minutes or you can take an hour to do it. I’d rather get it done and over with. I’d rather do it well than drag my heels all day about it.

Hourly billing is just like this. Some folks take an hour to do what another can do in 10 minutes. Should the person who can do it in 10 minutes be paid less than the person that takes an hour? Absolutely not. That’s why VALUE billing (or project billing) is far superior to hourly in most cases. While the amount of time something takes can sometimes indicate the value, that’s not always true. The experience and expertise of one person can allow the project to be completed in far less time which is actually of MORE VALUE than taking longer to do it.

If you’ve never run, you can’t just jump on the treadmill and run 3 miles at a 7mph pace though, it takes time and experience. The more you run, the better you get at it and the faster you can knock down the miles. This goes for all kinds of work too, the more experienced someone is and the more time they have invested in a skill, the better they are at it. As a result, they can often complete a task much more quickly than someone who is newer.

Value billing is more specific, you get X for Y, there is no guessing involved. Same thing goes for the treadmill, if someone says they’re going to run for an hour, that doesn’t mean much unless you know how fast they can run.

Now I know that value billing or project billing doesn’t always work. If the scope of the project is very loosely defined or it’s a long list of maintenance type updates, hourly billing may be the only way to manage it, but for most things, we prefer value billing because we’d rather get it done and get off the treadmill.

We’ve had the pleasure of launching OVER 100 websites this year and working with countless other projects from logos to brochures to banners and more.

When we started, we just did basic websites. Our range of services is much larger now, from graphic design to websites and online marketing. This year, we’re going to be improving our online marketing services and offering some comprehensive plans that are not only affordable, but trackable and effective. We want to help our clients take their businesses to the next level and believe we have the tolls to make that happen.

There is lots of turmoil in the world right now… Politically, socially, religiously jobs, etc. There’s a lot of crazy stuff going on, but we still believe in what made this country great. Individual exceptionalism, team work, community, faith, and family. We believe that 2012 will be the year of startups, where people decide to step out and make something happen.

We are ready to help be the partner others need to grow and expand online and off.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to our clients, partners, friends, and families who have made our continued success possible. We couldn’t do it without you and wish you all the happiest of new years.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I’m going to say something you won’t hear from many business owners, I don’t believe we’re the best at what we do. WHAT?! Who says that? I do.

Let’s be real though, there are better web designers than us, there are better graphic designers than us, there are better marketers than us. We live in a time with a lot of ridiculous talent in our industry. Don’t get me wrong, I care about quality design, clean code, and all the latest industry standards, but we don’t always deliver perfection on every project, there is always something that could be done better. That’s called reality. The truth is that there is almost always someone better at you or your business at what you do — and that’s OK!

But here’s something else, I don’t believe you have to be the best to be the best choice. Like many things, I believe it’s about balance. We provide a high level of experience (we’ve been doing websites since the internet started), we have a large portfolio (from plumbers to plastic surgeons), and we care about people (our clients, our staff, our families, and others) — those things matter.

We’re not the best and I’m ok admitting it. What matters to me is that we are able to provide what our customers need at a price that provides a high level of value for the services provided.

My advice? Stop trying to be or pretending to be the best. It’s ok to not be the best. Be what you need to be, what your clients need you to be, and not what meets someone else’s arbitrary standards.

We’re not the best, but for our clients and many others, we were the best choice for them. I’m thankful for that.

They were recently acquired by the also very popular EverNote app. It will be interesting to see what kind of integration happens with these two products in the coming months.

You can check it out at http://skitch.com/ You can thank us later (or in the comments).

In the design world many fads come and go, but brands that have staying power rely on something more important. They stay relevant. What is popular today, may be old news tomorrow and so while some elements of popular design are great to include is small doses, the best brands stay true to the businesses’ core values, customer base, and roots. Design Extensions will use your feedback and our experience to craft a website as well as logos, business cards, and other print collateral as needed to convey the image you want for your business.

