Inspiredology

eBook Review: 10 Steps to Powerful Online Self Promotion for Creatives

Andrew — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:07:13 +0000

Here at Inspiredology we’re looking to break into a new category of articles. One of our new sections will involve book reviews, so when we were approached by Alex Mathers to write a review for his new eBook 10 Steps to Powerful Online Self Promotion for Creatives we were happy to do it!

The Lowdown

This ebook is exactly what it’s title suggests, a guide to online self promotion for creative professionals of all kinds.

The book breaks down many of today’s popular online social media tools and explains everything from how to sign up to how to utilize the tool for maximum impact and exposure.

Hey Rookie Online Creative read this book!

I think this book is most fitting for online creatives that are just getting into the field and are starting to establish their online footprint. It does a great job of breaking down many of the most popular social media and online networking tools (right down to how to sign up) and then touches on ways to maximize the tools.
Now that being said, this book would also be valuable to already established online creatives. It does dive deeper into some social media/networking tools, and may show you better ways to use the tools you are already using, as well as show you a few more that could be beneficial to you. I found myself marking pages on things that I wasn’t aware that some of these tools could do.
In addition to just explaining what these tools do Alex does a great job of providing details and tips on how to actually connect and engage with your online audience. This is something that is extremely vital to the success of an online creative professional.

Gentle Slams

Throughout reading this book I did find myself going over some repetitive content. I understand it is important to touch back on points made earlier in the book / chapter to give context to the point, however I found it a little repetitive.

It would have been interesting to have a bit more interaction with some other freelance designers to get their take on certain social media tools and self promotion techniques.

Overall

Overall, this book acts as a great introduction for innovative professionals that are interested in gaining knowledge about today’s exciting social media and networking tools It is also great for already established creatives who will want to use it as a reference guide to see how they can better utilize the tools they’re already using, as well as get some insight into the tools they are not.

So if you’re new to the game, this quick read can bring you from online promotion zero to hero.

Buy it NOW!

Available for $27 USD for a limited three days until March 13th.
Price will go up to its usual $39 from then on, so act now!
[Buy it Now]

Other Hype

Head over to InspiredMag for a free chapter of the book!

Check out the interview with book author Alex Mathers at Just Creative Design.
eBook: 10 Steps to Powerful Online Self Promotion for Creatives

More Reviews

If you have a new book launch, and it fits within our target market, we would love to do a review. So please send us an email at dertmobile[at]gmaildotcom.

Blurry Lights of NYC

Chad — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:27:58 +0000

Last week we posted 11 Textures from Chicago, I had the awesome opportunity to head to another great place New York City. This was my second time around, but I was invited by ThinkStock a great new website, that you will be hearing much more about in the upcoming future.I had the chance to meet some great people including James White, Adelle Charles and Josh Smibert. You will be seeing some cool stuff from ThinkStock and Inspiredology in the near future. While I was in NYC I took a gander downtown to Times Square – which is one of my favourite places in the world. I took so many pictures, played with some panoramic images, textures, and lighting-bokeh effects. Below you will find 16 bokeh type images that you can use for whatever you like. Please just don’t steal them and take credit for them. I would love to hear what everyone plans on using these for.

Download Blurry Nghts of NYC (43mb zip)

Friday Fix March 1 – 5

Chad — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:51:37 +0000

The Friday Fix is a weekly recap of all things inspiring. We look at new followers, web articles, awesome new websites and anything else design related.

From the Twitter Stream

RT @elitebydesign March Interview Madness http://bit.ly/c99sRS

RT @mint How to Save Money During the Early Days of a Startup | MintLife Blog | Personal Fin.. http://tinyurl.com/ycrxydn

RT @freelancesw What’s the Next Step in a Freelancing Career? | FreelanceSwitch http://is.gd/9elWZ

RT @SignalnoiseArtI took Sidney Crosby’s gloves and stick. Yep, it was me.

RT @newsdesigns Canada takes the gold in hockey, eh? http://is.gd/9sJVK

#canadaforgold cant be more proud to be Canadian – we are hockey gods once again – the most gold medals in history – go Canada go!!!!!

If you like these links, be sure to follow me to get these updates throughout the week @chadmueller.

Followers

Web Finds

Canada takes the gold in hockey, eh?

