Protect IP Act Breaks the Internet from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.

Now for those of you wordpress users ready to strike. I have a simple tutorial for you to follow in order to successfully go dark:

1. Download and install the Maintenance Mode Plugin. Installation instructions are available via the link.
2. Once activated head over to the Maintenance Mode settings panel and switch the theme from default to 503.php
3. Next go to this link sopastrike.com
4. View and copy the source code
5. In your favorite text editor (Dreamweaver) create a php file called 503.php and place it in your current theme folder
6. Paste the code from sopastrike.com
7. Be sure to update the css & js links to http://sopastrike.com/…/../ so that it pulls the content from the web
8. Upload your 503.php file to your remote theme folder
9. On January 18th 9am activate your Maintenance Mode for 12hrs

That’s it! Good luck America.

 
We here at The Mighty Design have learned through experience that it’s not always enough to just talk about your services. Sometimes, lets face it – it’s best to just rap it out.

 
If you’re unfamiliar with SEO (or Search Engine Optimization), tMD is layin down some mad tracks to school you on the ways of the Web. Check out this sweet video we made to prove our Love and devotion to our fans and our job!

 
Check out the Original Version!

We May Regret This…

After months in the making, we are pleased to announce the launch of the tMDare Campaign – our guilt-free way of making a day at the office turn into a calamitous mess of nonsensical enjoyment. We here at The Mighty Design have never lived ordinary lives, and we’ve decided firmly that we’re not going to run an ordinary business, either.
So we invite you – the average business person, the youthful student, the jobless delinquent, the motivated graduate, the barhopping partygoer – and anyone you know to join us in our thrill-seeking endeavor towards the brink of humiliation (and beyond)!
In order to so, you should start by visiting our Facebook page and clicking the “Like” button. You can also Follow us on Twitter to keep up with any tMDare updates. This way, you can interact with us and others who are participating, and you get to watch us do something foolish every single week!

Now, there are some basic things to understand about tMDares, so read on to learn about the many ways you can participate in the fun and see what happens during a tMDare Drive.

The tMDare Purpose

What makes work enjoyable at The Mighty Design is, essentially, our sense of humor. And because we love what we do and we love the people who make it possible, we’ve decided it’s your turn to laugh. At our expense, of course.
That being said, we’ve got a couple dares up our sleeves already. But we think it’d be more fun if you – our friends, family members, clients, fans, and followers – threw out some ideas. After all, you’re the reason we’re doing this to begin with. Why not make it a personal request?

If you’d like to see one of us do something absurd, humiliating or just plain silly, post a comment with your tMDare request on this blog.

We will review and respond shortly after. Depending on how many people submit tMDare requests, we might do a random drawing one week and a vote amongst viewers the next.
**Please read the tMDare Testament in this blog to review the guidelines for any dares we will [or will not] perform.

The tMDare Architecture

Each Monday, there will be a new tMDare posted up. This marks the beginning of the tMDare Drive. Throughout the week, there will be related announcements posted about the dare, which allow opportunities for viewers to interact. Typically, the tMDare Drive will end at Midnight on Thursday, so we can tally up total interactions on Friday and determine if the dare goal has been achieved. If, indeed, the dare goal was accomplished, we will tape and perform the tMDare as promised over the weekend, and post the video up by Monday. If not, we will try a new tMDare the following week.
We will set goals for tMDare interactions each week. For example, we might ask for a total of 10 new Facebook likes OR Twitter followers. Additionally, we might ask for a total of 20 Facebook likes OR comments on related announcements, OR Twitter retweets or mentions on related announcements.

When you see a tMDare (or related announcement) posted, you can interact in several ways.

The tMDare Testament

Now, because we thoroughly enjoy our fans/followers and we equally enjoy running our own business – we’re not trying to do anything in our dares that might offend anyone.
The goal is to be outgoing, outrageous, and to get some good laughs from it. Don’t get me wrong – we have a pretty bold sense of humor – so we’re still going to get a little edgy with it. Consider the tMDares as good, clean fun…gone slightly astray.

