Content tag:www.sugarsock.com,2010-02-06:/content//1 2012-02-27T06:40:37Z Movable Type Pro 5.01 Site Updates Coming Soon... - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2012:/content/blog//2.867 2012-02-27T06:31:08Z 2012-02-27T06:40:37Z I've been busy busy busy... with work and with life. I recently wrapped up several projects (both web and print) and will update the site in the next few days. In addition, in the coming weeks, Sugarsock will roll out... April http://www.sugarsock.com/
I recently wrapped up several projects (both web and print) and will update the site in the next few days. In addition, in the coming weeks, Sugarsock will roll out some new services that have been in the works for a while. I look forward to sharing the details.
]]> Spring is in the Air... - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2012:/content/blog//2.865 2012-02-01T20:06:15Z 2012-02-01T20:28:06Z Even though we have a couple of months of winter left, the weather has made it feel like spring in these parts. Each year around this time (weather permitting), I get the itch to do spring cleaning, organize, and tidy... April http://www.sugarsock.com/
The past few months have been filled with so many great experiences and new beginnings: I have started a couple of side ventures, gone on a few trips with family and with friends, and worked on some fun projects with existing and new clients. I'm just getting a chance to breathe and reflect on these accomplishments.

One dpotf-cover.pngevelopment I'm particularly proud of is contributing to a client's book, in multiple ways. I not only designed and performed production of the paperback, Kindle, and iBookstore (ePub) versions, but also lent my branding and web development expertise in the form of an interview for her manuscript.

Jaunique Sealey is a former digital and social media marketing executive for Lady Gaga and other marquee brands and artists (I was lucky enough to participate in some of those projects), and now she's condensed the best of her knowledge into this handbook for artists, business-owners, and job-seekers looking to get recognition online.

Besides easy-to-understand how-tos for the most important social media tools and applications, Jaunique interviewed social media stars (Necole Bitchie, Paul Carrick Brunson) and behind-the-scenes experts (Ryan Babenzien, Jeremy Caverly, and me) for even more insight.

Piece of the Fame is available at Amazon (in paperback or Kindle format) and iBookstore.

Enjoy! And look for more updates about other projects... soon. ;)
]]> Updates - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.864 2011-10-21T00:18:56Z 2011-10-21T00:25:16Z I've been working on some exciting projects, both for clients and for myself. I am particularly jazzed about a new partnership with a couple of talented people, and I look forward to sharing more about that in the coming weeks... April http://www.sugarsock.com/
Before you decide that I'm pathetic for not having written in about five weeks, I'll have you know that any (tiny bit of) writing energy has been going into some private projects--personal blogs, stories, and even some music, which I haven't done in ages. I am grateful for the energy and inspiration I have right now... and also thrilled to have so many meaningful collaborations with clients and partners at the moment.

There are a few updates in the portfolio, mostly in the hand-lettering section (1) (2) (3). More eye candy is on deck to be uploaded here, so I'll try to do that in the next few days.

Happy Thursday!
]]> 9/11 - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.859 2011-09-11T18:05:12Z 2011-09-11T18:08:21Z I'm sure everyone remembers their personal circumstances surrounding September 11. I could tell you where I was, whom I was with, how it felt when what seemed like a fluke accident became a realization that we were under attack... but... April http://www.sugarsock.com/
For a short time, we shared it all: shock, terror, confusion. There was subsequent grief and anger that eventually divided us into the overly vengeful and the overly government-dependent.

How do you describe that day's sensation of feeling both brotherhood for and suspicion of those around you, balancing sympathy for the terrified Middle Eastern gas station attendant with the logic that it's possible he was secretly joyful about the event?

Life changed for everyone. Some lost life or loved ones, and some, like me, lost their relatively innocent and simple view of the world. Although the horrific images and emotions of that time will never completely fade from memory, each time I revisit 9/11, I try to think about good things that may have grown from it. I understand the controversy of that statement, and it's not to lessen the gravity of that time. Whenever there is a large-scale tragedy--natural disaster that wipes out swaths of homes, a bombing that takes lives in the name of religion or politics, a freak accident that maims many--isn't it natural to pause for a moment on the preciousness of life and the good fortune to have escaped fate for another day?

