This makes me wonder if everything we can do online will, in fact, move to our cell phones. This post is actually doubling as an experiment. I’m typing this via the Blackberry for WordPress application I downloaded this evening. With my foray into mobile app programming, I got curious and Googled “blackberry app for wordpress”, and voila, there it was.

Therefore, for basic posting of text, images, audio and video, you can do it all from your cell phone. I also downloaded the twitter app for my new twitter feed (the old one was overrun with posts from strangers – I’ll explain another time), so I can do that on the run, too. Of course Facebook has an app, too.

I heard one digital media commentator discuss how AT&Ts decision to stop offering new subscribers unlimited internet access will force people to use wi-fi hot spots more often. He also said that iPhone users already have to use wi-fi for video conferencing. This, in his belief, will push for new wi-fi spots (which will offer on-the-spot coupons and ads while they have you within their signal).

This is a new way of living and doing business that seems to be picking up speed. The question is, how fast is it picking up speed?

I just received yet another email from some company telling me they have added IPhone and Android apps to their store of tools. So do we ignore this shift to mobile?

I believe that, depending on our market, we need to provide for late adopters who are still clinging to older types of media transfer, but start moving toward the inevitable shift to mobile.

What do you think? Reply to tell me:

What phone apps, if any, do you use?

If you are a business owner, what app would you want to create to make it easier for your customers to stay connected to you, see your brand more often, and/or do more business with you?

What features do you see remaining computer-bound, saving our desktops from virtual extinction?

I look forward to hearing your ideas. And thanks to those that sent me their thoughts on last week’s post. It was appreciated more than you will ever know!

Penny Haynes

http://www.PennyHaynes.com

A lot has changed over the past year since I wrote “101 Things To Do With Audio And Video (To Promote Your Business)“.  Different services have come and gone, and many are going through a lot of changes.  I can only imagine that you all have gone through myriad changes as well.  I’d love to know what you’re doing at this point in your life (and in the economy!).

I’ve been thinking about all I have created and done since I started Encouraging Audiobooks back in 2004.  My husband has never understood how I got to where I am now, since I started with such a simple idea, and it got a lot more complex (and expensive) as I went. 

I started with an idea to help people share encouraging, inspirational stories in audio book format.  The problem was that no one knew how to record audio books.  So that meant I had to change my services to include TEACHING how to record audio books.

Then I had to learn about promoting the audio books, and my idea was to create audio articles (sent out in an audiozine as opposed to an e-zine) with excerpts of books and audio versions of articles.  I was trying to find a way where people could download all of the audio files at one time and get them onto their mp3 players and cell phones at one time, but no luck.  And THEN came podcasting. 

So I changed from sending out links to my uploaded audio files to putting them on an RSS feed to create a podcast.  The creation of FeedBlitz made it easy to take my RSS feed podcast and turn it into an auto-subscription newsletter, complete with links to play and download the audio.  Things were picking up speed.

Of course, my audio clients wanted to learn about podcasting, along with a lot of other people, including Lifetime TV, who hired me as their Podcasting Consultant back in 2006.  So I created the Online International Podcasting Expos back in 2006, where people from all over the world came to learn podcasting.  I also started online classes on podcasting in small groups and one-on-one.

Then I started using my experience as a TV Director/Editor and picked up with creating video.  I found that my audio clients also wanted to learn about video creation, so video production classes started.

Next came my fascination with Podcast Directories, and the realization about what great Google search engine ranking tools they were.  What if I could create a Podcast Directory software for every niche available and sell them?  So I did.  It was a turnkey Podcast Directory that anyone could buy and have people submit their podcasts and blogs to it.  They could sell advertising or prime real estate on it – however they wanted to use it.  But it always put them at the top of their keywords for Google, without having to do a thing once it was in motion.

However, once that was set up, I realized that the only people that could post on the Directories were people that already knew how to podcast and blog.  What if I make another version of the Directory that let people upload audios, videos and articles directly to it?  That was the beginning of Online Community Magazines.  The idea behind this was to get offline businesses (perhaps through Chambers of Commerce) to get online with this one tool, which would also create an online magazine of all of their aggregate content.

Of course, this brought up another question.  How do I help people who don’t know HOW to create audio and video, and are scared of the process?  So now I had to create a multimedia production suite for novices, where everything was super easy, and even came with help from me.  That turned into the Commercial Creation Center.

You’d think I’d stop there, but much to my husband’s dismay, I didn’t.  I couldn’t.  Because there was something missing.  I had done hundreds of podcasts, and had the idea that it should be super simple to take all of those posts and create PDF ebooks from them, complete with links to play/download the audios and videos.

