design - Blogs - Black Business Women Online

Nominated for an Excellence in Christian Design Award!

Posted by Tamika Hall on February 26, 2010 at 1:27pm

In addition to being the founder of Praize in Motion, I am also the CEO of El Shaddai Productions which is a christian production company specializing in Marketing, Design, and Stage Productions. Under El Shaddai I have a few lines: Praize in Motion Apparel & Gifts, and Ministry Branding Solutions a line of ministry business cards, ministry cards, etc.

El Shaddai Productions has been nominated for the April Excellence in Christian Design Award for our "Perfect Peace Business Card"

In February, we were also nominated for our "Peace" design!

It's always a blessing when recognition is received for doing kingdom work! Thank you, Lord!

Thank You and Happy New Year

Posted by Karen A. Davis on January 4, 2010 at 9:00pm

Happy New Year! I just wanted to express my appreciation for your support of Building Industry Resources. This year has brought new relationships and opportunities to connect and share information with thousands of professionals in a variety of ways. Whether you read our newsletters or blog, attended one of our workshops, downloaded our resource materials, emailed, connected on social networking sites, called, or contracted our services, communicating and working with you is truly a blessing.Thank you! You are the reason Building Industry Resources exists – to empower you to be the best. And even if your work is not directly related to the design and building profession, I’m grateful that we are connected. I hope that we can share information to mutually benefit each other's business and career goals.Although this past year brought challenges to many, I am excited to think of the possibilities of 2010. The New Year promises new beginnings, innovation, and creative collaboration. Let’s look forward to an increase in projects, new partnerships, and business-building opportunities.Wishing you peace, joy, great memories, and dreams fulfilled this holiday season and throughout the New Year!Karen A. DavisBuilding Industry Resources

Promote Your Business’ Professionalism: AdvBT Design Offers Custom Website Design and Comprehensive Multimedia Services Exclusively for Black Business Women Online Members!

Posted by Nicki Lynch, AdvBT Web Design on October 23, 2009 at 7:00pm

AdvBT announces the recent expansion of its client base to include the over 1000+ Black Business Women Online members worldwide! From attorneys to zoologists, AdvBT devotes the same degree of exceptional service to clients of every caliber.

AdvBT employs some of the most respected Web professionals in the Internet design and marketing industry. From talented designers to SEO experts, the wealth of knowledge that comprises each website project is evidenced by its overwhelming online success.Yet, what sets AdvBT apart from other elite custom website design firms is the long range foresightedness that accompanies every project. The professionals at AdvBT are not satisfied with the completion of a client’s brilliantly designed website. Rather, the big picture is considered in terms of search engine submission, website maintenance, online marketing, commercial video production and search engine results. Professionals can say goodbye to the days of hiring a variety of consulting firms to manage their websites after initial publication.At AdvBT, websites are not systematically produced but individually created. An in-depth website creation process ensures that no stone is left unturned. From thorough discussions of page layouts, navigation structure, colors, fonts, design theme, and partnership or professional image, to constant communication including honest feedback and user input, the client is involved during every stage.To learn more about AdvBT call (770) 329-4208 or visit their website at www.advbt.com

The Bottom Line: Finding Work

Posted by Karen A. Davis on September 30, 2009 at 7:00pm

Get complimentary access to the Building Intelligence section of the Building Industry Resources site.The news is reporting it, and if you do a little research, you will find signs: the economy seems to be in an upturn, albeit ever so subtly. With the amount of information that comes our way daily, it may be difficult to find the projects relevant to our targeted segments and markets of the building industry.Building Industry Resources has sifted through websites, magazines, newsletters and other media to compile a list of recent articles: who’s designing, who’s building, who’s developing, and who’s selling and leasing. You need to know where the work is in the building industry; who is getting it done, and how you can get a piece of it. One of our goals is inform you of potential projects and provide you with the information you need to build your business and cultivate new relationships.Retailers are expanding. Some cities are growing, and there is work in hospitality, transportation and other industries. We’ve listed reference articles and the location of projects by state. There are also useful articles to help run your business, and professionals and firms who’ve made significant moves in the industry.What do you do with the information once you retrieve it? Look at it inquisitively. Mine the articles for the possibility of a new contact, a new market to research, or consider going the extra step to make one more phone call to find out if there is any work available on an upcoming project. If you don’t have the time, contact Building Industry Resources. We’re here to assist you in your business development efforts.See the most recent Building Intel list here. We invite your feedback: What other information would you like to see? What would help you get leads and build relationships? Let us know if this information is useful and what else we can do to help you build business.Find more on Building Relationships on the Building Industry Resources' Blog and website. You can also get daily business building updates on Twitter and Facebook

