Matt Cutts on Over Optimization

via: Search Engine Land

Never assume that everyone knows what you mean.

Found via MetaFilter

One of the most difficult things as a designer is trying to get inside a clients head to figure out what they like visually. It helps to have a few example sites to use as a starting point and with that in mind, I’ve compiled this list of inspiration galleries.

Before the list, here is the obligatory Picasso quote:

“Bad artists copy. Great artists steal.”
-Pablo Picasso

1. The Best Designs
   http://www.thebestdesigns.com/
   
   One of the oldest inspiration-type sites out there.
2. CSSRemix
   http://cssremix.com/
   
   Quick thumbnails that give a fairly good idea of what the pages look like. Nifty search feature as well.
3. CSSMania
   http://cssmania.com/
   
   Nice, big thumbnails and organized by topic.
4. Screenalicious
   http://www.screenalicious.com
   
   Good layout plus ratings.
5. One Page Love
   http://onepagelove.com/
   
   Interesting niche sort of gallery for one page websites.
6. Design Snack
   http://www.designsnack.com/
   
   Similar to screenalicious.
7. Design Shack - CSS Gallery
   http://designshack.co.uk/gallery/all/
   
   Can view by color and layout.

I forget how many years ago it was that Richard Shively called me looking for someone to update his website. He had recently moved to Wilmington from Virginia and needed the new contact information added to his site.

Honestly, when he called me, I wasn’t too excited.

“I’m sorry, you sell what? Turkey calls?”

But then I took a look at his site. The site was nothing great to speak of. It looked like it was designed in the late ’90’s. There was a text crawl near the top (oh my) but thankfully no blink tags. What grabbed me was what he did.

He made Turkey Calls. I’m not talking about plastic, pre-manufactured in china, but real honest to goodness wood - each one made by his own hand. The lines were clean and simple. The only ornamentation came from a laser engraved turkey on the front with a sans-serif font saying “Super Yelper”.

I was instantly convinced that this would be a cool project even if I wasn’t a full redesign. How many things do you find these days that have beauty & craftsmanship? How many things are handmade?

Not a lot.

If you know me, you know that I don’t do a hard sell. If you just want updates, I’m more than happy to do updates. So for about two years I did updates trying my best to keep in the style of the site (late 90’s). Improving things here and there would have  make it look odd. If anything, I try to blend.

But, this year, Mr. Shively came to me asking if I could redesign his site and so we did. A lot of cosmetic work went into it (Thanks Adobe for the extract filter in Photoshop), but the really important thing was making it easy for visitors to navigate and easy for the search engines to index.

As of right now, he’s on the front page for “turkey calls” so I’d say at lest that part is a success.

Thankfully, sales are up and the Star News did a nice little story about him. I’d like to take credit for that too, but I’m not entirely sure I can.

link: Super Yelper Turkey Calls

I just downloaded a new Adobe Air app (in the ever popular “beta”) called Skimmer. As of right now, it puts Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube & Blogger accounts all in one place. Since it’s beta, I’m assuming that more features are to come.

Oh, look. I can upload an avatar! I gotta do that *now*.

Go see it here: http://www.fallon.com/skimmer

Yes, I know - increased traffic, too many people, the town has to raise revenue somehow… but, for the love of Pete, it’s March and the meters are going back up!

link: Lumina News - Paid parking returns to Wrightsville Beach

We take clean drinking water for granted. We go to the sink, fill up a cup and off we go, but 1.1 billion people in the world don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water.

This Thursday night, the social media types in Wilmington will be gathering for the Wilmington Twestival to raise money for charity:water. Charity:Water is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing clean water to developing nations where unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease.

One of my favorite clients, Indo Jax Surf School, has generously donated a week long group surf lesson to be raffled off. There will be other prizes, drinks, food and the chance to meet a lot of local people that you may only know by their screen names & avatars. Plus, you’ll literally be saving lives.

Tickets are $15 online & you can get them at http://www.amiando.com/twestivalwilmington.html.

Credit goes to Ty Downing of Perspective Internet Marketing for kicking this event off locally at well as the Star News and a whole slew of volunteers & local businesses that are donating their time and resources.

What: Wilmington Twestival
Where: Port City Pub - Wilmington, NC
When: February 12, 2009 - 6:00 PM
Why: Charity:Water

My wife and son discovered the Arboretum here in Wilmington this week. So, we spent parts of Saturday & Sunday afternoon there taking pictures and trying to keep the offspring from falling into the water features.

Ah, good times.

The Arboretum is free, open to the public and a beautiful place to relax for a little. We especially like the Japanese Garden area, but we are biased that way.

Link: The Arboretum @ New Hanover County
More Photos: My Puny Flickr Set

File this under I-totally-didn’t-see-this-coming.

Craig Thomas & Sheila Brothers have made the jump from WGNI to mornings on the yet to be launched Sunny 104.5. They’ll be broadcasting on WILM-TV as well from 6-7.

Like, wow!

link: StarNewsOnline.com

Congratulations to client Abba First Mortgage for breaking the top 10 in number of mortgage applications submitted by a XSites customer.

Abba First is also now on Twitter where they can be followed for mortgage related news.

Now, I’ve just got to get that twitter feed on their blog…