Posts Tagged ‘podcast’

The December podcast contest asking listeners to write 25 words or less about a favorite episode of the Small Business Website Mailbag podcast ended at midnight on December 31, 2008. With $500 and $250 prizes to be given away for design credits for web design, seo services, or matching graphic artwork, visitors may have had too much to do or writers block. Perhaps some doubted their writing skills thinking they couldn’t win and gave up before trying. Regardless, zero entrants were received which means no one won by writing in.

After considering a drawing of current clients, I came up with another method for picking a winner and decided how before looking at my email inbox for the last day of 2008. Both prizes would go to the last client who emailed me for any reason on December 31st. The last message received in 2008 was for a vacation rental web design in progress for www.AnOrlandoVacationVilla.com, and the email arrived at 1:04 p.m. local time.

Advanced options discussed outside the scope of the custom cms web design project will be done at no charge. Stay tuned to the web design advice podcast and future episodes. New contests may be announced.

The next podcast episode being released later this week will include a Podcast Anniversary Feedback Contest, and prizes with $750 in value. To celebrate the one year anniversary of the Small Business Website Mailbag podcast, listeners are encouraged to provide feedback on their favorite web design audio advice program. Contestants identify 1 of the first 52 episodes in an email with an explanation in 25 words or less why a particular show was their favorite.

The winner will be selected based solely on my judgment and announced on January 3rd, 2009. The first prize $500 design credit may be used in 2009 towards any and all web design related services that I provide including custom web design, blog design, seo services, video production, or even custom graphics.

You do not have to be a current or past client to enter. In addition to the first prize, a runner up will receive a free custom business card and a post card flyer design worth $250. The deadline is December 31, 2008 and winners will be announced on this blog on January 3rd, plus be mentioned in the podcast episode for that week.

A new podcast episode on the Small Business Website Mailbag released on Saturday with advice when comparing quality web design and low price. The advice for small business owners presents how to judge web design quality and then the right questions to ask when requesting a custom web design price quote.

The audio program is entitled “One Tough Web Design Question” and includes a checklist of features to look for when asking for quotes for a custom web design. Site quality and search engine optimization value goes beyond aesthetics, and this podcast episode explains how combining a professional look with quality xhtml code in a cms web design provides value and long term website performance.

The podcast emphasizes the secret to web design and seo, or search engine optimization, and attracting visitors to your website including search engines: Add original quality content often.

A new podcast episode entitled Low Budget Podcast Production released earlier includes an interview with pro podcaster Fred Greenhalgh of FinalRune Productions and Radio Drama Revival. FinalRune produces audio theater drama recordings in live settings to recreate the feel of old time radio programs predating television. Listen online. The quality is excellent.

In the interview Fred mentions cost effective products for small business podcasts that he uses for audio field production outside the studio, plus a condenser mic with outstanding quality at an affordable price. The product brands and item numbers were not spelled out in the podcast, so I took a closer look and was very surprised at the high quality and affordable price of the C01U mic and Zoom H2 recorder.

The podcast episode explores FinalRune’s portable recording equipment and suggestions for microphones for small business podcasters. A shoutout was given to one of his favorite suppliers, SweetWater.com, and a closer look shows they carry the two products he mentions during the show. Readers who listen to the podcast, may want to visit Sweetwater.com for a closer look at the Samson C01U USB podcasting mic, and the Zoom H2 4-mic portable hand held digital recorder.

Now I have some podcast equipment “toys” to add to my Christmas wish list.

Email inquiries received this week from two visitors asked for advice about web design audio and video tips including audio or video templates. Advice given on web design for podcasts, audio books, and video tutorials is presented here for all website and blog or podcast owners.

Here’s some advice for do-it-yourself multimedia audio or video production. The steps involve planning, production, and distribution, so understanding more details helps me offer advice for each step. As just one example, if multimedia is informal just for site visitors, or a downloadable video, you most likely won’t need a CD cover or other artwork unless you need something virtual like an online website graphic.

If I had to specify a quality range for production it would be 1) amateur, 2) advanced, and 3) professional and certainly the costs for production would relate to the quality requirements.

My podcast of web design advice is done at home with a usb stereo microphone and then I use Audacity (freeware) to edit out the uhms, ahhs, and mistakes. I then mix the background music and narration tracks into a single mp3 file. The same process is used in website video production for screencast tutorials on my site except I’m adding the audio track to the video during post production edit.

For podcast episodes, audio interviews, or free online video tutorials I’m content with advanced level quality. For multimedia intended for sale my advice would be higher quality equipment beginning with a condenser microphone to achieve the professional level. Booking time in a recording studio would ensure top quality depending on your audience and budget.