Change Your Mind & Shift Your Paradigm + A Special Gift To Those Ning Sites and Members That Love & Support "Success Driven Divas"

Posted by THE CONFIDENCE ARCHITECT on September 1, 2009 at 8:32pm

As My Special Gift To Those Ning Sites and Their Members That Love and Support "SUCCESS DRIVEN DIVAS"

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF One of My Favorite Ebook " 23 Simple Strategies to Immediately Begin Empowering Your Life Design Everyday" for Only $3.00Change Your Mind and Shift Your Paradigm: Using Positive Self-Talk to Conquer Any GoalBy V. Ivana Foster, The Confidence ArchitectFounder and Owner of The North Star Life Empowerment Program, Platinum Level Coaching for Success Driven Divas.Do you feel like you are always talking yourself out of success? As soon as you start to set goals for yourself, do you suddenly have nagging thoughts about how you aren't up to the task or how you simply aren't qualified to carry it through?If you have ever experienced either situation, you need to change the way you respond to your inner dialogue. Instead of obeying your negative commands, you can use positive self-talk to counter the negativity and overcome nearly all anxious thoughts.Setting Goals and Sticking to Them with Positive Self-TalkAre you initially filled with excitement when you first set goals for yourself? Are these thoughts then followed by self-doubt and self-defeating thoughts that stop you in your tracks before you even get started?It can be difficult to make the most of your life when you are constantly talking yourself out of being a success. It can be frustrating and discouraging to have these thoughts constantly plaguing you. Many of us, in fact, don't even realize we have them! All we know is that we don't have the confidence to stick to our plans and reach our goals.But there's another way!Positive self-talk is an effective way to set goals and ensure that you stick to them, even if you have never been able to do this before. The way this works is that you decide what goal is important to you, and then you plan the logistics of how you are going to attain this goal. When self-doubt starts kicking in, you will respond with affirmations that prove your success without surrendering to the negative pressure. Since you're reading this article, it's clear that you're no quitter and you're certainly not a failure, so start believing in yourself!Re-Programming Your MindAffirmations are essentially positive statements that re-program your mind for the positive. The moment you have a self-defeating thought you'd be able to counter the negative with a motivating statement. An example of a positive affirmation is: "I am worthy of great success," or "I see myself in the winner's circle." What this does is replace negativity with thoughts that will help you move toward your goals instead of further away from them.Positive self-talk is easier to implement than you might think. You may not be aware of the severity of the negative dialogue currently within your mind. However, once you begin with positive self-talk, you will suddenly realize that you are self-sabotaging the goals you set for yourself from the minute that you make them. This process can open your eyes to exactly how much this inner conversation has been interfering with your life. You'll feel hopeful that you can now set goals and surpass them.Through positive self-talk you will be able easily set long and short-term goals for yourself. And when you use affirmations, you'll have accessible tools to help you push yourself further than ever before. Learning to quiet negativity with positive thoughts is a great move toward setting and attaining future goals with ease.As Always,

Love YOUR LIFE. Achieve YOUR GOALS. Love YOUR DREAMS...on THIS DAY!P.S.Remember to Grab Your Special Gift Today

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY of "23 Simple Strategies to Immediately Begin Empowering Your Life Design Everyday" For Only $3.00 Today.

Create your own identity...

