Camp Tech Podcast with Avery Swartz

On today's episode, fellow Camp Tech colleague Tara Wilkins and I discuss digital marketing for small businesses. Since small businesses are often operating on a shoestring marketing budget, Tara talks about techniques and strategies to increase brand awareness without breaking the bank. We also get into ways the success of a marketing campaign can be measured.  

Tara got her start in fashion, but became a volunteer at Camp Tech in order to pivot her career towards digital marketing. Her plan worked and now she is Camp Tech's Marketing and Admin Manager. Tara also teaches a course about digital marketing on a tight budget. During this podcast, she shares her learned expertise about marketing strategies. This is a great episode, especially if you are a small business owner looking for marketing tips and tricks.   

Episode Highlights:  

• Tara's professional journey 
• The marketing challenges small businesses face 
• The importance of having a plan 
• What a small business marketing plan might look like 
• How to measure the effectiveness of a marketing strategy 
• Creating brand awareness 
• When to hire a professional  

Resources:  

Hover (use promo code CampTechPodcast to get 10% off your first order) 

Follow Tara on Twitter 

Follow Camp Tech on Twitter 

Follow Avery on Twitter 

Brock Murray's Camp Tech podcast episode 

Feedly.com 

Smartinsight.com 

Traction book by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares 

Email us your questions for a future episode! Send them to [email protected] 

On today's episode, my guest and I discuss the often overlooked issue of website accessibility. Returning guest Linn Oyen Farley is a Web Developer and Designer, who is not only a fellow Camp Tech instructor, but also someone with whom I've created websites.  

Accessibility is an issue that can be overlooked when developing websites. Linn and I explain what web accessibility is, the technology that increases accessibility, and where that technology is headed in the future. If you are developing a website, it is always important to consider how different types of people will be able to access your content. Listen in as we explain accessibility and some strategies for making the web open to all.  

Episode Highlights:  

• What does "Accessibility" mean in terms of the web? 
• Barriers to accessing online content 
• Technology that enables accessibility 
• The parties responsible for making the web more accessible 
• Legislation of accessibility 
• Ways to detect potential accessibility issues on your website 
• Screen Reader tips 
• Design considerations for accessibility 
• Accessibility Plug-ins 
• Questions to ask during website development  

Resources:  

Hover (use promo code CampTechPodcast to get 10% off your first order) 

Worker Bee 

Linn's website 

Linn on Twitter 

Camp Tech on Twitter 

Avery on Twitter 

Stats on People with Disabilities in Ontario 

Ontario's (Canada) AODA Website Accessibility regulations 

Section 508 Standards (USA) 

Section 508 (USA) Quick Reference 

WebAIM's Wave Website Accessibilty Checker 

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Guidelines 

WCAG Quick Reference 

Color Oracle 

Web Accessibility Initiative 

How People With Disabilities Use the Web 

Google's Annoucement About Intrusive Pop-Ups on Mobile Websites 

Today, I sit down with Dara Skolnick, a Web Developer and Designer. We discuss everything from the definitions of each job to how to communicate effectively with them (especially if you are not technically savvy).  

Dara is unique in that she is both a developer and a designer. This rare combination has allowed her to open her own business, which has been running smoothly for the past three years. She has a fresh perspective on how to deal with both clients, developers, and designers. Listen in as we get into the meatier issues of website creation.  

Episode Highlights:  

• Difference between a Web Developer and Web Designer 
• Being an effective communicator 
• The easiest websites to make 
• The technical aspects of building sites 
• Important questions to ask Web Developers and Designers 
• Things to consider when hiring Developers and Designers 
• How to get the most out of your relationship with Developers and Designers 
• How developer culture has improved  

Resources:  

Dara's Website 

Dara on Twitter 

Camp Tech on Twitter 

Avery on Twitter 

Website Accessibility Test 

On today's episode, I get to chat with Leslie Hughes, LinkedIn aficionado, about the best ways to use the networking site. LinkedIn is a great way to market yourself and expand your professional circle. Leslie explains ways to boost your visibility and amp up your profile.  

Leslie Hughes is not only a LinkedIn expert and instructor at Camp Tech, she is also a Principal at Punch! Media, where she works as a strategist. As if this weren't enough, she is also a part-time Professor of Social Media. Join us as Leslie explains this often-misunderstood professional networking site.  

Episode Highlights:  

• The three key areas of your LinkedIn profile on which to focus 
• Considering your "searchability" on LinkedIn 
• Taking advantage of the free month of premium services 
• Building professional relationships 
• The etiquette of "connecting" with other people on LinkedIn 
• The fear of others poaching staff members and connections 
• Using the blog feature in LinkedIn 
• The best qualities of LinkedIn  

Resources:  

LinkedIn 

Leslie on LinkedIn 

Leslie on Twitter 

Camp Tech Twitter 

Avery on Twitter 

Punch!Media  

Simon Sinek's "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" Talk 

On today's episode I get a chance to speak with Spencer Callaghan, a writer and digital content strategist. He lets me know what makes killer web content and how others can create exciting material for their organization's websites and digital presence.  

Spencer Callaghan is an Account Director for Thornley Fallis, an integrated communications agency which helps their clients with PR, web content, and social media management. Having worked on accounts for an array of for and non-profit organizations, Spencer has some great insights to offer in terms of creating and maintaining awesome web content.  

Episode Highlights:  

• Writing for the web 
• Appealing to both humans and SEO 
• Measuring the appeal of your content 
• Whether to outsource or self-produce content 
• Niche marketing 
• Web content mistakes 
• Crafting your message 
• Who creates great content  

Resources:  

Spencer on Twitter 

Camp Tech on Twitter 

Avery on Twitter 

Thornley Fallis 

Spencer's Blog on Yummy Mummy Club 

MailChimp 

Buffer 

GoPro 

Today, I get a chance to speak with Dani Gagnon about social media platforms and how businesses and organizations can use them to their advantage.  

