Okay, first I have to say that I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy that I resigned from my previous job which, can you believe, was almost a month ago?!? And I'll explain the reasons for that happiness and what's been going on in a future post. Let's just say that I feel as though a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. That job slowly became a toxic working environment. So much so that in the past year, six people resigned.
Anyway, I'll talk more about that later.
But for right now, I'm excited to share the new website/blog that I've been working on for over a week. And let me tell you, it has been tons of fun, but also SO. MUCH. FREAKING. WORK.
Oy vey!
Before I actually uploaded the new template and began customizing it, I spent days transferring 26 posts that I had posted on this blog over to my new blog because I thought they would be ideal post topics for the blog section of my new website. I didn't want to launch my new website without any posts. However, I didn't realize how old some of those posts were because almost every single product link that I originally published on those posts were dead links. So, I had to go back online and search for different product links that would match those posts. OH MY GOD....by the second day I wanted to kill myself with a pitch-fork because it took FOREVER. Yet, I persevered and got it done.
Anyway, I'll talk more about that later.
But for right now, I'm excited to share the new website/blog that I've been working on for over a week. And let me tell you, it has been tons of fun, but also SO. MUCH. FREAKING. WORK.
Oy vey!
Before I actually uploaded the new template and began customizing it, I spent days transferring 26 posts that I had posted on this blog over to my new blog because I thought they would be ideal post topics for the blog section of my new website. I didn't want to launch my new website without any posts. However, I didn't realize how old some of those posts were because almost every single product link that I originally published on those posts were dead links. So, I had to go back online and search for different product links that would match those posts. OH MY GOD....by the second day I wanted to kill myself with a pitch-fork because it took FOREVER. Yet, I persevered and got it done.
I also had to search for new products (and images) because so many of the original products I published had been discontinued. I even had to rewrite three of the posts because they were so outdated.
Then, when all of that was completed, I uploaded the new template design and started customizing it. It's a fabulous template, however, it was created for a very specific business in mind. Yoga. So, all the graphic images that came with the template were related to yoga. Therefore, I had to design my own graphic images and create a different color scheme. I literally changed the entire look of the Home page of the website to suit my own business. I enjoyed it though because I had gotten away from dabbling in customizing the code in a website. I am by no means an expert in web design, but I do have knowledge of the basics.
What I really love about this new template is that it was designed to be a website AND a blog. The Home page contains all of my business info, while the blog contains post topics that relate to my business.
It's VERY cool!
Here are a few screen shots of how the original template looked:
Oooo-ooo...and I also added a Contact form on the Contact page that allows people to message me if they want to get in touch.
Blog Page
Then, when all of that was completed, I uploaded the new template design and started customizing it. It's a fabulous template, however, it was created for a very specific business in mind. Yoga. So, all the graphic images that came with the template were related to yoga. Therefore, I had to design my own graphic images and create a different color scheme. I literally changed the entire look of the Home page of the website to suit my own business. I enjoyed it though because I had gotten away from dabbling in customizing the code in a website. I am by no means an expert in web design, but I do have knowledge of the basics.
What I really love about this new template is that it was designed to be a website AND a blog. The Home page contains all of my business info, while the blog contains post topics that relate to my business.
It's VERY cool!
Here are a few screen shots of how the original template looked:
Home Page
Blog Page
These next images are how I customized it.
Home Page
Oooo-ooo...and I also added a Contact form on the Contact page that allows people to message me if they want to get in touch.
Blog Page
I still have a bit more tweaking to do on the template design and add things, however, I'm at a point where I'm ready to publish it; making it public.
So, if you would like to see my new website/blog, feel free to stop by and poke around. The first page you land on will be the Home page. If you want to get to the blog, simply click on the Blog link located on the menu bar..
Enjoy!
My new website: Mature Beauty Personal Shopper
My new Instagram account: Mature Beauty Personal Shopper
Have a superb week everyone!
X
Oh wow, you have been busy and it all looks great. I was wondering, though, if you would still keep this chatty blog going or do we all have to switch? Whatever, I wish you loads of luck and plenty of business.
ReplyDeleteI feel your excitement, my friend, and wish I had the same get-up-and-go that you have.
