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How to Record Your Webinars

A couple days ago, we talked about the power of the “How-to” post and the fact that you are an expert. Now it’s time to take this one step further! Now it’s time for you to start hosting webinars.

The thought of hosting your own webinar can be pretty daunting, but it’s really not as bad as it sounds. And it’s a great way to get yourself out there.

Here are a couple tips on getting started:

  • Just do it already - The hardest part is getting started. So just go ahead and schedule your first webinar, like now!
  • Be prepared - Plan out your content and how you are going to present it.
  • Be flexible – Just because you’re prepared doesn’t mean things will happen exactly as you planned. Be ready to adapt.
  • Record your webinars - We’ve seen it happen. You have 100 people signed up for your webinar, but only 20 show. Or maybe no one shows. Go ahead with your webinar as planned and record it. This way you can still share your knowledge with your audience at a time that is more convenient for them.
Recording your webinars is a great idea, but one we’ve found some people struggle with. After years of recording webinars, we have a good system in place and want to share that with you.

Here are some programs we use and recommend:

  • Recording software – Here at iThemes and WebDesign.com, we use either Camtasia (Mac and PC) or Screenflow (Mac only) to record our webinars. Neither are cheap, but good software rarely is! You may also look into using something like Soundflower which works with both Camtasia and Screenflow to record sound.
  • Webinar program – We use GoToWebinar to conduct all of our webinars.
  • Chat program – While GoToWebinar has a built in chat system….well, we’re not really fans of it. Instead we use and recommend CBox.

This is our typical recording process:

  • Create a test recording – Typically at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the webinar, I run our recording software, even if just on a YouTube video, to ensure that both audio and visual are recording as they should. This is a good time to set up and test your audio as well. You can select to use Built-in Input, Soundflower or (if you’re the presenter as well as the recorder) the Built-in Microphone or an external microphone (which will show in the drop down list once you’ve connected it).Camtasia - Audio type
  • Create a second test recording – This recording is typically done once you are in GoToWebinar as your presenter is doing a verbal countdown to the start of the webinar. During this time, you’ll want to make sure the sound is set up correctly in GoToWebinar as well. The audio setting you use in your recording software should be the same you use in GoToWebinar (though if you’re using Built-in Input in the recording software, it’ll be Built-in Output in GoToWebinar).GoToWebinar - Audio Set Up
  • Start your recording early – If you aren’t the presenter, you can’t know for sure that they won’t start a little early or if their clock matches yours exactly. Starting the recording about 5 minutes prior to the start of the webinar alleviates these issues. If you are the presenter, this just gives you one last thing to think about as you start your presentation and may keep you from forgetting it completely.

This is just a quick look at how you can create your own webinars. There are a number of other things to consider, but this will get you started! And you should start – now!

Want more advice before you start your own webinars?

Be sure to check out the iThemes Publishing page for our newest eBook, 15 Best Practices for Rockin’ Webinars, out now!

6 Tools to Help Optimize Content Creation Collaboration

This week’s Spring Cleaning posts have covered planning and optimizing content creation for your site’s blog and social media platforms. While this week hasn’t included as many cleaning “tasks,” we felt that content creation is important enough to devote an entire week to helping you evaluate your current content strategy — and to make sure you have a content strategy in place.

When it comes to content creation at WebDesign.com, collaboration and repurposing content across multiple platforms has been key for us.

With multiple team members writing blog posts and (our newest pursuit) organizing information from webinars into eBooks for the iThemes eBook library, we’ve found a few workflow tools that are crucial to our content creation process (and team collaboration).

1. Basecamp

We’re recent converts, but we’re firm believers in 37 Signal’s online project management system, Basecamp. The UI was recently updated, making the system incredibly easy (and even fun) to use. It just makes sense.

Basecamp has definitely streamlined our workflow and helps us keep multiple projects organized. Because we have team members working on multiple projects (each with different tasks) in different physical locations, Basecamp has become an excellent collaboration tool for our team.