9/11 gave me an opportunity to stop giving my soul solely to work and avoiding the biggest challenge of my life: loving without fear. In an instant, cliches like "Life is too short" and "You only live once" became gravely important laws of fulfillment. Minor relationship infractions--losing touch with old friends and flaking out on social commitments--suddenly became major trespasses.

While I can't claim that I immediately stopped struggling with working too much or being a good friend, I can say that my demeanor began to skew toward love, generosity, understanding, forgiveness... and not sweating the small stuff. I'm a different person--a better person--because of 9/11, and I hope that a periodic memorial isn't required to hold onto the principles that were given to me because of it. ]]> Where Children Sleep - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.858 2011-09-04T22:51:36Z 2011-09-04T23:01:40Z James Mollison has created an enchanting series of photographs about where children sleep. With a simple premise, taking photos of children and their sleeping areas (not necessarily bedrooms, tragically), Mollison has provided a global glimpse at our cultural differences and... April http://www.sugarsock.com/
Look how seven-year-old Nepalese Indira already has the hardened stare of a manual laborer; Kentuckian Alyssa wears the dirt and expression of desperation beyond her eight years; and nine-year-old New Yorker Jaime bears the smug eyelids of the overindulged. Fascinating stuff--I can't stop revisiting these haunting images.

Enjoy here:

James Mollison's Where Children Sleep
]]> Smell of Art - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.857 2011-09-03T21:54:25Z 2011-09-04T22:50:43Z Yesterday, we decided to head to Culver City for a day of art gallery-hopping, something we haven't done in a while. (First, we stopped at the Counter for a burger--which was really good--since we both were starving and craving meat...... April http://www.sugarsock.com/
Once we got to our favorite stretch, we realized the district was totally dead. A couple of galleries were still installing their shows for their next openings, but otherwise, not one was open! (On the other hand, if we had been in housewares-shopping mode, the nearby furniture district was totally swamped.) What a bummer. I guess we should have checked first.

Since we were already driving around the area, we decided to stop at Pearl to get some sketchbooks, which we have been putting off ordering for some time.

As soon as we walked through the doors, memories of art school flooded back to me. How many hours have I spent inside a Pearl store? The smell is the same, whether it's Chicago and Franklin in 1995 Chicago or La Cienega and Pico in 2011 Los Angeles. The Chicago store isn't even open anymore, but isn't it something to know that 15 years and 2,000 miles doesn't make a difference to smell memory?

I was simultaneously irritated and amused by the knowledge that some things about an art store never change, whether it's the smell of supplies or the poor selection, shabby organization, and lackluster customer service. It also made me realize that maybe that little sliver of artist in me that pops out once in a while is getting smaller and smaller with every year... manual art is a hobby I have little patience for anymore, and my idea of an "art project" these days is a web app that most would call "social experiment."

Does this mean I'm settling down (not that I was ever wild) or just more boring (I had my wild moments) than I used to be? If I have artistic talent, am I obligated to use it, or is it kids' stuff? I'm not sure, but I did pick up a sketchbook that I plan to fill with ideas... for something.
]]> Zipments LA - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.856 2011-09-02T21:35:03Z 2011-09-04T21:51:08Z Last night, I attended the launch event for Zipments LA. The Grand Rapids-based company has create a system for connecting freelance couriers with local businesses who need deliveries made around town. This enables individual users to look for jobs near... April http://www.sugarsock.com/
The CEO of Zipments cited a few core principles for the company, but the most interesting was a personal mission to make healthful food accessible to all areas. With Zipments, food from any location can be delivered anywhere else in the city... the implication being that there's no excuse for relying on fast food or other convenience foods simply because that's what's around your home. To put his money where his mouth is, the CEO said he would be eating only meals delivered by Zipments for an entire month.

Signing up to be a courier is a snap... and once you're registered, you can immediately view jobs on a Google map. I have found this useful for when I drive across town: I log in, check out whether there are any deliveries needed along my route, and snag a job only if it's convenient. Once the delivery is done, I text the confirmation to a Zipments number, then get paid through Paypal within 24 hours.

Signing up for the vendor side is also simple; you can even create a two-sided account to serve both functions. Once registered, it's easy to post jobs by specifying pick-up and drop-off addresses, details of the cargo, time ranges for pick-up and delivery, and a price you're willing to pay for the service.

I think Zipments has the potential to be huge in LA, where bike messengers have never really caught on (unlike Chicago and New York).

