admin – Milienzo https://www.milienzo.com Wed, 24 Sep 2025 11:36:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.6 https://www.milienzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/cropped-ar_logo2_final-32x32.gif admin – Milienzo https://www.milienzo.com 32 32 How to Compare Professional Liability Policies in British Columbia https://www.milienzo.com/2025/09/24/how-to-compare-professional-liability-policies-in-british-columbia/ Wed, 24 Sep 2025 10:56:17 +0000 https://www.milienzo.com/?p=327 As a professional in British Columbia, your expertise is your greatest asset. But in a […]

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As a professional in British Columbia, your expertise is your greatest asset. But in a world where mistakes can happen, protecting that asset is crucial. Professional liability insurance, also known as Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance, is your safeguard. It protects you and your business from claims of negligence, misconduct, or failure to deliver a service as promised.

Choosing the right policy isn’t just about ticking a box; it’s about securing your financial future and professional reputation. The insurance market can seem complex, with different providers offering various terms and coverage options. This guide will walk you through how to compare professional liability policies in BC, empowering you to make an informed decision that suits your specific needs. By understanding the key components of a policy, you can confidently select coverage that provides true peace of mind.

Shop smart for Professional Liability Insurance in British Columbia with Sharp Insurance’s expert advice.

Understanding the Basics of Liability Policies

Before you can compare policies, it’s important to get familiar with the language of insurance. Understanding these fundamental concepts will make policy documents much less intimidating.

Key Terms and Definitions

When reviewing a policy, you’ll encounter several specific terms. Here are some of the most important ones to know:

Premium: This is the amount you pay for your insurance policy, usually on a monthly or annual basis.

Deductible: The deductible is the amount you are responsible for paying out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in to cover a claim.

Policy Limit: This is the maximum amount an insurer will pay for a covered claim. There are typically two types of limits: a per-claim limit (the maximum for a single incident) and an aggregate limit (the total maximum for all claims during a policy period).

Claim: A formal request made to an insurance company for payment based on the terms of your policy, following a loss or incident.

Types of Coverage in BC

Professional liability insurance in British Columbia can be tailored to meet the needs of different professions. While the core purpose is to cover professional errors, the specifics can vary. Some policies might offer broad protection for a range of professional services, while others are designed for specific risks associated with industries like healthcare, law, or engineering. The key is to ensure the policy’s definition of “professional services” accurately reflects the work you do.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Policy

Not all professional liability policies are created equal. To find the best fit, you need to evaluate several critical factors that determine the quality and suitability of your coverage.

Coverage Amount: How Much Is Enough?

Determining the right amount of coverage is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Too little, and you could be personally liable for a large settlement. Too much, and you might be paying for protection you don’t need.

To decide on an adequate policy limit, consider:

Your Profession: High-risk professions, such as architects or financial advisors, often require higher limits due to the potential financial impact of an error.

Client Requirements: Some clients, especially large corporations or government bodies, may require you to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance as a condition of your contract.

Regulatory Body Standards: Your professional association or regulatory body in BC might mandate a minimum level of coverage.

Potential Lawsuit Costs: Think about the worst-case scenario. What is the potential financial damage a client could claim? Factor in legal defense costs, which can be substantial even if you are not found liable.

Policy Exclusions: What’s Not Covered?

Every insurance policy has exclusions, which are specific situations, events, or types of loss that are not covered. It’s vital to read this section carefully. Common exclusions in professional liability policies include:

Fraudulent or criminal acts

Bodily injury or property damage (which is typically covered by a Commercial General Liability policy)

Employment-related disputes

Claims arising from services provided before the policy’s retroactive date

Understanding what isn’t covered is just as important as knowing what is. If your work involves activities listed in the exclusions, you may need to seek additional, specialized insurance.

The Importance of Policy Endorsements

An endorsement, also known as a rider, is an amendment or addition to an insurance policy that changes its terms or scope of coverage. Endorsements can be used to add, remove, or modify coverage. For example, you might add an endorsement to cover a new service you’ve started offering. Always review any endorsements to understand how they alter your base policy.

Comparing Policies: Key Differences to Look For

Once you have a few quotes, it’s time to compare them side-by-side. Look beyond the premium price and examine the structure of the policy itself.

Claims-Made vs. Occurrence Policies

This is one of the most significant distinctions in liability insurance.

