Author Archives: Scott Lamlein

The Client – Staff Team

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ID-10076977I’m often asked, “What do you love most about your job?”

There are a lot of obvious things, like freedom of owning my own business, get to work with great technology, always learn new things, have an awesome computer, etc.

But each of those things fades into the background when I consider the team.

The team consists of me, my staff, and the client. When we approach a new website project, the first thing that happens is a meeting – by phone or in person – to discuss the client’s needs and dreams for their online presence. The client then works directly with our designer in a collaborative process of creating the look and feel of the new website. Simultaneously, the client goes through a similar effort with one of our content writers. Then the site is built and the content is put in place, the design is tweaked, and ultimately a new website is released with which we are all happy.

It is the team aspect of this work that I enjoy the most. There is often laughter and fun during the process, and the product is perfect for the client because he or she was an active part of designing their own website. And the relationship continues long after that, as the client learns how to do their own website editing and changes, with our guidance. We also provide the client with connections and advice for promoting their website on search engines and in social media, and remain trusted advisors for all of their marketing.

Each website in our portfolio is a result of this team design approach, and I am both humbled and proud by what this process can produce. However, the relationships behind those projects are what business is really about. Contact us today to learn more about working together to make your web presence come alive! The initial consultation is always fun and free.

(Photo courtesy imagerymajestic, freedigitalphotos.net. Yep, it’s cheesy, but it made me smile.)

New Site: American Analytical Laboratories

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AmericanAnalyticalEver have a testimonial say everything you need to say? Here’s one:

Dear Scott, and the team at NorthFortyRoad:

Establishing a website is a daunting task – it is comparable to writing a personal profile. Where to start?  What to say?

Defining site goals and objectives, evaluating who you are and what you represent is difficult enough – but targeting a specific audience and ensuring that they will come back to your site is critical to the success of any website.

Working with NorthFortyRoad and Scott’s team of professionals was an intensive, creative and thought provoking experience –  they were able to draw out a well designed plan with formality and function, and yet present it in a fresh way.  The finished product is amazing, and unlike any other web design that I have seen in our industry.

Our thanks to you, Scott, for providing excellent service and delivering a beautiful new website to us!

Best regards,
Jennifer Mullady
AMERICAN ANALYTICAL LABORATORIES, LLC

Thank you, Jenny! We had a wonderful time creating and developing this website with you.

New Site Release: Hartford American Guild of Organists

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hartfordagoWhen the Greater Hartford Chapter of the American Guild of Organists were ready for a new website, they had some very clear goals: build a site that is attractive, shows the pipe organ as an important instrument, offers opportunities for both members and enthusiasts to connect, and allow a chapter member to edit and change the site with basic computer skills.

Once again, WordPress to the rescue!  Here we have custom-designed a WordPress site that is easy to maintain in the background, and includes a password-protected members area and public discussion forum.

And, best of all, the entire site is responsive – it re-sizes and reconfigures itself based on the type of screen being viewed with, whether computer, tablet, or hand-held phone. Try it!  Visit the site, and re-size your browser window to mimic the shape of a tablet or narrow phone.

As an organist myself, I’m honored once again to create a website that showcases a truly amazing instrument, and help others discover that is rightly called the King of Instruments!

Visual Composer

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Guest blogger Jacob Humerick talks about a great tool for getting more layout options out of WordPress.  Contact us if you’d like to learn more!

The thought of a new website can oftentimes be overwhelming. WordPress has made that process much easier, because you do not need to know how to code complicated lines in order to create a professional layout for your website. There are also plugins out there that will make it even easier to display content on your website. One that I have found very helpful is the Visual Composer.

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Using Visual Composer, customizing your website has never been easier. With Virtual Composer, you have the ability to create custom layouts. There are many options and tools that you could use to really give your website that one-of-a-kind look. The Visual Composer has many different input options for the display. From layout options to inputting customized widget areas, these elements will allow you to move your content into any position you would like.

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As you can see, there are many different options that you can insert into your website. Some of these features you may even have already installed in your theme. By using Visual Composer, you unlock many new ways to use some of these plugins, and you can visibly see what you are doing while you edit.

When inserting new content areas, you also have the option for columns, to give your website more of a professional feel. As a result, you can make custom sidebars for each individual page. One of the elements that we can add into a page with Visual Composer is the “Widgetised Sidebar”, so that you can use a pre-made sidebar, or a sidebar with one or more of the other elements above.

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The possibilities are endless! You have all of the same options as you would normally, but they are in one centralized location. There is no need to search for the functions, so if you are just starting out, you can see everything right in one place. As with anything, there is a slight learning curve, but once you get used to adding new content, creating a professional looking custom page is quicker than ever.

 

Jacob Humerick graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a degree in Music Education. Aside from working on WordPress websites, he can be heard playing his trumpet, whenever he gets the chance.

