Here at LevelTen Design, we have a monthly newsletter that we send out, but we have had trouble with it going to spam folders. Even though the LevelTen In-Site Newsletter passed all the spam filter tests for three different spam checkers, it is still getting dropped in Gmail and Outlook 2007 spam folders.

Since I am in charge of sending and getting the newsletter ready every month, I have been searching for ways to get through these spam filters. Recently, Smashing Magazine posted a thorough article on spam filters, and I plan to implement several of their ideas into our newsletter.

Here are some recommendations that Smashing Magazine mentions with our plans to carry them out, in blue.

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With the avalanche of bloggers facilitated by ease of sites such as wordpress.com, blogspot, and many more, the key to designing outstanding blogs is in the small details. Not every blog should look like a typical weblog.

“The blog needs a solid visual structure, a profound hierarchy of site elements; it also has to be able to build some kind of a bridge between the content and its presentation. To do this, you need to think about precision, minimalism and sound use of illustration.” — Smashing Magazine.com

The above site lists their top 45 excellent blog designs based upon their criteria.

Another site, PhotoshopSupport.com has a very different approach to the quality elements of a blog. They rate the header graphic as the number one factor in determining uniqueness and style of a blog. The nature of the site, a tutorial, gives freedom in this post to provide tips and tools for making your blog your own!

A favorite example from this site, KarenCheng.com.au demonstrates that
clearly it is not the flashiest or newest designs that gain attention, but the blogs that portray a bit of personality, let audiences into the blogger’s personality that keep them coming.

How do you know when you are in a negotiation?

I attended a half day seminar last Tuesday on “Negotiation In the Workplace”, presented by Michael T. Colatrella & Tony Picchioni, Ph.D. I was comforted to hear that negotiation is something that can be mastered with knowledge and practice. For some people, though, this was a gift you naturally inherited. For others, this was picked up when you were younger, negotiating with your parents for a later curfew. I contribute mine to the latter. However, what I thought was negotiation really just turned out to be getting my way.

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Here are some development tips and tricks I’ve found useful over the years.

1. Use a predefined xHTML skeleton. I hesitate to use the word “template” here even though most will call it that. I use a bare bones setup that has a index file, directory structure and common CSS stylesheets. My CSS consists of a reset stylesheet and a main stylesheet. My main stylesheet has a hierarchical organization and comes with a pre-defined container, basic two-column structure, and clearfixes (see below). This helps reduce the amount time needed to start a new project, while maintaining a uniform setup across multiple projects.

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Websites like Monster and Craigslist handle a large share of recruitment for skilled workers. But most jobs that need to be filled require very little training at all. And finding good store clerks, housecleaners, dishwashers and other menial workers can be as hard as a finding a good lab technician or XML programmer, even in developing nations. That’s because those seeking work frequently have no means of connecting with those wanting to hire. It’s a problem Babajob, based in Bangalore, hopes to solve. The site helps the city’s legions of unskilled workers find work using an online social network.

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Without doubt, this has to be the coolest new Google Gadget. I love the idea of having a pet at the office, but putting a live goldfish in a tiny bowl just seems cruel. These little guys are just as fun as the real thing but without the guilt. Once you add them to your site you can get new fish, change their color, and even feed them by clicking your mouse! They don’t die either, which is a real bonus for those of us who are still recovering from childhood goldfish and sea-monkey burials. Go get some fish!

Specially designed with a doctor’s office in mind, “Simple Inspiration” is the latest free WordPress theme from LevelTen. Here you can download it for WordPress 2.1, then upload it to your themes folder in your WordPress Blog. The screenshot is below or visit Weight Loss Alabama to see the theme on a live blog. The combination of diagonal lines and neutral colors makes this theme ideal for a professional blog.

If your blog is in need of a makeover, our new free WordPress theme Red Chrome is a great way to revamp its look. Check out the screen shot below or visit HoustonLBS.com to see the theme on a live blog. You can download Red Chrome for WordPress 2.1, then upload it to your theme folder on your WordPress Blog. With a right sidebar and a built in sidebar for sponsor ads, this site is worth checking out.

“Modern Simplicity” is the latest free WordPress theme from LevelTen Design. It is named for its clean shapes and lines. With both a left and right sidebar, this theme is perfect for a professional blog. Download it for WordPress 2.1, then upload it to your themes folder on your WordPress Blog. Below, you can see a screenshot of the theme or check it out at LABariatric.com.

Pegholes can be your new blog theme because it’s another free WordPress theme from LevelTen. Download it here for WordPress 2.1, then upload it to your themes folder on your WordPress Blog. This theme is more creative and playful than our previous themes, but still has a clean, professional look with sidebars on the left and right. Check out the screen shot below to see the specifics or see the theme in action at San Antonio Weight Loss Surgery.