You can find out more at Zipments.com.
]]> Health Month Begins - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.855 2011-09-02T00:08:27Z 2011-09-02T00:20:56Z September is Health Month... for me, anyway. HealthMonth.com is a site that allows users to set up and track goals and limits to improve physical, intellectual, and spiritual health. Meet your goals? Earn points. Miss your goals? Lose them, and... April http://www.sugarsock.com/
I've set up 13 rules for myself, ranging from "Cook dinner six nights a week" (which will be a fairly easy challenge, since most weeks I cook 4-5 nights a week) to "Limit Internet use to 40 hours per week" (which will be a monumental challenge). My goals mostly focus on physical health and limiting how much I work, but I included a couple that aim to nurture meaningful relationships in my life.

I've always been pretty bad at taking time to acknowledge my accomplishments, and I am looking forward to seeing in (friendly) analytical terms all I can pull off in just 30 days.

As a bonus, a couple of friends saw my tweets about Health Month and decided to join themselves. I can't think of a better way to bond with people you care about than encouraging each other to improve health--so there's more time together in the long run.

If you're ready for a late-year resolution or two, it's not too late to join. Head over to the site and sign up today.  Don't be intimidated: You can make your goals conservative to start with and add on down the line.

Cheers (with carrot juice) to your health!
]]> Are You Watching Web TV? - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.853 2011-08-10T16:47:53Z 2011-08-10T17:11:14Z I'm not talking about web broadcasts shown on the web. I mean television created just for the web... have you ever watched any? There are tons of writers, actors, and directors (and more, oh my) independently producing original content just... April http://www.sugarsock.com/
- As a whole, the producers of web series are not marketing- and web-savvy, so it can be difficult to find their stuff in the first place.

- Most of the major web series channels are lacking in some way, often having confusing navigation, poor search functions, weak SEO, or bad-quality playback.

- Because it's so wide open, there is a lot of content to sift through before finding something your taste.

On the positive side:

- Most web series episodes, whether through necessity or consideration of people's attention spans, are easily digestible--expect stories to be told in less than ten minutes.

- Commercials are much more rare than on television. Some channels will play bumps before or between episodes, but most of the time, you can get right to the content.

- There are fewer rules for web content... which means you can take in a lot more swearing and situations that would be deemed "inappropriate" for television -- if you're into that sort of thing.

- Tried-and-true character actors and even big stars can sometimes be found in web series, and it can be fun to watch them in different format or outside their usual comfort zone.

- Some actors and producers are finding the genre a route to traditional entertainment by using it as a place to showcase their talents... watching web series can introduce you to up-and-coming industry players and trends.

Following are links to some of the web series channels I know about. If you haven't  watched any, spend a few minutes to check out some series...

» Strike TV
» Koldcast TV
» Blip TV

P.S. Speaking of web series, I recently created a Wordpress theme for one called The Best Friend:

the-best-friend.jpg

]]> Quasi-Mexi-Salad - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.851 2011-07-27T18:28:32Z 2011-07-27T18:45:00Z I made a salad and dressing for dinner on Monday. Hubby took the leftovers to work and let some co-workers taste it. They requested the recipe... which is quite a challenge for me. I love to cook, but I'm not... April http://www.sugarsock.com/
I am gaga for Mexican food, but it can be quite the calorie-bomb, so I am always trying to get the essential flavors of it to satisfy the craving without downing anything too heavy. Here's Monday's recipe for a salad and dressing I make every once in a while...

Quasi-Mexi-Salad and Dressing
Serves 3-4

Salad

1 can of garbanzo beans, rinsed
1/2 head Napa cabbage, thinly cut into shreds
medium tomato, diced
2 ears of sweet corn, grilled/roasted and cut
1 large sweet red pepper, grilled/roasted, peeled, and diced
2-3 mini sweet peppers, diced

Corn and red pepper can be roasted on a grill or over open gas flame on stovetop. Char pepper until skin is completely black, then allow to cool; when cool enough to handle (at least 10 minutes), the skin easily peels off. Just be careful when you dice -- liquid will come out.

Cut all veggies into similar sized pieces and toss with dressing (recipe below).

I usually include a can of rinsed black beans and a couple of sliced scallions, but i didn't have them on hand at the time. Additional ingredients that work well: black beans, scallions, jicama, finely diced jalapeno, cilantro, oregano, grilled chicken breast or flank steak, etc. (Season the meat with chili powder, salt, pepper, cumin, etc. before grilling.)

