In the past, I’ve had some strong words for Flash websites.  Mainly I didn’t care for them.

Let’s start with I felt like they all looked the same. But that could be because so many people used the same company for their sites so they really were all the same.

They took forever to load. Some do, at least.  Some still do.

Music! Gah, I really really dislike automatically starting music on a website.  I dislike it even more on a blog.  If I want to hear music, I’ll ask for it.  A music video is different because you are prepared for it.  And you can choose when to start it.  But when I’m surfing along while watching TV and I hit a site with music and I’ve forgotten to mute, I find myself frantically searching for the way to turn it off.  I actually usually just keep my computer muted so if you have music, I don’t know anyway.  And if you are using unlicensed music (which I’ve noticed a lot of folks do), um, go get some licensed music.

One big site. I know when I send my email newsletter out, I like to link to specific pages in my site.  And when I get an inquiry I like to be able to link directly to certain pages on my site…maybe the pricing page, or the scheduling page.  I noticed that so many sites are just one big site with no way to link to a certain section of the site.  Instead you’d have to send your client instructions “click here, click there”.  No thanks.

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Now, I’ll admit.  I, um, have been tempted by the pretty look.  The lovely slideshows.  The easy updating.

So when BigFolio ran a twitter contest a while back I competed hoping to win a free site.  And I did!  I won their new Arch Cape template.  I figured I would use it for a sub-brand I was in the process of creating for my seniors and engagement sessions.

But the more I worked with it, the more I loved it.  And I realized, I really wanted to use it for my whole site.  So I made a few adjustments and got it up and running to replace my previous HTML website.

What did I like?  The interface for customizing the site was really easy.  They have design documentation to make it easier to fine tune the look of the site.

Each “page” within the Flash template has a distinct URL, which means you can link to an interior page of your site.  A HUGE bonus for me!  And with my Google Analytics code installed (they have a box you paste it into during setup-EASY), I can actually see what parts of the site get the most traffic, or where visitors spend the most time.  I think more of the flash sites are starting to work this way, but I think BigFolio is doing a good job with the way they handle it.

I’ve heard other friends complain about the customer service with their website hosts or the company they buy their template from.  And in one company in particular I’ve heard LOTS of complaints about downtime, taking forever to get responses from customer service, taking a long time to get the site up, etc.  I’ve heard so many complaints I vowed never to buy a site from them (you probably know who I’m talking about but I since I’ve not used them personally I won’t put the name here).  I can tell you I’ve had the opposite experience with BigFolio. I submitted trouble tickets and always got responses right away.  I haven’t experienced any trouble with downtime.  I did choose to keep management of my email separate since I already had that setup and they were fine with that too.

When I first launched my site, I will admit the HTML version of it was kinda, well, a mess.  I contacted BigFolio and they got their developer right on it to clean it up.  I’m guessing I was the first Arch Cape customer to choose the option for an HTML site in addition to the Flash version so the template for the HTML version just didn’t have the bugs worked out (for example, the primary image wasn’t even one of my pictures).  I will admit, I don’t love the HTML version of the site but it works fine, provides a search engine friendly version of my site, and based on the traffic from my analytics, the majority of the visitors click on the Flash version of the site anyway so I’m not going to worry too much about it.

As an optional feature, I did go ahead and purchase their SmallFolio add-on which is a $49 add on to create a iphone version of your site.  It is so cool!  And the best part, because I have a site with them, I bought it-they set it up and magically I had an iPhone compatible version of my site. It was a really fast turn around.   Looking at my visitor stats, I can see that when I sent out my last email newsletter-I had a big bump in my iPhone visitors too…reminding me that so many people check their email on their phones!

BTW, I wanted to note that I’ve gotten very positive feedback from my clients regarding my new site.  I streamlined the content quite a bit so I think it is easier to find information AND they love the way it looks.

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Thank you, Jessica!

To read more about Bubblegum Tree and this article, visit Jessica’s blog!

“I am not a computer person I am an artist. That’s what I have been since I was 5. I started shooting while modeling in Paris and I didn’t go digital till 2002. Which meant no computers. I am not a graphic artist. I would prefer to move paint across paper than a mouse across a screen. But because I love the media of photographer I have been stretching ever since. I found BF in 2006. Support was the most important thing to me and patience with nice people. Like I said I am not a computer person. I find myself in a work world that demands I be, but I am not. So I was clear I need happy patient kind people to work with me. I want to paint and photograph and write and now a light room and some Photoshop are fun, but SEO? What? Make a logo. I swear I want o swear and throw my camera. The process of working with BF these last 3 years has been a big learning experience. I decided they were patient and nice enough for me so I stayed and expanded. Then I needed and SEO, I knew BF had to do it. I think it was $800.00 a lot for me, but it was absolute magic I have like 70% score one of my computer grooms told me (he has in company in Chico ca for search engines stuff). I asked him if I should modify any of it. His response “Hell no, corporations would kill for this score”. So when it was time to redo my half made logo I knew where I needed to go. BF represents quality with just the right amount of customer service and excellent delivery. Computers equal frustration and I don’t really have that with BF.

