Print is so last century, Right? Not always the case. There are reasons why print magazines and newspapers continue to sell. Some of them might be personal inertia and the slow penetration of electronic publication.

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However, a glossy print magazine still has a strong appeal. How can a website designer take the good parts of print and use them to make an even better site? Here are a few tips:

1. Browsing is often easier in print. Pick up a magazine. It has a table of contents in the front and all you have to do is flick to the right page. It’s often a temptation to make your index page complicated with nested drop downs, but consider taking a leaf from the print book and going with a table of contacts with each header linked. More and more, users want everything simple and uncluttered.

2. Imagery. Most web sites have standard clip art, which is readily recognizable…from three sites ago. Paying the extra money to get custom graphics for your site, just like print magazines, will make your site stand out from the crowd. What makes you pick up that particular magazine? The glossy, original cover image. Even taking your own camera out and collecting a few suitable pictures is better than going to the clip art library.

3. Fonts and text. Not that long ago it was Helvetica everywhere. You used to have to be sure your site could run on any computer, and that meant the lowest common denominator. These days, that limitation is all but gone and the imagination can run wild. The best print magazines use a distinctive, yet readable font, one that makes you know immediately you have an issue of National Geographic or People in front of you.

4. Advertising. Look at a print magazine, and you will see careful thought put into every ad. Right columns are a different size from left columns. On the web, there is a tendency to plug in an algorithm and use a standard size. If your ads change often, then this is a good idea. However, if you sell your own advertising and can spend a bit of extra time making sure that the adverts smoothly fit in with the page and truly match the content, then your customers will be far less likely to reach for that ad blocker.

5. The rhythm of the book. When you read a magazine or a periodical, there is a flow to it, one that comes from the careful selection of articles in a specific order. Because on the web people go to ‘whatever interests them’, designers seldom try to seek a coherent rhythm to a site. But rhythm is what makes you turn the next page. A careful use of font size and color can keep your readers going from one article to the next, leading them along a good ‘route’ through the site.

There are many other ways in which applying print techniques to the web can make your site more appealing and keep visitors there longer. This trend is likely not a fad or a flash in the pan, but a long-term evolution of web design as technology improves and as tablet devices become a more common way to browse the web.

I have been trying to break into the Internet Marketing world, and this requires a lot of work on my part – writing articles, creating websites, etc. For the past few weeks, I have been feeling so lazy when it comes to actually creating something or writing articles. I even paid people to write articles for me. My productivity was down, way down, until I made one simple change. It’s so simple, you’re going to laugh.

Well, before this, I used an IKEA chair to be on the computer. It’s pink and cute and matches my room! The only thing is that it’s curved, so you can really only sit in it one way. This had been getting really uncomfortable. I only realized this now. So, what did I do? I ran to my dining room and grabbed a chair from there, and put it in my room. Now, this is a heavy non-rolling chair. So, I put it at a comfortable distance from my desk, grabbed a blanket, put on some socks, and moved my monitor a few inches closer. BAM. Instant productivity boost. Sounds trivial, but it seriously works. Now I can sit in any position I want – criss-cross applesauce, crossing legs, one leg up one leg down, anything! Before I could only have both legs on the ground.

Why don’t you try changing somethings up a bit around your workspace? Get a new wallpaper! Try changing your chair, or seating position. Maybe even move your desktop! These little changes made a big impact for me. I feel so much better and ready to work! (Heck, I’m writing this now! It usually takes me twice as long to write and publish an article.)

If you’re asking about the socks, it’s cold in here

Let us know if you had any success with making subtle changes by commenting below! If you like the posts on this blog, don’t forget to sign up for email updates!

As a teenager, you’d probably be thinking to yourself, why should I attend X, as a teen? Well, if you are somebody with a passion/interest/business in that field then maybe you should.

There are events for any and everything you have interests for. In order to network yourself successfully, you should try to attend some type of profesional event that deals with something you can relate to.

For instance, I am going to be attending WordCamp Miami 2010 in a few weeks. Why you ask? I really have a passion for web design and development; and this will be something I am going to peruse in the future. At an event like this, I can network myself and show older designers and developers what a teen can really do. (Not to mention that an event dedicated to WordPress is something I would attend for fun as well) I have never properly networked myself. But an opportunity like this is amazing to meet new people.

Why Would you Want to Network?

Meeting people can do so much for your online [and offline] presence; for example, lets say you had a small craft business, and you attend (or even had set up a booth to ell) a local crafting event. Fellow (befriended) crafters would mention you in their websites/tweets, or you could even meet a store owner willing to display and sell your products. Even one mention in a large blog could boost web traffic and/or sales tremendously.

Wherever you go, Think Big

Attending local events like these can be fun, but dont forget to take advantage of the situation. Design some business cards, and hand them out as you meet potential friends, clients, or employers.

What Kind of Events Should I Attend?

A lot of local events aren’t expensive to go to; for example the WordCamp Miami I mentioned earlier was only $30 per ticket. That may sound like a lot, but when broken down, it’s really not.

• Free Lunch
• Free Tee
• Swag Bag
• Hours of soaking up advice from spakers
• Networking Opportunities
• FUN!

