I recently picked up Tory Johnson’s Spark & Hustle at the bookstore and after reading just the first few chapters, I have starting looking at my business in a different light. One section of the book I found extremely interesting talks about the idea of creating one simple sentence to describe your company.

This single sentence should clearly state what you do.

The idea stemmed from a conversation between playwright, congresswoman and journalist Clare Boothe Luce and President John F. Kennedy. “A great man is one sentence,” Luce told Kennedy, giving him two very clear examples.

President Abraham Lincoln: “He preserved the union and freed the slaves.”

President Franklin D. Roosevelt: “He lifted us out of a Great Depression and helped us win a world war.

ASK Designs’ Simple Sentence

The simple sentence for ASK Designs is: “We use a personal approach to create professional websites and videos for small businesses and law firms, then implement a customized marketing plan to help your company get the most out of your website.”

One simple sentence tells my target market (law firms and small businesses) that I know how to help them succeed. The sentence can be used in any situation – a networking event, a cocktail party or in a Facebook post.

What’s Your Sentence?

Tory provides the following tips for developing your simple sentence:

• Include touches of realism and optimism.
• Leave out jargon.
• Spell out specifically what you do and for whom.
• Test it on a few people. You want them to be intrigued, not confused.
• Nothing is set in stone. Your sentence can evolve with your business.

Share your simple sentence with ASK Designs by leaving a comment below or posting it to our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/askdesignsinc. Make sure to “like” us while you are there!

How to enable iPhone emoticons and smiley faces on the iPhone 5 or iOS 6:

Have you ever seen people sending iPhone emoticons and smiley faces via text message? I found myself wondering, “How the heck did they just send me a picture of a little pile of poop with eyes?!” Well today you will finally know how to join in on the fun by enabling the Emoji keyboard.

ASK Designs put together a nice picture tutorial so you can emote the day away:

1. Go to Settings

2. Hit General

3. Now go to Keyboard

4. Choose Keyboards

5. Select Add New Keyboard

6. Scroll down to Emoji and add it

7. Let’s test it out in a new text message! Just click the globe icon in the lower left.

If you have added the keyboards of any other language(s) in the past, you may have to tap the globe more than once. When you see the emoticons, you know you have hit the globe the correct number of times!

8. Just hit the globe icon again to switch back to your regular keyboard.

For the most part, the emoticons are the same but I have noticed a few new smileys and other cool stuff.

That iPhone emoticon with Ray Bans on is one cool cat:

 

Our Favorite iPhone Emoticons

Lucien’s Favorite iPhone Emoticon Friend:

 

Amanda’s Favorite iPhone Emoticon Friend:

If you think this was a good tutorial, make sure to share it with others! You can like this post, tweet it or share it using a variety of different outlets by clicking the share button below or on the

-ASK Designs

 

I decided to do this tutorial because as I was doing research on how to change the thumbnail of a facebook video for one of my clients, I couldn’t find any tutorials that showed how to change the thumbnail for accounts using Facebook Timeline. It is actually really simple, but without these directions, it’s hard to find the correct screen to edit the thumbnail.

Step 1: Click on the NAME of your video

You can do this step from multiple screens. If the video is recent, you can just click the name of the video from your timeline. If you want to edit an older video, you have to go to your photo section, click on video, and then click on the name of the video you want to edit. If you click on the thumbnail itself, you will get an option to edit, but the option to change the thumbnail of a facebook video will not be on the screen. Make sure to click the NAME of the video, not the thumbnail.

Step 2: Click “Edit This Video”

Step 3:Scroll through the thumbnails until you find the one you want, then save to change the thumbnail of a Facebook video!

If you want to see this video of the Jack Russell’s fighting over the toy (it is actually really cute), let me know and I will add it to the ASK Designs facebook page later today. Make sure to like ASK Designs on Facebook!

Do you need more help to change the thumbnail of a Facebook video?

As always, if you have any questions about this tutorial, feel free to leave a comment below or contact us through our website or Facebook page. Also, if you have suggestions for tutorials, we are more than happy to crank those out for you.

