What in the World is Going on in Digital Media? 2019 Edition

Do you like numbers? My son likes numbers. In fact, he loves counting forward and backward from ten, often. Every game of hide-and-seek begins with counting. And the perfect number of strawberries to eat (as far as he is concerned) is five. Always, five.  

So, what’s all this talk about numbers? Welllll, just last week Edison Research and Triton Digital released Infinite Dial 2019, their annual statistical report on all things digital media (including social media, smartphones, music streaming, and yes, even podcasting). Why is this important? Well, if you are someone working in the online space or hoping to in the near future, the way people are interacting and using digital media matters and will help you with creating your own digital media strategies for the months to come. 

Here’s one quick example: if you are about to ramp up social media efforts but unsure whether to post on Facebook versus Instagram, Facebook usage is down while Instagram usage is on the rise. However, keep in mind that based on the number of users, Facebook still surpasses Instagram. If you are on the fence as to where to post, some of the social media trends could help you determine where to align your best efforts. The report offers food for thought, as well as, encouragement for audio media and consumption. 

Here are some other interesting takeaways:

• LinkedIn usage remained exactly the same for 2017, 2018, and 2019. Which, based on my interpretation, means it’s a fairly stable platform and worth using to connect and network with professionals in your industry. Hop on the LinkedIn gravy train; stable isn’t a bad thing.

• Smart speaker ownership and use is up to 65 million estimated users (with Amazon Alexa beating out all of the other competition, currently). Soooo, if you have a podcast, submit your show to TuneIn or consider creating an Alexa Skill so that users can find and listen to your podcast on their smart speaker. Not sure how to go about doing so? I can help walk you through the steps.

• Podcasting familiarity and listening is on the rise with the average monthly listening (age 25-54) up to 39%, compared to 2018 when it was at 32%. According to the report, “Along with the increases in podcast listening, audiobook consumption also surged, indicating a trend towards increased spoken word audio consumption."

If you have a podcast, this means, keep going! If you are thinking about starting a podcast, consider getting it started. Regardless of the Infinite Dial report, podcasting has been around for well over a decade and isn’t going anywhere. If you have a message and want to share it, what are you waiting for?

If you want to geek out on all things digital media trends, read the full Infinite Dial 2019 report here. 

What are Podcast Show Notes and Are They Necessary?

What are podcast show notes, and are they even necessary? First, think of podcast show notes like a synopsis to a book. Show notes are text (typically set up as a blog post) that describe any individual podcast episode.  They can include information about the episode, guest information (including guest photo and bio), links to any resources or information mentioned in the episode, and highlight topics (usually as bullet points). Show notes can be short and concise or long and descriptive.

So are show notes actually necessary? Well, I can count the times I’ve personally looked at show notes after listening to a podcast on one hand.  And I can bet the same holds true for many other podcast listeners. BUT, by posting show notes on your website or blog, you greatly increase the SEO (search engine optimization) for your website. Search engines love new content, so for SEO alone, I encourage you to create show notes for your podcast episodes. Further, someone may stumble upon your website or blog for the first time and know nothing about you or your podcast. By posting show notes (even concise ones) you provide them the opportunity to get to learn more about you and your work through the power of words.

Organize Your Content and Podcast Files, Like a Pro!

Whether you are creating a podcast, writing blog posts, or writing a weekly or monthly newsletter, organization will help keep you on track. Organizing helps you: create a plan, keep things concise, and keep your goals within sight. 

A great way to organize your thoughts for content creation is by having a content creation calendar. You can find templates for content calendars all over the web. Co-schedule put one out at the end of 2018, and you can find that here.  Or you can simply create one using Google Calendar.

Putting your ideas down for blog posts, along with the dates they will be published, will help you map out your content in an easy and visual way. If calendars aren’t your thing, you can also create a Google Document and map out a month’s worth of content in it.

