First of all, if you haven’t heard of Pinterest…we’re really sorry. Seriously, you’re missing out. Pinterest is a virtual corkboard. You can show off cards, pictures, quotes, things you like. You can make them yourself, snag them off other websites, or recycle things other people have pinned.

It’s inspiring, it’s informative, it’s entirely visual, and, frequently, pretty dang funny.

You could say it’s addictive, and you wouldn’t be wrong. Pinning yourself, browsing other people’s pins…it’s a delightful way to see several hours disappear without your notice.

You could say it’s the online equivalent of hoarding, if you really wanted to.

What we at Mack Web Solutions say about Pinterest is that it’s the perfect way to share our personalities and a little bit of our culture.

How Mack Web Uses Pinterest
We’ve spent some time thinking about this and we’ve decided that one of the most important and fundamental principles of the way we do business is that we treat people like people. That means we treat our clients like human beings with lives and deadlines and frustrations and joys. And we treat each other like that, too.

To that end, building some kind of relationship with every client is vital to our sense of workplace satisfaction. Unfortunately, as a company in the web world, we have clients across the country. It’s difficult to develop rapport with them over the phone or email. We can do straight-up business that way, but there are a few things we want our clients to know about us that are best conveyed through some other medium.

Namely, that we know our stuff, that we work hard, that we have a passion for our work, and also that we’re people, too. We have names and faces and senses of humor…and we understand that you do too.

This is where Pinterest comes into play. Businesses are still sussing out how to use Pinterest for promotional purposes, but for us, it’s about sharing our culture with you.

All of our team members have personal boards on our Pinterest site where they can pin things that show their personality and interests. We’re all pretty different in the particulars, but a quick glance shows that we have the broad strokes in common: we’re creative and clever and we’ve clearly got a handle on this web/social media/being awesome thing.

We also have a company board to focus on our branding. The theme of the hour (and month and, y’know, decade) is growth, so we’ve got a board where we can pin things relating to that: ideas, images, inspirations…other things that start with the letter ‘i’.

And since we also a) offer a web design service and b) spend a lot of time online, we tend to focus on websites that we personally like. We’ve got a board for that too.

We fully anticipate that the list of boards will grow with new ideas and concepts.

A Shout out to Authenticity (not self-promotion)
So this is the balance we’ve found with Pinterest. We are Mackcentric with our Pinterest, but not in a way that is blatantly self-promotional and runs contrary to the heart of the Pinterest concept. We aren’t selling our souls…we’re sharing our souls.

Cheesy? Maybe. But no less true for all that.

Even though Pinterest has been around for a while, businesses are just getting started on this particular platform. If you’re thinking about using it, we recommend a few simple preliminary steps:

1. Think about your purpose: why would you would create a board? what purpose will it serve?
2. Think about what you will pin and share: what topics do you want to cover? what type of media (doesn’t have to be just images; can be video too)?
3. Think about how you will contribute to the Pinterest community: what do you hope people will gain from seeing your board? how will they respond to what you’ve aggregated?

If you’ve taken all those things into consideration, well then…Pin on, MacDuff.

And hey, we’d love to see what you pin so make sure to let us know you’re on board (Hee hee. Bad puns RULE!).

We’re kind of excited (giddy, really) that the City of Fort Collins has recognized our company, Mack Web Solutions, in its recent Economic Newsletter.

‘Why did they do that?’ we hear you ask. (Yes, we do hear you. We hear lots of things).

Apart from our sheer awesomeness, it’s pretty exciting that in a time when unemployment in Colorado is 7.9%, Mack Web Solutions finds itself in a period of growth.

We attribute this growth to the value of all that we have to offer.  In addition to some pretty fantastic web design work, Mack Web offers a robust search engine marketing package which allows our clients to raise their search engine traffic and web visibility in a time when an online presence is quickly becoming a business necessity. We’re on our way to becoming the most knowledgeable search engine marketing company in Northern Colorado (and when we get there, it’s all about world domination).

Thank you City of Fort Collins for recognizing our company and for writing such a thorough article. We love living and working in this town! Seriously, Fort Collins is the best town ever.

