Meetup.com is an extremely powerful resource for people in all industries looking to collaborate on a wide variety of topics in a relaxed meeting setting (the groups often get together monthly or bi-weekly).

Skybox Creative recently attended a Meetup for Refresh SD, a group that includes web developers, internet marketers, techies, etc.. The topic: discussing client management and client requests – yes, a complicated matter. This topic often comes up in the web design and branding industry, because it is important to clearly define project scope and rounds of changes before starting a project that has been estimated out.

A few good tips and resources:

• Give clients a questionnaire prior to starting a project (Skybox uses a Branding Analysis Questionnaire, which discusses demographics, target market, competition, look & feel – and more!)

• Project Management tools can be key to balancing work flow – Action Method is a good one, VUE is a good way to describe logic or the development of a back end system

• OfficeTime is a great tool for tracking hours

• Clearly define client deliverables (copy, photos, feedback)

Skybox Creative is currently in the process of making a promotional video about our company and what we do here on a daily basis (which is a whole lot of varied design, from branding and print, to web and user interface). We thought it was high time this award-winning San Diego branding and web design firm put ourselves, but mostly our work, out in front of the camera in a creative, docu-style video. Our production team – R&R Productions, have been incredibly professional and helpful in achieving our story board vision. The video will be posted here LIVE in few weeks, so definitely check back for the final product!

For now, we’ll wet your appetite with a few BEHIND THE SCENES photos…

Skybox Creative, an award-winning San Diego web design firm, was recently listed on Connectory, a nationwide, web-based buyer-supplier network that was started locally in El Cajon. The network links U.S. businesses together and also includes profiles of other critical assets in addition to companies including federal labs, university and private research centers.

Although the profile you have to fill out is rather extensive to become part of the Connectory, the potential for acquiring business is worth taking the time. Some of the key points of the service include:

• A unique way to connect with companies and other assets by understanding their capabilities

• Powerful means for government, large company, and institutional buyers to identify sources of products, services, technologies, capabilities, and capacities

• Detailed capabilities and capacities for companies at every level of the supply chain

• Focus on manufacturing/technology companies and their supplier chain including wholesalers/logistics, technical services, construction, agribusiness, and mining

• Showcase for tens of thousands of US companies at NO COST to them

• Geocoding and interactive mapping feature for locating assets/resources

• Internet speed/powerful search engine combined with in-depth company database

• Commitment to usability, coverage, quality, and continual updating distinguishes it from any other available database

• IT platform on which Communities of Interest (COI) can segment the Connectory database within Portals, specified by geography, industry, or other COI criteria

Check it out here!

Skybox Ink Presents…

Promote Your Business from Skybox Creative on Vimeo.

Learn how to make more money and promote your business more effectively! Summed up in one simple concept, your business materials (online and offline) are a reflection of who you are.

Skybox Ink is a subdivision of Skybox Creative, a studio with a focus on branding, graphic design, web design and multimedia.

Skybox Creative, an Award-Winning Web Design Studio in San Diego, has moved offices. We are located in Mission Valley, the heart of San Diego – within 10-15 minutes from pretty much anything in San Diego. We invite you to visit our new space and learn about the services we offer!

Map provided by Google

In August 2006 Angelina Sereno started Skybox Creative out of a spare bedroom in her home. Eventually she moved into a small office and then a larger office. Now on to the 4th office for the ever-growing company, the team finally has the space they need to spread their wings. Noticing a disconnect in the advertising and web design industry, she decided to start her own firm. She noticed that there were plenty of branding studios and fair share of web development companies, but there weren’t many companies that mastered both. With a background in advertising and print design, she brings with her over 10 years of experience building strong, lasting brands. Through her vision and inspiration, she attracted a stellar group of like-minded designers and tech-savvy programmers to create the Skybox team.

Our Web Design Portfolio has a great balance between function and creativity. We believe that if we don’t help your business grow, we’re not doing our job. Making sure your selling points are compelling and easily understood, while improving the public perception of your organization are our primary goals.

