New Partnership with dStrategy Media

After successful collaborations in 2013, ReadyGo Media is pleased to announce a continued partnership with dStrategy Media.

“Joanne’s blogging for Digital Strategy Conference Vancouver 2013 helped drive heaps of website traffic for us; it’s a great case study. We’ve since hired two people to do what Joanne did for us on her own,” says Kelly Kubrick, co-founder and chair dStrategy Media. “We’re thrilled to be working with ReadyGo Media again, this time for eMarketing services.”

ReadyGo Media is dStrategy’s official eMarketing firm promoting Digital Strategy Conference 2014. We’re helping get the word out to the right audience while building credibility  and driving growth through banner and landing page design, copywriting, tagging, email marketing, calendar promotions, paid media management, web design, social media, analytics, press releases and more.

Joanne Probyn speaks with Jimmy Flores on YouTube Marketing

Learn how to:

• Create content strategies that increase views
• Have your video found on YouTube
• Achieve the most from your promotional efforts
• Develop valuable, engaging content
• Grow a community of subscribers

Joanne Probyn, founder and digital strategist of ReadyGo Media, speaks with Jimmy Flores from Madrid on YouTube video marketing.

Jimmy is the co-founder of iDaccion.TV, a global community of Spanish speaking entrepreneurs and the founder of Yo Coso, a Spanish speaking YouTube textile training channel with over 13,000 subscribers and 2 million views.

ReadyGo Media is digital marketing and communications agency based in Vancouver, Canada. The Business ProCast features interviews with business and not-for-profit leaders connecting you with the people and information you need to start and grow your business.

How to Record a Live Video Webcast Interview with Skype

Videos are shared on social media 12x more often than photos and images combined.*

Creating a webcast is smart marketing. It’s also easy and fun.

Here’s how to record a Skype interview on a Mac computer.

You’ll need:

1. Skype. Install Skype to your laptop. Skype is VoIP software that lives in your Apps folder and allows you to have a free, live conversation with anyone who has an internet connection. How to install Skype on your iPhone
2. Mac laptop. I used a MacBook Pro, including iSight (Apple’s internal webcam).
3. Good lighting. Ideally, lamps are placed above, in front, and 45 degrees from your face. I used some multi-light floor lamps–which did the trick. It is best to use professional spotlights, if available. Natural lighting works but can be inconsistent.
4. A good mic. It is worthwhile to invest in a mic. I purchased the Blue Snowball from Costco for $67.99. It is well designed with a modern 50s style. It easily switches from recording voice to music. Many say Blue Snowball is the best entry level, podcasting mic. It is recommended by Facebook expert Mari Smith. Results were well-rounded, clear sound. However, I did find it a bit soft. I’m sure with some more tweaking I can improve it. If you’re using an iPhone, a headset is much better than a built-in mic.
5. Call Recorder by ecamm for $19.95 enables you to record video calls from within Skype. That may be enough. For the next quality level, you’ll need the following…
6. Screenflow by Telestream for $99 for editing color, sound, and graphics. Save 10% by using the Telestream Screenflow discount code GEEK10OFF.

Special thanks to Jimmy Flores Co-founder IDaccion.TV, a community of spanish speaking entrepreneurs from around the world.  Jimmy says,”Your content can change the world. Go and build it.”

Hire ReadyGo Media to produce your webcast

Joanne would be delighted to conduct an interview on your behalf. Interviews can be with people anywhere in the world. You’ll get a webcast video that your organization can share in social media channels like YouTube–leading to increased brand awareness and website traffic. For more information, contact Joanne Probyn today.

* Data by Simply Measured for M Booth

ReadyGo Media Launches a Business Interview Podcast

ReadyGo Media is launching a new Skype webcast video series. Joanne Probyn, founder and digital strategist of ReadyGo Media, will interview business and not-for-profit leaders in order to help you get the information you need to start and grow your business.

The first interview, scheduled to be released next week, features Deborah Chatterton, communications consultant with Vancity Credit Union and Vice President of the Canadian Public Relations Society Vancouver (CPRS). Deborah will discuss her recent trip to Uganda on behalf of the Canadian Co-operative Association.

The series begins with the theme of Collaboration.

Name the Series | Get a Giftcard

Help! The new business interview series needs a name. Do you have a suggestion?

If your idea is chosen, you’ll get a $10 Starbucks e-gift as a small token of our appreciation. Thanks in advance for your idea.

Thanks in advance for your collaboration.

Good things happen when we work together. 

Image credit: lumaxart

10 Worst Home Page Mistakes

Your web site is the centerpiece of your brand. It’s often your first and only chance to make a good impression. Visitors decide in 5-8 seconds if they will stay or go. Here’s a few lessons from those that failed in keeping our attention.

