Spotlight Direct can Design, Host and Promote Your Business Online via Internet Marketing, Social Networking and Search Engine Optimization. We can build you almost any type of site you need, and it will look fantastic!!!

Here at Spotlight Direct, you always get more than what you paid for. With FREE Technical Support and low monthly fees, you can be setup within a month with an attractive new website with all the new Web 2.0 features. Within 2 months, your site will be search engine optimized using keyword research based on your competition online. Within 4 months, you will have a strong following and fan base. Within a year, your subscribers, visitors, posts, fans and followers will be your target audience and you will have the ability to communicate over multiple social connections with a single post.

It just doesn’t get any better than that!!! Go to http://spotlightdirect.com …browse the site, become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, make a purchase or contact us to setup a free consultation.

Social networking is just taking the internet by storm. I predict that by the end of 2010, the way we view the web today will be very different. With Twitter and Facebook winning the social war…and Google and Yahoo/Bing winning the search engine war, where do we go from here? My prediction is Google and Facebook will merge forces and collaborate big time on social networking and live search web applications and Twitter and Yahoo will remain the Burger King to McDonalds.

It’s been awhile since our last post…which is a good thing. Meaning, we have been busy helping other businesses grow. We have a big launches coming soon and a few new clients on the way. 2010 is starting off good, and hopefully if the economy gets better (optimistic)…we are on our way for the best year yet.

Spotlight Direct is currently accepting new clients. CLICK HERE to contact us about a FREE Consultation.

2009 is wrapping up and winter is knocking on the door. Overall I believe 2009 was a rough year for many Americans and I can only hope and have faith that we, Americans, whom create consume like no other, can push forward and make 2010 the best year for America and the world.

We all have individual goals and this time of year is the time to make changes for the better. Changes to our lives that we put off, knowing yet another year had past, and that is one less year we have to accomplish whatever goals we set for ourselves.

I want to share my resolution list for 2010 with you. If you haven’t started your list, I hope this will inspire you to make one. If you have a list already, I hope you will comment to share with all whom may read this post. It may reach few but could be useful to someone. It’s not quantity but quality that counts…especially these days with social networking and the ever shrinking of the world because of the Internet. Enough of my ramblings…here is my list of top 5 resolutions for 2010:

1. Consolidate debt and streamline my expenses compared to income.

2. Business plan for Spotlight Direct and find solid investments to benefit all current and future clients.

3. Start or partnership with a non-profit or volunteer to help society as a whole. There are so many people in need…and I need to play my part in helping make life better for those people.

4. Learn something new! Anything different that is not a part of my trade already.

5. Network more and learn more about people. Get to know more people on a personal level and build bridges.

Notice I didn’t mention family and relationships…it’s because that is always priority #1 for me and I don’t need resolutions for that part of my life.

In conclusion, winter is here. 2009 is gone. What are you going to do about 2010? How do you make 2010 the most fantastic year of your life? These are all questions we face every year as adults. I hope the answer is to be less selfish and help others in need…but I can’t tell you what to do now. You tell me….

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Yummy Design Lab is the Creative Design Studio of Joe Leonard in Cincinnati, Ohio USA. Joe has been helping clients grow their businesses by designing and developing extremely effective websites and applications. His #1 focus is to create happy clients and long-term relationships. “I’m a self-taught Web & Graphic Designer/Developer with 10+ years experience. I create simple, clean designs and I am very passionate about what I do. I love to experiment using different design methods and I am constantly learning new things through problem solving and tutorials. I’ve done great things for many clients around the world and I invite you to see for yourself by viewing my portfolio then get in touch to see how I can help you.”

The year’s best meteor shower is coming to North America.

Weather permitting, the peak time to view the Geminid (jem-uh-nid) meteor show will be around midnight Sunday Eastern time when up to 140 meteors per hour could streak across the sky. Though not as famous as the Perseid meteor shower, the Geminids often put on a more dramatic display. Geminids are debris from an extinct comet called 3200 Phaethon. The shower gets it name because it appears to come from the constellation Gemini. Meteor group: http://www.imo.net

I want to spread the word that StartLogic.com sucks and if you are using them as a host for any of your domains, I would suggest moving over to Bluehost.com instead. Now here is my reasoning behind it all, just in case you are either members of StartLogic.com, work for them or happen to use them as a host:

1. They moved their Technical Support overseas. Or at least every time I call with questions regarding tech support or billing, it is somebody I can barely understand. I might not be 100% sure on that, but I find it odd that everybody they work with has heavy Indian accents. I’m a proud American and want to support companies who don’t feel the need to cheat the people who are making them money in the first place.
2. They automatically renewed my hosting account without any warning they were going to do so. So, basically I got an email saying “Your hosting has been renewed”. Then when I called to cancel, they said there is a $35 cancellation fee. All I have to say is that is just wrong.
3. I’m just overall unhappy with their services and performance all together. I used to get time out issues when using FTP when building websites. That alone was what made me leave. There control panel (vDeck) is by far a less superior product than cPanel which Bluehost uses.

