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The appeal of the Thesis theme is the ease with which novices and pros alike can modify it with options panel and other easy to find access points (differently than with most other themes).

The ante has now been upped with Headway theme http://www.headwaythemes.com which appears to be even easier (for those of us who'd rather not go straight into the code). Check out some of the videos on the home page.

I haven't tried the theme yet, but the approach is a significant drag-and-drop advancement with new items to easily access in menus.

Design-wise, perhaps it's more typographically focused, which has a much appeal to me but perhaps not to those who want instantaneous decorative results. It might be a little spartan out of the box...

Anyway looks like a very promising interface.

I too am using Thesis theme, but have only started playing with it.

One of my favorite Twitter tips to increase your value to the community (and hence your visibility), made easier with Tweetdeck, is to filter incoming tweets with keywords. If you want to be an active helper in the 'Twittersphere,' search for pleas such as "help," "please" or even "?" Then start to fold-in your market-specific terms using Twitter Search Operators (http://search.twitter.com/operators). You'll begin to see more opportunities to use your expertise for good. And that's what Twitter is arguably all about.

Great article Robin. Reminds me of a Jiu Jitsu-type analogy, where if you're grounded in principle, you can deflect the negative – from the environment and from negative, anxious thoughts. But you're right on, reminding us that we have to dig deep, really deep, and find those principles and passions that feed the firm grounding, the reason for being [in business].

As a designer of printed marketing communications materials, I need to look even further within me to articulate my mission. But equally as important I need to talk – and listen to – my customers, my market, and get in touch with what they're having a hard time with, and then articulate how I can help.

Thanks for the illuminated inspiration.

Content, content, content. Followed closely by relevance. Followed by injecting or keeping personality in professional content, then prioritizing what I need to know about SEO. Of course, this is all moot if/when I can't carve out time for it(!)

Great topic Bob.

The takeaway is, like your other public behaviors – your manner of speaking, the clothes you wear, your dental hygiene (!) – your mug, your visage is a critical component of your online presentation and identity.

As in person, your acquaintances' first image of you greatly affects their "sizing-up" process, which we all engage in. True, your ultimate content and personality can help that or further hurt that, but why not start off on the right foot, rather than tripping over it?

Also, a weak self-portrait can be just as distracting as a garish or incomprehensible picture or symbol. The classic "up against the wall and shoot me" faces are still out there (perhaps holding an issue of today's paper under their chin would complete the theme) and right away I'm turned off. I thinks that's a natural and understandable reaction from anyone.

Other images – snapshots of the whole family... in the distance – are among my other pet peeves. Do you have any "favorites?"

Finally, in the spirit of good visual branding, people should consider committing to a logo in the corner, an overall color tint, a colored bar...some consistent device which will still accommodate a changing portrait.

Oh...and did I mention that I wrote a very similar post on my own blog (http://lin.cr/fln) last night?

Thank you Joe, for all the time and energy you've expended – with me and with others – in this long, long thread!

I will digest this more before replying; there's lots of food for thought in your words. You've given me exactly what I'm looking for – a proper and enlightened critique.

"To NJ/NY B2B technology and manufacturing companies craving a more intimate and effective connection with customers and prospects,

Bruce Colthart Creative is the business-savvy graphic designer and writer

who will energize your online and traditional marketing mix,

because for 20 years my design experience has ensured printed materials that engage, inform and motivate."

Thanks Joe for whatever you can offer...

Sorry. Just realized how incomplete my above submission is. Will rework, resubmit...

Hi Joe: have time for another one?

" To NJ/NY B2B technology and manufacturing companies craving a more intimate and effective connection with customers and prospects:

Bruce Colthart Creative is the seasoned, business-savvy graphic designer and writer...

who energizes your marketing efforts with printed communications designed to engage, inform and motivate."

I'm fighting the urge to cloud this with issues of how print is an important but often underrated part of a healthy marketing mix.

Would appreciate your thoughts at your convenience.

This whole women-and-handshakes issue has a life of its own now! But very interesting the observations and the research. Phil, your comment about some women actually offering only the fingers now has me second-guessing my real responsibility in such finger-shaking! I'd assumed that if it did happen that I was the one doing it unconsciously... I'll be more aware of all the mechanics next time.

Hi Jennifer:

Always glad to see another northern NJ representing here (I'm from Paramus). Be prepared for a wealth of small business info, from excellent articles you can rate, to comments from every angle.

How did you find Biznik, and what do you think so far?

Member Jerry Hocutt also shared his thoughts about handshakes back in December (http://biznik.com/articles/hand-signals).

Except for the visual once-over, then eye contact, a handshake is typically the first chance you have to deliver – and receive – an impression, however fleeting. I'm very aware now of the 'styles' and nuances.

One guy I deal with on a committee literally comes at me with his right hand facing down, thummb cocked up and his elbow high! Almost looks like he's trying to land his hand on an aircraft carrier. It's so over-the-top dominant I have to laugh. Next time, I'm holding out my hand in the "neutral" vertical position just to see his reaction.

A new client this morning shared his "limp fish" handshake, which I find very distracting, and badly want to understand what it might reveal about him, and our future together. If I could share the exact hand feeling, I'd ask the community for interpretations, like reading tea leaves or a Rorschach ink blot.

My wife is particularly sensitive to men who [apparently] frequently shake women's hands by squeezing their fingers together before the two hands are fully engaged. Do other women experience that, and do they/you see that as manipulative?

It's amazing how this socially acceptable, public touching ritual can be so loaded... or is it just me?

Perhaps because I'm only following a few people or organizations, Twitter is still positive without being too distracting or time-sucking.

Using Twitkit, a Firefox browser add-on, I keep a sidebar open (so I'm not involving an entirely separate application or regularly clicking back and forth on browser tabs).

Also using TwitterBar, to easily see all 140 characters as I type right into my browser's URL bar.

Getting a heads-up as about a relevant blog post is a good use of Twitter, but I've stopped following people who do it too many times per day. Frequency of posts – in and out – is important, or at least should be a major consideration.

I second the earlier mention of Twitter Search!

Spontaneous wisdom or inspiration (in whatever form) is what I'd really like to receive, and hopefully share.

twitter:bccreative

Like some others here: • Made to Stick • The E-Myth Revisited Also: • New Rules of Marketing & PR (David Scott Merman) • Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Robert Cialdini) • I'm now in the middle of The Answer by John Assaraf & Murray Smith. I love it – it's giving me insights as to how my brain works, often against my own best interests. Better yet, I'm getting direction as to how to counter the negative brain activity and and increase positive activity. (I'd be curious to hear anyone else's take on this book).

Giannina, do you have a bookreading vacation coming up?