1. No hooks to entice the visitor to dig deeper.
   People go to your web site because they hope you’ll solve a problem, provide an insight, or entertain them. Offer your customers a “hook” or “bait” relating to why they came to your site. This link should connect them to relevant content.
2. You don’t immediately speak to your customers’ wants and needs.
   Even a clever “hook” will fail if you don’t speak to their needs. Have you ever actually asked them? Understand the top three reasons why they go to your web site and make these easy to find.
3. You welcome your visitor.
   Your intentions are good but you may delay your visitors from learning about your company. You have 5-8 seconds. Explain what you do and how they will benefit from working with you instead. Some call this a value proposition.
4. No free resources.
   Free resources are a very pervasive marketing strategy. Do you offer your clients scores of juicy resources and value-packed content? People are always looking for free stuff. To give is to receive.
5. Title isn’t descriptive or Search Engine Optimized.
   “Index” in the title (top of browser) is like calling your company “Name”. Most people put their company name up top. Titles offer an easy free way to improve SEO. Include keywords that describe your business, a tagline, key services and your city. Nielsen/NetRatings claim 24.4 percent of searches include the city. Here’s the HTML code: <TITLE>Put your descriptive title here.</TITLE>
6. No tagline.
   A catch phrase (three to eight words) at the top of your site is an excellent way to communicate what you do and how your customer will benefit from working with you. Help your visitor answer “Where am I and what can I do here?” and you’re golden.
7. No Blog
   Blogs are excellent for SEO and building your reputation as an expert in your field. Blog 3-5 times a week? Pat yourself on the back. Rarely or don’t blog? Think again. The payback is opportunities and leads. No time? Outsource it or publish a few lines or even a picture. It doesn’t always have to be an in-depth article. New content keeps ’em comin’.
8. Mystery Navigation and Flash Introductions
   People will leave if they have to guess what to do next or if something is tricky click on. Just because things move, doesn’t make them good. It may seem impressive but it often delays, frustrates and confuses. Content must be relevant and delivered efficiently. Aim for predictable instead.
9. Your design isn’t distinctive.
   Stand out from the crowd and be different. Communicate your brand’s message. TIP: Avoid the temptation to offer many products or services. It dilutes your brand because it’s confusing. Aim to specialize instead.
10. Not telling people what your services are.
    Learn what your clients need to motivate them to make a commitment. Do you have a services page? You’re on the right track. If it’s loaded with answers to questions they often ask you, enjoy a gold star! A bulleted list is helpful but can leave people wanting more. Give them insight into the process of working with you. Include packages.

BONUS You speak in your words, not your clients.
Mirror your client’s style. Speak in their words and to their needs. Your messages will be understood and have an impact. Write to connect. Value their time and avoid unnecessary details.

Discover how we can partner to create a much better web site that generates scores of leads, builds customer relationships and creates massive profit. Contact us today.

Download PDF to forward or print.

Thanks to Purpleslog for the “Burning Money” image.

Google Advice: What Now? What Next?

Dennis Woodside at The Paley Center for Media, March 16, 2010.

Google Advice: What Now? What Next?

I just finished watching Fora.tv, one of my favorite websites. Barbara Walters eloquently introduced Dennis Woodside, Google’s VP of Americas Operations. He spoke on advertising, technology and his work with Google.

Watch the Presentation on Fora.TV

One of his roles is to help large organizations understand what’s next in technology (mobile, tablets, web books) and how to recreate the online successes of their flourishing brands.  Often one division will experience success while others lag. With more and more people spending their lives online, it’s no wonder the phrase “getting in front of the consumer” was frequently used. People are very sophisticated in their research and will often arrive at your website or store knowing more about your product or service than the salesperson.

Mr. Woodside asked of businesses “what kind of web experience are you trying to create?” We are beyond the online brochure and playing at a higher level of interaction now. He believes with over 40 million US users looking at YouTube’s home page, video is a powerful method of reaching and engaging consumers. I couldn’t agree more. It’s also my understanding that video search isn’t as saturated and therefore offers great SEO benefits.

There were a few questions on privacy. “With a greater understanding of people’s needs, we can serve them better” is his answer in a nutshell. “Who wouldn’t want to see an ad for a car if you are in the market to buy?” On the other hand he says technology is there to assist. “It can create opportunities or it can be a bad thing. We’ll continue to struggle with this for some time.” True. We do now have the power to serve our customers better. We have the ability to test which ad works instantly. It’s a unique medium because we can understand our return on advertising investment.

Technology continues to invade our privacy for better or for worse. He mentioned “FourSquare“ a few times which seems to be a website application that helps you can connect instantly with people, places, products and services near you, wherever you are, from your mobile phone. I heard about something similar last year at WordCamp. I’m sure we’ll see a lot more of this type of social networking to come.

What about open source and closed source (another shift driven by Web 2.0’s sharing nature)? How do we monetize when so much is free? TV Everywhere was referenced. Mr. Woodside delivered no quick solutions. With a sense of leadership, he instead offered the perspective on journalism that more people than ever are better read because of this change. It is suggested that while there may be discomfort, that in the long term we are better off. He assured us that monetizing would naturally follow people’s preferences. Google will continue to support with display advertising in the meantime.

My takeaways? Big change continues to be underway shifting the entire economic structure we have grown so comfortable with. The good news? If you’re looking forward you’ll find opportunities. Get online with video and think local (mobile, tablets, web books, social networking and local search).