Cheer

Bluebirds Online

My position as the Webmaster for the North Carolina Bluebird Society (NCBS) since May 2007 has brought so much joy into my life. I am happy to put my Internet skills to good use by helping bluebirds.  I have also been serving as the Newsletter Editor since the summer of 2017.  Assembling content for the Bluebird Notes publication is a fun & creative way to help get the word out about bluebird conservation. These roles have afforded the opportunity to interview bluebird lovers and experts, brainstorm, and bring story ideas to life.

I am especially proud of the Summer 2020 edition, which was dedicated to a long-time devoted bluebird supporter during his 100th year. Mr. Bill Satterwhite, Raleigh, is now 101. Read more about this man who provides so much hope and inspiration. I have been blessed to him know since May 2007.

Bluebird Conservation Couples (Spring 2019) and Bluebirds in the City (Summer 2019) stand out as a couple of the stories that I really enjoyed writing. You can see these and other newsletters I published per links at the right or from archives on ncbluebird.org.

Social Media Marketing, Web Design

Blogging

Blogging can be an especially important supplement  to your website. The guidelines for offering interesting digital content via blogs can be found in various resources related to creating Web content.

The Value of Blogging 

Google encourages adding a blog to supplement websites for various benefits, including:

  • Connecting with others who share your interests
  • Encouraging readers to visit your website
  • Advertising your product or service

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The Google Webmaster Guidelines are given for blogs as a resource to create relevant and useful content, similar to advise for creating great websites. Similarities for ensuring good blogs and websites include:

  • Using Google recommendations for images and other media posted digitally
  • Consistently offering fresh and original electronic content that is valuable for viewers
  • Ensuring your blog or website can be found by your target audience

People are attracted to blogs with dialogue similar to their personality, per information in an article named Birds of a Feather: How Personality Influences Blog Writing and Reading.  A critique by Glenda Ryan of this resource discusses Blogging-and-Personality, both writing and reading of blogs.

Expressing yourself in a digital format with the appropriate tone, look, and voice is important.  You must take in consideration your target audience, your organization, and your industry.

Nature

Online Marketing

The power of the Internet puts marketing opportunities in the hands of anyone with an online connection.  People and organizations in small towns like Houston, Indiana have a shot at fame in the cyber world.  

Social media is a great channel for getting your business or non-profit message heard.

Characteristics of a good marketing campaign

  1. Effectively communicating content that is based on the needs of the audience.
  2. Providing value for the audience, such as helpful information or entertainment.
  3. Inspiring emotion, such as heartwarming story or compassion.
  4. Offering visual appeal to the viewers.
  5. Getting people’s attention with something fun & special.
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 Photos of cute critters grab attention with both visual and emotional appeal and offer the chance to provide knowledge in a fun way.   Sparking interest with a special animal photo or story on social media can support your marketing effort.

Does the marketing campaign for a small business need to go viral for success?

Clearly, a marketing initiative that “goes viral” would be welcome, but that level of success is not necessary to accomplish the goals of an average business owner. Tips that help with viral marketing can be very beneficial for any organization. Social media is a fantastic channel to help spread the word about the value you offer to your target market. Success can draw in more customers and sales, even without reaching viral marketing extremes.  However, wise social media strategy for any marketing effort could quickly succeed to viral levels.

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Nature

A Bluebird Day

It was a beautiful Spring day! Carolina blue skies, white fluffy clouds, sunshine, gentle breeze, and bluebirds. Peace, tranquility, and beauty in Raleigh, NC.

SEO, Social Media Marketing

I Love Digital Marketing

I am proud to have achieved a Masters in Marketing with a Digital Marketing focus.  I worked slowly but surely toward this goal part-time September 2014 – December 2018.  Many life challenges and obstacles cropped up during that time fram, but persistence did pay off.  

I welcomed the opportunity to learn  so much about Online marketing, SEO, Social Media Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, and Blogging.   With a career in technology, you have to keep learning and that is right up my alley. I enjoy the pursuit of knowledge to continuously offer website improvements.  

