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Podcast Insider, Halloween edition

If you’re frustrated by your WordPress theme’s limitations, you don’t know how to or don’t want to write custom code, or you want a lot more flexibility in your website, you might want to consider a page-builder plugin for WordPress.

Benefits of page-builders

1. You don’t have to know HTML, CSS, PHP, or JavaScript to design your own webpages

Although these are the four most used things to build your website and webpages behind the scenes you don’t have to know them in order to create webpages.

Having a tool that makes it so you don’t have to think about those things makes it easier for you to just build your pages.

2. A page-builder makes web-design fast with WYSIWYG drag-and-drop editing

WYSIWYG stands for “What You See Is What You Get” and is an approach used not only on page builders but also in most word processing apps. It makes it so easy to change the font, colors, borders and many other aspects by dragging and dropping to get just what you’d like to see while you’re making it.

If you want a box for example with a colored background and a certain border with text inside you can do so in less than 60 seconds. Page builders allow you to make the page look and act as you want it while taking care of the coding for you without any direct input to coding needed by you.

You don’t have to write code, save, refresh and go back and forth between tabs to see what it will look like. Page-builders eliminate all of that extra work.

3. A good page-builder can be used anywhere on your site

Most of the page builders offer the opportunity for you to do this.

Let’s say you’d like to use a common element in different places like a newsletter sign up or a call to action. A good page-builder will be able to let you make this and then call it into use where you need it without having to rebuild it again and again.

In the case of Divi it uses shortcodes to allow you to place the content where you need it quickly.

4. A page-builder lets you build sections and pages “in your own image”

If you want your background color to be purple for example then you can have the background as purple as you’d like. You can make the pages look just like you’d like them to regardless of what the theme you’re using may have set as a color.

Speaking of colors; One of the best design concepts you can learn is contrast. Making sure that things that need to look different from each other do so. And things that are supposed to be connected look similar.

The way that two different colors work together is very important too as to not only how the page looks overall but also how well it can be read. Contrast also applies to fonts as you don’t want to mix fonts that crash with each other either.

5. Page-builders will probably someday integrate directly into the Gutenberg editor

I know a lot of people don’t like the Gutenberg editor as it’s so different than what you may have grown used to with the old WordPress editor. But even if it bothers you I suggest that you work with it as much as you can because it works in much the same way that page-builders work. So, if you can use Gutenberg then you can use a page-builder and vice versa.

The way things are going with the development of Gutenberg and page-builders we may well see the day where instead of working in a page-builder outside of the WordPress editing screen it would instead be integrated right inside. This would allow you to make changes all in one space and adding in a page-builder would open up new functionality.

Start with a page-builder now so you’ll be ready for it when that sort of functionality arrives.

Tips for using a WordPress page-builder

1. Ensure your theme is compatible

Most page-builders work with most WordPress themes but there may be some conflicts. You’ll need to check for this before committing in case there’s a conflict that might break your site.

2.

Devices are a changing! ARM is slowly taking over the world, now fully running the new Surface Pro X and the touchbar on macOS. What is next for CPU architecture and what does it mean for developers?

Follow Us

* Frank: Twitter (http://twitter.com/praeclarum), Blog (http://praeclarum.org), GitHub (http://github.com/praeclarum)

* James: Twitter (http://twitter.com/jamesmontemagno), Blog (https://montemagno.com), GitHub (http://github.com/jamesmontemagno)

* Merge Conflict: Twitter (http://twitter.com/mergeconflictfm), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mergeconflictfm), Website (http://mergeconflict.fm), Chat on Discord (https://www.mergeconflict.fm/discord)

* Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by Adventureface (https://soundcloud.com/adventureface)

⭐⭐ Review Us (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/merge-conflict/id1133064277?mt=2&ls=1) ⭐⭐

Machine transcription available on http://mergeconflict.fm (http://mergeconflict.fm)Sponsored By:* Syncfusion (https://www.syncfusion.com/xamarin-ui-controls?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=list&utm_campaign=mergeconflict): Syncfusion offers the largest selection of controls for Xamarin.iOS, Xamarin.Android, and Xamarin.Forms. Check out our components on NuGet and don’t forget to download our Xamarin e-books.

 (https://www.syncfusion.com/xamarin-ui-controls?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=list&utm_campaign=mergeconflict)Support Merge Conflict (https://www.patreon.com/mergeconflictfm)Links:* ARM architecture - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture)* Hackers (1995) - IMDb (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113243/)* Meet the New Surface Pro X – Ultra-thin and Always Connected – Microsoft Surface (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/surface-pro-x/8VDNRP2M6HHC?activetab=overview)

In this episode, host Jessica Kerr is joined by guests Gene Connolly and Joan Freed to discuss DevOpsiCon and their DevOps transformation at Meltwater.

DevOps at Meltwater

The panel discusses how DevOps has transformed the working environment at Meltwater. When Joan started at Meltwater, engineering and operations were kept entirely separate.

Joan: “There was this huge wall because engineering knew how things were built and operations knew the production systems…but there wasn’t any cross-pollination there.”

The lack of communication between the teams caused friction and slowed down product delivery. The process could take as long as six months.

Joan: “We’re a Software as a Service company so we always want to build products that are sticky and keep our customers around.”

Joan discusses how Meltwater began to move to a more agile business model. Getting engineers and operations people in the same physical location to work this out was important. Creating truly cross-functional teams couldn’t happen over Skype alone. DevOpsiCon was born to facilitate this transition.

DevOpsiCon!

Buy-in wasn’t immediate throughout the firm. Teams were updating legacy systems throughout the company and some were more focused on work than enablement.

