Welcome!

This site is still in progress, but feel free to look around. I’ve imported the posts from my prettyugly blog and hope to resume with the blogging SOON!

CreativeTechs Offers Free Web Classes

CreativeTechs out of Seattle has a wonderful TechTips blog and weekly e-newsletter geared towards graphic designers and other Mac users. Very useful tips! You can sign up for the e-newsletter here.

If that’s not enough, they’re also offering FREE webinars on how to use Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and more. The Photoshop series is in mid-stream, with the InDesign 10-week series beginning May 14th. They want as many folks to sign up as possible. I’ve taken a couple and they are top rate. You can sign up for the InDesign series here.

I love me some free learnin’!

Old and Interesting Signage Around Alamance County (Part 2)

This is by far my favorite sign in Alamance County. The caption under the “SHOES” says “MODERN SHOE SHOP”. The kicker is that they have since painted the signage with white and red paint. So glad I snapped this picture first. The shop is open, but stacked with remnants from days gone by. Need to get by there someday to get the scoop.

Driving to work on the back roads through east Burlington there are many old signs. This one, on HWY 70 is still in use, not sure what for. If I worked there, I’d know for sure that I had made it to the league of “Professional”.

Skids is right up the street from “The Professional Building.” This sign isn’t complete without a photo of the building (below). I especially love the glowing star on top of the restaurant. Haven’t eaten there yet, but it’s on my list of things to do some day.

Getting Noticed: Emails that Stand Out from the Crowd

In his article, 5 Ways to Make an Editor Delete Your Email, posted on FreelanceSwitch, Jeffrey Way describes how not to write an email if you are trying to sell yourself to a potential editor or creative director. After the what-not-to-dos, he recommends what you should be including in your email:

What You Should Include in Your Email

1. Introduce yourself. Don’t send me a novel, but at least give me a few sentences detailing who you are.
2. What experience do you have? This is important to me. Keep in mind that it’s perfectly okay if you have zero experience. But, let me know that. We’re always looking for the next new “guy”. Consequently, let me know where you’ve worked in the past. Have you been published? These are things that I shouldn’t have to ask you. Tell me up front. If you’re fresh out of school, use it to your advantage. Tell me that you’re willing to work harder than any other. Tell me that you WANT IT more than any other.
3. Find a way to get an editor’s attention by using weaknesses to your advantage. We all love samples. If you’ve had your work published, send me links to those articles. If you’re a designer, link to your website. I need to know what you’re capable of. You’d be surprised how many people skip this step.
4. Eye Of The Tiger. Okay, it’s corny to reference Rocky movies. But thirty years later, it’s still true. You have to “want” in this business. You have to be willing to work harder than any other. You have to be willing to sacrifice more than any other. You have to be willing to STAND OUT more than any other….
5. Stand Out In this industry, you’ll forever be in a state of competition. Find ways to separate yourself from the rest of the pack. I’m reminded of being a child and having my mother tell me, “If you want to win that coloring contest, be different!” Ask yourself, what makes me unique? How can you approach a task from a different perspective? Whatever that method is, show it to the editor. I can’t emphasize this point any more.

Time for me to get busy sending out those emails! Does anyone have other tips for getting your email noticed?

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