The Cautious Train

Cautious Train Media is a small independent Irish film, video and social media management company. We'll share alternative posters, short films, blogs and other things that we find here. www.cautioustrain.com

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👋🏻 https://ift.tt/33oa10f

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Keeping us on our toes since 2014... ... Kids are hard. ... Kids are an upheaval. ... Kids make you think more about yourself and your impact than anything. ... And never for a second do we forget how lucky we are to have her. ... Happy 5th, bestie 🎈 http://bit.ly/2ISHGaY

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More today from my recent blog on 5 of the most important questions to ask a design agency before starting any new website project... ~ Will my website be from a template design or bespoke built? ~ This will largely be based on the cost of your new website. Some of you may be on a budget and therefore a template option can be useful as a starter website. However, most businesses will want a bespoke built website that reflects their business and branding and differentiates them from the competition. It is important to check in advance with your designer whether the website will be from template or customised. Many WordPress designers will operate within ‘themes’, but in most cases these are fully customisable so you can still achieve a fully bespoke built website. ~ Read the full blog at https://ift.tt/2ExNNON (link in bio) ~ S x https://ift.tt/2ThOmUU

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I decided to keep going with this blog series as there seems to be a real hunger for knowing what to ask before commissioning a new brand or website. So here we go... ~ What does the agency’s portfolio of work look like? ~ You can’t exactly “try before you buy” with your new website but you can get a good idea of the agency’s quality and credentials by viewing their previous work. If this is unavailable or of poor quality, run for the hills! You should also be paying close attention to their testimonials. ~ See what else you should be asking here —> https://ift.tt/2ExNNON (link in bio) ~ S x https://ift.tt/2VlNFHD

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Sunday Springtime Bliss-out https://ift.tt/2Vgk3uZ

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Last question from this blog - 5 Questions To Ask Before Commissioning A New Website ~ Can I edit this website myself? Nowadays most of us have a little bit of tech savvy. If you know how to operate a Word Document or upload a Facebook post, there will be some basics you should be able to edit on your new website. Especially if it’s built in the super user-friendly WordPress Content Management System (as all ours are ☺). This could save you some money in the long-run without having to shell out an hourly fee every time you want to upload a picture or add a piece of text. It’s not for everyone but something you should know before going forward. ~ So there you have 5 questions you should be asking before you hire design agency to develop or redesign your new website. I’ll be back on the blog soon with 5 more prep questions, so you’ll be fully prepared for this new venture! ~ Read the full blog over at https://ift.tt/2XeOt2G (link in bio) ~ S x https://ift.tt/2Sk0L62

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What is #branding? Your logo? Your website? Your fonts? Your colour scheme? In reality, branding has evolved past all of the above - your brand assets - into an experience. Think of branding as the story your ideal clients, your tribe, tell themselves about you and what you offer. It's the experience you want them to have as they engage with you across your content, website, events, products, services and more. It's all-encompassing. Q. Where to start when it comes to your brand? A. With your Perfect Client Profile. Who is your ideal client and how does what you offer match their needs? If you need a kickstart with this then go download my free Brand Identity Workbook over at https://ift.tt/2ItMDrz (link in bio) It starts exactly where it needs to... building your ideal client's persona. S x https://ift.tt/2T7TZVr

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It’s so important to fully empower yourself with every detail of a website or brand build before you pay a penny for it. So I’m diving in to those questions you should be asking before commissioning... ~ Do they offer any after care in this package and if so, for how long? ~ Many web design companies include a period of “after-care” or support in their new website packages (we include 1 year of basic website support in our digital architecture package). This is a great chance to sort out any snag list items with your new website without having to fork out the extra cash straight away. It’s a good idea to find out up front what you’ll get as part of the deal and also what their maintenance options and prices are going forward. If you’re looking for more info on website maintenance click here! ~ Arm yourself with all the questions to be asking here —> http://bit.ly/2DtBn8B (link in bio) ~ S x http://bit.ly/2NeseW1

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Shoutout to my sister-mums this half term. The work-from-home-ers, the work-outside-ers, the stay-at-home-ers, the bit-of-both-ers. Mad respect for doing whatever it takes to get shit done... whatever your shit may be 🙌🏻 http://bit.ly/2GsfGtu

