Please tell me that’s tapioca in my hair…sorry, is this thing on?!  One of the nice things about us (yes, there are nice things about us) is that we really will show you ours.  Sometimes there is no substitute for a photo comparison.  These two screen captures for example.

The client’s original site was, well how do we put this delicately?  No, we don’t put anything delicately -it was a train wreck.  The concept and the women behind it are fabulous, truly.  The original site design -Yikes!  Light a match or something Wyatt. The re-design is stunning, if we do say so ourselves.  There is just so much to love about the site now.  Color, texture, presence.

Your website is your storefront for the world.  What store would you rather shop in? It’s okay, we know the answer too.  Fortunately these wonderful clients also have a sense of humor, and the odd raccoon as well.  Not only that, Glass Slipper Candles and Scents has business.  A lot more business.  Are we immodest enough to suggest that there’s a direct relationship between the new site and improved sales?  Damn skippy!

Reclaim your domain. Distinguish your look and branding from everyone else out there. Support your site and generate traffic with a blog. Legally Sound Design (Blog, Web, and Brand) does it.

Legally Sound Design. Sound design for the legal profession (and more).

~Lex Blogus

Okay, we could have gone with a sweeter title but seriously. It seems like only yesterday (well a week or so anyway) when we reminded you about content management systems. Our own “blogsite” is proof that one can manage their own content without extensive (and expensive) programming or the purchase of a spendy content management system (CMS).

We won’t remind you of all the money you could save by doing it yourself (After all, as Navin Johnson realized, “It’s a profit gig!”) but we will remind you how of how good it can look. Almost makes one want to splash on some Hai Karate and step out for a night on the town with the chest hair hanging out…almost.

Look at our most recent work for a local martial arts dojo. If that isn’t a kick in your face we don’t know what is. Yes, it’s a blog. Yes it has just about all of the features of a full website. Oh, did we mention it exemplifies our version of content management? Oops we did it again.

Reclaim your domain. Distinguish your look and branding from everyone else out there. Support your site and generate traffic with a blog. Legally Sound Design (Blog, Web, and Brand) does it.

Legally Sound Design. Sound design for the legal profession (and more).

~Lex Blogus

Apologies to Marvin Lee Aday, but there’s a reason for the tune.  We’ve told you before about the many reasons for using a blog as a website.  In review, same look and feel as your website at a lower cost.

But here’s the best one yet -you can manage the content by yourself! Don’t be afraid, we’re always here to do it for you.  But why pay us to update your content when you have the skills necessary to do it for yourself?

How do we know you can?  You are reading this aren’t you?  Well the skills you used to reach this “blogsite” (hybrid website-blog.  TM pending) are the same skills you need to manage your own content.  No fancy content management programming or purchase of an expensive content management system (CMS) required.  You know how to point and click with a mouse and you know how to type on a keyboard.  That’s all it takes.  Click on “Posts” and “Add New” or simply edit an existing post and you’ve managed your content.  (Not as dirty as we make it sound).

You can save thousands of dollars (Not an exaggeration) by managing your own content instead of spending the time to locate content, provide it to your designer and have them post and edit it for you.  Mind you we aren’t discouraging you from paying us to do this if you want to.  We’re simply informing you that if you have the time and motivation there’s no reason you can’t.

But how does it look?  Look around Madge, you’re soaking in it.  We’re a wee bit biased but we think Legally Sound Design makes it work with style.

Reclaim your domain. Distinguish your look and branding from everyone else out there. Support your site and generate traffic with a blog. Legally Sound Design (Blog, Web, and Brand) does it.

Legally Sound Design. Sound design for the legal profession (and more).

~Lex Blogus

Click here to hear Marvin Lee Aday

Mind you we’re all for trying something once (twice if we like it) but we have to be honest with you -well we don’t have to be at all really but then we’d be like all the other designers out there and we pride ourselves on being unique and special (No, not in a short bus way).

Anyway, to be honest with you there are a number of template factories that call themselves law firm web site “specialists.”  We welcome you to peruse their portfolios, if they are bold enough to show them to you like we do.  What you will find are basic workmanlike designs that are equally tailored to a Jersey diner or law firm alike.

What’s that you say? Those are completely different business and they should have completely different design considerations?  We agree.  What you will notice next is that they are everywhere.  They are, after all templates.  There is nothing original about them.  If you are one of our followers or clients you will know that we don’t judge (Not to your face anyway).  If you don’t have a unique law firm or a unique market or a specific target audience maybe you’re just template people.

However, for the discriminating lawyer we feel your pain. We’d like to ease it for you.  If you need to take it slowly we’ll work with you.  We will probably even respect you in the morning.  Mostly, we will deliver.  Look at our law firm makeovers.  Then forget them.  That’s right, forget them because they will not be repeated.  They are as unique and original as the law firm who commissioned them.  Wow, we really are law firm design specialists aren’t we? Uh, yeah. That’s why we are named Legally Sound Design.