Posted by Lori on September 19, 2009 at 4:00am

Taylor Made Invitesprovides custom wedding stationery as well as Graphic Design/Printing services...September Specials!1,000 business cards - $755,000 flyers 4" x 6" - $200* Print Ready - Design Additional Fee *contact us now for complete business identity packages as well as all other stationery!Taylor Made Invites~ custom designed with you in mind!773.809.4TMI (4864)BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK -FOLLOW US ON TWITTER -

Looking to update your logo, website or marketing material....

Posted by My on August 21, 2009 at 8:06am

At Springcart Design Lab we help you to make your business stand out among the crowd. We offer everything from branding to graphic and web design to sponsorship proposals. Contact us today for a quick no obligation quote. Make sure that you check in weekly to take advantage of our most current specials here: http://springcartdesignlab.com/specials

Logo & Website Design for Small Businesses

Posted by Brandi Starr on August 18, 2009 at 1:23pm

Although my primary business is event planning I also do some website and logo design on the side. If any of you are in need of a new website I have an informational page set up at www.brandistarr.net which also includes links to recent sites that I've done.

Ari'ze Woman Hidden Ruby of the Week

Posted by Queen Nef on August 1, 2009 at 3:50pm

Introducing the Ari'ze Woman 'Hidden Ruby of the Week", Bev, Chocgirl10.I truly appreciate this member and am excited about her design capabilities. Stop by and congratulate her!

http://arizewoman.ning.com

The Rewarding Y.E.S. Campaign: Affirming your life through value

Posted by Akilah "Execumama" Richards on July 25, 2009 at 8:30pm

"Affirm your life, your goals and your dreams. When the world tries to tell you no, say yes." http://www.blackwomenshealth.orgIf ever there was a word that would serve as an automatic attention-grabber for me, it's DISCOUNT! I love knowing that I'm getting value for my dollar (and time), and that I'm getting special treatment by way of a monetary deduction. When I do my calculations and confirm that I'm on the winning end of a deal, I say an emphatic YES!YES, to the deal; YES, to myself; YES, to the fact that I deserve a discount!To that end, I use coupons, I rummage sale racks, and in my own business ventures, I look for ways to give the same courtesy to existing and potential clients. Well, here's the newest strategy for doling out the discount magic dust:The Rewarding Your Entrepreneurial Spirit Campaign!

Voz Visual Designs, the graphic design and copywriting company owned by the hubs and me, is saying YES to you and to ourselves by offering discounts to the Execumama family on two major elements of your own business; your logo and your Web banner!!Here's how you can get involved in the Rewarding YES Campaign:Click on either of the Rewarding YES buttons that will be permanently affixed to this blog, and get whisked away to ways to say YES to the discounts you deserve!Join our Facebook Group and get exclusive Facebook Fam deals and tips on all things Graphic Design!Follow (and get followed by) Voz Visual on Twitter HEREWith Voz Visual Designs, a discount does not equal compromised work, so get involved, take full advantage in a wonderful way, and most importantly, SAY YES to yourself!

Beginning Silversmithing Class

Posted by FireHazard Jewelry on April 16, 2009 at 5:00am

This class is taught with aminimum of tools and cost.You will be supplied with all the tools, supplies, and sterling silver!You will design your own ring.You will design and solder your sterling silver project!You will polish your sterling silver project!You will learn all the basic techniques of silversmithingand goldsmithing in this class!I teach a different method for doing just about everything in jewelry making.after my class you will have the knowledge necessary to be a successful silversmith.For More Information On Up Coming Class Please E-Mail Mesonia@firehazardbeads.comWeekend Classes starting as low as $ 250 for 2 days OR $ 350 for 3 days.including the Silver for 1 project per day.

