Having always been an active community member on deviantART, I am very excited to bring a new resource to the community. While my aim stands to be a weekly roundup, we will be putting together our best reads of the week on the blogs. On the company's Twitter feed, we feature articles we've read on the Internet in Design & Development, Productivity, Blogging, and more!

Here, our aim and focus is to take our Tweets from the week and pull the "cream of the crop" together here for you. This first entry will be a little longer as the Twitter account has almost 500 entries in it, but we should be averaging a good 10 articles a week for your perusal.

And, hey, if you want to get 50 articles in your Twitter inbox every week, join us on Twitter!



<sub>DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

7 Things Web Designers Hate Hearing from Clients (via Six Revisions) - [link]
Kayla Knight speaks not only about those things we hate to hear as designers, but also on how to deal with those comments.

10 Tips on Writing Hero-Worthy Error Messages (via Think Vitamin) - [link]
Christine Brodigan talks about something we never like to see, but are absolutely necessary. Read why error messages are an important part of customer service.

Get Visitors to Read and Remember Your Home Page - The Principles (via Pietro Polsinelli) - [link]
Pietro analyzes home pages and how it is important to establish creditability in getting people to (a) visit your website, and more importantly, (b) read it.

Brand = User Experience: The Interface of a Cheeseburger (via SmashingMag) - [link]
How design can be compared to McDonald's and, ultimately, a cheeseburger.

Internet Explorer Resources for Web Developers (via Design Reviver) - [link]
For those of us who hate having to develop for Internet Explorer, here are some awesome resources you can use to save you some time!

Performance Comparison of Major Web Browsers (via SixRevisions) - [link]

7 Key Principles That Make a Web Design Look Good (via Noupe) - [link]
Juul Coolen talks about aspects of design that make it appealing and both user-friendly at the same time.

Handling User Error with Care: Getting Users Back on Track (via UX Booth) - [link]
How to keep your users going and not get frustrated when they can't submit a form.

Methodic Approach to CSS Coding: Four Bubbles Model (via Woorkup) - [link]


PRODUCTIVITY & FREELANCING

How to Maximize Your Freelance Income (via Freelance Folder) - [link]
Laura Spencer on how to make the most out of opportunities.

How to Defeat Workspace Clutter (via WorkAwesome) - [link]
5 tips on how to declutter your workspace so you can focus on your work (and not the pumpkin on the corner of your desk!).

What Every Graphic Designer Should Do Right Now (via JAD Graphics) - [link]
Some things we should do right now to save us time (and a lot of headaches) later.

How To Land Your First Few Design Clients (via Van SEO Design) - [link]
Steven Bradley talks about tips on how he started in freelancing without having a portfolio.

Jedi Mind Tricks: How to Persuade Your Users, Boss, or Clients (via Boagworld) - [link]
How to influence others by using good communication.

5 Ways to Scare Your Web Dev Clients Away (via WebDesignDev) - [link]

6 Foundations of Freelance Success (via FreelanceFolder) - [link]
Laura Spencer talks about 6 traits that, if used, will bring you ultimate success in freelancing!

The Freelancing Checklist: Before Going Full-Time (via Webitect) - [link]
Kayla Knight talks about how to be prepared for the switch to full-time. And hey, maybe doing it part-time is better for your lifestyle to start until you get steady!

Using Forms to Maximize Your Time as a Designer (via Paper Leaf) - [link]
The whole process of giving clients quotes is long and laborious. Instead, having a preset form for them to fill out will help with having to keep asking the same questions and will show how loyal they are to their project.

13 Essential Tools for Freelancers to Track Time (via tripwire Magazine) - [link]

Dealing With Procrastination (via BloggingTips) - [link]
Some excellent ideas on how to avoid procrastination!

10 Essential Skills Every Graphic Designer Should Have (via Design Reviver) - [link]

7 Things to Ask Your Clients for Besides Money (via YouTheDesigner) - [link]
Sometimes we forget that once the project is over and we've done a good job, there is more to do with the client that will help you in getting more clients!

Are Freelancers a Commodity or a Profession? (via FreelanceSwitch) - [link]
Excellent article by Rita Lewis on the state of freelancing.

How to Build the Ultimate Job Finding Dashboard with iGoogle (via FreelanceFolder) - [link]


COPYWRITING & BLOGGING

5 Simple Steps to Make a Bigger Splash (via Site Sketch 101) - [link]
Nick discusses ways on how to get a larger audience for your blog through building community.

Do The Hard Work for Your Readers (via BloggingTips) - [link]
How doing all the work and giving good resources to your readers will make your blog successful.

Four Things I Wish I Had Known When I Started Blogging (via BloggingTips) - [link]
Sharon Hurley Hall shares with us some tips to have a good start as a blogger.

What to Write for Your Very First Blog Post (via Fuel Blogging) - [link]
Whenever we start blogs, we spend so much time figuring out that first article. Here is how to write a quality one that will explain your goals and embrace interest in future articles. Some excellent tips!


RESOURCES

6 Icon Packs You Will Actually Use (via Graphic Rating) - [link]</sub>