It’s true. Every day your website gets graded whether you want it to or not. Did you study?

Search Engines rank your site on a number of factors and usually you have to be masochistic or have a strong desire to drown yourself in numbers to do something about it. Insert website grader.

SEO for your Website

To be honest SEO of a website is a huge task and if you are really serious about your website you may want to consider hiring a professional (that or becoming one). If you don’t have the resources to hire a professional and don’t wish to become one – and still want to increase the standings of your website – then Website Grader is definitely your tool.

As I get older it never ceases to amaze me how awesome people can be. I know people starting clothing lines, record labels, and running successful photography companies.

Oh photography – there’s just something about a stunning smile or even a moment of nervousness that once captured on film remains priceless forever. Weddings seem to have a lot of these moments so no wonder wedding photography is not only popular but some would argue mandatory!

Ashley Ferren Davis, of Happy Heart Photography specializes in capturing these breath-taking moments and allowing them to be shared with family and friends. (You can view more photos from Ashley on flickr).

Happy Heart Photography

Almost makes you want to get married …. Almost

Websites in Today’s World

The key is interactivity.

People are tired of plain old websites these days. Much like buying a Flat Screen TV – people could use the regular one but they want something more exciting. They want some whiz bang. They want moving parts and a little action. This little fact adds countless hours to a web designers time and for that I thank you … No really Thank you.

On the outside it may seem that making a project harder for a web designer is a bad thing but lets look at the bigger picture for a second. By forcing someone to think like they’ve never thought before they usually end up creating a solution that didn’t exist (for them at least) before – this my friends is the corner stone of progression.

By wanting more out of your websites you push the envelope for website designers and thus push the web as a whole to a greater place.

Creating Flash Websites

There are somethings about Flash that I hate. There … I said it. Flash is essentially a bunch of pictures and by standard definition is more of a movie or program than a website.

That being said there is just something undeniably … catchy (I dunno) about flash websites. They are attention grabbing and if done correctly create a user experience that usually isn’t created with the standard static website.

By making it easy for users to create their own eye catching Flash websites companies like Wix have given power to the average person and changed the landscape of the website development arena.

As a web designer I think this is awesome but also has it’s potential pitfalls because now everyone may think they can be a web designer – but with wix … I hate to say it … but you can.

SEO for Flash Websites

The biggest complaint about Flash websites is their unfriendliness to search engines. The typical Flash website can not be indexed by Google or any of the other major engines.

Wix has addressed this issue by using XML to display the content of your Flash Site to the search engines. You man not know what some of that means but essentially your Wix Websites can be seen by search engines which is a HUGE deal considering that is where most people begin their “search” for your company or product.

I still would venture to say that typical HTML sites that are optimized for SEO will perform better than Wix sites but that is just my opinion on the matter.

Wix Pricing

Of course all good things come at a price.

Wix Offers many levels of pricing for their products. The first is free – which is awesome – but it has limited storage space and you have a pesky banner advertisement at the bottom of your site.

You can upgrade your Wix site also at various levels which will enable you to add add a bunch of features including domain registration and E-Commerce solutions.

You can pay for wix monthly or yearly. This is my main gripe about this website and websites such as these. If you think you are going to have your website for a while then monthly charges will add up to costing more than a custom developed website.

I think the old saying “You get what you pay for” remains true but Wix remains a viable solution for some.

I think there is a conspiracy.

The whole world seems to think that monday’s are the worst thing since prohibition (Even my partner in crime is on the Mundane Monday Train) but I want to take the other side of that coin. I think Monday’s can be pretty “Money”.

Well at least on my blog they can be. Every monday i’m going to try to talk about how you can use technology to better your life and your finances.

Mint Money Monday

Mint then graphs all of your transactions so you can see what you are really spending your money on. The amazing part (if you missed it earlier) is that – it’s done automatically and for free. (Making your finance plan automatic is one of the tips in this great personal finance book.)

The first step to getting control over your finances is budgeting and the hardest part of creating a budget is knowing how much you spend and on what. Get Mint + Link Accounts = Problem solved!

See Monday’s can be pretty Money!

