Just as many other companies and designers are doing, Mad Hatter will no longer hack up our code to make websites compatible with the dinosaur web browser, Internet Explorer 6. We wish we could drop support for IE all together, but we won’t do that to you.

So, don’t expect us to correct problems for IE6. We won’t do it. IE6 must die!

Clients – If your customers report problems accessing your site, please get the browser name and version number from them. It is important that you tell your customers that IE6 is no longer supported and that they should get with the digital times and upgrade to, at the very least, IE 8!

With this in mind, I thought it best to send a list of guidelines for submitting support requests to me. Should your customers report a problem, I will need NO LESS than the following information from you in order to repair the issue:

1. The exact URL of the page the customer is trying to access. Please have them copy and paste it.

2. The name and version number of the web browser your customer is using. Please note: If they are using IE6 or below, you must inform them that support has been dropped and they will need to upgrade their browser to view your site (and the rest of the web) correctly. Mad Hatter will not support technical issues for those viewing your site in IE6.

3. A thorough description of the problem, including any and all error messages.

Without these three items, your support request will not be processed. Please get as much information as possible from your customer. If you would like a “Report a Problem” button placed on your site that will send support requests directly to me, I can provide this service for you. Extra costs will be incurred as I would be handling any incoming emails and gathering the information myself. You are welcome to gather your own information and send it along to me.

Please see this article for more info on the death of IE 6: http://mashable.com/2009/07/16/ie6-must-die/

Muahhhhahhahahaha! The transformation is complete! That’s right – our blog redesign is complete! I’m glad it’s over. It’s harder to design for my own buisness than for my clients. I’m my own worst critic!

Anyway, it was a good way to make a slow summer more productive.

Mad Hatter Design Co. is proud to announce the launch of another fab Virtual Assistant service, Diamond Virtual Services!

The wonderful Erika Meiser of Diamond Virtual Services wanted an elegant and professional logo and website that included her chosen colors. Erika’s eggplant and cocoa color combo is a sure-fire winner! Erika’s site also includes some cool features like live chat and embedded video!Also, be sure to check out her blog!

Thanks for a fun project, Erika! We look forward to seeing your success in 2009!

If you’re in the Toronto area, you don’t want to miss this ball! Une Belle Soirée is the grand opening event for Rainflower Company, my dear friend’s fabulous new floral design company. You may have seen her site listed in our web portfolio. We built a fabulous custom Wordpress theme centered around Rainflower’s branding and Mirella’s lovely design. Please stop by to see her beautiful work, and if you’re in Toronto, you’ll want to attend the grand opening for the chance to win prizes and receive special offers on flowers and event design services! (Yeah, we know it’s RSVP by the 12th, but drop us a line and we’ll make sure you get to partake in the goodies!)

All businesses go through slumps and peaks, changes and ruts, and times of uncertainty. I blamed it on the economy, the president, the short number of hours in a day. The fact is, though, it was my fault. I did not recognize that it was time to revisit my goals.

So before I go any further, I’d like to thank my dear friend Mirella of Rainflower Company for helping me realize that I needed to make changes. Mirella is a fabulous florist in the Brampton, Ontario area. If you have a wedding coming up, trust me, you want this gal to handle the flowers!

Over the past two years, I have served several industries, but one emerging group has been the core of my existence as on online business owner.

The Virtual Assistant Industry is key to my development as a business owner and designer. Most of my clients have been women, but they are so much more than that. Many of the VAs I’ve “met” are moms, and many have a full-time job outside of the home. Most are searching for a viable business that will allow them to work from home, and thus, have the freedom to care for their families, or simply be home with a loved one.

The VA industry helped build me to where I am today, and it is due to the fabulous women I have met and consulted with along the way.

When I first started my business, I thought a lot about how I would measure success. I define success as happiness and balance in my life. That means I may have to juggle a variety of things to meet my goals, but that is what works for me. I’ve come to a point in my life where that balance is finally revealing its secrets – thus the new Mad Hatter was born.

My goal with the redesign is to focus on women-owned and women-centered businesses. I am always open to working with clients of any gender, color, or creed, but I would like my fellow rockin’ business women to know that I know exactly where you are…and exactly where you want to go. Let’s work together to build our businesses and make a better life for our families.

Now that the mushy stuff is over, get on over to MadHatterDesignCompany.com and check out the improvements! And don’t forget to stay tuned for our new portfolio, featuring some of our latest and most fabulous projects! We’re gearing up to offer some exciting deals for the fall season, as well as announce our new charity program.

XOXO,

Bri
aka The Mad Hatter