BizzyCast

The Attention Economy is Free

Roxanne — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:51:32 +0000

Additional Formats: Apple TV | iPod | QuickTime | WMV | Mobile

In the Attention Economy (coined by Georg Franck), Fame often comes well before Fortune. Millions of techies and creatives are living out that popular book from the 80's, Do What You Love and The Money Will Follow. Watch this episode to start understanding how and why it makes sense to give things away on the internet.

Check out CC Chapman's, Managing the Gray podcast to learn more about the "Social Media Playground" and how it can affect your business.

Here's a related blog post over at Bare Feet Studios, How to be happy paying for stuff.

P.S. Welcome back to BizzyCast! We started audio and video podcasting back in 2005, however once we launched Beach Walks with Rox, we pretty much abandoned our BizzyCast episodes.

We're back in the game and very excited to re-starting the conversation with you. The internet is approaching hyperspeed, but over here, the chill is on as we do what we do best: make the hard things easy. Please hang in with us the first few days as all of our feeds get updated and the bugs get squashed.

Technorati Tags: attention, blog, howto, videoblog, business, roxannedarling, barefeetstudios, podcast, bizzycast

Rox Interview on Blog Squad Radio RE Internet TV

Roxanne — Sat, 05 May 2007 22:27:24 +0000

Click the triangle to listen to this audio podcast.
Right-click this link to download the MP3 file.
Duration: 34:50 • Size: 8.3 MB

I met Denise and Patsi when I was speaking at the BlogHer Business Conference in NYC a few months ago. They provide great support to small businesses who want to get into new media and are great examples of women who walk their talk.

Part of that is a weekly radio/podcast interview series. Another part is providing me permission to cross-post the interview on our feed. We are linking to their original file, so they can get the click-through credit, yet we are making it available to our audience, which is a win-win marketing action.

Here are some of the topics we covered:

What is an internet TV show? Review the different terminology: IPTV, Internet TV, podcasting, videoblogging, YouTube
Is there a business behind Beach Walks or what is the point of it exactly for you?
How are others using online video aka internet TV to support existing businesses or create new ones?
What sort of impact has Beach Walks had on your main company, Bare Feet Studios?
What are the differences or considerations for a company when considering blogging and audio or video podcasting?

Where can people go to find online video?
Links mentioned:
Blip.tv
Network2.tv
Fireant
Galacticast
Blogging and Beyond
Freevlog.org

iptv, blogsquad, beachwalks, videoblog, interview, business, roxannedarling, barefeetstudios, podcast

When Technology Fails, Who Pays?

Roxanne — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 23:09:20 +0000

[flv:http://bizzycast.barefeetmedia.com/video/bizzycast-who-pays.flv 320 240]

Right-click to download this video episode.
Duration: 7:56 • Size: 16 MB

Right-click to download this audio episode.
Duration: 7:56 • Size: 3.5 MB

I read a post (and partial rant) by Bart Cleveland over at AdAge blog last week. The server is down, he is the feeling hostage to the IT guy, and it ain't no fun. In fact, when technology fails, it causes a lot of waste and misery in the work place.

We work in computer networks all day every day. Our business depends on technology. When a machine crashes, when a drive fails, when software gets a bug, time is lost. For us, that time is also money. As a small company, we're still learning how to build in the accurate level of overhead to cover these unexpected failures in software and hardware. They are a real fact of business. Yet they are not anyone's fault most of the time. So until we can say, "Computer, run diagnostic program" (and it does!), who should bear the burden of the expense?

Links

Bart Cleveland Perspectives of running a small ad agency.
Bose Headphones I won't travel without them!
Foti Filter Another great traveler's aide; it moisturizes the air as it filters out pollutants and germs. I find it really helps maintain my health while traveling.
Where Did The Money Go: Easy Accounting Basics for the Business Owner Who Hates Numbers
iPod Nano Yum yum! My own little world inside my own little head. Great sound scape when traveling in crowded, noisy environments.

Technorati Tags:
technology, service. roxanne darling, business, software, microsoft, podcast, videocast, videoblog, vlog, health

Buying and Selling: Do you have a split personality?