Meditation for Success

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One of the most successful, yet often overlooked, paths to success in business and life is personal meditation – taking time to open your mind to new possibilities and the power that is deep within yourself. This power is real, and becoming open to it has been central to my own successes. Big deal people that write about business success – Jack Canfield, J.B. Glossinger, and many others – attribute massive success to their mindfulness and use of meditation to achieve it.

Rather than write more detail about meditation, I thought I’d share one with you today.  Try it!

You need about 3 minutes to do this, someplace quiet, where you can listen through your computer speakers or earphones. The video below is a simple image of a sunset with quiet music.  Watch the video, imagining yourself sitting there on that beach, and visualize the stillness of the water as the quiet of your mind.  If thoughts and problems filter through you, just let them in, and then let them go. Breathe and relax.

I hope you enjoyed this meditation and found it helpful. This music is my own composition, and part of my album of original piano music, called Peace (check it out at Itunes). The writing of this music, for me, has been it’s own form of meditation. It is my hope that it provides a place of peace for you today.

Great Shortcut for Business Reading

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Writers write more than readers can read. Today’s guest blogger, Chris Amorosino, offers this short cut if you’re a reader looking for great educational books on business writing. You’ll find suggested books here to help you with website content, content marketing, grammar and style, persuasive writing and more. Take a look.

Chris John Amorosino creates effective marketing communications, content marketing and public relations materials for a wide variety of clients. He helps organizations tell the story of their product, service, or business in ways that attract their targeted audiences and produce the desired response. You can call Chris at 860.673.0089 or view his website.

New Site Release: The Talent Strategy Group

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Screen Shot 2013-06-13 at 4.57.10 PMThis week we released a new template-based WordPress website for Paula Fontana of the Talent Strategy Group.  Paula has started a new business focusing on helping both companies and individuals through employment change. Her unique style and years of experience will make her an asset to anyone faced with career management needs here in CT.

We guided Paula through the process of selecting a theme, then configured the heck out of it until it looked perfect! The result is a clean, exciting website that is responsive and scalable on all shapes and sizes of screens. Here’s what Paula had to say about the project:

In launching a new consulting business, I needed someone who “got me” and understood the impact that my services would have on people considering or already in a career transition. I needed this site to be simple to navigate, “worry free” and inspiring.  Scott and his team did a wonderful job translating my business objectives into a fresh, crisp site that resonates confidence and ease of doing business.  What a wonderful customer experience!  Thank you, Scott!

Well, thank you, Paula!  It was a fun project for us, and we look forward to being part of your team in the future.

Check it out: www.thetalentstrategygroup.com

Inspiration

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Strangely enough, finding inspiration can be a challenge when your life and work are devoted to creative pursuits. Ironic, huh? Even though I’m not directly responsible for coming up with new design ideas, it’s important for me to remain open and excited about design trends, new technology, and business. The daily grind of email, phone calls, support, and other issues often get in the way of that excitement, so it is important to make an intentional plan of inspiration.

Here are some things that work for me:

  • Start the day with something inspiring. I have a daily routine that includes coffee (just 1/2 cup now!), reading, podcasts, and time outside, before starting in on business. It helps keep things in perspective, and I approach my clients in a better frame of mind.
  • Read books that are inspirational. See last week’s post on books…
  • Listen to uplifting and educational podcasts. My personal every day go-to is www.morningcoach.com. Absolutely worth the $20/month and daily 15 minutes to be inspired to help people and be successful in the process.
  • Turn off the TV. Starting the day with news interrupted with commercials is rarely inspiring, yet valuable time flies away when you’re doing it.
  • suLook at art online, read inspiring blogs. I have to admit to being newly-addicted to www.stumbleupon.com! In addition to cool blog posts about topics that I enjoy, the images and mind-stretching websites created by super-cool creatives make me smile and say, “Wow.”  Stumbleupon learns what you love as you “stumble” through the web more, and I find it a great break in the day to just take it in.
  • Get out. Running is a relatively new thing in my life, and most enjoyable because I’m out in nature, and grateful for its beauty.
  • Do something with your hands. For me, it used to be woodworking – creating something you can hold in your hands is a nice balance when your primary work is virtual.  Recently I’ve taken up whittling, which is completely portable!

Here’s another great article that I found very helpful: 6 Simple Rituals to Reach Your Potential Every Day – some of them may surprise you!

The best part of any of the above – none of them takes very long, and the payoff is huge. Take an hour or two every day to keep yourself inspired. Your family, your clients, and best of all – YOU – will be much happier!

New Site Release: Hus Furniture

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Screen Shot 2013-06-07 at 12.45.04 PMNeeding a great, visually-strong WordPress website to help grow their business, we were approached by Chris Paulhus to create a new website for Hus Furniture, in New Britain, CT.  A work in progress, the WordPress editing capabilities make it possible for the website to expand as the business does, and for Chris to add new images as newer installations happen.  Hus Furniture has the distinction of being one of a very few American companies that still make tile-top tables, and their quality is first-rate.

Check out the newest member of the North Forty Road family, www.husfurniture.com!