My first blog post from the iPad 3G

Posted by Steinar on Apr 30, 2010 in Blog, Marketing | 0 comments

So, I’ve had my iPad 3G for a couple hours and thought it was only appropriate to kick things off with a blog post using the WordPress app. Actually I already posted a couple videos on YouTube, including the Fedex delivery man dropping off my iPad and another video of the all important unboxing.

I’m an avid Apple user so the iPad is really a very logical extension of my regular workflow. I especially like the ability to boot up immediately and get straight to work vs. waiting for my Macbook to warm up.  Plus the battery lasts up to 10 hours so it’s great in terms of working in remote locations and while on the go.

I’m most interested in the productivity elements of the iPad. Quick access, remote computing, connectivity to my home desktop. With 3G access, I’ll be able to do this literally from the highway. Plus if I need to show something online to a client in a pinch, it’s much faster and impressive to do so on the iPad vs the iPhone or MacBook.

Some of the apps I’m starting with include WordPress, Twitteriffic and Audio Boo. These allow me to publish text and audio based blog posts and engage folks on Twitter. With MobileMe and Safari, I can quickly find and share content online using Ping.fm in my bookmarks. It’s really a great experience.

So, that’s it for now. How are you using your iPad?  What business apps do you recommend?

Create Video Content to Engage Your Readers Online

Posted by Steinar on Feb 18, 2010 in Blog, Marketing | 0 comments

Creating videos to engage your readers is a great tactic you should consider if you manage a blog or would like to take your online communications strategy to the next level.

Publishing online video has vastly improved over the years and for a minimal investment you can easily shoot, upload and share video on the fly.  The two biggest barriers I most often see are 1) fear of criticism and 2) assumption that video takes a long time to produce.

I’ll admit, shooting video takes some nerve.  My advice is to practice.  If you need to, shoot a video everyday for 30 days and then start publishing.  This will give you the chance to become familiar with the tools and find your voice or individual level of comfort.

In terms of time required – true video can take longer than simply typing out a new blog post.  However, that doesn’t need to be the case if you’re willing to sacrifice perfection for efficiency.  You can easily shoot and post video right within Youtube or use a tool such as Seesmic.

So, what’s your experience been shooting video and what’s the reaction you’re getting from others?

A popular subject – How to Podcast from your Mac

Posted by Steinar on Feb 16, 2010 in Blog, Marketing | 2 comments

Based on the traffic, comments, and backlinks I’m seeing, my series on how to podcast from your Mac is relatively popular.  The numbers aren’t staggering but nearly 1000 visitors have come here to learn exactly how this all works.

So, here’s a summary of where we are in the series and what’s next.

• Part I – How to Podcast from Your Mac (equipment and software)
• Part II – How to Podcast from Your Mac (GarageBand)
• Part III – How to Podcast from Your Mac (Recording Skype Conversations and Interviews)
• Part IV – How to Podcast from Your Mac (iWeb & iTunes)

You can also watch these on my YouTube Playlist: How to Podcast from Your Mac.

In upcoming episodes, I’ll cover:

• How to host your podcast on WordPress and publish to iTunes
• How to publish a video podcast from your Mac
• How to include video, audio and pdf’s in your podcast
• How to publicize your podcast on other podcasting networks beyond iTunes

Any other topics you would like me to explain on this subject?

Also, please subscribe to my RSS feed and newsletter to stay informed when these new episodes release.

The Future of the URL Shortener and All Those Links We Are Creating

Posted by Steinar on Jan 17, 2010 in Blog, Marketing | 0 comments

Everyone is getting into the URL shortening game these days. Google, YouTube, and Facebook are just a few joining the likes of the established players such as Bit.ly. And now Microsoft is jumping in. But there’s something weird about their URL.

via Fa.il: Bing’s URL Shortener Is Longer Than Bing’s Own Domain.

Seems like every link you see these days has been shortened by one of the popular URL shorteners, such as bit.ly or tinyurl.  These services are great, especially when using a social network like Twitter where messages are limited to 140 characters.

It was inevitable that Microsoft would get in on the game, but it raises an important question.  What happens to all those links when one of these URL shortener services goes under?

I see a couple major implications:

1. all your links old become broken
2. any search engine optimization benefit you enjoyed would now vanish

If you are a casual user of the Internet and social media, this is probably no big deal.  But companies or individuals investing in the business of driving traffic online should beware.  The rapid proliferation of URL shorteners should be a clue that ultimately some will not survive.

And then what?

Do you use URL shorteners?  Have you considered the potential risks of handing control of your links over to a 3rd party?

Mobile Phones Will Serve as the Online Content Consumption Platform of Choice by 2013

Posted by Steinar on Jan 14, 2010 in Blog, Marketing | 0 comments

More evidence today from Gartner that mobile phones will serve as the online content consumption platform of choice by 2013.  Is your company preparing for the shift?  It’s happening now, so get on-board.

By 2013, mobile phones could easily surpass PCs as the way most people hop onto the Web. Gartner’s statistics show that the total number of PCs will reach 1.78 billion in three years, while the number of smartphones and Web-enabled phones will shoot past 1.82 billion units and continue to climb after that. This trend will force more Web sites to revamp their pages to make them easier to surf on a mobile gadget.

via Smartphones to dominate PCs in Gartner forecast | Business Tech – CNET News.

Consider the following tactics to make your site mobile friendly:

• Create a mobile version of your website or if you’re using WordPress, install a mobile theme such as WP-Touch.
• Use mobile friendly video, not flash.  YouTube is a great choice and now supports high-definition.  Some services, such as Vimeo, don’t play nice on many devices, including the iPhone.
• Understand the bandwidth and screen size limitations (and opportunities) of mobile devices.  Large images, files and other on-page elements create a barrier for users.
• Consider more new media – audio and video – instead of just text.  Text is difficult to read in some cases if not properly formatted, whereas optimized audio and video can potentially get your message across faster and with greater impact.
• Use a website statistics analysis tool, such as Google Analytics to track visitor devices and navigation.  You can learn a great deal about their behavior and tweak your content appropriately.

What are your plans to meet the needs of mobile users?  What’s working for you?