When it comes to content creation, we use Basecamp specifically to keep a birds-eye-view of our schedule of content (in Basecamp’s great calendar feature) and to assign posts to different members — all based on larger on-going projects. Since projects have multiple to-do list options, we always know where we are in the process of creating content and new resources.

Tip: Not working on a team? Use Basecamp for client work and sharing updates on projects.

2. iChat (or Google Chat)

IM’ing is a way of life at iThemes and WebDesign.com. Because of the nature of development, staying focused and keeping our environment quiet is an office priority. Because we’re constantly sharing updates, links, and screenshots, chat is far superior (and faster) than emailing back and forth.

Most of us use iChat (since we’re Mac users), synced with our Google accounts. Here’s a great tutorial for configuring iChat for Google Talk.

Tip: Offer your Google Chat contact info when working with clients for speedier interactions and collaborations.

3. Awesome Screenshot

We take a LOT of screenshots and share them on our team. You always have the option of using your system’s built-in screenshot operation, but adding the Awesome Screenshot add-on to your browser give a bit more flexibility – with options for capturing the entire web page, built-in cropping to get the right dimensions and more.

Tip: Screenshots are an important element to the “how-to” tutorial post. Using Awesome Screenshot makes it easy to get the right screenshot, every time.

4. Cloud App

As mentioned above, we share files and screenshots like crazy. We recommend CloudApp (over Droplr, mostly for dependability reasons), a Mac app that makes sharing files a breeze. Drag and drop files into the “cloud” in your toolbar – and you get an instant (shortened) HTML link for sharing with others in iChat or via emails.

5. Tweet Deck

We’re always working to connect and share content via social media, and TweetDeck has been awesome for monitoring Twitter activity over multiple brands. Use it to schedule tweets, see real-tip updates from people you follow and to see what people are saying about certain Twitter handles, hashtags and keywords.

6. Clear App

Clear App, a “list app” for iPhone, got a lot of much-deserved positive attention several months ago for its innovativeness in the design of the user interface. It’s brilliant.

We use it to keep ideas for blog posts, eBooks and webinars — whenever they pop up “on the go.” It’s well worth the $2.99.

Have any other tools you’ve found helpful for content collaboration and workflow? We know there’s a ton, so share them in the comments below and how they’ve been helpful to you.

Also, make sure to check out all of this week’s posts on the Spring Cleaning page for ideas on the types of content everyone can manage – from sharable, interesting content, to powerful tutorials, and finally to webinars (just stay tuned for tomorrow’s post!).

The Power of the “How-To” Post

This week’s Spring Cleaning focus has been on planning your content and more about looking ahead than about looking back. If you’ve never written one before, the How-to post is a great tool to add to your arsenal. The How-to allows you to share your knowledge, experience and expertise with your users and is a good way to draw people into or back to your site.

Don’t think you’re qualified to write a How-to?  You’re wrong!

The fact is that in some field, you are an expert. As Cory has been heard to say many times, “An expert is anyone who knows more than somebody else.”

You are an expert!

Are you a freelancer who is good at attracting clients? You can write posts on how-to:

  • Get clients
  • How to keep clients
  • The best ways to bill clients
  • Just the general best practices you’ve found on how to run your own business.

Not in the web field? You can still attract great traffic with a blog! If you’re a plumber, create posts on simple things people can do around the house, such as how-to replace a leaky shower head, unclog a stubborn drain or how to handle a backed up septic tank (okay, that one is probably beyond a diy-er, but you get the point).

And don’t forget about blogging avenues beyond writing. Writing may not be your strongest skill, but creating a simple how-to video and posting it to your blog via YouTube is a pretty easy process. And is a great way to really teach your user.

Spring cleaning is about clearing the cobwebs from your site and making it the best it can be. But it’s also about keeping it fresh and clean. Adding the how-to post to your repartee is a great way to do that!

Making “Sharable” Content a Priority


Spring Cleaning month continues this week with “Plan & Optimize Content Creation.” Think of it this week’s tasks this way: It’s out with the old and in with the new. 

