Tuesday, December 29, 2009

I never blog anymore! {{and a logo design contest!}}

Whew! It's been forever since I sat down to blog here. In the last several months Suga Pink Designs has gotten a brand new look (see it here) and now Bizzy Mama Hosting is in the process of getting one, too! Now, this blog needs a new look. It's on the agenda!

I have lots of exciting things planned for the new year, and I'm going to try to make more time to blog about all the things going on!

Now, on to the real reason for this post!! We've reached 500 (actually closer to 600 now) fans on both our Suga Pink Designs, AND Bizzy Mama Hosting facebook fan pages! We're so excited that we'll be giving away not one, but TWO logo designs to thank our fans for their continued support!

{{two logo designs are being given away- each contestant, regardless of number of entries is only entitled to one logo design. If the same person wins twice, we will continue to draw numbers until a different person is chosen!}}


How to enter:

Remember- you can enter up to 10 different times by completing one of the tasks below! Just post separate comments for each task!

1. Sign up to follow this blog and leave a separate comment below stating you are a follower (current followers welcome - just post that you are currently a follower).

2. Follow this blog through networked blogs, and post a comment below stating that you are following (current followers welcome - just post that you are currently a follower).

3. Become a fan of Suga Pink Designs on Facebook and leave a separate comment below stating you are a fan. (Current fans also welcome! Just post that you are a fan! Separate posts, please!)

4. Become a fan of Bizzy Mama Hosting on Facebook and leave a separate comment below stating you are a fan. (Current fans also welcome! Just post that you are a fan! Separate posts, please!)

5. Suggest your friends become a fan of Suga Pink Designs on Facebook and leave a separate comment below stating you passed us on! (use the "suggest to friends" link located under our profile image on the fan page!)

6. Suggest your friends become a fan of Bizzy Mama Hosting on Facebook and leave a separate comment below stating you passed us on! (use the "suggest to friends" link located under our profile image on the fan page!)

7. Post about our contest on Facebook and leave a separate comment stating you have done so.

8. Blog about our contest on your blog and leave a comment below stating that you have done so.

9. Review Suga Pink Designs on your blog and leave a separate comment below!

10. Review Bizzy Mama Hosting on your blog and leave a separate comment below!

Very important! In at least one comment you submit make sure you leave an email or a way for us to contact you if you are the winner!!!

Remember- you can enter up to 10 different times by completing one of the tasks above! Just post separate comments for each task!

The Winner will be chosen randomly from their comments posted below using Random.org so it is very important that you leave a separate comment below for each entry! Giveaway ends on 01-29-10 at 12:00 midnight central time. Winner will be announced and contacted 01-30-10!

Good luck!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

SEO Gal's Blog Hop Winner!

We're so excited to announce the winner for the SEO Gal's Blog hop $50.00 Suga Pink Designs gift card giveaway!!

Random.org winner:



Comment #20:



yay! Congratulations, Michelle!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

My SEO Gal's Official Blog Hop!




We're so thrilled to be a part of the SEO Gal's official blog hop!

To celebrate, we're giving away a $50.00 gift certificate to Suga Pink Designs! Gift certificate is good on any design service! It can be put to a larger purchase, or used alone for any of our products. Photo cards, pre-made business cards, pre-made web templates, or any other pretty things you find in our online studio!


How to enter:

1. Visit Suga Pink Designs and let us know in a comment below which item(s) you might use your gift certificate on if you win!

2. Sign up to follow this blog and leave a separate comment below stating you are a follower (current followers welcome - just post that you are currently a follower).

3. Become our fan on Facebook and leave a separate comment below stating you are a fan. (Current fans also welcome! Just post that you are a fan! Separate posts, please!)

4. Post about our contest on Facebook and leave a separate comment stating you have done so.

5. Blog about our contest on your blog and leave a comment below stating that you have done so.

6. Review Suga Pink Designs on your blog and leave a separate comment below!

Very important! In at least one comment you submit make sure you leave an email or a way for us to contact you if you are the winner!!!

Remember- you can enter up to 6 different times by completing one of the tasks above! Just post separate comments for each task!

The Winner will be chosen randomly from their comments posted below using Random.org so it is very important that you leave a separate comment below for each entry! Giveaway ends on 10-21-09 at 12:00 midnight central time. Winner will be announced and contacted 10-22-09!

Good luck!



MckLinky Blog Hop

Monday, September 28, 2009

Blog Hop Coming Soon!

Oh, we couldn't be more excited!! Here's some information on the upcoming events!!

My SEO Gal's Network Circle Blog Hop!

Friday, September 4, 2009

The problem with a so-so design...

