Can you not update your own website? (Issue #2 of 8)

By Tim Priebe on February 3, 2012 at 9:59 am in General,Maintenance,WordPress

If your website was not made in the last couple years, chances are good that you need special software to update your website. And if you have more than one person updating your site, you have to pay for a copy of the software for each of them. And you may all still need knowledge of HTML and other web programming languages.

Get a new look and edit your site…whenever you want

T&S decided a long time ago to do things differently. Our clients in Edmond, Oklahoma City, and around the world can go to any computer, log into their own website, and update their own website. We use a content management system (CMS) called WordPress, which allows our clients to…

  • Edit the text on pages
  • Upload new pictures and remove existing ones
  • Delete pages when needed
  • Add new pages, and insert those into their menu
  • Blog

We install the WordPress software for you, along with a few plugins we’ve found and developed that make WordPress even easier to use.

Keep the same look and gain editing capabilities

You may be saying to yourself, “That’s great, but I don’t need a whole new website. I’m actually pretty happy with how my site looks, I just need to be able to edit it.”

Great news, we can still help! We can actually take your current site and convert it to use WordPress. Typically there are very minor tweaks here and there so your site is compatible WordPress. But once we’re done, you have basically the same site (with just a bit more consistency throughout), and you can log in and edit the site on your own.

If you need to be able to edit your site on your own, contact us at info@tandswebdesign.com or by calling us at 405-285-0348. If you’re in the Oklahoma City metro area, we’d love to meet with you in person to discuss your options. And if you’re elsewhere, we’d be just as happy to set up a phone meeting.

Check out our next blog post where we discuss a solution to Issue #3 – trouble finding your website on Google and other search engines.

Issue #1 of 8 – Your website needs a facelift

By Tim Priebe on January 11, 2012 at 11:50 am in Design,General

Sound familiar?

This is a common issue our clients have before their first meeting with us here at T&S Web Design. Luckily, we have some fantastically creative designers who will know exactly how to beef up your new website. Of course, the pretty websites wouldn’t function without our super talented programmers.

In some ways, it doesn’t matter whether you choose our Premium, Standard or Starter website package. Any of the three website packages can greatly improve the look of your site.

Premium Package

Our Premium Website Package is for those wanting a new, top-of-the-line look. This type of site is essential for companies that need to convey that their product or service is worth paying extra for.

Brent Fuchs – Premium Website

MIDCON Data – Premium Website

Standard Package

Our Standard Website Package is great for someone who wants a completely custom website, and wants full control over how that site looks. This site is perfect for any business that plans to use the internet and their website as a major marketing tool.

Harding School of Theology – Standard Website

Summit – Standard Website

Land Roofing – Standard Website

 

Starter Package

Finally, even our Starter Website Package will often be a great improvement over your current site. Like building with a certain type of interlocking block (you know the bricks I’m talking about), there are some limitations, but our design team at T&S can still deliver extremely creative, original solutions.

Cuppie Cakes of Edmond – Starter Website

Oklahoma CattleWomen, Inc. – Starter Website

The Nephesh Nuevo Project – Starter Website


Ready to find out which website package fits your business?

Contact us today at info@tandswebdesign.com or by calling us at 405-285-0348.

We love helping companies get ahead of their competition by having an updated, user-friendly website. If you’re a nonprofit, remember that our Starter Website Package is available to you on a pay-what-you-can basis.

Stay tuned for the remaining posts of this series! We will cover many other issues you may have with your website and/or social media.

 

Issues before working with T&S Web Design

By Tim Priebe on December 20, 2011 at 9:00 am in General

At T&S Web Design, we get to hear all sorts of issues clients have had in the past with their website, social media, etc. Whether the client is local to us in the Oklahoma City metro, or they’re a remote client, they usually come to us with a specific issue, problem or need.