5 Keys to Selling Your Services

Posted by Karen A. Davis on March 17, 2009 at 12:08am

Here’s some insight to an online building industry video I viewed recently. Builder magazine editorial director, Boyce Thompson, interviewed William Kraeger, principal at Mithun, on how the architecture firm sells its clients on sustainable design.This interview was only two minutes and 40 seconds, but it spoke volumes about marketing professional services, whether green building or some other market niche. Here are five key points from the brief segment:1. Study the trends. Mithun foresaw that the housing industry and the country were moving toward urbanity, innovation and sustainability. In business, it’s vital that you monitor the pulse of your industry, understanding what’s valuable to the majority of your clients, and paying attention to the work of your colleagues and competition.2. Find a niche you can believe in. Mithun decided to focus only on sustainable, contemporary work. It was a market they studied, one in which they excelled, and something in which they wanted all of their employees to take part.3. Stick to your guns. Even though some of Mithun’s clients were not yet ready to hop on the green building bandwagon, the design firm did not compromise their mission. Leaving the lines of communication open, clients were informed that they could call the firm when they were ready to move forward with sustainable ideas.4. Get clients to market for you. After moving into a newly constructed Seattle residential project designed by Mithun, owners were so pleased with their new homes that they began blogging about living there and inviting their friends to move, too. Satisfied customers pass on good news.5. Never stop learning. Kraeger says that this is an “exciting, intimidating, ‘goose-bumpy’ time.” It’s important to stay current on emerging technology and marketing trends in order to keep in contact with current and potential clients. Communication and publicity methods are changing continuously.© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.Click here to see the Builder TV interview:http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1185051962/bclid1435949875/bctid9857393001

New Year, New Services

Posted by Rikki on January 5, 2009 at 4:30pm

I trust that you have had a great start to 2009, are forming new, productive habits and ready to charge the world!We've made a few changes at MizzEllaneous.com for the New Year. I'll share them with you here:PrintingWe now offer print services - business cards, post cards, book marks, flyers, posters, yard signs, brochures, etc. Discounts on our design services if you print with us as well.WebsitesWe are no longer doing full on HTML websites. Truth is, those projects never seem to end. Instead we will be producing websites in the following formats:CMS (Joomla)CMS - or content management sites - allow clients to make changes to their sites without disturbing the site's structure (provided their instructions are followed). Very similar to the free versions of Yahoo and MSN sites, but with a lot more freedom. You can also add your own newsletter system, complete with captcha, opt in and opt out functions. starting @ $900ECommerce (ZenCart)If you have a need for an online store, without the extra charges that other providers charge you for each transaction on top of your PayPal/merchant account, this solution may be for you. It has an integrated email system and customer management right there. starting @ $900CMS and ECommerce are programming heavy and rates include up to 40 hours. Also includes domain name, email address and hosting for 1 year; updating manual. Based on schedule availability.Starter SitesThese sites are HTML/php based but 1 (one) page, up to 350 words and 4 pictures. 50% better than "site cannot be found" or "this site coming soon" messages. You can also have a 4 field email capture form on that page, so that potential clients/customers can join your list and be notified when you fully launch. $125 includes domain and email for one year.Ning BlingSounds corny but... if you're networking on Ning to promote your business, why not have your Ning page match your website, business cards, post cards and brochures? You can get this done here - and we're also giving away 4 more customizations. Need to see it? Check out Events of a Lifetime by Telli. The first 100 people to sign up by January 20, 2009 will be eligible for $7 customization.That's about it in a nutshell! You can also talk to us straight from our ning page - you don't need a Yahoo account, just type and send. We look forward to hearing from you and all you're doing in 2009!Rikkiwww.mizzellaneous.com

