Right to the links today. Thought these were some cool items everyone could appreciate.

Free Sketchy Social Media Icons

I thought these looked really cool. Use these on your website, blog, etc. Make sure you always read the licensing agreement for free icons or other web/digital materials. You may not be able to distribute these on websites for profit, resell these, redistribute these, etc. It doesn’t matter which site they came from, do not put yourself in that situation. If you do have any questions on these types of products, always email the creator of the materials. It will save you a headache in the future.

FROM: http://buildinternet.com

30 iPad apps for Designers and Creative People

I have only had my iPad for a few weeks now, and I love it. I think it is a very cool toy to have, and I do use it to watch TV shows and surf the internet, but I use it mostly for work. A lot of my writing is done on the iPad, and I have written more in the past 30 days than I have in years. This list of apps is great for those of you who design websites, are graphic designers, or have that creative juice flowing through you. I have used some of the apps myself, and when I do get the chance I will probably buy the entire list.

LINK: http://iphone.appstorm.net

A Complete Guide to A/B Testing

Every online campaign should be extensively tested to maximize your return. Sometimes a focus group is necessary, but not always available. It is great to do A/B Testing to make sure the message is accurately received by your intended audience. Here is a great little guide to what should and what should not be done. Great read!

LINK: http://www.webdesignerdepot.com

Guest Post By Cecily Kellogg

When I started writing on my website I wasn’t trying to accomplish anything other than keeping friends and family informed about my life. As a result, I unintentionally created a clear writing style – open and honest and unflinching. But I was also funny and warm, engaging and slightly bitter, and added in a strong dose of snark and a whole lot of four-letter words. Over the years, I wore my writing style like a comfortable sweater, and as time passed and I became more successful, that writing style became part of my “brand.”

I write the same way I talk, from the overuse of ALL CAPITALS (in other words, shouting) to the written equivelant of wild hand gestures and eye rolling. When people meet me, they find that the way I am on the page is the way I am in real life. Obviously, I refrain from using the four-letter words in front of church ladies and children, but otherwise my speaking style is recognizable from my writing style.

If you aren’t writing just for yourself and your friends, how do you find your voice and keep the writing natural while representing a company or selling a product? The truth is, you can’t always keep your voice in your writing when you are writing for someone else, and if you are trying to sell products to a market that isn’t going to appreciate your snark, it’s not going to work on your website. When I write for clients, I work hard at identifying the tone they prefer I use, and when I’m writing for my professional site I tend to tone down the swearing. But one thing comes through no matter where I write – the overall feel of the words is warm and engaging. So even when I’m not writing just as I speak, I still manage to infuse the words with a bit of my personality.

One thing is clear: content is king. If you have a good product but can’t write about it in a clear and precise way, no one will stay on your website long enough to make the decision to buy it. If you want to attract large numbers of readers, you had better have something good for them to read. Here are a few tips that are universal, no matter who you are writing for.

1. A Good Headline. If you are writing for the web, a good headline serves two purposes: it attracts a reader and keeps them around, and helps clue search engines in to your topic.

2.  A Fun Topic – for you AND the reader. If you enjoy the topic you are writing about, it will show in your writing and automatically warm up your copy. If you get to choose the topic, choose what you love to write about, not just what you think you should cover.

3. Good Editing and Proper Grammar. Don’t rely just on your word processing tools! Until you get comfortable, a great way to review your work is to read it aloud. You will be shocked how many mistakes you catch that way.

If you keep those three steps in mind, you are sure to keep your readers coming back for more. Don’t forget: relax into the words and the topic, and the writing will flow!