With the advent of a new marketing paradigm, the importance of content creation for your business or organization should be clear. Take this opportunity to review your current content strategy and make sure you have a clear strategy in place for creating, publishing and sharing content.

In the next few days, we’ll be sharing tips and ideas for content creation, but let’s begin with a solid foundation for your content strategy.

Remember this sentence:

Content should be sharable (and worth sharing).

Content offers an incredible opportunity to spread awareness of your brand. What did the words “like,” “tweet,” or “pin” mean a few years ago? Now these powerful phrases are apart of our everyday vocabulary.

While the purpose of your website may just be to provide contact information or showcase your product or services, anyone can create content that that connects with potential clients or customers.

Not sure what to share?

Here’s a few ideas for the types of content anyone can share:

  • Tutorials and how-to’s  - Everyone knows how to do something. And some people might even be paying you to do it for them. Consider a short tutorial with photos or screenshots explaining how to do something people want to learn. People will be interested in your expertise and you’ll probably even get a few new friends.
  • Recent work - What have you been up to? Keep your customers posted on the awesome job you just finished. Share photos, sketches, even problems you solved while working on a project. You’ll keep customers involved in your work.
  • Interviews or testimonials - It may seem strange, but don’t be afraid to brag on yourself by letting others do it for you. It can even be subtle: How has your product or service helped someone else accomplish their own success? For a good example, check out Mailchimp’s great Customer Love series of blog posts.
  • Photos or behind-the-scenes stories - One of the greatest advantages of the “content era” is an incredible opportunity to connect with customers on a personal level. Show that your company, while possibly online, is full of real people. Document everyday things around the office, stuff that goes on outside of work, even lessons you’ve learned in business. Just be real and authentic.
  • Announcements and news - Remember to keep customers and clients up-to-date with announcements and news. Hosting an event? Released a new product? Have a sales or promotion? Don’t forget to share it.

For more great ideas on creating content, read Content Rules by Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman. Stay tuned to the blog this week for more ideas on planning and optimizing your content creation and get caught up on all of this month’s Spring Cleaning tasks so far.

This Week at WebDesign.com

We’ve got a lot of great stuff happening at WebDesign.com this week, including a couple free webinars. The second installment of No-nonsense Guide to Managing Your Personal Finances with Michael Cady is Wednesday of this week.

Also free this week is the Facebook Marketing 101. John Haydon, author of Facebook Marketing for Dummies, will join Benjamin to discuss how best to use Facebook as a marketing tool for you and your clients.

Don’t forget, it’s Spring Cleaning month here at WebDesign.com.  Keep watching the blog for more information on how to clean up your WordPress site.

iThemes.TV – Getting Started with BackupBuddy
May 15, 2012 – Tuesday – 11am (CDT)
Overview: Have you ever wondered how to get started using the BackupBuddy Plugin? If so, this class is for you! Join us as we show just how easy it is to get up and running with this awesome plugin that allows you to backup, restore, and migrate your WordPress site with ease!
Instructor: Bes Zain
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: Desire to use BackupBuddy
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/782501458

BluePrint Advanced – BuddyPress and Builder
May 15, 2012 – Tuesday – 5pm (CDT)
Overview: Build your own social network with the recently released Builder Yukon theme which is customized and ready to use with the BuddyPress WordPress plugin.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour +
Skill Level: Intermediate
Requirements: Knowledge of Builder theme
Registration Link: Visible to WebDesign.com members after log-in

No-nonsense Guide to Managing Your Personal Finances – Session Two
May 16, 2012 – Wednesday – Noon (CDT)
Overview: As part of our Make Waves campaign for 2012, “We Believe in Investing in People.” In this two-part series Michael Cady, Chief Financial Officer of Digimedia and former professor of accounting and finances, explains what it really means to budget and that a penny saved is NOT a penny earned. Join us as Michael changes lives, one penny at a time.
Instructor: Michael Cady
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: No requirement
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/516562298