Roxanne — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 23:08:15 +0000

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Duration: 12:06 • Size: 8.3 MB

Traditional thinking held that buyers and sellers were on opposites of the table, and "getting a good deal" meant having a winner and a loser. This leads to a split personality because we are all buyers and sellers.

Discussion Points

Buyers and sellers approach the transaction table from different, some would say opposite, points of view. I think that is a tad "last century." Let me explain why. These questions will orient the discussion for us.

Are you looking for short term benefits or long term gain?
Do you value "values" in a business relationship?
As a buyer, how important is your vendor's business to your ongoing success?

As a seller, how important is your buyer's satisfaction to your ongoing success?
Greed can be as useful as altruism. Engage each with attention and consciousness to reap the most benefits.

What's the Bottom Line for Your Business?
1. As a buyer and a seller, be aware of your preferences on the spectrum from altruism to greed. And beware of your default reaction when you are not operating in your comfort zone. We tend to go to a more extreme place, which can sabotage a transaction's success.
2. Do you unconsciously act like Jekyl and Hyde depending on if you are the buyer or seller? If so, you may be inadvertently creating more short term gain than long term relationships. I think that when the buyer and seller can be more neutral in the process, there is more room for a win-win negotiation.
3. Know your buying and selling preferences. Stand by them. Yet also weigh in the consequences of them, as the consequences are what stay with you after the deal is done.
  Links
  
  Bare Feet Shop
  Wayne Dyer
  Where Did the Money Go?
  
  Technorati Tags:
  buy, sell, Roxanne Darling, business, altruism, greed, podcast

Web 2.0: What Does It Mean For Your Business?

Roxanne — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 23:06:45 +0000

Right-click to download this episode.
Duration: 18:35 • Size: 8.9 MB

Some small businesses are just getting their first web site. Others are thinking about an upgrade. In either case, know the difference between Web 1.0 and 2.0 before you buy.

Discussion Points

It's about interactivity and powerful, painless networking
One Part Communication: Web 2.0 features people talking and writing about all kinds of topics, easily finding each other given improvements in the search engines.
One Part Technology: It's also heavily driven by the automatic linking, connecting and promoting that takes place automatically on RSS-enabled web sites.
Yields a quantum leap in return on investment with your web site.
The Power of Peer to Peer
It's all about the RSS baby (with hint of Austin Powers please.)
We're all busy. Give me an easy way to know when you've added something new on your site, without my having to a) remember to go back and b) look all over for what's new.
Be Found!
You no longer need to spend large amounts of money to advertise you, your products, your services.
You will be found much higher and easier on the search engines, if your site and your practice is Web 2.0. The technology of track-backs, pings, and leaving comments generates quality links back to you.
The ease of adding content keeps your site fresh and current, also loved by the search engines.
Links

Flickr
Mary's Blog
Tom Peters
The Washington Post
Bare Feet Shop

BL4YB: Bottom Line For Your Business

Web 1.0 - Your basic brochure site. It has your information, it doesn't change much, you don't have to pay it a lot of attention. It serves to provide a level of credibility: "Yes I am a real business. Go to my web site and see for yourself." Lower entry cost. Lower maintenance cost.

Web 2.0 - Your interactive, modern website. Users can use it as they wish. They can even leave comments or submit their own content (as articles or photos or both.) It's gonna demand more of your time and more of your money, but it's going to deliver vastly more ROI, and may even give you a shot at fame!

What is Web 2.0? by Tim O'Reilly
People Power vs. Google by Om Malik

Newbie Tip #1:
Start getting over your insecurities with interactivity and leave comments on other people's web sites. (Like this one for example.) It will automatically provide a high-quality link back to your site — which is good for building traffic to you!

Newbie Tip #2:
Want to subscribe to a web site? First, download the Firefox web browser*. Then, when you are on an RSS-enabled web site (which means it is ready for "Really Simple Syndication"), you'll see a little orange beacon icon in the lower right corner. Just click on it, and save it like you would a bookmark. Then, the bookmark will automatically display the 10 most recent articles posted on that web site.

Newbie Tip #3
It this podcast or these notes still sound like a bunch of hooey to you, please listen to the podcast where I spoke on a panel at the International Association of Business Communicators. We explained a lot of these things in details, and you will here lots of examples of how it can play out.