Besides being one of the earliest hires at Camp Tech, Dani also runs Dani G. Inc, which specializes in social media management. For the last seven years, her company has helped to create and maintain the social media accounts for numerous for-profit and non-profit businesses. Listen in as Dani lets us know how to use social media and effectively grow your following.  

Episode Highlights:  

• Most popular forms of social media 
• Demographics of social media platforms 
• Facebook's evolution and current popularity 
• Users' resistance to change 
• How platforms' algorithms work 
• How businesses can get started on social media 
• Best advice for creating content for your business 
• Using HootSuite to manage profiles and tweets 

 Resources:   

Dani G Inc Website 

Dani on Twitter 

Camp Tech on Twitter 

Avery on Twitter 

Hootsuite 

The background of the "Boaty McBoatface" story 

Wendy's on Twitter

Today, my guest is Brock Murray, co-founder of seoplus+, a digital marketing agency. Together, we discuss remarketing (or retargeting), which is the ability to target your site visitors via ads after they have left your site.   

Brock got his start in high school where he created online games using PHP. His continued interest in programming and graphic design, led him to create websites for family and friends. From there, he went on to co-found seoplus+. Brock exhibits his expertise and explains not only how remarketing works, but also how you can make it work for your business.  

Episode Highlights:  

• How the technology behind remarketing works 
• Where to get started with remarketing 
• The cost of clicks or impressions 
• Which platforms are available 
• Different ways to remarket 
• The importance of cookies and ad-blockers 
• Image ads 
• Frequency capping 
• Setting up conversion tracking with Google Analytics 

Resources: 

seoplus+ website 

seoplus+ on Twitter 

Brock on Twitter 

Camp Tech on Twitter 

Avery on Twitter 

Geek vs Nerd infographic 

Remarketing through Google AdWords 

Remarketing through Facebook 

AdRoll 

Google Analytics 

Conversion Tracking with Google AdWords and Analytics 

7 Retargeting Case Studies That'll Boost Your Current Campaigns 

Remarketing Tips from a Paid Ads Expert 

On today's episode, I get a chance to speak with Camp Tech's very first instructor, Linn Øyen Farley. Linn is here to explain the basics about domain name registration, e-mail, and website hosting. 

Linn runs a web studio where she designs and develops websites. As such, we have collaborated on a number of projects together. Her insight into the basics of creating a web presence will prove useful to those seeking to promote personal projects or professional services alike. Listen in as we chat about some need-to-know topics! 

Episode Highlights: 

• Basic needs in terms of web presence 
• Domain names 
• Pointing 
• Differentiating between domain name extensions (.com's, .org's, etc.) 
• The cost of domain name registration 
• Avoiding lengthy hosting contracts 
• Website hosting and what it means 
• Which type of hosting service/package to use 
• Shared vs. Managed hosting 
• E-mail hosting explained 
• Hosting bundles  

Resources: 

Linn's Website 

Linn's Twitter 

Camp Tech Twitter 

On today's show, I talk to Wendy Kam Marcy, a lifestyle blogger and digital marketer, about online advertising and how to successfully monetize a website. 

Wendy co-founded the popular lifestyle blog "Hip & Urban Girl", as well as Adfluent Media, an ad agency that specializes in digital strategy and affiliate marketing. She has worked with over 50 big-name brands and has a long list of connections in the advertising world. As both a blogger and a marketer, Wendy has keen insight into what it takes to advertise websites via different methods and platforms. Listen in as we discuss different approaches to monetization. 

Episode Highlights: 

• Starting her blog for friends and family about a love for food and travel in Toronto 
• Affiliate Marketing 
• Paid social media marketing 
• Sponsored content: how it works, and how to attract sponsors 
• The morality of sponsored content 
• The dilemma of turning down a lucrative sponsor 
• Writing what you're passionate about 
• The importance of consistency 
• Seeking out sponsors and being proactive 
• Google AdWords and how it works 
• Ways to advertise your products and services 
• Is professional marketing help necessary? 
• Common mistakes people make when trying to promote their sites 

Resources: 

Hip & Urban Girl 

Adfluent Media 

Follow Wendy on Twitter 

Follow Camp Tech on Twitter 

 Quotes/Tweets:  

"It's a lot of work, but like a lot of things in life, you get what you put into it." -Wendy Kam Marcy on Sponsored Content 

"When it comes to working with bloggers…I know who is influential." -Wendy Kam Marcy 

"Always create content that is valuable and relevant to your audience." -Wendy Kam Marcy 

On today's episode, I sit down with photographer Vivienne McMaster and discuss ways to take awesome photos with nothing other than your camera phone. Obviously, camera phones have greatly improved since their advent, but there are still ways to improve upon composition and style.  

Vivienne is a professional photographer and Camp Tech Vancouver instructor. She also teaches a popular workshop series called "Be Your Own Beloved" which helps people learn to embrace their own self-image via photography. During this episode, she outlines great tools and tips for improving your skill as an amateur photographer. This is a great listen for tourists, shutterbugs, and Instagrammers alike. 

Episode Highlights: 

• How cameras on cell phones have improved 
• Tips for shooting with any camera phone 
• Lens attachments for smartphones 
• Useful photo apps for smartphones 
• Storage and backup options 
• Favorite places to share photos online 

Resources: 

Be Your Own Beloved Course Information 

Gorillacam App 

Ollo Clip 

VSCO Cam 

Mixtures App 

Diana Photo App 

Follow Vivienne on Twitter 

Follow Camp Tech on Twitter