hutchinson mn web designers Archives | Studio 544 Web Design

Temporary online landing pages

Studio 544 — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 17:23:53 +0000

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[wow_h3]Do you need a basic online “Coming Soon” page for your business or organization? [/wow_h3]
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Over the years, many clients have contacted Studio 544 to set up a “Coming Soon” or temporary online landing page for their new web sites until they are ready to move onto the next step of launching their regular website.
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Typically this “temporary” landing page will consist of their company logo, contact information and possibly even a signup form. It’s very basic but it allows them to lock in their domain name and at least be able to direct people to the site for their contact information. Click on the image of Quade Electric below to see an example of a temporary landing page set up by Studio 544.
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Think of a temporary landing page as a placeholder for your new web site.
Not only does a temporary landing page give your business a basic online presence but it allows you to do so at a fraction of the cost of a full web site. [highlight]Many businesses find this useful when budgeting for their website by breaking up the process into stages so they can set aside a small amount of money to get up and running with the temporary landing page until they have had time to figure out what they want to do with their regular website. [/highlight] It also allows them more time to accumulate content, images, etc. to include on the full web site.
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Contact Mark Lewandowski at Studio 544 in Hutchinson, MN today to find out how easy it can be to get a temporary landing page or coming soon page set up for your business or organization.
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Looking for a responsive web site?

Studio 544 — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 19:34:33 +0000

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[wow_h3]Have you outgrown your current web site? [/wow_h3]
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This happens pretty often and a lot of the web design projects Studio 544 works on involve re-designing existing web sites or giving them a "cyber facelift".
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A perfect example of this involves one of Studio 544’s clients – Hair Loss Solutions. [/wow_h4]Their original web site was created using a non-responsive WordPress theme 2-3 years ago. At the time, it was fine because the mobile responsive craze had not fully entered the picture yet and their web site served the purpose of letting people know about their services, location, specials and history.
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New Web Site – Hair Loss Solutions

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Old Web Site – Hair Loss Solutions

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However, after many clients of Hair Loss Solutions suggested they were having trouble viewing the website from their smart phones or tablets, the owner, Chrissy Tebben realized it was time to bite the bullet and upgrade their web site to something more streamlined, modern and above all – RESPONSIVE!
On the flipside, Studio 544 Web Design also realizes the fact that not all small businesses or organizations can afford to re-do their web site. And, depending on the industry, a mobile responsive site may not be 100% necessary.
For example, if your target audience is someone you think may not ever view your site from a smart phone or tablet, by all means forget about the need for a responsive web site. [highlight]However if your clients or customers have mentioned issues they have been having trying to pull up your web site on their smart phone maybe it’s time you consider that "cyber facelift".[/highlight]
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[wow_h4]Still not sure if you need a responsive web site?[/wow_h4]
In case you haven’t noticed, smart phones have become nearly as common of an accessory as a watch or belt. Just walk down any city street or mall and count how many people you see texting or talking on their phones. Here are some interesting stats from Smart Insights that will help get the point across:
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More than 20 percent of Google searches are now being performed on some sort of mobile device.
In 2012 over half of all local searches were done on a mobile device.
25 percent of Internet users only access the internet via a mobile device in the United States.
25.85 percent of all emails are opened on mobile phones, with another 10.16 percent being opened on tablets.
In 2014 mobile Internet usage is expected to overtake desktop usage.
Out of the 4 billion mobile phones in the world, 1.08 billion are smartphones and 3.05 are SMS enabled.

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Contact Mark Lewandowski at Studio 544 in Hutchinson, MN today to find out what would be involved in converting your existing web site into a responsive web site.
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Michael Maher Band Hires Studio 544

Studio 544 — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 01:22:14 +0000

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[wow_h3] [wow_colorme]The Christian rock group from Michigan hires Studio 544 to design their band’s new web site![/wow_colorme] [/wow_h3]
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The Michael Maher Band from Hartland, Michigan is a Christian rock/worship group. They had originally designed their own web site but quickly realized they needed something more professional before they departed for their international tour in the Philippines for October 2014. The band’s new website can be found at www.michaelmaherband.com.

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The band’s new website includes digital tracks to all of their music; links to purchase their CD’s as well as a full featured e-commerce shop created in Woo Commerce for the band to sell their music and merchandise. Other features include a blog; testimonials section; newsletter signup and a tour schedule to all of the Michael Maher Band’s fans can follow their favorite Christian rock/worship group.
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If I don’t say in EVERY email that the website is looking great, let me say it now: THE WEBSITE IS LOOKING GREAT!!! WOW!!! IT IS SO GREAT!!!
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If your band is looking to take your group’s web site to the next level or just create an online presence, contact Studio 544 today for more information.

