Posts Tagged ‘podcast’

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 067 entitled Tips Defining Website Goals provides advice for planning a new web design or the upgrade of an existing website. If you’re already online you may not have considered the need to freshen up your website or upgrade to XHTML. Listen now and you may change your mind. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Introduction to the Web Design Plan
• The Planning Phase of Web Design
• Website Owners Ultimate Pet Peeve
• Simple Marketing Plan for Success
• Quick Tip of the Day – Why Your Website Needs an Annual Budget

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Tips Defining Website Goals
0:05:55 Quick Tip of the Day – Why Your Website Needs an Annual Budget
0:07:10 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:07:40 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 067

Referenced Links
Intro to XHTML by W3C, the standards authority for web design code

According to the W3C “XHTML is a stricter and cleaner version of HTML”. When evaluating a new or existing website design, my advice is considering XHTML which has been my standard for years. The advantage is code that is forward looking to perform well now and into the future. Follow the W3C referenced link above to the article comparing both before deciding to have your site created in older HTML.

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 062 entitled Web Design Services and Price presents advice for novice web design professionals trying to break into the custom web design field. The tips apply to do-it-yourself web design for site owners, also. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Web Design Price vs Quality Tradeoffs
• Analogy of Website Design and Used Cars
• Best Practices for Search Engine Optimization
• Web Design Site Navigation and Visitor Experience
• Tips for Web Design Planning and Future Growth
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Web Design Standards for the Novice

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:37 Main Topic – Web Design Services and Price
0:06:11 Quick Tip of the Day – Web Design Standards for the Novice
0:07:43 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:08:13 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 062

Referenced links
CMS and SEO Tutorial Ebook to view and download. No registration required.

The tip of the day and referenced link to the pdf ebook provides valuable advice for novice web design students just getting started. The search engine optimization research and implementation advice at zero cost is equal to what many charge $1000s to learn.

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 061 entitled Blog and CMS Website Strategy offers advice for creating new pages in a content management system or cms web design, and then announcing the content on your blog. The result is enhanced seo, or search engine optimization, because each new page added to your main site provides two pieces of new content for search engines. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Advantages of an Integrated Custom Blog in a CMS Web Design
• Disadvantage of Relying on Your Blog Only for Adding Content
• Search Engine Optimization in a Phrase: Add Original Quality Content Often
• Case Studies of Custom CMS Web Design Clients with Integrated Blogs
• Two for One Strategy When Writing Lengthy Blog Posts
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Using Twitter to Promote Your Site and Blog

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:37 Main Topic – Blog and CMS Website Strategy
0:06:34 Quick Tip of the Day – Using Twitter to Promote Your Site and Blog
0:07:45 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:08:15 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 061

Referenced links
Get web design advice on Twitter by following me at @JimDegerstrom

Twitter? Yes, I mentioned Twitter. For those listeners unfamiliar with the social network on Twitter, it is more than “What are you doing now…”. Personally, I follow other web design professionals from around the world to stay up to date on trends in our industry. For your small business, Twitter provides an easy to use method of promoting your brand, also. Listen to today’s tip of the day to learn more.

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 060 entitled Web Design Conversion to PDF is a review of an online tool for converting a web page to pdf including active hyperlinks and all graphics. This free tool provides an interesting approach for doing web design demos and communicating with clients. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Web Design Projects and Client Communication
• Web Design Page to PDF Online Tool Discovery
• Applying the HTML to PDF Converter in Web Design Projects
• Example PDF of the Web Design Home Page of This Website
• Quick Tip of the Day – Adding META Code to PDF Documents for SEO

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:37 Main Topic – Web Design Conversion to PDF
0:04:57 Quick Tip of the Day – Adding META Code to PDF Documents for SEO
0:07:03 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:07:33 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 060

Referenced links
Online Page to PDF Converter web designer tool
Sample page to pdf conversion of this site’s home page (pdf, 391kb, 1 pg)

The majority of future podcasts episodes with web design related advice will be shorter than the 12-15 minute average. Less complicated subjects about web design will be covered in-depth for the benefit of web design developers and their customers. Exceptions that require longer episodes may be featured at times.

The tip of the day includes advice for META code to enhance PDF search engine optimization, or seo.

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 059 entitled CMS Web Design Conversion Tips provides a review of a new project to convert an existing 98 page website to a custom cms web design. Factors to consider in the new web design includes smooth transition to minimize website down time. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• SEO Factor Considerations in Site Redesign
• Comparing Web Design Long URLs to SEO Friendly URLs
• Redirecting Old Web Design File Names with HTAccess
• Using Draft Mode for Instant Web Design Conversion
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Custom 404 Error Page Advice

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – CMS Web Design Conversion Tips
0:07:58 Quick Tip of the Day – Custom 404 Error Page Advice
0:10:09 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:10:39 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 059

Referenced links
Humorous 404 Error Pages from sites with a sense of humor

The problems of converting an existing web design to a newly redesigned website can go smoothly with proper planning. The tip of the day about custom 404 pages adds another point to consider even if you are not redesigning a site. Testing your site with a fake page file name will tell you immediately what your site visitors will see. Like it? No. Listen to the tip of the day, and look into having a custom 404 “page not found” added to your web design.

