A Domain Name and the Lost World

I have learned a few more things about domain names, customer service and registrar company's of domain names. I use GoDaddy - I'm a big fan. I'm an affiliate of their products and I just love them. CEO Bob Parsons is actually one of my marketing heroes - he knows how to push the envelope just enough to get media attention but not be over the top and offend - it's quite a difficult balance to obtain.

Here's what I have also learned - GoDaddy has amazing customer service - 24/7 and guess what? Their nice and you can tell that they enjoy their jobs. You ever call your cell phone company or utility company and you know that these people just hate their jobs and are having a bad day and just want to make your day bad too? Those are the people that I kill with kindness - quite fun actually.

So here's the issue - Network Solutions - if you have domain names with them transfer to GoDaddy for $7 and run!!! I have always not been a fan of Network Solutions - they charge $34 a year for a domain name - the same name at GoDaddy is roughly around $10. How's that possible - quite frankly I have no idea. That's not my biggest problem. They have a rule: if your domain name expires you get 45 days and 2 emails then they release it. Really? GoDaddy - gives you an email every other day to renew and about 60-90 days - why? They must like their customer more?

Here's the problem. We all have things go on in our lives and yes domain names expire and sometimes you run out of time. My client had this exact problem, he has tons of domain names with them as well as a "Gold VIP Member" which apparently means nothing to network solutions because at midnight of day 45 they released the domain to the lost world. Now it's in "redemption land" and for the bargain price paid to network solutions of $150 they can get their domain name back or what 3-4 months until they release it out of redemption land to try and get it again.

Are you kidding me? I have been slowly migrating my clients services from network solutions to GoDaddy so I called them to see if they could help. Their representative actually took the time to really research and see if there was anything that they could do - that's customer service! He couldn't - because of the death grip that they have on it - but the fact he tried made all the difference.

We haven't decided which route we are going to go - pay $150 for a domain name they already own or let it go....my point don't do business with a company that doesn't value you as a client. The rep from Network solutions told me that in her opinion 45 days was plenty of time - you know what? Life Happens. Don't lecture me, help me.

My advice: stop paying $34 a year and move to GoDaddy for $10 a year where you can call a number at midnight, have a human answer and stay on the phone with you to answer all your questions.

In this world - customer service is everything.

To success!
Angelina
Phoenix Graphic Designer

St. Mary's Foodbank Damaged in Phoenix

I was told about this over the weekend - I think I must be in a cave for not watching the news! Phoenix was hit the other week with a powerful hail storm which caused the skylights at the St. Mary's Food bank to be broken out and the place filled with water. St. Mary's provides food to many needy families in the Valley. I have included the link to the video from the news on what happened and how to help. I know I'll be hitting the grocery store today and dropping off some canned goods!

To success!

Angelina
NThreeQ Media, LLC
Phoenix Graphic Design

One of our biggest projects - Literally!

I finally was able to take a drive out to Maricopa to snag some pictures of the billboard we did for a real estate agent. The billboard is 40ft. x 10ft. and is truly amazing! I posted some pics below!

NThreeQ can do it all - design, web, print!

To success,
Angelina
Phoenix Graphic Design

N3Q and it's Extreme website!

As a designer I try and distance myself from my designs, can't become attached because your feelings can get hurt and that's not what it's about - it really has nothing to do with me. However, we have just built-designed and launched probably one of the coolest websites. My programmer and I after 10 years in the industry are just giddy about it! Check it out - let me know what you think!

We did the logo, the entire website design and layout - we are doing stickers, t-shirts,and designed all the stationary and sell sheets. The book launches next year - it's just too exciting.

Website is livinginextremeways.com - and if you appreciate extreme sports check out the videos - there's a twist to this site but very cool.

To success!

Angelina
Phoenix Graphic Designer
NThreeQ Media, LLC

Social Media from one spot!

I'm in love with postling and have to share it with the world. As a graphic artist and business owner it's important that I connect to as many social media outlets possible. I constantly drive SEO home to my clients and have gotten in the habit of testing all my theories first. There are many of these systems out there for social media and so far my favorite is postling.com. It's a way for you to consolidate all of your social media in to one area so you are not having to log in to your wordpress, log in to tumbler, log in to facebook, log in to twitter etc. You can connect all of them to postling, log in there and if you write a blog you can select which blog you want it to post to, you want to update your status? You can do that and instantly post to your FB and twitter accounts. You can even insert the link from your blog on wordpress in to your status update for twitter.

It also gives you the ability to publish your posts now or later - you can schedule them to post even when you are doing other things. If you updgrade to their premium it shows you tracking and who's interacting with what the most. I love it, it's such a time saver and it gives me the ability to really work on spreading the word without having to log in to many, many other sites.

Check it out! You can even add your yelp and flicker accounts.

To success!
Angelina

Phoenix Graphic Designer
NThreeQ Media, LLC

Change of Scenery

I'm an artist. I can't conform to the norm. Nor do I want to. Nor do I have to!

Sure I can set my own hours and what not but every morning I still have to walk downstairs to my office. Sit in the same spot for 12 hours taking little breaks to go upstairs to get coffee and make a salad for lunch, but oh how is that getting to me! I don't have to get ready, and spend half the day in my running clothes before jumping though the shower but still....

So I think I'm going to coffee shop hop today. I'm starting at paradise bakery and will move around from there. Why not? People bar hop, why can't I coffee shop hop and hook up to free wifi spots? I am jamming out on my headphones to music and I'm sure a sight to see with my head bopping and shaking and mouthing the lyrics - at least I'm not singing out loud.

I needed a change of scenery, can't sit in that office any more and some how I feel very light-hearted and good today. A little refreshed I suppose - I was actually in my car at 8am driving which I believe it has been about 2 years since I have done that. I'm currently at paradise bakery having coffee and a muffin but I think that after that and my meeting I will go find another place to drink more coffee and find wifi and people watch - which happens to be one of my favorite things to do.

Who knew that's all it took to recharge yourself?!

To success,

Angelina
NThreeQ Media, LLC
Phoenix Graphic Design