Skybox also added a printing division called Skybox Ink. Skybox Ink has a wide variety of printing products and options, including green printing (recycled paper and soy-based inks). From business cards to tri-fold brochures, corporate folders to vinyl banners and vehicle wraps, we’ve got you covered. Contact us for details!

Skybox Creative is celebrating our fourth year in business in August 2010 – Annual Mixer date to be announced (See Mixer photos)! Subsequently, we will be opening our east coast office then as well! Subscribe to our RSS feed to stay in the loop with Skybox news!

She gave us the green light to go out and find our phenomenal. Don’t cover it up, or dim the light that shines from within because fear, you have no seat at this table. Lisa Nichols has a powerful way with words.

The Secret’s Nichols, also author of the best seller, No Matter What, spoke to a Point Loma Marriott ballroom full of female (and some male) entrepreneurs at the National Association of Women Business Owner’s annual BRAVO! Awards Dinner Wednesday night.

Skybox Creative and Skybox Ink President Angelina Sereno was honored during the evening as a nominee for NAWBO’s Green Community Award, which was won by the Artisan Design Group, a green interior design and architectural firm. Skybox Creative staff had the pleasure of meeting Jenny Lemmons of A Better Way to Say It, an online marketing firm, and Elizabeth Smiley, a CPA with Squar Milner during the evening festivities.

The event, which included a silent auction, cocktail hour and three course dinner, was highlighted by speaker Lisa Nichols’ inspiring sentiments regarding unlocking the entrepreneurial spirit. Watch the video to hear some of her powerful messages!

Building lasting relationships. Meeting people first, seeing them as potential clients second. Creating a sense of community in a land of transplants.

These were all some of the lasting sentiments echoed by David Epstein, one of the founding members of the San Diego Coastal Group. Started on the Linkedin platform, this group has over 1400 members, and is vying to be one of the more connected and bonded groups found in the social media marketplace.

We all have someone on our Facebook page with 1000, 2000 or even 5000 “friends,” but what is their connection to all of these people and will it be affecting their lives in some sort of positive manor?

The San Diego Coastal Group hopes to be able to use social media as a tool to connect, but wants to host monthly, if not bi-weekly gatherings in which people can truly come together, discuss business, friendships, family and more.

Skybox Creative had the pleasure to attend the inaugural meet up at Rancho Santa Fe’s Morgan Run Club and Resort, and were introduced to a group of really innovative and inspiring people, from successful entrepreneurs to those facing career transitions.

Skybox had the opportunity to share our expertise in web development, branding, graphic design, printing and more with guests including, Yasmin Shah, Timothy Rhodes of Tech Coast Sales and scientists Atsuo Kuki and Steven Sands.

On another cool note, Skybox Creative Account Manager Carly Bartkiewicz won a fishing trip raffled off by Epstein during the sit down portion of the evening. Bluefin, yellowtail and the salty ocean air, here we come!

If you’re looking for a networking group that is more than just networking and equally about helping people and connecting with others looking to make a positive difference, definitely join the group and come out to the next event!

Skybox Creative, an award-winning branding and web design firm, attended the San Diego SEO Meetup Group in Clairemont Mesa last night, and we wanted to share some of the quick and easy WordPress SEO tips we learned. (One of the most important themes of the evening being that WordPress is an EXCELLENT tool for SEO, so if you aren’t familiar with the open source blogging software/content management system, we suggest you get on the bandwagon!)

1. Use a question in your blog post titles. Why, you ask? Because when people are searching for information, they are often asking a question in their search.

2. There are thousands upon thousands of plug-ins for WordPress out there, but beware. Older plug-ins often don’t work with the most recent versions of WordPress (which is on 2.9, but getting close to launching 3.0). There are some great SEO plug-ins however, such as the SEO All-in-One and Ping Optimizer (Check out: WordPress Plugin Directory)

3. Utilize Blog Directories and Social Bookmarking Sites. They can be really great ways to drive traffic to your site, and the more niche the directory, the better!

Check out:

StumbleUpon
Mister Wong
Delicious

4. Don’t be a victim. Read up on WordPress Defender so that you can figure out the best methods to secure your blog from hackers. Always make sure you’re using the most recent version of WP and downloading all security updates are good starting points.