After a week of discovery and re-inspiration I think that I am going to live a little simpler these days. People add things and stuff to their life a lot while missing out on some of the simpler more beautiful things. Life lesson learned from this week. Just Be Simple. (Simply awesome … Simply amazing … Simple)

All Rights go to http://photos.soboring.org/High_speed_photography/

All rights to http://www.flickr.com/people/manuperez/

All Rights go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/bob_moran/3963353407/

All rights go to Alexandre Buisse

All rights go to Beppe02

All rights go to Justin Dotson

All rights to Broworski

HDTV was probably one of the biggest buzz words in 2009 – Right next to Twitter and Facebook. Much like the path to acquiring any techie goodness we usually progress as follows:

We know they’re great – We want one – We are going to buy one …

But when it comes to buying an HDTV Where do you start?

Here.

You start Here.

Buying an HDTV

There are basically 8 things you need to consider (and understand) when purchasing an HDTV. Follow me to the path of enlightenment … or at least an improved TV viewing experience.

1. Price – HDTV’s usually range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Please follow your budget (yes I used the B word on a tech blog) and get something you can enjoy and afford!
2. Type – Plasma vs LCD – If the TV is going to be used for gaming, connecting to a computer, or any other display purpose then LCD is the way to go. Although Plasma “burn-in reduction” technology has gotten a lot better Plasmas are still more susceptible to burn-ins than LCD TV’s. LCD’s are far less fragile than Plasmas, and are also easier to install.
   In the spirit of not seeming bias (I am bias though) Plasma TV’s do boast a higher color depth (more colors) than LCD TV’s so the picture often looks more vibrant and realistic. Plasma TV’s also have a better viewing angle than LCD TV’s so from a 45 degree angle and greater the Plasma picture outperforms the LCD picture. (On a side note LCD’s also use less energy and have less glare issues than Plasmas ).
3. Brands – I’m not usually a brand snob but when it’ comes to TV’s it’s far safer to go with a recognizable name. I had a mishap on Black Friday where I bought an awesome 42’ Acer television only to find out that the quality was very much crap even though the “big numbers” indicated it was a decent TV.
   Some good brands are as follows: Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, and LG. You can still get quality outside of these brands but these are usually a safe bet.
4. Size – As with most things in life – when it comes to HDTV’s size also matters. You may think bigger is better in all cases but if you have a 60” TV and only 80” of wall space then it might look a little ridiculous (some would beg to differ). The size of the TV also effects the Resolution you may need. The bigger the TV the higher resolution you should get (if the tv is 42” or under 720p and 1080p are hard to distinguish between)
5. Placement – Are you going to wall mount your TV? If so you will want to consider the overall weight of your tv and the price of the required mounting gear. LCD TV’s are generally lighter than Plasma TV’s.
6. Resolution – HDTV’s measure resolution in pixels. Our old TV sets had around 300,000 pixels on a good day while HDTV’s usually have around one to two million – This explains the awesome picture quality. When looking at different resolution options for HDTV’s you usually see 1080i, 720p, or 1080p. What’s the difference you may ask?1080i shows a great picture for slow moving programs but may lag on fast paced sports programs. 720p can handle fast paced sports and action movies but the picture isn’t quite as crisp. In to save the day is 1080p which boasts both a super crisp picture and the ability to handle sports/movie action. As with most things in life the better the products capability the more you pay for it.
7. Video Source – Although 1080p is definitely the best resolution you have to understand that not many sources (cable tv, dvd players) can perform up to that level. If you own a blu ray player or are an avid gamer then 1080p is definitely for you. If you are going to stick your regular composite cable (the wire coming out of your wall) into your brand new HDTV and expect HD results you are mistaken. The picture will look better than on a regular TV but will not be taking full advantage of all of the TV’s capabilities. If you think you will order HD service from your cable company then also realize that 720p won’t be as crisp as 1080p.
8. Refresh Rate – As with most technology related things the higher number is usually better (and more expensive). With HDTV’s you get three choices: 60Hz, 120Hz, and 240Hz. 120Hz is the safe route. Although these are more expensive you often see lagging with 60Hz when watching sports and action movies. On the other end of the spectrum 240Hz is overkill for the average consumer.

Need a glossary of TV and HDTV Terms? I don’t blame you!