Claims-Made Policy: This is the most common type of professional liability insurance. It covers claims that are made and reported during the policy period, as long as the incident occurred on or after the policy’s retroactive date. To maintain coverage for past work, you must keep the policy active or purchase “tail coverage” if you retire or cancel your policy.

Occurrence Policy: This type of policy covers any incident that occurs during the policy period, regardless of when the claim is filed. This provides long-term protection for work you’ve done in the past, even after the policy has expired. Occurrence policies are less common for professional liability and are typically more expensive.

Most professionals in BC will be choosing a claims-made policy. The key is to ensure continuous coverage to avoid gaps that could leave you exposed.

Assess the Retroactive Date

For a claims-made policy, the retroactive date is critical. This date is set as the beginning of your coverage history. The policy will only cover claims for incidents that happened on or after this date. When you switch insurers, it’s essential to ensure your new policy maintains the same retroactive date as your old one. This preserves continuous coverage for all your past work. A gap in coverage or a new, later retroactive date could leave you uninsured for years of professional service.

Where to Get Quotes in British Columbia

Finding the right policy starts with getting multiple quotes. You have two main avenues for this:

Insurance Brokers: A broker who specializes in professional liability insurance can be an invaluable resource. They work with multiple insurance companies and can help you compare different options to find the best fit for your needs. Their expertise can help you navigate complex policy language and ensure you’re adequately covered.

Direct Insurers: You can also approach insurance companies directly. Many insurers offer online quotes or have agents who can assist you. This approach may require more research on your part to ensure you are comparing similar coverage types across different providers.

Making an Informed Choice for Your Business

Comparing professional liability insurance policies in BC requires more than a quick price check. It involves a careful review of policy limits, exclusions, and structural elements like the policy type and retroactive date. By understanding these components, you can move beyond the marketing and assess the true value and protection each policy offers.

Ultimately, the best policy is one that aligns with your professional risks and provides robust protection when you need it most. Don’t hesitate to seek advice from a qualified insurance broker. Their guidance can be instrumental in helping you secure the right coverage, allowing you to focus on what you do best—serving your clients with confidence.

 

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Mastering SEO for Insurance Websites: Proven Techniques for Lead Generation https://www.milienzo.com/2023/11/29/mastering-seo-for-insurance-websites-proven-techniques-for-lead-generation/ Wed, 29 Nov 2023 02:33:21 +0000 https://www.milienzo.com/?p=313 In the world of digital marketing, particularly with Trufla Technology websites design for insurance agencies, […]

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In the world of digital marketing, particularly with Trufla Technology websites design for insurance agencies, simply attracting visitors to your insurance website is not enough; converting these visitors into leads is critical to ensure business growth. A lead is a potential customer who has shown interest in your service and provided some level of contact information, allowing for further engagement. Successful conversion of visitors into leads is a key metric in evaluating the effectiveness of your marketing strategy. More leads mean a larger pool of potential clients, which directly translates into increased opportunities for sales, and ultimately, revenue growth for your insurance business. 

Generating leads for insurance websites comes with its own unique set of challenges. One of the principal hurdles is the highly competitive nature of the insurance industry, which makes it difficult to stand out and attract visitors to your website. Additionally, insurance is associated with complex terminologies and concepts, often leading to confusion and apprehension among potential leads. This complexity can dissuade potential customers from completing a lead form or engaging with the website in any meaningful way. Furthermore, many visitors are wary of providing personal information online due to privacy concerns. Addressing these challenges requires a strategic approach, focused on creating an engaging, user-friendly experience that can educate potential customers, build trust, and eventually, convert visitors into leads.  

Understanding Your Target Audience  

Gaining a deep understanding of your target audience is a vital first step in converting visitors into leads. The key is to identify who your ideal customer is – what their needs and challenges are, what motivates them, and how they typically make decisions. Start by creating customer personas, which are detailed profiles representing your ideal customers. These personas should include demographic information such as age, gender, occupation, and income level, as well as behavioral traits, needs, and pain points. This deep understanding will enable you to tailor your website and content to better meet the needs of your target audience, thereby increasing your chance of converting visitors into leads. Remember, people are more likely to engage with and purchase from a business that understands and caters to their specific needs. Use tools like surveys, interviews, and social media analysis to gather data about your audience and refine your customer personas over time. 

