Archive for July, 2008

Shark and surfers picture debate: ‘mu:kaumedia verdict

Jul 15 | by Sam Deeks | news, smile
3 Comments

Is this a real picture of a terrifying killer monster shark leaping menacingly out of the water in a feeding frenzy just inches from unwary surfers?

Shark and surfers

Yes and no.

I know, this has nothing much to do with online marketing – except that it’s in the Daily Telegraph online and I’m contributing to the debate (since the Telegraph doesn’t let you comment on this story).

‘mu:kaumedia verdict? After a further bit of PhotoShopping, we say the shark movement is credible and the pictures are likely to be genuine – albeit not really that surprising, particularly when the text accompanying the ’shock’ story effectively says “Yeah, mate, we see ‘em all the time”.

Recession-beating advice for small businesses in Exeter

Jul 13 | by Sam Deeks | business insight, podcasts
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TBX1’s ‘Reverse Dragon’s Den’ was full of good advice for local businessmen and women

Networking events are what The Business Exchange do best, in my opinion – and their ‘Reverse Dragon’s Den’ events are good examples. Despite their slightly misleading title ( ‘Dragon’s Question Time’ might have been more accurate), the events went down well with Plymouth and Exeter businesses.

We enjoyed podcasting both events – despite being a little under-equipped for the task. In the event, a combination of a good mixing desk, quality mics, lots of experience and a bit of inventiveness resulted in some good podcasts. You can listen to all 16 questions from both events here.

The contributions from the panel on both days was excellent: insightful, challenging and sometimes searingly honest. Both panels were superbly chaired with the result that, in both cases, the events added up to considerably more than the sum of their parts.

Times are hard and they’re going to get harder. But if these events are anything to go by, Devon business is far from pessimistic. In fact, if you listen to these podcasts, you’ll hear the sound of Devon business rising to the challenge.

The general consensus afterwards was “More like this please”.

Q6 from TBX1’s ‘Reverse Dragon’s Den’ business networking event Plymouth, Devon

Jul 13 | by Sam Deeks | business insight, podcasts
2 Comments

More advice on how to manage your business through tough economic times

TBX1 Dragon's Den 1Image: Cassandra Photography

Q6 : Pete Lovett, Discovery Business Academy – “What are the key elements of geurilla marketing?”

[Click here to listen to the full 52 minute podcast (R-Click to download).]

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Wordpress Newsletter Plugin: design underway, sending on hold

Jul 9 | by Sam Deeks | how to, news
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Selecting an ‘option’ blew up the send part of the newsletter plugin. Meanwhile…

…I’ve been working on creating the ¡mu! newsletter itself. I’ve used the basic template supplied with the plugin and modified it a little (replacing the header graphic, resizing the text and removing the title from the header).

How did I do that? I copied the ‘Kubrick’ template folder that came with the plugin and picked around in the php files with a text editor, replacing existing image URLs with my own (made to the right size). I took out the code that placed the newsletter title on the header. I added some HTML somewhere to reduce the default font size.

And then I just went about adding text, links and images in sections. It’s just a basic, 2 column newsletter but it’s more than enough to be getting started with.

What would be great would be some way of creating a newsletter design simply and easily from your site’s active theme, without having to hand-alter it the way I have. For all I know it might already be possible to do that but easy or obvious it ain’t.

With a bit of luck, by next week I might have some idea how to fix whatever broke when I clicked the ‘delete unsubscribers from database’ button in the plugin’s ‘Option’s page. ShiftThis.net if there’s anything you can do to help (in plain, non-developer English) I’d appreciate it :-)

[Update: Newsletter working, ShiftThis support improving - see this post]

Idiot Guides: How to start blogging

Jul 8 | by Sam Deeks | blogging technique, how to
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‘mu:kaumedia presents an idiot’s guide how to start blogging

Start Blogging: Step 1

Decide why you want to do it.

Here are some good reasons (make sure you know which applies to you before you start)

• Raise your business profile in Google • Have a website that you’re in control of • Save money • Make money • Communicate with your employees and customers • Create a niche site for your Fawlty Towers obsession • Sell things • Share your memoirs • Create a site for your group or club • Promote a time-limited product or event

Continue Reading…

Idiot needs guide to WP Newsletter Plugin

Jul 7 | by Sam Deeks | GRRRR!!!, business insight
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Newsletter WP Newsletter plugin was fantastic – until I broke it. Help.

First impressions were good enough to make me part with money. The first thing I did was try out the ’subscribe to newsletter’ widget by putting it on the front page. Great.

Next step was to try to create a newsletter and test it. At this point, I hit the first snag. How do I create a template of my own? There’s no obvious way (unless you’re a software developer yourself) – so I picked apart the existing one and slightly changed it.

I then tried adding some content and pulling in a few blog posts and test-sending it to myself. It worked well (with the results above).

Then I lost my newsletter. Why? Because the damn ‘delete’ link is right next to the ‘edit’ link without a space between them. Whaaaaat?!!

Continue Reading…

The dangers of Google

Jul 6 | by Sam Deeks | business insight
3 Comments

Where do you fall on the Google Danger scale?

Five years ago, almost none of us were talking about Google. These days it’s all some people talk about and for some online businesses, it’s all there is. The following is our take on the 5 stages of Google – and the dangers that lurk there:

Continue Reading…

Q: Where can I sell my sales training CDs and mp3s online?

Jul 4 | by Sam Deeks | Benefits of podcasting, marketing, news
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A: You could let us sell your audio sales training programs out of our online store.

Why not? We’re on P1/ P2 Google for both ‘sales training mp3s‘ and ’sales training Cds’.

We’re interested in selling good quality material that promotes ethical selling. We won’t sell anything we haven’t listened to or viewed first. Got a great product but no outlet? Get in touch with us now via our contact page!

Why blog?

Jul 4 | by Sam Deeks | Benefits of blogging, business insight
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platformHere’s why a business should blog

First of all, forget the name ‘Blog’. It’s a silly name that totally undersells the thing we’re talking about.

What we’re talking about is user-friendly, post-Google web design for people who want to be in control of how they represent themselves online. For people who want to learn how to get found in Google by doing it themselves.

Continue Reading…

Business podcast: Plymouth’s business Dragons on beating the recession

Jul 4 | by Sam Deeks | business insight, podcasts
No Comments

Question 5 of 10 from ‘Reverse Dragon’s Den’ business panel in Plymouth

TBX1 Dragon's DenImage: Cassandra Photography

“Other than networking, what’s the single most effective low-cost way to promote small businesses?” Asks Ash Mashadi of Design Inspiration.

There will be another ‘Reverse Dragon’s Den’ free event in Exeter on 11th July. More details here.

Click here to download this podcast or use the player (below) to listen now. [Click here to listen to the full 52 minute podcast (R-Click to download).]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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