6 Months in...."Tools of the Trade"

Yes, it has been 6 months since I posted anything...and it is 6 months into the year. We launched a new look for our website in February and because of the deadlines of my clients, I have just been able to get it back online now. We have been busy! Not a bad problem to have since I do know that the economy has affected many businesses this year. We are doing a lot of interesting business with clients in all genres of work.

We are continuing to educate ourselves and take on bigger and more complex work, thus my title, "Tools of the Trade."

I am learning about the importance of SEO services and that ever changing world that we call the "world wide web". We are rapidly being pulled into the social networking world of web 2.0 and are excited by the learning process.

I don't know how everyone else keeps up with technology, but I find myself gathering a great group of peers and programs around me that I can work with to solve any items that I might encounter.

I also have been made aware of some great tools that make learning much easier even though there seems to be very little time to actually focus on personal learning. Lynda.com has been great in teaching me quickly and visually. The wealth of knowledge on that site is "mind-bottling" (as Will Ferrell would so eloquently state) and for just $25 a month you can get educated quickly. The other lovely tool that I am ecstatic about is LiveSite by Camelback.net. This is a robust Content Management System that utilizes your existing HTML/CSS sites but gives the designer all the tools to become Web 2.0 proficient.

Since I design on a Mac, I have found a marvelous add on database program that functions with all of the built-in tools that Mac has to offer. Bento has been a God-send for making functional to-do lists that are added automatically from my email program as well as to my calendar. I have the ability to know when I promised a client that a project would be done and who asked first. It is amazing to see how my efficiency has climbed with this simple ability.

Last, but not least, a program every service business needs to have is Cashboard. This is a dynamic online program that allows for us to estimate, manage projects, track time sheets, clients and accounting/invoicing management. Check it out at http://www.getcashboard.com. They have helped me in my pursuit of becoming efficient and more effective with my projects tracking and billing.

It is a blessing to be able to learn "on the job" and look back on all the work that we have done in the past six months. I hope that someone might benefit from this information...I know that I scour the web looking for solutions for my clients and my work flow. Maybe someone will happen across this and find that "answer" to their question as well....

:) Tracy