January 2, 2012 By April at CreativeGirlMedia.com

If you’ve been curious about design and taking the plunge into starting your own business, this week begins the next installment of the Blog Designer Workshop.  Click here for more information and to register.  This workshop is great for both intermediate and novice designers and coders, and covers Blogger coding, WordPress coding, and design in […]

January 16, 2012 By BDN Administrator

We’re very excited to offer this new class on Wednesday evening.  Both designers and bloggers will benefit from this course on making social media both beautiful and functional. Whether you use social media often, use one more than others, or are a total newbie – this course includes everything you need, and you can attend […]

June 10, 2013 By BDN Administrator

Any seasoned web designer knows that building a pretty website is not enough to ensure its success. Sites need to be continually tested on users after their completion, as well as during their construction to optimize their likelihood of effectiveness. Google Analytics offers a package of every kind of statistical testing you might need for your websites, and much of it is ideal for integrating it into your design process. These are some of the most basic and beneficial ways to use Google Analytics, but if you’re not sure where to start, follow this beginner’s guide to analytics.

Speed

Internet users judge a website almost immediately, so it only has a couple of seconds to make a good impression. A major contributor in how a site is judged is how quickly it loads. Speed is such an important factor for users that if a site takes more than 3 seconds to load, 40% will abandon the page. A fast site – and one that quickly provides incentive to stay – is what pleases users most.

How Google Analytics can help
The app has a “Bounce Rate” metric specifically for measuring how users first interact with your site. A bounce rate is the percentage of visitors who enter a site and leave it without making a conversion. A high bounce rate means your site is somehow failing to engage users, and a slow speed could be part of that reason. For a visual overview of how people are judging your site, including bounce rate and time on page, access Content>In-Page Analytics. To make speed improvements as you design, create consistent and attention-grabbing usability elements, like a main header, navigation system and calls-to-action; and retest your bounce rate after making each change.

Split Testing

Also known as A/B Testing, this is a way of measuring how specific content affects user interaction and conversion. Version “A” is considered the control design, while Version “B” has one particular difference from the control, and each version is tested for effectiveness on users. Changes are usually made in areas like copy, color, size and placement of design elements, fonts, etc. The purpose of this kind of testing is to allow the designer to see which details have the most effect on conversions and overall user experience.

How Google Analytics can help
The Content Analytics section enables you to do content experiments, and it reports the results. The benefit of using this within your workflow and as part of your design process is that you can dictate which objectives to test and receive continuous updates on how your experiment is doing. Based on higher conversion rates or time spent on certain pages, you can continue to use those same characteristics to give users a great experience with your site.

Test, Test, Test

The premise of Google Analytics is that it pays to test early and often. Integrate these testing techniques into your work at the start of each project to accomplish not just an attractive design, but also the most effective.

Author Bio
Luke Clum is a web designer and developer from Seattle.

February 6, 2012 By BDN Administrator

We are excited to announce the implementation of the Showcase, which features the best in blog and web design!  Whether you’re a designer or blogger in search of inspiration, this page will be the ultimate place to find great design using any platform. 1.  How are designs chosen? We browse the web in search of […]

May 1, 2013 By BDN Administrator

Today is the first day of our Blogging Challenge! Join us and win some awesome prizes while improving your blog!

 

As bloggers and designers, we will inevitably run into clients who want to provide something other than money in exchange for our services. From blog posts reviewing our services, to products sent to our homes – the temptation is inevitable considering the valuable service designers are able to provide. However, there are also times when our potential clients are able to provide us with something more valuable than money. Some designers have staunch policies against bartering, and others find themselves in too deep with projects they’re not getting paid for. Before accepting projects in exchange for anything other than money, consider these guidelines first. Likewise, if you plan to ask someone to barter with you, consider these do’s and don’ts.

Do:

Seek the things you want. Some services and products are far more valuable to you (and/or your business) than they are to others. Whether the items you’re bartering for are worth the same to another in the same field as you is irrelevant. Think of it this way: Would you spend the money on that product or service anyway? Don’t be afraid to pitch to people and businesses that are of personal and professional interest to YOU.

Pre-qualify. Do your research, and make sure the person or company you will be dealing with is reputable. Depending on what you’re accepting instead of money, you may want to type their name into a search engine, and monitor their social media feeds. When you’re not receiving money for your expertise, it’s vital to pre-qualify even more thoroughly than you would with other clientele.

Assess the true value of the trade. Are your services timeless, while theirs are impulsive? With their service build your business and have lasting power, like a website or blog design will? Will your graphic design services outweigh the cost of the print materials they provide for you? Consider the true value of the items being bartered, and don’t be afraid to negotiate.

Get it in writing. Make sure a contract is signed before any work begins, and outline the details of the agreement.

Treat it like money. If you’ve done the above, the person or company you’re dealing with also has a valuable service or product they are providing you with. Treat their end of the bargain just like you would any other project, and provide them the same caliber of service you would a paying customer.

Don’t:

Do it solely to build your portfolio. There are several other options such as non-profit organizations, friends, and your personal projects that can help you build a portfolio without the need to barter.

Consider it “Spec-Work“.  Spec-work is heavily frowned upon in the design world, and is usually considered work that several designers compete for and only a single “winner” is compensated.  The link provided sheds more light on the details of spec-work, but it’s important to note that bartering is NOT spec-work.  Entering into an agreement with no guarantee of payment is definitely discouraged.  When entering into a barter, there should be clear non-monetary compensation outlined so that each party is compensated properly.

Underestimate your value. A few hours worth of building a blog or website may be a breeze for someone who is an expert on the topic, but for others this service saved them months of learning, troubleshooting, and sub-par design. Everyone has their specialty, and when considering a trade agreement all these factors must be taken into account.  Think about the materials used, as well as the time that could have been spent on a project you were paid for.  Everyone has their strengths, and trading strengths across different fields is a great way to build your business.

Forget taxes. The barters you receive may need to be claimed on your taxes, and you may also be able to claim portions of what you provide. There are very specific details to consider, so be sure to either notify your tax preparer or research using your tax preparation software.

Downplay the barter. If done properly, a barter can be FAR more valuable than any money you would have received for your service. If you can follow the guidelines and seek the proper compensation, many trade agreements can easily be the best option overall.

Hopefully these tips have given you some food for thought!  Whether you’re a designer, blogger, or business owner – bartering can be an incredibly lucrative venture when pursued correctly!

December 30, 2011 By BDN Administrator

As the New Year approaches and we begin setting goals, our blogs and websites should be part of our plans!  So here are some tips to better your blogs for 2012! 1.  Try New Fonts Since Google has released almost 400 fonts free for use on your blog or website, a simple switch to trendy new fonts […]