Back with an updated look.....

I am currently in the process of updating my main site, VortexDesign.com. I've updated the galleries, created a Facebook page and linked to it from the site, updated my pricing and estimate information and am working on a new marketing campaign. Amidst all this, I remembered "hey, I have that blog too...." so, I am updating it as well. I know I haven't posted since 2008, but can't really think of anything to write about at this point :). So, this will have to suffice for now. I will be brainstorming ideas though, so will try to post an article soon. Check back from time to time to see if I actually do it.....

Latest happenings in the Vortex.....

It has been a busy time since I last posted on this blog. I kept meaning to post something, anything, but never really found the time. But, for a moment, things are finally quiet.

In the past few months I finished off a very pretty website for "Sacred Journey Childbirth Services" which is based in Napa Valley, California. I am quite happy with the way this site came out, design wise. I just love it when I get a more creative project.

I am also quite thrilled to be working on the first ever website for Edward J. Lewis Realtors. Lewis Realty is the oldest Real Estate company in the Mahoning Valley. If you've ever driven down a major street anywhere in the Valley, you've likely seen one of their signs. So far, there are only three pages posted live but there is much, much more to come over the next few months.

In addition, I have also been working hard on putting up a series of WordPress blogs for my long time client, Quality Parts USA. They have started a series of state based Dodge Sprinter blogs aimed at driving local business to their main site. Each blog has customized keyword content, customized WordPress themes, articles written and re-written by Vortex Design and more. There are currently 5 blogs live, with content, but there will eventually be more than 30 sites in total.

To see the sites I have mentioned above, please go to my Web Design Services page and click on the thumbnail of the site you'd like to see. Please click here.

So, as you can see, I have been quite the bust bee. In addition, I have also been fielding a record number of project consultation requests, I have a couple of sites in the works that I can't mention yet as they aren't live and I have been working with other developers in the Mahoning Valley on some fairly prominent projects.


Even with all the hub-bub though, I am still actively looking for new clients. I have openings for both short term and long term clients right now and I am also running a Fall Sale of 20% off all services. So, if you need help with anything, let me know :)

A warning to new domain name owners.....

For those of you who have recently registered a domain name, you should know there is a scam going around locally. About a month or two after you've registered the name, you will receive a letter in the mail, which looks like a bill. It will be for "domain management services" or "domain registration services" or "web submission services" or something like that (there are a few companies doing it). The "bill" will be for $50 to $75 and will be for things you can do yourself for FREE, like search engine submission, site monitoring, etc.

First, it is NOT a bill. It is a "clever" way to make you think it's a bill, but if you read the fine print, it will say it is an offer.

Second, it is a SCAM. Either they won't do what they say they will and will just pocket your money (and there's NO WAY to prove if they did or didn't do it) OR they will just go to one of a thousand FREE search engine submission sites, enter in your URL and hit Submit (all in under 60 seconds).

Please, please, do not fall for these scams. I hate to see people being taken advantage of, especially when it relates to my field of work.

By the way, go the link below to submit your site to search engines for FREE -

Search engine submission
http://www.submitexpress.com/

Intellectual plagiarism.....

In this day and age, a certain amount of plagiarism is done. I know it's always been there, looming in the background like the dirty little secret it is, but it's just life. Usually, I can excuse it, so long as it is just the bare information stripped down and COMPLETELY rewritten (much like a school paper would be). I've done it, others do it, it's done. When I do it though, it's called RESEARCH - I treat the information like a term paper. I strip the info down to the barest facts, make an outline, and then completely rewrite everything from top to bottom. But when an idea is stolen, it irks me.

I found out the other day that a local "designer" stole my idea to put in a "no offshore work" statement. They even went so far as using the "Think Globally, Act Locally" quote I used. I know this is outright intellectual plagiarism as I did quite a bit of research when I thought up the idea myself, years ago (it was previously posted on EdensAttic.com) and searched a number of engines, nationally for anyone else touting the concept. None found. I'm not saying the concept in itself is completely unique as there is a growing anti-outsourcing sentiment in the design community, but to actually state in no uncertain terms that you do not and would not ever outsource offshore, on your companies site, seems to have been a unique concept.

I was quite proud of my ability to claim this and knew it helped me stand apart from most of the crowd. Now, while searching for local design companies (just to see what my ranking was), I came across a local "company" with a blatantly stripped down copy of my statement, Oh sure, they condensed it and rewrote it, but they still STOLE my idea. If it wasn't for the fact that have such a horribly designed site, I would probably make a bit of a stink. Instead, I will just vent here about the evils of intellectual plagiarism.

In the event that the designer in queston ever sees this Blog, I have something to say to you..... Grow a brain and think up your own ideas. If that's not possible, at least don't be so freaking obvious the next time you steal other peoples ideas.

Ok, I feel better now. Remember it's one thing to RESEARCH common information and then completely rewrite it for your needs, it is another thing entirely to STEAL a unique idea and claim it as your own.

Bad, bad, bad design.......

One of the first things that struck me when I first moved to Ohio was the abundance of HORRIBLE design work. I mean, I am talking about stuff my eleven year old probably could have done better on (only half kidding). I understand that some of it is "grandfathered in" and has been in use for decades. I also understand that allot of companies go with their cousins buddy who is still taking his first design class or something like that. But still, it just amazes me.

Let's take for example the Youngstown Water Departments logo :) Everyone who lives in the city has seen it so you know what i'm talking about. It is SO bad, I can't even describe it without being insulting to the city (which I love). You know what I mean though. It is SO bad, I would be happy to redesign it for FREE just so we can all look at something a little more, um, "creative". (That's a real offer BTW, hint, hint....)

I know there are a few "high end" design houses in the area as well as a plethora of freelancers to take advantage of, so I am a bit confused as to the lack of interest businesses seem to have in their logo here. I honestly don't know if it's a price issue with the other guys or if the businesses haven't been educated as to the importance of their corporate identity, but it just makes me want to run around town offering free design services just so we can look at better designed logos/ ads/ sites/ signs and more. I wish I could, but being a freelancer, I barely make ends meet as is, so I can't :).

So, I welcome any readers to post examples of bad design work in The Mahoning Valley. Let's make a list shall we? Be nice though as most cases are either unnoticed by the owners, they're used to it, they think their customers like it that way or they don't want to offend their cousins buddy in design school :).

Web Design & More in Youngstown Ohio & The Mahoning Valley Now available!

This will be my first blog on design & development for my company www.VortexDesign.com. I'm not completely sure what I intend to do with this blog, but I imagine it will encompass ramblings about the state of the design field in the Mahoning Valley, some advice for my valued clients, links to resources and some other errata.

As you may or may not know, Vortex Design was relaunched in May of 2008. It had been dead and gone for around five years but I finally got the domain name up and running again. The domain was being held hostage by a registrar that was once at the top of their field but had descended into strong arming customers into staying with them. Just as a warning, I will give you a hint - their Name should not be Secure :).

Anyway, i'll keep this initial post short. If you just happen to stumble upon this blog outside of my site, make sure to visit www.VortexDesign.com for web design, development, graphic design, SEO, photograph restoration, virtual assistant services and more.

Thanks for stopping by,
Tabitha