Dressing

1 big handful of fresh cilantro
1/2 large Hass avocado
juice from 1 1/2 large limes
2-3 tablespoons dressing oil, such as canola or grapeseed
Salt and pepper to taste

Place cilantro, avocado, and lime juice in food processor and pulse until broken down. Turn on and slowly drizzle oil through food spout until dressing retains desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

You might have to adjust the amount of avocado and lime juice, depending on the size and yields of fruits.

Toss salad with dressing. I tend to like salads dressed the French way, so lightly it's barely there, so if you're a dressing-hound, you might want to double the recipe.

If desired, serve with flour tortillas, shredded cheese, creme fraiche, extra lime wedges, avocado, and cilantro, etc. :)

]]> Wells Fargo, How You Disappoint Me... - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.850 2011-07-26T23:42:24Z 2011-07-26T23:51:56Z I am so mad at my supposed business banker that I sent an uncharacteristic email to him (he was not in, or I would have given him the verbal version -- with a lot more expletives). Here's the background: I... April http://www.sugarsock.com/
- First, I received business checks with the home address. (Oh, we'll fix that.)
- Next, I received business checks with the business address, but it was incorrect! Another call and emails. (It's fixed.)
- Then, I received a change of address notification at home instead of business. Another call. (Okay, we updated it.)
- Then, I received a statement addressed to someone who was not even authorized on the account. (Oh, we just used the old info. Okay, it's fixed.)
- Most recently, my personal debit card was declined (for an online purchase, thank god!) for an address mismatch. Guess what? WF changed my personal address to my business address.

Seriously, this should not be that complicated. Can they really not handle someone having two profiles/addresses -- one personal, and one business? You know what, Wells? I CAN quit you... and I just might. Let's see how you handle this latest screw-up. I might end up publishing the full names of all involved parties if you continue this bureaucratic BS!

Here's the email I just fired off... complete with all-caps passages and multiple exclamation points? I'm a madwoman!

JOSEPH:

I'm sorry, but ARE YOU MESSING WITH ME? It can't possibly be that you're doing this on purpose!

Why did you change the address on my personal accounts?! I cannot believe that four tiny accounts -- two personal and two business -- are causing such confusion to a business banker who should have experience with customers who hold many accounts.

I haven't been using my business checking account at all until this has been verified as cleared up, and boy, am I glad! I just experienced a CC decline on my PERSONAL account because of an address mismatch... and I finally figured out from talking with Wells Fargo customer service and the manager at your branch that it's because the address on my personal account was changed to my business address. Why is this causing such confusion? I am seriously considering CLOSING ALL OF MY ACCOUNTS and strictly using my other outside bank accounts.

I have four accounts:

One is personal checking (ending in XXXX).
One is personal savings (ending in XXXX).
These were paired as part of your standard checking-savings deal.
These accounts and all of the associated debit cards (XXXX, XXXX) are associated with the following names (ONLY THESE) and address:
XXXXX X Grant (XXXX)
XXXXX X Grant (XXXX)
[address redacted]
[address redacted]

One is business checking (ending in XXXX).
One is business savings (ending in XXXX). 
These were paired as part of your standard checking-savings business deal.
These accounts and the ONLY ASSOCIATED DEBIT CARD (XXXX) are associated with the following name (ONLY) and address:
XXXXX X Grant (XXXX)
Sugarsock LLC
[address redacted]
[address redacted]

NO OTHER CONTACT PEOPLE SHOULD BE ON THESE ACCOUNTS.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE -- WHICH INCLUDES STATEMENTS, ADDRESS CHANGE NOTIFICATIONS, PROMOTIONS, AND ANY OTHER WELLS FARGO MAIL TO XXXXX X GRANT AND XXXXX X GRANT (THE INDIVIDUAL) ABOUT PERSONAL ACCOUNTS -- GOES TO THE PERSONAL ADDRESS OF [address redacted].

BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE -- WHICH INCLUDES STATEMENTS, ADDRESS CHANGE NOTIFICATIONS, PROMOTIONS, AND ANY OTHER WELLS FARGO MAIL TO XXXXX X GRANT (REPRESENTATIIVE) ABOUT SUGARSOCK BUSINESS ACCOUNTS -- GOES TO THE BUSINESS ADDRESS OF [address redacted].