Wow, Ron! You have certainly spent a lot of time on your new website. It looks FABULOUS! I especially love the colors you chose. I commented on the new blog, but will come back in a few weeks when I have more free time to read the other posts and the instructional lessons on make up. I'm finding that the older I get, the more sensitive my skin is getting to skin care products. I'm looking forward to learning from all your experience. Wishing you MUCH success in this new venture! XO
ReplyDeleteAw...thank you, Valerie :) It was a lot of work, but it also gave me a lot of enjoyment. It's felt good to get my hands back into website customizing. I had several issues with certain parts of the template, but I contacted the designer who lead me though them. I also figured out some things for myself. I love a good challenge.
ReplyDeleteYes, by all means...I will still be keeping this blog and posting on it. I have no intention of giving it up. And please know that just because I have another blog, I don't expect my readers here to read and comment on my other blog. If you wish to do so, that's fine. But I don't want my reader here to feel in anyway obligated. I started that website/blog solely as a way to highlight my new business venture.
Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a lovely week!
X
Aw...thank you! As I said, it took a lot of time to put it all together, but it was also very enjoyable. I love a good challenge!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I pretty much decided on the color scheme right after I created the HUGE header on the Home page. I created that header on Canva (a graphic design website) because I loved the colors. Then, I just changed the color scheme of the whole website to match to header. I like the colors because they're easy on the eyes, yet very colorful, warm, and welcoming.
Yes, I read you comment on the blog and responded. Thanks so much for stopping by.
I will be publishing more posts these next few weeks, not that I got the website up and running. I also had to create a whole new Instagram account to match my business. Oy very...I've been insanely busy. But very happy!
Thanks for you support and encouragement, my friend. Have a super week!
X
Bravo, Ron! You know I'm a web designer, so I can say this without the least bit of prejudice based on our friendship -- you did an amazing job! Everything is well-organized and eye-catching; the colors are appealing; your bio page is friendly and evokes trust (something so necessary when you're dealing with people's self-esteem and appearance!); and all the links I checked actually work. Awesome!!
ReplyDeleteI guess I didn't realize it's been a month since you were actually working at that old job. I can hear in your words how relieved you are at having made that decision (and wow -- six others have left, too? Sounds like a toxic environment to me.).
I'm going to bookmark your new site. I might not comment every time I read something, but yes, you can expect to hear from me there at least once in awhile. And of course, you 'll see my smiling face here as usual. Blessings and best wishes for much success! xx
Hey, Ron, this new website is awesome!
ReplyDeleteYou obviously put a lot of work into this site and it shows. I'm so proud of you for taking this leap and creating this new business. I know this is going to be a great success!
I'm so excited and happy for you, buddy, now get out there and make the magic happen!
What a labor of love! I know it was a lot of work, but it looks amazing. The colors are subtle, and it has a contemporary feel. You were very smart to transfer some posts to your site before it launched. Now, go enjoy being an Entrepreneur!!!
ReplyDeleteThe new site looks great, Ron! Dead links are such a nightmare. I changed domain names on my old sites a couple of times and spent forever re-linking. Never again! I am bound and determined to pick a name I'm happy with from the start and STICK WITH IT.
ReplyDeleteI hope a hundred mature ladies contact you within your first week of launch! (Well, maybe five or six. That would be a lot more manageable.)
Hi, Ron - releasing yourself from a toxic job environment is a momentous and exhilarating achievement.. Congratulations! I've been unsuccessfully trying to comment on your blog for a long time. I FINALLY managed to update my hopelessly outdated Google/ Disqus accounts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your wonderful comment on my "You're Gonna Hate This" blog post. It's (very) refreshing to hear from someone who agrees with my mode of thought.
Debbie, thank you so much for your supportive and encouraging words, you're a sweetheart.
ReplyDeleteI worked my butt off to get that website up and running. But I knew I needed to do it because I needed to have a space where I could have all my business information, and also a separate space to update posts.
Yes, can you believe it? It'll be a month on June 26th. I am sooooooooo happy that I moved forward and did this. I've already gotten calls from vendors I used to work with who want to hire me to do freelance work with them. And I'm going to do it because it will allow me the freedom to work on my own business, but at the same time, make extra money.
Yes....SIX other people retired this year. And I just heard that someone else is leaving at the end of this month.
Thank you so much for stopping by, my friend. Yes, feel free to come and go as you wish on my other website. I don't want anyone here to feel pressured in any way to read and leave comments there. I set that blog up for my business.
Have a faaaaaaaabulous week!
X
Thanks so much for your encouraging and supportive words, Rob!
