Tag Archive for: Red Deer web design

Ronald McDonald House

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I’m not going to lie, this past year I’ve felt inundated with charitable donation requests, events and fundraisers. It’s tough, you want to support them all; the ones that are marketed in such a way that it’s fun to participate, the ones that affect your friends and family, and the international programs that tug at your heartstrings, and of course the ones that involve a sweet wide eyed kid on your doorstep.

You can’t possibly do it all, so you choose what feels right.

The Ronald McDonald House feels right for me. When Larry Mathieson started tweeting about its construction probably a year ago I felt excited. I’ve had friends who have used these facilities in other cities and thought wow, this is so awesome for Red Deer. No, this is HUGE for Red Deer. Not only that, but Larry struck me as an honest, sincere, caring man that I trusted. (relationships built on twitter people, i can’t say enough!)

So when Angie asked me if I wanted to join her in taking the Orientation so that we can go in to the House and prepare meals for families there I was IN. What a great way to help. In my world food is comfort (yes I know Trainers, but it is!) and if we can provide home cooked meals to these families that are under insane stress and give them even a tiny bit of comfort in their day, count me in.

Can’t wait to get started!!

The Right Way to Market

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I had an experience a week or so ago that I HAVE to share. Why? Because it’s IMPRESSIVE, and smart, and should be shared.

I saw a tweet from Dan Ouwehand…I can’t remember what it was now (sorry Dan!) but it had something about Laebon Homes in it. I didn’t hesitate to tweet that Laebon built my first home & the experience was great. I was a young single girl, no idea what the hell I was doing or what I wanted, just knew I wanted a home that looked good and wasn’t going to require maintenance that I couldn’t afford.

From the Sales Guy to my Project Manager, every one of them treated me with respect, like I was as equal as a family of 10 walking in the door. I think that’s huge, and over the past 11 years, I’ve shared that story a million times.

Point of my story…not even 10 minutes after I tweeted that? An email from Laebon’s marketing department, thanking me and asking me to come by and pick up an Earl’s GC they had for me in thanks for my ongoing support.

AWESOME.

There is nothing unawesome about that. THAT people is how it’s done. What review would you rather hear? Which review would you trust? One that was prompted or paid for, or a genuine unprompted one?

I know which one I’d choose. Lesson here? Reward those who promote you because they love your product. Those people are your billboards.

Thank you once again Laebon Homes for being awesome.

Builds Character or Puts Hair on your Chest or Something

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I worked at Willy’s Hamburgers out on Gasoline Alley for 2 years. I always felt somewhat demeaned by that. I was in my 20s and working in a fast food restaurant.

I busted my ass at that job. Seriously. It would be crazy busy there in the summer and you were literally ran off your feet for 8-10 hours a day. Ya it was a fast food joint, but I liked the “regulars” that came in for breakfast every morning, the really rammy miserable dude that treated me like crap until I stood up to him and he smiled like I FINALLY got it, and my co-workers… Except for that chick who used to make up totally off-the-wall bs stories about horses eating at the table and stuff. She was too odd, even for me.

I’m always super defensive when someone makes a rude remark about a fast food worker or disrespects them because you know what? My bet is that some of them bust their ass at their job 10 times more than you do at yours.

So be nice, your choice of work is no better than the next guy’s.

Listen. Acknowledge. Save the Crazytown

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I used to work for Fluor during the Joffre 2000 Projects. There I met a man who taught me more than any person I’ve ever met. I don’t think he knows that.

The job was in Labour Relations. He was the manager and he hired me as his assistant. He was SMART. And not annoying smart (you know the type) but socially smart. Always friendly, always REALLY listened – stopped what he was doing and focussed on what you were saying, and always genuine in his responses. Always. But not a pushover. If you were an ass, he’d make you aware of it. But not in a passive aggressive way, in a direct concise way. No bullshit, no beating around the bush.

We’d have a job steward come in, sit for an hour to get to see him, only to put in a complaint that there was no lemon pie in the Camp Kitchen. OMG. My first EMOTIONAL response was always “Are you frickin kidding me? Get your ass out there and get to work and be grateful you get pie at all you lazy ass”… or something like that 😉

Not my boss, he would listen. He would understand that these men were away from their families for considerable lengths of time. They missed their kids, they missed being cared for by their spouses. He acknowledged their complaints. Which is all they really wanted. Someone to listen and acknowledge them. He never was quick to the emotional off-the-top response…he always took time to consider where they were coming from. Amazing talent. Needless to say, I’m crazy jealous of that talent and whenever I find myself going crazytown over something that REALLY isn’t that big of a deal, I try to remind myself of his awesomeness.