I've talked about this a little before, but I'd like to touch on it again, just briefly. If you see what your website isn't doing so well, if your views are not converting to sales, but your SEO is top notch, and you are getting a ton of hits- have you considered the possibility that maybe the problem is your design? Many people (myself included) see a so-so, or let's face it, outright crappy, website design and won't feel comfortable shopping with you. It's a simple fact, if your website needs work, people are going to project that to your whole business and products!

Reviews Coming Soon!

I'm so excited to announce that we are going to start doing some website reviews in the upcoming weeks! If you have a product or website you would like us to review (or you would like to review one of my businesses!) please feel free to contact me to be put on the list! Jenni@sugapink.com

Thanks!!


xoxo

-Jenni

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Bizzy Mama Hosting

We have exciting news!! Suga Pink Designs is growing so much, we've decided to branch out into web hosting as well! We're currently working behind the scenes to pull everything together for the big launch scheduled for 09/01/09! We set up our facebook page less than 24 hours ago, and we already have over 100 fans!! We really appreciate the enthusiasm and support we are getting from our wonderful friends and clients! Thanks for everything!

Don't forget to bookmark the page to get ready for us going live! (Oh, and check back, cause we'll be posting some great affiliate news soon!)

Click here to be taken to Bizzy Mama | WAHM Web Hosting!

Rag Quilt Letters

I love to craft! My very first online business venture was a small baby boutique where I hand made baby slings, cart covers, clothes, etc. I have always loved sewing and creating things with my hands. When my son was a few months old, I took a nap hour one day to sew him some fabric blocks. (I'll post the tut for those some other time!) A couple weeks later, I made a cute little crinkly fabric snake that he loved to toss around and chew on. Anyway, now that he's older, 2.5 as of this posting, sewing toys has to be a little more creative.

Since I'm so in love with crafting, and the whole craft community, I sometimes set my stumble upon to only view craft projects. While doing this the other night, I stumbled upon this adorable tutorial:



I can't wait to break out my sewing machine and try it!! It's the cutest thing I have seen in a LONG time! I think I'm going to make the alphabet, numbers 0-9, and his name all using this rag quilt letter tutorial. Click here to see the tut

I'll be sure to post again once I have them made!

-Jenni

Friday, August 21, 2009

What's going on here, Suga?!

Well, here's the deal... I love to blog, but what it comes down to is, I just don't have the time to raise a family, run 5 businesses from home, and keep up with a ton of blogs too! We're consolidating down to just one blog for everything- my personal crafty stuff I like to do, reviews of other websites, suga pink designs, bizzy mama hosting, scrappy bids, sassy bids, etc. etc- all here now! We're keeping our /sugapinkdesigns domain name, but from here on out we're just going to freestyle this 'ish and make it work! Thanks for stopping by! Please follow us!!

xoxo

Jenni

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

100 Things To Sell Online

Let me touch on the obvious before diving into the full list. Maybe you have a bright, new, exciting idea that the world has never seen before. If this is the case, research your idea, find your market, and go for it! There is nothing like having a wonderful and unique idea, putting it on the back burner for months, and then finding out later that someone else thought of it too, but actually took the steps necessary to get it out there. Don’t live with regrets. Go, do, SELL!



We’ll spit the list into a couple different sections. Take this list, print it out, and add your own ideas. I’m currently being climbed by a two year old, so if you can find some quite time, I’m sure you’ll be able to pump out more ideas. This is just a starting place!

Some of these products and services will require some skill. Please do not e-mail me that you cannot provide psychic services because you are not a psychic. Just consider your personal list 99 items and move on. Some others may require you to do business with drop shippers. We do not currently recommend any dropshippers, please do your own research before making your choice.



Drop Ship Products:



1. DVD’s

2. Music and/or CD’s

3. Electronics

4. Cameras and/or Camera Equipment

5. Baby Clothes

6. Adult Clothing

7. Baby Products

8. Medical Supplies

9. New Books

10. Tupperware

11. Computer Software

12. Garden Products

13. Household Products

14. Perfume and/or Make-up

15. Cell Phones & Equipment

16. Candles

17. Shoes

18. Adult Novelties

19. Board Games

20. Car Maintenance and Repair Items



Homemade Products



21. Baby Slings

22. Cart Covers

23. Unique Baby Clothes

24. Candles (yes, homemade!)

25. Soaps

26. Beauty Products

27. Lotions

28. Jewelry

29. Stuffed Dolls

30. Ceramic Dolls

31. Any unique handmade craft

32. Cookies, Cakes, or Food

33. Unique Recipes

34. Poems

35. Wooden Letters

36. Door Hangers

37. Christmas and/or Other Holiday Crafts

38. Sand Art

39. Honey (What? Maybe you want to become a bee keeper?)

40. Used items around your house



Services (local and long distance)



