Las Cruces Website Designer and Internet Geek

Small business SEO – Tip #1

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:41:43 +0000

When I was working for several Marketing Agencies and Website Designers I always felt like there was something missing from the website equation. Our clients’ websites and print products always looked fantastic, we won awards on the designs and we set out clients above their competition with great products and developing a fantastic brand. The World Wide Web however is a different story. A business’ website can look fantastic, elegant and professional, BUT the question is… can your website be found?

Is your customer or potential client finding you online? Can they find directions from their iPhone or Android Phone? Can someone find your website by searching your business services?

If your answer is: “I don’t know” or “no”, then I’m your website dveloper. One of the best ways to drive traffic to your website is getting on Google Places. Think of Google Place as the new Yellow Pages (except it’s free and you control the content). Smart Phones have Google built into the operating system (OS) and with 50% of all phones being sold today being smart phones, people can find your business faster than ever before. Smart Phone users can get turn by turn directions to your Las Cruces Business, they can call right from the search and even read reviews from your customers. So, now that you know how important it is to get listed on local search engine places, maps and listings, here’s a video showing you how…

Feel free to contact me for any help or consultation on getting your website noticed. Below is a video on Google Places for local businesses.

Dark New World Comic Book Script – Issue 1

admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:54:21 +0000

A labor of love collides with life and responsibilities.

After making the Dark New World movie, I knew I wanted to write comic books — but how do I break in? After all it is every comic book geek’s dream. So after talking to Ralph Contreras (he was the owner of Modern Age Comics) I was convinced I could carry on the Dark New World story. So I wrote the first issue of DNW and attempted to find an artist. I thought I could get an artist that had passion for the project and could work for free. We would split everything 50/50… Not the case. I have met some great artists these past 2 years, but they are like me, needing money to pay the bills. Here in all its splendor is the first issue of Dark New World in Script format. As always I appreciate feedback and feel free to illustrate pages and I’ll showcase them on the Blog. I’m now onto plan B.

Dark New World Comic Book Script -Issue 1

Brief History about Dark New World Movie

A few of years ago I was at Modern Age Comics in Las Cruces. I had just shot a short film called “Why Can’t it be Tuesday.” The comic shop owner allowed me to film some scenes of the short in his business. Ralph, the shop owner and some customers were talking about making a short Zombie film. I somehow got into the conversation and next thing you know, I offered to write the thing.

Ninety five pages later the short zombie film was now a feature film. I spoke to the guys at the comic shop and no one had money to make this movie. Dark New World was dead in the desert, literally. After some time and some freelance graphic design work I had raised about $3,000 and rewrote the script to fit the budget. So I formed Sleeping Awake Productions and contacted some people.

The local newspapers ran a call for auditions and we had about 150 people show up to devour the living or to kill zombies. The best part; almost everyone was willing to work for free. So, I had found my heroes and villains and we scheduled to shoot the film on weekends. I was working about fifty hours a week and most of the actors were college students, so weekends were the best time for everyone.

I bought a used Canon GL1 and DLP lights from ebay ($2,000). My wife and I would plan the weekend shoots, contact everyone and make sure everything was loaded in the 4Runner. Some local businesses (Durango Bagel & Great American Pizza) served the crew three meals a day and sometimes my in-laws would feed them burritos. So I pimped myself out — there is a restaurant plug in the movie. We worked 15 hour days Saturdays and Sundays for two months (16 days).

One broken generator, one broken GL1 and a long time editing (I have a family, mortgage and day job) and Dark New World is Done and filmed on a $1,000!

Las Cruces Home and Garden Show

admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 21:07:19 +0000

2011 was a great year for new beginnings. The past ten years were behind us, and everyone was looking forward to 2011. A great friend of mine (Marcia Starich of the Las Cruces Closet Factory) was chair of the Las Cruces Home and Garden show 2011. Marcia asked me to join the committee and help out with marketing. Needless to say I joined and ended up working with another great friend on marketing the H&G Show. This was the first years the Las Cruces Building Industry Association’s Home and Garden Show would be at the new Las Cruces Convention Center. So to celebrate the new location we decided to redesign the Las Cruces Home and Garden Show Logo. I jumped at the opportunity to design and re-brand such a recognizable event in Las Cruces.

Thirsty Spider

admin — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:28:46 +0000

Below you can read a script I wrote about 5 years ago and submitted to Marvel. This was before I knew Marvel Comics would not accept scripts from writers due to legal issues. So I’m now sharing “Thirsty Spider” with the world. Thirsty Spider is a short story about a dehydrated Spider-Man trying to quench his thirst. I hope you all enjoy the story. Please feel free to illustrate the comic and send them to me. I would love to post your art on the Blog.

Thanks,

Carlos

Thirsty Spider – Spider-Man Comic Book Script

Capturing Passion and Pen

admin — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:18:19 +0000

Las Cruces has a lot of hidden talent in our desert oasis, and also houses one of the best copy writers in New Mexico . Charlotte Tallman approached me to develop a classic look for her new company. Elle Write wanted to capture a simple clean look but also wanted to incorporate the passion of first writing by hand and capturing the history of the pen.

The Reader’s Choice…

admin — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 22:49:49 +0000

While I was working for the local newspaper, I was asked to come up with a new design for the “Reader’s Choice Awards“. The Sun-News prints ballots in the paper and its subscribers to vote for the Best of Las Cruces (restaurants, florist, bakeries etc .) I created this logo in 2002 and variations are still being used to this day (2011). The only thing that changes is the font and color. How’s that for longevity?

Welcome to Sleeping Awake Blog

admin — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 23:46:51 +0000

This is where I’ll be blogging about my trials and tribulation on breaking into the comic book industry. This will have everything from finding time to write to finding artists who believe and hold the same passion I do for comic books. I’ll also be uploading stories I’ve written and ask for critiques and comments, discussing discipline (or lack thereof), and the difficulties of breaking in as a writer.