Google Reader
Today’s post carries on with the topic of listening. I wanted to share a program I use daily to help organize all the different websites that I follow in attempt to make me smarter.
Listening
Before talking about Google Reader, I want to discuss a key reason to use the program. That reason would be to improve your online listening skills. I wish I could take credit for the idea, but this guy is The Man when it comes to online listening. Please go here to check out his post after reading this one.
Traditionally, we would read the newspaper every morning, read trade magazines once a month and have as many conversations with others to keep us up on current events.
Now, the rules have changed and the way we listen needs an update. Perhaps, that prospective client has their own website, writes in an online journal (blog), shares photos and other information in web based communities and is a member of many different social networking websites. Besides that, they’re mentioned across the web in other places we can’t begin to imagine.
How do you keep up?
Here’s a web-based program that I frequently use to keep me informed to whatever RSS feeds I subscribe.
(A quick video on what an RSS feed is.)
Google Reader
My RSS feed reader choice is Google Reader. It’s part of the Google family and it’s FREE. You can subscribe to any site that has a feed,. (Actually, they just added a feature that allows you to subscribe to any site and it will do somekind of mystical majic to keep you updated. I don’t know how it works, but it does, rather nicely.
I subscribe to local newspapers, architecture magazines, business websites, and friends’ blogs and websites.
(A quick video on Google Reader.)
I would encourage you to give it a try and please share your thoughts!!
Basecamp (Follow-Up)
Earlier this year I did a post introducing my usage of Basecamp and to get some feedback from other users. After about two months of using it, I wonder what my life as a freelance designer was like before it. Interestingly enough, I have partnered with two other design companies to help them with some work and they both use Basecamp for their project collaboration.
For me, it was all about getting organized with my largest client who provides me with the most work. It has been an effective way to centralize communication with team members. For one of the other design companies, it’s a way to organize all their projects (10-20) and have the various team members communicate.
For the iPhone app, I use Groundwork. I tried a few and ultimately chose this one because I was able to log into multiple accounts easily. I have a list of the different Basecamp accounts to choose from on the home screen and can quickly view and communicate on any account. It has proven to be a great purchase.
According to the website Why Basecamp Rocks,
here are the top ten reasons why Basecamp Rocks.
1. Basecamp focuses on collaboration and communication. It’s especially great for remote teams, and companies who want to share information with their clients.
2. Basecamp is easy to learn and use because the design is intuitive and simple. It effectively merges aesthetics with form and function.
3. It’s a web-based product, which means that you can access it as long as you have a web browser and internet connection.
4. 37signals makes it a top priority to keep your data secure.
5. The pricing is reasonable, no-strings-attached, and pay-as-you-go. You get your money’s worth, really.
6. There’s a Free Plan that gives you a whole lot: 1 Project and unlimited users, along with to-do templates, color customization, and your logo display.
7. There are a lot of cool extensions to Basecamp that you can pick and choose to enhance the experience.
8. The Help & Support section is well documented, and email support is fast, friendly, and professional.
9. The user forum is active and helpful. Users care about Basecamp. When you sign up for Basecamp, you become part of an established community.
10. It’s a proven product. There are over 3 million Basecamp accounts across the globe and 94% of Basecamp customers surveyed would refer it to others. Individuals, small-to-midsize teams, and many of the world’s respected brands use Basecamp to get projects done.
Here are a couple of reviews I found:
Weekly Town Crier
After a long hard week, enjoy this list of random links that we feel you may want to check out. Some may involve design, some may involve small business and others may just be something random we find interesting. Keep checking our site each Friday to find out what inspires or interests us. Feel free to email suggestions.
Follow us on Twitter.
Join our Flickr group.
Great way to remember those wine bottles.
Find local clients.
Sounds slick while recording a phone message.
Being a perfectionist? (All architects should read this!)
I’m sure Dave can leave these guys in his dust.
Business card design basics.
Wishing Matt was this organized.
Not sure if I should laugh or cry…
Asking for a referral.
Listen to Jonsi, the lead singer from my (David’s) favorite band. He just released a solo album and it’s amazing.
holdin out
This post talks about the contractor’s payment process. We’ll be focusing on Retainage.
The design is ready to go and you have reviewed the contractor’s bids. The lowest qualified bidding contractor has been interviewed and you are ready to get your contract with them in place so you can start moving forward with the project…
Before finalizing your Owner-Contractor Agreement, you should make sure there is a provision for Retainage.
Retainage is exactly what it sounds like. It is keeping an agreed percentage of every progress payment you make to the contractor, usually each month. So, if a monthly payment request is for $30,000 and your agreed retainage is 10%, you deduct $3000 from the payment. This deducted amount will get released to the contractor once the work is completed at the end of the project. Each payment you deduct retainage so the total withheld compounds until you release it to the contractor. (This is a overly simplified explanation.)
Having retainage on a project is very common in the industry. It keeps a busy contractor interested in your project until it gets completed. And, what’s the most difficult part of the project to finish? Usually, it is the last 10% of the job. So, if a contractor has been working on a $100,000 addition, there is $10,000 of their money out there waiting for them to finish up.
Something to keep in mind is that you can not assume that a contractor will be okay with holding back on a pay application for retainage. This should be discussed before a contract is in place and agreed upon by you and the contractor. This is a great topic for you to discuss with your architect before a miscommunication occurs in the middle of your project.
photo credit: alancleaver 2000
Hiring a Web Designer Pt. 2
This is the follow up to a previous post. The last one was full of questions you as the site owner should know before seeking a designer. Now, we’ll move into some general questions you might want to ask perspective designer. In my opinion, these four request/questions should be considered above all others.
Do you have client references?
A good company will. It tells a lot about the designer/client interaction and can be the best way to find out more about the company.
Do you have a list of clients?
Don’t always check the references. Those are almost always the good clients. Seek a client list and reach out to a company or two who aren’t references and see what they have to say.
Can I see your portfolio?
If for some odd reason, they don’t have an online portfolio, make sure to see it. Make sure that you believe they are capable of the work you are seeking. Some firms only take on small websites while others have the ability to take on large ones. You might want to find a company that performs work with a similar scope of work that you are seeking. This gives you a greater likelihood to receive an accurate quote. A firm that’s used to working on $2500 sites may have trouble estimating the work that’s involved with a $20000 site build.
Do you have examples of how the site you created helped the client?
A good designer will know this. If the objective of the site was to sell products, is it? Do the sites they create get good traffic and search well on Google? A designer is typically given a set of goals or parameters from the client. Knowing that they fulfilled these and knowing how they did it are good traits for a designer to have. You, as the client, want to know that the designer is listening and that they are successful in implementing a client’s desires.
Weekly Town Crier
After a long hard week, enjoy this list of random links that we feel you may want to check out. Some may involve design, some may involve small business and others may just be something random we find interesting. Keep checking our site each Friday to find out what inspires or interests us. Feel free to email suggestions.
Follow us on Twitter.
Join our Flickr group.
This makes hiding in the closet cool again.
30 vintage fonts.
Check out Mail Chimp for your email marketing needs. (A review is forthcoming)
Making it all clean.
Estimating a web design project.
A nice way to light it up.
When cool sketchers get together.
Some nice wire framing tools for websites.
Building your freelance business around WordPress.
A glossy emblem tutorial in Photoshop.
Some great tips for presenting.
Super ideas for dressing up your garages.
Matt thinks this song is almost as good as Peanut Butter Pie.