As the countdown to our new website approaches, we realized Palmerworks needed a new logo. We wanted the logo to be fresh and attractive, but simple enough to work well in our site banner, on business cards, in advertising and on t-shirts and other apparel.

We agreed upon the idea of using a light bulb as a symbol within the logo. This graphic resonated with the team because it represents so many positive things: ideas, light, brilliance, in addition to the light bulb’s connection to electricity, power, and illuminating the dark.

Designing is all about ideas, and that’s what we hope our new logo conveys. Take a look, and let us know what you think.

The new Palmerworks site is about a week from launch. This site will feature a front page carousel showcasing our designs and will include more details about our services. We’ll also have a page devoted to a step-by-step description of the process we use for each of our clients.

Unlike do-it-yourself and template design companies, we take care of all the details, from domain purchase and logo design to writing the copy and hosting the site.

After the site is complete, we list you in directories and use key words to help others find you in the major search engines. We can also incorporate your new logo into business cards, brochures, and newsletters.

Besides launching our new site, we’re still busy with clients. Current projects include:

• New websites for BeachBudd, Cyndi’s Cakes, Murphy Dental Care
• An ecommerce site for District 48 Apparel
• Blogging for Access Christian Counseling and Body Beautiful
• Brochure and business card design for New Direction Counseling
• Menus and a website for Greek Flame Coney Island
• Monthly print newsletters for various clients

Complete website package with logo design, domain name and hosting – only $475
One-page site: $225

It was a banner year for Palmerworks on many levels.

The company filed Articles of Organization and became a Michigan Limited Licensed Company.

Rick retired from his day job to work full time on the business. Since September 1st, he has been making the rounds of local shop owners explaining the benefits of a good website. His work has paid off. He’s signed up many new clients, including a local dentist, two restaurants, and a “budding” entrepreneur.

Our services have expanded. We’ve added a new division: Palmerworks Corporate Services provides newsletters and other communication media utilizing our writing, editing, and design expertise.

New clients in 2011:

d48shop.com [site in progress] – The year began with our first online shopping cart, created for District 48 Apparel, a Carhartt reseller.  The company had some major catalog revisions and merchandise updates that are still in the works, but the site is projected to launch next month.

basspimp.com – Straight out of 5-String Township, Michigan, Gordon Spencer, aka The Bass Pimp, is the first bassist to call if you make music in Detroit. This site incorporates his music, pictures, and best-selling Basspimp tshirt.

ndcaps.com – New Direction Counseling, in Southfield, offers a variety of classes, resources, and services. Their dedicated group of professional therapists offer evidence-based treatment in providing individual, group, and family counseling.

murphydentalcare.com [site in progress] – Dr. Edward Murphy, DDS, is a Livonia family dentist.

beachbudd.com [site in progress] – The BeachBudd is a highly inventive tanning lotion applicator designed by a local entrepreneur.

cornedbeefrestaurant.com – The Corned Beef House is a local diner in Westland, Michigan, that serves up the best corned beef in town. The owner wanted his menu on a simple one-page site.

thegreekflame.com [site in progress] - Greek Flame Coney Island is a diner located in Garden City – we’re providing a menu redesign and website.

Palmerworks offers more than web design

Palmerworks Corporate Services is a new division of our company that offers a variety of business solutions, including:

• Digital and print newsletters
• Writing, editing, and proofreading
• Press releases
• Business letters
• Speech writing
• Ad copy
• PowerPoint presentations
• Print and online resumes
• Branding strategies, SEO, and more.

Print services – We continue to design business cards, stationery, signs, posters, and brochures for our web clients. Once a website establishes the company look, we design print brochures, letterhead, and business cards that incorporate the logo, colors, and domain name.

Blogging and other digital services – No time to blog? Palmerworks writes bimonthly blogs, as well as Facebook and LinkedIn page updates for several clients.

Search engine optimization – We realize clients need help with website promotion. Palmerworks has added more services: we’ll help you list your new site in online directories, start your Facebook page, and help you discover other SEO strategies, all as part of our typical web design package.

Contact Palmerworks today for your new website  – or let us design your newsletter or brochure. Email info@palmerworks.com or call 734-252-WEB1.

