1. SomeSchoolGames.com
This is the site that got me started in web design and eventually with WordPress. I made it as a place that the elementary students I teach technology to, could go when they had free time. Originally I built the site from scratch using the outdated method of HTML and tables. I was pleased with my design, but soon came to realize that upkeep was just going to take way too long and and the features I wanted were too hard too implement. After studying different Content Management Systems I gave WordPress a try and have used it for all my sites since. It just makes everything so much easier from SEO to upkeep to adding new content. SomeSchoolGames.com has grown from a personal project for my students to a site visited by over 20,000 kids a day from all over the world. It also ranks first page for Google search terms like “School Games”, “Online Kids Games”, “Online Kid Safe Games”, and more.
2. ByrnesPub.com
This is a site I did for my neighborhood Pub. I’ve been going here since I was old enough to drink and was happy to help them upgrade their web presence. For this design I integrated all of the major social networks including FourSquare, GoWalla, and Yelp. I also incorporated a customized event menu and food menu so they could easily keep the site current. I also added in a newsletter feature.
3. SuckerPunchFans.com
I made this site after not being able to sleep one night and noticing that the movie SuckerPunch was a hot topic on IMDB. I bought the domain SuckerPunchFans and decided to try my hand a making an online movie fan site. With this project I learned I got to try out many new features such as installing an online forum, working with Photo and Video Galleries, integrating custom user sign up and log in forms, and expanding my CSS skills through playing around with design tweaks. I had a lot of fun with this one until I saw the movie. I haven’t touched the site since as I just didn’t like the movie at all and it just felt weird to pretend to be some #1 fanboy for a movie I didn’t even enjoy. The site is still very popular amongst people who did like the movie however and I usually get an email or two a day of new people who have signed up to be members of the site.
3. CCCAcademy.com
This is a website I did for the elementary school I teach at in Westerville. It has shot up to the top of google search results for most of the major keywords you could think of if you put yourself in a prospective parents shoes. It has also helped us as far as showing off the positives of our school and bringing in a lot of families. A good design with good SEO is a must have for any business looking to expand. This design has proved to me just what a new, well done website can do as far as getting noticed by your target audience. Plus being the tech teacher it paints the school and I in a good light to show parents I actually have some skill when it comes to computers. I also run the entire network at the school, and take care of all things tech related. I do some neat things like morning announcements through our closed circuit TV system complete with a giant green screen, and run the Newspaper Club which you can see from the site too.