News

Need Answers to Your Tech Questions? Ask “Dr. Dimension” on HOT MIX 106 (online radio)

Need Answers to Your Tech Questions? Ask "Dr. Dimension" on HOT MIX 106 (online radio)

A while back, my buddy Steve Kramer, computer tech & laptop specialist, told me about his new radio show (not so new anymore…he’s been doing it for some time now). He’s on HotMix106.com (an online radio station offering a variety of content) and goes by the moniker “Dr. Dimension.” Steve features  useful news on the tech scene as well as providing answers to listeners’ emails. He provides help to his fan’s needs running the gamut from security issues to extracting discs stuck in their laptop drives.  He also plays some pretty cool and diverse music to break up his tech-talk. It’s  a pretty good blend of

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Article: Google Announces Semantic Search Update by Karon Thackston (copywriting/SEO guru)

On March 15, 2012, Google officially announced (via the Wall Street Journal), what hardcore SEOs have been expecting since at least 2008.  Google is introducing semantic search into its algorithm. What exactly is semantic search?  It’s a technology that lets the search engine “understand” what each search query means.  So, rather than simply matching the keywords typed into the search box to the keywords on a web page and in links pointed to the page, semantic search also will return results based on related ideas and concepts… I suggest you read the rest of this article on Karon Thackston’s blog…

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Testimonial Letter from Client: De Chiel Firearms

Testimonial Letter from Client: De Chiel Firearms

Some months back, I wrote about a website I built for a small business called De Chiel Firearms, owned by retired Navy pilot Mitch Dashiell. I received a very nice letter from him a few days ago and thought I’d share it here. Over the years, people have said and written many very nice things about me and the work I’ve done for them. I wish I could say I’d done a great job of blowing my own horn. (Important for effective self-marketing. “Physician, heal thyself…”) I’m going to try to do a better job of this (and so should

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CUSTOM Branded Business Cards (Same Look/Feel As Your Website) – NEW!

Business Card Options 1000 Full-color 2-sided Business Cards (w/website) $95.00 USD1000 Full-color 2-sided Business Cards ( no website order) $115.00 USD BUSINESS CARD DESIGN So…Brass Ring Multimedia does business cards now?! (Actually, have for years.) The business card remains a powerful tool (especially so when used properly and creatively) to make an impression, convey professionalism, drive traffic to our websites, serve as “mini-billboards” to advertise us, our products and services. If you ever get a chance, in fact, pick up a copy of Bob Popyk’s book: Here’s My Card: How to Network Using Your Business Card to Actually Create More Business, an excellent

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Article: Entrepreneurs Who Give More, Get More (by Nick Scheidies)

Written by Nick Scheidies Posted in Entrepreneurship | There’s nothing wrong with being a little selfish. When you own your own business, you have complete responsibility for all of its operations. You have to look after their own best interest first and foremost. But the more generous you are with your time, energy, and expertise the easier it will be to accomplish your personal goals. The more you give, the more you get. Don’t believe me? Keep reading and I’ll explain. Helping People is the Key to Success “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no

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Article: 10 SEO Blog Post Publishing Steps that Most Bloggers Forget (By Nicholas Tart)

Written by Nicholas Tart I see this time and time again. As people get started with blogging, they think it’s as simple as clicking, “Add New Post,” typing up a few paragraphs, and clicking, “Publish.” Then they hopelessly wait for views, comments, and tweets. No one comes. No one comments. No one tweets. They do this three or four times and eventually write off blogging as, “not it’s all hyped up to be.” After writing for Michael for a few months now, I can tell you that there are dozens of small blogging nuances that we work into nearly every

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NEW SITE! Settle2ndNow.com WordPress website design($397 WordPress Special)

NEW SITE! Settle2ndNow.com WordPress website design($397 WordPress Special)

It’s always gratifying to serve a repeat client…that’s the best testimonial I could ask for. This is a website design for David Pratson of True Source Enterprises, Inc. who is launching a great new enterprise. Settle2ndNow.com serves those individuals and families needing assistance negotiating with their banks to settle their second mortgages or home equity line of credit (HELOC). These contracts can be reduced greatly, in terms of pennies on the dollar and payments diminished greatly or outright eliminated. The following WordPress website design presents a great presence for this useful new company.  

