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I’m not exactly sure where mine is, but I’m sure it’s hiding somewhere.  Every time I receive a new phone book on my doorstep, I have a tough time deciding whether to keep it or throw it in the trash.  Most people I know throw it away.

Essentially, businesses listed in the yellow pages of the phone book are either hiding under my couch or waiting for the garbage truck to take them away.

When I’m looking for a specific service, instead of finding my phone book I head straight to Google.  The Internet has made searching for a local car wash or dry cleaner SO simple.  It seems like everyone else is right there with me, 79% of Americans online use the Internet to find a local business.*

Which leads me to my point, is your business online?

In the past year, the amount of small business’ with their own websites have increased by 46%.  However, there’s still a long way to go.

Before coming to MycroBurst, I worked with a variety of small businesses to help establish their online presence.

One of my clients didn’t really know where to start, but they knew they wanted to make the transition from the Coupon Clipper to online.  This owner previously established a Facebook page, which was a great start.  But when searching for their company online, all you saw was an arrow on Google Maps.  They had no other online presence.

One piece of advice I shared with my clients is:  Social Media is a great way to interact with your clients but it should never be used as your business’ main website.

Don’t get me wrong I’m well aware that social media is the future of the Internet and I’m a true believer in it.  But you have to be careful — as the rise and fall of AOL demonstrated, you cannot control the future of someone else’s domain.  You need to create your own.

In the end I was able to help my client establish their own, personalized website – for less than $900.  With their brand new website they are able to highlight each of their employees, show what services they offer, schedule appointments online and share their special promotions!

Their website is still in existence and is rising to the top of Google searches for their industry in their local area.  They now are able to share new products and sales with their customers and they couldn’t be more thrilled.

Between the always changing Internet and lack of phone books, a professional and custom website should be the next step in your business’ plan.  Get out of the dumpster and get online!

You’re lucky, I’ve found a great deal for you.  Don’t put off getting your business online any longer.  MycroBurst is offering $100 off any Complete Website Design Solution this month only.  Use code 4GETPHONEBOOK when placing your order.

The above coupon code is no longer valid, it has brought to my attention people were using it incorrectly!!   Unfortunately since some can’t play by the rules, you must call in to redeem the $100 deal.

Call our support team at (877) 525-5646 and let them know you want to redeem the January Complete Web Design Promotion today!  This coupon expires January 31st – call now to use for your new website!

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Did you receive many quality and intriguing design concepts at your MycroBurst design project?  Not sure which to choose?  Could you use more than one of the designs?  Do you know that you’re going to need more than just one design?  We’ve got a solution for you!

Back in October we posted that Project Holders at MycroBurst can select additional winners to their project, once it commences. We’ve brought that to the next level.

Project Holders can now notate that they will be picking more than one winner, before their project is over!

As you may have seen on our site, here are a few brief guidelines for selecting additional winners:
- Notating early that you will be selecting more than one design will save you time during the finalization process and motivate designers!
- We recommend that you pay the same prize amount (or higher) as your project’s prize amount to additional winners.
- After you’ve finalized your project, you will select the additional designs you want.  Each additional designer will be contacted.  The designers must consent to releasing the designs at the prize amount offered.  Once they do, the file sending process will begin.

Let’s take a closer look at what each step will look like.

Here’s how it works:

When a project holder logs in to their account and is goes to their “My Projects” section.  They’ll notice the new addition of the “Add Winner(s)” to the right of each active project.

Once a Project Holder decides that they want more than one winner for their active project, they will click “Add Winner(s).”  It will bring them to the “Winners Information” area.  This is the area that Project Holders will tell MycroBurst how many additional winners they want and how much they will be awarding each.  This is also the billing area.

Once at the project page, you’ll notice the “Winners?” field number has changed.  This shows designers how many winners (including the project winner) the particular Project Holder will be choosing!

If one was to click on the “Winners?” field, it will bring up the pop-up below.  This will show what a Project Holder will be paying to each additional winner chosen.  Please note, this includes all winners.  Winner #1 will be the winner of the entire project, the rest will be the additional winners.

Once a Project Holder is ready to finalize their project, the process is simple.  After going finalizing the winner of the contest, the Project Holder will be brought to the screen below.  To choose additional winners, there are two links to follow to do so.

The Project Holder will then see the remaining designs and get to choose which they want to award as their additional winners.

Project Holders please note:  The order in which you choose your additional winners, is the same as the order in which you awarded additional prize money.  For example, when you click on the “Winners?” and see the order – The first design you select as a winner here will receive the award for Winner #2 shown in the previous pop-up.

Every time you check a box, you will receive a pop-up confirming the prize amount that the designer will receive.  If you wish to not award that designer, simply uncheck the check box.  You will also be brought to the Winners Information screen to finalize the additional winners.
This is the last time you can change your winning drafts.

And that’s it!  The Project Holder has now finalized 4 designs!

