Category Archives: VT Web Design

This all falls under Vermont webdesign.

Portland Maine

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Vermont Digital PhotographyWell as I mentioned last week things have been busy and it is summer time. With the daily  temps in the sticky 90′s . I am thankfully inside for the moment in the ac. Last week I mentioned going up to Maine for a brief holiday. The desitination up there was Portland. Famed historic New England sea port. Its got heaps of interesting things to do. From the hand made custom built amphibious Duck Bus. Which turned out was not only a very interesting and informative ride around Portland but also incredibly amusing thanks to the tour guide. One of the things you will hear on this tour between literal quacking by the bus crew and passengers is that Portland is a town loaded with tasty destinations.

Now I was only there for 2 nights and 2days which is no where near enough time to get to a small portion of eateries. However I was lucky enough to get to a couple of them.

Small Business internet marketing.First of lets talk about the Exchange Street Cafe. Tucked away amongst the shops on the cobble stone covered Exchange street. The cafe which shares this name is amazingly tasty. The fare here is not what you probably would think about in Maine. You wont find lobster on the menu but Italian food. From G I A N T sandwhiches filled with Italian cold-cuts turkey or roast beef. Stuffed to the limit with tasty fillings such as roasted peppers or a spicy Italian Pickle mix. These sandwhiches are

 

Small Business webdesign

alot more then a meal and perfect to share with some one..Allowing you both a little more room to try some of the other items on their menu. They serve up an fantastic chicken or eggplant parm. The meat balls here are large.Hand made and deliciuos. Do not forget to try one of their deep fried Italian Style rice balls. Had the brocolli one and it was amazing as well. Crispy and golden brown on the outside. A perfect blend of spices and ingredients and served with home made red-sauce. The owner operator is a very friendly fellow by the name of Mike and his happy to talk shop with you. I could go on and on having visited this place twice in as many days. But I have a few more items to cover.So should you find your self in Portland stop by and say hello to Mike and his crew and get something to eat. You wont be sorry.

Next up we go from food to metal. Saturday in Portland finds the streets ,restuarnts and cafes jammed with tourist and locals alike. And you literally never know what you might find as you walk around downtown. Having left the hotel to visit the beach at night with so of my fellow vacationers. We heard an odd sound for this time of night.Being pretty sure there wasnt an outdoor industrial music concert..the clang of a hammer on anvil was a little confusing..Listening and walking with eyes open for a minute turns out it wasnt a concert for a scarpyard, but rather a giant with a hammer playing with fire..

Or specifically a blacksmith demonstrating his name sake of Smith by fashioning tools and utensils. Looking around we saw a giant of a man bashing away with sparks flying. We crossed the street and sure enough it was a Blacksmith. Turns out his name is Sam Smith. His family name perfect for his chosen trade. Sam towers over most even myself who is use to towering over most. And is quick witted. Upon introducing ourselves we struck up a random conversation.Asking some questions and watching. As we drifted away towards the beach we promised to come back .Which is exactly what we did.

There had been a bit of a crowd around the fire despite the nights warm temps. But Sam is not only skilled but clearly loves his work.Answering questions between hammer blows.
we picked up some hand made wrought iron spikes. Turns out Sam has been doing this for quite awhile. Specializing in hand made tools and utensils. Sadly I had left my camera in the hotel room that night so I dont have any pictures of Sam or his forge to share. But according to Sam he takes his forge on the road to display his trade and various out door famer’s markets around New England. So if you see him on the road or in Portland on your way to the Exchange Street cafe tell him Peter from Vermontdesignandmarketing.com sent you. And love the iron spikes we purchased as a tool, a hair stick and conversation item.

Well as I keep saying its has been and maintains to be a busy summer..So off to get some more design and SEO work out of the way..

thanks.

A new, old Vermont small business favorite.

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Last weekend, needing some time away from the graphic design desk. And being that its Culinary Photography Vermontgarden planting time. Went over to the Arcana Nursery in Jericho Vermont. Not my first time here. But first time with the forethought of taking some pictures and actually bringing a camera. Or in this case my Droid. Now the main purpose of this outing, other then to enjoy an incredible perfect day. Was to get some hot peppers and other gardening things. Wound up with 12 various hot (HOTHOT) pepper plants and

VT Graphic Design

some Tomatillo’s and now a week later there’s 9 plants. Well one is missing, root and stem, the two others are half munched on. Bird, Bug or Beast…we will probably never know. But will probably have to head back to Arcana and see if we cant replace the missing/dead/devoured Thai Super Chilly and White Habenaro.