Many businesses fail to realize their potential, simply by not maintaining uniform branding across all sectors of their business. Design Extensions can help, from business cards, letter head and other print collateral, to websites and online advertisements that keep your business’ image consistent. One of the benefits of utilizing all of the features Design Extensions has to offer is that our design team is all in house, and all files/logos/and content is accessible for use across all platforms to reach new customers. For the few aspects of your business that we may not have an in house solution for, (clothing, and novelties) we can recommend a service provider, and will be happy to design, or provide design elements to them.

We are like the barber that never gets a haircut.

Why don’t we blog more often? For the same reason most people don’t… we are just too busy with actually running a business and serving our clients.

What most people fail to realize (and we fail to lead by example) is that blogging can be a great way to drive in new business! It can build an audience of people who are interested about a topic and drive search engine optimization results to your site.

You can easily get started with your own blog (for free) by using something like wordpress.com or blogspot.com.

The better solution, however, is to integrate a blog directly into your website. You can call it news, information section, or something else if you prefer not to use the blog term for some reason.

An integrated blog (like what you are reading now) fits right in with a website, keeps your brand consistent, and helps with your search engine optimization.

There are not a ton of business’ here in St. Augustine or Jacksonville currently blogging, but it’s a growing trend.

We are going to try and do a better job of leading by example and will let you know what the results are.

Stay tuned here for more news, ideas, and tips. If you have questions, or would like to see info on a specific topic, leave us a comment below!

Knowledge
The Friendly Receptionist would not be very good at her job if all she did was act super friendly, but not actually know anything. Similarly the best designed website is no good if the information isn’t easily accessible, concise, and above all pertinent. Many businesses, new to the internet, tend to want to include every tiny detail of their business online so as to reach every possible customer. It’s great if your Salon sells hair products, but if 90% of your business is made through selling hair cuts, then the information for your hair products does not need to be as featured as the information about hair cuts. A better approach is to think like a customer and assume your website is your Friendly Receptionist. What information should she have readily available?

Warmth
We all have experience with the other type of receptionist as well. The one who knows everything about everything, but is so cold, and unfriendly that you really try not to bother her and find out what you need on your own. That’s how some websites are. The information they have is great unfortunately it is just too “ugly” to access. The wonderful information that you need is hidden in such a cold unfriendly way, that you’d almost rather just find it elsewhere. This problem is just as serious as the lack of information on an otherwise “friendly” site. How can she help anyone if they don’t want to spend anytime with her, or are afraid to approach her?

You Care
The best websites have the information you need, in a “wrapper” that is friendly and easy to use. Why are these two things so important? It tells your customer’s, that you care about them. We want to feel like the people and businesses we interact with care about us and our satisfaction. We want those businesses to make us feel like they are working with us towards a common goal. Design Extensions is here to make sure that you feel cared about, by making sure that we adhere to the principles of the Friendly Receptionist when designing, and building your website. Simple, beautiful websites, with easy to navigate menus, easy to access information, presented in a friendly inviting way will keep clients coming back, and recommending you to their friends.

You can still find the right designer, though, if you know where to look, and what to look for. Here are five things you definitely want to know about any web design team before you hire them:

1. 1. How past clients feel about their work. It’s one thing to look through a designer’s portfolio, but if you really want to get the story, you have to make a few phone calls. Talk to former clients and see what their impressions of the work, and the design process, were like. Whether you get good feedback or bad, these are things you want to know before you sign on the dotted line.
2. 2. If they will still be able to help you tomorrow. Your site might be basic right now, but there’s no guarantee it will stay that way. In fact, if your launch is a success, it’s probably not going to be long before your company needs help with online videos, secure site areas, databases, content management systems, and search engine optimization to name a few – services that smaller or newer firms might not be able to offer.
3. 3. Whether they have a bottom line vision. This is more important than most business owners realize. These days, when you hire a designer, you shouldn’t just be getting a layout and some HTML code – what you need is the first step towards a comprehensive online marketing plan. Be sure that any designer you work with can help you integrate your new website to search engines, social media, and more. You’ll need that exposure to gain new customers over the Internet.
4. 4. What their fees are… Obviously, the numbers are going to be an important part of the discussion. Be aware, however, that quality always costs more, and that more than one web design client has been burnt by falling for bid that was “too good to be true.”
5. 5. … and what those fees include. Web hosting, updates, content, and add-on features are just a few of the things you might want for your web design team, but might not be included in their rock-bottom bid. Find out exactly what you are paying for before you agree to any work. Or better yet, choose a vendor with a long reputation of quality work, no one that’s going to nickel and dime you at every step of the process.