Creating High-Quality, Relevant Content 

Content is the cornerstone of any effective lead generation strategy. High-quality, relevant content attracts visitors to your website, keeps them engaged, and encourages them to take action. The first step in creating such content is to understand what your target audience values and needs. Use the customer personas you’ve built to guide your content creation process. Your content should address your audience’s pain points, answer their questions, and provide solutions to their problems. 

The type of content you produce can vary greatly depending on your audience’s preferences. This could range from informative blog posts and white papers to interactive quizzes or webinars. Ensure your content is both informative and engaging, using a clear, conversational tone that resonates with your audience. Use visuals such as images, infographics, and videos to break up text and make your content more appealing. 

Moreover, regularly updating your website with fresh content is crucial. This not only keeps your audience engaged but also improves your website’s search engine ranking, making it easier for potential leads to find you.  

Lastly, remember to incorporate keywords that your potential customers are likely to use when searching for insurance services. This SEO strategy can significantly increase the visibility of your content, attracting more visitors and thus increasing the chances of lead conversion. However, avoid keyword stuffing as it can lead to penalties from search engines. Instead, aim for a natural flow of keywords within valuable, relevant content. 

Website Optimization Techniques 

Optimizing your website is a critical component of your lead generation strategy. A well-optimized website not only attracts visitors but also improves user experience, increasing the likelihood of visitor-to-lead conversions. Here are some key website optimization techniques: 

  1. Mobile-Friendly Design:

    With the majority of internet users accessing websites via mobile devices, it’s crucial to ensure your website is mobile-friendly. Trufla Technology offer websites design for insurance agencies. A responsive design that automatically adjusts to the screen size of the device will enhance user experience and encourage visitors to engage with your content. 

  2. Page Load Speed:

    Slow loading pages can lead to a high bounce rate. Optimize images, minify code, and leverage browser caching to increase your website’s loading speed. You can use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to assess your site’s load speed and get suggestions for improvement. 

  3. Navigation and Layout:

    A clear and intuitive layout helps visitors find the information they need quickly and easily. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to make your content easily digestible. Include a clear call-to-action on each page to guide your visitors towards conversion.  

  4. Contact Form Optimization:

    Keep your contact forms short and simple. Asking for too much information can deter potential leads. Use form analytics tools to understand where visitors abandon the form and make necessary adjustments. 

  5. Testimonials and Reviews:

    Display testimonials and reviews on your site to build credibility and trust with your visitors. Social proof plays a significant role in the decision-making process of potential customers.  

Remember, website optimization is an ongoing process. Regularly assess your website’s performance, make necessary adjustments, and test different strategies to find what works best for your target audience. 

Effective Call-to-Action (CTA) Strategies 

A call-to-action (CTA) is a critical tool that prompts your website’s visitors to take a specific action that leads to conversion. Crafting an effective CTA involves clear, compelling language and strategic placement. Here are some strategies to create CTAs that drive action: 

  1. Clear and Actionable Language:

    The phrasing of your CTA should be clear and direct, leaving no doubt about the action you want your visitors to take. Use action verbs such as “Download,” “Sign Up,” or “Contact Us” to guide your visitors.  

  2. Offer Value:

    Always ensure your CTA offers clear value to the potential lead. For example, instead of saying “Subscribe Now,” consider saying “Get Your Free E-book Now” to articulate the benefit they’ll receive. 

  3. Create Urgency:

    Prompts that create a sense of urgency or scarcity can motivate visitors to take immediate action. Phrases like “Limited Time Offer” or “Sign Up Today and Get 50% Off” can be highly effective. 

  4. Strategic Placement:

    The placement of your CTA can greatly impact its effectiveness. Ideally, a CTA should be placed high on your webpage and at the end of any relevant content. Moreover, it’s beneficial to include CTAs on multiple pages to increase visibility. 

  5. Test and Refine:

    Continually test different CTAs to see what resonates best with your audience. This could involve changing the language, color, size, or placement. Use A/B testing and monitor your analytics to understand what works and refine your CTAs accordingly. 

Measuring Success and Adjusting Strategy 

Efficiently measuring the success of your lead generation efforts is crucial to understanding what’s working and what needs improvement. Use metrics such as website traffic, conversion rates, bounce rates, and time spent on page to gauge the effectiveness of your strategy.  

  1. Website Traffic:

    Monitor the number of visitors to your site and where they’re coming from. This can help identify which channels are most effective in driving traffic. 

  2. Conversion Rates:

    This measures the percentage of website visitors who complete a desired action (e.g., filling out a form, downloading a resource, making a purchase). High conversion rates often indicate successful CTAs and engaging content. 