Except, maybe, Atlantis. Utopian society, island living. Hard to beat that.

We know, we know. We said the last one was the last one.

But, we promise, this is the last one.

Probably.

Really, we just wanted to thank everybody who came to our birthday party. It meant a lot to be able to celebrate our 9th birthday with such wonderful, inspiring, supportive people.

If you haven’t had a chance yet, you should seriously check out the rest of the new site.

To those of you who didn’t make it:

1. You owe us a present. And it had better be a nice one.
2. Yep. Ninth birthday, complete with a rebrand and a new website. That was the big secret. Was it really so hard to guess?
3. If you had made it to the party, we might have let you use the Mack Web Solutions Time Machine, but it was kind of a one-time-only thing. Sorry.
4. You should doubly check out the site. That way you can meet us virtually, since you missed your chance to do it in person.
5. You should also keep an eye on our facebook. We’ll be posting more pictures of the event, just so you can see what you missed and lament.

For example:

Anyway…

The last nine years have been fantastic and we feel like they’ve primed us for an explosion of growth and success and general awesomeness. We’re just getting started.

We’d also like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the party, the website, and our company.

Amanda Miller of the Place Setting Company helped us coordinate the event and was an unshakeable support while we were running around like chickens with our heads cut off.

Chris Musa of the Campus West Liquor Depot helped us select the libations that provided the party’s social…encouragement.

Chef David Daggett of Tastebuds provided the seriously amazing spread of food that we used to lure hapless passers-by into our celebration.

Without the great team over at Rocket Jones Interactive, there would be no new website. And that would be a crying shame.

And lastly, of course, the person who made the party a success and gave us a reason to celebrate:

You.

Unless you didn’t attend. In which case…we don’t even know what to say to you. You make us very, very sad.

Seriously, though, thanks all for a great nine years.

Here’s to the next nine!

This is it, friends.

The last clue. The very last. The ultimate. The end. C’est fini. Finite Incantatem.
Aren’t you sad?

Okay, let’s be honest. You’re equal parts sad and omg-thank-goodness-it’s-over relieved, right?

Yeah. Us too.

But here, for the finale, we’ve got something special for you.

Remember this little trick?

Think of a big, gray land mammal the large ears and a big nose.
What letter does that animal start with?

What number in the alphabet is that? (a=1, b=2, etc.)
Add 4.

Multiply by the number of letters in your first name.
Add the digits together.

The result (unless you did your math wrong or have misdefined the words “large,” “gray,” “land,” “mammal,” “ears,” or “nose):

So put that together with everything else:
Icebergs.
Ferris Bueller.
Lords-A-Leaping.
Hollywood Marriage.
The Trojan War.
New Hampshire.

And then take your best guess.

If you guessed right, congratulations! You get to come hang out with us at our party tomorrow and personally receive a high-five from the members of the Mack Web Team.

If you guessed wrong, sorry. You have to come hang out with us at our party tomorrow and we will point and laugh at you.

But there will be food and booze, either way. So that’s okay, then.

And, hey! You want to see something cool?

We (with a little…all right, a lot of help from the ever-awesome development team at Rocket Jones) got ourselves a little present in honor of our celebration.

Wanna see? Check out the best present ever (our new website).

Seriously. It’s even better than a pony.

Well friends, we’re nearing the end of your long and terrible wait.

Soon you shall know the Great Secret of Mack Web Solutions (third only to the Great Secret of the Pyramids and the Great Secret of Why We Put Two Socks in the Dryer but Only One Comes Back Out).

We’ve discussed the nature of icebergs, taken a whirlwind tour of an eighties classic, debated a long-standing Christmas enigma, celebrated successful celebrity marriages, and conducted an overview of the Trojan War.

With hints like that, the subject of our celebration should be blindingly obvious…right?

Just in case it’s not, we’ve got another clue for you.

Today’s clue is…New Hampshire.

Yup. That’s it. Just…New Hampshire.

Not to be confused with Old Hampshire which, I am reliably informed, was a mystical island culture said to have been swallowed by the sea at the dawn of time.

No, we’re talking about New Hampshire. Y’know, 9th state to join the Union, site of the first primary in every presidential election, home of Robert Frost and many cows. Ringing any bells?

