Design*Sponge » biz ladies

biz ladies 09: sole proprietorship vs. incorporation

grace — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:00:01 +0000

today i’m thrilled to have andrea baxter of smart cookies and bratface marketing on d*s giving us the lowdown on sole proprietorship vs. incorporation. if you’re running a small business, considering what type of company you will be had no doubt crossed your mind before- and it’s not always easy to know what option is best for you. today andrea is here to break it all down, including the pros and cons of each type of business. even if you’re just getting started, this is really valuable information to have in your pocket so i hope you’ll check it out. thank you again to andrea for sharing her time and her advice with us!

CLICK HERE for the full article after the jump!

(more…)

Design*Sponge, 2009. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:

biz ladies 09: trademark 101 for designers

grace — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:00:11 +0000

when it came to registering design*sponge as a trademark and all the other legal details that come with it, i put it off for years, assuming i would be fine because i’d used the name for years. man, do i wish i had just gotten off my behind and registered it- now that i have an official government document i feel so much more secure and can sleep just a little bit easier at night knowing that if something bad were to happen, at least i finally did my homework and got everything squared away.

trademarks can see a little confusing or daunting, but thankfully amy everhart is joining us again today to explain the ins and outs of trademarks for designers. she explains how to determe if your work is protectable by trademark, breaks down the different types of trademarks, and then tells you how to make it all official. if you haven’t trademarked your business this post is MUST READ. believe me, when you have everything squared away on a signed legal document it really does take a weight off your shoulders. thank you again to amy everhart for sharing her expert advice here today.

CLICK HERE for amy’s full post after the jump!

(more…)

Design*Sponge, 2009. | Permalink | 18 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:

biz ladies 09: networking for designers

grace — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:21 +0000

today’s biz ladies post is all about networking. i’ll keep it real and say- i’m not a huge fan of networking. i instantly imagine pushy people with business cards drilling you for information and then dropping you the second they’ve gotten what they want. but thankfully digital strategist and writer sara rosso is here today to share her updated tips for successfully networking as a designer. although business cards are still part of the equation (an excuse to order to some cute new cards!) her ideas for successful long-term networking are a great reminder that maintaining a network of creative, talented people is always one of your biggest assets. i hope you’ll enjoy sara’s breakdown of networking and the “types” of networkers in your community.

CLICK HERE for the full post after the jump!

(more…)

Design*Sponge, 2009. | Permalink | 24 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:

biz ladies 09: project management

grace — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:00:14 +0000

today’s biz ladies post comes from tiffani jones of second and park. tiffani runs a copywriting and content strategy business as well as a web design agency and is here today to share the ins and outs of successful project management. since i’m currently facing a pretty intense project deadline myself i will be soaking up every last bit of her advice- and there’s a lot of it. tiffani will walk you through how to organize projects, break them into tasks, assign work and- my favorite part- handle some of the pitfalls that can stand in the way of a happy project ending. thanks so much to tiffani for her great advice!

CLICK HERE for the full post after the jump!

(more…)

Design*Sponge, 2009. | Permalink | 24 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:

biz ladies 09: the nuts & bolts of getting your biz online

grace — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:00:20 +0000

today’s biz ladies post comes from one of my favorite people around: kate caprari of three square design. i’ve been working with kate since the beginning of design*sponge to customize our layout and design and she’s the only reason i know anything about html coding. so when it came time to cover the topic of e-commerce, websites, selling and sharing your business online, i went straight to my favorite source. today kate is covering all of the different options for getting your business online, so whether you’re looking to set up a small shop, a blog for your business, or a custom-designed website she’s got all the advice, tips, links and details you need to get started at any level. if you’re thinking about getting your work online this is a definite must-read. thanks so much to kate for sharing this advice with us!

CLICK HERE for kate’s full post after the jump!

(more…)

Design*Sponge, 2009. | Permalink | 23 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:

biz ladies 09: the fortune in the follow up

grace — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:00:27 +0000

today’s biz ladies post comes from zoe pawlak, painter and part of team loaded bow. zoe is covering a great topic today- one that is especially important in times like these- the follow up. whether you’re looking to turn verbal interest into actual sales, or just need some tips for follow up etiquette, zoe has you covered. thanks to zoe for sharing these tips with us today!

CLICK HERE for the full article after the jump!

(more…)

Design*Sponge, 2009. | Permalink | 19 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:

biz ladies 09: tax info for small businesses

grace — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:00:25 +0000

today’s biz ladies post is all about taxes. i know, no one’s favorite topic. but sadly, one we all have to deal with- and one we could almost all use help with. today kristal schwartze of carter & company in washington (and fairly enchanted at etsy!) is sharing her expertise on the topic from top to bottom. so whether you need information on whether you’re a business or hobby, when and how much to declare in taxes, good online resources, self-employment taxes or just want information on what you can expense, kristal’s got you covered. thanks again to kristal for sharing her expert advice with us!

CLICK HERE for the full post after the jump!

(more…)

Design*Sponge, 2009. | Permalink | 19 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: