So I haven't quite figured out the copy paste thing on this pad, but ITA with Jen.

OK - I've finally edited the text and obtained all the rights I need for the graphic book. Which means I'm almost ready to turn this thing over to a graphic designer.

I have three files. A text only file that includes really extensive instructions. [Insert picturename.tif here.] [The eye should be drawn to this text first] [The eye should be drawn to that text second.] [This next text is a caption. This next text is a footnote.] All instructions and file names are in square brackets and 12 point. Actual text is all in 14 point and not in brackets. Probably as many words of instructions as of text. I also have a summary text file. And I have a graphic mockup, not professional quality but maybe helpful to the designer in seeing what I want to do.

I'm thinking I should also make a "clean" text file. One with just the text, page divisions (so layout knows which page to put what on) the graphic file name, and labeling stuff that is a photo caption or a footnote. First am I right that a graphic designer will need a clean text file to do his or her job right? Second, am I right about what instructions I should leave in the clean file: page numbers, file names and labeling photo captions and footnotes? Or is saying [photo caption] before a photo caption and [footnotes] before the footnote section of the page still too much instruction? Once I have my ducks in a row I'll start approaching graphic designers for bids.

Wow, we've been quiet since before the holidays!

So...what's everybody's plans for 2012, business-wise?

I'm trying to write more to increase my portfolio; I'm working on changing my branding a little bit to be a touch less formal and more in-line with my personality and I'm joining a co-working space (which is SO COOL, y'all; I couldn't believe it was so cheap - $15 per drop-in visit, and I plan to go in once a week. The networking possibilities are really, REALLY sweet there.)

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I'm also going to be using videos more. In fact, I'd love feedback on my introductory vid. I know, vids are supposed to be about 3 minutes, but since it's my intro, I went a little longer. It's a little rough, but it's my first one.

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I made almost NO money during the holidays, so I gotta kick my ass into high gear, and I have definitely been doing so this week.

So, hello business-y peoples. I have a business-y question!

I'm on the board of my very small self-managed coop. (Self-managed means the board does all the usual board-of-director-y stuff like deciding what color to paint the lobby and all the building management stuff like fixing leaky radiators and paying the bills.) Since my neighbors (and fellow board members) are moving at the end of March, I've taken back the Treasurer role and am rediscovering just how very much I loathe Sovereign Bank.

Does anyone have a small business account with a bank they love? What Sovereign really lacks is any kind of useful online banking services, which is incredibly frustrating. They also make it next to impossible to add or remove signers on an account, which is not convenient when the composition of the board can change every year!

What city and state are you in. There is a good chance the recomendation that will work for you will be a local credit union or banks. I think there are some national internet only institutions that work well for some people too. But if you have to deposit a lot of checks, you will probably want someone local. Although these days scanning checks is cheaper than it used to be. If you find a bank that supports it, check scanning can be done via smart phone. Again I still suspect having a place you can make a bank run to would make the most sense for a small local business like a small coop.

I know they are one of the big evil banks, but I've been using Bank of America for my small business banking. There are certainly times when they drive me nuts, but they also have very good online tools and at least where I am they have branches all over.

But if you have to deposit a lot of checks, you will probably want someone local.

I'm in Brooklyn, and I work in midtown Manhattan - there are branches of every major bank within two or three blocks of me.

Thanks ND, I'll check out BoA.

I've yet to find a bank that is not Evil, but I have been least annoyed with BoA over the years.

Dang! $35.17 instead of $37.15. That took four times through the list to find! Hope that Chipotle fajita bowl was worth it!

Question: I am putting out my graphic book for bidding. The first bid to come was reasonably priced by a place that has a good rep. But, they bid on the job *exactly* as specified. And did not add any cost for doing some sample pages for feedback. And did not suggest any changes to the specs, or add a cost for doing some rethinking if they understandably did not want to rethink for free. I specifically said in my proposal that I don't know what I'm doing on layout and graphic design and want the person I hire to take the lead, that there should be some way to allow for this - a rate for consulting hours or however they think is fair to handle that. And nothing on those lines was included.

Is that a reasonable basis for being inclined to reject a bid? That I specifically wanted them to build in some way they can tell me URdoingitrong on my dime, and they did not?