Do some research in your area, and see if there are any events you could go to!

Last minute advice; attend an event that pertains to something you love. For example, if you like Photography, but really have a passion for painting, don’t attend something related to Photography, spend the effort into going to an art exhibit or event. You’ll meet people that can relate to you, and be further inspired to pursue your goals and dreams.

PLEASE NOTE: Don’t go to an event or meet up by yourself. Make sure you go with a buddy, or PARENT, as it isn’t safe to be vulnerable and alone at an event or meetup.

1. School Projects

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. But, I honestly use a heck of a lot of paper for school! Anytime that I do a project that is visual or that needs to be done on construction paper, I just use colorful scrapbook paper. It’s the perfect size (I use one 12 x12 sheet most of the time) and way more interesting than boring construction paper! Below are some examples of the school projects I have recently done.

2. Cards

I’m talking about Greeting Cards and Thank You cards! It’s pretty easy to do actually… For a Thank You card, I would just cut a rectangle that is 8″in wide and 4″in tall. Then I would just fold it in half and write on the inside. Depending on the time I have, I sometimes decorate the front or the 4 x4″ envelope. For a Greeting Card, I think I would just do like a rectangle… Maybe 8″ x 6″ and then fold it in half? My mom asks me to make thank you cards all the time, and they sure do come in handy around Christmas and holidays! Oh, also — I only use paper that is completely blank on the back because sometimes the paper comes with legal info and stuff like that on the back.

3. Die Cuts and Punches

I have a few punches, one is a tag template, one is a small circle and another is a flower. I use colorful scrapbook papers to cut punched paper! The flower and circle are better for embellishments, while the tag is obviously a tag! Note that in this picture, I’m not using scrapbook paper, but some vintage paper. Nonetheless, you get the idea!

4. Paper Beads

Although most scrapbook papers are thick, some are thinner. You can create paper beads with many different varying thicknesses of paper, which in turn will give you thicker or thinner bead. Because scrapbook paper comes very colorful and long, they make excellent papers for making paper beads. Check out PaperBeads.Org for tutorials!

5. Everything Else!

There are tons of other things that you can use scrapbook paper for! Like covering clothespins, making matchbook notecards, making envelopes, as a backdrop for photos, pencil covers and a lot more!

The theme is Social Network Sites. Your challenge is to redesign your favorite networking site, whether it be Twitter, Facebook or even a popular blog or website. *cough*Craigslist*cough* It doesn’t have to be coded, but rather a mock up; big or small. You could even draw something if you happen to be bored in class or whatever Have fun guys. This challenge ends on April 13th 2010.

As always, have fun and spread the word! :3

I’ll post my entry soon.

I really hope you guys enter; I love seeing your ideas!

A moleskine is basically a designers prefers choice when it comes to notebooks. They come in many colors, sizes, and varieties, some are even guides to big cities like New York or Amsterdam. Also, they aren’t cheesy like other notebooks, due to their high quality. Personally, I love mine because of the size, and the amounts of things I can do with it. The pocket in the back is also very useful.

From WikiPedia:

Moleskine is a brand of notebooks, planners, diaries, sketchbooks and albums manufactured by Moleskine Srl, an Italian company based in Milan. Moleskine notebooks are typically bound in oilcloth-covered cardboard, with an elastic band to hold the notebook closed, a sewn spine that allows it to lie flat when opened, cream colour paper, rounded corners, a ribbon bookmark, an expandable pocket inside the rear cover, all packed in a paper banderole.

Molekines are amazing notebooks. I use moleskine (its the ruled notebook) as a ‘lifeplanner’, in which holds planner pages and calendars which I draw out, my to-do lists, things I have to remember and whatever is on my mind. Plus, it’s small, so I take it everywhere, and perfect for GTD.

What’s GTD?

From the creator, David Allen himself;

GTD® is the popular shorthand for “Getting Things Done®”, … by David Allen. David has continued to test and refine the techniques and principles we now know as GTD – a powerful method to manage commitments, information, and communication.

Sophisticated without being confining, the subtle effectiveness of GTD lies in its radically common sense notion that with a complete and current inventory of all your commitments, organized and reviewed in a systematic way, you can focus clearly, view your world from optimal angles and make trusted choices about what to do (and not do) at any moment.

Moleskines have been popular for using GTD techniques on, some which I use myself. Check out some of these amazing articles/tutorials!

43 Folders | Getting started with “Getting Things Done”

PigPogPDA – A Moleskine Hacked into a Complete System

Create a Moleskine PDA: The Student GTD Hack

Hacking a GTD Moleskine

Getting Things Done (GTD) with a Moleskine

The Monster Collection of Moleskine Tips, Tricks, and Hacks (!!)

Diary Moleskine Hack

Ok, where can I find these amazing things?

In personal experience, I have found moleskines at bookstores like Barnes & Nobles, but you can also buy them online. I suggest you check out the official catalogue, you’d be suprised how many types of moleskines there are!

PS. I bought my mom a moleskine planner on eBay, and well, she really likes it!

Do you use any kind of planner in your daily life? Let us know about it!