Search Engine Optimization is a crucial aspect of marketing these days. In order to reach potential customers through your website, they have to be able to find you when searching keywords related to your site. So how can you get your site to the top of the search results in Google, Yahoo, & Bing? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Create unique titles for each page in your website and use keywords. Keep titles brief, but descriptive of the content on each webpage.

2. Use a unique meta description on each page. This description is often what will show up under the page title in the search results list. Again, each webpage in your site should have it’s own keyword-rich text that accurately describes the page’s content. Don’t worry much about meta keywords. While it can’t hurt to have a few, modern search engines ignore these when indexing pages.

3. Use text or at least alt tags in your navigation bar. Additionally, it’s a good idea to create a sitemap, both html and xml and submit it to each major search engine. Here is a link to generate one automatically: http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/

4. Once you’ve created your sitemap/s, submit to Yahoo Site Explorer, Bing Webmaster Tools, and Google Webmaster Tools. Once you set up an account on each of these, you will have access to many useful tools for site diagnostics and management.

5. Use descriptive file names and alt tags in all images, incorporating your keywords here as well. Also, use those keywords anytime you set up an external link to your site, and try to get as many links pointing to your site as possible–ideally, without exchanging links with the same site that links to yours.

6. Use heading tags whenever possible, but avoid cloaking (hidden headings) since google penalizes this sort of devious behavior.

When my Epson 1280 stopped working during the nozzle cleaning utility and the power & ink light began flashing alternately, I feared it was finally time to replace my trusty printer after many years with no problems. Fortunately, I found this quick and easy repair that actually works posted on a message board by george4nyy:

Basically, resetting the waste ink counter is what worked for me, a little of my own improv. in step 2 but this is exactly what I did…

1. Turned off printer and disconnected power cord from outlet and then computer interface from the back of the printer.

2. Opened cover, pushed down little white lever that holds ink carriage and pulled out the entire ink carriage manually 6-7 inches to the left. This gave me the access to clean the waste ink pad (sponge), which I did with a folded paper towel.

3. Re-attached power cord to outlet.

4. Held down both maintenance and roll paper button simultaneously, then turned on the power.

5. Continued to hold buttons until the maintenance and power lights flashed together, I then released both buttons and quickly held down only the roll paper button.

6. In 5-10 seconds the printer started to initialize.

7. Once the initialization was complete, I turned off the power.

8. Reconnected the computer interface.

9. Turned on the printer and I was back in business!

It is best to make images to be printed in a newsprint publication as light and high contrast as possible. The best way to convert color images is to change mode to Lab, select lightness layer in channels, go back to layers palette, then convert to grayscale.

Ever wonder how to get one of those tiny icons that appear next to website urls and bookmarks in browsers? It’s easy! Just download and install the photoshop plugin, and create a 16x16px graphic. Save your graphic as ico, and post loose in your website directory. It should appear automatically on your site next time your browser is refreshed.

Here are some steps I’ve found that work to get the best from less-than-perfect photos.

1. Duplicate the layer & set top layer to overlay mode. Lower the opacity to around 5 – 20%
2. Unsharp Mask filter on the lower layer; ctrl+a, ctrl+shift+c, then ctrl+v to merge and paste in new layer
3. In Adjustments, select Threshold. Drag the slider to the left, hold shift while selecting the center of the largest area of solid white; do the reverse for black. Ok, then ctrl+z.
4. In Adjustments, Levels, you will see the points selected previously. Use the white dropper to select the white point and the black dropper to select the black point. If sliders still don’t touch the sides of the histogram, then move them manually.

Grayscale: change mode to Lab, select lightness layer in channels, go back to layers palette, then convert to grayscale

Monthly maintenance can help keep computers running fast and free of errors. Here are some steps that I follow for my multiple computers:

MAC
1. Software Update: under the apple menu
2. Verify/repair disc: use disk utility in Applications > Utilities
3. Empty trash
4. MacJanitor: a free download
5. Disc Warrior or Techtool Deluxe
6. Delete browser artifacts & favicons: reset Safari and any other browsers
7. Shock RAM: restart computer holding CMD+Option+R+P
8. Check Activity Monitor for available disc space in Applications > Utilities

PC
1. AdAware: a free download to remove spyware
2. Delete cookies: found under user folders
3. RegCleaner: a free download to clean registry
4. AntiVirus: Norton is a good one that also removes spyware
5. Delete unnecessary temp files: run search for *tmp, ctrl+A, delete
6. Scan for errors: right click on hard drive to access
7. Disc Clean-up: right click on hard drive to access
8. Defragment: right click on hard drive to access
9. Windows Update

The most rewarding part of the job is getting feedback from happy customers! A few projects that have been a recent success or currently in progress are:

• the 2009 annual report design for Cleo Eulau Center, a non-profit benefiting children, http://cleoeulaucenter.org/
• beverage label design for First-Class Vending, a healthy vending machine company, http://firstclassvending.com/
• document design for an upcoming documentary on pimp turned author, Iceberg Slim, produced by Ice-T, http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2008/05/01/19766404.aspx
• ongoing print and web design for American Garage Antiques, http://americangarageantiques.com/
• website redesign for composer/musician, Nate Perry, http://nateperry.net/
• complete branding and collateral design for LA Pet Sitting, the best in-home pet care in Los Angeles.

I have experienced chronic pain since turning 30. As it becomes part of daily life, have to wonder if anything positive can be inspired by it.  Pain Exhibit

Actually, I just wanted to post this xray…my self-portrait! I have mri images too. I am sure to be collecting more images over the years, as the source of the problem remains undiagnosed.

I never thought much about my name until after moving to L.A., where it was pointed out as being a pretty good name. I was even asked if it was my real name, and eventually began to take pride in being Brooke White. I registered the EIN Brooke White Visual Art and brookewhite.net. Business in graphic design took off well, and I also participated in several art shows, had my own dark room–life was good.

Suddenly, I started getting word from friends and family that there was someone with my name on tv…American Idol. Not only that, she also lived in LA and even shared my middle name, Elizabeth. Next thing I knew, the phone calls and emails from “my fans” began, and receptionists would make comments when I arrived for appointments like, “We have been so excited that Brooke White from American Idol was coming in today to do her taxes.” I received song suggestions, offers to try out for new shows, compliments on my cd, and a call from “Haley from school” who became enraged when I didn’t remember her or accept her congratulations on American Idol.

Sometimes I feel like my life is a big joke on myself, full of interesting experiences and events that never amount to much. Also lots of things I like get discontinued, while things like her become huge. Fortunately, the other Brooke White was discontinued (“voted off”) of american idol. Unfortunately, her online legacy remains, and instead of being at the top anymore when  someone googles Brooke White, I will probably never show up at all again. At least I have been offered link exchanges from celebrity fan sites, and maybe having all these terms in a blog will improve my site ranking.