We do get clients in who are just forming businesses and therefore getting a website for the first time. But the majority of the businesses and nonprofits we meet with already have a website, or at least some sort of web presence. Therefore, the reason they’re meeting with us is most often because they’re not happy with something about their current website or current social media presence.

Here are some of the things we hear most often:

  • I can’t update my website.
  • My website can’t be found online.
  • My website doesn’t look good on my phone.
  • My website is ugly and outdated.
  • Facebook and Twitter aren’t working for me.
  • My current web company is terrible at communication.
  • I’m not getting enough online leads.

And finally, one we don’t actually hear directly from clients, but is still fairly common.

  • I’m not an internet expert, and don’t want to be taken advantage of.

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to take a look at these issues to let you know how T&S can help. Be sure to check back, and/or feel free to email us if you have questions in the meantime!

 

 

6 reasons why Team Up OKC is helping OKC Public Schools

By Emily Spirek on October 17, 2011 at 12:20 pm in General,non-profit

Many people know that in September, 2011, Edmond, OK was voted the #1 suburb in America by CNBC. One of the biggest factors contributing to this is the school system. Edmond Public Schools are ranked higher than 59 percent of all other U.S. public schools. (The Edmond Sun)

Fantastic news, and now we know we’re capable of great schools in Oklahoma! But why is the school system in the capital of our state suffering?

Oklahoma City Public Schools facts

The statistics are absolutely shocking when it comes to the Oklahoma City Public Schools, and honestly quite depressing. Here are six of many reasons why we are reaching out to them.

  1. In 2009, OKCPS became the largest school district in the state.
  2. Of the 42,457 enrolled, 38,310 students live at or near poverty. That’s 90%!
  3. 1,719 students are homeless.
  4. 1/3 of the students don’t even graduate high school.
  5. Of the ones that actually go to college, only 28% earn a degree.
  6. 1 in every 3 teacher spends more than $1000 of their own paycheck on school supplies every year.

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to start revolutionizing the OKC Public School system.

How Team UP OKC is helping

In 2008, 3,000 misprinted pizza boxes were donated to The Foundation for OKC Public Schools. Within days, all boxes had been picked up by teachers for art projects and more.

The need was apparent, so The Foundation for OKCPS introduced the TEACHERS WAREHOUSE, a program providing free classroom supplies and equipment that teachers can order, once a month, from an online catalog.

Because of Comtech Print & Design & Panera Bread teaming up with some amazing organizations, Team Up OKC launched last year in 2010. Here are a few other sponsors to give you an idea of how many people are supporting the cause.

Sponsors

These organizations are donating time and/or money in order to make the school supply drive a success. The supply drive will occur November 1-15th, and all of the supplies will benefit the Teacher’s Warehouse of The Foundation for OKC Public Schools.

How you can help

You can donate needed materials at one of the appropriate drop off locations. Even if you think it’s simple and cheap, those supplies will be put to use! Backpacks are one of the most needed items, along with paper, pencils, crayons, etc.

If you’re near Oklahoma Christian, T&S Web Design is a drop off location! Here’s the map.

Donating school supplies may not seem like we are changing the world, but in order to educate the younger generation, we need resources. Education is so important, and I think the smart thing to do is focus on our children in order to provide them with a more positive future!

Team Up OKC Website :: Facebook :: Twitter

Programming Intern Needed

By Tim Priebe on August 24, 2011 at 2:15 pm in General

It’s the marvelous fall season again, which means it’s time for a new intern here at T&S. Who doesn’t want to get everyone in the office coffee and make runs to Sonic during happy hour? Oh, and occasionally there’s actual programming involved.

This year we need one programming intern to work around 20 hours a week. As usual, we’re not too worried about experience level, but are most interested in someone who wants to learn.

If you’re interested in becoming an Orangite, give our job hotline a call at 237-8080. Be ready to leave a detailed message with the following information:

  1. Your name
  2. Your telephone number
  3. Your email address (please spell it out)
  4. Where you go to school
  5. Tell us why you think you would be perfect for this job

It’s okay if you get confused, just hang up and call back again. But try to do it before the tone sounds. We don’t need to hear a message with your heavy breathing on it.

