Everyday Problems
This is a weblog by TGFI about customer experience, development, things we enjoy, ourselves and more.
Five Simple Search Engine Optimization TipsGreg Benedict - November 18, 2008
Here are five simple tips to optimize your web site for search engines and make it easier for people to find you at the same time.
Read more »
Greg Benedict - November 12, 2008
A few months back we started our search for a person to do both design and light development work — a sweeper as we call them for their ability to clean up on projects. What we found was someone with a driving passion, expert knowledge and the experience to back it up. And then some…
Chris Kelley, an Indianapolis native, has been working in Nashville for a large advertising firm as a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) specialist. His experience includes:
- taking numerous web sites to the top of Google, Yahoo and MSN
- creating successful Pay-Per-Click campaigns for more than 100 clients
- managing a broad range of client budgets
- working in multiple industries including legal, financial services, real estate, modeling, not-for-profit, IT and travel
Together with Drew, we’re excited to see how Chris can help our clients grow their businesses.
Come Work with Us!Greg Benedict - August 12, 2008
We are currently looking for two full time Ruby developers with LAMP/CSS/XHTML experience in Indianapolis.
We’re looking for people who float between left brained and right brained thoughts. Creativity and analytical thinking go hand in hand when developing websites. Here are some of the things you’ll be doing with us:
- Working directly with clients via phone and email to find the right solution.
- Implementing designs using XHTML, CSS and JavaScript.
- Developing sites using the best tools for the job - Ruby, LAMP, Java, ColdFusion, .Net and more.
- Working on a Mac with a Windows VM.
- Helping us learn new things!
Experience is good, but passion is best.
Please send your information, background, samples and anything else you think we should know about you to jobs [at] tgfi.net.
Blog Indiana - Only 4 Days Left to RegisterGreg Benedict - August 12, 2008
Come see TGFI’s own Shawn Plew co-produce Indiana’s first blogger’s conference.
Local bloggers from across Indiana will gather at the IUPUI Campus Center on August 16-17th, 2008, for Blog Indiana 2008, a 2-day blogging and social media conference that aims to promote education, innovation and collaboration among Indiana’s fast-growing blogging community. The conference is sponsored by the IU School of Informatics.
Blog Indiana 2008 is a 2-day conference for both experienced and new bloggers alike. Sessions will include topics such as blogging for beginners, using blogs in your business, monetizing your blog, political blogging and more advanced topics. In the past, most blogging and technology-related conferences have either been too expensive or too far out-of-state. Blog Indiana 2008 seeks to bring a low-cost, high-value conference to Hoosier bloggers.
Check it out today! - http://conference.blogindiana.com/
The Marketing ShiftGreg Benedict - July 15, 2008
It’s been happening for a while. Have you seen it? Of course you have. You just didn’t know it.
Read more »
Greg Benedict - April 2, 2008
Starting in late April, TGFI will have another clean up artist (a designer/developer we call a sweeper) on board. Shawn is a 2004 graduate of the IUPUI Informatics program.
His skill sets include information architecture, usability, layout and design, and web development. Technically speaking thats conversing with people, XHTML, CSS, Javascript, Flash, Photoshop, PHP and MySQL. He’s also great at explaining how Internet Explorer has broken the box model. Ask him about that last one — he’ll go on for hours.
Soon enough we’ll have him on Ruby and .Net projects as well. Good thing he has a minor in Computer Science to back it up.
Interesting Note: Between IU and IUPUI that’s 3 employees we’ve hired now from the Informatics program.
HelpGreg Benedict - February 26, 2008
Update: Thank you to everyone who sent in their details, but we have filled the position.
We’re looking for a smart, experienced web developer to help our clients kick ass from day one. Our immediate needs require solid PHP, and in general, LAMP skills. You’ll be talking with clients directly, so you must be able to explain technical things in English.After these first few projects you’ll be branching out a bit more. This is where your experience with some of the following comes in handy:
- Implement designs using XHTML, CSS and JavaScript by hand.
- Create and update databases in SQL Server, MySQL & Oracle.
- Develop sites using the best tools for the project including ASP, VB, VB.NET, C#, CFML, PHP, Ruby & Java.
- Source code repositories - SVN, Git, Vault, VSS.
- Half of us are on Macs, half are on PCs. You’ll want to be comfortable on both.
It’s a bonus if you have web design, IA and/or unix admin experience.If you like a challenging job where you are constantly having fun while learning, this is definitely for you. Please send a resume, samples of your work, preferred salary ranges, and other info to Greg Benedict (jobs [at] tgfi.net).
We’re Growing Again!Greg Benedict - September 6, 2007
Josh, Drew, Ryan and myself want to extend a warm welcome to Mike Retzak (www.mikeretzak.com). Mike is our new interaction designer (web design, xhtml, css, javascript, flash, php, rails) that started with us earlier this week. He’s currently in his last year of grad school at IUPUI earning his Masters in New Media through the nationaly ranked Informatics program at night.
In just the first few days he’s been providing some much needed help for our clients in the Flash realm and will soon be working on front end design and layout for a stealth rails project we are working on. Things are just starting to heat up!
We also want to welcome Justin Ayer. Justin will be interning with us this fall doing a variety of development tasks. Josh and I both got huge starts to our career through internships and we’re doing what we can to help others in similar ways.
Next up we’re looking at some additional network support help and another developer if the upward trend continues. If you have the skills we talk about on the site and love to talk to people, drop us a note.
We’ve Moved!Greg Benedict - June 26, 2007
Earlier this month we signed a lease in the historic Stutz Motorcar Company located in downtown Indianapolis. We originaly looked at this space 2 years ago when we moved into the Majestic Plaza, but felt we would better server our clients on the north side of town.
Things have changed quite a bit since then and we feel the Stutz is now the space for us. It’s full of small companies who are similarly passionate about what they do. After the first full week in the new office, we’ve met a lot of great people we think can be valuable to both our clients and ourselves. This includes technologies like text mesaging, video production, audio production, print design, flash, photography and more.
I can’t even begin to explain how inspiring it is to walk the halls and view the work of numerous artists. If you get the chance, stop by and see us, and we’ll show you around. Did I mention there is a full restaurant and bar with free WIFI? Ouch!
212 W. 10th Street
Studio C460
Indianapolis, IN 46202
(map with directions)
Greg Benedict - May 9, 2007
We’ve just wrapped up work on www.cripeseniors.com. The site design and complimentary mailing concept were created by Cripe Photography to target high school students interested in thier “senior” portraits.
We worked with them to refine the design for the web and automated several areas including the feedback form and flash gallery. It’s a very unique site for a specific purpose, and I have to say it came together very well. The next step is a similar implementation for thier main site, cripephoto.com.
Various members of my family have been using Bill Cripe’s services for years, and it’s great to help others learn about his incredible work. Next time your at the office, I’ll be showing off the pictures of my son and daughter. You won’t believe what he can do with a 4 week old…