41. Maid Service

42. Errand Running

43. In-Home Make-Up Artist

44. Hair Stylist

45. Photographer

46. Psychic

47. Online or In-Person Tutor

48. Resume Writing

49. Letters from… (Santa, Easter Bunny, etc.)

50. Telephone Entertainment (Adult, or otherwise)

51. Telephone Personal Counseling (Please be certified, and not certifiable!)

52. Online or In-Person Relationship Coach

53. Life Coach

54. Personal Shopper

55. Personal Organizer

56. Personal Assistant

57. Virtual Assistant

58. Henna Artist

59. Tattoo Artist

60. Construction Services

61. Babysitting/Nanny Services

62. Doula

63. Birth Coach

64. Baby Nurse

65. Wet Nurse

66. Lactation Consultant

67. Child Birth Educator

68. Wake-Up Calls

69. Job Seeker Assistant (Help people find jobs to submit their resumes to!)

70. Online advertiser

71. Blogging Services

72. Shoe Shiner

73. Computer Repair

74. Personal Stylist

75. Interior Designer

76. Web Hosting

77. Party Planning

78. Web Design

79. Graphic Design

80. SEO Services

81. Web Site Reviewer

82. Business Plan Writer

83. Ghost Writer

84. Copywriter

85. Legal Services

86. Medical Services

87. Lawn/Gardening Services

88. Product Repair

89. Home Repair

90. Handyman/woman Services

91. Meal Cooking Service

92. Grocery Shopping Services

93. Laundry Service

94. Seamstress Services

95. Chauffer

96. Designated Driver

97. Best Friend for a Day

98. Bodyguard

99. Painter

100. Financial Advisor



Feel free to use this list as your starting point. I’m sure with a little thought, you can come up with an idea that is perfect for you!

-Jenni

Suga Pink Designs is always available for consultation and advice on new business ventures. Feel free to contact us at any time!

You NEED web design. Oh yes, you do!

So you’ve decided to start up shop online, or you’ve been in business for a while but never had an online presence. Congratulations! Now is a great time to get started! The internet is exploding with new possibilities and an endless supply of potential clients searching for your product or service. So, what now? Can you expect to capture the attention of your site visitors with any old website? Not anymore! Customers expect so much from the people they do business with these days. Take a look at your own experiences online, and what you expect from the online shops that have gained your patronage in the past. Without thinking of your own site, or you own current status, who are you more likely to do business with? A company with a small, unimpressive, text only site, or one that is well designed, put together and pleasing to the eye? Obviously we all naturally lean to a more “put together” business. It gives us the impression that not only are they more professional, but they are also more capable of handling your request in a timely and appropriate manner. It doesn’t mean that your product or service isn’t the best available, but unfortunately you may be setting yourself up to be overlooked because you didn’t take your online presence seriously.

A lot of new business owners want to cut costs in any way possible. As a small business owner and WAHM myself, I can relate to not having the start-up costs that it takes to have a professional teach you the ropes and provide you with a fully designed professional looking website. Many people struggle with the decision to split costs between gathering inventory, or building an online presence. Obviously you must have the inventory to conduct your business, but if your online presence isn’t acceptable, who are you conducting business for? You’ll have tons of inventory, but no customers to sell to. On the other hand, what if you sink all your money into building that online presence, get tons of potential customers, but have no products to sell them? It’s definitely a difficult decision, and one that should be looked into very carefully when you are first starting out. No one knows your financial situation better than you do, so write everything down, be realistic with your expectations and plans for future growth. Make a simple, short list of necessities.

For a product driven business, you list may look something like this ::

Inventory:
• Product A:
• Product B:
• Product C:


Basic Presence:
• Business Cards
• Website
• Stationary
• Advertising (online and off)


Cut down your inventory to the necessities. If you do handmade crafts, instead of choosing 15 items to list in your store, pick your top 4 and purchase enough inventory to make two of each. OR, take your 15 items, slowly build up your stock and make ONE of each item to show your skills to potential clients. There is no need to have a house full of products and inventory when you’re just getting started. Cut costs by being reasonable with your expectations! A helpful way to do this would be by using the following list.

Split your budget in three sections:

Section 1:

Immediate inventory for the first products I plan to list online in my store.

Section 2:


Professional online presence, web and print designs.

Section 3:

Future business costs and inventory to fill incoming orders.

It doesn’t matter if you have $500.00, or $5,000.00 in your business fund, if you are careful with your spending and allot a fair share to the most important aspects when you’re just getting started.

If you have any questions about budgeting for new business ventures, or how you can get started with little to nothing, I’d love to help you in any way I can. I started my first business with less than $100.00 for everything. It CAN be done. The road can be bumpier for small business that lack the big capital it takes to get off the ground, but NOT impossible! We’ll follow up soon with free and cheap marketing ideas. In the meantime, good luck with all your ventures!