  3. Bounce Rates:

    A high bounce rate — i.e., visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page — can suggest that your content isn’t engaging or relevant, or that your site’s user experience needs improvement. 

  4. Time Spent on Page:

    This metric can help you understand how engaging your content is. If visitors are spending ample time on your pages, it’s likely they’re finding your content valuable. 

In conclusion, generating insurance leads online is a multifaceted process that requires a balanced combination of SEO strategies, website optimization techniques, effective CTAs, and careful measurement of success. By incorporating these tactics into your online marketing strategy, you can increase visibility, attract more potential customers, and enhance conversion rates. Remember, the digital landscape is continually evolving, and so should your strategies. Regularly monitor your website’s performance, adjust strategies as needed, and stay updated with the latest digital marketing trends to maintain a competitive edge in the insurance industry. 

 

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In search of Inspiration https://www.milienzo.com/2008/11/26/in-search-of-inspiration/ https://www.milienzo.com/2008/11/26/in-search-of-inspiration/#respond Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:29:09 +0000 http://www.milienzo.com/?p=51 In my online travels this week I have come across a site or two I […]

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In my online travels this week I have come across a site or two I wish to share with you. I was struggling with a site design and visited the usual CSS galleries we all know and love for some inspiration, but that was not where I found it. In my despair I started visiting random sites, in the hope of something setting off a spark and inspiring me. Then I came across two sites, each unique in there own way and I had my inspiration!

The first of these was Multiplayer Bingo

On first impressions its not a ’stunning’ site, but it was the colours that grabbed me. The bright pink’s and blue’s could be blinding, but the beige eases the eyes and in all they compliment each other well. Online Bingo is not my thing at all, but attention is drawn to the important areas of the site through the use of these colours and tempts you to give it a try and sign up. (although I didn’t, bingo is just not my thing!)

Another site which grabbed me was edubook.com

I love the colour scheme and layout on this site. Personally I think it looks awesome but then I have always been a fan of orange and black layouts! Every detail on this site has also been carefully planned. Articles are well layed out, you can easily get to a category you require such as SEO resources or the Internet marketing articles, and they are well presented.

Just from exploring random websites I was starting to notice that you can be experimental with colour schemes, go out on a whim and use bright colours but use them in an effective way. They have not been overused on either site, but they are dominant and do their job: draw your attention and inflame your curiosity of the site!

There are alot of great resources for finding colour scemes, wether it be css galleries, other sites or colour matchers etc. But why use those? Why not be experimental, splash some bright colours over a site but think about how effective they will be, and are they drawing attention to the correct areas?

Well, enough of me waffling on, i’m going to go experiment with colours!

Spill your thoughts below and if you find anything cool, share the love!

Jason

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Photoshop image manipulation https://www.milienzo.com/2008/11/18/photoshop-image-manipulation/ https://www.milienzo.com/2008/11/18/photoshop-image-manipulation/#respond Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:25:25 +0000 http://www.milienzo.com/?p=207 I was away on holiday a few weeks ago, and as much as it was […]

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I was away on holiday a few weeks ago, and as much as it was cold, wet, rainy, windy (traditional British weather of course) I did manage to take what I considered to be reasonable photographs. This was fine until I got them off the camera and looked at them in full res. And they looked AWFUL! I then set about tweaking the settings until I had a set of photos I could be pleased with.

This is all well and good, but then I started looking into image editing a bit more. Now don’t get me wrong, I knew alot could be achieved with photoshop in regards to manipulation but I had never really explored enough, after all i have always used photoshop for web design! A few hours and many sites later I was AMAZED with the results people had, with suprisingly little work. Take a look at these:

 http://www.idigitalemotion.com/tutorials/guest/decay/decay.html

Please see idigitalemotion.com for information on this image

Please see 3dm3.com for information on this image.

These were just a couple of the examples I found, but two that jumped out at me. Seeing how these effects are created (and these are a couple of the simpler ones) makes me want to delve even deeper into photoshop.

But why wait until you get the images in photoshop? Why not be more creative whilst your out and about (or even at home!) TAKING the photgraphs. Here are a couple of links links to some great examples of this:

wambie.com
curiosidadesnanet.wordpress.com

If you really want to go all out and create some masterpieces, obviously alot more work is involved! After looking through these sites it has inspired me to maybe take my images that step further and create something unique, something I can be proud of. This is new territory for me, I have always used photshop for design purposes from school through to current day. Now it is time to explore the intensness of image editing it offers, and i’ll let you know how I get on!