CSS Dojo – Session Two
May 17, 2012 – Thursday – 10am (CDT)
Overview: Learn the foundations of CSS.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: Desire to learn CSS
Registration Link: Visible to WebDesign.com members after log-in

Facebook Marketing 101
May 18, 2012 – Friday – 1pm (CDT)
Overview: Join John Haydon, author of Facebook Marketing for Dummies, for an webinar to learn the skills to succeed in using Facebook as a marketing tool for you and your clients.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: You will need to have a Facebook account
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/143120986

Cleaning Up Your WordPress Media Library

 

Ah, the WordPress Media Library. It’s your site’s “closet” of images, videos and files. And just like any closet, it occasionally needs to be cleaned out.

What needs to go?  Most media library culprits are unused or “unassigned” files, as well as multiple versions of the same file. These files are basically just taking up unnecessary space and can be removed.

To get started: From the WordPress dashboard, visit Media > Library.

From this panel, you’ll see your media library files. These files are sorted into columns containing file information with a thumbnail, “file name (and file type)”, “author,” “attached to,” and date uploaded.

Sort files by Unattached.

You’ll see your files sorted now by their “unattached” status. Sorting files in this way offers an easy way to scan for multiple files or files that aren’t currently being used on your site.

Scan for duplicate and unnecessary files.

From here, look for duplicate or multiple versions of the same file. Check for files that can be removed because they weren’t used in any post, page or gallery–and delete.

A few tips for a “tidier” WordPress Media Library:

Always optimize your images for the web. Don’t slow your page load time by using ridiculously large images. In Photoshop, use the “save for web” function. Generally, medium quality is still good enough for the web without significant quality loss and can reduce the file size by over 60%. Mac users: check out ImageOptim for easy/speedy optimization.

Use the WordPress Image Editor to resize images. To avoid uploading multiple versions of the same image because of different sizing specifications, use the built-in image editor. From the dashboard, visit the media library and click the file name. Click “Edit” and then “Edit Image.” From here, you can scale, crop, rotate, or flip the image. Click “Update  Media” and the new file version will be saved. If you need to revert back to the original version, edit again and click “Restore Original Image.”

Delete unnecessary or duplicate files you’ve uploaded before publishing a post or page. Getting into this habit before you publish will help lighten your spring cleaning load next year. Add this to your “publishing checklist” (we’ll cover more about this next week!), to make sure each post or page didn’t add unnecessary files to your media library.

Whew, another task down! Stay tuned to the blog for a few more tips this week on cleaning up your existing site content. To view all of this month’s Spring Cleaning tasks, visit the WebDesign.com Spring Cleaning Page.

Should You Upgrade WordPress?

There are many “experts” out there who say you must never update software until you make sure other people who update their versions figure out whether there are any issues or problems with the software update. While I’m not going to say this is a good or bad thing, I will point out that most of these “experts” are talking about enterprise-level software applications… and even operating systems.

When it comes to WordPress, this mindset of “waiting to see what happens” is just flat wrong and a very bad practice. I’ve run into so many site owners who are having a problem with their site only to find out they haven’t updated WordPress, a theme, or plugins in almost two years… because they were “waiting to see if something was bad with an update”. Let’s take a look at why waiting to update is a very bad practice.

We probably need to start by asking the question, why are there updates? The most common answer to this question is that most updates are released (for themes, plugins, and core WordPress) because a fix to a bug or a security issue needs to be patched. So by not updating, you are leaving your sites buggy and open to being hacked. It is extremely easy to do a little Google search to find a site that has not been updated and therefore ripe for the hacking. This goes especially true for plugins. Plugins seem to be a greater source of security holes than WordPress itself… so if you are only updating WordPress but not wanting to update your plugins, you are moving yourself to the front of the line for hackers looking to cause trouble.

Now you might be saying what does it matter if I get hacked… I’ll just fix/restore my site.. While it might be true you can “restore” your site, you might not realize the damage done to your site. Not only does the hacker know your site is vulnerable because of an outdated plugin, but now Google knows about your issues. A hacked site can lose position on search engine rankings. Google will even de-list and de-index your site because it finds malicious code that the outdated plugin let outsiders leave on your site. And now you have to ask yourself, what good is a website if no one can find it on the internet (through search).

