Virtual Website Building!

Starting an online business is VERY time consuming...but I guess it's just like any other business.  I've noticed that I've been spending A LOT of time researching all the different ways to promote it when I realized that I need to start building my website...DUH!  If I want an online business, a website should be the number one priority!  (Yes, I know....not too brilliant lol)

Anywho, I came across a blog called WebLinkIndia that I thought I would share, that has a ton of different websites that offer information about designing business logo's, web applications, and tips to help your business grow.  Those are just a few resources they have.

Even though these websites provide a lot of helpful information, I know that I want my website to have a virtual "design" room, so I needed some software that could help with that.  This was a tough one though!  You would think that with all the virtual games and avatars and what not, the software would be easy to find....WRONG!  Unless I'm just overlooking something, I'm having a really hard time finding virtual web designing software.

Then one day, I tried again and ALL these wonderful websites came up with downloadable software and even FREE trials.  The first one I found is Virtual Mechanics.  They have a regular software and a pro software. I'm more interested in the pro.  They both offer:

- Visual drag and drop

-Built-in FTP Publishing

-Exports to HTML & SVG

-Drawing Capabilities

-Multi-Page Projects, and

-Graphics Editing & Creation

The Pro version offers all the above plus:

-Exports to DHTML

-Interactive Animation

-Mobile Ready Websites, and

-Workspace preview

A few other ones that I found are:

*Venture Beat 

*Designing Digitally

*Virtual-Base

*Virtual Iris

 as well as, Web Design Reviews, which has a number of web design programs, their prices and reviews to check out!

These have helped me tremendously and I hope they can help you all as well!

"Event Planners Association" Rocks!

I found an incredible event planning association that has a lot of amazing programs and features that could help my business tremendously, and I want to share it with those that are thinking about starting their own event business.  The name of the group is the Event Planners Association

On their main page they talk about whom they are and what they have to offer, which is a lot!  To start out, they offer services in ANY type of event you are looking for, from anything to a business meeting and wedding to inflatable games or DJ services.   They also offer a chance for independent event planners to join their association for a membership fee.  The benefits for the membership are well worth the fee.  You can check out the link I provided for all the perks, but I’ll name a few, which are: legal services, insurance service discount, as well as HUGE networking opportunities!  Like I said, those are just a few too!  Not only are there amazing perks, but also they have education seminars to attend so that everyone can keep up with the latest trends in the industry, certification classes, as well as safety classes just in case something were to happen where someone needed medical assistance.  They also have deals with companies that could help an event planner save money.  Some companies give discounts on decorations to members of this association, so that’s one more perk they offer!

They have fun, but also mean business.  If anyone wants to work for them, they have to abide by their Code of Ethics, which are VERY strict but these code of ethics show me that this business and association is taken very seriously.  I’m almost positive this is what has helped build a solid foundation for the company.

I’m in the beginning phases of starting my business and I feel the Event Planners Association is something I’m going to seriously look into for resources.  The fee is a bit pricey but I feel like it would be worth it.  I haven’t really examined in depth the whole membership details, but the ones I did read are perks that could help out a small, independent business owner like myself.  One main reason is for the benefits.  I’m sure I would pay a TON more for individual legal services, insurance, networking, education, etc., but it’s all included in one!  Another reason is for their Internet Marketing.  The internet is a huge deal today, and if a whole association will help me market my business online, or provide more resources to use than the ones that I already have, then I’m all for it! 

If anyone is interested in starting an event planning business, I highly suggest checking out this association.  The Event Planners Association gets 5 stars and a 10 in my book!

Event Blogging Tips

Even though I am trying to have an event planning blog, I still need tips...after all, I'm not a professional writer!  It's fun and helpful to me!  Well,  I found this article, "Three Important Tips for Event Bloggers," online and I felt it helped me, so I thought I would share it with you guys to possibly help you!

It basically goes into giving simple but helpful hints on how to target your market audience without having a background in writing or journalism.

Images are also a pretty big deal nowadays and when I saw this picture, I thought this article had to be pretty good.

So, check it out and I hope it helps you like it did me!

Lose Control With Social Media

I enjoyed watching Alexis Ohanian’s speech “How to Make a Splash With Social Media.”  Alexis is the owner of Reddit.com, which is a website where people upload videos then have their peers vote on them to basically control which ones pop up on the home or front screen of the website.

In Ohanian’s speech he gives an example of how Greenpeace, an environmental organization, wanted to stop Japanese government and their whaling campaign.  They came up with a campaign of their own to get supporters and that was to adopt a whale and name him.  They have two meaningful names and one silly name, Mister Splashy Pants.  Greenpeace was surprised when Mister Splashy Pants was the name that one.  They took it back saying it was a joke because they wanted to use one of the other meaningful names.  The voters were not happy about this and had sort of a little protest by making up Facebook pages and applications for Mister Splashy Pants as well as having real life signs put up around neighborhoods and offices. 

To make a long story short, using social media helped the cause because Mister Splashy Pants became the final name of the adopted whale!  Greenpeace also benefited by making another campaign, “Save Mister Splashy Pants” by selling clothing, buttons and even e-cards.  It worked because the Japanese government ended up calling off their mission!

This story shows how social media can impact a small cause and turn it into a national campaign.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to have a whale named Mister Splashy Pants?  This speech was also important to me because ever since I said I want to start my own business, people tell me I need to act less silly so people will take me more serious.  I always know I’d find a way around that and this campaign, which is for a serious cause, let their guard down and decided to have fun with it while accomplishing what they set out to do.  I’m also going to keep in mind a few things Ohanian said in his speech, “Lose control.  It’s ok to take yourself less seriously.”