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Twin Cities Polish Festival Gets A Facelift

Studio 544 — Thu, 22 May 2014 14:07:20 +0000

[wow_grayarea][wow_lead][wow_h1]Studio 544 gives the Twin Cities Polish Festival’s website a facelift[/wow_h1][/wow_lead][/wow_grayarea]
This is the fourth year Mark Lewandowski at Studio 544 Web Design in Hutchinson, MN has been involved in promoting one of the most popular cultural events in Minnesota – the Twin Cities Polish Festival. The latest effort is a complete re-design of the festival’s web site. The site can be found here: http://www.tcpolishfestival.org.

Twin Cities Polish Festival in Minneapolis, MN

Each year, the Twin Cities Polish Festival has managed to increase its attendance and this year should be no exception. With a variety of entertainment and activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy along the banks of the beautiful Mississippi River in old St. Anthony Main in Minneapolis, MN.
[wow_colorme]Since 1998, Studio 544 Web Design has been providing businesses and organizations across the U.S. with cost effective, professional web design services.[/wow_colorme] Whether you are just getting your business off the ground and want a web site to help promote it or feel the need to add (or improve) your existing website, contact Studio 544 for a FREE, no obligation quote.

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What is Creativity?

Studio 544 — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 20:41:13 +0000

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[wow_h3]Hey everybody! Did you know there is another “C” word out there besides “cancer”? [wow_colorme]It’s called CREATIVITY![/wow_colorme] [/wow_h3]
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And much like the disease, [wow_colorme]creativity[/wow_colorme] can spread through your body and make a statement about you as a person or organization. I’m always amazed when I come across something that blows the creative lid off the pot and gets me thinking. I actually came across the video below by accident while I was researching a musical artist (Jef Stott). If you need an injection of visual and audio bliss, take a few minutes to watch and listen to this remarkable video.

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When you are shopping for a new car, how many of you would prefer to order a vehicle with everything you want on it or just take what’s available at the dealer’s lot?[/wow_h4] And when you’re cooking a nice meal, do you like to add spices, herbs, etc. to make it tastier or simply add the basic ingredients and eat a tasteless meal?
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This is the same thinking you should put into choosing the company you hire to build your online presence – your web site! Let’s face it; there are tons of choices out there when it comes to web designers and web design companies. Many of them are good and many of them are not.
[highlight]You can have 2 different web designers working on the same base web theme and come out with 2 completely different looking and functioning web sites.[/highlight] Much like the options on a car and the spices in your recipe, it all comes down to creativity and if the company or freelance web designer you hire is willing to go the extra mile to ensure your site is unique and exceeds your expectations.
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I deliver a professional web site to you at an affordable price while starting a lasting working relationship with you or your organization. [wow_colorme]There is a reason why many of Studio 544’s clients come from referrals of existing clients.[/wow_colorme]
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Discover the other “C” word for yourself and contact me today to learn more about what Studio 544 Web Design can do for you.

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WordPress.com Hosted Web Sites

Studio 544 — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 23:09:25 +0000

Are you thinking about using WordPress.com to host your business or organization’s web site?

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This recently came up with a client of Studio 544 and I thought my findings might be helpful for others considering using WordPress.com hosting services.
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Wordpress is a GREAT CMS (Content Management System) and one that I often recommend to my web design clients when it comes to their projects. It’s loaded with powerful editing features right out of the box and there’s a multitude of free (and paid) plugins that can do just about anything you will ever need for your web site. The community support at WordPress.org is wonderful and most hosting companies include WordPress as part of their cPanel arsenal to allow for one-click installation.
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While the free hosting services offered by WordPress.com may be fine for personal blogs, students, grandparents, etc. it is not something I would recommend for my web clients.
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Aside from the added security you may get from a WordPress.com hosted site because of not being able to install third-party plugins, this is about the only benefit I can see in going that route. On the flip side, It’s also one of the biggest disadvantages of hosting a site with WordPress.com. Why would you want to limit your site’s functionality to the standard features that come with their hosting packages when there are so many fantastic WordPress plugins that can bring your web site’s functionality to the next level?
On several occasions while working with my client on their WordPress.com hosted site, the features they were asking for just could not be done because of the inability to install any third party plug-ins and many other request required work-arounds to accomplish the desired results. If you’d like to watch a video that explains the differences between a hosted and non-hosted WordPress site, click here for more information.
On top of this, it also seems like most WordPress.com Premium themes are considerably more costly than other premium WordPress themes and offer fewer features plus much more basic designs. WordPress.com offers several available upgrades to their hosting packages but read carefully about what they do and how much extra they will cost you. You can read more about WordPress.com available upgrades.

Contact Mark Lewandowski at Studio 544 Web Design in Hutchinson, MN today to learn more about the professional freelance web designer services offered.

