It’s amazing how productive I can be with a 101 degree fever.  I decided on a whim to redo my whole website.  I’m about to upload the new look so I hope you all enjoy it.  I have lots to add in the portfolio section so be sure to keep checking back.

I will also make it a point to blog a bit more.  I have been learning so much these past few months that I have a few things worth posting about.

Now, I’m off to go stare at the spider on my wall.  Hopefully I’ll have the guts to kill it before I get some rest.

Mark Malkoff  (Comedian/Filmaker)

His New York City apartment had to be fumigated. All of his friends have tiny studio apartments. Hotels in New York are insanely expensive. Left with few living options, Mark thought it would be fun and make an interesting video to move into an IKEA store where he’d live and sleep for a week. Never in a million years did he think IKEA would go for it, but miraculously they have a agreed.

Mark moved in early morning Monday January 7th to the IKEA in Paramus, New Jersey and will stay for the week through Saturday January 12th. Every day people can watch a video recap of his day. He will be living in IKEA 24/7 and eating all his meals in the restaurant (he may order Domino’s take out once or twice). Thankfully they have a shower for him in the back offices.

Mark Malkoff is best known for his video “171 Starbucks,” in which he is shown visiting and consuming purchases at each of the ubiquitous coffee chain’s locations in Manhattan in a single day. It can be viewed at www.171starbucks.com. Mark currently works as the audience coordinator on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.” You can check out his work at www.markmalkoff.com.

___________________________________________________________________ 

For the longest time I was stuck in this “one-way” mindset.  Since the age of 15, I have been learning the techniques to excel in both web design and marketing by picking the brains of other people.  Sadly, I spent far too long staying inside the invisible lines of the marketing world (I guess you can say I was playing it safe)—failing to see how much bigger the impact can be if I just wandered off the path.

Luckily, times have changed, and so have I.  I learned there are no rules to marketing.  There are some basic standards one should always follow when building a marketing plan, but it’s those “innovative” thinkers that are going to see the bigger impact for their brand/artist. 

I probably won’t try to go to 171 different Starbucks in Orange County (although, that would be a dream come true) or sleep at my local Ikea (LOVE THAT PLACE!), but the fact that I saw Mark’s story at least 5 times during commercial breaks last night—goes to show that there is a lot of room to push past traditional marketing/advertising and give your own twist to it.

I know what you’re going to say—-Yes, I know we saw a lot of customization in the year of 2007.  However, I think 2008 will bring us to a new level of customization.  This year we saw major customized features to cars, fashion, cell phones, 2-ways, and other mobile devices which can get pretty pricey.

This year will be the year of simple customization.  From personalized M&M’s to Starbucks giftcards–I think we will see a lot of smaller customization options that will turn an impersonal gift (such as a giftcard) to a personalized, thoughtful card.

Starbucks has a simple way of customizing your giftcard for yourself or a friend. Adding your name, your favorite drink, or your favorite Starbucks graphic is just some of the many ways you can add your own personal touch with only a few clicks of a mouse. 

This can also be applied to websites.  Being a freelance web designer, I once stayed away from anything “too personal” because I was afraid it would make me look unprofessional.  However, I got comments from people (many who have become clients) that said it was my personal touches to my website that was the deciding factor in why they hired me.  People want to work with real people that have their own style and personality.

So keep your eye out for those small customization options that are well worth the extra $10-$20 bucks.  If  you are in the world of freelance, don’t be afraid to show people your personal style because it’s what makes you stand out in a crowd.