Website 101 Podcast

In this episode we do a brief recap of Season 2 and discuss upcoming episodes and guests in Season 3. Show Links More Website 101 Podcast Email the Podcast! Twitter Sean on LinkedIn Mike on LinkedIn  

In this episode we talk with Mark Poppen, owner of Funky Moose Records, about running a ecommerce website with physical product using shopify. Mark provides some history and background into his decision to run a used record business Talks about his decision not to use Opencart. Wordpress and WooCommerce - not as simple as Shopify It's better to use Shopify payments as there is no extra charge, but...

In this episode Sean and Mike discuss the ins and outs of photography and stock photos for your website. How to choose imagery, where to find it, how to edit it and more. How to choose the correct image style of photo - illustration? black and white? bright? dark? mood? Be aware of authenticity cropping photos Where to find images or photos Tips for taking your own photos licensing and model relea...

In this episode we talk with Guarav Iyer all about copy editing and writing. Guarav has extensive experience with professional writing including a background in journalism, including writing for the Motley Fool. Guarav discusses the difference between a copy editor and a copy writer. We also get into the Oxford Comma. Next we address why you woul.d want to hire a copy writer instead of writing you...

In this episode, learn about the MVP approach to web development. Hosts Mike Mellus and Sean Smith discuss the benefits of launching a website with minimal features and gradually adding more over time. We discuss what an MVP is as well as the pros and cons of taking an MVP approach to your company website. We also talk about examples of MVP sites we've worked with including this very podcast site....

In this second episode on web jargon Sean and Mike explain web terminology that every website owner should be familiar with. This will help when working with a developer or when DIY your website. Jargon that we explain include: HTML, CSS, Javascript Theme User testing / usability testing CTA / Call to Action Conversion favicon Cache / cache busting wireframe / mockup Discovery Above the fold Cooki...

In this episode Sean and Mike explain web jargon that every website owner should be familiar with. This will help when working with a developer or when DIY your website. Jargon that we explain include: Host, web space & bandwidth Shared Hosting, VPS, Dedicated domain, domain registrar DNS, A Record, MX Record CMS SSL, HTTPS Accessibility Site map 404 Page XML site map Analytics Usability, user...

In this episode Sean Smith and Mike Mella discuss how much a website costs and why the real answer is "It Depends" This episode marks the beginning of Mike joining the podcast as co-host. We start off by comparing a website to a car. This comparison works well because cars like websites have a wide range of costs and it all comes down to the number of features and quality of the final pr...

In this episode I talk with Angie Herrara of Block 81 about how to choose a web developer or agency. This could be due to your relationship with your current developer isn't working out or because your business website needs have grown beyond what you can do by yourself. Price is not the bottom line you should focus on. Your focus should be on does the web developer try to understand your bus...

Nevin Lyne and Sean discuss the ins and outs of webhosting, including shared hosting, vps hosting, dedicated hosting, and recommendations of offsite backups. Nevin has been running Arcus Tech for 17 years, which makes it one of the longest running web hosting companies ever. We talk about the various types of hosting including: shared hosting, VPS hosting, and Dedicated hosting and when to choose...

An introduction to the topics in Season 2 and a new co-host starting in episode 4. In this espisode Sean introduces Mike Mella our new co-host for season two. We also give a brief summary of the episodes for each episode. Finally we discuss a fun and exciting episode we have planned on the road. Looking forward to season 2. Show Links Craft CMS Dot All Conference More Website 101 Podcast Email the...

In this episode I give a brief wrap up of season 1 and a teaser of what's coming in Season 2. A summary of season 1 and a hint of what's coming up for season 2 including a release date of late June or early July. Thank you for listening. Show Links Caffeine Creations More Website 101 Podcast Email the Podcast! Twitter Sean on LinkedIn  

In this episode we discuss the pros and cons of do it yourself (DIY) vs a custom bespoke design. We also talk about when DIY is the correct approach and when it may be time to switch from DIY to a bespoke website. DIY may be unpolished and unprofessional. With an established business that doesn't already have a website, DIY is probably the wrong choice as the wrong decisions could negatively impac...

In this episode I talk with Emily Lewis and Lea Alcantara about website accessibility. What it is, why it's important, and how it is more than just websites for blind people. Emily and Lea start off by providing a definition and example of what accessibility is related to websites. Accessibility is more than making websites accessibility and they also address isssues of why it's a good busine...

Explore the secrets of high-converting landing pages, their importance in marketing campaigns, and best practices from industry expert Isaac Brudansky. Isaac defines what a landing page is and when you would create a landing page for a specific campaign or market. We also talk about what makes a successful landing page, successful. What is a conversion and the different typs of conversions that yo...

What is PR and Marketing - a look at the traditional approach and then a discussion of how Lyndon is turning that approach upside down. There were a couple of technical issues from 30:00 to 31:50 resulting in some overlapping voices. Once past this section everything is back to normal. Public relations is the process of building strong mutually beneficial relationships between a stakeholder and an...

Learn about the basics of PPC advertising from Dan Wood, a digital marketing expert. Discover how PPC works, what it costs, and how you can start driving traffic to your website today. Dan starts by explaining what PPC is and how it helps generate traffic including the difference between organic and paid traffic. Search intent is very important. Google wants to show results to what the user is sea...

A discussion with Luke Stevens talking about the basics of SEO including advice on how to improve your SEO as well as what to avoid and how to choose an SEO specialist. In this interview with Luke Stevens we discussed SEO. We began with a definition of what SEO is and then some general ideas on building your content and expertise to improve your results. We also talked about E.A.T which is Experti...

In this episode Andrew and I talk about why websites need to be continually developed and maintained contrary to expectations of one and done. A lot of businesses tend to ignore the maintenance on their website and look at it like it's a one and done project. The expectation that a website will work without maintenance is unrealistic. Maintenance doesn't always have a tangible benefit that you can...

In this episode of Website 101 Podcast, Sean Smith and Mike Mele discuss the importance of usability testing in website design, the dangers of taking shortcuts like using pre-designed themes and carousels, and the importance of custom microcopy for your website. Learn from an expert how to create a user-friendly website that truly represents your brand. We talk about some things that businesses of...

In this episode of Website 101, Sean Smith talks to Penny Olorenshaw about the importance of website planning and strategy. Learn how to identify your target audience, create a site that resonates with visitors, and optimize for maximum impact. The website is for the client not for you. It should be addressing what your potential clients are looking for. Take some time to plan your website and onl...

In this episode I talk about the guests, topics and format of the show. An introduction to the podcast, the goal of the podcast, the format and the target audience. A brief introduction to Sean, the host of Website 101 Podcast. Advice for both DIY website owners and for those working with a web professional. I hope you enjoy the show and continue to listen. If you have any questions or suggestions...