Resource Links

Branding and Image Resources

Wikimedia Commons: a collection of over 92 million freely usable media files to which anyone can contribute. Consider this link as a handy source to brainstorm branding ideas.

Pixabay: Over 2.8 million+ high quality royalty free stock images, videos and music shared by this talented community.

Stock.snap.io: Browse and download thousands of copyright-free images.

Airtable: A free app to Accelerate work and unlock potential to connect your data, workflows and teams: for example, use for a social media content calendar.

Canva: Canva makes it easy to create professional designs and to share or print them.

Vistaprint: one of a variety of simple online tools to create, design and order business cards and other marketing materials.

Shutterstock free small business brand kit: Shutterstock’s recently released (Spring 2003) Small Business Brand Kit lays out everything you need to launch or grow a small business, including : 1. Insights on Solidifying Your Brand Foundation, 2. Tips for Building a Memorable Brand Identity, and 3. Printables to Help You Stay on Track

Project Management Resources

PM4Change (the non-profit that coordinates the Annual Project Management Day of Service in DC each February)

Project Management Institute (with many chapters and meetings in the DC area)

WordPress Resources

WordPress.Com (General site info, plus link to open a WP.COM account)

WordPress.Com – free webinars (daily or recorded – esp. on Starting a Website or Blog)

WordPress.Com – Theme Directory (WP.COM’s Theme library)

WordPress.Com – Help (Support) (WP.COM’s FAQ Knowledge Base)

WordPress.Com – Podcast (How to do a Podcast on WP.COM)

WordPress.TV (a repository of general, how-to WP videos on all aspects of website production)

Sample WordPress.Com Sites from the Web

The Perimeter: a rich evocation of a UK photographer’s coastal trek…

Tips: √ Events focus, Media outreach, visual impact

Minding the Workplace: US Law Professor’s blog on labor relations

Tips:   √ Simple blog layout, readibility, high value blog articles

Rolling Sands Consulting: A Canadian marketer’s consulting site…

Tips: √ Basic site/blog for independent consulting

Yikes:  Professional WordPress Development & Design

Tips:  √ Lively site headers yet ample white space, Team cameos, Blog news

Showcase of Websites built by WP.COM’s Web Design Service

Tips:  √ Samples of a wide variety of site styles using “Seedlet” and other Themes

Do-It-Yourself!

With time and willingness to learn, You can create your own Blog or Site. While my Consulting can improve site quality and cut delivery time, any User can implement a basic site with user-friendly WordPress.Com software.

Here is are 11 steps to stand up your own WordPress.Com Blog or Site…in practice you may find yourself “toggling” back and forth on steps as you proceed:

  • STUDY … a free WordPress.Com 45 min webinar on starting a Blog or Site

  • DEFINE … your Audience – who will read and react to your Site?

  • NAME … your Blog or Site, plus a short branding statement for a tagline

  • FIND … Site(s) on the Web to inspire you, and as possible models

  • SKETCH … on paper your Home Page layout and navigation

  • CREATE … your free WP.COM account and starter site – see my Tips

  • SELECT...a good Theme, using the Dashboard’s helpful Theme Directory

  • DRAFT … an About Page, Post article, plus a Logo/Header from Media

  • SEARCH … WPCOM’s useful Help articles, check out the “?” Dashboard icon

  • TEST…check your site out on all devices, browsers. Remember…you can “Add New Site” for free as a training, testbed (or for a separate complimentary, members-only site)! Also test your WP.COM security provisions: Password strength, two-factor authentication, backup, etc.

  • LAUNCH! … your site to the world via Settings or via the Site Setup wizard

Check out my Videos on Non-Profit Websites plus Tips on Site Rationale, Planning, Naming and Demystifying WordPress on my Tutorials Page!