Vanderlaan Creative Studio

Happy International Dog Day!! These two bring me so much joy and love. Hugs and treats to all of those loving four legged best friends we choose to share our lives with. 🐾🐶

Finally posting these amazing images from The Outlaws concert at a couple of weeks ago. After the rain came through we were blessed with this amazing sky. Always on the lookout for color inspiration!

I'm thrilled to introduce the fresh, new look of Facial Reality Spa & Salon's new website! Pat Brading has been helping women (and maybe a few men) feel and look more beautiful in Westfield NJ for years, and has been selling Eminence Organics products online for the last few. We upgraded her online store to Shopify, making it easier to bundle products and save as well as adding a loyalty program.


🛍 Bundle & Save: Curate your personalized Eminence Organics skincare regime and enjoy a 15% discount.

🌟Or check out "Pat's Picks" and save. Each week Pat selects her favorites and bundles them for you - saving you 20%

🔗 Check out the revamped website and discover your perfect product mix.

Share the glow. Embrace the reality. Welcome to the new Facial Reality Spa online experience. 🌐✨

www.facialrealityspa.com

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉

Introducing Lauren Beale's brand new website! A digital haven where movement, color, and texture intertwine. Whether you’re seeking to flow with one of Lauren’s transformative movement practices, find inner peace with yoga, or explore 1:1 creative sessions - it's all here.

Our goal was to create an online space that felt rich and alive – so every page and pixel was created with that intention.

🌐 Visit the new site and embark on a journey of discovery and inspiration!

Love it when my clients have adorable coworkers! 😍

THIS GIRL! Happy National Mutt Day from our favorite mutt.

So excited to introduce you to Dr. Laura Dessaur aka the Creativity Queen.🎨 I truly had a blast working with Dr. Laura on her updated branding and website!

Tasked with combining crowns, funky shapes, blue, and lots of pink – the end result is colorful and bubbly, yet informative and engaging.

🌈👑Step into her magical realm and let art be your guide to self-discovery and healing. Visit her crown-filled website at https://www.thecreativityqueen.com to learn more about Dr. Laura’s art therapy services and workshops. I think you’ll love it! 💖💙

I’m thrilled to show off the fabulous paintings on Topor Studios’ brand new website. Drew is a talented painter based in NYC. Her work would be a great addition to any home or work space. Check out her work at the link in comments.

Such a beautiful night in support of Westfield United Fund. Lighting up our streets, igniting the holiday spirit and support local people in need of basic human care services. Win, win, win.

Did you know it’s National Chocolate Day? Not that I need an excuse! Quality chocolate is not only tasty, but healthy. Sharing one of my favorite logos on this special day.

Hoping the fireworks heard loudest this year are those calling for individual rights and moving forward, not back.

Happy Spring! We had amazing weather today (and yesterday) the official first day in NJ. I always thought that Fall was my favorite season, but that might just be because I like boots. Over the past few years I’ve come to realize that I love spring. The colors, the rebirth, the opportunities for growth. All of it! Anybody else have a favorite season? Or has your favorite season changed over the years?

Food & Beverage startups, digital restaurants, Food Truck owners, research and development chefs looking for an amazing commercial rental kitchen on Long Island are in luck. SeventyOne Milbar is here for you. Check out their new website and all the amenities they have to offer.

I love numbers. Especially when they combine in interesting ways. The number 2 in numerology references the energy of duality, partnership, relationship, and balance. Series of two is thought to mean that things are going well - you’re headed in the right direction. I'm honestly not sure if today counts, with the zeros in between, but I'm going with it!

This is the month to examine our partnerships, seek compromise, and strive for balance. Accept the support and cooperation from your well-meaning partners and keep moving forward. You're off to a good start!
#02022022

True then, and true now.

What a year! With all of the ups and downs I’m so thankful for all of the fabulous clients, friends, and family that made this year fly by. Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2022!

Well, it’s that week again. I love the holidays, but feel a bit lost in limbo this week. Do I just hang out and try to enjoy it? Do I try extra hard to get everything on my 2021 list done before the 31st?

Whatever you do this week, enjoy it. I’m working to finish up a few projects , but I’m also setting aside an entire day to hang out with my family and then go out to spend my Gift Cards in town.

Do you take this week off - or try to check off your to-do list?

Every year I look forward to Pantone’s Color of the Year. For 2022 it’s “Very Peri”. I must say I have mixed emotions. My first instinct is to put a filter on it to either make it actual periwinkle, brighter, or even more muted and dusty. So, I will take it for what it is and put my own spin on it, as most of us will. Do you have strong feelings about color? How do you feel about “Very Peri”?