*Firefox is free, downloads and installs in about 2 minutes, will import your favorites (bookmarks) from IE, and will spare you from viruses and popup windows - for starters.

Tecnorati Tags:
web 2.0, web design. 2.0, RSS, business, network, peer-to-peer, podcast

Hawaii Association of Podcasters (HAP) Dinner [video]

Roxanne — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 23:06:02 +0000

[flv:http://bizzycast.barefeetmedia.com/video/hap-dinner-051201.flv 320 240]

Right-click to download this episode.
Duration: 5:56 • Size: 24.9 MB

Hawaii Association of Podcasters (HAP) gathered at Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar on December 1, 2005.

We finally set aside a few hours this past weekend to edit the video we took during the HAP gathering that happened almost 3 weeks ago. About 18 Oahu podcasters and podcasting fans turned up at Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar on December 1, 2005.

We had a little private room in the back just perfect for the group. The food and service were excellent and the conversation very lively. We shot about 45 minutes of tape and edited it down to almost 6 minutes of highlights. I manned the camera and Roxanne went around and asked everyone to plug their podcast/website.

jRoQ and Dr. Trey handed out CDs full of great music. JRoQ's "Get Down" provides the soundtrack for the video.

Podcaster sites in alphabetical order:

www.808talk.com
www.almostageek.com
www.bizzycast.com
www.bytemarks.org
www.digitalslob.com
www.doctortrey.com
www.flatearthventures.com
www.geeknewscentral.com
www.greatergoodradio.com
www.hawaiidiner.com
www.hawaiipodcasting.com
www.hawaiiup.com
www.hawaiiup.com/lost

hawaii, association, podcasters, video, dinner, gathering,

What is Your Technology Buying Style?

Roxanne — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 23:04:52 +0000

Right-click to download this episode.
Duration: 18:27 &Bull; Size: 8.8 MB

You may buy clothes or food with confidence, but how do you feel when it comes to buying technology?

Discussion Points

Thanks to the internet, you have many more buying choices than ever before.
But how do you sort your preferences?
And how do you prioritize benefits and features, at least some of which you don't even understand?
You can educate yourself considerably.
Of course that takes time, which you may not have in abundance.
And research skills, which may or may not be your forté.
You may also need to learn some new words in the process too.
Always ask for testimonials. Find out what it's really like to work with a particular vendor.
Price information is readily available.
Are you buying a commodity or not?
How do you know when to buy for price (all else is equal) or when to buy for quality? (When ROI is important.)
We don't think a business web site that is going to produce results should be considered a commodity purchase.
What's your buying style?
If you are fussy and care about all the little details, a custom project may be better suited to your personality.
If you just want the job done right, without having to give it a lot of attention, a pre-packaged plan may be the right answer.
Custom costs more, but if it suits you better, you are much more likely to be happy with the results.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Dollars

Roxanne — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 23:04:06 +0000

Right-click to download this episode.
Duration: 9:11 • Size: 4.4 MB

Many businesses are willing to invest time and money in high quality photography for print materials. We think it's just as important for the company web site.

The photos look so good I want to lick 'em. — M Schwartz

Discussion Points

Quality photographs tell us about your products efficiently and emotionally.
Poor quality pictures actually lower the value of what you are selling.
Your brand suffers when your web site is out of sync with your offline presence.
Use photos that make sense to the context of your pages.

Be sure the photos are processed correctly so they convey maximum clarity and beauty.

IN	OUT
Investing regularly in web site upgrades	Spending a lot of money on print materials
Having a professionally built web site	Having a friend or relative do your business web site
Upgrading your web platform as needed	Leaving your web site alone for years in a row

Featured Photography Sites

Getty Images
stock.xchng
istockphoto

UPDATE:
Since I originally posted this, Presentation Zen created a thorough review of online photo sites.

Using Your Web Site to Hire and Keep Employees

Roxanne — Sun, 28 Aug 2005 23:03:21 +0000

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Duration: 15:10 • Size: 7.3 MB

In the recent report of Pacific Business News' "Hawaii's Fastest Fifty," 24 business owners stated finding and keeping competent employees was their biggest business challenge. Here are some ways your web site can help.

