THE [RANDOM] THINGS WE KNOW
That Have Nothing to Do with Website Design
When you work in communications and website design, you get used to becoming somewhat of an expert in whatever your clients are experts in. Marine biology? Sure. Interior design? Absolutely. Real estate investing? Oddly, yes.
Over the years, our brains have become tiny encyclopedias of hyper-specific knowledge, collected from the dozens of industries, professionals, and passion projects we’ve had the privilege of supporting.
So today, we thought we’d share a few of the odd but enduring facts we’ve picked up along the way. Some of this information is useful. Some probably isn’t. But all of it is lodged permanently in our brains — and now, maybe, in yours.
Rachel can tell you all about:
Stay back from the whales, please. Seriously – federal law requires at least 150 feet of distance from marine mammals. If you're in New York and see a stranded one, call the NYS Stranding Hotline at 631.369.9829. Yes, she has that memorized.
Turtle crossing etiquette. If you see a turtle crossing the road, do not — we repeat, do not — pick it up by its tail. Always support it by the shell and move it in the direction it was heading. Otherwise, that little guy is just going to turn around and try again.
Rugs are not just rugs. There is a correct way to place a rug. Rachel’s written enough about interior design to know that getting the scale wrong can throw off an entire room. Size really does matter.
Timing your pitch to the press. Want to get an editor’s attention? Pitch right after the paper goes to press. That’s when their brain resets and they’re planning next week’s lineup. Timing is everything.
Turtles, part two. Did you know there are only seven species of sea turtles in the world, and four of them can be found around Long Island - Atlantic green, loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, and leatherback? Also, a cold-stunned turtle may look dead, but it’s probably just frozen.
The eternal law of event planning. No matter how organized you are, your event seating chart will change until the minute the cocktail hour starts. It’s a fact of life, like death, taxes, and your aunt asking to sit with someone else.
Rebecca knows:
“Seagull” isn’t a real species. One of the first things she learned when she started working with a bird conservation group is that there is no such species as a “seagull.” It’s a catch-all term that could refer to any number of gull species — herring gulls, laughing gulls, etc. Hardcore birders tend to bristle at the term “seagull,” and we get it… but Rebecca still uses it. Mostly because it drives them just a wee bit bonkers.
The ins and outs of real estate investing. She can tell you about all the strategies like BRRRR, STRs, and 1031 exchanges; how to secure financing; how to source the best deals; and how to analyze a deal. She could host a seminar for real estate investing bros… and maybe she already has.
Your art is hanging too high. Artwork should be hung so the center is 60 inches from the floor. If that sounds low, it’s because most people are unknowingly craning their necks just to look at their living room walls.
Empty houses don’t sell themselves. Staging a home isn’t just a nice-to-have. It can boost the sale price by up to 20% and cut time on the market nearly in half. Furniture placement and good lighting can work actual magic.
Gargling can help you calm down. Thanks to a wellness industry client, Rebecca can tell you that one way to reduce stress is to stimulate your vagus nerve through deep breathing, humming, or even gargling. Yes, gargling. It’s weirdly effective.
It’s pronounced “frag-mite-eez.” You didn’t ask, but now you know.
Working with such a wide range of industries means that, over time, you pick up a strange and wonderful set of side skills. Some of them help us do our jobs better. Some of them just help us win trivia night. Either way, we wouldn’t trade our random facts for anything, except maybe for a seagull that can say “phragmites.”
Want to work with a team that truly gets to know you and your business? Reach out to us! We’d love to bring your world to life, one small detail at a time.
—RB + RK