For my readers and site visitors interested in web design services and assistance in do-it-yourself projects for audio or video, be prepared by providing details on those key steps: planning, production, and distribution. Custom website design services include html or xhtml code templates plus scripts or flash for audio players or video players to add to a custom web design.

The latest episode of the Small Business Website Mailbag podcast was released earlier today, and includes the transcript of today’s program: Web Design SEO Audio Ebook. The subtitle of the free to download PDF is “Search Engine Optimization Step by Step Guide”, and this SEO tutorial provides detailed methods for optimizing keywords in a small business web design. You may download the ebook without obligation because you do not have to register or reveal your email address.

Download the PDF ebook to read as you listen along to the podcast episode as I read the transcript of the program. In addition, the PDF SEO tutorial has bonus information with added search engine optimization tips that are not included in the audio podcast. Here is one excerpt not in the podcast with another definition of the term SEO:

SEO has more than one meaning and stands for “Search Engine Optimizer”, also, which means a consultant offering search engine optimization services. The true experts get anywhere from $5000 to $20,000 for optimizing a single website.

In addition, there are unscrupulous people who know the buzz words contained in this report, and they razzle dazzle clients into paying thousands in recurring monthly or annual fees with zero results. New clients have contacted me and reported ongoing SEO service payments for years without results, yet they accept lame excuses and just keep paying. Here’s one way they are deceived.

Search engines do not reveal their algorithms for serving up search results, so this secrecy is one weapon the unscrupulous SEO snake oil salespersons use to explain away poor results. Be very wary of anyone who promises page one. It is a lie.

Listen to the “Web Design SEO Audio Ebook” podcast episode, and then download or read the PDF tutorial “Search Engine Optimization Step by Step Guide” here (454kb, pdf). Learning do-it-yourself web design and keyword optimization can save small business owners thousands in annual fees. Your only investment is your time.

The latest podcast show comparing blog formats from Blogger and WordPress was launched today with advice for small business owners. If you’re undecided about the benefits of blogging, or which format to select, the show gives comparisons of format, ease of use, and other features on these top blog formats.

The show features a review of a new custom matching blog done in WordPress for one of my personal sites, and features bonus tips for advanced plug-in options and themes or templates for WordPress. An integrated blog custom design to match your main site is one of the best search engine optimization techniques I can recommend. Contact me at any time for no obligation free advice about blogging for small business.

For owners looking for advice for a new small business website, the first 10 podcast episodes of the Small Business Website Mailbag may be the perfect starting point. The audio programs were intentionally presented in a logical order for business owners getting online for the first time.

Each show averages just over 10 minutes, so listening to each provides valuable audio advice for saving time and money with your first website. Listen online or download episodes to hear the expert tips at your leisure.

The 10 podcast programs are like a two hour audio course with advice for new small business websites. Besides paid web design services, I’m more than willing to provide free advice to small business owners without obligation, as well. You are welcome to contact me about problems or questions concerning a new or existing site.

After meeting with an Orlando area recording artist last weekend, I offered to assist them in recovering a domain with their personal name being held by a cybersquatter. More details will be provided in an upcoming cybersquatting case study podcast episode.

Cybersquatting is the practice of registering a domain name strictly for gain without any rights or legitimate interests in that domain. For individuals using their personal name as the trademark for a small business venture, you have options for recovering your domain.

Recovering a cybersquatted site may be successful through arbitration which is usually less costly and faster than pursuing legal recourse. Your name is intellectual property and if used as a trademark in the course of doing business, the chances of success are improved.

Acquiring your domain from a cybersquatter when their intent is to resell at an excessive price, use the domain in bad faith, or unrelated commercial use will be presented in my upcoming podcast episode. Visit and bookmark the Small Business Website Mailbag podcast, and then return next week to hear the program and detailed advice.

Update: Listen now to the podcast episode on cybersquatting advice released 26 April 2008.

The latest podcast episode of the Small Business Website Mailbag was released eariler with advice for small business websites and market branding. Here’s an excerpt from the actual audio show:

The word consistent is one to remember. If your promotional materials begin with a business card, other print material with a similar logo and varied color scheme, and then a website that’s still more varied, you lose the value of a consistent corporate image. Market branding will be more effective if you have a consistent image wherever your company name or logo is encountered by customers or prospects.

My advice is always develop your logo first, and then maintain the same look and color scheme on your website and printed materials.

Whether you name it market branding, corporate image, or corporate identity, a consistent look that will stand the test of time may depend on your logo which is the foundation of your small business image. A memorable and lasting positive first impression should be your priority.