IS THERE ANY OTHER CONFUSION ABOUT MY ACCOUNTS?

I spoke with the manager of your branch today and was informed that the best way to handle this is to go into a branch. My previous visits to your branch, multiple calls, and emails have clearly not worked, so I have doubts about whether another visit to a branch will help. I am going to try tomorrow -- so don't bother trying to fix this yourself... I'm sure it will be messed up in some new, previously unimaginable way. ]]> Photo in Italian Flair - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.849 2011-07-12T00:39:45Z 2011-07-14T16:00:19Z One of my photos of Christian Filippella on set was used as the main image of a recent profile of the filmmaker in Flair Italia (a leading fashion magazine). Congrats, Christian, on being featured!... April http://www.sugarsock.com/ Flair Italia (a leading fashion magazine). Congrats, Christian, on being featured!

christian_filippella_flair_italia.jpg



]]> Site Launch: CinemaSecrets - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.845 2011-06-14T16:10:56Z 2011-06-17T16:28:11Z Cinema Secrets is a manufacturer of professional-grade cosmetics. They have a cult following among pro makeup artists, but their website (store) was a little difficult to use. Over the past couple of months, I worked with the Cinema Secrets team... April http://www.sugarsock.com/ Brandon Flowers, a fellow Midwesterner and talented photographer and retoucher who created the striking images used throughout the "editorial" side of the site.

Structurally, the site combines Movable Type for content-management with Magento e-commerce software. I did all of the design, programming, configuration... and even some of my photography is featured.

Here are some screenshots:

Screen shot 2011-06-17 at 9.14.51 AM.png

Screen shot 2011-06-17 at 9.14.55 AM.png

Screen shot 2011-06-17 at 9.15.00 AM.png

Screen shot 2011-06-17 at 9.15.36 AM.png




]]> How NOT to Design an Awesome Logo - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.844 2011-06-13T15:10:08Z 2011-06-17T16:06:10Z I recently ran across an unfortunate web article called "How to Design an Awesome Logo" by Gary Simon. In it, Simon suggests that an "awesome" logo design is as easy as: 1. Opening Photoshop (mistake #1) 2. Typing some fonts... April http://www.sugarsock.com/ "How to Design an Awesome Logo" by Gary Simon. In it, Simon suggests that an "awesome" logo design is as easy as:

1. Opening Photoshop (mistake #1)
2. Typing some fonts (ugh)
3. Vector-tracing a raster image (are you kidding?)

This attempt at no-talent-no-problem awesome logo design is full of design NO-NOs any legitimate designer will not use.

1. Opening Photoshop

First, designers know that true logos are not created in Photoshop, even if they happen to have a photographic element... because they know the difference between vector art and raster art.

VECTOR ART: All of the pieces show in my logo design section are vector images, which are infinitely scalable mathematical drawings. That means if a client needs to blow up the logo to 100 feet by 100 feet, the image will look as crisp as it does small.

RASTER ART: On the other hand, photographs are raster images, which means they have a finite size limited by the sophistication of the device (generally a camera) that captured them. That means if a client needs to blow up a raster image to 100 feet by 100 feet, the image will become more and more pixelated as it's inflated.

Photoshop is the application most designers use to generate raster art. Vector graphics can be created within Photoshop, but the resulting file is of finite size that can not be enlarged without loss of image quality. Illustrator is the application most designers use to generate logos and other vector art. Raster images can be placed within Illustrator and maintain their own resolution within the file... so if raster and vector art are mixed, upon blowup, the vector art remains crisp while the raster art gets pixelated.

In his tutorial, Simon suggests that you start with a 600px x 500px Photoshop document. A document of this size limits you to a logo that prints at approximately 2" x 1.5" -- and no larger. He must not know the difference between screen resolution and print resolution.

SCREEN RESOLUTION: Monitors display art at 72dpi (dots per inch). That means a 600px x 500px document will theoretically appear approximately like a 9" x 7" image, although that's deceptive because everyone has their monitor resolution set differently. If you have 1260 resolution, a 600px image would come about 50% across the screen.

PRINT RESOLUTION: Printed matter displays art at 300dpi. This means an image needs to be about five times larger to appear with the same image quality as the corresponding web image.