5. Blog at least once a week. An inactive blog doesn’t help anyone – especially you or your business. Blogs are meant to have fresh and changing content on a regular basis.

SIDE NOTE: Did you know that the word “Twit” comes from the English? (You Monty Python fans out there no what I am talking about).  Actual meaning is a drunken, upper-class Brit – happy tweeting!

ChinaTel Group Inc. (“ChinaTel”), a provider of engineering, deployment, and operations services related to the development of wireless broadband telecommunications networks, just launched their brand new website created by San Diego’s premier web design and branding firm, Skybox Creative. View the site here!

Skybox Creative was responsible for the entire re-branding, including a logo re-design, print collateral materials and web design. A dynamic Flash presentation and Javascript maps were created to for an interactive user experience throughout the site. Organized by an easy-to-navigate information architecture, the new website provides a wealth of information, news, video and highlights on some of ChinaTel’s biggest projects across the globe. An advanced, up-to-the-minute quote calculator was included using a tool provided by QuoteMedia. Streaming video was added through the company’s Vimeo account as well as links to all social media profiles, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. The ChinaTel website is equipped with up all the advanced features to elevate the company’s brand position.

Operating as a $217M company (Market Cap 4/30/10) currently building and operating vast networks in parts of Asia and South America, ChinaTel is committed to the growth of telecommunication and wireless broadband providing service to growing communities around the world. A major project ChinaTel has been aggressively pursuing is the deployment of a 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) wireless broadband network using WiMAX technology to provide access to 29 cities in the People’s Republic of China through a partnership with CECT-Chinacomm Communications Co., Ltd., a basic telecommunications service operator in China. The company has also acquired 95% of Perusat S.A., a Peruvian telecommunications company, to widen its international footprint and capitalize on Peru’s expanding economy and telecommunications market.

We would like to thank ChinaTel Group, Inc., for allowing us the opportunity to work with them on their new website and brand identity. For more information, please visit http://www.chinatelgroup.com/

CLIENT
LifeSource BioSolutions, LLC.

CHALLENGE
LifeSource BioMedical, LLC, a start-up provider of drug discovery, pre-clinical research, and development services utilizing in vivo testing, sought to establish credibility and recognition in a heavily saturated market. Although LifeSource’s testing procedures are performed in the most humane ways, animal research remains a sensitive topic. This required Skybox to be meticulous and conscientious in the selection of imagery and verbal content.

SOLUTION
Initiating the logo development, Skybox explored a wide range of options related to science and technology imagery: molecules to microscopes, simple to complex. At the conclusion of the process, we developed a dynamic flame symbol which bears resemblance to a DNA strand. The upward spiraling symbol is positive and life-giving. Skybox then developed a color palette unique to a marketplace dominated by medical white and blue, positioning LifeSource to stand apart from the competition. Skybox also capitalized on LifeSource’s location on the NASA Ames campus to further enhance the company’s credibility, prominently highlighting the NASA name on all communication tools.

RESULTS
From an impressive web presentation to trade show display and all corporate collateral in between, LifeSource displays professionalism, brand consistency and, most importantly, a clear message. LifeSource has experienced significant growth in staff and size since its inception. Subsequent to the visual branding campaign, the company has been purchased and anticipates continued prosperity. The LifeSource brand image is by far the most unique and compelling image in its market segment.

LifeSource BioMedical Web Design

LifeSource BioMedical Brochure Design

LifeSource BioMedical Trade Show Design

TESTIMONIAL
“It all started with a simple logo design: The Skybox Creative team was referred to me and what a find! The team at Skybox Creative are by far the best web designers we have had the good fortune to work with. They not only designed the new site for my latest company, but they also put together a lovely holding site while the project was under way. Even the simple holding site was so nice that people were constantly asking me who designed it for us. To top it off, it was easily populated and updated by us “non-web” folks in the office. Not only do we strongly recommend Skybox Creative  for your web design needs, but we are, in fact using them again and again!! Thanks Skybox and great job – definitely the best brand development company.”

C.L., Former President
LifeSource BioMedical, LLC.