Jason

P.S – After writing this post, I visited smashing magazine and found this which may be of interest, enjoy!

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The road ahead https://www.milienzo.com/2008/11/11/the-road-ahead/ https://www.milienzo.com/2008/11/11/the-road-ahead/#respond Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:41:55 +0000 http://www.milienzo.com/?p=215 Well here it is. I have been trying to think what to write for a […]

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The Road ahead

Well here it is. I have been trying to think what to write for a first post, I mean it’s all about first impressions isn’t it? If you read something for the first time and it grabs you, your more likely to come back and see whats going on next time right? If you go for a job interview and you look a mess and are not prepared, your less likely to get that job because of a bad first impression. It’s the same with web design.

But what do you do if you have a client with very specific needs, and your all out of ideas? What about all those times your struggling to come up with a design, and by the tenth attempt you still haven’t nailed it? I stop designing. Take a break. Take a walk. Then I come back to the computer and research. I get inspired.

There are hundreds of resources out there to inspire designers, but the problem is finding the right ones for any particular project. Im not saying if your stuck for a design idea to go and steal someone elses, but looking at well designed sites can inspire you to go the extra mile and create that fantastic design you have been chasing.

This is a daily routine for me, researching design and seeing what is out there, inspiring myself to go the extra mile with each new project. And every now and then you come across a gem of a site that gives you that inspiration you crave so much. Over the coming months I will be sharing my discoveries showing you the great sites, inspiring graphics and other great resources of inspiration. Who knows what may turn up!

Farewell until next time,

Jason

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The end of an era https://www.milienzo.com/2008/11/05/the-end-of-an-era/ https://www.milienzo.com/2008/11/05/the-end-of-an-era/#respond Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:07:36 +0000 http://www.milienzo.com/?p=252 Well, what can I say miLienzo.com readers? It’s been a while… The last time I […]

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Waving goodbye

Well, what can I say miLienzo.com readers? It’s been a while…

The last time I posted here was five months ago. Seriously, I consider that too lengthy a period of time to call this an ‘active’ blog. So what now for miLienzo.com?

Well, I have good news and sad news. The sad news is that my business and personal commitments mean that continuing to run this site isn’t an option. Already there are a few spots of mildew gathering in the corners of this site, so to prevent further neglect I have decided to step down from the helm.

The good news is that a keen and willing successor is in place to kick a new lease of life into the site. Jason Stone is a Graphic Designer within a web design and software development company from Essex UK. Jason is an experienced blogger and owns the popular Flash tutorial blog the-dude.co.uk. This is what Jason has to say:

“I am a long-term reader of Aaron’s blogs and I am very excited to be taking over milienzo.com, and breathing some life back into a great website.

Over the coming months you can expect to see a revived site, with new posts added weekly providing inspiration for designers and some ramblings on my day-to-day discoveries on the web, plus a few surprises – but you will have to wait and see!”

Jason will be taking full ownership of the site from 1st December but he is an author with immediate effect, so I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of him very soon.

For me however, an era has come to an end. I learnt a lot with this site and got to know some great people too. If you haven’t already, do make sure you subscribe to the feed at my new site, or follow me on Twitter.

Thanks for the support that I’ve always been shown and thanks for the wealth of information and knowledge that you have all shared with me. Forgive me as I wipe back a tear or two. Goodbye miLienzo.com.

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Does your Nan understand OpenID? https://www.milienzo.com/2008/04/17/does-your-nan-understand-openid/ https://www.milienzo.com/2008/04/17/does-your-nan-understand-openid/#respond Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:44:46 +0000 http://www.milienzo.com/?p=217 There’s a lot of buzz surrounding OpenID at the moment, and there’s good reason for it too. […]

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OpenID

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding OpenID at the moment, and there’s good reason for it too. The idea of one single login for all your Internet services has been the holy grail of online authentication for years.

OpenID differs from previous attempts at a global authentication system (Microsoft’s .NET/Live login) in that it is non-proprietary and decentralised. You are not forced to trust any one OpenID provider – you can choose who hosts your OpenID and if you fancy it you can even use your own personal website as your OpenID.

