April 5, 2012

RECColumbus.com – Advanced Custom Content Management System – Realty Executives Central

Visit RECColumbus.com, home of Realty Executives Central.

Realty Executives Central asked me to build a custom property management system that would allow their staff to easily add, remove and edit rental properties that they manage.  With the design, we placed a strong emphasis on clear, usable organization of the information, lots of pictures of each property, and ease-of-use for the staff.

Search engine optimization was also a very high priority.  The design is simple, but very effective and these properties will do fantastic on search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo.

Realty Executives Central Website

Click the image to visit RECColumbus.com.

RECColumbus.com is built in PHP with a MySQL database, and jquery/javascript slideshows.  The system utilizes a custom renter application, integrated PayPal Payments Standard, Google Maps and many other features.

December 8, 2011

HandMLandscaping.com – Business Profile & Custom CMS – H & M Landscaping

Visit HandMLandscaping.com

H & M Landscaping, of Flint, Michigan, asked me to build a unique, professional website that would highlight all of their services.  They also wanted a custom application that would allow them to easily update page content and pictures.

I built a custom logo and website, as well as a custom Content Management System that would perfectly suit their needs and make their lives as easy as possible.

H and M Landscaping Website Design

Click the image to visit HandMLandscaping.com

The website is built in PHP with cross-browser compatible javascript slideshows and effects.  The website is optimized for search engines like Google and Bing.

WaterCycleProject.org – Advanced E-Commerce Website – Non-Profit Well-Drilling Organization

Visit WaterCycleProject.org

My wife and I operate The Water Cycle Project, a non-profit organization that uses Ohio bicycling events to raise money to drill wells for impoverished communities in rural India.

The website that I built for the organization allows users to register as members to sign up for long-distance bike rides and other events.  Donors can also give money to the project directly on the website.  The website also includes a blog.

Water Cycle Project Website Design

Click the image to visit WaterCycleProject.org

The website was built in PHP.  MySQL is used for member registration and other advanced functions.  WordPress is integrated for the blog system, and PayPal Payments Standard is used to process credit card donations.

The Water Cycle Project is a 0-overhead organization.  That means that 100% of donations go directly to well-drilling teams in India.  The Water Cycle Project has no paid staff or other expenses, it is entirely volunteer driven.

 

December 7, 2011

SimplyOneLife.org – CMS Website Using Expression Engine – Columbus Non-Profit

SimplyOneLife.org is my wife and I’s travel and lifestyle blog where we discuss everything from our day-to-day life to our travels to our philosophy on God.

Simply One Life Website

Click the image to visit SimplyOneLife.org

This website uses Expression Engine, an extremely versatile, though not the most user-friendly, content management system (CMS).  Expression Engine is free to use for non-profit groups.

MPGTS.com – Advanced Price Quoting Website – Westerville, Ohio LTL Shipping Company

Click here to visit MPGTS.com

MPG Transportation Services asked me to build an advanced website that would pull quotes for any load from a dozen or more national trucking carriers, run those quotes through MPG’s pricing formula, and then supply the best price to the customer.

MPG Transportation Solutions Website

Click the image to visit MPGTS.com

The price fetching program was custom built from scratch, as was the membership system.

In addition to the advanced custom coding, a portion of the informational website was built on top of the CMS Made Simple platform to allow the MPG staff to easily update page content.  The scrolling sidebar was built in Flash.

*Please note: MPG staff currently handles ALL site maintenance, and internal links may not appear correctly in all browsers.

IronMuleBlacksmith.com – Simple Business Profile Website – Jim Brown the Traveling Blacksmith

Jim Brown is the self-proclaimed traveling Blacksmith.  He’s part artisan and part educator.

He wanted a website where customers could contact him to do custom blacksmith work, and could also hire him to speak at events.

Iron Mule Blacksmith Website

Click the image to visit IronMuleBlacksmith.com

I built this website on top of the CMS Made Simple platform to make updates easier.  CMS Made Simple is a great, free option for simple websites without a lot of complexity.

WritersInkCreativity.com – Simple Website Design with WordPress Blog – Columbus, Ohio Writers’ Group

Filed under: Micro-Enterprise,WordPress — Brad @ 7:31 pm

Click here to visit WritersInkCreativity.com

Nora Holt, the owner of Writers’ Ink, a Columbus, Ohio based writers’ support group, requested a simple website that would highlight her groups’ activities and her annual Columbus Book Festival.  She already had an existing website that she was moderately pleased with.

I quickly built a simple website that followed her original design and color scheme, and we tagged on a WordPress blog section so that she can easily provide her group members with news and updates.

Writers Ink Website

Click image to visit WritersInkCreativity.com

WordPress is an excellent option for blogs and simple news-update applications.

Nora also requested that I set up Twitter and Facebook pages for her group and integrate them into the website.

JoylandPreschool.com – CMS Website Using Expression Engine – Dublin, Ohio Daycare Center

Joyland Preschool asked for a fairly simple, easy-to-navigate website that they could easily update with new teacher profiles and events.

Joyland Preschool Daycare Website

Click the image to visit JoylandPreschool.com

This website was built using Expression Engine, an easy-to-use Content Management System.  Although not as simple to use as WordPress, Expression Engine is a great option when there are several different types of content on a single page that each need to be individually editable.

KinleysHouse.com – CMS Websites Using Expression Engine – El Paso Coffee House

Click here to visit KinleysHouse.com.

In 2008, my wife and I did some traveling.  We stopped in El Paso, TX for a couple of weeks, and while we were there I built this website for a great guy named Kinley who owned a fantastic coffee shop.

Kinleys House Coffee Shop Website

Click the image to visit KinleysHouse.com

KinleysHouse.com was built using Expression Engine, so that he can easily log in and update menu items, the calendar and more.

Kinley was a great guy to meet, and I learned a lot from him while we were in El Paso.  Even after almost four years, this is still one of my favorite websites I’ve built.

WCMHBlogs.com – CMS Website Using Expression Engine – Columbus NBC4 TV Station

Visit WCMHBlogs.com here.

In 2007 and 2008, I worked for the local NBC station, WCMH Channel 4.

While there, I personally established the station’s first blog initiative.  Much of the project has since been adapted and repurposed, but portions are still fully in tact.

“Deep Thoughts” sportscaster Jerod Smalley’s periodic blog on sports is almost exactly as established in 2008.

WCMH Blogs Deep Thoughts with Jerod Smalley

Click the image to visit WCMHBlogs.com

WCMH’s blog website was set up using Expression Engine.  Expression Engine is a versatile CMS for those who have limited HTML knowledge.  It’s not as easy to use as something like WordPress, but it is more versatile and easy to adapt.

If you’re looking to set up a blog website, regardless of the size, please contact me today.