Little fun fact about New Hampshire? Their state motto is Live Free or Die. They take this very seriously: they are the only state with no seatbelt laws.

Which seems to imply that they could just as easily adopt Live Free and Die.

Here’s another thing about New Hampshire that I bet you didn’t know: It was once home to Mack Web Solutions’ very own social media strategist, June Macon.

You’ll get the chance to meet June at the big unveiling of the Mack Web Solutions Secret (which, as previously stated, is neither a baby nor a time machine) at our offices on February 9th.

But be sure to let us know if you’re coming.

Otherwise, I will eat all the food that could otherwise be yours.

I will, too. I am not lying.

So, in conclusion, your sixth and penultimate clue was…New Hampshire.

Take it how you will.

So…are you coming to our party? Are you? Are you?

Join us on Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 4-6 pm as we celebrate something big.

Mack Web Solutions
204 Walnut Street, Suite D
Fort Collins, Colorado 80524
970-377-2358

Why the party? See if you can figure it out from these clues:

Clue #1: Icebergs
Clue #2: Ferris Bueller
Clue #3: Nine Lords-a-Leaping?
Clue #4: Hollywood Marriage
Clue #5: The Trojan War

The countdown has begun.

For 800 million Facebook users, myself included, the end is near.

(Not to be confused with our other countdown…)

The Timeline Approacheth.

Whether this is the first time you’ve heard of it, whether you’ve already jumped in with both feet, or whether you’ve been putting it off with a sense of impending doom, change is a-comin’.

Prepare yourselves.

Fortunately, Facebook is giving you a chance to do just that. Once you decide to convert (or even if you don’t decide and let the mandatory switch roll over you as inevitably as the tide), you have 7 days to review your new Timeline before it goes live. This gives you a chance to familiarize yourself with your page before you have to fumble around in real time.

The Scoop:
So here’s a rundown on what’s changing (dun dun duuuun):

Your news feed (the first page you see when you sign in with the listing of everything your friends have been posting) is…hardly changing at all.

I know, right? Huge sigh of relief. It will have some additional functionality, but the interface is not going to be a wilderness of confusion.

No, no. We reserve that honor for….

Your Page!

Okay, when you first see it, I want you to take a deep breath in and then let it out. Repeat after me: It’s going to be okay.

Because, honestly, folks, it is going to be okay. With the exception of the Cover (discussed later…kinda), this is pretty much all the same information that has always been available. It just looks a little different now.

Apart from the layout shift, the biggest change is the way your information is organized. Now you can find all the info Facebook knows about you sequentially. It’s all arranged through the handy-dandy, easy to use…Timeline.

I know. So literal, Facebook.

The vertical timeline is surprisingly unobtrusive on your page. Just a vertical listing of dates going back to your birth off to the right on your page. Click on a year and it shows you the events, posts, pictures from that year.

Not so bad, eh?

There are, of course, more changes than this, but I’m going to let you explore those for yourself.

‘Cuz we best remember what we teach ourselves.

What does it all mean?
This doesn’t really change all that much in your world. Yeah, sure, it’s a little easier for people to find those embarrassing college photos… but it’s probably time to grow up. Facebook is maturing and so should we.

And, as always, you can remove anything you post from your Timeline or choose who can see it.

All of these changes are actually a good thing. Not just because stagnation is death (though it is, and I don’t want you to die), but because Facebook has added some pretty cool new features:
-Posts are easy to read
-The new layout is clean and interesting
-More opportunities to customize your information
-Your profile now actually is…a profile. Of YOU. It shows who you are, not just by who your friends are, but from your photos, posts, likes, and affiliations.

Facebook has also expanded its interactivity with the other things you like. If you’ve joined the Pinterest craze, for example, you can easily share what you’ve pinned through Facebook.

Now, keep in mind, all of these new application options also give you the capability to be approximately a million-and-three times more annoying. Because you now have even more sources to glut the monster that is your news feed.

Or, more to the point, your friends’ news feeds.

Keep that in mind as you allow third party applications to post on your Timeline. You don’t want to be that guy, do you?