Did you know that over 15% of the population self-identify as disabled and will need assistance using your website?

The Americans with Disabilities Act has been interpreted by courts to apply to digital spaces and online businesses. Don’t fret! Making your website compliant can reduce liabilities while creating a web presence that is easier for everyone to use, helps with SEO, and as a bonus - broadens your audience. Have you integrated accessibility solutions for your website?

It's almost the weekend, and to me, this used to mean taking time to read. I hate to admit that I'm doing that less and less (this needs to change!), but when I do, I choose fiction - in hard or paperback form. As an entrepreneur sometimes I feel like I should only consume inspirational and educational content, but often I need the escape. Do you prefer motivational books or something more frivolous? Would you rather read online or hold a real paper book in your hands?

It’s National Entrepreneur’s Day! Being your own “boss” sounds awesome - but it’s a lot of work. There is dreaming, uncertainty, and even teamwork. Many of of are “solopreneurs” but we aren’t doing it alone. Undertake!!
❤️

Some people just have a knack for social media (not me!)

Do you love all things social and want to help others with their online presence?

My client and social media OG is offering an online workshop designed to help you create your own social media business. It’s next week, so don’t wait. Check it out, learn more, and sign up on her website. Link in comments.

It wouldn’t be National Coffee Day without an Iced Starbuck’s Double Shot, half caf, 1 pump classic with 2% milk. Yes, I’m that person.

Is the Website Dead for 2022?

So I’m scrolling through Facebook (yeah, I know) and of course my eye is drawn to this bold statement “Nobody really needs a website anymore. They are dead for 2022”. Ummm. This is not good news for me. Reading on, I realize what the poster is trying to say is that it’s all about the funnel, social media, and being able to engage without a “traditional” 5-page website.

I read on. There are many people who are agreeing. Then it hits me. If you have a domain (your own custom URL - which really every business should) and you have a page or content connected to it - it’s a website. Sure, some people can get by with a 1-pager if it’s strategically designed, but to truly add value and be found on Google, you will likely need more.

There is so much that goes into creating an online presence, SEO, driving traffic to your content, and truly engaging your audience -- that to say the website is dead is just completely unrealistic. So don’t listen to the nay-sayers, people still want a “place” to go to learn more about you, your business, and how you can help. Good news!

Starting out the week with positive feedback is always great. Working with awesome clients who offer value to the world is even better. I had so much fun working with on their new branding and website. Our goal was to create a youthful and inclusive feeling brand along with an easy to navigate informational website. Looks like it’s working!

Better late than never. I wasn’t allowed a photo today so I’m providing a bit of privacy while fondly remembering a very similar look in 5th grade. Here’s to Sophomore year!

To our best friends, office mates, sometimes bed partners, and all around fab beings. What would we do without dogs?

There's nothing better than feeling the love from a client once their website is live. In this particular case, we closely followed ADA guidelines and implemented AccesiBe so that users of varying abilities can access her website.

Suzanne writes for the medical field, so it is of utmost importance to her. That said, all websites should consider accessibility with the ever-increasing need to be, shop, and learn online. Is your business website ADA compliant?

Link to Kirito Consortium in the comments.

Who runs the world? Girls Do! Well, girls and Google.

As a website designer, my clients are concerned about SEO of course. Since many of them come to me during the startup phase, they almost always ask how to get their website ranked in Google. This is not a simple answer, and with Google’s new algorithms - it may be even trickier.

The one thing I tell anyone who is starting a new business, rebranding, or just wanting to be found online - is that they need a Google My Business. I’m not an expert here, so I usually refer them to articles discussing Google Business pages and how to best utilize them. I could literally copy and paste what the experts say here - but Google really hates that!

Helpful links in comments.

As a website designer I cannot over emphasize the importance of great photos. Not only for your website, but for your brand. Check out this spectacular offer from Rebecca Ryan.
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Have you been dreaming of elevating your brand with a fresh collection of professional photos but haven't had the time or marketing budget to focus on it? Expert brand photographer, Rebecca Ryan, founder of Serving Up Social is offering 2 dates of mini brand sessions in her Summit, NJ home!

Here’s what’s Included:
-30 minute creative strategy call
-45 minute photo session in my Summit, NJ home
-30 minute virtual style consultation with
-2 outfits
-Digital library of 20 fully edited images

Sessions available July 13 + July 15. Don’t miss this opportunity to stand out like the expert you are with images for all of your digital marketing! For a preview of the space or to book, check out the link in comments.