My final thought on organization relates to podcasting, specifically. Whenever I begin working with a new podcasting client, I create an episode tracking spreadsheet for them. The spreadsheet includes columns such as:

• Episode number

• Release date

• Episode title

• Guest name

• Guest email

• And, even the show notes url

The spreadsheet also includes columns for checking off items as they are done, for example: is the audio back from the editor, is the episode uploaded to Libsyn, or is the social media content scheduled?   The spreadsheet is our way of making sure we are hitting all aspects of production for their podcast. Additionally, the spreadsheet serves as a resource to look back upon for topic ideas, referencing links for sharing past episodes, and guest contact information.

There are other spreadsheets I create for clients to help keep things organized as it relates to their podcast too. This includes spreadsheets to track guest research, coordination and vetting, plus guest pitching.

I’ve created a template of the various spreadsheets you can use to organize your podcast episodes, guest coordination, guest research, vetting, and even podcast pitching.

👉 You can download it here

Remember, it’s not necessarily what you use to organize your podcast and content creation, but that you actually DO use the tools that work best for you. When you become organized, the work doesn’t seem so tedious or hard. In fact, it can become fun and light, because the focus of where you want to go is crystal clear and fully formed. Happy organizing!

YouTube Unflattering Thumbnail Images, Be Gone!

Whenever you upload a video to YouTube, the service automatically pulls three options for you to choose as a thumbnail image. The thumbnail is the image people see when scrolling through YouTube videos listings. In my experience, YouTube pulls the most unflattering thumbnails for your video. Like so:

Have no fear! There is a way around this and it’s fairly simple to accomplish!

The fix:
Create and then upload a custom thumbnail image for your YouTube Video.

Things to Know:

• YouTube Custom Thumbnail Image Specifications:1280 x 720

• Custom thumbnails don’t have to be painstakingly hard to create. I promise! Use something like Canva.com to create a super easy and eye-pleasing thumbnail.

I’ve created a short video tutorial to show you how to create and update your thumbnail image. Click the image below to watch!

Holiday Gift Guide for Entrepreneurs and Podcasters

Holiday Gift Guide Fun!

I’ve always loved the holiday season. Back when I began podcasting in 2008, every December I would create a special holiday podcast episode. One year I even ran something called, “24 Days of Wonder,” which was a special holiday celebration spread out over the course of 24 days.This year, since I don’t have an active podcast (but one is coming in 2019), I decided to put together a small holiday gift guide for you. The gift ideas included are perfect for clients, friends, and family members alike.

Fairytale Brownies: I’ve been sending FairyTale Brownies to clients, family, and associates since 2009. And, I’ve been everybody’s best friend since that time - coincidence? ;)  Seriously though, they are SCRUMPTIOUS.

Saltopia Infused Sea Salts: Buy local! I first came across Saltopia Salts while perusing my town’s farmer’s market on a summer day. Intrigued, I stopped by and had a very nice chat with Kimarie, the owner of Saltopia Salts. We chatted about the wonderful foodie finds in Portland, Maine, and Pike’s Market Place in Seattle. I purchased two jars of her gourmet salts that day and have been a fan ever since.

Etsy (crafty and handmade gifts): My mother has always been one crafty lady. I grew up watching her make amazing handmade gifts. My love for all things handmade is rooted within my DNA.  When I learned about Etsy in late 2008, I was giddy and full of an excitement. I mean, come on, Etsy is basically one big online craft fair. It took me quite a few years to start my own shop (you can see it here), but I’ve been an Etsy addict, ahem shopper, as soon as I discovered the site. That’s why Etsy is always one of my go-to places for unique and handmade gifts.

Of course, I also happen to surround myself with some pretty crafty friends! My bestie Jenifer is a talented watercolor artist (crafting Christmas and holidays cards) and amazing sewer. You can check out her one-of-a-kind cards and gifts right here.

Alex and Ani: Last year I was gifted an Alex and Ani Sister charm bracelet. It was the first time I learned of Alex and Ani. I’ve been in love with their jewelry ever since. You can shop online or usually find them at select gift shops.

Podcaster Gifts - I would be remiss if I didn’t include some items for podcasters (ahem, if that’s you, then add these items to YOUR list, pronto :) ).