I know I usually try to register for online services with a consistent username/password combination, but this is not always possible. Wouldn’t it be great if we could log in to all our online service providers with one single login? Of course it would and that’s why we’re all interested in OpenID.

However, I read an article today by Kyle Neath on five reasons why he wont be getting on the OpenID train. Each of Kyle’s concerns are very valid concerns but fundamentally there is one issue that I think stands out as a potential show-stopper: OpenID is just bloomin confusing!

I can use any provider I choose to host my OpenID. In fact I can have as many OpenIDs as I like and switch providers if I want. I can associate my OpenID with my own website using something called ‘delegation’. Or if I prefer I can host my own OpenID by installing some PHP libraries and scripts. And, with my dozen or so OpenIDs, I can bunch them together and declare them as one using something called YARDIS.

And all this is BEFORE I’ve even logged in to anything…

So how does one log in to OpenID enabled services? You type in your OpenID, your are then redirected to your OpenID provider, you log in, and your are then redirected back to the place you were trying to log in to in the first place. I’m not sure how user friendly this all is?

Another thing that particularly irks me is that there are many services who offer to host your OpenID. However, some of these services don’t seem to allow you to log in with an OpenID that is provided by an alternative provider. Which isn’t very open and kind of defeats the purpose, as well as add to the confusion.

Out of the murky OpenID fog that is occupying my brain, one thought is overwhelmingly clear: OpenID still has someway to go. I clearly don’t fully understand it yet, and I’m a self-confessed nerd. My Mum and Dad are simply not going to get it, and until they do OpenID will remain that dreamt-of holy grail.

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An interview with Caroline Murphy https://www.milienzo.com/2008/04/16/an-interview-with-caroline-murphy/ https://www.milienzo.com/2008/04/16/an-interview-with-caroline-murphy/#respond Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:27:21 +0000 http://www.milienzo.com/?p=209 Last week I was asked to participate in a group interview project organised by a […]

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Caroline Murphy

Last week I was asked to participate in a group interview project organised by a handful of blogger-designers on the Estetica Design Forum. With my lifelong ambition for a Friday evening chat show at the forefront of my mind, I eagerly agreed.

I was asked to interview 24 year old graphic designer and self confessed geek-girl Caroline Murphy from Newcastle in the North East of England.

Tell me a bit about yourself and what you do for a living?
I’m 24, living in the east end of Newcastle with my partner and little kitten. I work full-time for a firm called Armadillo Creative and also try and freelance in my spare time under CM Designs.

Tell me more about your love of design and creativity. How did it all start?
I think it has always been with me; apparently when I was 3 I won an art competition! But, I’ve always been into drawing but was extremely precise and neat. My mum told me it was graphic design and from then on I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

Before we go any further, one crucial question: Mac or PC?
I’ve used both, but PC is the one for me! Mac’s do look good, but I like to be able to customise and upgrade my PC to no end, myself. Yes, I am a geeky girl.

So you run your own business and work in an agency? How do you squeeze it all in?
With great difficulty!! It was OK when I was part-time for the ‘Revenue, but now its very hard when I’m working over 40 hours a week. But as always I get there in the end: persistence and a lot of tea!

Hows the Freelance side of your career going? Is it something you intend to push further or are you happy being an employee?
Its had its up and downs, I didn’t expect to start freelancing so early in my life, therefore its been a steep learning curve, but I do wish to gain experience every day and hopefully do more work for more clients in the years to come. My dream would to be in my own small creative firm, alongside friends that have that same interest.

If I came to you with an ideal project that filled you with joy, what would that project be?
Oooh gosh that is a hard one. Sounds odd but I like someone quite demanding and knows their own mind, so it would inspire and encourage me to create something big and wonderful!

Where can I go to see examples of your recent work?
You can find my main portfolio blog at www.caroline-murphy.co.uk and my less serious side at http://playboy-bunnie.deviantart.com

When you’re feeling down and uninspired, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing again?
I flick through my Computer Arts magazine, look at inspiring art on deviantART and if that doesn’t work, me and my boyfriend go to the coast for a drive and chill out.

Do you have any advice for the kids out there?
Work hard, play hard. Keep your chin up and you will get there, maybe not tomorrow, but you will someday!
Oh, and don’t take drugs!

What about the ones that are looking to start a design career?
Do listen to those who are already doing the job you want; not everyone is right just because they are older. A bit of education and experience (not either or) goes a long way. Don’t loose the enthusiasm you have as a young person. Its OK to be different.