Some people might think all they need is a screen-resolution logo, since they have a web business. But anyone who believes in their business should all believe in the potential to eventually need to print something, whether it's a business card, invoice form for a web store, or banner.

2. Typing some fonts

Hopefully, most designers give it a little more respect than this article does. Viewing, selecting, and customizing characters is a huge part of real logo design.

3. Vector-tracing raster images

The newest wave in DIY-by-non-designers is vector-tracing. This is the practice of placing a raster image and tracing over it with the vector pen tool. It has legitimate uses but recently become a way for wannabes to claim themselves "illustrators." Real illustrators, like my husband, have the talent to create singular art with nuance just for a client, a one-of-a-kind character or icon to encapsulate a brand and serve as a unique identifier.

Generally, this overuse is seen in t-shirt design, where photographs are traced into vector art and blown up--but this article has gone a step further by showing the designer tracing over an illustration! This is infuriating, since it is complete plagiarism of another artist's illustration. Of course, Simon put in a disclaimer that hand-drawn is better (But got no talent? No problem!) and anyone should buy an image from a stock agency before tracing, but the fact that he traced over a cartoon shows a real problem. This practice could get a company in legal trouble for illegal use of copyrighted imagery.

Fortunately, these methods come across in the resulting portfolio, which is full of staid, lifeless logos. I can't wait to check out his other site, which promises that you'll be designing "amazing" websites yourself within three hours! What?

If you don't know a lot, at least know what questions to ask when you consult a professional logo designer. Find out their work process, what kind of files they will provide, and whether they know how to sketch. Don't feel vulnerable and obligated to use someone simply because they've created a logo before... educate yourself, look at lots of logos you like to determine similarities between them, and find someone who will treat your project with the respect and long view it deserves!
]]> My Method for Creating Page Titles - Design Blog tag:www.sugarsock.com,2011:/content/blog//2.843 2011-06-12T14:38:57Z 2011-06-17T15:08:35Z SEO (search-engine optimatization) is the process of making your web content as "friendly" as possible to search engines so they can a) find it, and b) determine its bottom-line message, and c) deliver it to users looking for it.I have... April http://www.sugarsock.com/
I have found that one element of successful SEO is creating page titles that echo the site structure--in reverse.

So, where a breadcrumb trail on my site might look like this...
Sugarsock > Portfolio > Corporate Branding > Logo Design > XYZ Corporation

...the resulting page title would look like this:
XYZ Corporation > Logo Design > Corporate Branding > Portfolio > Sugarsock

Why?

When it is crawling your site, a search engine weighs several criteria of a page to determine its value, including:
- Page title
- Page description
- Correlation between page title and headlines found in the content
- Correlation between page description and phrases found in the content
- Specificity and singularity

When determining the "reputation" of a site's content, a search engine weighs several other criteria, including depth of information... within a section or topic, how much content has a site developed?

Have you ever seen a site that has the same page title for every page? (The page title appears in your browser bar. Maybe you haven't even noticed it before!) Generally, a site with a title like "Sugarsock > Portfolio" on every single page will not not be well represented by search engines... and when they are listed in search results, the pages might all blur together because they're not easily classified by the user.

"Specificity" and "singularity" refer to making each page as specific as possible and one-of-a-kind, so a search engine will respect each page as its own entity. Instead of having 20 pages with a title of "Logo Design > Corporate Branding > Portfolio > Sugarsock," one more level of detail (the description of the logo) helps the search engine determine that each page has unique content--and that there is a depth of information within the Logo Design section. Listing the most specific information first in the page title delivers the most important details to the search engine (and, subsequently, the user) first.

When working on your own site, don't try to "trick" the search engines into visiting your site by using "marketing strategies" like planting false keywords throughout your content or overloading the meta fields. While they might get short-term attention, deceptive practices fail in the long term and generate web "litter" for people to sift through. (No one wants that!) The best things you can do with regard to page titles is:

- Create quality content.
- Be selective with the keywords you add to your metadata.
- Create page titles that truthfully summarize the content of the pages.
- Use the same keywords throughout page title, keywords, and content.
- Decide a page-titling "formula" and stick with it throughout your site.
- Put yourself in the position of a person using a search engine. What would they be searching for to find the content on your page useful? Consider this as you create your content, create headlines, and generate page titles. Remember that the point is to deliver your content to people who are looking for it... not necessarily the entire world.
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