-Jenni

p.s. Don’t forget, Suga Pink Designs offers lay-a-way on any and all design services. Contact us for a custom quote or to set up a payment plan at customerservice@sugapink.com or visit us on the web at http://sugapink.com.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

SassyBids.com

SassyBids.com is an auction site with women in mind! We did a complete phpprobid design, and logo for sassy.

SassyBids is maintained by a good friend from the mommy board, Susan. Stop by and set up a free account at Sassy!

Photobucket

More OUAF!

Here are a couple logo proofs Jen (Once Upon A Frame) decided against in the beginning stages. This will give you a better idea of how we work, and what you get when you request design services from Suga Pink! She had colors and an idea in mind, and we try to bring that to light. Remember when looking at the following images that these are proofs and NOT final products. Jen liked one of the designs, but wanted to tweek it a little bit. The last image is the final logo product, exactly what she wanted!

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Once Upon A Frame Photography

Another fun project! Jen ultimately decided against using the logo she commissioned us to make, but we were still happy to work with her, and create exactly what she asked for! We worked together on business cards, logo design, and marketing cards!

(click the images to view full size in photobucket!)


Photobucket


 


Photobucket 


Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

More MiMe's!

Here are a couple logo proofs MiMe decided against in the beginning stages. This will give you a better idea of how we work, and what you get when you request design services from Suga Pink! She had colors and an idea in mind, and we try to bring that to light. Remember when looking at the following images that these are proofs and NOT final products. MiMe liked one of the designs, but wanted to tweek it a little bit. The last image is the final logo product, exactly what she wanted!

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

MiMe's Closet!


What a wonderfully fun project this turned out to be! Elana contacted me for business card, bow card, and web design. I threw in Etsy for her, also! She was specific about what she had in mind, which is always a big help, and we are both so happy with the final outcome! If you have little girls, you have GOT to check out her cute hair bows and accessories for little girl's hair! Elana is the best, and I promise, you won't be disappointed!

Elana's logo includes a mouse drawn, 100% custom clothes hanger!


Click the logo to be taken to MiMe's site!



Photobucket



Click the etsy banner to see MiMe's Etsy Store, and the banner and avatar we designed for her!



Photobucket



More from MiMe's::


Photobucket


Wanna win a $50.00 gift certificate?

Photobucket

It's a "this economy sucks & you need web design" sale!

Hey, Suga!!

This weekend ONLY (June 18-21) we are offering up our design services at 50% off!

Why? Well, let's face it. The economy SUCKS! and... I've seen your website. You need me! ;P

50% off good this weekend ONLY, on any design services. Web, graphic, or print design. No minimum. Just need business cards? Custom design usually $35.00, get 'em for $17.50 this weekend!! What about a full small business start-up package? Our small business gold package includes E-commerce/informational web design, logo creation, ad banners, meta tags, custom SEO, business cards, and more- prices start at $600.00- get it for only $300.00 this weekend!!!!

No, I'm not kidding!

Please contact us prior to placing your order this weekend online for a custom quote.

Thanks,

Suga Pink
http://www.sugapink.com

___________


Tuesday, June 2, 2009

New Site Design

The new design and software for the SugaPink site has been a LONG time coming! I'm so excited to finally see it all come together! I can't wait to get things running 100% smoothly and have the time to devote to writing down some of the things I've learned along the way! Navigating the web as a new online business owner is complicated! I wish that I would have had somewhere to start 5 years ago when I first had the idea that I wanted to be my own boss and start my own online venture. I didn't know the first thing about anything! Some of the questions I had seemed so silly looking back, and when I would make my way to a place where I thought I could get some answers from other people like myself, I was laughed at! Can you imagine? Not knowing what you're doing, but having the drive and desire to learn, to just be laughed off message board after message board because people who've been at this a little longer find your lack of knowledge amusing. Well, it wasn't ok then, and it certinally isn't ok now! I've seen it happen over and over, and now that I am one of the people that I previously looked to for advice, I vowed that I will never make anyone feel uncomfortable asking ANY question. We all have to start somewhere, right?

I'll be working on some articles in the near future explaining how to get started in business online. We'll discuss everything from how to find and purchase a domain name, to expert SEO. I'm excited at the potential!

In the meantime, stop by the main site and let me know what you think of the progress so far! I'd love to hear from you!

-Jenni

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Finally getting the blog set up!

whew! This has been a long time coming. Suga Pink has been undergoing a complete redesign to be a little more user friendly for our customers, and to offer a wide variety of new products! Things are coming along nicely, and I couldn't be happier!

Thanks for stopping by the blog, take a moment to subscribe to the RSS, or follow us! We'll be offering some great advice in upcoming posts and articles, and we'd love you to be a part of the Suga Pink family!

Thanks for reading!

Much love, and remember- Everything's sweeter with a little Suga!

-Jenni