Last but certainly not least, what song is getting played the most on your iPod right now?
I don’t own an iPod (shock horror) but I have a lovely new head-unit, and at the moment its Tidy Boys – Heavens Cry (Til Tears Do Us Part).

The other Estetica interviews

  • Alex from the Crazy Leaf Design blog grills Lauren Marie
  • Caroline Murphy quizzes Audee from Graphic Identity blog
  • Ian from Digital Revolution blog interviews me
  • Toon from Graphic Design blog interviews Alex from Crazy Leaf
  • Jacob Cass from Just Creative Design interviews Toon
  • Audee from Graphic Identity blog quizzes Jacob Cass
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How to add custom sites to I Love Social Bookmarking https://www.milienzo.com/2008/03/15/how-to-add-custom-sites-to-i-love-social-bookmarking/ https://www.milienzo.com/2008/03/15/how-to-add-custom-sites-to-i-love-social-bookmarking/#respond Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:33:17 +0000 http://www.milienzo.com/?p=53 On a recent comment on the I Love Social Bookmarking plugin page, I was asked by shegs of […]

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I Love Social Bookmarking

On a recent comment on the I Love Social Bookmarking plugin page, I was asked by shegs of GamersBeyond how to add a custom site to ILSB. Well, as luck would have it, it’s actually really easy so I will walk through the stages here.

Ingredients

  • A social bookmarking site – there are millions out there to choose from.
  • An icon – I wont describe how to make an icon, but you will need one (preferably PNG) size 20 x 20 pixels.
  • A submission URL – each site works slightly differently so you will need to find out the format of how URLs are submitted.

Place the icon and edit the CSS

This first bit is really easy. Simply put your icon in the plugin includes folder along with all the other icons. Make sure you have named it something sensible.

Next you need to open up the plugin’s style.css style-sheet (also in the includes folder). See the list of classes that show the background images for each social network site? Add a new one using exactly the same format (replacing ‘mysite’ with your chosen site):

  1. .ilsb-mysite {background-image:url(mysite.png);}

Add the site to the PHP array

This next bit is slightly less easy. But still easy. Open up ilsb.php and scroll down until you find the show_icons array. See the format for how each separate site is defined? Well that’s right, you need to create a new one using the exact same format which will look something like this.

  1. 'show_mysite' => array(
  2. 'selected' => 'on',
  3. 'url' => 'http://www.mysite.com/submit.php?Url=%BLOG_URL%&Title=%BLOG_TITLE%',
  4. 'title' => 'Add to MySite',
  5. 'anchor' => 'MySite'),

See. I told you it was easy

That, ladies and gentlemen, is it. You may need to click the ‘Reset Defaults’ button in ILSB admin options screen if it doesn’t show up immediately.

If you do add any extra sites, do let me know via the comments here or my contact form, and I will consider putting your custom sites in the next release.

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Everyone’s a winner in Just Creative Design group writing project https://www.milienzo.com/2008/03/05/everyones-a-winner-in-just-creative-design-group-writing-project/ https://www.milienzo.com/2008/03/05/everyones-a-winner-in-just-creative-design-group-writing-project/#respond Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:32:21 +0000 http://www.milienzo.com/?p=211 January and February? I can’t believe they’re gone already. I was out of the country […]

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Just Creative Design

January and February? I can’t believe they’re gone already. I was out of the country for a week towards the end of February and consequently failed to pick up on a great graphic design competition being run by Jacob Cass of Just Creative Design, and therefore missed out on a chance to win some freebies.

Jacob has rounded up $5,000 of various goodies to give away, all in return for writing an article of some sort on the subject of graphic design. I would have spread the word about this giveaway a lot earlier had it not been for the fact I only found out about it myself a couple of days ago.

Oh well, the competition ended last night and there are a wealth of juicy-looking entries in. Articles that I’ve found particularly eye-catching and have bookmarked for later reading include:

  • Are You Neglecting Good Looks in Favor of Great Content? (Men with Pens)
  • Creative design by committee is OK – but who wants OK? (Jason Slater)
  • All about Paul Rand (Logo Design Love)

Head over to Just Creative Design to see a comprehensive list of all the entries as this competition has produced a wealth of useful information and if the few I’ve highlighted above don’t float your boat, I’m sure there’s something in there that will.

My hat goes off to Jacob for organising this competition/group writing project and also all the entrants for sharing their thoughts and ideas. Great stuff!

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