There might be more web design companies to choose from than there were in the past, but that doesn’t mean that the right decision has to be any less clear. Take the time to do a little bit of research and get the answers to these five crucial questions – it’s not as easy as choosing the lowest bid, but it’s going to leave you a lot happier, and more profitable, in the long run.

(Republished from our recent article in Valacious Magazine in St. Augustine, Florida)

But before you run out and jump at all the new opportunities that are coming your company’s way, don’t forget to take care of one of the most critical parts of your business… one that brings in new revenue, handles customer service problems, lets you market to the globe, and try out new products all at once, 24 hours a day.

I’m talking about your website.

A lot of owners, facing a tough business environment over the past couple of years, have elected to hold off on a new design or any major upgrades. That’s understandable. But now, with customers coming in through the front doors once again, many are concentrating on offline promotions and improvements. After all, if the site is doing a pretty decent job right now, why mess with it?

That’s a dangerous line of thinking. Because, if recent history is any guide, the buyers aren’t just coming back the way they were before; the American economy is evolving into something more competitive – and a lot more digital – than it ever was before. Your website is the one piece of your marketing mix that can keep you in the game.

Here are four reasons improving your website might be your best investment right now:

It sells. The bottom line is that websites are good for the bottom line. They help you reach more buyers, and sell more products or services, than any other marketing medium can.

It has a farther reach than your advertising pieces or sales staff… and at a fraction of the cost. Whether you want customers from out of state or overseas, a website is your best choice to find them.

New forms of online marketing are taking hold. Until recently, social media has just been a cool buzzword to throw around; now it might be a way to find new business. Making sure your site is equipped for social media marketing is a good first step.

It reduces costs. If your customers can look up and change their account information, order history, and shipping details, online, they don’t have to call you or your employees on the phone for routine tasks.

As the owner of a web design and online marketing company, I will admit that I am biased towards websites as a business investment. But that’s only because I have seen what they can do for a company’s growth. The online component of business success isn’t going away any time soon. If anything, it’s becoming more important as the economy recovers.

Keep that in mind, and keep up with your online marketing. It just might be the single smartest investment you can make right now.

(Republished from our article in the St. Augustine Women’s Journal)

Because they think they don’t need it.

In dozens of consultations, I have met with business owners, marketing managers, and executives who listen to me talk about all the reasons they need to begin a search engine strategy, nod politely, and then change the subject. If pressed, they patiently explain search engine optimization might be great, but it isn’t for them – they don’t sell anything online, and all their customers are coming through the front door.

But really, that’s the ultimate case of missing the forest for the trees. Increasingly, searchers aren’t just going online to find the lowest prices for books, do their banking, and download music; these days, they’re also making Google, Yahoo, and Bing their first stops when it comes to finding local retailers to do business with.

Incorporating local search engine tactics into your marketing plan isn’t a strategy to get ahead anymore; it’s something you have to do just to stay in the game. Here are three things you should know about local SEO:

Local searches are becoming more popular. Not only are Internet connections available everywhere from coffee shops to public libraries, but the major search engines have spotted the potential and are competing with the Yellow Pages and other directories head on. With tools like Google maps, it only makes sense for shoppers to go online and get instant, specific, up-to-date information rather than digging through kitchen shelves to find last year’s printed volumes.

Ignoring Local SEO is probably costing you money. Even if you aren’t that concerned about losing existing customers – and you should be – consider this: you might not just be missing out on new business. Often, potential customers who have heard about your store or have driven by your location will look for you on line before they visit in person. It’s important that they be able to find you in search engines, especially if they can’t remember the name of your company.

Searchers make more profitable customers. One thing lots of marketers who aren’t used to finding customers online overlook is that, by doing the right kinds of search engine optimization, you can do a much better job of pinpointing your ideal customer than you could through other forms of advertising or promotion. Emphasizing the right key words and phrases doesn’t just bring you more web visitors – it brings you whatever kind you focus on.

