When most people browse the web, I think they intuitively think that a ".com" website is going to be what they're looking for. If you need to look something up, for example, you're going to go to Google.com. Google.org will land you on the home page for their charitable foundation, and there's not a search bar in sight. WordPress is similar. WordPress.com and WordPress.org are two totally different websites, for two different platforms. And unlike Google, which is pretty open about the purpose of Google.org, WordPress's two different websites are confusing. They do very little to educate ... Keep Reading
New Year, New Rates
Happy New Year! Thank you for helping me have an amazing 2017. I hope you had a wonderful NYE, and are excited to see what 2018 will bring. I know I am! Now, down to business. 2017 was a really transformative year for me & my business. I'm working more (and more efficiently) than ever before. And it's awesome. But there's one part of my business that I haven't touched or updated since 2015... my rates. You probably know where this is going... I'll be brief: I'm raising my hourly rate from $35 to $50. Holiday and rush work is $75 per hour. As always, there's a one hour minimum, ... Keep Reading
My 2017 Goals Were Bad. Here Are My 2018 Goals.
When I think about it, 2017 was a really transformative year for my business. I started out the year freelancing under my own name, but in April I signed all the paperwork and re-branded as Overlock Design Company, LLC. Since then, I've been working on honing my brand, teaching myself new skills, and getting my business organized with contracts and standard processes. I am super proud of the growth and clarity I've experienced throughout the year. But it definitely wasn't the direction I had planned when I started 2017 off. My 2017 Goals (They're... bad.) When I went into the year, my ... Keep Reading
How to Add Facebook Sharing Images to Your Blog Posts
Facebook is a fantastic tool for so many bloggers and small businesses. Every day people use it connect with potential customers and build relationships. One of the most popular ways to do that is to share content from your website to Facebook. But Facebook sharing has some... frustrations when it comes to the images it pulls from you site. By default, Facebook tries to pull your featured image for to share for your blog posts. Sometimes, that doesn't quite work, and you end up with cutoff text or images. In the past, you could circumvent which image Facebook grabbed from your site by ... Keep Reading
Hello New Brand!
Branding is a huge part of web design. When I work with a client, I have to create a website that looks and feels the way they want their business to be presented. Colors, typography, even abstract concepts such as "bold" or "professional" all have to come through in the design. Getting to understand a client's tastes, goals, and business are all an important part of building a website that works for their business. When it comes to branding myself, and ODC, it's always been a struggle. I was always asking myself questions: Do I want to be a strict "professional" business, or more fun and ... Keep Reading
How To: Make It Snow on Your WordPress Website
You would think that, living in Maine, I probably see enough snow. But every single year, I am always delighted and surprised when little fluffy flakes start falling from the sky. Maybe it's the child in me. I also take great delight every December, when my WordPress website decides to start sprinkling little snowflakes across my screen. It's such a silly thing, but it adds a bit of cheer and personality that I find endearing. And if your website isn't already snowing, enabling it is super easy. Let it snow. Obviously, a snowing website doesn't suit everyone's tastes, and isn't ... Keep Reading