Ahhh life. It’s the moments we live for that makes life worth living. Self explanatory to some but mind blowing for others. This week I’m profiling a photographer who’s company motto is:

Creatively Capturing the Authentic Self

That’s only 5 words but speaks volumes. Ali Caudill has an interesting story that I’m privileged to share with you all today:

Ali Caudill Photography

i’m a lifestyle photographer in the northern virginia area. i love what i do. i’ve always known i loved to take pictures, and to make them into art, but it wasn’t until my daughter was born that i realized that i wanted to take it to the next level. that was about a year and a half ago.

she became my muse. i am amazed by her daily, i see the beauty in all of the little things she does. just like this.

when people starting asking me to capture them, their families, their new babies… i realized that it was doing the people’s true character justice – showing their real personalities, their authentic selves – that i am passionate about. if you are in love and you make eachother laugh, i want you to remember that.

i like to capture people exactly as they are when i am photographing them. to freeze that moment in time – their feelings, their love, their true selves. i love this next photo because i feel like it really illustrates this family at this particular time. the boy was so silly, so happy, and it lit his mom up. his younger sister looked up to him with a sense of such awe and comfort. and their dad was so proud of everything they had built together.

i love photographing children. they wear everything right on their sleeves. it doesn’t take me long to feel them out and see what they’re about, what makes them tick, what makes them laugh, and i see that light that parents see, because i am one. when you get your photos from me, i want you to be able to remember those phases, those fleeting moments, and your kids as they ARE, not posed, not holding back those real smiles, like this…

maternity & newborn sessions might just be a couple of my favorite things in the world. i think big, pregnant bellies are so beautiful. being pregnant was one of the greatest times in my life. it feels so indescribably amazing to know that you are creating a life. i want my clients to be able to remember those awesome months and the anticipation of it all.

brand new babies are just perfect. i love showing how tiny and pure they really are. it doesn’t get any better than that. and it goes by so, so quickly.

i love color. give me a funky urban setting and my mind will run wild with fun ideas and places to shoot. this cool couple wanted to capture a time in their lives where they were anticipating big change. having grown up around DC, they were both about to relocate and start their life together. they wanted a shoot that would remind them of their roots.

it would be my honor to capture you, your family, your kids, your new baby, your love… just as it is. anyone who comes by way of this blog will receive $50 dollars off of your session and a free CD of the digital files from our shoot. please feel free to check out my website at www.alicaudill.com. my website contains all the info, galleries, contact information and more about me. the blog has all of my latest work and a lot of personal entries to get to know me better. i hope you like what you see & would love to hear from you!

All rights go to viper smart start

Remote Start That Car

So Check it out. Everyone has heard of Viper Car Alarms – or at least most people have. They don’t only make car alarms but remote starters as well. Here’s where the fun comes in. Now im going to take a few things into consideration:

1. When it’s cold you would rather start your car from your room instead of walking out side.
2. You are willing to pay for this luxury.
3. You like the look on peoples faces when you surprise them with something amazing that they don’t quite understand.

Ok as long as you can check those three things off your list we are on the same page. Viper SmartStart is an application you can download to your iPhone (for free) that pairs with a remote starter supplied by Viper (not for free). This allows you to start your car remotely, unlock/lock your doors, pop your trunk, or set off your panic alarm from basically anywhere you get phone service.

Try standing 300 feet away and using your current remote control – Not gunna happen. This also allows you to scare people in Walmart parking lots by setting off your panic alarm when they walk by – and you can be a safe distance away so they will never suspect little old you .  Did I mention you can buy and install these gems at your local best buy?

Hey you don’t need it but who really “Needs” anything they buy these days. Until next time!

PS If you don’t have an iPhone …

What are you waiting for go get one!!

Ever sit at your computer in order to get something done and then 4 hours later you wonder what in the world you have been doing and why your project has barely been touched?

Yea me neither – But hypothetically if this ever happened to you there’s an awesome product out there that you can download on your computer to see where you spend all of your time.

Rescue Time

If you are even partially interested in becoming a more productive person and making better use of your time I highly recommend this program.

Visit too many blogs? This online blog maintenance tool may help.

A peaceful death, 24x36 Acrylic

For this installment of This Week in Pictures (TWiP) I decided to take a twist from the norm and go with a painter instead of a photographer. This artist creates brilliant work – and im not just saying that because i’ve known her since 6th grade. In a self proclaimed biography she says:

Im an art teacher, i like color, movement and whimsy, also creativity, give me somethin I could see in a dream, or something different, not a painting of a flower..

Enter the world of  …

Heather Schnell Visual Artist

Blowing Bubbles, 24x 36 Acrylics

Happiness is a Warm Balloon, 24x 36 Acrylic

My Muse, 18x24 Acrylic

Joanna, 24x36 Acrylic

As you can see talented is an understatement. Which painting is your favorite? Custom paintings make great gifts! Contact her for a quote!