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website SLIDESHOW SAMPLES + TUTORIALS

I have a bit of an obsession with finding the perfect easy to implement slideshow for websites.

Here are a few things that I look for:
: free or low cost
: easy to use
: modern design
: links from slideshow
: not flash, so search engines can find it and I can see it on my iPhone

So I was thrilled when I can across 15 Amazing jQuery Image Gallery/Slideshow Plugins and Tutorials at speckyboy.com, which shows some superb samples of the above mentioned.

sales TRUNK SHOWS + EVENTS

Here is a list of trunk shows and events where you can sell your work. Doing shows and fairs gets you directly in front of buyers and is a great way to test market your line. Each trunk show and fair has a different vibe, entry requirements and audience, so check them out before you sign up.

Following is an every growing list of trunk shows to consider:


Appel & Frank: http://www.appelandfrank.com/
Feria Urbana: http://www.feriaurbanasf.com/
Maker Faire: http://makerfaire.com/
Sheckys: www.girlsnightout.sheckys.com
Thread: www.threadshow.com

tools MONOSLIDESHOW

Here's another slideshow application that shows potential especially if you like something minimal looking, easy to use plenty of customization options. No free version, but you can demo online. Cost: $19.95

Will update post when/if I purchase. Comments always welcome.

http://www.monoslideshow.com

tutorial EDITING YOUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER IN YMLP

This video tutorial shows you how to edit an email newsletter for YourMailingListProvider.com. Tutorial and custom design by whatmedia.com. For best results, watch full screen.

tutorial SENDING YOUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER IN YMLP

This video tutorial shows you how to deliver your email newsletter to your mailing list, once you have finished editing the newsletter in YMLP.com. For best results, watch full screen.

This example uses a custom template designed by whatmedia.com

tutorial UPLOADING FILES TO GODADDY HOSTED WEBSITES

This video tutorial goes step by step over uploading files to your godaddy hosting account and downloading your website files to your computer.

I decided to make this tutorial because I sometimes recommend godaddy.com to my clients. Godaddy.com has resonable web hosting packages and provides all the functionality you need to get started designing your website. However, the (major) downside to godaddy.com is that they are always trying to "up sell" which makes using their site difficult to use.

Often I am brought in to design a website that my client plans to maintain, either by themselves or with their inhouse web team. After the initial website launch, I upload additional files that the client may need for this work, such as logos, photoshop files, illustrator files, etc. Uploading these files is quicker and more cost effective than burning a CD or trying to email huge files. That's why it's important to know how to upload and download files, and why I have made this tutorial.

screen capture JING (updated)

+ another update + I just purchase Jing PRO so I could edit in iMovie and upload to You Tube.

If you're looking for a screen capture for the Mac more than the very basic "Grab" you should take a look at Jing. From Techsmith, the company who developed SnagIt (PC only) this free download lets you capture video as well as screenshots and is available for the Mac and PC. This comes in useful when, like me, you work remotely from your clients and need to explain how to "download your website" for back up.

After watching the Jing "Taking Your First Capture" video, doing the screen capture was easy. Of course, now I need to practice not "flubbing" my lines. This leads me to one problem, you can't edit your files as they are exported as a flash movie on the free version.

Here's a look at my "Getting started: uploading files to godaddy.com"

Bottom line: First glance - it at had me at "download"
Pros: Free, easy to use, end product looks good.
Cons: Only exports as swf (free version), Jing branding on last frame (free version)

www.jingproject.com

website SEARCH ENGINE PLACEMENT

When I am designing a website for a client, I often get asked about keywords, search engine placement and "how do I get onto page 1 of google?" I am not an expert in SEO (search engine placement), but as a designer and consultant it is important to know enough to get my clients website off to a good start.

For many of my clients, branding and design aesthetic is more important than a high ranking page. It's always important to think about your website and search engine placement with in your overall marketing strategy. If you have just launched a line of high end handbags, your priority is visibility to social networks, trunkshows, magazines and other tastemakers. A kick-ass website that showcases your work is going to be more important than a text heavy website with a high ranking - but that's just my opinion.

Here are the basics for optimizing your website for search engines:

1. Title: (Very important) Website title, one for the whole website
2. Meta Description: (Important) Unique to each page, this helps placement and reinforce content on the page. You can use the same description on each page if it is relative to that page. However, you can customize the description of each page which is useful in SEO (search engine placement)
3. Page content: Text should be relative to your products and/or services.
4. Alt Tags: Images should always have ALT tags, this is important for both accessibilty and for search engines, such as google.
4. Header Tags H1, H2, etc: These tags can be important as they inform the search engine what is important on the page.
5. Meta Keywords: These are no longer very important because very few search engines use them, google doesn't. Still your might as well add them to your website, just don't spend too much time on them.

For more information about search engine placement, search for SEO and checkout searchenginewatch.com

sales SELLING ONLINE - ETSY

If you are a designer ready to make the foray into selling your work online, a good place to start is Etsy.

For a few dollars, literally, you can test market your product. You still have to do the leg work to get your name out, but you don't have to go to the expense or headache of building an online store straight away.

PROS:
+ Cheap to get started. 40c per item for 4 months plus per sale transaction fee.
+ Easy
+ Bustling community of like-minded designers and artists
+ Lots of "tutorials" for setting up and improving your store

CONS:
+ Customers might get distracted with all the other things Etsy has to offer
+ Little control over your branding
+ Transaction fees can add up (once your store gets rolling)

BOTTOM LINE:
Highly recommended if your ready to sell online, but not ready to invest in developing your own webstore

tools SITEGRINDER

Now web purists might put their fingers in their ears right now - but I for one would love to see if the SiteGrinder software lives up to it's own hype. I mean from Photoshop to web in a couple of steps - that's a miracle!

As a designer, I would much rather spend time on the front end design than on tweaking code for it to display correct across browsers. As a professional web designer, WYSIWYG has never lived up to the "what you see is what you get" statement. Sometimes, and on some browsers. yes - okay for a "do-it-yourself" site yes, but not something that a professional web designer should use.

My clients are half corporate with their own in house web team - phew - the other half are independent designers and small businesses. For the latter, I am a one stop shop for all things web and design. I would rather they spend their budget on good design and utilize web tools and widgets to reduce web production time and costs.

So, does sitegrinder work. Well one of these days, I might just find out!

www.sitegrinder.com

slideshow PORTFOLIO

Here it is, my experiment with the free slideshow widget, slideroll. Overall, I liked the process, but the images look blurry and the small size makes the free version limited.

Bottom line: I would not use it professionally, but personally it's worth a look at.

widgets SLIDEROLL.COM

I am always on the lookout for new widgets that I can offer to clients as a cost effective way of adding interactive elements that might otherwise be too expensive. These widgets always have some kind of downside, but to many clients the cost saving might outweigh the price of going 100% custom.

There are a lot of free slideshow applications available, but so far slideroll.com is the one that I am going to experiment implementing on my own website. The free version is limited to 10 slideshows, 100 images and you can't download your slideshow, if this is a deal breaker, go for the paid version.

I'll update you when I finish my experiment!

PROS:
+ free
+ slideshow design is simple and modern
+ up to 10 slideshows per user, 100 images per slideshow

CONS:
+ maximum size is 360x240
+ link to company on slideshow (but quite subtle)
+ not as easy to use as some drag and drop or import applications

Website: www.slideroll.com