Category: Tips & Tricks

Groovin’ to Songza

My big desktop computer’s hard drive failed.  No big deal – I have my files backed up, and it’s still under warranty.  I had the drive replaced yesterday, so this morning I’m updating apps, syncing data, etc.  It’s more of an annoyance than anything else.

It’s not getting me down though, ’cause I’m listening to a killer playlist on Songza.  Songza is a music streaming service that features a bunch of curated playlists (ad-free).  Best of all, it’s totally free, and you can access it through the website or download an app for your iPhone or iPad.

Right now I’m listening to the “Blogged 50” playlist.  It’s pretty great.  Are you on Songza?  Which playlists do you like?

Really Big News…

No, I’m not having another baby! But I’ve been working on something almost as challenging, rewarding, and all-encompassing. I’ve launched a new business.

Building on the success of the WordPress and Photoshop workshops I ran back in the spring, I’ve created a separate business for tech skills training. I’m so thrilled to announce the launch of Camp Tech.

I’ve been working for the past two months on developing the brand (special thanks to the wonderful Ox Agency for help), and developing a roster of classes for the fall season. Camp Tech will feature a full lineup of classes and workshops with topics including WordPress, Photoshop, HTML & CSS, eBlast Creation, and Google Analytics & SEO. All the classes will serve Camp Tech’s motto of friendly, fun, practical and professional instruction.

You can read more about Camp Tech and see the full class lineup at CampTech.ca. I really hope to see you at an upcoming workshop!

Would You Read a Book in Chunks?

Between work and family, my life is pretty hectic.  I honestly love it, and I’m not complaining.  But it takes me forever to read books and magazines, since pleasure reading falls right to the bottom of the to-do list.

I was intrigued by this website – DailyLit – that was mentioned in Smashing Magazine’s email newsletter.  You sign up on their website, pick a book, and they’ll email it to you in short instalments every day (or however you set up your frequency settings).  The theory behind DailyLit is that you can probably find five minutes (or less) each day to read a small part of a book, and then eventually, you’ll finish the masterpiece you said you’d never have time to read.

Because the service is free (and they’re featuring books under Creative Commons licenses), it’s mostly classical literature, but there are a few newer titles there too.  I might give it a try.  What do you think?  Would you read a book in chunks?

[image of José Vasconcelos Library in Mexico City from IsAboutWords]

Tech Terms You Can Actually Understand

I often have people ask me what certain tech terms mean, and more and more, I’m turning to Skillcrush for their excellent tech definitions.  Skillcrush is a NYC-based startup that’s working on a series of online tutorials (launching soon).  They have already launched their tech terms section, which has some of the easiest-to-understand-while-still-being-technically-correct definitions I’ve come across.  Check out their explanation of domain, SEO, and web server.  Super great, right?

How to Get Your Business Online If You Can’t Afford a Web Designer

Seems a bit weird for me, a professional web designer, to be offering alternatives to working with a web designer, right?  But honestly, sometimes you really don’t need (or can’t afford) a pro.  For some good tips on how to get your business online without hiring a web professional, check out this article I wrote for the Crave Company.

Want even more info? I’ll be speaking at this event in a couple weeks:

Online Money-Makers
These days you can fulfill all your shopping desires with the click of a mouse. You can purchase those new shoes or the next book club read—even your groceries—online. We love online shopping, but what does it take to run a successful e-commerce business? We will discuss the best way to market an online business, how to connect with clients without in-person face time, and top online merchant systems. With so many options for online shopping, how do you make your product or service stand out?

I’m part of a panel that includes Lisa from RentFrockRepeat and Melanie from Mildred & Doris. Seriously, check out these women’s businesses – so cool.  I’m thrilled to be in their company for the evening.  Full details for the Online Money-Maker event and registration here.

Happy long weekend!

[img cloony goes world wide web by Martin Waldbauer]

Want to Learn Photoshop?

Ever tried to open an image in Photoshop to do a basic edit, and find yourself totally confused?  What are all those things in the toolbar?  What’s the difference between canvas size and image size? And what the heck are layers?

Spend a day learning the basics of Photoshop in this fun, not-too-technical workshop, taught by me!  You’ll discover how to enhance and retouch your photos, add text, and combine multiple images into a collage. Adjust the colour and brightness, learn how to remove dust spots, fix blemishes, and even remove objects from your images. And once you’ve transformed your photos into masterpieces, you’ll learn about resolution and how to optimize your images for printing, or for publishing online.