Oh, and we’ll be taking applications through the job hotline until midnight September 11th. The internship will be for the duration of the 2011-2012 school year. Once again, the number is 237-8080.

Feel smarter. Be trendy. Use QR Codes.

By Emily Spirek on August 8, 2011 at 11:40 am in freebies,General,Mobile Web

Yes, QR Codes are the new buzz in technology land. The question is, are you one of those smart people buzzing about it?

First, a lesson about what it is. Then, a lesson about what it is to you.

What is it?

QR Code = Quick Response Code. And they do mean quick.

It’s a simple 2D code that you generate (for free) and people scan it with their extremely intelligent, camera-enabled phones. Immediately after they scan the code, the application will direct them straight to your website.

Typing out a domain name? Psh. That’s in the past.

It can be used for other things as well, including, virtual business cards, phone numbers or even sending a text message.

We all know how creative the young generation is, and they will find plenty of uses for these codes. I even read an article about a guy putting a QR Code on his mother’s tombstone, which directed people to a memorial website he created for her. Weird, yet extremely innovative.

What is it to you?

1 in 2 Americans will have one of these super awesome smartphones by the end of 2011.

Meaning, people will have the ability to use these QR Codes…everywhere. Make it easier on your current and potential clients/customers – who doesn’t want instant gratification?

Karan Ediger, General Manager of the Edmond Business Times, wrote an article about this new phenomena. She admits that she’s “no genius when it comes to digital technology,” but she’s been quite impressed with this new fad.

She has great tips for incorporating the QR Code into your business’ marketing. She says to ask yourself, is it to:

  • Increase awareness about a new product or introduce a new service
  • Announce a big sale
  • Increase efforts on a charity fund drive

Decide your goal, and the QR Code has great potential to aid in the success of your business.

If you think the code is a bit ugly and would make your designs lose their snaz, remember, there is some room for experimentation. Check out these awesome business card designs (as well as ours pictured above). It might give you a little hope.

Consider this!

Once you add your QR Code to your business card, flyers, etc., think about what you’re directing your clients to. Most people are scanning these codes with their smartphone, meaning they’re navigating your website on their phone too.

Consider getting a mobile website design, which is a simplified version of your full site. One-touch calling and map functions are ideal for on-the-go purposes. Scan our QR Code above to check out the mobile version of our website!

If you subscribe to our Ezine in the bottom right corner of our site, we will give you a free business card design with your sparkly new QR Code! Just purchase a mobile website (starting at $595) by August 31st, and we’ll design you a new business card (200 awesomely-printed cards included).

There you have it. Two birds with one stone.

 

 

It’s give away time!

By Scott Maslar on June 15, 2011 at 4:27 pm in General

Summerstock 2011 starts this weekend with Seussical the Musical on June 17, 18, 19 & 24, 25, 26. Then in July it’s Annie Get Your Gun on the 15, 16, 17 & 22, 23, 24.

We’ve got two sets of tickets. One set has 4 tickets and the other has 2.

Just comment on this post to be entered for a chance to win!

Deadline is Tuesday, June 21st!

You spin me right round.

By Holly Titus on June 10, 2011 at 4:34 pm in General

Hi Everyone! My name is Holly, aka Holl-Pass, Holly Pocket, Holls, or Dave. Yea, I have a lot of nicknames going around the office. I’m the new kid in town at T&S, which Scott loves. Although he only preceded me by a week, he thoroughly enjoys being able to pass off the newbie title so quickly.

Although Scott is often making me the punchline of his many jokes, and enjoys bombarding the designer’s side of the office with paperclips, we DO get along some of the time. Just a few days ago, we had the pleasure of getting our pictures taken for our business cards. We just happened to be taking them at a playground.