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 058 entitled Site Traffic Hits vs Visitors takes a look at comparing website traffic hits versus visitors, and how some services exaggerate the difference. Some site owners mistakenly think 1000 hits in one day means 1000 site visitors. It does not as explained in this podcast episode. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Case Study of a Site Owner and Deceptive Statistics
• Understanding Site Hits on Your Website Server
• Understanding Website Visitors and Pageloads
• Feedback from New Prospects to Evaluate Site Performance
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Unique Visitors and Return Visitors Compared

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Site Traffic Hits vs Visitors
0:07:49 Quick Tip of the Day – Unique Visitors and Return Visitors Compared
0:09:39 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:10:09 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 058

Referenced links
StatCounter stats tracking for site traffic evaluation

Installing website tracking statistics and spending 15 minutes a day evaluating your web design and site performance is one way to keep your small business website up to date. If you depend on outside services to report data, knowing the meaning of terms used is necessary to avoid being deceived about site performance. The tip of the day provides more details comparing unique and return visitors.

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 057 entitled Twitter Power System Interview presents an interview with a highly respected member of the Twitter.com community, James Rivers. James is the creator of the Twitter Power System for learning how to maximize the value of Twitter in developing relationships for your small business. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Opening Remarks About the Twitter Social Network
• Introduction to James Rivers and the Twitter Power System
• Scheduled Timing of Twitter Power System Product Release
• Benefits for Marketing a Small Business on Twitter
• Closing Interview Remarks with James Rivers

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Twitter Power System Interview
0:11:22 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:11:52 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 057

Referenced links
Twitter Power Systems creator Twitter account of James Rivers
Twitter Power Systems site for more information including prelaunch signup

This episode did not include a Tip of the Day, yet listeners are encouraged to explore Twitter.com and consider the value of microblogging for your small business. The experience and success of today’s guest is certainly proof that networking within the Twitter community can help promote relationships and your small business.

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 056 entitled Web Design in a Tough Economy takes a look at issues facing all small business owners during the economic downturn, and especially people doing custom web design. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Quality Web Design as a Silent Salesperson
• Web Design Options for Small Business Promotion
• Web 2.0 Participation and Impact on Reputation
• Impression of Twitter Web Design Professionals
• Critical Point in Web Designer and Client Relationships
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Thinking Outside the Box in Web Design

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Web Design in a Tough Economy
0:10:54 Tip of the Day – Thinking Outside the Box in Web Design
0:12:57 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:13:27 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 056

Referenced links
Personal Twitter account so you can join and follow me

Relationships build trust and the potential for repeat business. The topic entitled “Critical Point in Web Designer and Client Relationships” discusses a strategy that is so basic, yet often overlooked. For a person doing custom web design, or any small business, this tip for sales success is a point I take seriously, and as a result do well in sales despite the economy.

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 055 entitled Web Design Stats Advanced Tips provides advice to use your stats to check trends, adjust product focus by revising content, and reviewing search terms that brought people to your site. Results allow you to track or adjust emphasis for your most popular products or services. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Introduction to StatCounter Site Statistics
• Referral Pages in Web Design Stats History
• Automatic Web Design Stats Emailed Reports
• Stats Log Data History Review Tips
• Interpreting Your Web Design Visitor Statistics
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Google Analytics for Site Stats

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Web Design Stats Advanced Tips
0:08:35 Tip of the Day – Google Analytics for Site Stats
0:09:41 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:10:11 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 055

Referenced links
StatCounter website visitor stats free online service
Google Analytics free visitor stats signup page
December podcast contest results and winner announcement

The tip of the day introduces Google Analytics, another free resource for checking visitor stats to analyze visitor behavior and determine web design adjustments to improve site visitor experience.

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 054 entitled 2009 Web Design Predictions takes a look at forward looking concepts of web design, and what to plan for site enhancements in the future. Topics include web design trends for seo, cms, DIY web design, multimedia content, and page width standard for 2009. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Search Engine Optimization Trends in Web Design
• Content Management Systems or CMS for Web Design
• Ease of Use in Do-it-Yourself Website Owner Web Design
• Web Design Content Enriched with Multimedia
• New Standards for Web Design Page Width in 2009
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Time for an Annual Web Design Checkup

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – 2009 Web Design Predictions
0:11:46 Tip of the Day – Time for an Annual Web Design Checkup
0:13:28 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:13:58 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 054

Referenced links
Ebook download of 2009 Web Design Predictions (podcast transcript, 6 pages, 252kb pdf)

Keeping up with the changes in online technology, visitor behavior, and web design strategy is necessary for success in custom web design. The advice today provides pointers for do-it-yourself web design site owners with practical advice for web design best practices. Web design techniques that do not change with new technology could very well experience future problems when compared to a competitor’s website.