Palmerworks had a productive 2010. We were busy all year developing sites, creating company logos, and providing print media for entrepreneurs and established professionals.

We had the pleasure of meeting some great people who’ve created successful businesses. Please take advantage of their services.

911 Set Medics – provides the Michigan film industry with the highest-trained professional EMS personnel for commercial, TV, and film production. We developed their site, blog, logo, and business cards.

Everlast Asphalt – a Canton, Michigan-based provider of residential and commercial asphalt services. Palmerworks developed a 5-page site, logo, and business cards.

The Word of Truth Church and Ministries – a thriving church in Warren, Mich., presided over by church founder, Dr. Robert E. Garner. We developed their site and incorporated two blogs for updates from the pastor and about church events. We also set up their Facebook, Twitter, and helped them with other social networking services.

Trotter Strategies – a Washington, D.C.-based firm headed by veteran lobbyist Tom Trotter, provides Congressional consulting, strategic advice, and issue advocacy. We provided a one-page “business card” site, logo, and business cards.

American CME – provides web-based continuing medical training with documentary-style training videos and online testing. We created a 5-page site, blog, logo, and set-up and integrated the learning management system. (As of March 2011, American CME has moved to “moodlerooms” as their new hosting provider. The original design is by Palmerworks, but writing and information is not by our company.)

Ostlund Plumbing – Ostlund Plumbing and Heating, Inc., has been a part of the community for more than 50 years, completing hundreds of projects in the southeastern Michigan area. We designe their 5-page site with photo gallery, plus their logo and business cards.

Fire Ground Review – is a first responder modified version of the military’s After Action Review used by fire departments to become more effective and create a safer working environment for personnel. We developed a 5-page site, blog, logo, and business cards.

Marsha Westfall – is an aspiring teacher in southeastern Michigan. We created an online resume/portfolio that showcases her credentials and teach philosophy.

Access Christian Counseling – is a private outpatient clinic offering a variety of services in Southfield, Michigan. We developed a 5-page site, blog, and print flyers, and provided photography services.

Ultimate Hair Removal/Body Beautiful – Located in Farmington Hills, Mich., Body Beautiful LLC specializes in laser and electrolysis hair removal, with 15 years of hair removal experience. We took her existing flash-based site and redeveloped it in html.

Jamy K – Jamy Krulikowski is mutli-talented actor, film and video editor, writer, and motion graphic artist living in surburban Los Angeles. We developed an online portfolio/bio and business cards.

Palmerworks is also honored to help whenever we can. We donated hosting to a site dedicated to supporting fallen Grand Rapids Firefighter Bryan Blattert.

This year is off to a great start. New in 2011:

The Initiative – We’re finishing up a site for a new company that specializes in property management services for homeowners, commercial investors, and small businesses.

Gordie’s Cards – Gordie Roedding creates original, hand-drawn greeting cards for any occasion, event, or holiday. We’re putting the finishing touches on his 5-page site.

Bass Pimp – Palmerworks is developing a one-page site offering t-shirts from local musician, Gordon Spencer.

District 48 Apparel – We’re developing a website, blog, and online cart for a local Carhartt reseller.

Cyndi’s Cakes – Cyndi Berger has been creating beautiful cakes for more than 35 years. We’re developing a 5-page site and blog showcasing her talents.

Check back often to see our progress. We’re thankful to all our clients and look forward to another successful and productive year.

Palmerworks provides affordable, professional web design and specializes in personalized service.

Access Christian Counseling is a private outpatient clinic offering a variety of services in Southfield, Michigan. Their team of licensed Christian therapists facilitate the healing process for spiritual, psychological, and emotional growth by combining biblically based principles with psychological concepts.

The clinic director, Dr. Charles Capicchioni, wanted to update their website with a new, more welcoming look. We softened the colors, added photos, and incorporated a mountain view to coordinate with the business cards and brochures they already had. The result: accesschristiancounseling.com.

The original site had harsh, red tones that didn’t seem very warm or inviting.