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To Blog Or Not To Blog

Studio 544 — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 13:35:29 +0000

Basic Blogging Principles

This question came up today with one of my clients and I have found the answer to be pretty straight forward.
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If you have something worth writing about and are willing to take the time to write about it on a regular basis, go for it. If not, what’s the point?
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I have come across so many websites over the years with blog elements on them and am always amazed at how many of them will include 1 or 2 posts a year. Really? I have been guilty about not keeping up with my own Studio 544 blog. Let’s face it. We get busy. Our clients’ projects take precedence over our own and before you know it, months have past without any new postings.
If you’ve made the decision to start a blog or add a blog to your web site, it’s very important to dedicate some time on a regular basis to write your posts and articles that will want people to keep coming back for more.
With that being said, the second point I always make to my clients is if you really want a blog, make sure you have something interesting to write about. Here is a great guide to get you started on your blog: How to write and create great blog content.
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Following these two basic principles can help make your blog more successful and in theory help to drive more traffic to your web site.
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If you are thinking of creating a blog site for your business or organization, feel free to contact freelance web designer Mark Lewandowski Studio 544 Web Design in Hutchinson, MN for a FREE quote.

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Pay Per Click Advertising

Studio 544 — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:07:46 +0000

Is pay per click advertising right for you? Many of my clients ask me about this at one point or another regarding the promotion of their web site, business and services. The short answer is “It all depends.” I know this may sound vague but you need to ask yourself some basic questions before jumping into pay per click advertising.

Are pay per click ads right for you?

Do I have something special to promote or sell? It’s been my experience over the years that using pay per click advertising to promote a special offer or sale typically works better than using it to simply promote your business in general.
Do you have a budget set for your ads? It’s important to have an idea about how much the keywords you want to bid on with your ads will cost. Some keywords are more affordable than others and that discount coupon you may have received in the mail from Google Ad Words can be used up pretty quickly if your keywords are commanding some seriously high bids for decent placement.
Do you have the time and knowledge necessary to set up and monitor your ad campaigns? This is where talking with a professional web company or freelance web designer like Studio 544 comes in. A proper ad campaign requires frequent tweaking and adjusting to ensure you are getting the most for your ad budget. With over 10 years of experience in setting up and administering pay per click ad campaigns on both Google and the Bing/Yahoo network, I can take the anxiety out of this for you.

Take advantage of the reports and stats available to you. This is really the best way to analyze your campaign’s performance. I go over all of these points with my clients and encourage them to ask questions and contribute their input. After all, they know their business better than I do so I rely on them in the beginning set up stages to think carefully about what they think will entice someone searching for them online to “take the bait”.

Studio 544 can help generate more traffic to your web sites through the use of pay per click advertising but once they click, it’s up to the content of the site and the quality of the offer that will determine whether or not the site visitor will be converted into a paying customer.

Contact freelance web designer Mark Lewandowski at Studio 544 in Hutchinson, MN today to find out if a pay per click advertising campaign is right for your business or organization.

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Shopping for a web designer

Studio 544 — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:51:01 +0000

If you’ve been thinking about getting a web site for your business or organization and don’t really know where to begin, one of the first things you should do is figure out what you really need on your site (pages, content, features) and how much you want to spend. The number of people who contact Studio 544 for website design are in the minority when it comes to really knowing what they want and how much a professional web site should cost.
Many of them come to me after they have listened to a “song and dance” routine from other freelance web designers or web design companies who have a tendency to tell them what they should have rather than ask them what they really need and want. This is where Studio 544 is different and quite frankly, this is why I am able to obtain new clients from across the country on a regular basis. I cut through the b.s. and actually take the time to listen to client’s questions and concerns.
Being a small business with a limited budget myself, I understand that not everyone out there can afford a $10,000+ site nor do they need anything like that in most cases. 9 times out of 10, there is a solution out there we can pursue that will fit within your budget and provide you with a clean, professional, easy to navigate website that you can be proud of. Many of Studio 544’s clients are repeat customers or referrals. There is a reason why. Contact Mark Lewandowski at Studio 544 in Hutchinson, MN today to find out for yourself.

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The Twin Cities Polish Festival Has A New Webmaster – Studio 544!

Studio 544 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:54:14 +0000

One of the most popular ethnic events in Minneapolis – the Twin Cities Polish Festival has teamed up with Mark Lewandowski at Studio 544 in Hutchinson, MN to completely re-design their existing web site at: www.tcpolishfestival.org.

Twin Cities Polish Festival

This will be a work in progress as content will be added on a regular basis including multiple photo galleries, vendor applications, volunteer forms and sponsor information. Studio 544 is proud to be involved in this fun and exciting charitable project.
The Twin Cities Polish Festival will immerse Minnesotans and visitors in “all things Polish”, presenting a kaleidoscope of unique cultural and educational displays, food and top-notch entertainment. The festival takes place each August at St. Anthony Main on the banks of the beautiful Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis.

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