Is your website ready? It has been possible, up until recently, for certain kinds of retail businesses to get by without a strong web or search engine presence. With the Internet taking an even larger share of people’s attention, however, not to mention the spread of iPhone’s, Droids, and other Internet-ready mobile devices, those days are behind us. If your business can’t be found on Google, Yahoo, and Bing, then the chances are good that in a few years no one is going to be able to it find anywhere else, either.

(Republished from our recent article in the St. Augustine Women’s Journal)

But that doesn’t change the fact that smaller companies have a big advantage on Google, Yahoo, and Bing.

Why? The answer has everything to do with efficiency. Fortune 500 Companies, and even their medium-sized counterparts, have to cast a wide net. For them, a dozen extra sales – even really good ones – doesn’t make too much of a difference, and so they have to concentrate on the high-traffic, high-competition areas.

While there isn’t any reason smaller marketers can’t compete and win in those same keyword groups (that’s the beauty of online business), the truth is that the easiest sales (and the ones with the higher profit margins) are found elsewhere… in more specific, lower-volume keyword markets where a lot of the bigger retailers don’t bother showing up.

For an easy way to understand what I mean, imagine that you have a company that sells air conditioners. You could use “air conditioners” as your main keyphrase, or “Jacksonville energy efficient residential air conditioners.” Sure, the first one is likely to get more traffic, but which search term is more likely to find a buyer? And how much competition will there be?

Search engines give small businesses a huge advantage – if they compete in the right places.

(This is being republished from our original submission to Valacious Magazine in St. Augustine, Florida)

This is the first edition of this series and is focused on a product called Basecamp by 37signals

We have used Basecamp since February of 2005. Since that time, our gross sales have increased over 3 times what they were at that time. A big part of that is Basecamp.

Basecamp allows us to manage many more projects that we could have in our previous system. It allows us to not just manage them, but keep them running smoothly, keep communication flowing and most of all, keep it simple.

The best thing about Basecamp is not what it can do, but what it can’t. It can’t do complex time charting, it doesn’t integrate with salesforce.com, it can’t send out e-mail newsletters, and it can’t solve all of the world’s problems. But what it does do, it does very well.

It allows us to manage tasks, milestones, files, and messages between our staff and our clients. Our team is virtual, we work from wherever is convient each day and Basecamp allows us to have all of the information we need for each project at anytime, from anywhere.

If you are currently looking for a way to manage projects better, I would highly recommend checking out this great piece of online software. They even offer a free trial. It’s not just for those in the web design business, it’s for businesses of all types.

Leave a comment if you have suggestions for other online tools or software that you use a love for your business.

This past Friday, October 8th, we had the privelage of being a diamond sponsor at the BNI Florida 2010 Member Conference.

We had a booth on display to show off some of our website design work and even gave away an iPod Touch to Zeke from IT Promise in Jacksonville.

During the lunch portion of the conference, Design Extensions owner, Jay Owen, presented to the crowd of over 200 BNI members with various information regarding web design, graphic design, and internet marketing in today’s economy. We should have samples online soon of that presentation.

If you didn’t make the event this year, we would love to see you next year.

Also, don’t forget about the upcoming NetWorth Technology Summiton October 20th. It’s only $20 for the event. The event will include lunch and 3 guest speakers including Design Extensions. We look forward to seeing you there!

Networth Jacksonville will soon be hosting the 2010 Technology Summit at Deercreek Country Club in Jacksonville, Florida.

The event will feature Design Extensions owner Jay Owen, discussing three key areas of Mobile Apps in Business, Branding Integration, and Marketing of the Future. Other speakers include Joe Lemire from Elyk Innovation and Roy Buncome from Buncome Technologies.

The event is only $20 and includes lunch. Starts at 11:30 and ends at 2PM. Be one of the first people to register and be entered to win a $50 gas card!

Register today at NetworthJax.com

Today, the internet is not only fast, but it is mobile. With the inception of the iPhone several years ago and the many phones that followed, the internet is now easy to access from everywhere.

The problem is that not all web sites look great on mobile phones (even iPhones). As a result, many companies are moving to select one or both of the following options.