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to start this business venture for awhile now. I've even had clients/customer who used to come into the store when I still worked there and say to me, "You need to start your own business as a personal shopper for people. You'd be great!"
So, I'm doing it!
Now that the website is finished, I'll be working on other things. I have plans to start doing speaking engagements at various women's groups; sharing my outlook on beauty and how it's not just for the young. Mature women are beautiful as well.
Have a super week, buddy. And thanks for stopping by!
X
Aw....thank you Lisa. And you are spot on, it did feel like a labor of love!
ReplyDeleteI didn't want to launch a new site and not have anything for clients to read, so I pulled 26 from this blog. I altered the post titles a bit so that they weren't identical. And I'm so glad I checked the links because more than half of them were dead.
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your encouragement and support, my friend. Muchly appreciated!
Have a superb week!
X
Hey there Jon!
ReplyDeleteI just placed your comment information into the "automatic publish" file so that the next time you leave a comment, it will be automatically be published without having to be moderated.
Thank you! Yes! I am sooooooooooooooooooooo happy to be out of that toxic environment because it was starting to affect my mind, body and spirit.
LOVED your post "You're Gonna Hate This!" It's surprising how many others I've met who share our same mode of thought. It's just that many people are afraid to actually say it in fear of being crucified.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a super week!
Aw...thank you, Mark! Yes, aren't dead links a NIGHTMARE?!!? And I didn't realize just how MANY I had in 26 posts.
ReplyDeleteThe only time I changed domain names was when I purchase my own domain for this blog and then had to redirect not only the blog traffic, but also the feed. Pain in the ass!
I have some things planned for when I start actually promoting my services to the public offline and generating clients. I am also currently interviewing for possible part-time employment that I can filter in between doing my own business. I feel very positive and excited about this new venture. It was time.
Have a super week, my friend. And much thanks for stopping by!
X to you and Tara
Ron, my girlfriend is a graphic designer so I showed her your new website and she wanted me to tell that you did such a great job customizing it. She loves the colors and the layout. Dude, I am so impressed that you were able to set this whole thing up. You ROCK! And I know that you're going to be very successful. Those women are going to love you!
ReplyDeleteRon, I got your post in my email when I got home from work last night and wanted to take my time looking through your new website/blog. Oh my god, it's FABULOUS! I love colors and everything on the home page. It's very navigate too. I can imagine how challenging it was to update those 26 posts and transfer them over. But you were very smart doing that. I also checked out your instagram page and LOVED it! I followed you.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you and your new business venture. I have a good feeling about all this and know you made the right choice. You've inspired me to take chances in my life. Thank you!
Can't wait to read more about your previous workplace.
xo
oooooooooooh! So exciting! I bet you will be fabulous in this role!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Fiona! I am soooooooooo excited about this.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a great rest of your week!
X
Aw...thank you for sharing that, Matt. Glad to hear that she likes the colors and layout. The template I purchased was created so that you have ability to customize it. Actually THIS template I purchased from them over 3 years ago and I've so enjoyed it. That's why I decided to purchase another one from them.
ReplyDeleteI'm now working on making connections for me to do some public speaking for women's group, retailers, and bookstores, to that I can share my feelings about beauty and mature women. I've been wanting to do this for awhile now.
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your encouraging words, my friend. Appreciated it!
X
Hola Denise!
ReplyDeleteThanks, girl! I'm very happy with how the template turned out. I'll be adding some new things and changing other things as I get this business going.
Yes, as I transferred those posts over to the new blog, I realized that SO MANY of the links were dead, so I had to change them. It was a lot of work, but I'm so glad I did it!
And thank you for following my new instagram account. I'm trying to add posts at least every other day, so that I can build it up over the next month.
I'll be sharing about my previous job in my next post. And OH BOY, do I have A LOT to share!
Thanks a bunch for stopping by and for your support and encouragement. Thank you!
Have a great rest of your week!
X
Wow, that DOES sound like a ton of work. But so worth it because the website looks wonderful! I went over and had a look and will go back later to spend a little more time. I hope this new venture of yours is wildly successful!!!
ReplyDeleteAw...thank you, my friend. I keep going over there, tweaking various things.
ReplyDeleteI just got my business cards printed and they look faaaaaaabulous! I created them on Vistaprints and I was surprised how well they came out and how fast they got them delivered.
Have a great weekend!
X