Probably have to take some more photographys of the amazing varied of edibles and other plant life the have over there. Vermont Outdoor Photography Now I’m pretty sure the folks at Arcana run an all organic farm. Perhaps they will correct me if Im wrong.Yet despite the current trend to slap the ‘organic’ tag on anything. As some kind of marketing ploy. I am pretty damn sure that if the people of Arcana state they are growing something organically. It is. Alternately ask if your not sure or require specific information concerning any of their plants. You will get a friendly and well informed answer.

This is is the 3rd year of growing their plants from starters in the garden. And the results have been spectacular and tasty, every year. Arcana is a small business run by some very friendly people. All very knowing in the craft and trade. And will answer just about any question you can throw at them with a smile. Find the time to walk around and talk to you about the various species of flowers,herbs,vegetables, medicals, annuals,perennials well you get the idea.Vermont Flower photography

Tried some of the peppers jelly on hand for sampling when I was there. Super yummy. Not sure if they make it them selves. But it sure is tasty. Not to hot.Not to weak.

So if your looking to improve your garden or start one. Deffinetly stop by and talk to the friendly folks at Arcana.

They offer some informative workshops  on various subjects. From Container Gardening, a very hot subject post Irene with the local soil being in  a mess after the flooding. To a medicinal herb workshop focusing on local to Vermont plants and herbs. Covering identification and uses to folklore and how to raise these herbs in your own garden. Actually a workshop I think Vermontdesignandmarketing.com will be attending. Going to wrap this up and get back to some Graphic Design for a new client (more on them later) . Will write some more soon on Arcana if we go back to get some replacement pepper plants. Here is a few more pictures from the Droid. Next round Digital SLR and a Glass lens.

Vermont Digital Photography for events and weddingsArcana Organic Pepper Nursery

Vermont Internet Marketing

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Vermont Graphic Design Company

Happy to say that a busy Thursday, which I attended a very informative personal internet marketing/branding webinar I had randomly decided to join was excellent. Thanks to Greig Wells and his heap of intel. Although I originally thought as a Vermont based Freelance Graphic/Web designer with  internet marketing and  search engine optimization skills, it might not be for me. I was happily proven wrong. And picked up alot of great information. Personal Marketing and Branding tactics,strategies and ideas.

I’m excited to put the newly gained information to practice next week. To see how it positively effects the things I already know or do . Ending the webinar I was off to a meeting with a ‘favor for friends’ now turned client.

This meeting which was held outside on the patio at Juniper’s Fare in Waterbury Vermont.
Was for the marketing of their website JunipersFare.com. I had originally donated some internet marketing consultations as a favor and in exchange for some rather tasty food.

At the meeting was the proprietor and owner of the restaurant and the front of house manager. As well as their current graphic design and photography guru. After we discussed some more advanced seo tactics. And had finished up discussing some web design options. Their graphics/photographer approached me about working with him on  his current online presence.

Now this might seem a bit confusing. I admit its a bit late and I had an early wake up.
Which of course is that blessing and curse of working for yourself and being passionate about what you do for various reasons.Vermont Graphic Design and Internet Marketing Consultants.

So two new sets graphic design and search engine marketing clients will be signing up officially next week. Once I put pen to paper (yes..old school) and layout some marketing plans for them using what they currently have for an online presence and incorporating  some new Web Designs and Search Engine Marketing tactics for them. I will be filling in the blanks and giving more details .

Regards and Good Night.

What is Graphic Design.

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What is Graphic Design?

Using Graphic Design in Vermont for client.

Graphic Design, simply put is a way of communicating visually. With the use of simple things such as color and shapes. It can join almost any visual media such as print or photography both in analog and digital states. It is a tool to  convey a message optically, when words alone are not enough to stress a point or message.

Visual communication is a powerful tool. A picture can in fact replace a thousand words. When one can not write or speak a message, graphic design comes to the forefront of the discussion. If one has a limited physical space to convey a message in.

Or perhaps needs to communicate a message across languages, again with limitations Graphic Design steps up to the plate. A simple example of this are ‘danger signs’. Say you work in a factory under possibly dangerous or hazardous conditions.

Rather then have to post a multiple of signs informing workers or visitors about the possible risks. A visual communicator,such as a simple sign with a picture on it. Can get the job done in a limited space. 

Vermont graphic design for clients

lovevermontdrivesubaru.com graphic design

Another simple example we might see here in Vermont is a Moose or Deer crossing sign. Which illustrates the silhouette of the animal in question by the side of the road.Where they have often chosen to cross the road.