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More questions you should be asking before a new website or brand design... ~ Can they give you a realistic timeframe for completion as well as milestones? ~ Of course every project is different, with varying time spans. However, any experienced design agency should have no problem in giving you a good estimate on a realistic completion date for your new website. This should also include milestones along the way such as weekly reports, first draft etc. There are always variables and you will have to be responsive along the way with your designer for any content they require from you. ~ Find out what else you should be asking here —> http://bit.ly/2DtBn8B (link in bio) ~ S x https://www.instagram.com/p/BuBHu29n1bA/

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Resurrecting a blog from the archives for the day that’s in it. Can you have a meaningful and committed relationship if your own self worth is…a little funky? Yes, I’m living proof. Can you find happiness in life and connection to others if you’re finding it tricky to like yourself? Yes, I’m living proof. Can you have moments of pure, unadulterated joy if practicing self love has dropped to the bottom of your to-do list? Yes, I’m living proof. Can you find a sustainable, long-lasting sense of peace and calm if you struggle to face your own reflection (not just the one in the mirror) every morning? In my own living proof, no. Read the full blog over at http://bit.ly/2TPojBF (link in bio) http://bit.ly/2BA0yWQ

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I get it, I’m here with you. Starting from scratch with a new website or taking the plunge to redesign an old one can be daunting. If the concept is totally alien to you or you just don’t know where to start, we’re here to help by outlining the 5 most important questions you should ask any design team before they start work on your new website. ~ What exactly is included in the proposed package? It is vital that your quote for a new website build should include a full breakdown of what exactly will be covered in the package you pay for. If anything is unclear or too much “tech jargon” is used, you need to address this with the agency before you move ahead. You need to know exactly how much bang for your buck you will be getting! ~ Read more on this here: http://bit.ly/2DtBn8B (link in bio) ~ S x http://bit.ly/2IewnKR

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Sometimes you just can’t come up with a witty or insightful caption about life and/or business. Sometimes this planet is just a big old ride and you’re compelled to take a picture and share it for likes 📷 http://bit.ly/2TNTJbt

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Upcoming posts are from one of my favourite, and most popular, blogs to date... 5 Questions To Ask Before Commissioning A New Website. ~ Is it time to shake things up… is it time for a new website for your business? Not exactly sure where to start, how much it’s going to cost and what is involved? Keep reading on for 5 of the most important questions to ask an agency before starting any new website project. ~ Can they clearly outline the full project cost and payment structure (deposit, payment stages etc.)? ~ This should be one of the first points of clarification when starting any new website project. A quote from any reputable design agency should include the full project cost and the payment plan in place for such, if there is one. A new website is a significant investment and you should have all the financial information up front before signing off on anything. ~ More questions over at http://bit.ly/2DtBn8B (link in bio) ~ S x http://bit.ly/2SthgSv

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Last tip from my e-commerce blog on selling products online (you can read the full blog here http://bit.ly/2RwyAQW - link in bio) ~ Include calls-to-action on the product page! For all the customers out there who might look at a page and be indecisive (there are a lot of them), then it works very well to have a call to action of some kind on each product page – this could be a “contact us”, but you can get creative here. ~ I’ve tried to make these tips as short, sweet and DIY as possible. Hit me up in the comments or DM with any questions! ~ S x http://bit.ly/2tc2aSo

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As entrepreneurs running an online presence, be that a blog, social media or website, creating content that is compelling is where it’s at. While you can always hire someone to do it for you, creating content for your own business, even occasionally, can be hugely empowering. It also displays real authenticity as a brand if your content is your own. Done right, great copy can be the key to unlocking your true potential in the online world. However, to do it right, you need to unlock your ‘inner writer’. To help in your journey of creating content for your brand, I’m sharing some ideas to help find the key, so to speak... Read more at http://bit.ly/2WErbmu (link in bio) S x http://bit.ly/2RGgaxf

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I’ve been receiving a couple really lovely messages and compliments about my output of content over the last couple weeks. And also that age-old question (you know it) “how can I find the time to create consistent content?” Demystification time... a system! I’m a systems and processes rebel in recovery. I’ve avoided it, just like schedules and routines, most of my life. It’s a wonder everything was only ever half finished 😏 The only chance I have now of creating compelling and consistent content is to work through a system. And for me that system is batch writing. Most of my recent content was produced over the space of about a week. Some of it is repurposed from older blogs that never saw the light of day. Batch writing is just one part of it though! If you’d like to dive a little deeper into how I create consistent content without the head melt then head over to http://bit.ly/2GqLgXR (link in bio) You’ll also be able to download my free content calendar template! S x http://bit.ly/2SBK9v6