StyleBoost

Lyrically Noted

Vancouver 2010 Part 1 & Part 2
Photo journal of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics

Where We Design

Fly Sleepy

Web Articles

Ask the Expert – Speaking About Startups with Collis Ta’eed of Envato

55 Colorful Web Designs to Inspire You

Tutorials

Photoshop & Illustrator Tutorial: Learn gorgeous new shading skills

Create a Filterable Portfolio Page in WordPress with jQuery

11 Textures from Chicago

Chad — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:22:33 +0000

A few weeks ago we took a small weekend trip to Chicago. I love to travel and every time I travel somewhere I tried to bring something back for the readers of Inspiredology. There is inspiration all around us, I take loads of photos, and I am always thinking of what I can use for textures, patterns, and cool elements for posters. I was taking a look through the photos and I found 11 textures that I thought I would share with you. Feel free to download the zip file, I have included samples of the textures.

Just got back from a trip earlier this week in NYC so be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed to get more freebies.

Download 11 Textures from Chicago (53mb zip)

UPrinting Business Card Giveaway

Chad — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:15:48 +0000

At Inspiredology we aren’t afraid of posting awesome giveaways, some blogs don’t approve of it, but we love giving back to the community. We have teamed up with UPrinting.com to give offer high quality business cards.

UPrinting.com is a great online printing company that has been serving the design industry for over 25 years. Their high quality printing, and customer service is affordable and convenient. Follow UPrinting on twitter @uprinting.

The Contest

Two sets of 500 die-cut business cards printed by UPrinting.com are up for grabs. Winners may choose from any of the die cutting options and types of paper available. Free US shipping only

Just tell us how you found Inspiredology, whether it is Google, Digg, Twitter, Smashing Magazine – let us know. We want to find out how you got to know us here. We will hold the contest open till Wednesday March 3rd, 5:00 p.m. EST. We will announce the winners on this weeks Friday Fix.

Friday Fix Feb 22 – 26

Chad — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:58:56 +0000

The Friday Fix is a weekly recap of all things inspiring. We look at new followers, web articles, awesome new websites and anything else design related.

From the Twitter Stream

RT @behoff Killer Mac and Web apps for maintaining a graphic designer lifestyle http://bit.ly/9WSLT3

behindcadi new iphone wallpaper, @chadMueller and @dertmobile from inspiredology. http://ricardogimenes.com/wallpaper

“T-Shirt War | Adii Rockstar” ( http://adiirockstar.com/2010/02/t-shirt-war/ )

Read my guest post on @InspiredMag Stop Launching Blogs, Start Contributing http://bit.ly/c8FaDD

#ShaunWhite is staying at the same hotel as me… He walked right by me this morning. That’s cool

If you like these links, be sure to follow me to get these updates throughout the week @chadmueller.

Followers

Web Finds

Public Speaking Tips That Will Improve Your Next Presentation

Typography quick tips

A Guide to Creating Professional Quality Logo Designs

z8 – I love the subtle interface elements here

Retro Music Posters

Web Articles

Earn More Money by Growing Your Freelancing Business

A Showcase of 50 Amazing Personal Blog Web Design

Why I Failed at Freelancing

Tutorials

WordPress Breadcrumbs Without a Plugin

Display Separate Counts for Comments, Pingbacks and Trackbacks

Submissions

Internationally recognized design firm Duffy & Partners has launched a new gallery on their ‘Fresh Ideas’ section of their Web site inspired by the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The gallery features products, designs, colors and ideas with Olympic ties that are impacting design and tastes globally outside of the Winter Games. Take a sneak peak behind the scenes of Duffy to see what makes these great designers tick. I’m sure its something that you and your readers would find very interesting!

Mariano Photo

Stunning Panoramic Photos

Chad — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:14:54 +0000

I have had a fascination about panoramic photos since my first HP digital camera back in the day.. it had what was cool and state of the art back then… a on screen stitching tool…. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. As I trained myself to take photos without the camera mode, and after I figured out it was way better to stitch them together in photoshop… I was hooked. Today I have a Canon Rebel, my wife and I love to travel, we take loads of pics, and I love taking big ass panoramic as well.

Just recently we moved into our new house, and we printed off 5 big panoramic images for the house, I have included a few here on my flickr, and of course some other killer pans from around the globe.

My flickr photos

Resources

http://digital-photography-school.com/8-guidelines-to-taking-panoramic-photos-with-any-camera

http://www.panoramas.dk/

http://www.panoramicearth.com/

Friday Fix Feb 15 – 19

Chad — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:22:12 +0000

The Friday Fix is a weekly recap of all things inspiring. We look at new followers, web articles, awesome new websites and anything else design related.

