Setting up Shop: Look like You're Big-Time

By Melanie Burk.

Seven years ago, the only options for a shop online were expensive and complicated. Most cost thousands of dollars to set up and had a pretty complicated back-end. I know, because that is how I started my shop. Today there are practical, easy, and professional platforms to choose from. Which platform is best for you? It depends entirely on you and your audience, your marketing plan, and your skill set.

Here are the two best platforms for hosting a shop online:

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The Importance Of Business Card Design

Technology in our society of ever changing. With so many things becoming digital, business cards are still such a vital, crucial, and tangible element for any brand. It's amazing that something as small as 2" x 3.5" can make such an impact on our businesses! Similar to a 15 second commercial, you have about 5-10 seconds to make an impact with your card.

Why you need a good business card.

The design of a business card, and the importance of it reflecting your brand, is much overlooked. Your business card needs to convey what you're about. Since a business card should reflect your personality, come up with something that represents you, not someone else.

Here are great examples of creative outside-the-box cards:

Excellent typography - designed by Amy Brewster

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Setting up a Portfolio Site: Look Professional - Look Legit

If you are a photographer, stylist, or a designer, you need more than just a blog. You need a part of your online presence that provides a quick review of your work. Clients shouldn't have to scroll through all of your blog posts to find past work. When you have a blog and a portfolio site, it can be even more challenging to have everything look good and work together cohesively. How do you know which platforms are best for you?

Here are a few of my recommendations for the creative just getting started:

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Business Card Design Tips

Tips on designing your business card:

• Come up with a logo, identity, and a slogan or phrase that best represents your brand 
• Choose legible fonts 
• Keep the design simple and sweet 
• Include a perk they can receive if visiting your website (a free download, coupon, etc.)  
• Use high-quality paper 
• Never use free cards - pay the extra $5 to remove the line, "printed free at," so no one is visiting a website other than yours  
• Consider including some extra swag (a sticker or tattoo) to make it memorable  
• Create a series of different cards to create excitement about collecting all of them  
• Print in CMYK and if possible, design in vector - a pixelated low-resolution card is never a good idea

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Setting up Your Blog: Which Platform Should I Choose?

One of the most common questions I get from clients is, "Should I use wordpress or blogger?" Unfortunately, there is no perfect platform that fits each case. Choosing a platform comes down to understanding what is best for you and your audience, the purpose of your site, and your level of online skills.

Here is a brief overview of three platforms that I recommend, and why I recommend them:

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