For the sake of clean humor, no dares will contain…
-Nudity or Sexual Behavior
-Profanity
-Racial / Ethnic Slurs
-Bodily Fluids or Functions
-Anything that can physically harm another person
-Illegal activities or substances

We have a rule in the office – “you can’t be mad if it’s funny.”  This might not always apply to those outside our walls, so please help us keep the tMDares clean and enjoyable for all audiences.

◊          ◊         ◊

Thanks for your interest, and we hope you get a laugh as we make total asses of ourselves on a regular basis. We can’t wait to hear the words “I tMDare you to….” resounding across our social networks!

Check out these FREE Business Tools that you can’t live without!

Mozilla Firefox

First and foremost, if you’re not using this browser, your web experience is missing serious benefits. Not only does Firefox tend to crash less than others, but if it crashes, you have to option to restore your previous session, so you won’t have to start from scratch. Bottom line: Firefox has less pop-ups, better security, more customizability, and is easier to work with. Not to mention – from a web designer’s perspective, it is the most compatible with source codes, and therefore you experience websites as they were meant to be seen – not as an incompatible browser would read it.
Once you download Firefox, you’ll be offered a tour to get to know the browser better. Best part about Firefox – the add-ons.

Add-Ons

There are an infinite amount of ways to customize and enhance your browsing experience with Firefox. Here are just a few of the add-ons we recommend that can help you be more productive.

• LastPass – online password manager and form filler that makes web browsing easier and more secure
• AdBlocker Plus – most popular content-filtering add-on, customizable to suit your no-ad browsing experience
• Xmarks Sync – synchronize your bookmarks, open tabs, and passwords across different computers and browsers
• ReadItLater – eliminates bookmark clutter with one-time interest sites; read them anytime later, offline or online
• ReminderFox – time management to-do list of reminders without the need of an external calendar program
• Google Shortcuts – accesses a multitude of Google services at your fingertips

For an extensive review of some of the best Firefox Add-ons, see what PCMag has to say.

image courtesy of Mozilla

Today, innovative technology and years of code construction have led us to an era that makes web development available to any everyday business, regardless of budget or design knowledge. Unfortunately, it’s hard to decipher the good from the bad when it comes to do-it-yourself web design. Some of the most common traps that business owners encounter are the “Websites for Dummies” schemes that make web design skills seem like anyone’s specialty. Sure, a video tutorial or a well-written book can give you the foundational information you need to create your website, but it takes more than that to produce quality, custom web design that generates continuous results.

If you’re one of the courageous business owners who has built and maintained their own website successfully, we salute you and we hope that this small business blog will help you and your site reach its full potential. However, if you paid for your web development – here are several common mistakes that developers-in-training might make, which can be crucial warning signs that you might have a poorly-designed website:

1. A-Go-Go is a No-No
   If  ANY text on your site scrolls or blinks – think twice. This is a very out-dated trend that turns viewers away in a heartbeat. Also related to this: animated GIFs (dancing hamsters) or emoticons (smiley faces that represent a wide variety of emotions and are sometimes animated)
2. Grammar Hammer
   No matter who wrote your content, it is absolutely IMPERATIVE that your words be spelled properly and your sentences are grammatically correct. One small error like this can not only turn your visitors in the other direction, but it can ruin your online reputation!
3. The Map is Crap
   If a website were a maze (and many times it can be), the navigation would be your user’s only way to get through it efficiently. If you notice inconsistencies and illogical structure on your website, your visitors will, too. Don’t let them get lost, or else they’ll never find you.



4. Color Me Bad
   Your color scheme should be consistent with your brand or logo. You shouldn’t have a different color for each page or a problem reading text against the background. And remember – a good designer makes any color scheme work, so you shouldn’t have to change your brand to suit their design.
5. From Flashy to Clashy
   It’s a common trend to use Flash  for websites these days; but keep in mind that not everyone’s browsers or mobile phones will support those platforms. Your viewers should always have a choice, and if they don’t want to sit through your flashy intro or download Flash for their browser, they shouldn’t have to. Your designer should know ways to create your design without using flash, or at least be able to provide alternatives to your viewers.




