Posts Tagged ‘reviews’

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 044 entitled Web Design Templates Compared comes after a web design review earlier this week for a client interested in custom graphics, and perhaps matching web graphics to upgrade the look of their small business web design. Their site gets very little traffic, and results of their recent attempt at search engine optimization, or seo, has been less than ideal. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Free Web Design Templates Review
• Standard Commercial Website Templates
• Custom Web Design Templates and SEO
• Web Design Skills Combined with Graphic Art
• Dynamic CMS Web Design vs Static Site Templates
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Web Design Navigation and Usability

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Web Design Templates Compared
0:11:49 Tip of the Day – Web Design Navigation and Usability
0:14:43 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:15:13 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 044

Referenced links:
CMS Template Outline and Ebook on my main site

The tip of the day explains the strategy of web design navigation and usability using a tree structure of internal links. Having your home page as the tree trunk with major branches linked from each page, and then subpages with expanded topics, allows site owners to easily grow their site. The web design and seo concept of “add original quality content often” that I recommend is easier to visualize using this tree structure for website navigation.

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 043 entitled Website Visitor System Stats comes after a question earlier this week about my choice of standard web page design width, and the importance of knowing visitor behavior. By viewing website visitor system stats your web design can keep up with the needs of the majority of website visitors. Using free stats tracking allows site owners to determine the browser brands and most common screen monitor width of their site visitors. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Visitor Browser Brands and Screen Monitor Size Intro
• Tracking Visitor Stats and Web Design Strategy
• Review of my Visitors’ Browser Brands and Screen Size Stats
• Browser Brand and Web Design Cross Browser Compatibility
• Visitor Screen Monitor Size and Evolution of Web Design
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Online Resource for Testing Page Display

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Website Visitor System Stats
0:09:32 Tip of the Day – Online Resource for Testing Page Display
0:11:52 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:12:22 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 043

Referenced links:
Online Resource for Testing Page Display from BrowserShots.org

Referenced statistics from this podcast episode:
Browser Brand Usage of Visitors to My Site

34.0% FireFox3
27.4% MSIE7
17.0% MSIE6
07.0% Safari
06.6% FireFox2
03.0% Chrome
02.2% Netscape
01.6% Camino
01.2% MSIE Older
01.0% Opera

Monitor Screen Size of Visitors to My Site

37.10% 1024×768
33.47% 1280×1024
22.58% Unknown
04.03% 1152×864
02.02% 800×600
00.81% 1600×1200

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Show Notes
This podcast episode 042 entitled Healthy Web Design Checkup provides advice for small business website owners to check the quality of their web design for search engine optimization, or SEO. Topics cover a comparison of healthy and unhealthy designs, and how to avoid problems. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Why Web Designs Need an Annual Checkup
• Case Study Uncovering an Unhealthy Web Design
• Question to Test Web Designer SEO Knowledge
• Update on Another Zero Traffic Custom Web Design
• Advice When it Comes to Changing Web Designers
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Web Design Online Project Management

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Healthy Web Design Checkup
0:11:26 Tip of the Day – Web Design Online Project Management
0:16:11 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:16:41 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 042

Referenced links:
PDF website comparison report of healthy and unhealthy web designs (pdf, 197kb, 2 pages)
Online project management services from TeamWorkPM.net

The tip of the day provides advice and a review of small business owner online services for project management including a review of the service I use at TeamWorkPM.net. A successful web design depends on good communication between the client and web designer, and online project management is an affordable and easy tool to use.