The site we developed was our standard five-page package, which includes domain name, hosting for one year, and a blog. We really enjoy helping our clients, and wrote two “starter” blogs. Rick also updated their Men’s Group flyer, which we added as a blog graphic.

Palmerworks always customizes sites to our clients’ needs, and this site includes biographies of staff members. We’ll update it next month when we receive staff pictures.

We’d like to thank Dr. C. for choosing us to develop his new look. He is definitely a man who cares about his staff and clients, and he was a joy to work with.

We’d also like to extend our gratitude to Shelly Raitz for recommending us for the job.

Purchase a complete web package for your company, including domain name, hosting, and blog, for under $500. Contact Rick or Katherine at Palmerworks Design, today. We offer professional design with personalized service.

Fire Ground Review was founded in 2009 by Mark Lawry, a professional firefighter/paramedic for the West Bloomfield Fire Department. The company provides professional assessments called “Fire Ground Reviews” modeled after the U.S. Army’s After Action Reviews. The Fire Ground Review process helps fire departments examine their performance standards in order to sustain strengths and improve on weaknesses. Utilizing the process saves lives, money, and time.

The site we developed was our standard five-page package, which includes domain name and hosting for one year, plus a blog and contact form. We customize sites to our clients’ needs, and this site also includes examples of actual fire ground reviews in pdf format. We’d like to thank Mark for choosing us to develop his corporate identity: website, logo, and business cards. We had a great time working with him! Now we just have to teach him the art of blogging.

Purchase a complete web package for your company, including domain name, hosting, and blog, for under $400. Contact Rick or Katherine at Palmerworks Design, today. We offer professional design with personalized service.

As online training becomes more popular, knowing how to develop a website that incorporates a learning management system is an important skill for any web design company. Palmerworks Design recently designed a new online learning site for medical professionals: www.americancme.com.

Owned by Jeff Latkowski, an Oakland County emergency medical professional, American CME offers a convenient, quick, and economical solution to help emergency medical responders and other health care professionals meet state of Michigan training requirements. The user logs on, views an instructional video, and completes a short test that assesses comprehension of the video. Upon successfully completing the assessment, the user receives a printable completion certificate to provide to an employer and/or the State of Michigan.

(As of March 2011, American CME has moved to “moodlerooms” as their new hosting provider. The original design is by Palmerworks, but writing and information is not by our company.)

If you’re a trainer who’d like to start offering online courses, contact us for more information. We’ll design your site, set up the learning management and payment system, and help you get your training on the web.

About 10 years ago, Rick and I discovered that we enjoyed designing websites. In fact, we liked it so much that we began creating free sites for friends, family, and organizations: the Garden City Educational Secretaries Union, the St. Thomas Cemetery in Ontario, JMP Enterprises, and my own ancestry site, to name a few.

In 2002, we decided we’d try our hand at professional web design and formed Palmerworks. We began selling our services to small businesses in our then-current home town of Edgewater, Maryland: a local mechanic, a guitar shop, a realtor, a landscaper, and a karaoke/DJ service.

After relocating to the Detroit area, we began to branch out and started offering hosting services. In 2008, we partnered with photographer Lindsey Price and IT expert Brandon Billings to form Ambiquity Design, and added photography and IT services, as well.

Last year, Lindsey started her own company: Lovella Photography. Brandon assists her with clients, but will continue to provide contract services when we need his technical prowess for things like elearning system setup and backend server maintenance. However, the Palmers are now sole owners of the web design company, formerly known as Ambiquity Design.

As of June 1, 2010, we are reverting back to our old name: Palmerworks Design.

Our name has changed, but our services remain the same. Palmerworks will continue to provide web design and hosting services, plus design logos, business cards and other print media for small businesses. We’ve also added another new product: learning management systems.

The Palmerworks Design team will continue to offer affordable professional services. Palmerworks will work closely with each client when designing and writing new website content, and utilize a variety of marketing strategies to help establishing a viable internet identity.

Please be sure to check out some of our clients:

accesschristiancounseling.com

ostlundplumbing.com

marshawestfall.com

everlastasphalt.com

trotterstrategies.com

911setmedics.com

twtchurch.com

singbecauseyoucare.com

gracewayhope.com

I just had to create this for our company…