Doodlebit, LLC - Latest Blog Entries

When You Pay for Images for Your Website

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:39:00 -0500

You understand you need to own, have a license to use, or permission to display the images on your website. Otherwise, you could be infringing on Website Copyright Laws. If you took the pictures or created the graphics yourself, and you are a sole proprietor, no problem. If you have a written license agreement to use the images on your site, no problem. If you have written permission from the owner to use the photos on your home page, again no problem. However, what do you do in the case where your employee or an independent contractor takes photos you intend to place with a number of your blog entries? This is where it gets sticky. Not necessarily with your full time employees - usually the ones working full time, they get benefits, you take taxes out of their paychecks and so forth. Generally, these employees are creating works for hire on your behalf and even though they created the Copyrighted work, they are not the owners. You and your company are. However, there is a problem. Courts are always trying to define who is and who isn't an employee, so long story short they can sometimes fall into the category of independent contractor, and an independent contractor's work is not always a work for hire, even if you say so in writing. Let me repeat. Sometimes images created by independent contractors for you, even if you have a written agreement stating they are for hire, are still not works for hire. Period. Don't ask, but it has to do with an independent contractor's work having to fall within one of the 9 exceptions listed in Section 101 of the Copyright Act, plus being subject to a written agreement saying it is a work for hire, else you don't own it. At best you have an implied license to use. And the courts are always arguing over what does and doesn't fit within the 9 exceptions.

So, what do you do? Make all independent contractors, employee or otherwise, sign agreements assigning all of their rights, titles, interests, and ownership to the Copyrighted work they touch to you or your business before they begin performing any work. Be sure to state what they are being paid in consideration for this assignment.

Resolution For More Business - Through Your Doodlekit Website!

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:37:00 -0600

It's a new year with new opportunities and there is no better opportunity to increase traffic to your business website than through blogging. Read about how you can increase sales and marketing for your business by posting quality blog posts regularly. Follow the laid out plan of one of our B2B marketing specialist and learn how you can win a profile post about your business on their website, giving your business even greater exposer!

Perfect Example Of How NOT To Treat Your Customers

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:55:00 -0500

I find it amazing that so many companies brag about how in touch they are with their customers because they finally discovered the power of 'social media', only to completely ignor everything their customers are writing on their wall. Case in point is my North American Van Lines Review. If you go out to the NAVL Facebook page, it is covered with hundreds (maybe even thousands) of complaints - All the same complaint! Yet they continue on with business as usual, not even attempting to fix this huge problem. I think the irony here is that it may be social media that brings them to their knees.

Doodlekit Used To Create Election Websites

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 09:39:00 -0600

We pushed out a new ad website today that shows how Doodlekit can be used as an election website / political campaign website builder. Check it out if you get the chance!

Doodlekit's New Website Editor

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:10:00 -0600

Doodlekit's new website editor is out. Check out the their latest blog post showing details of what it looks like!

Plan Your Website Using The Natural Planning Model

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Using David Allen's (of Getting Things Done fame) explanation of The Natural Planning Model we look at how we can better plan our websites ahead of time. Better planning leads to a clear path and a higher chance of success.

In Celebration of the 5th Anniversary of Doodlekit

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:16:00 -0600

We have come a long way with Doodlekit. Over the last 5 years Ben and I have produced and deployed countless revisions of Doodlekit. Not just to our tools, but also to our website and logo. After looking through some old files, we thought it would be neat to post some old screenshots of past layouts, web pages and news articles to help reminisce about the good old days :). Check out this blog post for more information: Doodlekit Evolution - A Trip Down Memory Lane.

New Image Management Tools

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 09:33:00 -0600

Among our many upgrades in December are the new Image Management Tools. We've made it even easier to create albums and upload images.

Some of the new features include...

New Backend Image Library with Image Editing Tools
Crop, Rotate, Convert to Black & White
Thumbnail Cropper
New Album Viewer
Insert an Album into any Page.

Click here for more details

Get On Board With Twitter & Facebook

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:49:00 -0600

If you haven't made the move yet, you're falling behind fast. Social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter are growing rapidly - and this is just the beginning. If you own your own business, you have to get on board - now.

How does it all work? What do I do? How do I get started?

Before you run out, sign up and start friending/following every person you can, you should understand how these social networking tools really work. The objective (contrary to popular belief) is not to run out and get as many followers & friends as possible.

But isn't that what everyone else is doing? Yes - and they are wrong. Here's why: Creating huge lists of followers and friends with strangers that only follow/friend you back as a courtesy because you did it to them (or vise versa) is a waste of time. You will end up following thousands of people who in turn are also following thousands of people.

The result?

Lots of spam that nobody is listening to. A wast of time and resources. A huge network of people talking - but nobody is listening.

What's the point? I would rather have 20 followers that are actually interested in my tweets than thousands of followers who are not listening.

Check out Doodlekit's latest blog post about Using Twitter for Me, Not for You for more information.

New Teacher Resource Websites Promotion

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 11:17:00 -0500

We rolled out a new promotion today for teacher resource websites. We are trying to show how tearchers might use Doodlekit in the classroom to help managing their classes.

Doodlebit's New Blog

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 07:45:00 -0500

We opened up Doodlebit's blog today so that we can post future events and happenings not only of our Doodlekit product but any other products or services we offer. Stay tuned for more posts!