ATR2100 USB Mic: Whether you are new to podcasting or have been in the industry for a while, you know that a lot of people tend to recommend the Blue Yeti Mics. They are okay mics, but honestly, not the best. The ATR2100 USB microphone is what I typically recommend to folks (and mention in my Podcasting Your Way course which launched in May 2018). At under $70, it’s definitely budget-friendly too.

Neewer Pop Filter: Pop filters help reduce plosives (think, “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers...”) when you speak. At $5.99 on Amazon, this pop filter is the perfect stocking stuffer for the podcaster in your life!

Sit-to-Stand Rolling Adjustable Height Laptop Cart with Storage: Hands down, this is my most favorite piece of office furniture to date! I had been wanting a standup desk for a while, but dang, they are expensive. Since my primary computer is a laptop anyway, I decided this was the next best thing. And my gosh, IT IS THE BEST! I can move it around (it has wheels), so that when I am actually recording a podcast, I can move it to an area of my home that has the best acoustics. Yes, I can take my desk and setup with me! Plus, I can sit OR stand. If you’ve been wanting a standup desk for your laptop, but don’t have the space or the cash - this baby will fulfill all of your hopes and dreams. You’re welcome.

How to Save an Image from a Google Document

Have you ever received a shared Google Document from a client or team member with the image inserted into the document? And this was a document in which you were in charge of putting the content onto a website (copy AND picture, included)?

And you thought, “Well, dang. There is no way to get this photo ‘out’ of the document, unless I just screenshot it.”

Welllllll, guess what? There IS a way to download and save images that are within a shared Google Document. I've created this super short (25 seconds) video that shows you how.   

Ice Cream Adventures

“There’s always room for ice cream.”  Some of the wisest words I’ve ever heard, from my dear Uncle John. As a child my nickname was DQ – short for Dairy Queen. Yes, I love ice cream*. Don’t judge. I’ve always wanted to start a blog about my love for ice cream and my ice cream adventures.  The thought of brain freeze and fat pants, stop me in my tracks. Every.single.time. Instead, this one post will highlight my ice cream adventures.  I’ll continue to update it. Bookmark it and check back often!

*Ice cream is a generalized term used in this post. Custard, gelato, and frozen yogurt are included. I am an equal opportunity frozen dessert eater.

Ice Cream Adventures USA My list of visited ice cream establishments, adventures and dessert places that serve up ice cream 

9th Annual NJ Ice Cream Festival, Toms River, NJ

Applegate Farm Ice Cream, Montclair, NJ

Ben & Jerry's, Savannah, GA

Bresler's Ice Cream, Venice, FL

Casino Theatre, Mt. Pocono, PA

Chocolate Box, Seattle, WA

Cliff's Homemade Ice Cream, Ledgewood, NJ

Frozen Peaks, Succasuna, NJ

The Gelato Fiasco, Portland ME

Gelotti Ice Cream, Paterson, NJ and West Caldwell, NJ

Ghiradelli Chocolate, San Francisco, CA

Gorgeous Gelato, Portland ME

Hilltop Farms, Broadheadsville, PA

Kohr Brothers, Point Pleasant and Seaside Heights, NJ

Marble Slab Creamery, San Antonio, TX

Mountain Brook Creamery, Birmingham, AL

Rita's, Flanders, NJ

Serendipity 3, New York, NY

Taylor's Ice Cream Parlor, Chester, NJ

The Franklin Fountain, Philadelphia, PA

Dairy Queen: Riverview, FL, Garfield, NJ, Paterson, NJ, Budd Lake, NJ, Byram, NJ, San Antonio, TX, somewhere in South Carolina along I95 and countless others.

Carvel: Clifton, NJ, West Paterson, NJ and countless others.

My Ice Cream Adventures Bucket List: Ben and Jerry's, Waterbury, VT

3 Ways to Re-purpose and Re-use Facebook Live Video

You've recorded a Facebook Live video.  The content, interaction, and vibe from the broadcast was on point. Now, you wish you could do it again and again? Well, for starters, if it was that inspiring and well-received, you might want to consider making Facebook Live videos a part of your weekly or monthly routine.