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NEW SITE! RunCoachJason.com WordPress website design ($397 WordPress Special)

NEW SITE! RunCoachJason.com WordPress website design ($397 WordPress Special)

This website design is for Dr. Jason Karp, a leading personal fitness expert based out of San Diego. Jason was referred to me by a mutual friend whom I’d helped previously with his WordPress needs. Jason had a rather dated website he’d built himself with Microsoft Frontpage, a tool Microsoft discontinued in 2003 and stopped supporting in 2005. There are a lot of websites languishing irrelevantly in need of the modernization and power that WordPress exactly offers. Jason came to me after unsuccessfully trying on his own to get into WordPress. That’s what I do…I help people get into WordPress and

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SEO Book: Content Rich: Writing Your Way to Wealth on the Web by Jon Wuebben

SEO Book: Content Rich: Writing Your Way to Wealth on the Web by Jon Wuebben

Excellent book…just finished reading it. Buy this book. Read this book…highlight and mark it up. Then RE-read this book. Finally, USE this book. I assure you, I don’t make a dime off of it, but you will! (Don’t worry I’ll be making my dimes from using it myself!) This book can be key to taking your website design from the realm of the common and ignored to effective website design which will attract visitors and provide them with useful information and lead them down the path you wish them to follow. I’ve been a website designer for a lot of

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Copywriting Tips for Better Flow from SEO Copywriter Karon Thackston

Karon Thackston is one of the leading sources for great advice and tips to improve your copywriting. I know, I know…you already KNOW how to write!(?) Maybe not well enough…in most things, regular improvement is key to success. I know if I’m not progressing, I’m likely being passed by. “Sharpen your saw,” and your work will go more easily. The world of internet marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) and generally writing for people with little time and/or short attention span calls for regularly adding new tools to your basic writing skill set.  Enjoy the video…you’ll be a better writer for having

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NEW SITE! Gusto Ramblings Website($397 WordPress Special)

NEW SITE! Gusto Ramblings Website($397 WordPress Special)

WordPress website design for GustoRamblings.com I first worked with Gus Rowe when I provided WordPress consultation on a website design project for an organization known as Wise Widowed Parents, a group dedicated to helping surviving parents and families dealing with the tragic loss of a loved one. For some time, Gus has had a successful blog (GustoRamblings.com) and Facebook page where he shares and offers experience, strength and hope to individuals and families dealing with difficult life challenges. Gus’s Wise Widowed Parents experience with WordPress convinced him that it was time to upgrade his website from Blogger.com to the WordPress

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NEW SITE! Phillip’s Hobbies Website Design ($397 Brass Ring Multimedia WordPress Special!)

NEW SITE! Phillip's Hobbies Website Design ($397 Brass Ring Multimedia WordPress Special!)

WordPress website design for Phillip Huston, one of Southern California premiere model building authorities. His business, Phillip’s Hobbies in Lakeside, California offers everything the plastic modeling enthusiast could need to pursue his hobby: kits, tools, paints, books and other useful resources, including Phillip himself! Phillip had a problem, however, his website’s archaic design and his inability to update and maintain it. Phillip’s “old” website had been languishing unattended as do so many small business sites and was a perfect candidate for the control and flexibility the WordPress platform offers. Bringing WordPress website design to Phillip’s Hobbies puts new power in Phillip’s hands.

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NEW SITE! La Jolla Meals On Wheels Website Design (example: $397 WordPress Special!)

NEW SITE! La Jolla Meals On Wheels Website Design (example: $397 WordPress Special!)