Most people who don’t update their themes and plugins probably fall into the category of being afraid you’ll break your site. While this is a valid concern, it should NEVER stop you from updating a plugin or theme or WordPress… Why? Because there are so many easy ways to backup your site so that if something happens during the upgrade process you can easily roll-back the update and restore your site and do a little more focused work on making sure the upgrade takes place. Using BackupBuddy can be your security blanket to give you the courage to update as soon as you see an update is available. Here’s a quick 1-2-3 to help you update your plugins, themes, and core WordPress.

  1. As soon as you see an update is available, press the one-click button to perform a backup of your site using BackupBuddy.
  2. Go to WordPress’ update screen and update everything that needs to be updated.
  3. If everything went well… you’re done. If anything didn’t work out, just use BackupBuddy’s restore capability to roll your site back to before the update.

There’s another reason to make sure you are updating your plugins and themes that has nothing to do with security. (This is a real example.) WordPress recently changed the way the media uploader handled the uploading and management of images in the admin area of WordPress. If you had a plugin or theme that uploaded images as part of a feature… guess what happens if you choose NOT to update your plugin… Your plugin now fails to work because WordPress changed the way images are uploaded.

The great thing about being involved in an open-source project (WordPress.org is an open-source project) is that thousands of developers are banging on the code and constantly moving the project forward. This means things will change over time. And to take advantage of the expanded capabilities, you MUST keep all your code up-to-date.

If this post was too long and you really didn’t want to read it (TL:DR), here is the summary. Always update your plugins, themes, and core WordPress otherwise you are shooting yourself in the foot!

Clean up your Posts, Categories and Tags

 

 

Last week’s Spring Cleaning tasks covered cleaning up your WordPress install. We covered the benefits of installing WordPress manually, how to clean up after a quick-install, the importance of upgrading WordPress, and how to customize WordPress for a client by cleaning out unnecessary blog functions.

This week’s tasks are focused on organizing existing site content. Today’s post deals with digging into your Posts, Categories and Tags. They’re not fun tasks (probably why they go undone, right?), but they’re easy and setting aside the time to finally tackle these things will be worth it. These tasks are especially helpful if your site is blog-oriented or you depend heavily on creating content.

Why? Future publishing will benefit from these organizational tasks by streamlining category and tag organization. Plus, revisiting old or forgotten content can mean a chance to update old information or an opportunity to get ideas for additional content based on the popularity or feedback of a post.

 

1.  Delete old or unpublished drafts.

 

Why? Really, they’re just unnecessary clutter.

Get started by visiting the Posts section from the WordPress dashboard. This birds-eye-view offers a super-quick way to scan a few important “clean-up” areas. From here, posts can be sorted into All | Published | Drafts.

Sort by Drafts to show all of the pending, unfinished or unpublished drafts. Consider whether any of these can be published and then clean these out.

2. Organize post categories and assign all posts a category.

 

Why? To optimize the archive and category view options of posts.

Again from the WordPress dashboard, visit Posts > Categories. Categories evolve over time and the life of your site, so taking time to evaluate your categories can help optimize the way posts are organized into archive views.

First, take a look at current categories. Note that this view offers the number of posts assigned to each. Which ones aren’t being used or have no posts assigned? Delete them. Next, think about which categories could be combined or need to be separated for the best usage.

Once you’ve organized your Categories, return again to Posts. Note the Categories column assigned to each post. Which ones were never categorized? Which ones could be better categorized? Make sure none of your posts are uncategorized.

3. Organize tags and assign tags to posts.

Why? Taking time to assign tags can increase site traffic.

From the WordPress dashboard, visit Posts > Tags.  From here, you’ll see an overview of your tag usage. (What’s your tag strategy? Visit this oldie-but-goodie What Are WordPress Tags? post for a few tips).

Remember that tags are intended to be words or very short phrases that accurately represent the post or page. Note how many tags have posts assigned to them and make sure all posts have them.