Stay calm. Breath. Listen. React. And if someone’s an ass, tell them straight up 🙂

Thank you Mark McCullough for the impact you’ve had on my world.

 

Website Maintenance

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Something to consider…

You’re ready! It’s time to get your business on the internet! Turns out people are only using the yellow pages as a step stool. You’re excited. You dive in, hire a web designer and it’s go time.

Site’s done. You pay. Part ways.

Now what?

Your site NEEDS upkeep. And not just writing a blog now and then. WordPress has regular updates, for the actual system and for any plugins you may have installed (such as newsletter sign ups, gallery slideshows, calendars, etc.) It’s as simple as clicking “Install Updates”. HOWEVER, sometimes when you run updates, some of your other add-ons don’t like it. Things need tweaking, re-installed, fixed.

When your designer offers to maintain and keep your site at the top of it’s game, consider it. Keep that relationship open. I’ve already talked to so many people who have lost touch of the person who created their site, and their site is a mess. Features not working and the site is becoming more and more unprofessional in appearance and functionality.

Consider updating your content on a regular basis as well…if not monthly, seasonally. Commit to 4 updates a year to start. Keeping your site fresh and updated puts your website dollars to the best use. Monthly or seasonal updates to your site will keep it from becoming stale and ineffective.

Website Maintenance…as important as brushing your teeth. Necessary monthly or at least quarterly 😛

Goat’s Stomach

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My dad had surgery for a hernia when I was probably 4 or 5 years old. It left a HUGE scar on his belly. He always told us kids that he had to have part of his stomach removed and they replaced it with a goat’s stomach. He was dead serious and stuck to his story for year. YEARS.

My dad is the original no BS. He tells it like it is and never beats around the bush or lies. Teases, yes. Lies, no. So I believed him. Of course!

Fast forward…college years…drinking with a group of friends and I share that my dad has part goat’s stomach. They laugh at me. A LOT. huh. I’m pissed they don’t believe me. Call my dad. I’m 19 years old and I’m calling my dad to prove that he has a goat’s stomach to all my drunk friends.

My dad doesn’t have a goat’s stomach.

This blog is for any of you out there that believe everything your parents tell you. Parents lie. I’m going to go tell my son right now that I have a lizard in my ear and every time he doesn’t listen to me it eats another chunk of my brain. Take that.

Mentors

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Mentor

Men·tor – noun

1. a wise and trusted counsellor or teacher.
2. an influential senior sponsor or supporter.

I have a really fabulous mentor. A fellow nerd if you will. He has given me a wealth of info coming from a place of experience, knowledge and understanding. Love that I have someone in the industry that knows their shit and freely gives it to me in exchange for a cupcake or some chickpeas now and then. That is AWESOME.

If you’re just starting out like me, find someone you can trust and someone who knows their way around the cage. Ask for help. Ask for advice. It’s benefits are immeasurable.

To my wise and trusted counsellor, thank you for continually letting me pick at your awesome brain.

Tweet Tweet!

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The first of probably 10 million blog posts about twitter.

Two things you NEED if you are a small business:

  1. A website! I happen to know an affordable website designer that can hook you up
  2. TWITTER!

When I first thought about starting a web design business, I thought I’d offer Twitter 101 to my clients too because I see such HUGE value in it.

So here it is, your Twitter 101  —>  DIVE IN! That’s my BS twitter course.

Don’t be freaked out that you have to engage everyone the first week. It’s not going to happen. Just converse….re-tweet…find people who offer you humour, advice, opinions, and knowledge and follow them.

Learn.

Twitter is an AMAZING tool. The thing is no one can make it amazing for you….you need to take all that is YOU (okay, maybe not ALL, I may be an “extreme tweeter”) and put it out there. Let people see who you are and what you and your business are about. I can’t say enough about letting your personalty show, letting people get to know you makes them want to know about your business even more. I can honestly say I’ve gained not only clients, but friends through twitter (<—I know you just groaned at that statement, but it’s true!)

You hear a lot about engaging people on twitter, so I’m not going to use that word. You need to suck them in with your awesomeness. Be You. If you are passionate about what your business has to offer, share it. People will respond. I guarantee it. Give it 30 days and you’ll be hooked.

If you still think you need more than that 30 second intro to twitter, just ask, I’d be happy to show you around my second home. If you need more than that or aren’t willing to jump in that aggressively, I can point you in the direction of local peeps who offer detailed courses of all things social media.