WordPress website design for La Jolla Meals On Wheels. For the last several years, I’ve had the privilege to be part of Greater La Jolla Meals On Wheels as their webmaster. Having served the La Jolla Community’s home bound citizens since 1974, I’m glad to help their very worthy effort. As I don’t participate in the day to day operations of the organization, I look forward to bringing its volunteers and staff into the website’s growth and evolution by migrating the site into the very robust WordPress platform. In this way, their experience and input can add to the site’s content in making a

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NEW SITE! Aztec Fitness Website Design (example: $397 WordPress Special!)

NEW SITE! Aztec Fitness Website Design (example: $397 WordPress Special!)

WordPress website design for personal trainer Pedro Molina B.A. NASM of Aztec Fitness. Pedro and I became acquainted via his regular visits to my “satellite office” in La Jolla Shores. (I start my weekdays at “The Shores,” a much better location than my home office to study, plan and get charged for the day.) Pedro trains his long-time clients, Bill and Lollie at this great location. Pedro is a personal trainer serving individual as well as corporate clients in La Jolla, San Diego and South Bay. We’ve become friends and now, collaborators. Pedro, like many other small business owners, desired greater control, flexibility

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Ray’s Barn / Fort Thunder Storage WordPress Website Design

Ray's Barn / Fort Thunder Storage WordPress Website Design

WordPress website design for Ray’s Barn / Ft. Thunder Storage. It’s always great working with a satisfied customer who wants more of your work. Long-time customer and www.All50Corvette.com marathon road-tripper Ray Ehly, Jr. is back for the latest of a number of collaborations…this time for his storage business. The great thing about my business is that my customers tend to become my friends and Ray is always great to work with. Ray’s Barn, located in Perham, Minnesota, offers off-season storage for recreational toys: boats, campers, snowmobiles, PWCs, ATVs, whatever needs to be safe for the serious elements they get in

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Wavecrest Woodies Show (2011), Moonlight Beach, Encinitas, CA. (images)

Wavecrest Woodies Show (2011), Moonlight Beach, Encinitas, CA. (images)

The most awesome gathering of “Woodies” and their owners in an incredibly apt setting…Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. Amazing! A gentleman showing a 1929 Ford “A” (images below) told me that if you’re lucky, a good Woody show has, maybe, 50 cars? Last year, Wavecrest had 319 entries…this year…more!  This is the LARGEST woody show in the WORLD! EPIC! Dang, I wish I had $30 – $50K sitting around with nothing to do…I’da had even more fun today. (10% or more of these are for sale) You really should go next year…middle of September. Click on an image to enlarge, then

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NEW SITE! True Flex Kneepads WordPress Website Design (example: $397 WordPress Special)

NEW SITE! True Flex Kneepads WordPress Website Design (example: $397 WordPress Special)

WordPress website design for True Source Enterprises, Inc., creators of True Flex Knee Pads. True Flex Knee Pads are the ultimate safety knee pad. They’re a great product serving welding, mining, construction, electrical, flooring, railroad, roofing, archaeological, agricultural and industrial safety workers with superior protection.    

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WINNERS: Best of La Jolla 2010

THE READERS HAVE SPOKEN Thanks to those of you who voted for your favorite businesses, restaurants and people in the La Jolla Light’s 12th Best of Readers Poll. Our readers weren’t shy about voting for the best of the best in La Jolla. You’ll find some of the same names listed as in past years as well as an array of the newest places on the La Jolla scene, and some who took honors in more than one category. Congratulations to all of the winners and the second- and thirdplace finishers — and thanks to all our readers who took the

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La Jolla Concert By the Sea 2011 Season Is Off To A Great Start Thanks to “The Heroes!”

La Jolla Concert By the Sea 2011 Season Is Off To A Great Start Thanks to "The Heroes!"