Reclaim your domain. Distinguish your look and branding from everyone else out there. Support your site and generate traffic with a blog. Legally Sound Design (Blog, Web, and Brand) does it.

Legally Sound Design. Sound design for the legal profession (and more).

~Lex Blogus

Yes, we’re aware that the above statement, at first blush, runs contrary to everything we’ve been telling you but it doesn’t.  Bigger is still better.  However, when it comes down to the details the little things do have a chance of adding up too.  However, one shouldn’t lose site of the whole trying to see the little details.  Yes, that is a lot of “howevers” for one paragraph.  Too many actually.  Oh well.

What are we going on about?  Look at a website.  Go on look. You may initially notice the color, the overall flow of the design, the flash movie (if your designer is savvy enough) and the copy.  Now look again.  Do the little details elude you or can you start to see them?  An interesting and unexpected texture here and there?  A photo that looks like you could reach into the screen and grab it?  A hidden element of whimsy you weren’t expecting? (Yes, we hate the word “whimsy” too, but we are illustrating a point).  What’s it all about…Alfie?

Well, what it’s about is the little details that keep people coming back to your site over and over again.  Let’s face it, there are hundreds of thousands of things to look at on the intertubes.  If you want to distinguish yourself from every other site out there then consider, just consider, that the little details may be a small part (pun definitely intended) of your success.  Just saying.

Reclaim your domain.  Distinguish your look and branding from   everyone else out there.  Support your site and generate traffic with a blog.  Legally Sound Design (Blog, Web, and Brand) does it.

Legally Sound Design.  Sound design for the legal profession (and more).

~Lex Blogus

You’ve seen those women of a certain age who look a little “off.”  Like they’ve had work done -a lot of work done.  While our beautiful and talented designing artist is blessed with good genetics and will never be in that category, many of our clients are.  Well, not our clients themselves (well, not all of them anyway) but their websites and branding sure were in need of a facelift.

How ugly were some of your sites before?  Four drink minimum ugly. Gnaw off your arm to get away ugly -coyote ugly.  Think we’re exaggerating?  Think again.  Just take a look for yourselves.  Apart from the poor logo, color and font choices there’s no cohesive design to them. Nothing flows.

Now take a look at our afters.  Impressive huh? Smoking, actually. You’d take those afters home and do wicked things to them, repeatedly, for hours, wouldn’t you?  It’s okay, we know.  We’ve tracked the other sites your ip address pings.  Our advice? Seek professional help.

Should you need professional help with your blog, website or brand you’ve come to the right place.  Legally Sound Design.  We won’t tell them how much work you’ve had done or how little you’ve paid for it.  Instead, we’ll let the unique custom re-design distinguish you from everyone else out there.  No, not there, there.  That’s the spot.

Reclaim your domain. Distinguish your look and branding from everyone else out there. Support your site and generate traffic with a blog. Legally Sound Design (Blog, Web, and Brand) does it.

Legally Sound Design. Sound design for the legal profession (and more).

~Lex Blogus

We’ve had over 3,000 reads since we went live in February 2010.  Thank you all for making that possible, including you crawlers from Amazon and Bluehost.  Yes, we know who the rest of you are as well, IP address trackers are a frightening thing  (for YOU!).  Don’t worry, we don’t sell your information or steal your credit card information. But I digress…

In recognition of our milestone met, we’ve decided to continue our ridiculously low Spring cleaning prices indefinitely.  What remains interesting to you also remains a ridiculous value.  So what the frig are you waiting for?  Come on in, the water is just fine.  Just look out for sharks, it is the season -on the Atlantic coastline anyway.  So we have perfect convergence!  Shark infested waters like in 1916 and design pricing like in 1916! (Yes, we are well aware that there was no internet in 1916, work with us here).

Will you need a bigger boat? (We’re not judging) That’s up to you.  Perhaps you want to start out slowly.  Just deep your feet in.  In that case a blog-as-website may be the perfect option for you.  When you are ready to finally jump into the shark cage and get in the water with the big fish, we’ll be here for your full website design and any social interaction you may want to do with the rest of the school (see what we did there)?  In either circumstance you find your self swimming in, your brand can remain consistent throughout thanks to sound design.  So farewell and adieux to you fair Spanish ladies…For now.

Reclaim your domain. Distinguish your look and branding from everyone else out there. Support your site and generate traffic with a blog. Legally Sound Design (Blog, Web, and Brand) does it.

Legally Sound Design. Sound design for the legal profession (and more).

~Lex Blogus

We know, it’s a bit embarrassing for us too but our enthusiasm just seems to leak out at the most inopportune times.