Inside this playground was a magical toy that, I believe, would provide hours of exhilarating, semi-dangerous fun. I don’t know if it has a name, but it certainly deserves to go down in history as the most awesome piece of playground equipment ever. It’s basically a plastic circle that is mounted on a frame, and the circle inside spins. So, you climb inside, and someone else spins you upside down. I’d never seen anything like this. It seemed far too dangerous to be in a playground.

I was hesitant, at first, to try out the toy, especially with Scott controlling my fate. Although I almost died once, this experience changed my life. Now I have a video to share with you, so that EVERYONE can have a glimpse of true happiness. Sort of.

Performing centrifugal stress testing on our latest addition [phase one - complete]

A Day in the Life.

By Tim Priebe on June 6, 2011 at 4:48 pm in General

For this nerd-tastic blog entry, I thought I’d give a day in the life of Tim Priebe. As with most small business owners, I wear several hats. So in many respects, there is no typical day. I might spend a day doing business building, programming, sales, customer care, community service, Orangite morale building, spending time with the family, or (more likely) a combination of several of those.

For fun, we’ll look at April 20th, 2011. That was the day Josh, my oldest son, turned seven. And, lest I get in trouble, my sister’s birthday as well.

5:30     Woke up, showered and got dressed. Not necessarily in that order.

6:00     Checked email in the home office. Drank some coffee, started to slowly wake up.

6:20    Worked on my Webifiable column for The Business Times of Edmond. Lisa Shearer, my editor, is a slave-driver! Okay, not really.

6:50    Helped Josh finish getting ready for school. Fortunately, he’s old enough to get mostly ready on his own. I let him pick out his own clothes, but Leann doesn’t always like that.
JoshandSeven
7:10    Headed over to Whataburger for Josh’s birthday breakfast with dad. Eating out for breakfast is our annual tradition. The Whataburger staff let us take a picture with the number seven, since it was Josh’s seventh birthday.

8:10    Dropped Josh off at school. We listened to my iPod playlist titled “Kids and Dad.” It has music by Erick Alexander, the Beatles and others.

8:20    Arrived at the Edmond Chamber’s Morning Mingle at Tinker Federal Credit Union. Myron Pope did a great job presenting the sponsors. Got to chat with Barbe Renz and meet several new people. And Leann (my wife) got to go as well, so that’s always a plus.

9:25    Headed over to Starbucks to meet with Adam Potter, SEO link-builder extraordinaire. He described his process to me, which sounds like the least shady link-building technique I’ve ever heard of. Adam then became my favorite SEO link-builder.

10:30    Went over to Vintage Coffee and read a book on writing. I’m fairly sure it was How to Write & Sell Information for Fun and Profit, by Robert Bly. (Warning: That’s an affiliate link!) I highly recommend the book to anyone wanting to get into how-to writing. I liked the book enough that I’ve already lent it out to someone else.

11:00    Met with Mike Crandall with Sandler Training. Mike is a great guy, and really knows his stuff. We discussed sales, the growth his business was experiencing, and Leadership Edmond.

12:20    Head to the office and prepare for an employee review. Fortunately, we finally have our hiring process down well enough that these are usually a pleasure.

1:30    Sit down with two different employees for their reviews. Mostly praise, with just some minor course corrections.

2:30    Check email for the first time since 6am. Wow, I get a lot of email…

3:20    Work on writing an ebook. I spent another eight hours on it later to finish it up. The ebook, Easy Website Check-up, is available now for free at Webifiable.com by signing up for our email list.

6:30    Trouble-shooting my malfunctioning computer. Turned out it was two things: The router at the office and my hard drive. We replaced both later that week.

8:30    Heading home for dinner and relaxation. I can’t remember for sure what I ate or watched on television, but it was probably blackened fish to eat, and Smallville and Stargate Universe on television.

10:00    Off to bed. In seven hours or so, it will be time to start all over again!

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