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Show Notes
This podcast episode 041 entitled Low Budget Podcast Production presents a phone interview with Fred Greenhalgh of FinalRune Productions based in Portland, Maine. I met Fred through the social network at Twitter.com, and was very impressed with the quality of his audio productions. Fred agreed to an impromptu interview to offer advice about low budget podcast production. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Introduction to Pro Podcaster Fred Greenhalgh
• More About Audio and FinalRune Productions
• FinalRune’s Audio Recording Equipment
• Equipment Suggestions for Amateur Podcasting
• Advanced Equipment for Professional Podcasts
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Ways to Promote Small Business Podcasts

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Low Budget Podcast Production
0:10:46 Tip of the Day – Ways to Promote Small Business Podcasts
0:12:28 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:12:58 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 041

Referenced links:
Radio Drama Revival Fred Greenhalgh blog and podcast
FinalRune Productions by Fred Greenhalgh
FinalRune Twitter link to Fred’s Twitter home page
Podcast audio recorder and mic info from Sweetwater.com as mentioned in podcast

Follow the first link in the show notes to listen to professional audio production of old time radio style drama productions at Radio Drama Revival. Read the background information on their site about current voice talent gathering for audio production that is more like a movie set than a recording studio.

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Show Notes
This podcast episode 040 entitled Site That Answers One Question is about the strategy of having your website answer one question. A site that does that very well is Twitter.com, and today’s episode introduces the Twitter social network site and a few of the many talented professionals working in web design related businesses. Here is the outline for today’s program:

• Web Design Strategy of a Website to Answer One Question
• Introduction to Twitter’s Question “What Are You Doing?”
• More Insight Into Twitter Social Networking
• Commercial Value of Twitter Real or Imaginary?
• Advanced Features, Tutorials, and Twitter Advice
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Twitter Goldmine for Blog Post Ideas

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Site That Answers One Question
0:11:10 Tip of the Day – Twitter Goldmine for Blog Post Ideas
0:13:45 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:14:15 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 040

Referenced links:

tywebbin Twitter id for Ty of TyWebbin.com
lchad Twitter id for Linda Chadbourne of Maine-ly Web Design
snickers1 Twitter id for Nicki Hicks of Maine-SEO.com
jdegerstrom Twitter id for Jim Degerstrom, your podcast host

The quick tip of the day highlights one of the many benefits of joining Twitter and addresses ideas for small business bloggers. Imagine easily interacting with 100′s of people in your industry to stay on top of current trends, and then developing blog posts based on real time market needs. To get a feel for the informal nature of Twitter, follow the profile links in the show notes to some current member home pages.

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Show Notes
This podcast episode 036 entitled Web Developer Tools Review is about FireFox extensions that add functions with web developer tools for testing website design quality. In addition, other options allow instant review of web design page size and structure. Here is the outline for today’s program:

• Reasons to Download FireFox and Other Website Browsers
• Introduction to Extensions for the FireFox Browser
• Overview of FireFox Web Developer Toolbar for Web Design
• Tab Options for Miscellaneous, Outline, Resize, and Tools
• Analyzing Toolbar Information to Enhance a Web Design
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – SearchStatus 1.2x PageRank Tool Review

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Web Developer Tools Review
0:11:32 Tip of the Day – SearchStatus 1.2x PageRank Tool Review
0:13:40 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:14:10 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 036

Referenced links:
FireFox Web Developer Toolbar download for website testing
Microsoft IE DOM Explorer Toolbar Internet Explorer alternate web developer toolbar
SearchStatus Add-on for Google PageRank button and Alexa

The graphic inserted below is from the FireFox web developer extension, and is for listeners to view during the review of these 4 menu options for web design related testing.

