Caution, redesign underway!

I was reading Entrepreneur Magazine (as you guys may already know I read this magazine FAITHFULLY) and it reassured me that redesign is not a word I should fear when it comes to my website. Many people fear change, but often times change can be beneficial. That being said, the Evelyn Brooks Designs website is undergoing redesign very soon  to make it more interactive for all you jewelry shoppers out there .

This is how I plan to undergo redesigning Evelyn Brooks Designs website:

These are my advices to consider when re-designing your new jewelry website:

1. Clean it out! Only include what is relevant to the site.

2. So easy a monkey can do it.  Make sure that your website is easy to navigate through and buy from. You must make it as simple as possible for customers.

3.  Engagement. Plan to engage the customers more. How, you may ask? Some ideas are promotions and special services.

4. Take a look at the analytics.  Look at the amount of people who view the site, where web traffic is coming from, etc. This way you can see what works and what does not.

5. Ask for help when needed. I know I am no expert at web design, that’s why I’m getting help! Don’t refuse it, web design professionals are at your disposal.

6. Feedback. I want to hear from my customers. After all I am serving you. Let me know what you think about the Evelyn Brooks Designs website.

I will keep you all posted as the renovations are made!

Love,

Evelyn Brooks

Ready for Crystal Couture 2012

Beautiful jewelry will be presented by Evelyn Brooks Designs at Crystal Couture Show & Sale 2012.

Caught On Camera for teaching ad campaign...

I’ve been teaching jewelry design classes at Montgomery College for a couple years now. I have to say it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences to teach people how to make jewelry. It’s therapeutic and gets your creative juices flowing. All you need to do is bring yourself !!  Please, trust me on this one I guarantee you’ll love it. And if you don’t want to take my word for it take a look at some of the shots I’ve taken of my students! With the pictures I’ve taken of my students and thanks to some tips from Entrepreneur magazine (I would be so lost without their trusted articles) I put together a video.

All I did was picked a topic…in this case it was the Jewelry Design Classes I teach, and used Windows Live Movie Maker to compose the pics together. It was easier than I thought! On the other hand, if you want to record a video, don’t psych yourself out. Be confident and press record. Practice, practice, practice so that you don’t  say “um” every other word, look directly into the camera lens, and address your topic of choice. Check mine out

I’m REALLY proud of my video. And hey, maybe next time you’ll see me putting up jewelry business tips on YouTube .

 

Yours truly,

Evelyn Brooks <3

I need Social Control...

Why is it that every time I get online to do something productive, I find myself on a social network. It's crazy!! People spend hours after hours liking Facebook status' retweeting, looking at friend's photo, it just doesn't stop!

Social networking was not a part of my life not too long ago, but now it's even a part of my job. LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter,I do it all.

To manage all of these accounts I use Hootsuite.com. It allows me to manage my different accounts, schedule posts for free; and if you are willing to upgrade your account you can get extra features such as custom analytic reports. With this tool I am able to spend less time on social networks, while staying connected!



Social media dashboards are a great way for small businesses to stay engaged under budget. Hootsuite is not the only social media dashboard out there. There is Tweetdeck.com, which is also completely free! And if you and your business can take on a minor expense there is: www.sproutsocial.com, actionly.com, and nutshellmail.com.





And hey, while you're at it why don't you check me out at Evelyn Brooks Designs and like us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn ;)
Until next time,

Evelyn Brooks

Technorati Tags: Hootsuite,evelyn brooks,evelyn brooksdesigns,facebook badges,twitter badges,youtube and lindkedin

P.S Thank you to Entrepreneur Magazine for the inspiration today, read more on www.entrepreneur.com/article/217785

Red is still ON...

I just got the latest Redbook magazine and found these beautiful red outfits that u can accessorize with any of the Evelyn Brooks Designs jewelry pieces;) In just a few days we will be celebrating valentines day and that will be another excuse to get out of your closet that red outfit and once again impress your man;) Please remember we are here to help you find the perfect red and black jewelry accesories with the Evelyn Brooks Designs jewelry collection

Blogging from my iPhone...a whole new experience!

I can still not believe that I m actually blogging from my iPhone. I m sure there are still things that we can not do in this app, like a hipper link, a emoticon, etc... but it is truly making my life much easier and it is making me feel very productive.

So i thought what can i share this time? ...I look on my cell phone for a picture I could share with you and I found the picture of my latest collection that just arrived to Artfully gifts and chocolates located at 506 John Carlyle st. Alexandria va. 22304 that I took a few days ago...

If you are a blogger and want to share with us fabulous things you are doing with your iPhone. Please share them with us. Especially if it helps you to safe time and helps you post quickly.

Sincerely
Evelyn;) Hasta la proxima!

GOOD ENERGY, GREAT CLIENTS AND A 2012 FULL OF HOPE…

Time flies since I posted on our blog…why because I only have two hands. There is only so much you can do just with just two hands. This year it will be different. We are more organized than ever. We will post once or twice a week.

I truly believe in good energy, some call it good vibrations, others wear a clear crystal, others wear a Huayruro for bringing positive energy (like me, I always carry my red huayruro), whatever it is just think positively at any given time and even if it is in the middle of a cathastrophe at least thinking positively will give you HOPE for better times.

Our holiday season was STRONG, not great because I think the economy situation is still a big concern for buyers. Whom were actually looking more for the lower ticket price items and  few for the high ticket items. But it is what it is…and we were happy with it.

MOST IMPORTANTLY we are still in business, FULL OF HOPE and taking bigger projects for 2012.

One of the best things that happen to me as an entrepreneur during the holidays was…I got a call at 10p on New Years Eve (the day our MOSCHIK coupon expired) and this lady did not want to miss the opportunity to complete her whole EVELYN BROOKS DESIGNS set with the $25 off). Anyways while I was taking her order, she mentioned: I had wore the necklace and the earrings I purchased from you to a dinner party I was going to in Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, and a very refine lady came up to me and told me: YOU ARE WEARING AND EVELYN BROOKS DESIGNS PIECE…of course to me it almost brought me in tears, I couldn’t believe it!;  that someone in Kentucky would recognize my work. Which means we are growing and we are making it all the way to Kentucky.  It may sound funny at 1st but working and being an entrepreneur is not easy. We are always trying to do something to grow our business and perhaps we never sit down to think WHERE ARE WE? in what stage? and that call made me SIT DOWN and THINK (just a for a few minutes)…that my work is truly paying off, is not just in DC, VA, MD like in the begining. It is going all over the US, just as I dream it.

We have made it into over 20 boutiques …and that is why this year our efforts will go even further….I am gonna use a phrase that I heard BUZZ LIGHTYEAR from Toy Story the movie says: TO INFINITY AND BEYOND…that is what my little one is now saying, so I can use that phrase, too.

I hope my enthusiasm brings you HOPE to any projects you are about to begin or are in the middle of…

My sincere wishes of a happy, healthy and succesful 2012! THANK YOU SO MUCH for your continuing support!

Sincerely,

Evelyn Brooks