From the Twitter Stream

smashingmag Creating A Quality WordPress Theme: 12 Points to Consider – http://su.pr/2OrKhF

RT @tweetmeme How to Code up a Web Design from PSD to HTML http://tinyurl.com/ydcjvj6

RT @mashable Wired Magazine Demos its iPad App [VIDEO] http://bit.ly/d5wEuN

RT @wpbeginner Self Hosted WordPress.org vs. Free WordPress.com [Infograph] http://bit.ly/d0zAx5

RT @fuelinterface Free Web UI Wireframe Kit | Fuel Your Interface http://tinyurl.com/yldyz78

RT @bitrebels 10 Post Ideas To Give Your Blog A Boost | Bit Rebels http://bit.ly/4FnAhZ

If you like these links, be sure to follow me to get these updates throughout the week @chadmueller.

Followers

Web Finds

Inspiration – Beautiful Vintage Advertisements

A Showcase of Workstations that’ll Make You Jealous

Behold, the Lost Art of Inglourious Basterds

Square’s On-the-Go iPhone Credit Card Scanner Will Cost $1

tuneglue – very cool music discovery app

mo’stash

tapmates

Web Articles

Small Tips and Blips To Create Your Brand

8 Tools for Common Client Web Design Requests

Agencies, Labs, Studios, Media, Interactive and Creatives: The Many Names Of A Design Business

How to Build Web Cred as a Designer

Tutorials

Adaptable view – how do they do it?

Image Rollover Borders That Do Not Change Layout

Cross-browser drop shadows using pure CSS

Date Badges and Comment Bubbles for Your Blog

Olympic Logos Past and Present

Andrew — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:10:14 +0000

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games kicked off this weekend! This year the games are hosted in our home country of Canada, and we’re pretty hyped about it.

Each Olympic games has a massive ad campaign leading up to the games, which always features the logo that has been designed for that specific games.
The Olympic rings have been around for decades, and it is unlikely that they will be going anywhere sometime soon. Each Olympic Games has it’s own logo and brand, yet it always includes the 5 Olympic rings.

The Olympic brand is seen around the world, through every media stream, everywhere we look for the few weeks the games are on, so the logo is very important to the brand of the specific games. Check out how the logos have progressed throughout the years, crossing cultural boarders and design styles.

oh.. and.. GO CANADA!

Friday Fix Feb 8 – 12

Chad — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:36:51 +0000

The Friday Fix is a weekly recap of all things inspiring. We look at new followers, web articles, awesome new websites and anything else design related.

From the Twitter Stream

RT @mashable Super Bowl Ads 2010 [VIDEOS] http://bit.ly/aF8rlm

@nikibrown just found my submissions of my first designs – http://bit.ly/972K23 – thanks for posting them – so much fun

RT @designinformer How to Drastically Improve Your Designs | Design Informer http://bit.ly/9RFsqP

RT @TopsyRT: Anatomy of The Perfect Sidebar – woorkup.com http://bit.ly/bLCnkI

RT @teehanlax: iPad GUI PSD v1.0—Fully editable design template, free for download. http://bt.io/ESwc

RT @tweetmeme Cookie cutter web sites http://tinyurl.com/ye2csq6

RT @tweetmeme Outlaw Design Blog » What I Have Learned About the 80/20 Rule http://ow.ly/1o9JYF

follow me on Google Buzz – http://bit.ly/9zTx31

buzz is just another distraction isn’t it? – its hard enough keeping your gmail window closed for most of the day

If you like these links, be sure to follow me to get these updates throughout the week @chadmueller.

Followers

Web Articles

Design Trends Used in Action Movie Posters

Weekly Inspiration: 25 Design Agencies you should know – N.4

Effective Visual Communication Using Infographics: 40+ Attractive Examples

35 Inspiring Examples of Transparency in Logo Design

How iPad Affects the Way we Design Websites?

10 Signs You Need to Expand Your Team (and How to Do It)

15 Tips for Designing Terrific Tables

50 Inspiring iPhone Application Websites

The Ultimate Website Prelaunch Checklist

66 Examples of Perfect SlideShow Presentation in Web Design

Tips for Designing Unique and Attractive Blog Posts

50 Inspiring Portfolio Designs

Web Finds

InspirationTime – Beautiful website, I have always thought about doing something like this on Inspiredology

Dustin Curtis Lifeline - Very cool idea here

Web Without Words - Dissecting popular sites

Free Vector Social Media Set

Tutorials

Wordpress tutorial:how to apply a dynamic body class or ID

Custom CSS Per Post