Web Smarts to be featured
at SBDC directors' meeting
We are pleased to announce we've been invited by the South Central Indiana Small Business Development Center to present a custom "Web Smarts" seminar to the directors of all Indiana's SBDCs in August. Our seminar, growing out of our long-standing partnership with the South Central Indiana SBDC, will be one of the "educational" segments of the directors' meeting. We'll be focusing on key concepts so directors can counsel their clientele more effectively.

We're very happy to be invited to provide the seminar, particularly as it can help other Indiana small business owners create a more effective Web presence. We'll be adding a special section on e-commerce to our Web Smarts resource pages; see next month's Sparks for more info!

Selecting a search engine optimization company
Our Web Smarts seminars and one-on-one consultations are designed to give small business owners tools to position their Web sites effectively. But sometimes your site's ranking in search engines is so critical that you need to hire a search engine optimization (SEO) firm. A recent issue of SitePro News covered questions to ask when evaluating an SEO company. Some key points:

• Make sure the firm doesn't use unscrupulous methods which may give short-term success but end up getting your site banned from search engines
• Ensure the firm focuses on the top search engines, not on minor ones which generate little traffic
• Find out if the keyword phrases the firm has optimized for are actually popular search terms
• Determine how the firm's positions have performed over time

The power of great design
Ever see a commercial that sparks your imagination and makes you see things in a whole new light? A recent campaign for Honda's Accord shows the power of combining a great concept with great design, resulting in an online phenomenon that has delighted millions.

A two-minute film called "Cog," it shows a chain reaction featuring parts from the new Accord. A bearing rolls into a hub which rolls into a cog which falls into a camshaft and on and on! A brilliant concept that's beautifully executed, the ad communicates that Honda's engineering is precision quality. The commercial shows the power of strategic thinking and great design. And it's just plain fun! See the commercial and then learn how it was made.

This month's winner: Sue Havlish!
In addition to the thrill of winning this month's contest, Sue wins a T-shirt featuring this one-of-a-kind design. Have a favorite quote or saying? Send it in! If your quote is chosen, you'll receive a T-shirt with a custom design! Check out your competition here.

See the creative process for the design above

International Studies Degree at Indiana University
The International Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University in Bloomington offers a new, ground-breaking multidisciplinary major. By developing seven new core courses and building on IU's rich resources in area studies, foreign languages, and overseas studies programs, the International Studies major prepares students for careers in international diplomacy, non-governmental organizations, the arts, and business.

Getting the word out about a new program means having eye-catching design. Program directors Dan Knudsen and Rima Merriman partnered with us to create an oversized brochure and poster with the theme "Focus wide." Students attracted to the major tend to be high achievers, very intelligent, and already interested in a global perspective. Using metallic inks and an arresting main image, we created print materials which connect with this sophisticated audience while highlighting the core information students need to know.

View the International Studies brochure designed by Cairril.com Design