This workshop is perfect for small business owners, bloggers, and hobby photographers.  No previous Photoshop experience or graphic design skills necessary.  Bring your laptop, your enthusiasm, and appetite (delicious catered lunch is included!).  The workshop is limited to a max of 25 participants, so there will be lots of time for questions and one-on-one support.

Saturday June 2,2012
10am – 4pm
Alterna Boardroom, Centre for Social Innovation
215 Spadina Avenue, Toronto

$99 per person
delicious catered lunch included

New! Early-bird Pricing! $79 per person if booked before May 4, 2012

Click Here to Register

The not-so-fine print:

  • Workshop registration is non-refundable, however, your ticket is transferable to a friend or colleague if you can’t make the event at the last minute.
  • You must bring your own laptop and power cord – computers are not provided.
  • You’ll need to have Photoshop installed on your computer.  If you don’t have it, you can download the free 30 day trial from Adobe’s website.

How I’ve Been Using Pinterest

Have you tried Pinterest, the new(ish) social media/photo/shopping website that everyone seems to be talking about?  And if you did try it, did you kind of play with it for a while, and then forget about it?

I did too.  I thought it was pretty, and I liked the neat-o images, but it seemed more like a time waster than an actual tool.

Then, a few weeks ago, I was trying to collect my thoughts (and collect inspiration images) for a landscape design project. We’re going to rip up our front yard (we have a tiny patch of grass that’s about 80 square feet – so silly) and put in a perennial garden. I started flipping through magazines, thinking I’d scan the images into my computer, and then I remembered Pinterest. I started a pinboard for landscaping, and started to add images with notes about what I liked about them. I searched for landscaping images that were already on the site, and then I added some from other websites.

Check it out – here’s my landscaping board on Pinterest.

Have you thought of useful ways to use Pinterest? Or do you just look at the pretty pictures and drool on your keyboard?

How to Make Perfectly Hard-Boiled Eggs

I am a complete failure in the kitchen.  I don’t follow recipes well, I’m clumsy, and I often forget that I have something in the oven and I burn it.  So if I’m going to make anything, it has to be dead simple.  Trust me, perfectly boiling an egg isn’t as easy as it sounds – I often overdo it and get a chalky yolk with a weird green ring around it.

So I appreciated these instructions from Bon Appetit on how to make a hard boiled egg, the super-easy way:

Place 6 large eggs (older eggs will be easier to peel) in a medium heavy saucepan. Add water to cover by 1 1/2″. Bring to a boil; immediately remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water to cool. Gently crack the eggs and peel under running water for ease.

I know many of you will read the above and say “duh”.  But maybe you needed a reminder, and with Easter coming up this weekend, you can now make perfect hard-boiled eggs.

[img from Southern as Biscuits, via Pinterest]

Website Tips for Small Business Owners

It’s not too late to sign up for my first ever web design seminar, Website Tips for Small Business Owners.  The event is taking place THIS Thursday, January 26, from 7-9pm at St. Paul’s Bloor Street.  It’s going to be a casual and interactive workshop, and we’re going to explore the following topics:

Let’s Start with the Basics
An overview of what makes a website attractive, so you end up with a gorgeous site, not a hot mess! Learn the basics of clean layout and website navigation.

Crafting Your Content
Get out that red pen and get ready to cut, slash and edit. We’ll go over some tips on how to write for the web to make sure your message is actually getting through.

Thinking of Going DIY?
Get advice on when you can build a website yourself, and when you’ll need professional help. We’ll look at a few of the DIY options out there (including an overview of WordPress, Etsy, and Shopify).

Don’t Fear the Nerd: How to Find and Work with A Web Professional
Design is a process, not just an end result. Tips on how to find the right web professional for you, and make sure you get the most out of your working relationship.

You’re Online… Now What? How to Keep Your Website Fresh
It might seem like the end, but launching a website is only the beginning. What’s your plan for ongoing site maintenance?

Following the presentation, there will be plenty of time for questions and advice. This seminar is great for small business owners who already have a website (that might need some tuning up), and also for those that are looking to launch a new website.

You can find even more information, and register online here.

What’s a “basic” website, and how much does one cost?

I get that question all the time.  And apparently, so does my colleague and client Sue Edworthy.  Sue is an arts marketing specialist / publicist / strategist / consultant / planner, and she has a pretty great blog about marketing trends.  Last week, she asked if she could interview me for a blog post based around the question “Does anyone know how much it costs to set up a basic website?”

Of course, I was happy to oblige, since I have lots of thoughts on the subject.  You can read our interview over on Sue’s blog by clicking here.  Enjoy!

[“Complicated Bicycle” illustration by Marc Johns. It has nothing to do with basic websites.  I just like it.]