Whew, we made it! Stay tuned to the blog for a few more tips this week on cleaning up your existing site content. To view all of this month’s Spring Cleaning tasks, visit the WebDesign.com Spring Cleaning Page.

 

 

 

 

This Week at WebDesign.com

We’ve got a lot of great stuff in store for you this week at WebDesign.com.  We have courses for everybody from beginners to advanced developers.

Be sure to check out the free No-nonsense Guide to Managing Your Personal Finances – Session 1 webinar on Wednesday.  This webinar, lead by Michael Cady, Chief Financial Officer of Digimedia and former professor of accounting and finances, will teach you what you need to know to get your finances in order.

Also free this week is the Advanced Gravity Forms webinar in which you’ll learn how to take Gravity Forms to the next level.

And be sure to watch the blog this week for more Spring Cleaning tips!

Designing with Hype
May 08, 2012 – Tuesday – 3pm (CDT)
Overview: Tumult Hype’s keyframe-based animation system brings your content to life. Click “Record” and Tumult Hype watches your every move, automatically creating keyframes as needed. Or, if you’d prefer to be more hands-on, manually add, remove and re-arrange keyframes to fine-tune your content.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Requirements: Mac required for Hype
Registration Link: Visible to WebDesign.com members after log-in

iThemes.TV – WordPress 101
May 08, 2012 – Tuesday – 11am (CDT)
Overview: If you’re new to WordPress or simply thinking about making the switch from another CMS, this class is for you! Join us for our WordPress 101 series of webinars which will walk you step-by-step through the basics of WordPress. You’ll learn everything from installing the software to creating your first post. Sign up today!
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: Desire to use WordPress
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/973293658

No-nonsense Guide to Managing Your Personal Finances – Session 1
May 09, 2012 – Wednesday – Noon (CDT)
Overview: As part of our Make Waves campaign for 2012, “We Believe in Investing in People.” In this two-part series Michael Cady, Chief Financial Officer of Digimedia and former professor of accounting and finances, explains what it really means to budget and that a penny saved is NOT a penny earned. Join us as Michael changes lives, one penny at a time.
Instructor: Michael Cady
Length: 1 hour
Skill Level: Everyone
Requirements: No requirement
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/926123450

BluePrint Basics – Building an Upcoming Schedule Website
May 10, 2012 – Thursday – 2pm (CDT)
Overview: Build a Builder-powered website using the new Events block to create an interactive upcoming events/schedule
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour +
Skill Level: Beginner
Requirements: Knowledge of the Builder theme
Registration Link: Visible to WebDesign.com members after log-in

Advanced Gravity Forms
May 11, 2012 – Friday – 1pm (CDT)
Overview: Take Gravity Forms to the next level to create interactive forms, pass submitted data on to other fields, interact with 3rd party APIs, and much more.
Instructor: Benjamin Bradley
Length: 1 hour +
Skill Level: Intermediate
Requirements: Knowledge of Gravity Forms
Registration Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/559420106

Free Advanced Gravity Forms Training

On Friday, May 11th, at 1pm (CDT) WebDesign.com will be hosting a free Advanced Gravity Forms Training event.

Register here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/559420106

Gravity Forms is an absolute must-install plugin for every WordPress-powered site. Gravity Forms is so much more than just an easy to use form creator. Whether you want to create interactive multi-tiered forms, or sell Grandma’s latest crock-pot recipes, or enhance the user-registration experience, or require clients to sign-off (literally) on project milestones, or even revolutionize the way user’s generate and post content on your site… Gravity Forms has got you covered.

This free advanced training event is not a getting started class. This class is for people who want to take Gravity Forms to the next level. Do you want to harness the built-in conditional logic so that Gravity Forms does the heavy lifting for you? Do you want to learn how to pass submitted data on to other fields in the form? Do you want to learn how to work with external API’s to make Gravity Forms do even more? This this class is for you. This Friday, May 11th, at 1pm(CDT). Register your space here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/559420106.