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Show Notes
This podcast episode 035 entitled DIY Desktop Blog and Ping provides listeners with an exciting zero cost method to announce new blog posts with a desktop blog and ping software application. This allows bloggers to directly ping blog tracking services instantly without needing a middleman. Here is the outline for today’s program:

• Basics of Blog and Ping Blog Post Promotional Services
• Research of Blog and Ping Online Service Trends
• Overview of PDF Tutorial Download for DIY Blog and Ping
• Review of Free Software for a DIY Desktop Blog and Ping Application
• PDF Tutorial Review and Step by Step Blog and Ping Service Setup
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Creating Categories using Labels in Blogger

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – DIY Desktop Blog and Ping
0:22:53 Tip of the Day – Creating Categories using Labels in Blogger
0:25:10 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:25:40 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 035

Referenced links:
DIY Blog and Ping PDF Tutorial to view online or download now
Wayne Horkan’s weblog: eclectic with FAQs and blog/ping software download

The free do-it-yourself desktop blog and ping pdf tutorial is 35 pages fully illustrated and includes a custom list of 8 top blog tracking services, plus the default list of 72. Listeners may want to download the 35 page pdf before launching this podcast episode, and then listen to the audio while viewing just the illustrations as I take you step by step through the process of easily creating a free desktop blog and ping application.

Kudos and a big thanks to Wayne Horkan of Sun Microsystems for his custom “free as in free beer” blog and ping software application that he released on 22 April 2008.

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Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 012 entitled Small Business Advice Podcasts takes a look at other podcasts that specialize in helping small business owners, their themes, and other observations of podcasting options. Here’s the outline for this podcast show:

• Finding small business advice podcasts
• Common themes covered by these online shows
• Reviews of 5 quality podcast productions
• Interacting with small business podcasts
• Future of small business podcasting
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Small Business Advice Podcasts
0:06:42 Tip of the Day – Recording Equipment for Small Business Website Audio
0:08:58 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:09:28 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 012

Referenced links (alphabetically):
BusinessWeek Magazine Podcasts with video and audio podcast interviews
Entrepreneur Magazine Podcasts offers staff hosted or guest contributor interviews
SmallBizPod with Alex Bellinger and the UK’s first small business podcast
Small Business Trends Radio from the Small Business advice site of Anita Campbell
Startup BizCast with host Steve Mullen and weekly small business advice, tips, and education

Small business advice podcasts are a great opportunity to help brand your marketing identity while teaching other entrepreneurs valuable lessons. The tip of the day in today’s show introduces podcast equipment and software for producing shows, audio testimonials, or product and service introductions.

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Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 010 entitled Small Business Website Review presents advice for small business owners to perform an annual review of their website content and then confirm their domain registration information is up to date. Here’s the outline for this podcast episode:

• Comparing a website checkup to an annual health exam
• Studying site content for updates due to changes in your market
• Checking information on your website domain registration
• Five case studies of problems with website ownership
• More information and reasons for visiting WhoIs
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Small Business Website Review
0:09:00 Tip of the Day – Advice for Finding a Good Domain Name
0:12:04 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:12:34 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 010

Referenced links:
GoDaddy WhoIs search service for confirming domain registration data
WhoIs.net domain search services is another source for registration lookup

My advice is taking the time each January to follow the website checkup advice in today’s show. Adjusting site content as needed and ensuring your domain registration is current and accurate each year takes very little time. The direct or indirect cost when things go wrong makes doing these tasks worthwhile.

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Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 009 entitled Tracking Website Statistics presents advice for adding statistic tracking to your small business website. Knowing where visitors came from, which pages they visited, and how long they stayed may help owners plan changes to update their website. Stats from search engines and search phrases used to find you are an added benefit, and may help your search engine optimization efforts, too. Here’s the outline for this podcast episode:

• Overview of tracking website statistics
• Free tracking service from StatCounter
• How to register and install tracking code
• Daily review of your website statistics
• Adjusting website content based on tracking data
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Tracking Website Statistics
0:13:50 Tip of the Day – Advice Comparing Hits and Page Views
0:15:47 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:16:17 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 009

Referenced links:
Website statistic tracking service from StatCounter.com
Download this PDF tutorial and visual illustrated guide to StatCounter (zip: 665kb)

The detailed PDF report takes you step by step on setting up and installing code on your website to begin tracking statistics about your small business website visitors. If you have any questions about setting up or using free stat tracking services from StatCounter, feel free to contact me.