The Bare Feet opinion is that there is a big difference between hiring good people and finding those who can help you grow your company. Just think about ourselves for a moment. Motivation to perform well is rather case-specific. When it is something we want to do, we can bust a move! But if it is something someone else put on the "honey-do" list, well, let's just say the motivation is slightly different. So your job when hiring, is not just to find good people, but also to show them why it's in their best interest to come work — with — not for you. The latter is so "last century!"

Three Success Factors in Recruiting

Define The Ideal Person for the Job Chances are you went into business because of some particular skill you have or some thing you love to do — and neither has anything to do with managing people. Make a detailed list of both the technical skills and the personal qualities that will enable this person to shine on the job. That will give them a sense of satisfaction and will generate results for you. If you are not sure, start by observing either yourself or people you have hired who are a good fit for the company. The more specific you can be, the easier it will be to find a good match.
Clearly Explain The Benefits of Working in Your Company Especially in tight labor markets like Hawaii, it is as important to sell yourself to your employees as to your customers. In fact, many HR consultants insist on thinking of employees as your "internal customers." Don't just focus on the money and the benefits. Most of us also want to know things like: what are the day to day activities; how much stress is in the work place; and is there more competition or cooperation?

Think of Employees as Bridges, Not Stepping Stones Do you and your employees share the same goals or are they at odds with each other? You'll be able to recruit and keep capable people if your success and theirs are pointed in the same direction. There is a dramatic increase in "peer to peer" relationships in the business world. You can use this increasingly level playing field to your advantage.
How Can the Internet Help?
Post Your Available Positions on Your Web Site Internet users tend to be slightly more educated than the average public. People who find you online are demonstrating more up to date tech skills and are taking a proactive approach to looking for suitable employment. The more specific your job listing is, the easier it will be for potential hires to pre-screen themselves. Plus, having your positions listed means you could actually be hiring from a potential customer base (people who already know and like your product or services) and it is a sign your company is strong and growing.
Make Sure Your Web Copy Is as Appealing to Employees as to Customers Your company web site can be a great recruiting tool. Make sure part of your messaging includes what a great work place you have created. The same qualities that help you stand out from your competitors can be leveraged to attract top notch employees.

Feature Happy, Successful Employees on Your Web Site Real people convey a much more compelling message than just "sales speak." Use your site to highlight the unique and competent people that are here to serve your customers. It's great messaging for potential hires as well as for developing customer relationships.
Links

Fastest 50 at Pacific Business News
Employees of the Month at Southwest Airlines

Technorati Tags: hiring, employees, small business, bizzycast, bare feet studios, roxanne darling,

Is Your WiFi Network Secure?

Roxanne — Fri, 15 Jul 2005 11:53:20 +0000

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Duration: 8:14 • Size: 3.9 MB

WiFi networks are increasingly popular — at home and in many business locations. Many people still overlook an important security feature: setting the network name and configuring a password. And in some places, the police are onto this!

Discussion Points

Though it's getting harder to find open, unsecured wifi networks, they still abound.
Give your network a name.

Give your network a password.

In many places, it's not legal to "steal" internet access from someone else's wireless network, even if it is not password-protected. What do you think about that? Should it be free for the taking or if it's not yours, leave it alone?
Links

Caught Stealing WiFi
Vote for BizzyCast at Podcast Awards
Bare Feet in the New Mexico Business Weekly (Free site registration required)

Technorati Tags: wifi, network, wireless, security, home business, small business, bizzycast, bare feet studios, roxanne darling

BizzyCast

The Attention Economy is Free

Additional Formats: Apple TV | iPod | QuickTime | WMV | Mobile

Rox Interview on Blog Squad Radio RE Internet TV

Here are some of the topics we covered:

When Technology Fails, Who Pays?

Links

Buying and Selling: Do you have a split personality?

Discussion Points

What's the Bottom Line for Your Business?

Links

Web 2.0: What Does It Mean For Your Business?

Discussion Points

Links

BL4YB: Bottom Line For Your Business

Hawaii Association of Podcasters (HAP) Dinner [video]

What is Your Technology Buying Style?

Discussion Points

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Dollars

Discussion Points

Featured Photography Sites

Using Your Web Site to Hire and Keep Employees

Three Success Factors in Recruiting

How Can the Internet Help?

Links

Is Your WiFi Network Secure?

Discussion Points

Links