My study buddy and office mate, Oscar, has been my rock.  Kudos to this precious feline that came into my life at a time we both needed each other.  Check out the website for this Inspirational Kitty Cat.

Nature, Seasonal

Happy October

Hope you are enjoying the 10th month of 2019. I have been busy, but productive. This time of year is especially fun for photography.

I love spending time in nature. Mordecai Historic Park near downtown Raleigh is a gem. I am drawn to the peace and tranquility among the giant old Oak trees, squirrels, flowers, and birds of this charming place. I have been fortunate to see many bluebirds this year at this scenic wonderland. Check out my article Bluebirds in the City for the North Carolina Bluebird Society.

Nature

Welcome, September

I normally want summer to last forever, but this year I am looking forward to fall more than usual. My interest in photography continues to grow. Can’t wait to see what my camera can capture in the Autumn 2020 year end color show.

I was blessed to see and photograph many bluebirds the last couple of years at Mordecai Park in Raleigh, NC. My nature walks provide some personalized content for the North Carolina Bluebird Society’s quarterly newsletter, Bluebird Notes. Working on this educational publication regarding bluebird conservation is very fun and rewarding. Check out the archives of newsletters at http://www.ncbluebird.org/online-newsletters/.

Blogs

Designing Websites for Mobile Devices

Websites should look attractive as well as provide uniform content in a wide variety of browsers and platforms, including mobile devices.  There are a wide range of approaches to achieve this task, but it can be difficult for Web developers to accommodate the vast array of mobile devices. Testing the plethora of mobile devices is a practical impossibility. Discussion  of some technologies that can aid in ensuring Websites are visually appealing across digital devices are included below.

Responsive Web Design (RWD)

  • Delivers web pages in variable sizes
  • Is necessary for tablets and mobile devices
  • This task can be challenging, but there are many potential solutions.

Creating Responsive Design

Code your own

  • Must be well versed in HTML, especially HTML5.

W3.CSS – Develop sites that look nice at any size; desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone

  • Free
  • No license
  • Inspired by Google Material Design

Google Web Designer

  •  Create HTML5-based designs  that can run on any device.

jQuery Mobile  – framework for creating web content for mobile web applications.

  • Flexible tool to craft appealing web pages that will look the same on all smartphone, tablet and desktop devices
  • Free – open source project of jQuery.org
  • Tutorials on W3Schools.com

jQuery Foundation non-profit association supported by members. This organization assists Web development in various ways, such as:

  • Project documentation
  • World-wide conferences
  • Participation in the Web standards
  • Advocate for Web developers, through groups such as the W3C.

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W3C’s mission includes ensuring that as many devices as possible are capable of viewing  Web content. With the growth of mobile device usage, the importance of Web applications and services on these devices is continually increasing.

Helpful information about Mobile Web Development

Does the extensive training, knowledge, and acronyms about Mobile Web Design seem like too much to deal with? Adobe has solutions for all your Web Design & Marketing issues, including mobile development.

Adobe Marketing Cloud

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Nature

fun with flowers

My love of flowers began early in my childhood days in Houston, Indiana. I was raised by a sweet lady, Allie Akin, who made our home a floral wonderland. So many great memories of flowers everywhere.

I remember at age two walking up the lane with her to take my great-grandpa, Oscar Roddey, his breakfast. I would pick him Morning Glories and he would give me quarters.

What a fun project for one of the final courses to complete my Master’s in Marketing – a fictional flower shop. I immersed myself in the digital marketing plan for Jamie’s Floral Delights. I had many flower photos to put to good use, as well as a reason to photograph more floral blooms.  It was a wonderful learning experience. The results are shared below.