A brief note about the file transfer process:
- Designers will be notated through our messaging system and email that a Project Holder has indicated they want to choose them as an additional winner.  The designer has the right to decline or accept this offer.  If they choose to decline, the Project Holder can choose another winner or get a refund.
Attention Designers:  If you decide you do not want to accept an additional winning offer, you must contact support via email, live chat or phone asap.
- Final transfer process for the ultimate contest winner will begin immediately.  Once MycroBurst receives confirmation from the additional winning designers that they accept the Project Holder’s offer, then file transfer will begin.

At times, this can get confusing and we understand.  Feel free to give us a call at (877) 525-5646 or send us an email at support@mycroburst.com with any questions or concerns!

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Ensuring clarity in what your business does will result in lasting success.  Many entrepreneurs and business owners believe that being a jack of all trades will make your business successful.  Unfortunately, it’s just the opposite.

Here are a few question to ask yourself, to be sure that you’re on the right track.

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What are the focus and specialty of your business?

For some, this might be an easy question to answer.  For others, you may not know where to start.  What is the purpose of your business?  What service, career field or goods are you focusing on?

I recently read an article at OpenViewPartners.com that told a story about a restaurant with an unclear focus.  They decided they wanted to serve all types of food that they could.

Let’s look a little closer at this as an example.  You’re opening a restaurant, what’s your focus?  Are you going to be sit-down or take-out?  What style of dining — formal or casual?  What is your food focus – pizza, Chinese or Mexican?  Not only does this help to give your business focus, it also avoids confusion among your prospective clientele.

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When it comes to the specialty of your business, think of what your business excels at specifically. Let’s use a general contractor as an example.  Yes, a general contractor can do a whole lot of different tasks – they’re very talented in that way!  However, if you ask said general contractor what their specialty is, I bet they can give you an answer.

Similar to the restaurant answer, you need to establish your company’s specialty.  This will help to separate you from competition and not overcrowd your business.  Say you’re specialty is kitchen remodeling.  When someone needs a kitchen remodel, they’ll know which contractor to call.  It will also help to grow a fan base and the more business you do, the more you will be seen as an expert in that certain area.

Having a clean focus and/or specialty allows your business to be visual and searchable.  When someone looks online or in the yellow pages for a kitchen remodeler, guess who’s going to come up in results?  You, from there you can begin to build your brand in your area.  This is also a great way to get referrals!

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Who are you targeting?

This can be a tough one to answer … at times.  Everyone has a target audience, defining it can be the tricky part.

Unfortunately, what your business offers not necessarily define your audience – for example if you’re a hair salon, you don’t want to target just anyone with hair.  You need to be more specific.  How do you expect your marketing to be effective if you don’t even know who you are targeting?

We’ll continue with the hair salon for an example.  Hair dressers, similar to general contractors, have a specialty – one type of service they are exceptional at.  Clarifying this specialty will aid in targeting future clientele.  Are you using your stylists’ abilities to help bring in your target customers?  If your salon focuses on a more modern, new wave of hair fashion, chances are you aren’t going to be targeting the 55 and older community.

With a clear target audience, you will be able to work your marketing strategies more effectively.

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These are only a few tips of many, to ensure you have a clarity in your market.  Having an unclear business perspective, one with contradicting goals, can make it hard for you to concentrate on what’s important — your customers.  Your customers are the livelihood of your business.

Keeping a clear business focus will avoid customer confusion and have new customers seeking your business.

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Did you know?  We’re on Facebook & Twitter!  Check us out!

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The holidays are right around the corner, what a perfect time to reconnect with your customers!

How can you do this in a way that is memorable and helps your business stand out?  We know how, holidize!

Holidizing is adding a bit of the holiday season into your brand’s designs!  Sprinkle it on your logo, company emails, website, marketing strategy and more.

Holidizing your brand’s designs is a great way to distinguish your business and increase your revenue. It can be included in holiday cards, email communications and on your website. Let us help you holidize your brand!
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Why holidize?

There are several reasons (and benefits) why holidizing this season is a great thing to do!

- Adding a little holiday flair to your logo design not only makes your brand stand out from others, it also shows a bit of your company’s personality! A holidized logo can become the center piece of your marketing for the holiday season. Use the holidized logo on your website, Facebook and Twitter accounts for extra impact.

- Use your holidized designs on social media to keep your customers engaged. Then, tweet about extended store hours, special events or one day only coupons.  You could even reward your twitter followers that retweet.  Facebook offers location specific posts.  Post these to let customers about events and specials at your company.  Including a coupon that can only be used during the event is always a great idea. These small posts will help drive traffic and revenue directly to you!

- Show your appreciation of your clients by sending them a custom, holiday greeting postcard! Your clients are the main reason your business is successful – why not thank them? We couldn’t think of a better time to do so! Sending a custom, holiday greeting postcard will definitely exude the time you put in to pick just the right design to thank your customers!
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What parts of my brand can I holidize?

At MycroBurst, the options are truly endless!  Here are a few ideas to get your holidizing started:

-Your logo! Revamp your current logo with a touch of holiday cheer.

- Advertisements. Holidized ads definitely stand out apart from a typical ad!