So, StartLogic.com, if you read this….I hope this review was worth the $35 you just screwed me out of. And to let you know, I have no affiliations or gain any benefit from endorsing Bluehost.com. They have been a great company to work with and their services I am very happy with. So I am just trying to help anyone whom may read this and is thinking about finding a host on their own. Please comment if you like or do not like what I have to say.

On my way to wondering paths
Of gloom and doom
Before the sunshine hits my teeth
I’m smiling because I like it
You show me the ticket at the door
We enter with a grace of movie stars
Disco ball glitter on my collar
And you with your purse
Hitting me on the side because I sneezed in your direction
Hoping you would catch a spray of static guard
Oh the troubles we may fall upon
Oh the joys we may bring to this world
So I pull the covers tight and dream a wonderful dream
And gaze into the moonlight on my patio
Casting shadows on the leaves by my feet
As I smoke a marlboro and cough up a breath cloud of coldness which drifts into the chilly night air
Then I turn to lock the door
And head to the next moment to enjoy
Something I have forgotten now but will remember forever
Mighty Joe Moon you dawg
Buffalo is def the man
Goodnight

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

So I got a call from this annoying number (443-390-1500) for the past couple days and they never leave a message. If you Google that number, it is some telemarketing company in Churchville, MD trying to sell you something. I guess I never registered my number to the NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY….so I did!!! If you haven’t did this yet and you get annoying calls…click on the links below and it will take you there.

Now wouldn’t it be cool if we had a National Do Not Email Registry? Spam sucks out loud.

National Do Not Call Registry

Registry Home
Register A Phone Number
Verify A Registration
More Information
En Español
File A Complaint
Privacy and Security

Your registration will not expire. Telephone numbers placed on the National Do Not Call Registry will remain on it permanently due to the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, which became law in February 2008. Read more about it at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/04/dncfyi.shtm.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
THE NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY

The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free.

Register Now

Attention sellers and telemarketers: Go to https://telemarketing.donotcall.gov to subscribe to the National Do Not Call Registry.

If you are an exempt organization, and you wish to scrub your call lists, you may subscribe, but are not required to do so.

If you or anyone you know would like to buy these domains from me before they expire, send me an email or direct message and I’ll respond ASAP:

cincispotlight.com $20
cincyspotlight.com $50
darkesttunnel.com $20
doodlenap.com $20

So I’m thinking Social Media is here and we are now living within the times of a communication Renaissance. Say bye bye to big Corp control of everything and say hello to self promotion…may the best man or woman win.

Anyhow, just seems like that is all you hear about anymore these days…facebook, Twitter, digg etc. So I guess now being an alternative solution for the mainstream has mutated into what it hated in the first place and the alternative to the alternative is now hip and trendy to the point of wanting me to slightly vomit in my mouth…just a little. Like a small episode of social networking headlines oh so verping as I type each word.

At some point what is the purpose of promoting yourself if you don’t benefit the greater good of all who may graciously read my posts, tweets and status updates. So to all whom spent the two precious minutes to actually click on this post and read it to the end, if you are a friend, fan or follower…reply, respond, retweet and share this with others and email me or direct message me or post to my wall your request of some free design work I’m giving away as a Christmas present to the few whom seem to need it the most out there.

What are you waiting for? Tell me what you need from me as a designer and I’ll add it the Spotlight Direct Christmas Que next to the pumpkin pies and fruit cake.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Upgrade Any Package for $75!!!
Purchase Bronze and upgrade to Silver for $75. Purchase Silver and upgrade to Gold for $75.

You can save hundreds if you act now! Click on the following links to review and make purchase.

LOGO DESIGN

http://www.spotlightdirect.com/cincinnati/logo-packages/

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http://www.spotlightdirect.com/cincinnati/print-packages/

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WEB DESIGN

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All our service packages are backed by our Spotlight Direct Complete Satisfaction Guarantee.

QUESTIONS?

http://www.spotlightdirect.com/cincinnati/quote/

Excludes Gold-Print Package. Mention this post for discount. This offer expires on 11/29/09.

- Spotlight Direct

Yo yo…looking to design some gig flyers for FREE. Any of ya’ll need gig posters or know anybody who is in need? Let me know and I’ll hook them up. See attached JPG as an example of the quality of work.

If you are following me on Twitter or I have not yet sent you an invitation on Facebook, please go to my Facebook page for Spotlight Direct Marketing Group and click “Become A Fan” button. You need so many fans before being able to claim a username or “vanity url” for that page. I appreciate all the help and will return the favor if you ask Thanks and if you need any form of design work from print to web, Spotlight Direct Marketing Group can help you with WEB, PRINT, IDENTITY and INTERNET MARKETING for all size businesses.

