I participated in the Women in Business Panel & Networking Reception yesterday at the University of Kentucky Stuckert Career Center.

It was an eye-opening experience for me seeing these  young women about to graduate college and eager to hear how to start their own businesses! So much to learn … so much good work to do!

It also made me realize that, after being a secretary for 28 years, I started my own business at age 43 and it is still alive and flourishing today and now I am age 57. Just goes to show you are never to old begin something that is your dream. And sometimes, you don’t even know you have a dream until someone else awakens it in you.

Back in 1998 there was no “Web Design U”. This business was born simply on sheer will and passion for this new thing called Web Design that I had begun.  In 1998, those young women were only about 14 years old! They have always known the internet. It is a way of life for them. For me (and those in my generation and older), the internet was a brand new frontier.

I am so proud to say that I am helping to pave the way for businesses to have an internet presence in this new frontier!

Also, can’t say enough about the Kentucky Small Business Development Center (www.ksbdc.org) and all the valuable help and services they provide! They are there with their expertise for brand new businesses as well as established businesses. If you have never given them a try, then you are missing out!

Ever had that happen? It happened to me and a lot of my clients today.

One minute websites were fine, humming along like well-oiled machines. Email coming in and going out in an orderly fashion just like it is supposed to do.

Then the next minute – what do you know – they were down! Oh no! The world is coming to an end!

Well, no, not really. Web servers are just big computers. Sometimes they (like our personal computers) just need a reboot (or a swift kick or whatever method you use)… JK!

Usually our websites are online. Usually. Sometimes the server needs to be rebooted. Sometimes it requires more drastic measures. That is what happened today. We had a huge load issue and the admins. at the server were hard at work on the problem even before they got the phone call from me. Sure enough, after a while (a while than I really wanted but nevertheless) the websites were all back online and email was flowing as it should again.

I just wrote this to say – sometimes web servers and the websites on them will go haywire. Please know that we hate it as much as you do and do everything we possibly can to keep server disruptions to the very minimum that we can.

Please do let us know any time you experience a problem or seem to have an outage. Your website might be the only one affected, but it might not. There may be many that are down on the same server. We do appreciate all of our hosting clients and do our best to give you all the very best of care.

Rhonda

How many times have you tried to read a blog on your smartphone? Tiny fonts, slow loading due to all the graphics, etc.

Well, if you view www.rbdesignstudio.com/blog on your smartphone, you will see the NEW mobile version.

Contact us today if you are interested in this for your blog!

(859) 271-8977

Check them out if you have a minute!

www.mundyshomeinspection.com

www.integrated-electric.net

www.ediesfullcirclesewing.com

www.davidcecilrealestate.com

www.gracefellowshipmidway.com

www.ippky.com

We are planning our Open House for May 21, 2010! Postcards will be mailed out to friends & local clients very soon.

Mark it on your calendars and make plans now to stop by, see our new offices and say Hi!

The new RB Design Studio website, now ported over to Joomla! Content Management System is now live. Visit http://www.rbdesignstudio.com to see.

Joomla! is a highly customizable content management that many of our clients are being converted over to. This allows the client to be able to make text changes, upload photos, etc., without having to know HTML.

We are always available for help or even to continue making site updates even after a site has been changed over to Joomla! But giving the client the ability to make some of the more simple changes has been awesome!

Our new website is still a word in progress and the portfolio has been ported over yet, but that is in the works too.

If you find any wonks, please feel free to let us know!

Well, it’s about time! When a website has been online a while, there comes a time for a redesign. Since we are doing so many content management websites, the new RBDS site will be done in the Joomla! CMS. We are so excited to be getting close to this happening.

Also, now our website and our blog will match. You are getting a taste of the look and feel of the new website design if you are reading this blog.

Also, the portfolio will be redone to showcase our designs.

Stay tuned….

Are you a candidate running for office? Do you have a campaign website yet? If not, NOW is the time to get started!

Use your campaign funds wisely! A website is one of the most affordable mediums to use to get your name out there and publish your views on the issues and where you stand. Keep your followers up to date. Get volunteers to help with your campaign. Receive campaign donations!

Contact RB Design Studio TODAY to get started. It is not too late!

859-271-8977 or email Rhonda at rb@rbdesignstudio.com.

What a fabulous event I attended last night! The 5th Annual NAWBO Chocolate Affaire. It was held in downtown Lexington, KY at Bakers 360.

Fabulous food, lots of chocolate, including chocolate martinis!

Awesome prizes! I was absolutely, without a doubt, blown away to win a gorgeous print and then my jaw dropped when they announced my name as the Grand Prize Winner! Wow! That’s all I can say. I have been pinching myself all day to make sure I wasn’t dreaming everytime I walked by that huge Grand Prize poster (thanks to the creativity of McEwen Creative!).

Many, many hours of planning and work went into the event.

It was the annual membership drive for the Lexington Chapter of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners).

If you are a woman-owned business in Lexington, KY, I encourage you to become involved in one of the best networking groups in town! Visit http://www.lexnawbo.org for more information.

We have moved into our new office next door! It is so cool to have officeS now. We were all in one room before. Can’t wait to see what 2010 brings!

Update 2/26/10 – Well we are STILL waiting on some window blinds to be installed. We want to have an Open House and invite everyone over as soon as they come in! Come on blinds!