Category: Web Design Insights
Expert web design tips, WordPress tutorials, and portfolio showcases from Bloomington, Indiana. Learn professional web design best practices and industry insights.
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Is Your Website Actually Usable by Everyone? A Practical Accessibility Check for Bloomington Businesses
There is a version of your website you have never seen. When we talk about web accessibility, we are talking about the site a person hears instead of reads, or moves through with a keyboard instead of a mouse. It is the version someone gives up on because light gray text on a white background…
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How Much Does a WordPress Website Actually Cost?
If you've ever searched for website pricing online, you already know the frustration. Most answers are some version of "it depends" -- followed by a range so wide it tells you almost nothing. The truth is, cost does vary. But the reasons why are pretty straightforward, and once you understand them, you can walk into…
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Ava's Waste Removal: 7 Years of Website Support for a Growing Local Business
Project Overview Ava's Waste Removal has been a client since February 2019 - one of our longest-running partnerships. What started as a custom website build for a small trash hauler in Ellettsville has turned into seven years of steady, practical support: newsletters, holiday announcements, recycling schedule updates, award graphics, form troubleshooting, and most recently, a…
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Economy Fireplace: Website Redesign, Google Business Updates & Workspace Setup
Project Overview Economy Fireplace serves homeowners across the Bloomington area with fireplaces, stoves, and accessories. Ahead of the busy season, they needed a modern website, a clearer path to request quotes, and better alignment across Google tools. We delivered a clean WordPress build, a simple content workflow, and brand updates that make day-to-day operations simpler.…
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Why I’m Proud to Be a Chamber Member (Since Way Back When)
I’ve officially been a Chamber member through David Martin Design since at least 2021, but my ties go back even further. I still have emails from 2009, when I was part of the Young Professionals group, soaking up all the networking and learning opportunities I could. Fast forward to today, and I’m still grateful for…
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From Classroom to Client: How Shawn Haymaker Counseling Earned a Perfect 100 Website Score
Back in June 2024, I had the honor of presenting a digital marketing workshop for the Ivy Tech Entrepreneurship Program led by Steve Thrash. I spoke with a cohort of small business owners, creatives, and students working through the final course in their Entrepreneurship Certificate. That Zoom call planted a seed. One of the students,…
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Behind the Lens: Capturing Trashion Refashion 2025 for The B-Square Bulletin
Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of photographing one of Bloomington’s most creative and community-driven events - Trashion Refashion 2025 - on assignment for The B-Square Bulletin. Held at the historic Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Trashion Refashion is an annual runway show where models strut in outfits made from repurposed or recycled materials. Organized by Discardia, a…
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From Roots to Results: The Story of Indiana Greenscape Solutions
The Seed of an Idea The story of Indiana Greenscape Solutions begins with Kelly and Beth Fort - partners in both family and business - who, along with their four daughters, Rayne, Autumn, Bree, and Eden, had a vision. As lifelong plant science enthusiasts with deep agricultural roots, they wanted to bring high-quality, personalized lawn…
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Transferring Your Website to a New Web Designer: A Step-by-Step Guide
Switching to a new web designer can be a significant step in ensuring your website remains up-to-date, user-friendly, and aligned with your evolving business goals. However, the process of transferring a website is more complex than simply handing over a login. It involves careful coordination, clear communication, and understanding what to expect throughout the process.…
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WordCamp US 2024: A Celebration of Community, Collaboration, and Creativity in Portland
There’s something magical about visiting a new city for an event like WordCamp US - the excitement of a vibrant WordPress community coming together combined with the chance to explore the local flavor of the host city. This year’s WordCamp US took place in Portland, Oregon, a city known for its creative energy, lush green…
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Navigating Uncharted Waters: Mitzi's Quest for a Unified Digital Presence
This project revolved around enhancing the online presence of Mitzi Alexander, a Travel Agent, & Magical Vacation Planner. Initially facing challenges in growing web interactions and bookings, Mitzi sought to create a more engaging online platform. Her target audience included families, couples, newlyweds, friends, and groups interested in honeymoons, cruises, theme parks, and all-inclusive resorts.…
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Brightside Café: Your Go-To Breakfast Spot and Study Haven in Bloomington!
Big shoutout to Brightside Café! We just wrapped up an incredible consultation with them today. With the influx of Indiana University students coming into town, Brightside Café is ready to welcome everyone with open arms. Whether you're looking for the best breakfast in town, a delicious espresso drink made just the way you like it,…
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Building 67 Storage: A Branding Case Study
Transforming Ideas into Virtual Reality: The Genesis of 67storage.com The creation of 67 Storage was a branding project that challenged our creativity and technical expertise but also strengthened our belief in the power of one-on-one collaboration. Our partnership with Roman, the business owner behind 67 Storage, started with a mission to craft a digital web…
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The Bridge Between Real & Digital: How To Utilize QR Codes
In the past, people used to jot down the website address if they found it on a poster in a business storefront. While one could look up a business or event, this approach leaves much to be desired; It’s a process to search online. Think about the number of steps involved in an average search:…
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Web Development Resources for Setting Up Your First Website
The ability to create and maintain your own website is a skill that can bring tremendous value. While there are numerous resources available for creating and maintaining your own website, it's always best to work with a local web designer whenever possible. Local designers are not only easily accessible, but they also understand the local…
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The Magic of Local Connections: How a QR Code Saved the Wizard Pants Party Band's Website
Local Bloomington musician Andy Cobine had been working with GoDaddy's marketing experts to build a new website for Wizard Pants Party Band since November 2022. After numerous parleys with GoDaddy and bestowing several hundred gold coins for marketing aid, he began to question if his endeavor would ever take flight. Linking the Physical and Digital…
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When did you decide that web design was the career for you?
In 1998, in my junior year of high school @ Bloomington High School North, I took an Advanced Social Studies course taught by Joann Frye and Pat Wilson. I participated in a group project in which we had to present important historical events from the 1960s. As part of the class presentation, I decided to teach myself…
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5 Informative (And Free!) Web Design Tools That Can Teach You More About Your Site
Above all, websites are vehicles designed to help you achieve larger goals. For example, a restaurant’s site might be created to increase awareness and encourage patrons to visit (or order takeout). An entrepreneur might rely on a website to inform potential clients about his or her services. While a website is an ideal tool for…
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A New WordPress Website for Artist & Musician Henry Leck
David Martin Design has launched a new WordPress website for Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington member, Henry Leck at https://henryleck.com. It was a challenge at first to figure out how to best work together due to the Covid-19 pandemic and technology restrictions. We began with a Google Meet and it was great to meet online.…
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What is an SSL Certificate & Why Is It Important For Your Website Success?
Even if you don't sell products via your website having an SSL certificate in place will increase customer confidence, improve SEO ranking, & protect your data.
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The Top Plugins To Enhance Your WordPress Website
These are the top FREE plugins for WordPress according to WordPress.com. This data is from September 2019. Akismet Anti-Spam - Used by millions of websites, Akismet filters out hundreds of millions of spam comments from the Web every day. Add Akismet to your site so you don't have to worry about spam again. All in…
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How To Setup A Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, & Disclaimer For Your Website
I met Hans & Donata at WordCamp in St. Louis recently and we immediately hit it off. They run an awesome web service that helps businesses with websites comply with data privacy laws.
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New Custom Website Kicked Off for Ava's Waste Removal
David Martin Design worked with Steve & Ava at Ava's Waste Removal to help them build a beautiful website and online presence.