You’ve probably heard the old adage that if you do what you love for a living, then it will never feel like work. Last night I received an email about Clark Little, a pioneer of surfing who has gained national and international recognition for his Hawaiian North Shore wave photography. He has taken his passion for surfing and the ocean - and turned it into a new career.

In 2007, Clark’s wife asked him for a picture of the ocean to decorate a bedroom wall. Clark grabbed a camera, jumped in the ocean, and started recording the beauty and power of Hawaiian waves from the inside out, a point of view most people will never experience. Now people are paying to hang his point of view on their walls!

The ocean has become his office. I’m sure what is “all in a day’s work” feels like play to him. Where do you like to play? What could you new office space be? I know that my creativity and curiosity keep my design work from ever feeling boring or mundane.

Clark is actively seeking galleries, museums, surf shops, community groups and art schools interested in hosting his slideshow presentation and book signing events. Learn more and view pricing at http://www.clarklittlephotography.com/tour.php.

Jay Conrad Levinson, the Father of Guerrilla Marketing, recently released his 4 secrets for successful website projects:

1. The nuts and bolts must be communicated prior to starting a website: the company’s overview, business model, goals and objectives, core competencies and competitive advantages, an industry overview, a key competitor review, target prospects, web analytics, strategy overview and action recommendations and benefits.

RDesign comments: If your website focuses on features instead of benefits, you’re missing Sales 101 in the text of your site. If your site shows a list of services and your contact information without explaining why you are the best at what you do while at the same time reflecting your company culture, you’ve invested in a cookie-cutter web site and prospective clients who visit your site will think of you as a cookie-cutter business.

2. Using the above information, your web design team should put together a work-scope document outlining the scope of the project from beginning to end, in a written and easy to follow outline.

RDesign comments: This allows your web team to communicate amongst themselves clearly, it allows you to make sure everyone is on the same page about what the project consists of, and it keeps details discussed early-on in the project from getting forgotten along the way.

3. On more advanced web implementation projects, you will need to get an engineering group involved for a “Functionality Specifications” document. This document takes each line item within the scope document and gives you engineering solutions, with all functionality and features defined in accordance with the planning set forth in the work scope document.

RDesign comments: Not every web designer is a programmer. Often this is the difference between a Web Designer and Web Developer. Be sure your design team and programming team outline details early on to avoid future mishaps or redesign due to miscommunicated functionality.

4. Consult with a web professional if you are not 100% positive what will apply to your website project. Demand excellence.

Jay goes on to say, “If you are not willing to invest the time and energy into a website project, you will not be as happy as you could be with the outcome. First, true guerrillas know that it’s crucial to invest time, energy, imagination and knowledge. Their marketing strategy is then based on psychology, not guesswork. True guerrillas … base their marketing tactics on the target market’s mindset. They must make informed decisions, based on the data and psychology of their consumers.”

At RDesign, we use data and web usage studies to guide us when designing a site. Of course we want a site to look great, but one that is pretty and does not lead the audience to your desired outcome has no value to your business. 

When you’re ready for a web site that achieves your goals with a blend of art, science, research (on both humans and search engines) and up-to-the-minute knowledge - we’re ready to help you get started! Contact us today.