Website Content and Copyright

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Show Notes
Today's podcast Episode 006 entitled Website Content and Copyright presents advice for small business owners when providing content to a web developer for a new website design. You cannot collect photographs, multimedia, or text content from other websites or printed resources without permission.

Listen to learn about this case study involving photo copyright, website content copyright issues, website material resources, and finally copyright protection basics. Here's today's outline:

• Case Study of Copyright Involving Verbal Permission
• Types of Content Clients Provide for Website Design
• Resources Other than Original Copyright Material
• Summary of Obtaining and Protecting Copyrights
• Website Quick Tip of the Day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic - Website Content and Copyright
0:10:17 Tip of the Day - Copyright Policy as a Website Designer
0:12:16 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:12:46 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 006

Referenced links:
Royalty Free Photograph Directory with reviews of top photo resource websites
The Music Bakery Royalty Free Music for purchasing affordable royalty free music
Small Business and Digital Design blog article about website copyrights

I have personally viewed disagreements in online forums, and other places where two parties were embroiled in harsh words over a single sentence of similar content on competing websites. Obviously, the case study of the website with photographs and the cease and desist legal request provide reasons for small business website owners to use care in providing content to their web developer.

TAGS: advice copyright music podcast case study small business website design

Mass Mailing Website Promotion

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Show Notes
Today's podcast Episode 005 entitled Mass Mailing Website Promotion presents advice that saved one client $1000 on a 5000 piece small business post card mailing to promote their business and website. Decisions about the size of printed marketing materials for mass mailing should include evaluating the cost factor of postage.

Additional topics in today's show mention bulk mail rates and outsourcing your mailing campaign to subcontractors. The real point of the advice is helping do-it-yourself small business owners cut costs for website promotion. Here's today's outline:

• Total Price by Size for Mass Mailing 5000 Post Cards
• Artwork Based on my Published Design Rates
• Printing of 5000 Flyers Based on my Recommended Printer
• Tax and Freight for Inbound Printing for 5000
• Postage for Outbound Post Card Mailing for 5000
• Website Quick Tip of the Day
  

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic - Mass Mailing Website Promotion
0:09:50 Tip of the Day - Why Less is More in Your Ad
0:11:50 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:12:20 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 005

Referenced links:
US Postal Service Website to search for rates or bulk permits
Post Card Dimensions for Bulk Mailings to learn size requirements
My 5 Second Rule for Small Business Owners about first impressions in print or online

Additional Notes by the Numbers (to save listeners from taking notes):

Total Price by Size for Mass Mailing 5000 Post Cards
(This includes artwork, printing, inbound freight, outbound postage.)
$1700 TOTAL for a 4 x 6 post card flyer
$2575 TOTAL for a 5 x 7 post card flyer
$2750 TOTAL for a 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 post card flyer

Artwork Based on my Published Design Rates
$150 for 4 x 6 post card flyer
$150 up for 5 x 7 post card flyer
$250 for 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 half page post card

Printing of 5000 Based on my Recommended Printer
$150 for 4 x 6 full color, uv coated post cards
$300 for 5 x 7 full color, uv coated
$350 for 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 full color, uv coated

Tax and Freight for Inbound Printing for 5000
$50 for 4 x 6 post card flyers
$75 up for 5 x 7
$100 for 5-1/2 x 8-1/2

Postage for Outbound Post Card Mailing for 5000
$1300 for 4 x 6 ($0.26 each up to 6 x 4-1/4 max.)
$2050 for 5 x 7 ($0.41 each)
$2050 for 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 ($0.41 each)

By comparing the cost of postage for your next Mass Mailing Website Promotion, and then deciding if a 4 x 6 flyer meets your needs, your overall savings could easily be $1000 on just one post card mailing. Email me with questions or to learn about standard size and custom flyers that worked well for other clients.

TAGS: advice mail campaign postcards flyers podcast pricing small business website promotion

Dynamic versus Static Websites

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Show Notes
Today's podcast Episode 004 entitled Dynamic versus Static Websites presents small business website basics for deciding if you need a static or dynamic website design when launching a new site, or doing a redesign of an established website.

Besides the added cost in real dollars for a dynamic site, you must be prepared to invest considerable time on updates, so be certain a complicated website is what you really need. The choices are explained in today's show including some technical terms, and then site management and price issues. Here's today's outline:

• The difference between dynamic and static website design
• Understanding client side and server side processes
• Choosing a dynamic or static small business website design
• Taking control or delegating website maintenance
• Comparing the cost of dynamic versus static websites
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic - Dynamic versus Static Websites
0:10:39 Tip of the Day - Valid Code and Dynamic Website Designs
0:12:30 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:13:00 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 004

Referenced links:
W3C Online HTML Code Validation Tool

Small business owners need to understand the importance of realistic expectations when selecting how to present their small business online. Each decision should consider the points made about cost tradeoffs between dynamic versus static websites, the locale of your target market, and comparing your business model to the competition.

TAGS: advice static websites dynamic websites website maintenance podcast pricing small business website design

Analyzing Competitor Websites

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Show Notes
Today's podcast Episode 003 entitled Analyzing Competitor Websites teaches small business website owners how to compare the design of their website to top competitors. Whether your site is established or you are just starting out, knowing the search engine optimization techniques of your direct competition is worthwhile. Here's today's outline:

• Key factors for top search engine results
  
1. Keywords in the Page Title
2. The META Description
3. Keywords in the H Tags
4. Keywords in Text Links
5. High Quality, Original Content
6. The Size of Your Website
7. The Age of Your WWW Domain
• Making a list of your search keywords and key phrases
• Doing a search in Google and Yahoo
• Details for analyzing competitor websites
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic - Analyzing Competitor Websites
0:11:58 Tip of the Day - Revealing the #1 Website SEO Factor
0:13:40 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:14:12 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 003

Referenced links:
Google search
Yahoo search

This strategy goes beyond search engine optimization. If one of your goals is top listings in search results, there's no better way to discover what works than to search for key phrases and then analyze each site design of the top listings. Do not copy content or code verbatim from any website. You may face the risk of legal action, so learn from others but be very careful to keep your design completely original.

TAGS: advice blog design news podcast promotion reviews seo websites