8 Ways to Stay Marketing-Minded During a Recession

Posted by Karen A. Davis on December 12, 2008 at 6:00pm

By Karen A. DavisOkay, I admit it. Although I am typically quite optimistic, some days, this economy can really get me down. The building industry has taken a big hit in this recession we’re in. But, we know with time, this season of crisis will pass.So if projects in your office have slowed or if you’ve been laid-off, continue to work toward your goals, develop and review your personal and professional marketing objectives, and stay in top shape – physically, mentally and work-wise – so you’re ready for those new projects and deals coming your way.1. Stay on a regular work schedule. Wake up as if you have a number of clients to keep happy at the office. It’s easy to sleep in for a while and treat your first few days (or weeks) as a vacation, but you must remain on task: continuing to look for new projects or a new position.2. Don’t isolate yourself. Make regular appointments to meet with colleagues to discuss job and project possibilities. If you’re a designer, or if you specify products, make regular showroom visits to stay current.3. Boost your ego. Make a list of all of your skills and qualifications, even if they are not directly related to your profession or the services you currently offer. Next, develop a plan to articulate how these skill sets can benefit others. When you’re going after that next job or project, you don’t want to go in with the attitude, “How can you help me?” rather “How can I help you?”4. Learn new skills. Download free software such as Google SketchUp. Or locate live classes for other interests through Meetup.com or other social networking sites.5. Write about the things you know on a blog, whether it’s your profession or a hobby. Include a link to your site as part of your e-mail signature.6. Take advantage of free education. Many trade publication sites offer free webinars, training videos, and articles for continuing education units.7. Explore all the possibilities. What’s your passion? If you were not in your current profession what would you do? Determine how you can relate what you really love to what you do for a living.8. Volunteer. Nothing can make you forget about your temporary troubles quicker than helping someone else. Teaching a student math or a construction skill, or building a house with Habitat for Humanity can benefit your community as well as your resume.A recessive economy doesn’t have to mean idle time. Create a job for yourself and become the building industry professional you aspire to be.Karen A. Davis has over 20 years experience in the architecture, construction and facilities management fields. She is founder and president of Building Industry Resources, a company that provides business development and technical support services, and managing partner with KARMIS, LLC, a construction and facilities consulting firm. Ms. Davis is also a college instructor and author.

MiniMizz ::: Clip Art and Script Font does not a Logo Make

Posted by Rikki on July 10, 2008 at 10:30pm

*Sigh* It has been quite a day... and to top off the thunder and lightning that absolutely drives me batty, I had a most exhausting back and forth with a client who isn't getting that the logo she says she wants is not a logo. To avoid more confusion, I decided to send her a list and I am going to repost it over and over again. And maybe once more.

What it IS:

A visual representation of a business, a part of your brand
Simple
A vector image that can be resized without pixelating (i.e. those little jagged squares and blurs you get when you resize a picture)
Looks as good in black/white/gray scale as it does in color
Simple
Created in programs such as Illustrator; or a very talented designer can do it in a program like Photoshop
A very labor and time intensive project that involves the designer AND the client; therefore,
Is an investment in your business and should be budgeted for accordingly.
Did I mention simple?
Can be put in front of any background or on any element.
Looks good online AND in print

What it's NOT:

Photographs or stock images/clip art
Dependant on having a color background or texture elements
Extremely busy and have a lot going on
Created in Publisher, Word, PaintShop, etc.
Changed every time the wind blows

Not only is your logo a representation of your business, it also tells the public how seriously you take your business. A true designer interprets your vision/mission statement into a visual element. I'll get into designer vs. desktop publisher in another MiniMizz post, but just because one can use design software does not mean they are a designer.

A good logo is not inexpensive - most designers I know charge $400 to $1,500 to start; if you want the source file so you can change the colors and stuff yourself, add some more to that figure. Artwork that will be used commercially may add more to that rate. Of course, if that is out of your budget there are sites that you can create your own logo BUT keep in mind that other businesses may/will be using some of the same variations that you do. If you don't intend to grow your brand, then that method is perfectly fine.

Your logo should also be made available to you in 72, 150, 300 or 600 dpi (dots per inch). The 72 and 150 dpi is good for online use, the higher numbers are used for print. Be sure that the designer you hire has a contract that spells out how many mocks and revisions are included in the rate and what file formats you will receive. Most common files will be jpg, gif and png (for transparency) or eps; if you are going to have the source file it will be psd or ai.

Hopefully this will help just one person to understand what is minimally involved in creating a logo.

Get More Exposure for Your Black Business

Posted by Rhonda Jai on June 20, 2008 at 3:11am

More and more people are searching for Black businesses online everyday. If they can’t find your Black business that means you are missing out on all of your potential clients. To help people find your business and learn more your services or products you should have a professionally designed web site with several incoming links from reputable sites that relate to yours.