Being close to the Canadian border or with international tourist visiting Vermont, this could become cost prohibitive , if the Vermont Department of Transportation had to use signs in English,French, Chinese , Spanish etc. But a simple cartoon-like warning gets the point across,” Warning giant shaggy beast walk here SLOWDOWN!”

Vermont Graphic Design example

An example of Graphic Design in Vermont

While this might be an over simplification of Graphic Design and its uses. It clearly shows us that pictures are an international language. And even though the internet is full of language translators these days. Some people who might be looking for you service or product might not have the time or access. So a cleverly designed website filled with intelligent designs can help convey your message and cross borders.

We see examples of Graphic Design every day and constantly . From walking or driving to work. Shopping at the grocery store and just about anything and everything else. Graphic Designers are hired by clients, be they small businesses, artists of other mediums to giant corporations or fine dining establishments.

We are visual creatures for the most part relying heavily on our eyes for every thing we do. Even for those with ‘sight challenges’ graphic design is still considered very important. The look and the FEEL can be construed by proper design. Seems almost strange that design, particularly graphic design can effect some one who is blind. But at least when it comes to designing on the internet, keeping those who have difficulty or no ability to see ‘visually’ are considered. It effects their internet experience and can also effect how your website ranks in the search engines these days.

So if you have a message you would like communicated or a product or service needing advertising or a web presence needing to be established. Be you in Vermont or New England or any where in the world. Contact us today and let’s get you communicating in an international language.                        

Graphic Design Vermont

Search Engine Optimization update

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Vermont Seo for NYC Style pizzaVermont SEO ,Vermont thin crust pizza 

If you know me, you have probably heard me speak of Jimmzpizza, in Waterbury Center, Vermont. Now when I moved up to Waterbury VT I had lived down in Southern Vermont, in a place with no pizza…a vertible wasteland of pizza.. So when introduced to this place…I thought I must be in heaven. Or worried that I had forgotten what good pizza was. The pizza was fantastic, some of the best I have had since moving out of NYC.

So needing more tasty slices to stop the pizza fast of 3 years..I went to this pizza shop, Jimmz Pizza. Located up a hill and randomly met the owner, James aka Jimmz. We got to talking about his pizza of sheer awesomeness. And I asked ‘Why dont you have a website’? Explaining that I can’t be the only person coming here to live or vacation that would first turn on a computer to find a place to eat..long before I picked up a phone book.

So long story short. I volunteered to bang up a simple website for the man.  As a favor and to support  his super tasty pizza. About a week later I turned up saying it was done. I registered the domain and got him some hosting. Which he paid for.

Jimmzpizza.comJimmzpizza.com

So I got my slice (I think it was a bacon and mushroom.) and headed home. Back a few days later for yet more tantalizing fare, I ran into James again.

He came up to me and stated something to the point of..”You didnt tell me you were going to do that”…

Ut oh and alarm bells are going off in my head. Man seems a little upset..

“What?” I said.

“Make me a website..that is a work of art!” said James as his face cracked into a wicked grin.With his very dry humor I thought I had made some horrible error. Now I don’t know if I would consider it a work of art. I do know I’m pretty good at my core trade of Graphic Design and I have been at the Web Design thing for a while. But I figured he was really upset with the last FREE output..

Hand made dough in Waterbury Vt

So longer story short.. The man loved his website. And flat-out demanded I accept payment for it..Which of course I did.Yep I offered to do it for free. But he was so very happy with the final product he demanded, I accepted.

So I happily charged him my normal not very expensive costs.Took half in pay and the other half in pizza.. And we were off to a what is now good albeit randomly timed friendship..

Now to the SEO.. so after a while I approached James with getting him ranked in the search engines and explained a little bit about how one goes about doing this. He is a busy business owner and parent.So I didn’t take a lot of time explaining.Something to the tune of..

“SO if no one knows your website address..they wont find you .Period.blablabla.”
Price  settled, keywords selected, and off I went.

Fast forward a few years later..and Jimmzpizza has got some amazing search engine placement (well in Google) the pizza is still incredible. So with some clever graphic design.Some proper seo techniques and one very happy business owner. You get a very happy client. At well feed designer and seo guy.

Getting ready to do some reworking to the site design and some new graphics and I think some new pictures and or videos. And of course..some more slices. Proof in point that small and or local businesses can get big city results when they randomly meet the right person. Feel free to drop me a line or shoot an email if you’re looking to hear more about this or get your own website found in the vast space known as the Internet.

Thanks for the reading.

pd