I have been designing and developing websites for my graphic design clients for over 7 years. It's not always been easy and every client is different. But I have learned some "best practices" which I would like to share here. Anyone can create a website... It's never been easier to create a … [Read more...]
DMP 001: Welcome to the Design and Marketing Podcast – Interview with Tara Roskell
Download this podcast Drumroll please! Yes, this (above) is my first podcast. The first of the imaginatively titled Design and Marketing Podcast. What the first episode is about ... The subject of my first interview is the very wonderful Tara Roskell. Tara is a graphic designer with many years … [Read more...]
Why I Love Running My Own Web Design Business
I didn't know it at the time, but setting up WordPress on RobCubbon.com in 2005 was a life changing moment. I know people are going to think that: 'This guy's lying. "Life changing" – what is this guy on about?' I'm not lying. It was life changing! 'This guy did it in 2005 – it's 2012 … [Read more...]
How to Hire a Graphic Designer – 9 Questions to Ask
It may be easy to find programmers or coders online but hiring a graphic designer is ten times more difficult. So what questions do you ask potential graphic designers in order to find the perfect person for your new project? But wait! Before you reach for your phone, look at the designer's … [Read more...]
How To Resell Web Hosting
I always think a web design business should expand the services it offers. One obvious way to do this is to resell web hosting services to clients. So, what do you do? Purchase a Hostgator Reseller Account (affiliate link), charge your clients, sit back and watch the money come in? Right? … [Read more...]
Create a WordPress Theme with Genesis [Video]
I've posted a few articles recently about making a child theme in Genesis for WordPress as I "filmed" almost the entire process of a client website creation. Here I'm going to put all the videos together and run through the process from beginning to end. I start off with a mock-up of the home … [Read more...]
How Your Business Can Compete Against Asia Outsourcing
Asian economies comprise more than 4 billion people (60% of the world population) and you would have to have been living under a stone for the last 15 years not to have noticed the growing economic weight of the region. I'm glad to see the rise of emerging markets and hope it restores some much … [Read more...]
Meeting Clients
In a world where 99% of business communication is done by phone, email or video/text messaging – there is no substitute for meeting clients face-to-face. A personal meeting will create a better bond and this can be useful with challenging projects. Do I really need to meet this client? Not all … [Read more...]
Graphic Design Client Communication
The success of a graphic design business – or any online business – will not only be down to how to get clients but also how you keep and maintain them. This is why client communication is extremely important. There is a right and a wrong way to communicate with a client. Get it right and there … [Read more...]
Creating WordPress Business Websites That Work
WordPress is the best CMS (Content Management System) for business websites. There are many successful business websites that use WordPress, for example Ford, The Wall Street Journal and Sony. WordPress is usually chosen to power a company's website because it creates websites that are … [Read more...]