6. Music to My Tears
   Don’t get me wrong – when used properly, music can help portray the image of your business in the best way possible. But when abused, nobody likes an annoying .midi file they can’t turn off. If you’re going to have music on your site, be tasteful and give your viewers the option to press play. Never force anything upon them – especially not a looped audio track.
7. Word Up? Word Down.
   When the average surfer scans your site for information, they won’t spend more than a few seconds looking for the keywords that keep their interest. Keep this in mind when you structure your pages – the Internet is about convenience, so keep your descriptions short, so your viewers can access the information they need within a few sentences.
8. A Minute To Win It
   On the information superhighway, every lane is the express lane. If your site isn’t keeping up, you’re on a direct path to the history pages, where your site is left forgotten in the dust of others. Bounce rate (how fast a viewer visits then leaves) determines your site’s overall appeal – and it starts with how quick it loads. Optimize your photos, graphics, and content to load as quickly as possible, because every second matters.

Every business requires a unique approach with their web design. If you noticed any of the above characteristics in your site, feel free to contact us, and we’d be glad to help you find ways to make the most out of your web design without draining your budget.

Type in a Google search for local web designers and you’re staring at a screen rendering page after page of thousands of results – all seemingly qualified prospects who provide the services you require. So how do you know who to choose? Is it fair to just leave it to a coin toss? In the end, it will all depend on your personal preference with those you choose to create business partnerships with. But until then, we’ve compiled some helpful tips to guide you through the selection process – from browsing search results to interviewing your design team.

Now, of course, you’re going to browse the first few sites that show up in the search results. Understandably so – these companies have clearly made an impact on their industry and have incorporated well-designed SEO techniques to keep their name on top. No matter which sites you choose to browse, you should prepare yourself before going marching onto the search result battlefield. If you want to avoid being scammed and truly get the most for your money, you have to be familiar with your side of the project. Here are a few things to consider before you get click-happy:

1. Budget – No one can help you until you know what kind of funds you’re working with. Determine your budget, and make sure you over-estimate – this gives you the opportunity to turn away designers based on factors that aren’t directly related to finances. Sounds impossible, I know. If you want to keep up with the market rates for web design, here’s a fantastic link that can help you shape your budget more realistically. www.designquote.net
2. Arm Yourself – It’s a common trend for designers to keep their prices hidden from site visitors, so don’t be alarmed. This is a marketing strategy for getting leads to contact them, and of course, it’s your choice where you go from there. It never hurts to inquire, but it’s not always easy to back off if their selling techniques are as good as they should be. So be prepared to hold your ground and say no if you have to, or say yes if it’s the right match for you!
3. Timeframe – With experience in this field, I can honestly say that if the designer is doing their job right, timeframe shouldn’t be more than 60 days. Granted, if you’re asking for an intricate design with all sorts of fancy features, it could potentially take longer. And of course, you must consider that you are not their only client. But most websites can be developed within 30-45 days maximum, and if somebody tells you different – come to us! (Nothin’ wrong with a little shameless self-promotion!)
4. Freelance vs Corporate – This is especially important – just like marketers tell you to know your target audience, know your target designers. Your choice of design professional(s) can make a huge difference in the end result. Regardless, you’re the only one who knows what type of people you work best with, so it’s up to you to gauge your preferences accordingly. No one wants to be contractually bound to someone they can’t get along with.