- Company emails. If you’ve seen ours, you have seen that we’ve revamped our email header – it’s a refreshing update for the season!

- Greeting Postcards. Create a CUSTOM card that includes the holidized to thank your clients!

- And more!  You could even holidize your vehicle with a car wrap or magnet – your choices are truly endless!

Don’t want to wait to long – especially if you need to get something printed.  The holiday season will come and go before you know it!  So, go now!  Visit MycroBurst to launch your project !  While you’re there, check out this custom greenting postcard contest on of our project holders started!

Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Welcome to another week of MycroBurst’s Designer Spotlight!  We are taking some time to meet and talk with so many of our designers and then showcasing their skills on our blog – we hope you are all enjoying learning about our designers as much as we are!

Today’s designer is Hatter, from the UK.  By looking at her MycroBurst profile, you can tell she has an impressive skill set!  How did she get to be the talented designer she is today?  Great question … it’s a good thing we recently spoke with Hatter, let’s see what she had to say!

MycroBurst (MB): Hello Hatter!  Thank you for allowing us to interview you for our Designer Spotlight!  So let’s start off with understanding something pretty basic; how did you get interested in designing?

Hatter (H): When I was small, I mostly spent my time playing with chalk in the playground.  While all the other kids were playing hopskotch and tag, I would sit in a corner drawing figures on the ground.  As a child, I was always drawn to watching cartoons – an artistic style that is still a favourite of mine.  Since childhood, I have developed a deep respect for this style as it continues to offer me the opportunity to enjoy vivid colours and a purity of form.

(MB): How interesting!  It’s great to see your interest started at a young age, showing natural born talent!  If you remember, what was the first thing you ever designed?

(H): I got my first commission when I was ten.  My school had a jumble sale poster competition – I won it. I drew an elephant that was pulling and throwing clothes out of a cardboard box.

The school declared me the outright winner. There was normally a heat with this kind of competition, but this time, they were sure of the winner from the start. They later told me that what they loved about my design was: all the vibrant colours, the humour of it, and that the design had so much movement and life in it.

(MB): Success at a young age, congrats on that – very impressive!  So where do you get your inspiration and ideas for your unique designs?

(H): Origination is something I feel I was born with.  I’m a bit like Mozart in the sense that all his musical ideas came to him ‘whole’ – he never made them up as he went along.

My ideas come in the same way: as soon as I read a client’s spec, I have the idea for what I want to create and design. Where the ideas come from is a mystery – as it is for many artists.

(MB): I can see the originality in your designs – it is a true definition of custom design!  Contests aside, what is your favorite thing to design?

(H): I love working with character illustrations and mascots. Since childhood, I have always felt moved to translate the more human qualities into a design. I find so much design work lacks humour and life. When these qualities exist in a design, that design contains more energy, movement, and power – it has more presence.

There is a designer whose work I really admire for these reasons: MNorth - her work has impact and packs a punch. (Visit MNorth’s MycroBurst profile!)

(MB): One can definitely see the energy you are describing in your designs!  That being said, what do you believe is your design specialty (ex: logos, stationery)?

(H): Logos, Mascots, and illustrations.

(MB): Your passion for design work shines through in the designs that you create.  What do you like best about designing?

(H): One of the things I love about design work, is the buzz I get from helping a client visually realize their company identity. It’s like putting all their feelings, aspirations, and hopes for their company, in a picture.

There is something else: the relationship I often have with a client. When a client is extremely excited about a design I have created for them – for their company – they often see their company in a new light. And having a brand new logo captures what the company stands for – in an image. When I feel that I have accurately created, and matched, a design with that identity, I know that my client can have the maximum impact they need.

(MB):  What a great outlook to have, I’m sure that definitely enables your continued success! If you could give other designers some advice, what would you tell them?

(H): As I’ve mentioned above, I don’t know where my ideas come from, but I know that they come from within me.

I would say to any designer who is serious about developing creatively:
Go within for inspiration. Dig as deep as you can within your own experience and imagination to find your ideas. There are two pay-offs doing things this way: first, you know that your designs are yours. Second, you, as a creative designer, are an artist, rather than being an “aspiring” one.

(MB): I’m sure all of the MycroBurst designers appreciate the great advice!  What do you like about working for MycroBurst?

(H): The community factor.

(MB): We love our community too.  :)  Other than designing, what do you like to do in your free time? What are your interests and hobbies?

(H): When I’m not designing, I teach Tai Chi. A balanced inner world creates a balanced outer one – creative design included!
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What an amazing interview; all of the designs in this post were created by our featured designer as well! We can’t thank you enough, Hatter.  Being able to see what makes our designers tick opens a whole new world of our design community and it couldn’t make us any more excited!  We wish you luck on all your future endeavors and with your continued success at MycroBurst!

Are you running a project and want Hatter to design for you?  Don’t forget to invite her!  Once again; visit her MycroBurst profile now!

Did you miss last week’s Designer Spotlight?  Don’t fret, see the featured post about Achiver!
Are you interested in becoming a MycroBurst designer? Register now, it’s free!
Also, don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!