Your Black business site should reflect a professional business image and contain persuasive sales copy that leads your visitors through a path of action. Do not settle for amateurish designed site with second rate graphics, even if you have an extremely small budget.

Several designers are more than happy to provide you with a high quality designed site with informative and persuasive content with out breaking your budget. If you are unable to get a custom designed site then it is ok to start your Black business site with a template. Just make sure that it is not of those plain jane templates that are common on the internet.

After you have your professionally designed site that gives vital information about your business and convinces visitors to use your services it is time to exchange links. Exchanging links with reputable sites that relate to yours is a great way to increase your exposure online. Link exchanging is also a great way to increase your search engine rankings. Finding sites that you would like to exchange links with can be time consuming and sometimes frustrating. But it is definitely worth it.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/online-business-articles/get-more-exposure-for-your-black-business-434825.html

About the Author:

Start your search for a web site template or ready made web site start with the Black Business Community Network.

Visit the Black Business Community Network and join their free Black Business Link Exchange.

If you would like more information about marketing your Black business online feel free to visit the Black Business Community Network.

Need A Web Site But Funds Are Extremely Low! Get A Free Web Site!

Posted by Rhonda Jai on July 1, 2008 at 5:56pm

Every Black business no matter the size needs a web site that is as professional as possible. However if you are just starting out your funds may be extremely low, so hiring a professional web site designer may be out of the question.Don’t worry. You still have an option – Freewebs.com. Freewebs.com is a great solution for the Black business owner who can not afford a web site designer, web hosting, or other costs associated with owning a web site.Freewebs.com offers everything you need to get a web site started. Their free service includes professional web design templates, hosting, the ability to add a small shopping cart, a blog, forums, a photo album, contact us forms, and a guest book just to name a few. Now like other free services they do require that ads be displayed on your site. But for a small fee you can upgrade your services and have the ads removed.Freewebs.com premium services allow you to add a custom domain, a shopping cart that allows you to sell more items, as compared to the free service, membership/password protected areas and much more.When you are able to invest more money to upgrade your web site to a custom design with more flexibility and increase your web site traffic, then you will need to hire a professional web design and marketing firm. When that time arrives you should consider JaidonMedia.com.JaidonMedia.com specializes in helping small businesses move from the start-up phase to the up and running phase. Through their network of businesses they provide professional web design, search engine optimization (SEO), web site content, and online marketing solutions all customized to convert your web site visitors to buyers and meet your online marketing and sales goals. If you would like JaidonMedia.com to assist you now please feel free to visit their site www.jaidonmedia.com.

$100.00 WEBSITE DESIGN SPECIAL

Posted by Business Support by Mittie on June 1, 2008 at 3:03am

GREETINGS!AS YOU KNOW BSM OFFERS WEBSITE DESIGN UNDER SEAN'S WEB WORLD, MY HUSBANDS COMPANY. SEAN IS CURRENTLY WORKING TO BUILD HIS PORTFOLIO QUICKY AND IS ACCEPTING NEW PROJECTS FOR $100.00! THIS INCLUDES 6 MONTHS OF HOSTING, $25.00 PER MONTH THEREAFTER.HE WILL NEVER DO THIS AGAIN!!!TO SIGN UP PLEASE CALL 1-800-518-9846 MON-SUN FROM 7 AM -12 MIDNIGHTALSO OFFERING FREE CREDIT CARD TERMINALS WITH WESITE DESIGN PACKAGE.......THANKS!MITTIE STEPHENS-LEWISHttp://businesssupportbymittie.netHttp://www.mysace.com/seanswebworld

JOIN THE PREMIER NETWORK FOR DESIGNERS OF COLOR!

Posted by Sky Sister on April 10, 2008 at 2:30pm

Hello everyone! If you are in a fashion-related industry, it's time to join the premier network for designers of color! It's brand new and we are looking to get the showcasing, announcements and discussions going! Join Shades of Chic now!

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.