Some closing thoughts…of the deep and insightful kind, naturally
Okay, quick note: Facebook Timeline is not currently available to your business pages. There is no word on when that’s coming. So if the Timeline becomes overwhelming, you can retreat to the familiarity of your favorite businesses.

May we suggest…Mack Web Solutions? (hint, hint. Really. You should like us. We’re just that cool).

Secondly, here’s a little list of things to be mindful of as you make the adjustment:

1. Upload an awesome Cover. Your page now prominently features a large area in which you can upload a horizontal photo, image, quote…anything your heart and imagination can desire… so long as it fits the dimensions of course.
2. It’s always best practice to use a photo of yourself as the profile picture. Otherwise, people might think you’re a creeper posing as you. That doesn’t sound like it leads to good things, now does it?
3. Your ability to organize your photos is now unprecedentedly broad. Do it. Share ‘em. A picture is worth a thousand words and all that jazz.
4. Resize posts that carry importance. There is a little star on each post that lets you enlarge it so the post stands out on the timeline. This can be a quote, photo, video, status, anything. Let people know what really matters to you. What’s Facebook for, if not that?
5. Take advantage of Facebook Places. It’s pretty neat to look on the map and see all the places where you’ve spent time. (And no…Facebook is not just following you around with a map and a pencil. It’s based on your own shared information. They have not hired a flock of private eyes to skulk around in the bushes behind you, wearing trenchcoats and fedoras).
6. Be aware of who/what you like. This is something everyone who views your Facebook Timeline can see easily. If you don’t want everyone to know that you secretly watch America’s Next Top Model and listen to The Spice Girls…don’t post that in your likes.
7. Choose your friends wisely. Each month shows what new friends you have acquired in a pretty little box.

So…thus far, 242 people we know have signed up for the timeline. Who’s next?

And if you still have questions… check out this link to watch the awesome presentation Facebook made: https://www.facebook.com/about/timeline.

If you have questions after that…well, good luck.

Just kidding. Let us know. We can look into it and get back to you. Also, if there’s anything we’ve missed, let us know that, too.

Everybody knows all about the war waged by the Greeks against the city of Troy, right?

We all had to read the Iliad in school and we’ve seen Brad Pitt’s excruciating performance as Achilles in Troy.

We know about Helen and her ship-launching face and handsome, useless Paris who just couldn’t leave well enough alone.

We know about clever Odysseus whose one desire in life was to get back his wife and newborn son as soon as possible. Poor Odysseus who was the last of the Greeks to finally make it to familiar shores after a decade of wandering and odd adventures. (And subsequently subjecting legions of baffled freshman to the Odyssey’s wine-dark sea).

We know about Odysseus’ frickin’ wooden horse, right?

And maybe we like Monty Python’s wooden bunny better.

But all of the stories we know about the actual siege of Troy: the epic battles of Hector and Achilles, Achilles dragging Hector’s body behind his chariot, Priam’s grief, the poisoned arrow that finally took down otherwise invincible Achilles when it hit him in the heel…did you know that all of that took place in a single year?

And between the Greek arrival on Trojan shores and that eventful year, there were nine years of siege during which almost nothing of significance happen?

For nine years the Trojans hid behind their walls and let their allies and neighbors battle the invading Greeks.

For nine years, the Greeks waged war against everyone but the Trojans.

For nine years, the Greeks fought amongst themselves and did a little farming on the side.

Nine, long, boring years.

But those nine years prepped them for the good stuff to come.

(Or, hey, maybe Odysseus finally found the motivation to just do something about it so he could get home).

Anyway you look at it, it was only after nine years of what amounted to combative camping outside Troy’s walls, defeating lesser enemies, that the Greeks were actually ready to take down the big kahuna.

With, y’know, a wooden horse.

“So,” we hear you ask, “what does that have to do with the great mystery of Mack Web Solutions?”

Well, simple, really. We’re branching henceforth into equine construction and the besiegement of extinct Asian cities.

Duh.

Just kidding.

Like the Greeks, Mack Web Solutions knows that only after you’ve proved yourself against lesser challenges are you ready to advance to Troy itself.

That taking on new challenges requires creative solutions.