Why you may ask?  Because you are finally getting it.  We may not be the only ones who do what we do (well, we kind of are) but we do it better and we do it with integrity.  Don’t let your blog, brand or website become another tragedy.  Do what others before you have done –call us or email if you’re feeling shy.

It’s not too late but at these prices it won’t stay contained forever.  Put your hands up and step away from the templates.  You won’t find them here.  What you will find are unique, inspired and artistic designs that flow.  Go with that flow.

Sure it may feel a bit uncomfortable at first but we promise no one else feels the sticky feeling of your discomfort.  Your secret is safe with us.  In truth, it really isn’t.  We are in the design business and we do like to display our work and if it helps business we are certain to display the work we’ve done for you as well.  Hey, it sounded sincere though, right?  (Sure it did).  Trust us.  Like the government, we’re here to help you.  Okay, that last analogy wasn’t comforting.  They can’t all be winners.  On the other hand, your site can.

Reclaim your domain. Distinguish your look and branding from everyone else out there. Support your site and generate traffic with a blog. Legally Sound Design (Blog, Web, and Brand) does it.

Legally Sound Design. Sound design for the legal profession (and more).

~Lex Blogus

Yeah, we had that problem at first also.  Clearly we’ve worked it out.

We are aware that launching a new blog, brand or website or re-designing existing ones can be an intimidating process. (You were expecting a different discourse?)  At Legally Sound Design you don’t have to handle it alone.  We will work with you, one-on-one to provide the gentle but firm guidance you might need.  We will make suggestions and recommendations on how you can make it fit you comfortably.  And yes, we will call you in the morning.

Your Role (The Client). Think of yourself as the writer and editor of a book and Legally Sound Design as the publisher.  (We haven’t done role play in a while.)  Unless you can’t write, of course, in which case think of us as the writer too!  Only you (can prevent forest fires) know the vision you have for your blog, brand or website.  We will implement that vision based upon the ideas you provide and a little artistic inspiration which we here at Legally Sound Design call “Gypsy Voodoo.”

We know what you’re thinking. (We don’t really, relax. Stop being so paranoid.)  It has to be more complicated than that, right?  Well, no. It really isn’t.  Here is what we need from you, specifically, to get started.

One.  A Domain Name. If you have one already great. Make sure that you own it. Check with the company hosting your domain. If a re-seller owns it, reclaim it -ask for it back or find a new one.  No domain name?  No problem.  Any number of web hosting companies, we recommend bluehost.  Why? Just contact them and you’ll know.

Two.  Your Ideas. We’re certain you have some.  Blogs, brands and websites you like and those you don’t.  The blogs, brands and websites of your competitors and how you wish to distinguish yourself from them.  Talk to us about your ideas.  We promise we will listen for as long as you maintain our interest.

Three. Your Content. Copy, Photos, graphics, information -in short all of the things that make you, well, you.  Don’t worry if you don’t have photos, we can pick photos appropriate for your business and artistically pair them with your blog or website. Don’t have a logo or brand?  We can do that for you too.  (See how accommodating we are?)

Done.  That’s it.  Seriously.  Once we have your domain, your ideas and your content we can start designing you a custom blog (and brand, website, social networking page) that you can be proud of.  All of our deigns are unique and not a template or form.  You may find signature elements of our designer but you will not find that your site looks just like the site we designed for someone else.

Reclaim your domain. Distinguish your look and branding from everyone else out there. Support your site and generate traffic with a blog. And syndicate your blog with an RSS feed. Legally Sound Design (Blog, Web, and Brand) does it.

Legally Sound Design. Sound design for the legal profession (and more).

~Lex Blogus

No, not you (yeah, okay) and that could have come across far worse with one vowel exchange.  So how do you keep up with the rest of the twits?  Not by using the standard Twitter template.  Unique, Custom, Edgy, Clever, Professional. . . you’ve seen these words appear on Legally Sound Design.  We didn’t select them at random.  They are a mantra of sorts.

The generally held belief is that you have 34 seconds to engage someone on your website before they click and move on.  With Twitter it may be less than 12 seconds.  That isn’t alot of time (sorry if you were impressed with yourselves for holding out that long but still -premature).

You need your brand to be remembered.  It needs to be unique, custom, clever, well designed, occasionally edgy but always professional. Yes, Legally Sound Design does that too.  For a ridiculously accessible price you receive a Twitter page of your very own.  We incorporate the look and feel of your brand into a custom Twitter page.  We do love consistency.

So reclaim your domain. Distinguish your look and branding from everyone else out there. Support your site and generate traffic with a blog. Tweet until your twitter is twitted.  Legally Sound Design (Blog, Web, and and Brand) does it. Legally Sound Design. Sound design for the legal profession (and more).

~Lex Blogus