Blog Feed: bkmacdaddy designs - the blog

How To Get Your Full-Time Freelance Business Started

Published on 2012-05-04 07:40:34

My thoughts for those who find themselves standing on the proverbial precipice, contemplating taking the leap into full-time freelancing. I found myself in that place a few years ago, and so far the leap I took from part-time to full-time freelance web and graphic design has proven very successful. Of course, I have had my share of bumps along the way, with the bruises to show for it, and there are still many things I will learn, but it is my hope that you will benefit in your own endeavors as I [..] > read more

How To Say Thank You For Your Favorite WordPress Plugins (and Why You Should)

Published on 2012-02-03 11:27:55

How often do you and I and everyone else that uses a WordPress plugin take the time to express our gratitude for it? Here are some ways we can and why we should. > read more

Happy 70th Birthday, Dad!

Published on 2012-01-21 10:55:59

It’s been about 6 years since the day my Dad sat at a diner in Hawaii with our whole family and told us he had prostate cancer. At the time it was not the worst news because… > read more

Pinterest RSS Widget – A WordPress Plugin To Display Your Latest Pins

Published on 2012-01-19 08:15:42

A new WordPress plugin created by bkmacdaddy designs called Pinterest RSS Widget. You can use this free plugin to display up to 25 thumbnails of your latest Pinterest Pins in your sidebar. > read more

2011 Holiday Wishes From bkmacdaddy designs to You

Published on 2011-12-22 07:55:41

As this year comes to an end I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone who reads this a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It has been another amazing 12 months for bkmacdaddy designs, and I can't thank each of you enough for the role you have played in our success in 2011. > read more

How Freelancers Can Have A Holiday “Staff” Party Like Everyone Else (And Why You Should)

Published on 2011-12-15 07:56:03

As the winter and holidays roll around each year, many freelancers watch from afar as friends and family attend their respective employers' holiday staff parties. Why not start a new tradition and create your own staff party, freelancers? > read more

Don’t Make the Mistake of Only Being Social Online

Published on 2011-12-06 08:01:48

The explosion of social media combined with the mobile revolution has given us the ability to be and stay connected anytime and anywhere. We have unlocked innovative ways to discover and grow personal and professional relationships via the internet. But to what extent? > read more

Uninspired? Demotivated? Creative Block? Maybe You’re In The Wrong Business!

Published on 2011-11-16 08:01:05

It seems that every week I see at least one new article about how to get inspired, get motivated or how to get past a creative block. I am suggesting a different perspective and thought process you may need to consider if you find yourself battling a lack of inspiration, motivation or creativity. > read more

5 Reasons Every Freelance (or Any) Business Should Have A Blog

Published on 2011-11-09 07:59:12

I have learned that blogging is a necessity for my freelance web & graphic design business & I believe it is essential for any business as a catalyst for continuous growth. Here are some of the things I have learned & how these transferrable principles will work for others. > read more

Earn Rewards With The New bkmacdaddy designs Client Referral Program

Published on 2011-11-04 13:46:21

Now you can earn cash and/or services from bkmacdaddy designs simply by referring new clients our way! Anyone is eligible and it's free to sign up! > read more

Introducing the NEW bkmacdaddy.com! (plus Why I Redesigned It)

Published on 2011-11-01 10:29:55

In this post I share some of the key differences, motivations and personal favorite parts of the first redesign of bkmacdaddy designs in over 5 years. > read more

The Question Is Not How Many Followers; It’s What You Do With Those You Have

Published on 2011-03-14 08:20:38

Social media has become a part of our lives, our businesses, our economy and more. There's no denying or ignoring it, unless you want to stubbornly cling to the past and try to function in a world that is rapidly leaving you behind. Businesses and in > read more

Is Your Web and Graphic Design Purpose Driven?

Published on 2011-03-08 08:26:55

Design is a word that is often misused, especially in the realms of web and graphic design. Some may refer to the aesthetic, layout, color or style of a logo or website as its design, while others may classify the way these things look as their desig > read more

And The Winners of 500 Business Cards from AllBusinessCards.com Are…

Published on 2011-03-05 08:56:27

On Monday we launched the first ever contest here on the bkmacdaddy designs blog, thanks to the generosity of our sponsor, AllBusinessCards.com. This week it’s been a lot of fun interacting with entrants and readers who have commented, tweeted > read more

Benefits of Custom WordPress Websites Over Free or Premium Themes

Published on 2011-03-02 08:28:37

In a recent phone conversation with a potential client it came to light that most people who are not WordPress designers or developers have very little understanding of the full power of the open source software, much less any concept of how this pow > read more

Win 500 Business Cards From AllBusinessCards.com – 3 Chances To Win!