That good things come to those who wait.

Which is what you’re going to have to do.

Wait.

Ha!

(But hey…not too much longer. 20 days and counting… are you ready for the defeat of Troy?)

Uh, the metaphoric defeat of course. We are, sadly, not celebrating the unveiling of the Mack Web Solutions Time Machine.

Sorry. Didn’t mean to get your hopes up.

See you on February 9th at 4pm.

PS: So…how was that for a clue? Any guesses? Don’t forget to compare your thoughts against our other clues (only a few more to go!):

Clue #1: Icebergs
Clue #2: Ferris Bueller
Clue #3: Nine Lords-a-Leaping?
Clue #4: Hollywood Marriage

All of us here at Mack Web Solutions would like to welcome our new Social Media Strategist into this world of search engine marketing and web design. June Macon is the newest edition to our roster of innovative employees.

Ms. Macon is experienced in public relations, marketing and social media and enhances the creativity, reliability and professionalism Mack Web Solutions currently provides for clients. Macon, with her expertise in social media and ability to identify the wants and needs of a company’s audience, will focus on social strategy and social engagement.

Prior to joining Mack Web Solutions, Macon held the position of Director of Public Relations, Professional Relationships and Events at a local company with a focus in education. She also consulted with companies in the education, health and real estate fields, providing web writing, social media management, social media strategies, social media campaigns and services in public relations. Macon holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations.

“In today’s web-driven world, it is imperative for businesses to establish an online presence,” says owner Mackenzie Fogelson. “We’ve found an approach and process that really works, giving our clients the web exposure they want and need. Bringing June onto the team expands our expertise and opens new avenues to generating great results for our clients.”

If your company would like a free consultation to learn how Mack Web Solutions can improve your search engine marketing and increase engagement in your current social media efforts or you are interested in learning more about what Mack Web Solutions can do for your company, contact info@mackwebsolutions.com.

About Mack Web Solutions:

Mack Web Solutions specializes in custom website design and development, search engine marketing, email marketing, social media, public relations and navigation development. For more information or to look at Mack Web’s portfolio please visit www.mackwebsolutions.com.

Happy New Year from Mack Web Solutions!

Today you will find your fourth clue. Do you think you have the answer yet? Have you checked your guess against our other clues? You’re over halfway there! The first three can be found here:

Clue #1: Icebergs
Clue #2: Ferris Bueller
Clue #3: Nine Lords-a-Leaping?

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program…

Starting a new year is traditionally viewed as a time for starting new things: new diets, new habits, new projects.

New marriages.

Well, that last one seems to be mostly for the tabloid celebrities. There’s an old joke–and judge for yourself how much truth underlies it–that the average Hollywood marriage never makes it past the nine-year mark.

The oh-so-cynical reasoning behind this?

The vast majority of Hollywood actors live in the shiny, shiny state of California.

According to the divorce laws of said shiny, shiny state, ten years makes for a “lengthy marriage.” And the dissolution of a “lengthy marriage” snarls up financial distribution in a way that a marriage of nine years, eleven months, and twenty-nine days does not.

Makes a terrible kind of sense, doesn’t it?

But here at Mack Web Solutions, we like to dwell on the positive. Which is why we’ve compiled this list of those actors who made it past ill-fated number nine in 2011 and those poised to do it in 2012.

A little way of reaffirming everyone’s faith in humanity. And the number nine.

Here ya go:

Richard Gere
Freddie Prinze, Jr. & Sarah Michelle Gellar
Brad Paisely & Kimberley Williams-Paisley
Alessandro Nivola & Emily Mortimer
Jennifer Connelly & Paul Bettany
Adam Sandler
Amy Poehler & Will Arnett
Emma Thompson
Alexis Denisof & Alyson Hanigan

So, congratulations to all of them!

And here’s your newest hint: What could Mack Web Solutions possibly have in common with Billy Madison, Lancelot, and Nanny McPhee?

Beyond our humor, charm, and wit, naturally.

Stay tuned….only 3 more clues to go. We will unveil the secret on Thursday, February 9th from 4:00-6:00 pm at Mack Web Solutions. See you there.