However, no such system existed.  So I HAD to create one.  That turned into RSSzine.  Plus, I liked the flash, turning page magazines, and thought it would be cool to do that affordably for people, so I added that service as well.   This fit perfectly with the Online Community Magazines, since I could now take all of everyone’s posts and create a monthly PDF and turning page version of it for the Magazine owners.  (See http://PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com for an example.)

Lastly, I figured I could make some extra money setting up WordPress web sites for people, and hosting their web sites, which is what I do at Multimedia Web Sites.

Now, it’s 2010, and after having taken a year off from creating, my mind is whirring about how to now create customizable mobile phone applications.  I have ideas (as always), but I’m not quite sure if my ideas are always marketable at that time.  I always seem to be about 3 years ahead of the curve.  Maybe I’ll be right on time now?

My other question is whether to start back up my last podcast, “Marketing With Audio And Video“.  I did that for a year and had great guests and feedback, but I’m just not sure if that will serve my purpose right now.

So that’s my update and initial return post.  I’d love to hear what you’ve been doing over the past year.  I’m going to open up the comments and let you share your journey as well, or if you have a post on your own blog, put that link in. 

Thanks for those of you who have stuck with me over the past year, and who have been great companions since this journey started in 2004.  Looking forward to reconnecting with you all soon.

Penny Haynes

http://www.PennyHaynes.com

So I am going to talk to (and ask) you about how, as an entrepreneur, you can balance a full-time job without losing your clients, and still working toward building your business in the future. Oh yeah, and how to do that and STILL keep a relationship with a husband/wife, children, parents and friends in tact…  I’ve been thinking a lot about this because my present job is due to end in August, and I want to be ready to go “great guns” when I come back home to roost.

I have found many great things about working outside the home over these past months. I forgot how much I enjoy working with people face to face, and how much I love administrative work (I’m an Office Operations Supervisor for Administration).  But the really interesting thing for me is meeting so many different people, many of whom are in the exact same position as me – they’re doing this job because they or their spouse lost their job, so they’re having to take a break from what they really love and are trained to do.

I’ve tried to be open to what God wants me to learn from this experience, but also WHO he wants me to meet, because it doesn’t matter WHAT you know if nobody knows you.   I’ve realized that these are incredibly talented people in their own rights, forced into low-paying jobs due to the economy. I’m keeping my eyes open for potential partners and teachers as well as potential clients.

Also, being thrown together with a group of people from different backgrounds and experiences allows you to conduct “focus groups”, if you will, to get feedback on ideas from people outside of your normal “niche” or “industry”.  Sometimes they may have negative criticism which will help you get past hurdles you didn’t know existed.  Others may give you the neccessary encouragement you need to continue when your spirits are low.

So if you are someone in the same position as I am, I want to encourage you to make the most of your time out of your home and make as many contacts as possible.  Find people that you can rely upon as sounding boards for future ideas or even present products, and how they can be marketed or improved.  I challenge you to be less concerned with “selling”, and more concerned with “learning” during this brief hiatus (or less all-consuming period) of your business.

The other thing I have found is the challenge to continue to keep existing clients happy and satisfied, while still working 40 hours, and trying to still pay attention to my extended family of loved ones. My husband appreciates all of the work I do to take care of the family, and recognizes my need to make sure I don’t lose existing clientele so I still have a business to which I can return after this job ends. But honestly, I fluctuate between sheer exhaustion (from my work schedule) and my consuming obsession with making my business a success.  That leaves very little “together” time for family.

I am also trying to walk that thin line between trusting God to meet our needs and hold my future, and doing everything I can to be a faithful steward of what He has provided for me.  I don’t want to “make things happen” that aren’t meant to be (and will be unprofitable and unfruitful), but I don’t want to be one of those spiritual people who believes all I have to do is sit still and everything will be handed to me on a silver platter.

So as I navigate these treacherous, yet necessary, waters of life right now, I’m trying to stay clear of shipwrecking relationships, and of letting my business boat rust and possibly sink from lack of attention.  I’d love for you to tell me how YOU are handling this duality required of you at this time. 

• Are you trying to keep your original business afloat while you try to bring in a steady paycheck at an outside job?
• Are you continuing your blog, podcast, twitter or facebook updates?
• Are you taking this time to re-evaluate your business and think about ways of changing your products or marketing plans?
• Have you found that people presently around you outside of the house may possibly play key roles in the future of your business?

Please share your stories with me.  It will be such a great encouragement to me, as WELL as an encouragement to those who read your comments.

And when you comment, please make sure to put a link to your business.  After all, we’re all in this together, and I’d love to add one more link back to your business while you’re taking care of business elsewhere.

Penny Haynes, http://PennyHaynes.com

Here is the one I created with my family – I love the way it turned out.  I laughed so hard (we are so NOT hip-hop, which is what makes it soooooo funny) I couldn’t breathe.  If you want to create your own (there are different versions) with up to five (5) people’s faces, click on the video to do it, or go to http://ElfYourself.com.

