This year we are going to be creating a new desktop wallpaper every month. We are mainly doing this as an exercise of our creativity, so please let us know what you think in the comments below. To download, simply right click on the screen resolution you need, and click save as.

With Calendar
1280x800, 1280x800, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440

Without Calendar
1280x800, 1280x800, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440

Welcome to 2012!

The past year at MJ Media has been the biggest year yet. With the departure of Josh from the company, and the amount of work we have been able to put out, it’s going to be tough to top the amount of activity we have enjoyed this year.

I feel that it is important for anybody to set goals, both personally and professionally, each year. You might recall from a sentimental post a while back, that I have already set one goal for MJ Media’s upcoming year, but I wanted to use this moment to expand upon that list.

So here it goes, the updated goal list for 2012!

• Launch an upgraded design and do some organization of the content of our website
• Rebrand our newsletter and improve the content
• Make our webinar series a huge success
• Take on the entire marketing program of a client
• Bring on some regular hired help
• Pick up at least 10 new clients
• Bring in $50,000 at MJ Media

I’d like to thank all of our clients for making 2011 such a great year, and wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2012!

~ Mike

The other day we were able to attend the !gnite Social Media Conference in Midland. There were some fantastic speakers and a very impressive turnout. I was able to scribble down some notes that may not make total sense to you, but you may find a nugget or two that you can use.

When fans aren’t enough: Developing a successful social media strategy to drive business growth by Paul Warren, ddm Marketing & Communications
Mostly covered tools to use, some interesting ones:

Postling.com
Socialmention.com

Social + Virtual Media Marketing for Small Business by Mark Johnson

Brian Solis – Engage (book)
“We are now part of the community we wish to inform.”
“Engage or die.”
“Uncover the voices that define and steer your markets.”

Clients think in a 3d world.
If they are comfortable writing, they will be a blogger. This is a powerful market.
Invite them to speak about what they do in your booth etc.

Keynote - Shannon Paul, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

When building your team:

Content Creators & Analytics Readers

One dynamite panel, two digital tactics: Search engine optimization (SEO) & paid ads (SEM)

Erik Granning, Doner
Brian Ambrozy, Delightful Experiences and Icrontic.com
Bobby Mercader, FurnitureCrate.com
Evelyn Chou, Electro-matic

Focus on creating a technically good website.

Get AdWords Certified for $50

Use long-tail keywords to lower CPC

Optimize for conversions.

SEO: The goal now is to increase the amount and quality of incoming keywords.

MAKE SURE YOUR LOCATION PROFILES ARE ACCURATE (foursquare, Google Places, Facebook and Bing)

We are getting nearer and nearer to the annual Hell’s Half Mile Film and Music Fest! It’s been a lot of work in a very short period of time, and there is a lot of work yet to be done, but please check out the site and let me know what you think. We can’t credit for the look, that was the work of 989 Design, who did a great job creating an identity that could be reused in the years to come.

I decided early this year that I wanted to support to the fest because I feel that this event promotes creativity in the area like no other event. I think that the key to real improvement in this area is a strong creative community.

The amount of time and money we have invested in this event is probably in the $2000 range, which is a big commitment for a very small web design company like MJ Media. We will also be submitting some of our code from this project to the Open Source community to benefit other similar events. I’m so happy with our work thus far.

In the beginning

It was late into 2004. Josh Taylor and I had been sitting in our accountants office house signing the papers that would make things official. We were starting a web design company.

On December 15th, 2004 we were notified that MJ Media, LLC was now a registered organization in the great state of Michigan (bonus points if you read that like Mason).

First gigs

Our first few projects came in from family and friends. Eventually, after a quick email to The Bay City Times, we scored a short bio and color photo in the “New Business” section. We quickly picked up 3 or 4 very low budget websites. A few of those brave souls remain with us today.

It wasn’t all lollipops and gumdrops though. There was one early client that ended up disappointed when we were unable to deliver what they expected for the price that we had agreed to. I blame this on their unrealistic expectations combined with our unrealistic confidence. It’s a shame too, because I still think about how cool it would be to really help this company out.

Somewhere in the middle

After those first few gigs, we started meeting the people that would really help to shape and mold our beliefs. Some of the people that were instrumental to our success are Shawn MacDonald of 989 Design, Ron Acker and Chris Gruber of F.P. Horak, Francis Soehnel of Looks Unlimited, and the many other clients we worked with early on. They were passionate people, that enjoyed putting out the best work possible, even when less expensive options exist.

Things were still just puttering along though. Josh and I both had full time jobs, and the company became nothing more than a weekend hobby.

“Hey dad, I quit.”

At the time I was working for my father at Pyramid Paving. I was working very hard, and making pretty good money. I knew that I liked working there, but I felt I needed to give MJ Media the shot it deserved. After a being laid off for the winter, I began seeking higher profile clients. We scored big when Kate Cardinali of IMD brought us in to help with an E-commerce website for Franks Great Outdoors. I estimated it to take the rest of the summer, and decided not to return to Pyramid for the upcoming season.

Things seemed to be going well, until they didn’t. The old site was being bombarded by hackers on a daily basis. We were forced to make emergency patches just to keep it running long enough to develop a replacement. For one reason or another, we also went through a couple of server moves at this time.  One of our moves was interrupted by a tornado that touched down dangerously close to the server building and caused what I seem to remember as a few days’ worth of downtime. Eventually, the old website was so far gone, that we decided to launch the new site, untested and unfinished.

It was a bad idea. Development came down to a punch list, and because our contract was pretty vague, the client had a different punch list than we did. Upon completion of our list, the client declined to pay the final invoice.

I was heartbroken. I didn’t want this project to fail.

Seven months into a five month project, I was broke. And to make matters worse, we were so busy trying to launch this site, that we hadn’t been seeking other work. Things were rough, and my personal credit cards started taking a beating.

It’s not all doom and gloom

Let me make one thing clear; most of our clients are bad-ass! I have met some very interesting small business owners since we started this company, and helped them to begin their foray into the digital world. While I always have a sore spot for the failures of yesterday, I remember most projects as successes.

I still enjoy doing what I do. I feel that we stack up closely with the best in the business. Even more than that, I still enjoy learning what I do not yet know. It’s such a fast paced field to be in, that you are able to see the landscape change before your eyes.

So what’s the point?

There is one, I promise.

Nearly seven years into this magical trip, my partner, Josh Taylor has chosen to leave MJ Media. I’ve heard some of his plans for the future, and I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of him. I’m going to miss him as a partner.

So, it’s with mixed emotions that I wish Josh a fond farewell. Please feel free to wish him good luck in the comments below!

(photo by bengrey)