As the webmaster for the concerts, I try to get to as many of the shows as I can to grab pictures and enjoy the great time. Yesterday, I was fortunate to be in attendance at the kick-off of La Jolla Concerts By the Sea’s 28th season. Also, this year, my 16 year old daughter, Amethyst was helping out La Jolla Kiwanis, one of the sponsors for the events. She belongs to Key Club at La Jolla High School and she and some of her fellow Key-clubbers were on hand to help out as volunteers with set-up, concession sales, etc. My

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American Home Entertainment Banner

American Home Entertainment Banner

I’ve been providing WordPress website design and search engine optimization consulting services for American Home Entertainment (AHE), a Kearny Mesa, San Diego-based company specializing in custom design and installations for home theater, home automation, lighting control systems, security and surveillance systems. I’m helping them develop a WordPress-based website to replace their current site. I created the following banner using images of AHE’s work, some of their products along with logos from their featured vendors.

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NEW SITE! La Jolla Concerts by the Sea WordPress Website Design (example: $397 WordPress Special)

NEW SITE! La Jolla Concerts by the Sea WordPress Website Design (example: $397 WordPress Special)

Many enjoyable Sunday afternoons during summer, Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove is filled with the sounds of live music. These family-friendly FREE summer concerts are fun for everybody of all ages, offering a wide range of musical styles for everyone’s enjoyment in an ideal setting overlooking La Jolla Cove. Since 2008, Brass Ring Multimedia has been pleased to be part of the effort making these concerts happen. Providing web creation services, Brass Ring continues to enjoy being part of the La Jolla community. Growing up in La Jolla and now raising my daughter in the community, it is a privilege to be

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NEW SITE! De Chiel Firearms WordPress Website Design (example: $397 WordPress Special)

NEW SITE! De Chiel Firearms WordPress Website Design (example: $397 WordPress Special)

WordPress website design for De Chiel Firearms. De Chiel Firearms is a San Diego-based Discount firearms dealer who needed a great site design solution on a budget…a PERFECT candidate for a WordPress solution. This project included NO graphic or logo design. (Though I did use a header banner I created using a photo of the owner’s beloved Douglas A-1 “Spad” airplane…a craft he lovingly flew in his service days along with a photo of an aged rendition of his family’s crest. So a LITTLE design, though I didn’t really charge for it.) Like many other small business sites, De Chiel original/former

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Humor: COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT

This one came from my buddy August (“Gus”) Boyd in San Diego: ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you? COSTELLO: Thanks I’m setting up an office in my den and I’m thinking about buying a computer. ABBOTT: Mac? COSTELLO: No, the name’s Lou. ABBOTT: Your computer? COSTELLO: I don’t own a computer. I want to buy one. ABBOTT: Mac? COSTELLO: I told you, my name’s Lou. ABBOTT: What about Windows? COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here? ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows? COSTELLO: I don’t know. What will I see when I look at

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DON’T “CHARLIE SHEEN” YOUR BUSINESS!

DON'T "CHARLIE SHEEN" YOUR BUSINESS!

Written by Edward A. Sanchez Brass Ring Multimedia IS YOUR BUSINESS LIKE CHARLIE’S LIFE…going downhill? Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. I’ve gotta tell you, I like the guy…always have…it’s tough not to on some level. He’s got chops, he’s definitely a talented guy and Two And A Half Men is one of those shows I can always watch. Hot Shots, Wall Street, the list goes on…very cool. But, lately? (oy!) One of the habits I’ve learned to employ is that of looking inward whenever something “out there” irks me. (Like Charlie’s Vatican Assassin dive-bomb into hell.) I discovered long ago that I

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Edward And His Chucks Out In The World

Edward And His Chucks Out In The World

Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star shoes…I have a few. This started out as one picture of ONE pair of Chucks in a cool setting and it took on a life of its own. When I posted them on FaceBook, I was encouraged to show them to Converse. I could be like that “Where the Hell Is Matt?” guy on YouTube who dances all over the world.  Maybe I could travel the world and take pictures of different patterned Chuck Taylor All-Stars in all sorts of exotic places. The possibilities are endless! Have you SEEN how many Chucks are available? You can

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