Artwork, illustrations, photography and other creations accumulated over the years of personal projects and school. These are just a few examples collected digitally. There are many sketches and drawings I would like to add in the future.

1234►

Negatives and positives. What is more important to see? Do they both need to exist for one or the other to work? The questions can pertain to all design, from print to web, and can also play true in life.

Let’s focus on the design aspect first. The art of design, especially in advertising and branding, is the use of negative and positive space. Color and style all plays a part…but really if you think about it, a page or canvas always starts blank, a clear space to start enforcing the design with shape. Every form of design begins with nothing and a vision. So how do we take that emptyness and use the least amount needed to create the message? Negative space.

Negative space is by far the most overlooked design tool available on this planet, yet it is used within all designs, whether purposely planned or not. That negative space is what makes the shapes work, the colors to work, the concept to work.

Click to view larger

This example is a great traditional Illustration found HERE is a great demonstration on how one perception of positive can change easily within the use of negative space.

From a distance or at a smaller size, one will see a face, yet when closer up, you actually see it is a scene with a tree and a woman.

I believe MC Escher was the master of negative and positive space and how, when played out with unique perspectives, can transform ink and paper into an illusion of defying reality. I mean that IS what artwork usually is meant to do…to bring you into a world, an idea, an image and allow you the viewer to be pulled into this world, without any real effort on your part. If an image, logo, advertisment or painting accomplishes this, then I would say well done. Not all need to be MC Escher, but the idea and concept of utilizing positive and negative space as seemless artwork to make the image work should be top priority.

Day Night

There are so many other artist that mastered this technique and have created timeless pieces of art that will stand the test of time, from Leonard D’Vinci to Salvador Dali. Positive and negative space will always exist within design, but to understand the reason and then be able to execute that reason onto whatever medium you are working, then THAT is the key to creating timeless works, no matter the subject or message.

Now moving to how positive an negative is used within life itself and how we can learn to see how one is plays on the other.

Well, I think that conversation may need to move onto another post. Hopefully this helps a little bit about understanding the importance of the play of positive and negative within design. So go and try it yourself and comment on this post to let us all know how it turned out for you.

Just a pic I drew on my iPhone in like 5 minutes. Thought it would be a good tattoo.

Click My Pic for New Look

– iPhone BlogPress

Spotlight Direct Marketing Group
WEB | PRINT | IDENTITY | INTERNET MARKETING
www.spotlightdirect.com
Cincinnati, Oh USA

Short answer, YES!!!! If you are reading this, then you are on the internet and you are reading my blog. Therefore, this post did the trick and at least got you to my site and hopefully you decide to stay a little longer and learn more about our services.

With social networking like Twitter and Facebook, the internet is at it’s height of popularity and everyday people are moving in that direction. When your grandma is on Facebook, I think it is official

Personally, before I enter  a business or even consider them as a service provider, I check out their website. As a web designer, I’m sure I am more harsh on the design stand point, but as long as the site looks good, I give the business the benefit of the doubt. I will ALWAYS choose the business with the better website first. To me, that every potential customer is important to them, no matter if they walk in from the street or find them on Google. So, warning to all businesses out there who feel no need of a professional website or feel that it doesn’t fit within their marketing budget…open your eyes and see that your competition does not think this way. And if they do, WOW! What an advantage you can have over the competition.

There is of course more to just building a nice looking website…the foundation HAS to be there. A site could look beautiful, but if it doesn’t work with search engines properly, well, kind of defeats the purpose. Ask anybody who has a Flash only based site with Google Analytics. I’m sure they can tell you that the tracking and the numbers would not be the same as a correctly built website, search engine optimized and plenty of integration with social networks.

Luckily Spotlight Direct offers this and more for all of our clients. If you are serious about your business identity and would like to attract more visitors to your site, Click Here

The lightning struck and the idea was formed. Brainstorming on the way for a huge project with maximum potential for the community, sponsors and advertisers. This will be a big investment to improve Cincinnati with potential for National hubs. There is a need and Spotlight Direct will deliver. As development takes shape and investors take hold, we will continue to keep you updated and informed on progress.

Our main focus will be in Cincinnati, and then roll out to other cities as we expand. If you are a business owner, professional, non-profit or individual who serves the community and would like to learn more on this new development to help the people of Cincinnati, please contact Jeff Marsh at jeff@spotlightdirect.com to learn more. We are in the beginning stages of development and we need more like minded individuals. Board of Directors will consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Members, Sales, Partner(s), Sponsor(s). We need dedicated contributors and volunteers to make this happen.

Thank you – Jeff Marsh