1) A mobile version of their website.

2) An iPhone App for their website content and business/organization information.

This is especially important for organizations or businesses that have a events, news updates, or want users to be able to find them from their phone and on the go.

We provide solutions for iPhone development and mobile website design and development for clients of all shapes and sizes.

Contact us today for more information on iPhone app design or mobile website design.

We will have a booth with prizes and examples of our work and also be presenting during the lunch hour at the event.

We look forward to seeing many fellow BNI members from around the region at this event.

Check it out at http://jacksonville.com/business/2010-06-27/story/more-ipad-users-doing-business-not-entertainment-device

This event is open to the public and free of charge. The event opens at 9AM and concludes at 3PM. There will be free samples, raffles, & fun surprises in store for all ages.

We will have a special prize to raffle at the event and also have examples of our work on display. I will be on site all day to answer questions or field ideas about web design, graphic design, internet marketing, or social media.

Some of the free things happening at the event include:

• FREE shoulder massages from Island Massage
• FREE spinal analysis scans by The Village Chiropractic
• FREE face painting at the Brightway Insurance booth
• FREE samples of individual mini portrait sessions by     Jennifer Jordan Photography

A gold buyer will be on hand to give cash for unwanted gold so attendees can leave with more money than they had when they came. Many vendors will be offering coupons or discounts on their goods or services including specials on IMAX and Hall of Fame tickets.

Bring the family for a day!  Visit the Expo, have lunch at the Renaissance, catch an IMAX movie, visit the World Golf Hall of Fame, try your luck on the putting green or just enjoy the view.  For more information contact Kelly DeVivo at 904-342-0670.

Come by our booth and see us, we love visitors!

View a link to the flyer on our Facebook fan page.

Complete Vendor List:

It turns out that there is a company, that appears to be from Russia, that is using our business identity along with a fake web site to pretend to offer people jobs and then have them commit all types of money fraud.

We have reported this company to their host, had them shutdown several times and they keep coming back up. We also reported them to the http://www.ic3.gov/

Details about the scam can be found here: http://www.bobbear.com/design-extensions-llc.html

From what we can tell, these folks have been doing this for years to companies and people all over the place. If you have ideas or contacts on how to shutdown companies like this, feel free to drop us a line.

Thanks and be careful who you accept an online job offer from!

If you don’t know about 37signals and their products, you should. They were founded in 1999 (same year as us) as a Web design firm by Jason Fried, Carlos Segura, and Ernest Kim in Chicago. They focused on powerful usability strategies and their original web site was a source of inspiration for our work and many others around the world. After several years as a very successful design firm, their focus shifted to several web apps.

Today, they produce four great web apps and have published two books (with one more on the way in March called REWORK). We have used their longest running app, Basecamp, to manage our business for almost 5 years. It is an online project management system that is so easy to use it’s crazy. We love it and as we said in the case study, don’t know how we would operate without it.

Other products they offer include Highrise (a great way to track contacts, set follow-ups and assign tasks), Backpack (organize your business and share calendar with a team), and Campfire (a great group chat app).

We have been long time fans of the folks at 37signals and it’s an honor to be featured on their product blog.

If you are a looking for a better way to keep track of your business — look no further than the products from 37signals.

UPDATE: 37signals just launched a new site (today) called Haystack.com. We have been featured on their front page all afternoon and you can check out our detailed listing page here.

Youtube and similar public options can be a great way to share video in a social and “viral” way. But what if you want to post something exclusively to your web site, with your companies branding, and without links to other youtube videos?

We now offer an incredible video solution for sites that want to host one video or multiple videos. It can event be customized to include your logo and is customizable in many ways.

Check out the new video from the Jacksonville Symphony that we have integrated into their web site here: http://www.jaxsymphony.org/channel4.php

Here is an example of how it appears embedded in a page. We would love to answer any questions you have about video on your web site and how it can help connect to current and new customers. Contact us today with any questions.

Here you will find recent information about projects we are working on, things we are interested in, and other fun stuff related to web design, graphic design, online marketing, and things we enjoy.

Bookmark it, tag it, digg it, subscribe to it and check back often.