More than that, you can take that already broadcasted video and re-purpose and re-use it in various ways, thus enabling you to share that little bit of inspiration time and again.  

Step 1: Download the Facebook Live video from your Facebook group or page. Then you can:

• Re-distribute it as video or audio. For example, upload the video to your YouTube Channel for your YouTube Subscribers or, have your digital media consultant/editor export the audio of which you can then use for a podcast episode.

• Consider posting the video or audio on your website or blog.

Step 2: Get the video transcribed then you can:

• Write a blog post (or eNewsletter article) from the transcription. You may find you have enough content to write more than one post or article.

• Find great tips, quotes, informative posts, and/or one-liners for use in social media marketing from your content.

Think about it, you can spend 10-30 minutes on Facebook Live and then plan out 3 or more ways to re-use it for online content.  Not only is this a great way to save time, but a great opportunity to spread your message in a variety of ways.

Digital Media Tool Tip: Creating a YouTube Link with a Specific Start Time

Sometimes you may want to share a specific part of a YouTube video and skip the first 20 seconds or so. For example, it's Wednesday (aka Hump Day) and you want to share Geico's Happy Hump Day Camel video with your co-worker, Mike. But, you want the video to start at the sequence where the camel says, “Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike...what day is it, Mike?”  

There is a way to accomplish this manually, however, I recently found an online tool that makes creating a link to a specific start time in a YouTube video a snap!

All you have to do is go to: http://youtubetime.com/

1. Enter the URL of the YouTube Video
2. Enter the start time
3. Click, Get Link

You now have a URL that will link directly to your chosen start time for that video, like so:

It's ok to fall, as long as you get back up

If you look up the word klutz in the dictionary, you will see a picture of me. If you look up the same word in the thesaurus, you will see a picture of my mother. Yes, clumsiness runs in the family. When I was younger, my clumsiness was a result of some really bad choices. The good news? I learned many valuable lessons from said choices.

Lesson #1: Never jump over your brother while he is doing a breakdance move called the "worm". It will result in a busted chin and a scar to show for it many years later.   

Lesson #2: Never say yes, when your brother asks you this question: "Hey, Darlene, want to see a cool new karate move I learned?"

Otherwise, it will result in a karate kick to the face. As well as, one black eye, a very upset mother, and a seriously grounded brother.  If you happen to have dancing recital photos the next day, like I did, you will also have a photo momento to remember this "lesson"by. Oh yeah, this really happened.

That following summer, I also learned to stay out of my grandparents backyard when one of my brothers screamed "Fore!" while swinging a golf club.  I don't think I need to describe what happened next, now do I?

As years progressed, my choices did get better. But I still found myself tripping over my own two feet or simply just falling  - into friend's houses (no, I was not drunk) or even in the parking lot of a corporate complex, second day on the job.

I have kept my friends and co-workers very amused throughout the years.

Because of my many coordination fails,  I learned one of the most valuable lessons in life. When you fall, get back up. Whether you fall flat on your kiester or have some sort of setback - assess the situation, cry for a bit if you need too, but always get back up.   And if you can't, don't be afraid to ask for help.

Making choices and taking chances

As a child, I had a big mouth. During my wakeful hours, I never stopped talking. It's funny how certain things never change. A lot of what I said had to do with my hopes and dreams. I would tell my mother what I wanted to be when I grew up - a doctor, a nurse, an entertainer, a pediatric social worker, a writer, an English Lit. teacher, business owner, baker and the list goes on and on. My mother was (and still is) supportive of all of the things I've ever wanted to do and be.

However, as I grew older, I became more of an introvert when it came to sharing my hopes and dreams with people. In fact, there were some instances where reactions to my declarations were met with harsh criticism.  There was one time when I told a family friend, who was a nurse, that I wanted to be a nurse too. The response I received was, "Well, you're grades aren't really good enough. And it's a lot of hard work." I must have been about 12 or 13. Her words left me feeling deflated.

