Mike Smith » My Projects

Brand New Icon Set: Preview of 12 of the icons

Mike — Tue, 11 May 2010 00:59:42 +0000

I’ve been working off and on over the past couple months on some icons for a new icon set I am planning on releasing. Below are 12 of the icons I’ve designed. It was meant to start out as a social media icon set but quickly grew in my head (and on my to do list) into something much, much bigger so I am making it around 50-75 icons.

I’m not 100% sure when they’ll be released, but it’s coming – I promise

Want to see more of the stuff I’m doing? Check out my flickr stream – it’s the place I’ll be uploading sneak peeks until someone gives me a dribbble invite

Sneak Peek of the Picture Perfect WordPress Theme

Mike — Sat, 08 May 2010 18:51:09 +0000

This post is a sneak peek of the new “Picture Perfect” WordPress theme I’m releasing on May 14th over at Giant Themes. This will be a free WordPress theme and it will come with three variations of the home page. To see a couple other screen shots, head over to the Giant Themes post I did about it and also make sure to check out my Flickr page for another screen shot. I’m dropping them all over the place, so pretend it’s a big game of Where’s Waldo and go find them all

The launch of my first startup, Giant Themes

Mike — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:18:08 +0000

Today I am proud to announce that a little over 24 hours ago I launched my first startup company, Giant Themes. It’s been a hell of a ride for sure, and I am excited to see the positive feedback that’s been given so far. I outlined the ups and downs of launching your first startup over on Guerrilla Freelancing, so if you get a minute to check that out, it’d be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to everyone who has helped encourage me along the way.

If you haven’t seen the Giant Themes website yet, head on over and let me know what you think of it. Below is the iSocialize theme screenshot (demo is on the Giant Themes site).

I’ll be posting more info on the Giant Themes site here as well in the future, so make sure you’re subscribed

My top three goals for 2010

Mike — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:15:17 +0000

Yes, I know it’s Feb. already and this post might seem a little better suited for, say, January 1st, but better late than never So, I want to run down my top three goals for 2010 as it relates to my business. It’s not going to be a long post (I promise), so take a second and check it out and see if you’re in a position to help me achieve my goals – and let me know yours in the comments and I’ll see if I can do anything to help you reach yours.

Goal #1: Generate $10,000+ per month in revenue

This is the big goal for me as of 2010. Last year, I made an average of $3,500 per month from my design business and various blogs ad revenue. This year, I plan on taking it up a step and focusing more on a couple websites (more on that below) and hit the $10,000 per month mark. In January of this year I hit $4,200 so I wasn’t completely to the goal amount, but I am headed in the right direction.

Goal #2: Get 10,000 subscribers on the Guerrilla Freelancing blog

In March, the freelance blog I started will be 1 year old and at this point, it has a little over 1,000 subscribers. The reason (I believe) it isn’t bigger now is because I left it alone for months at a time after I first started it. Last month I decided that a regular posting schedule would be in put in place (2 times per week) and since then, I’ve stuck to it and have seen the traffic and subscriber count grow. So, here’s one of my goals you could help me reach – subscribe to the Guerrilla Freelancing blog

Goal #3: Start a successful design blog that generates $2,000+ per month

In the past, I’ve done a lot of half ass things when it comes to starting a blog. I have a million ideas and only 24 hours in a day – so I’m in the process of consolidating my efforts into this project. It’s going to be big. I know I can do well with it because I’ve written articles before that generated around 100,000 visitors in a months time, so if I can do 2-3 of those a week, ever week for an entire year, I’ll be flooding myself with traffic, which helps ad rates. (more on this project will be posted soon)

So, what are your goals?

I’ve told you mine, now, tell me yours

Sneak peek of the new GUERRILLA design

Mike — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:32:41 +0000

I’ve been working on a new version of my Tennessee Web Design site here over the last few weeks inbetween client projects and also building my first start up site, GIANT Themes. The design itself is about 70% complete and should be done within the next few weeks. I’m hoping to have the site built some time in Feb.

The best part about the new site is that it features the gorilla every had grown to love (ok, maybe it was just me – but a guy can dream, right?). It’s getting a dominant spot in the design and that is what I’m showing you the sneak peek of here. Let me know what you think and if you’re as excited as I am (if not, it’s ok – I love you anyways).

Guerrilla website design sample