What other Facebook, Facebook Timeline, iPhone, or other tutorials would you like to see on our site? Click here to view more tutorials similar to “How to change the thumbnail of a Facebook video – Timeline Edition.”

Facebook has taken it upon themselves to automatically opt you in to a new feature that suggests your friends tag you in photos that Facebook recognizes to be you. WE have taken it upon OURSELVES to create another ASK Designs tutorial help you turn off Facebook facial recognition!

This feature became a large scale problem when German data protection officials claimed that the social networking giant was illegally compiling a huge database of members’ photos without their consent.

Personally, I just don’t like to be tagged in 19 of my aunt’s unflattering photos faster than I can untag them. If you have a similar problem, you should turn off facebook facial recognition.

According to Facebook, the facial recognition feature uses a comparison of photos you’re tagged in to suggest that friends tag you in new photos. The site says that this feature is intended to save you time… instead of tagging the same friends in 25 photos you just uploaded, you can now tag a friend in multiple photos with one click.

Luckily, Facebook has given you an out! Follow the directions below to remove your face from the facial recognition feature.

Turn off Facebook facial recognition feature :

1. Click the arrow on the top right of your screen and choose Privacy Settings

2. Click Edit Settings next to Tagging and Timeline

3. Click “Who sees tag suggestions when photos that look like you are uploaded”

4. Change setting from “Friends” to “No One”, click okay, and click done to turn off Facebook facial recognition!

I am unsure if these steps to turn off facebook facial recognition will stop Facebook from running your photos through their facial recognition software, but they will keep your face out of tag suggestions on your friends photos.

How do you feel about Facebook automatically opting you into their facial recognition feature? Comment below and let us know if you decided to turn off Facebook facial recognition feature!

Of all the superheroes, Bruce Wayne’s wealth is significantly larger than most – with the possible exception of Tony Stark aka Iron Man. Wayne Manor costs $600,000,000 alone with an annual running cost of $37,000. Top that off with $80 million worth of vehicles and a stockpile of weapons totalling more than $10,000 and you will have to save pretty hard to afford to become Batman.

Check out the Infographic below to see if you can afford to be the next Batman.

Source: MoneySupermarket.com

Image sources: Warner Brothers & DC Comics

Next to Women’s Gymnastics, my favorite part of the Olympics is seeing the logo the host country designed for the event. This years logo is said to be one of the more controversial logos.

Below are logos from the Summer Olympic Games from 1924 to 2016. Vote for your favorite below!

Paris 1924:

Amsterdam 1928:

Los Angeles 1932:

Berlin 1936:

London 1948:

Helsinki 1952:

Melbourne 1956:

Rome 1960:

Tokyo 1964:

Mexico City 1968:

Munich 1972:

Montreal 1976:

Moscow 1980:

Los Angeles 1984:

Seoul 1988:

Barcelona 1992:

Atlanta 1996:

Sydney 2000:

Athens 2004:

Beijing 2008:

London 2012:

Rio de Janeiro 2016:

Updating your website on a regular basis is crucial to effective Internet marketing.  While some businesses prefer to use their website as an online resume, it still pays to keep your content relevant.  When dealing with a website, it is the combination of quantity and quality content that will boost you ahead of the rest.

When a potential client visits your website, they are often there for one of two reasons:

1. To find out information about your company
2. To see if your company looks reputable

It is imperative to not only have a professional looking website, but also one that provides information a person going to your site might be looking for.

Tips for updating your site

These days, there are plenty of ways to keep your website content fresh, relevant, and plentiful!  ASK Designs recommends the following as ways to keep your website interesting to your readers:

1. Blog, Blog, Blog!

Blogging is one of the most effective ways to feed new content into your website.  However, copying and pasting an article from another website is not blogging and is frowned upon by Google.  Don’t know what to blog about?  ASK Designs will work with you to help you find quality, relevant content or we can even blog for you!

2. Add Videos

Today’s web browsers click through websites at a speedy pace.  Lawyer videos are the perfect way to stand out from the crowd and force your potential clients to take notice.  A clean, informative and conversational video helps create a relationship between a lawyer and a potential client.  These videos are also one of the top ways to boost your SEO!