I don’t believe I recorded this until my Senior year in college, and in this version (which had to be edited, because we had a stumble toward the end and had to start that part over – hence the laughter all of a sudden, because you don’t hear the comment I jokingly made about the informality of the concert).  But on the piano is the Dove award-winning Kyle Matthews (singer, songwriter extraordinaire).  Well, he wasn’t a Dove award winner back then, but eventually was, and wrote the massive Christian hit “We Fall Down” that Bob Carlisle and others recorded (along with a lot more songs).

Another college friend recorded it on an album in the late 80′s or early 90′s – a jazz singer named Gwen Hughes.  She put her own twist on it, and it was an Atlanta Jazz Radio favorite for a while.  I think she said it was a good “makeout” hit?  hehehehehe

Anyway, I am going to post some of my old songs on here just so my Facebook friends can access them – they’re not for professional reasons.  So if you were at the coffeehouses way back when, these are for you.

Penny Haynes (aka Penny Pinkus)

Furman University, 1982-1986

Penny Haynes, http://OnlineCommunityMagazines.com

Everyone is at a different level of knowledge, and in a different situation.  Therefore, information that may be “old news” to one person can still be revelational to another person who is not that advanced.  So make sure that every post, podcast and page offers something of value to the people that will consume your content. 

Tip #9

Make every word and post count.  Give people something of practical value to use immediately every time you share something.  And don’t assume that they already know what you know – they probably don’t!  Gary Susman shares the following:

“If you’re blogging or podcasting to promote a business or your own personal brand, the questions you should be asking yourself are:

What can I post that will add value for the reader?

What do my readers want to know that I am equipped to tell them?

Which ongoing discussions of issues would be enhanced by the addition of my 2 cents?

Blogging, like any other social-media activity, is really participating in a conversation; it requires listening as well as speaking. That said, the adding value part is pretty easy, even if it’s just a quickie post linking to something posted elsewhere that you think would interest your readers.

You don’t have to be eloquent or long-winded, just enthusiastic about your subject. Whatever is topical in your field will keep you supplied with subject matter. It’s not important to blog frequently, just often enough so that readers know you’re engaged in what’s happening in your field, and that you have something new to offer whenever they visit.”

- Gary Susman Arts and Entertainment Journalist/Social Media Consultant, http://popculturewarrior.wordpress.com

Remember that what you post today could change someone else’s life tomorrow.  It could provide their “aha” moment and alter their business or personal direction.  So make the most of your knowledge, and share it as often as possible.

Penny Haynes, http://www.RSSzine.com

Subjects covered include:

• what is a podcast,
• what is the purpose of podcasting,
• step-by-step instructions for podcasting,
• audio book creation,
• password protected WordPress posts,
• quick installation of WordPress,
• what is an RSS feed,
• how long should your podcast be,
• software to use,
• how to re-purpose and re-package your contact.

Links discussed:

• http://1stPod.com
• http://DigitalBusinessBooks.com
• http://CommercialCreationCenter.com
• http://RSSzine.com

We are bombarded by tons of information every day, but sometimes something just sticks out and you suddenly pay attention to it.  Personally, I believe that our subconscious is always at work, seeing everything and filtering out the things we don’t want to pay attention to.  In the previous tips we talked about changing your mindset to see things you normally don’t see.  In this tip, we’re talking about following your instinct – and a topic – that just seems to come to you.

TIP # 8

Go with your gut (and interests) and start there.  Then cluster related words and expand your ideas.  Before you know it, you’ll have a series in the works!

“There’s never a lack of subjects to write about. Keep your eyes open and trust your instinct. If something interesting jumps out at you, take note. Literally.

Read the newspaper and circle “faits divers” noteworthy items that catch your eye. Ask yourself why it is those particularly snippets of news made you stop. See if there’s a link to an area of expertise you, or someone else has, take it from there.

“Clustering” helps. Circle a word and write as many associative words around the central one. Next do the same for each of those words. Go on until there’s a shift in your consciousness, the AHA! moment – the instance when you know what it is you want to say.

If you want to stay ahead of local reporters, read newspapers of countries in a different time zone. Always trust your guts and instinct and you’ll hook’em baby!”

– Judith Van Praag author/journalist, artist/designer, public speaker http://hopefilledjars.blogspot.com/

I like Find-A-Word puzzles – always have, since I was a kid.  I like to look at all of the words in the list and then look at the puzzle to see what “jumps” out at me.  I clear out as many words as possible that way. 

Then, I systematically look for each individual word, BUT I do it with the thought that my subconscious has already seen that word, and will show me approximately where it is. 

95% of the time, it works, so I know the subconscious is accumulating information that the conscious mind is not paying attention to.  So why not put that to work in your content creation?

Penny Haynes, http://www.RSSzine.com