You’ve done it. You’ve taken the leap to start your own small business, putting your passion to work for you. I know exactly the kind of leap of faith it takes to leave behind the consistency of a regular paycheque, plus benefits (if you were lucky), and make a go of it on your own,…
For small business owners, a work/life balance is hard to achieve. Managing both a staff and your company is a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week occupation. It’s hard to not think that you need to be in touch with your employees at all times, and that you have to be constantly on top of absolutely everything happening at…
For our last blog post I went through a number of website design terms that are very helpful to know and understand if you are embarking on a site build or refresh. As a website designer I am very comfortable with the sometimes complicated vernacular that describes what I do. But I am well aware…
Every job comes with a whole lot of jargon, and website design comes with more than most. As a website designer for more than 15 years, I’ve seen many trends come and go, and trust me, it’s even hard for me to keep up with the constant changes in vernacular. When we discuss your website…
Among the many website design services we provide at Emphasize is the addition of ecommerce abilities. There are numerous benefits to including ecommerce on your site, the most obvious being that an online store helps you sell your products all day, every day. Other ways an ecommerce site can help your business include: Ecommerce shoppers…
No matter what you sell, where you sell it, or who you sell it to, your customers care about website security. We all do! The unfortunate reality of this digital age is that we are all potential victims of hackers, and given just how successful they are at getting the information they need for nefarious purposes,…
Happy New Year! As Emphasize Design’s creative lead I do a lot of research into website design trends to make sure I am always ahead of the curve. The internet is always evolving, and users are the ones who dictate what they like and want. It’s challenging, but rewarding, as I know my skills are…
After you’ve had your much-needed (and well-deserved) rest and relaxation for the holidays, it’s time to get back down to business again. When it comes to web design and maintenance, there’s nothing worse than aimlessness. Rather than float into the new year without a solid plan, why not jot down a few goals to keep…
As we at Emphasize Design work with a lot of small companies that are just establishing themselves in their chosen market, a lot of the time the first thing we work on together is your logo design. Your logo is the first step towards your brand identity, and is pivotal for helping to determine not…
Anyone who has ever worked in print publications will know there is a constant jockeying between the designers and the writers. Designers want space to be artistic, writers want space for their words. And an 8.5×11-inch piece of paper doesn’t get any bigger, no matter how clever you are. The best thing about the Internet…
In our last blog we went through five ways to improve your SEO results while also improving your website and the user experience at the same time. Thanks to continuous improvements in Google’s algorithm, nothing is more important than good content and smart website design. Your site’s search performance is dependent on its overall quality,…
As well as being the website design expert for Emphasize Design of Calgary, I am also responsible for all things SEO. Search engine optimization walks hand in hand with the design and functionality of your website. Intuitive site information architecture, great, easy-to-read, and informative content, combined with attractive, brand-friendly design are just as important for…
I love designing websites. It’s both a creative and technical process, which means I get to use all the parts of my brain, and it also means I’m helping some of Calgary’s entrepreneurs reach their business goals. Calgary website design has developed exponentially over the years, and there are more and more options to help…
As Emphasize’s creative manager, I am in charge of conceptualizing your web design ideas into reality. I build websites, which means I am online for a living. And I also work from home. So, not only do I have to avoid online distractions like social media, the never-ending news cycle, and my email, I also…
A regular request when I embark on site builds for our clients is an ecommerce section where business can sell their wares online. And why wouldn’t you? Your website operates 24 hours a day, when you and your employees simply can’t. At Emphasize Design of Calgary, we provide website design services that specialize in creating…
Getting started with a new website feels like a big job, even for us! At Emphasize Design, each member of our team focuses on a different aspect of website design and marketing. We keep the process efficient by taking it step by step, and making sure all of the necessary building blocks are in place.…