  1. Website
  2. Marketing Plan (PDF)
  3. Visual Presentation
Nature

Nature Park in the City

I learned about the Mordecai Historic Park in downtown Raleigh from my website work with the North Carolina Bluebird Society (NCBS). When I became Webmaster of ncbluebird.org in May 2007, l assumed responsibility for managing the online presence for the Wake County Bluebird Club as well.

The first meeting I attended was in the St. Mark’s Chapel of Mordecai. It is such a charming little building. I have enjoyed many club meetings at this location. We currently have the quarterly bluebird club meetings across the street from this historic building, in the Mordecai visitor center.

Over the years I have become attached to the scenic beauty and peace of Mordecai Park. I often visit this spot to relax and snap nature photos.

The giant Oak Trees offer cool relief from the sweltering sun on 90 + degree days. The abundance of playful squirrels scampering about, beautiful flowers, and songs and sights of our feathered friends make this one of my happy places. My interest in photography has increased over the last few years. I find a wealth of photo subjects at this tranquil place, such as the image of a squirrel posing in a tree shown above.

Nature

Downtown Bluebirds

Thrilled to have the opportunity to photograph some fine looking bluebirds at Mordecai Historic Park in downtown Raleigh. I go to this location for peace and tranquility of nature. While taking flower pictures, some bluebirds landed nearby. They are beautiful and sound so sweet.

I manage the website and newsletter for the North Carolina Bluebird Society. I receive many donations of photos for their Web and newsletter content.  Now I have a few of my own snapshots to help spread the word about this precious shy bird. 

Cheer, Greetings, Inspiration, Seasonal

Happy Sunday & St. Patrick’s Day

Hello, Friends. Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday/St. Patrick’s Day. Went outside this morning to start of a beautiful North Carolina day. Snapped a few photos of my “Hoosier Flowering Almond” that is in early stages of bloom. This plant means so much to me. I love flowers, and this one is especially gorgeous. And, a sign of spring and sentimental value.

It is pink, which is my favorite color (the green leaves can be the symbol of St. Paddy’s Day color for today).  It was transplanted from family land in Houston, IN to Knightdale, NC in 1996. Always long for home, but this floral reminder of Indiana helps.   More about my hometown can be found at houstonindiana.com.

      

Nature

Indiana Flowering Almond in North Carolina

Tiny sprouts of Indiana Flowering Almond peeking out in early March. It is slowly but surely coming to life again. This plant was transported to North Carolina in 1996 by by Dolly, wonderful lady who raised me. It blooms for a short time every year and it is breathtaking. Indiana neighbor Mary Alice had saved several starts from the Ryan family land. She sent the roots for me by Dolly when she came to stay with me for over a month when I bought my first house. Love that this plant is from Indiana and that two precious Houston, Indiana ladies cared enough for me to have some natural beauty from home while living out of state.

 

Nature

Happy October

October is one of my favorite months. The beauty of nature in this season with a million shades of pretty helps brighten my outlook and stay positive. My home state of Indiana is especially beautiful this time of year. The southern part of the Hoosier state, Jackson and Brown counties in particular, are breathtaking in the fall. I am proud to be from Houston, Indiana, a tiny place near the Hoosier National Forest. A big event in my hometown every October is the Fall Festival.  More details can be found at houstonschoolrestorationcommittee.org
           

Cheer, Inspiration, Nature

Small Town Charm

The small town atmosphere and peaceful serenity of Houston, Indiana is refreshing. Photo of the Houston Christian Church  captures this quaint little village very well. I am proud to call this area of Jackson County, Indiana home. Hope your day is fabulous.

houston-church

Greetings, Web Design

About This Web Design business

This Web Design business began with volunteer work for a non-profit organization, after Glenda completed Web Design & Web Development training and working as a Web Programmer at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The first project was to  migrate Web content of the North Carolina Bluebird Society to a new hosting platform. This volunteer effort  lead to a paying maintenance contract with NCBS and referrals to other website work.

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A portfolio can be viewed at the following URL:

http://www.seapebble.com

 

GLENDA S. RYAN (Suzie)