3. Add frequently asked questions

Providing the exact information a potential client is looking for might be the small difference that causes the client to choose you over your competitor.  Adding a frequently asked questions section to your website gives you the opportunity to save both you and your client’s time.  FAQ Videos are another innovative way to provide information and boost SEO.

4. Add new testimonials

Ask your clients for a testimonial after a successful case.  Feel free to call or email your happy client.  They will most likely be more than happy to provide you with some kind words after all the hard work you did for them.  Video testimonials add that little something to help a potential client connect to you on a personal level.

ASK Designs would love to help you develop a strategy to present a professional and informative site to your potential clients.  For more information, send a message through our contact form or call us a 713-337-8501.

1. Choose a professional profile picture

The profile picture displayed on your LinkedIn account should be the same as or similar to the photo of you on your company’s website. Your profile picture should not contain your kids, your pets, or even your spouse. Remember, LinkedIn is essentially an online resume used for building your professional network. Ideally your profile photo will be one that was shot by a professional photographer. This will ensure good lighting and appropriate posing.

2. Status Updates

As with any social networking site, there is such a thing as too many status updates. Keep in mind that one quality status update per week, such as a blog post relevant to your practice area, makes a much better impression than a daily post about irrelevant material, such as who wore what to the Oscars. Your status updates should engage your connections and contribute to your professional network. Some companies require that status updates be approved before posting.

3. Keep It Honest

While it is often tempting to embellish your resume on LinkedIn, keep in mind that people from your past will most likely become a part of your network, if they are not already. Before you post information on your profile, stop and think about how valid the information is and how you would feel if a former boss or colleague saw the information.

4. Ask for Recommendations

Positive recommendations from past or current clients, supervisors, and colleagues make a huge impact on a LinkedIn profile. When seeking recommendations, make sure to ask the people that you know will put thought and effort into creating a unique recommendation. The standard, boring recommendation is not going to cut it.

5. Make your profile as complete as possible.

Even though some sections are more difficult to complete than others, it is important to have 100% profile completeness. LinkedIn provides a completeness bar to help you get the most out of your profile.


View the resources below for additional information. If you have questions, leave a comment or contact ASK Designs.

LinkedIn Resources

Creating a LinkedIn Account
LinkedIn Help Center
LinkedIn For Dummies

1.  Visit the LinkedIn Website

http://www.linkedin.com

2.  Fill out the form

Make sure to use the email address you want your LinkedIn emails to be sent to:

3. Begin creating your professional LinkedIn profile

In this step, you will enter your employment status and location information:

4.  Import email contacts

This step is optional. I recommend skipping this step at this point in the setup process. If you import your contacts now, they will see your empty LinkedIn profile. Before importing contacts, you should finish setting up your profile.

5.  Confirm email address

Check the email you used to set up the account to see your confirmation email.

6. Sharing Option

Upon confirmation, you will be presented with the option to share your newly created LinkedIn account via Facebook or Twitter.  I do not recommend sharing your profile at this stage, as you have yet to fill in any information about yourself.  As tempting as it is to start making connections right away, profile sharing should happen only after your profile is complete.  For now, you should choose “Skip this Step”

7.  Choose your LinkedIn Plan level

Read the perks of each of the two plans and decide which is right for you.  If you are unsure of what to choose, go with the free plan, as this can be upgraded later.

8.  Begin filling in your LinkedIn profile

LinkedIn will guide you through the steps of completing your profile starting with the blue box seen below.  If you are not prepared to fill in a certain section, press the skip button and return to that section later.  When filling out your LinkedIn profile, make sure to follow the Top 5 Guidelines for Creating a Professional LinkedIn profile.

Keep in mind that your LinkedIn profile is a reflection of you and your professionalism. Before setting up a LinkedIn account, check with your supervisor about your company policy on social networking sites.


LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional online network.  There are over 150 million members.  For more information about Linkedin, visit the “About Us” page on their website.


View the resources below for additional information. If you have questions, leave a comment or contact ASK Designs.

LinkedIn Resources:

Top Five LinkedIn Guidelines for Professionals

LinkedIn New User Starting Guide

LinkedIn Help Center

LinkedIn For Dummies (book)