I knew when I looked at her work that she had done for me, she had really listened to me. We went back and forth with a few small adjustments and it was finished.I am very pleased, which is rare.

I love Big Folio and I as I have been growing my little start up studio they have been growing with me. I like it that way.”

Kim James Photographer
Owner
1000 Words Productions
Home of
www.kimjamesphoto.com/blog
www.kimjamesfineart.com
www.kimjamesphoto.com
www.kimjamespresesnts.com

_______________

The whole experience I’ve had with Bigfolio so far has been nothing short of amazing. Everything works as advertised (I found that to be rather spectacular to be honest – since it seems “everyone is lying on their resumé these days”). The setup was fast, the site’s transfer-speed is great – it loads fast and smooth, and the backend is very intuitive, so you can actually start updating your site instantly without having to read through a long boring pdf user manual just to find out where the various functionality is located. I used to design my own sites in flash and html, but found I spent more and more time keeping my sites up to date. I spent ALOT of time checking out almost every single similar service out there to make sure I made the right choice – and at this point, I’m pretty sure I did I’m actually considering moving my two other business and artist sites to you once I get this one ready!

Kind regards,

Espen Alexander Andersen

HURRY! ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER! SEATING IS LIMITED!

Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 for Photographers

Coming to Portland, OR | Thursday, February 18, 2010

Join Ben Willmore as he shows you how to master your digital photography and apply the hottest and most cutting-edge Photoshop techniques to take your photography skills to a whole new level!

You’ll learn extremely powerful Photoshop techniques such as adjustment essentials by exploring Photoshop CS4’s new adjustments and masks panels and see how they can solve even the most challenging adjustment issues.

You’ll also learn how to control the viewer’s experience by directing your viewer’s eye through your photographs by adjusting tone, color, and sharpness. Learn how to produce images that would be impossible in a traditional darkroom, such as, how to slow down water without slow shutter speeds, reduce or eliminate environmental mist, changing background colors by filtering the subject’s light, creative light painting and streak photos with a difference, shooting techniques that ensure accurate color and skin tones, how to combine two less-than-ideal shots to produce an acceptable result, hand-held extreme panoramas that will blow your mind, a two-shot process for making flash look natural, simulating sunrise or sunset light, and much, much more!

Seriously. If you plan to be in business for longer than a year… there’s no reason not to do this. Except maybe if you prefer to spend lots and lots of extra money.

ONLY 2!

Take a quick peek here to get info!

Hurry, hurry!

really, HAPPY!

From Danny Flynn of Flynn Photography

We’re experts in WordPress and are currently rolling out a number of products and services. Keep your peepers peeled, new designs are coming soon!

But for now, we have  just released a funky new theme just for you! It’s vintage, it’s rough and it’s just different enough to inspire more blogging!

Nutmeg WordPress Theme

As a studio owner, you know exactly what it takes to make your portraits and your business stand above the rest. Your very own iPhone app will help you stand out and promote the uniqueness of your studio and help you grow your client base.

With an extremely affordable price of just $249 which includes complete initial set-up, year one hosting, client support, all iPhone app upgrades and new features in your first year, your very own custom branded iPhone app with your studio name on it will help build your business and your brand for years to come. Check out all the features and functionality of your own custom iPhone app built specifically for professional photography studios.

Use our promo code ‘bigfolio’ and get $30 off if purchased by March 31, 2010!

This is a new lovely mark for Yhudis New who came to us wanting a new look for her portrait business.  She focuses on newborns and children and wanted something fresh and sweet. Take a peek!

Special: Any current BIG Folio design.

Lifetime accounts include:

• Setup of any one of our amazing website designs on our professional hosting platform
• Hosting of your site for life (you’ll never pay a monthly fee)
• A NextProof Basic Account for life
• A copy of our SEO DVD for Photographers

All for a one-time payment of $1,000. That’s right–a great website, an incredible proofing platform, and never having to pay a monthly fee again. Act now because only 10 are available and only through the end of February.

Don’t need a new site but know someone who does? Refer a friend who purchases a lifetime account and you’ll receive a NextProof Basic Account for life too!

To grab one of 10 lifetime accounts, email me directly at mike@bigfolio.com.