Published on 2011-02-28 07:32:12

Today bkmacdaddy designs is launching our first contest ever! Thanks to the generous folks at AllBusinessCards.com, you could be one of 3 lucky readers who will receive a set of 500 business cards completely free - printing and shipping included! If > read more

Cross-Browser Testing and the Decline of Modern Civilization

Published on 2011-02-18 09:53:37

Cross-browser testing is one of my least favorite parts of the process of web design. Whenever I reach this step in a project, my anxiety rises to unacceptable levels and my mind starts entertaining thoughts of some type of terrorist activity that br > read more

Why WordPress Is The Best CMS

Published on 2011-02-04 08:23:35

The question is one I’ve been asked numerous times, and it is one that is asked over and over again: “What is the best content management system to use for my new website?” There are numerous CMS’s available, from paid solutio > read more

Year-End Recaps, Resolutions, Predictions and Other Nonsense

Published on 2010-12-31 07:00:43

Here we are on the last day of the first decade of the current millennium. It is a time for pondering, I presume. A time to look back on the last 365 days and look ahead to the next. What have we learned? How far have we come? Where do we dream of go > read more

My Second Annual Musical Christmas Card For You

Published on 2010-12-23 06:54:49

About this time last year I grabbed my webcam and recorded myself singing a Christmas wish from me to you. Nothing fancy. Nothing worth bragging about. But it came from my heart. This past year has been an even more amazing adventure for me and my f > read more

How Will We All Survive Without Tabs On Facebook Pages?

Published on 2010-12-17 09:19:11

Yesterday I spent the better part of the morning working on a custom Facebook Page Welcome Tab design for my client, Old Republic Home Protection. ORHP is launching their company Facebook Page today and we were putting the finishing touches on the de > read more

How I Never Make Mistakes

Published on 2010-12-10 09:53:06

Almost six months ago we moved across the country from Florida back to our hometown of San Francisco, CA. We had signed a one-year lease on a flat in the city, knowing that whether we stayed in that specific home or decided to move on to some other f > read more

The Importance of Thinking Outside the Box (on FreelanceFolder.com)

Published on 2010-12-02 08:21:30

Today on FreelanceFolder I have published a piece that I am particularly proud of entitled, "The Importance of Thinking Outside the Box". This piece expresses my own personal philosophy that I have grown to live by, challenging the status quo and rea > read more

Lessons Learned From My First Unhappy Client

Published on 2010-11-18 11:55:19

This week I ended a project with the first unhappy client I have had in over 15 years in this business, and as it turned somewhat ugly I decided to explore the situation, share it with others, and see what we can learn from it in an effort to keep an > read more

What If There Was No Marketing?

Published on 2010-09-22 09:53:22

Imagine if you would for a moment a world where there was no focus on marketing and promotion. No television or radio commercials. No websites cluttered with more ads than content. No magazines with countless pages of slick photographs of impossibly > read more

My Phenomenal Social Media ROI vs. Apparent Lack of Influence

Published on 2010-09-14 09:49:18

In the past year and a half since I started using social media in an effort to grow my freelance web and graphic design business, I have seen what I consider to be a phenomenal return on the amount of time I have invested. In contrast, a recent campa > read more

Win Prizes By Helping Us Win The CB2 Contest! We all win!

Published on 2010-09-11 08:34:10

Yesterday I shared with you that my wife and I have entered our home in the CB2 The Selby Is In Your Place contest and asked you to help us by voting for our entry. Amazingly, thanks to your help, we have reached 204 votes in about 36 hours, placing > read more

Time To Find Out Who Your REAL Social Media Friends Are

Published on 2010-09-10 10:05:24

I have spent the last year and a half utilizing social media to make connections, brand my business, share resources and much more. I have discovered amazing people, communities and networks, and I have learned more from the experience than I think I > read more