CreativeTechs Tips

This is an open letter to the MailChimp team:

Let me start off by saying that I LOVE the MailChimp service for handling email newsletters. We’ve been MailChimp clients for over years, and MailChimp has been my product of choice for most of the email marketing classes I’ve led over the years.

But the Interest Groups feature in MailChimp is broken. I’m hoping that by demonstrating our problems with the current Interest Groups implementation, those issues will be addressed, and I’ll be able to continue using MailChimp for many years to come. As it stands today, I’m seriously considering moving to another service for our training classes. And I’d really prefer to stay with MailChimp. Read the Full Tip »

Here is a question we get periodically from clients: How can I import videos from a DVD into a Keynote presentation? The answer is HandBrake, a wonderful free utility that easily converts video on a standard DVD into presentation-friendly QuickTime movies.

Link: HandBrake 0.9.4

HandBrake is a small freeware utility that lets you easily capture clips from DVDs as H.264 video files. The resulting files can be played using the QuickTime player, imported into the latest version of iMovie, or placed into a Keynote presentation.

Of course the most common use of HandBrake these days seems to be converting DVD movies into a format you can watch on your iPhone. But we’re sticking with business uses for today’s tip.

Tomorrow we’re trying something fun: an all-day online Photoshop Marathon. We’ll be rerunning recordings of Jason Hoppe’s full 10-Week Photoshop Course from earlier this year, with a couple live Q&A to keep things interesting.

Three Ways To Watch:

Method 1- GoToWebinar:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/643882369

Method 2- TweetChat:
http://tweetchat.com/room/creativetechs

Method 3- Ustream.tv:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/creativetechs
Read the Full Tip »

The hardcover edition of Chris Anderson’s new book, FREE, ships tomorrow, July 9th. You can buy it in bookstores or download free digital editions that the publisher is releasing on the same day.

Normally, I would write about this after we have links for all the downloads. However, many of the free editions will only be available for a single week, and I don’t want you to miss out!

Currently Available:

AudioBook Abridged – MP3s (Free)

AudioBook Unabridged – MP3s (Free)

Online eBook – scribd (Free)

Online eBook – Google books (Free)

Kindle Edition – Amazon (Free)

Printed Book – Hardcover ($18)

The abridged audiobook was available early, so I downloaded and finished it over the weekend. I’m looking forward to my copy of the hardcover which is already on order from Amazon.

Check back Tuesday, and we’ll update you with links on this post for the other free editions as soon as we know where they are available. Read the Full Tip »

In this short 8 minute video, Mark Monlux talks about his personal approach to using social networking tools for attract business as an independent professional illustrator. From a May 27, 2009 panel at the Seattle Graphic Artists Guild.

Last week I gave a talk for the Seattle Graphic Artists Guild about why designers should be using today’s online social media tools to attract work. I promised I’d post a video recording of that talk, and here it is.

I gave this talk twice. Once as a rough draft to a small webinar audience, and the next day at the luncheon to a live audience of creative small business owners.

After reviewing both recordings, I find I like the rough draft a bit better. It feels a little more casual, and I enjoy the side comments I found myself making as I was actively figuring out how to describe certain topics.

Read the Full Tip »

If you are looking for a good way to get a handle on various online social marketing tools, there is no better place to start than with these short "Plain English" videos from Common Craft:

Video: LinkedIn

Video: Social Media

Video: Podcasting

Video: Twitter

Video: Blogging

Video: Social Bookmarking

Video: Social Networking Sites

Video: RSS

Full Archive: The Common Craft Show.

These videos are created by Lee LeFever in Seattle and provide some of the best, jargon-free explanations you are going to find for today’s various online marketing tools.

Read the Full Tip »

There are three basic tools I need as a modern technical consultant: A flash drive to keep software utilities handy; a small screwdriver to open the occasional computer case; and (most importantly) a steady supply of business cards for referrals and introductions as I talk with people during the day.

I’ve spent more time than I can justify pulling together a basic toolkit that’s with me all the time. Here for your enjoyment, costing less than $100, is my keychain toolkit:

LaCie 8GB iamakey USB Flash Drive. ($35)

Swiss Tech Screwz-All Keyring Tool. ($4.75)

MOO MiniCards & MiniCard Holder. ($19.95 per 100 cards)

I looked at a lot of different products before settling on these three. If you are curious, read on for some alternate flash drives and keychain screwdrivers you might also consider. Read the Full Tip »

Next month, I’m giving a talk at Seattle’s Graphic Artists Guild about online social marketing. Want a sneak peak at some of the topics we’ll be discussing? Here are three short, manifestos to get you started:

The Care & Feeding of Your Network.

Build Your Brand in Bits and Bytes: Building Your Personal Brand Online.

Smart Networking: End the Resistance, Prepare for Success and Get 24/7 Results Without the 24/7 Effort.

I hand-picked these three from a terrific collection of manifestos at ChangeThis.com. They are all a quick read, and each has a couple nuggets of wisdom that I’m hoping to incorporate into next month’s talk. Read the Full Tip »

In December I published a tip on Frugal Ways to Spend Before Year End. Around that time, I asked a friend and colleague, Jason Knopp at Apple specialist The MacPac, to pull together a list of their used and refurbished Mac inventory as a resource we could point readers toward as part of saving money on computer purchases.

Well, he put in a fair bit of work, and under the pressure of deadlines, I never included it in my story. To make up for that, I’d like to correct the record now. If you are looking for good deal on new, previous generation, or used Apple products, check out the MacPac Clearance page:

Link – MacPac Clearance Page

Note: That link isn’t available for the general public. Jason pulled it together in December just for our readers. Sorry for letting it languish Jason! Read the Full Tip »