For a couple of years, I was undecided whether or not I wanted to become a nurse. That's when I found writing. I loved everything about it and decided I wanted to become a writer. Then again, my hopes and dreams of becoming a writer were deflated by harsh criticism from a high school teacher. I was such a sensitive and dramatic girl.

At around 17 years old, I found my voice again. This time, it was an inner voice and it said, "Who the heck cares what everyone else thinks or says? You can take chances, do whatever you want and become whatever you want to be. You've been through so much in your life already. Are you really going to let people bring you down?" The answer was no.

I started taking chances and doing whatever the heck I wanted, within reason, of course. Well, ok. Sometimes my choices were pretty darn stupid. Like the time I decided to cut my own hair. I practically chopped it all off. All.of.it.  

With regards to my future, I did enroll in college right after high school. Like many silly teenagers, I skipped a couple classes and didn't really apply myself. Bad choice, of course. About one week into the semester, I took my first anatomy and physiology class.

And you know what? I LOVED it. It was then and there that I decided I wanted to take the steps needed to follow my dream of working in the medical field.

The thing is, I've always been someone that's wanted results as quickly as possible. I left college (I returned many years later to pursue a degree) and went to school to become a medical assistant.

I was working at a hospital as a nurse's assistant about 8 months later.  I followed my own path, believed in myself and and was happier for it.

Over the years, I've continued to make many choices and have taken chances. Many of them, knowing  full well that I was taking a chance on myself and the future. That's the main takeaway here - take chances, for yourself and for your dreams. Don't ever let anyone tell you can't, because you actually can.

You may mess up (even cut all of your hair off, like I did). More importantly, you may very well realize you can do anything you want, with a little hard work and belief in yourself and your abilities.

Dandelions

When I was a young girl, dandelions were a thing of magic to me. During the summer months, one of my most favorite past times was to go out on the lawn and pick dandelions. Now it wasn't dandelions in the yellow weedy variety that I loved so much. No, it was when they turned to the wispy white flower that many dreams and wishes were made.  At least, my wishes and dreams.

I remember how exhilarating it was for me to pluck a dandelion from the green earth. While holding the dandelion in my hand with my legs crisscrossed beneath me; I would close my eyes, make a wish and then blow. I then watched in amazement as my wishes and dreams floated away into the sky.

Looking back, I wonder if I was hoping they would land in the place where dreams came true.

I did this every chance I could get. It was like blowing out birthday candles every warm, summer day when my actual birthday was in the fall.

The wishes were of the typical young child variety: I wished I'd get that super cool pink bicycle for my birthday, or that my mom would get me that Barbie I had seen at the store.

But most of the time they were, typically, these two wishes:

• I wished to become a nurse someday.

• I wished my family would live forever.

What I didn't know then, but I do know now is that for those two wishes in particular – one has much more to do with hard work and dedication and the other, is left up to fate, chance and life decisions.

We were all young once and in time learned these lessons.

Regardless, on the occasional summer day, when the dandelions are in full bloom, like snowballs on stems in the summer – I still have the urge to run outside, sit in the grass, pluck one of those babies from the ground, close my eyes and make a wish.

Is there any reason why you shouldn't host a podcast?

Up this month, I answer the question: “Is there any reason a person shouldn’t host their own podcast?” Find out the answer, as you listen to an excerpt of my interview with Terry Green of BizEase Support Solutions, which includes three things you should consider before starting a podcast.

Click here for the answer
(Length: 2 mins. 37 seconds)

The Value and Benefit of Starting a Podcast

What is the value and benefit of starting a podcast, with the business owner, speaker or coach in mind? Find out the answer, as you listen to an excerpt of my interview with Terry Green of BizEase Support Solutions.  PLUS, find out where you should be posting your podcast for the best exposure, search engine optimization and more! Click the audio player to listen:

Click here for the answer

In short: If you have a passion for a topic and a willingness to share your expertise, podcasting can be of value to you and your audience. Speakers and coaches, typically, have a message to share. Therefore, podcasting is a great platform for them to share said message in a fun and unique way. Podcasting is a great way to express oneself, be authentic and connect with your intended audience.