So now comes what we like to call the ‘flash assessment’ of your potential web designer’s page. You’re a busy person – you don’t’ have time to browse through hours of websites. Just try to keep these important aspects in mind and don’t spend a great deal of time analyzing everything:

1. No site, no sale – If you heard about this company through a friend or advertisement and the only site available for them is a directory listing, this is unacceptable. The most powerful form of advertising for web designers is their own website. That being said…
2. Clean, professional design – If the content is scattered, jumbled, or cluttered with flashy graphics, this should be an immediate turn-off. In this industry, a site like this is equivalent showing up to an interview with messy hair and a dirty, wrinkled t-shirt. Look for a simple, yet modern design that is easily-navigated and involves minimal reading. You don’t want to read a book about their business, and they should know better than to expect that from you.
3. Well-displayed portfolio – Sometimes you’ll run across a site that has very few pieces in their portfolio. While you want an experienced designer, keep in mind that we all had to start somewhere, and they might have additional templates to view upon request. It’s quality over quantity in this field, so browse what they have on display and determine their capabilities from there.
4. Reviews/testimonials – Many Google searches will render accountholder reviews for each business, but don’t be surprised if there are none. Sometimes clients are too busy to write reviews, but the designer will often ask for some words on their behalf – so check the site for testimonials and take the time to read what their satisfied clients have to say.
5. Direct contact – While many web designers offer a ‘FREE Price Quote’ form, it might be in your best interest to find a direct line to their office and try to speak directly with a project coordinator or chief designer. I only suggest this because most people prefer human contact over automated email responses.
6. Pricing Guide or Package Options: It’s the tendency of many designers to detail their services without prices to match. This is one of my biggest pet peeves, and it usually calls for an automatic rejection from me. Granted, this isn’t always the case, but years of experience have proven to me that if the prices aren’t posted, they’re typically too high – no matter what the industry. If the company provides something as simple as pricing guidelines, it will at least help you estimate the cost of your project.

So after all this browsing, let’s hope you’ve found a designer you might like. It’s time to take things to the next level – the interview process. Whether you’re on the phone or in person, you might start the conversation with something like this:

“I’m considering employing your company for my web design service, but I have a few questions first. Could you tell me more about your….?”

1. Process. By being more familiar with their approach you can determine if they’re going to make your life easier or more stressful. Whether you prefer overseeing each step or allowing them ‘creative control’, this is a good time to ask about their interaction levels with their clients. Don’t be afraid to sound arrogant – this is your company and any good designer should be willing to work with your terms.
2. Timeframe. Each project requires a designated variety of work, so keep in mind that they might not be able to give you an estimated completion date until the full scope of work is discussed. Typically, 30-45 days is a good expectation. If you need to get a website done within two weeks, you might be subject to expedited service fees – unless it’s a small, minimal-obligation contract.
3. Organic SEO (Site Engine Optimization). The average business owner is unfamiliar with SEO and its importance to their online presence. So here’s a basic overview: SEO helps boost your ranks among search engines, which can be crucial to certain industries with high competition. Organic SEO is something you want to look for with designers, because it basically means that, while designing (or re-designing) your site, they’ll implement certain SEO techniques within your code, tags, and meta-tags to help the search engines recognize you more naturally. Not all designers offer this free of charge, so be sure to find out what’s included with each service.
4. Design fees. If their prices are already posted, don’t spend too much time on this. But it’s important that you’re both aware of your budget before moving forward with contractual agreements.
5. Contract terms. If you’re seriously interested in this designer, it’s never a bad time to ask for a copy of their standard contract, or just to have them give you an overview of the terms until you’re ready to sign. Don’t be shy – designers love to talk contracts!

At this point you should feel well prepared to select a quality web designer for your web development needs. Don’t forget to keep your business’ best interest in mind, and if you have additional concerns about this, feel free to contact The Mighty Design team. Good luck in your search!

Custom web design for a local non-profit organization looking to rejuvenate the image of West Louisville

Images courtesy of:
iStockPhoto, view source

Custom web design for an established traveling make-up artist offering e-commerce, video production, and mobile compatibility

Images courtesy of:
Flickr Member – Zerbetron, view source
Josefina Alazraki, -  view source
Template Panic, Blog about Eye Make-Up – view source
Digi Dot Lee Photography – view source