Joan: “The first one was a little bit sneaky. The next one was in Manchester and that one was a little less sneaky.”

The panel discusses the importance of investment in enablement. This allows the feature teams to focus on the features they were actually building instead of all the underlying infrastructure.

Joan: “Having them build everything they need is not realistic.”

The fact that Meltwater has offices all over the globe makes any wholesale shift of company culture difficult. The panel discusses the need for face-to-face interaction to facilitate change.

Gene: “There are these events like DevOpsiCon where we solve the problem by bringing a broad set of people together.”

DevOpsiCon has grown beyond just developers. Product, UX, support, and even sales have joined the event to help build relationships and give insight.

Jessica: “That is very DevOps in the sense that DevOps says that you need to take these concerns that cannot be separated…and you can’t put those responsibilities on different teams and make them fight.”

Unconference

The panel discusses the value of DevOpsiCon as an unconference. Attendees collectively set the agenda on each day of the event.

Gene: “That format has been so much fun and created so much value.”

Gene: “The event becomes the conference you didn’t know you needed at the start. It adapts collectively to what the organization needs at that moment.”

Ongoing Transformation

Gene discusses how allowing teams the freedom to experiment can yield results that a top-down structure could not provide.

The panel talks about the structure of mission, framework and support teams.

Joan: “By keeping things loosely coupled, it gives teams a lot more freedom to make the technology choices that are best for them.”

Ownership Challenges

The panel discusses the ownership challenges of moving from the datacenter to the cloud specifically and large enterprise changes more generally. The investment in enablement is critical.

Joan: “There’s very much a not built here mentality that can take place.”

Gene: “Software can benefit from being owned by many people.”

The panel talks about overhead costs to both software and human changes.

Gene talks about the challenges of moving to a full mission responsibility model.

Gene: “You need to find efficiencies more effectively than you’ve ever had to find efficiencies before.”

So! Has It Worked?

Gene: “Oh wait, you’re looking to me for an answer?”

The panel discusses the results of the ongoing DevOps transformation at Meltwater. The six month process for production changes has transitioned to a constant stream. Beyond the productivity,

MacKenzie joins Todd for this episode as Mike is out for a few days. They talk about how Sirius XM and Pandora are dipping their feet into the content side of podcasting, they’re launching a Marvel set of shows. Women and female listenership is up, according to Edison Research. Brian Basilico was this weeks guest and actually featured Todd on his show as well.

Thanks for joining us on this episode of Podcast Insider.

News

Women listen to longer podcasts more often than men (https://www.edisonresearch.com/shelistens-insights-on-women-podcast-listeners/?utm_source=podnews.net&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=podnews.net:2019-10-22): How does this fit in with other information we know about the changes happening in podcasting?

* Sirius XM and Pandora: Marvel shows coming soon (https://www.npr.org/2019/10/22/772355077/marvel-expands-its-universe-to-superhero-podcasts-on-siriusxm-and-pandora)

Best Practice

* Business Podcasts: How to produce a fantastic business podcast, featuring…

Product, services

Support

Longevity, trust

Promotion, sales

Interview, creative – showcase employees

Responsiveness

Testimonial, learn

Blubrry News

Texas Pod Con (https://www.texaspodcon.com/TexasPodCon#/?lang=en): Todd will be speaking at this first time event.

Fall Affiliate Contest (https://mailchi.mp/57581e9b747a/fall-affiliate-contest-starts-today): Win cash prizes for the highest number of sign ups and being a newly paid affiliate.

The Next Best Podcast Tool (https://powerpresspodcast.com/2019/10/18/next-best-podcast-tool/): Got an idea for a new service or feature in podcasting? Great submit your idea and we might just create it.

Network Plugin progression: We’re getting closer and closer to the release of our new network plugin. Few weeks from now.

Latest newsletter (https://mailchi.mp/ec3626f1f319/all-kinds-of-podcasting-contests) has been sent out, make sure you’re subscribed.

Interview:

Brian Basilico – The Bacon Podcast (https://baconpodcast.com/)

An award-winning author of the best selling book It’s Not About You, It’s About Bacon! Relationship Marketing In A Social Media World. He was honored as one of the Top Marketers to Follow in 2018. Brian is an online marketing strategist with over 40 years of marketing experience, and the owner of an award-winning internet marketing company, B2B Interactive Marketing, Inc. He is world renowned for his LinkedIn Training and innovating content marketing strategies, and was one of the first 1,000 people to join the social networking platform in 2004.

Brian is a syndicated blogger, podcaster, and sought-after guest expert, featured in Entrepreneur and Inc. magazines. With over 500 episodes, how show The Bacon Podcast, is ranked as one of the Top 100 Marketing Podcasts on Apple, and was also recognized by Inc. Magazines as one of their Top 35 Business Podcasts.

Support

* New call system – more flexible, additional staff added

Promo code INSIDER for a free month at Blubrry.com (https://blubrry.com/)

Coming at you this week from the Convo by Design Studio in Columbus, Ohio.

Contact Us:

[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Podcasters need a WordPress theme designed with features and flexibility to support podcasting. Here’s why I think SecondLine Themes (http://theaudacitytopodcast.com//secondlinethemes) are your new best choice!

1. Integration with PowerPress

T...

Now that the betas are over and the .1 releases are out, it is finally time to actually integrate new features into our app. No better place to start than dark mode! So many considerations when attempting to implement this. Implicit, explicit, system themes? Where to start? We discuss.

Follow Us

* Frank: Twitter (http://twitter.com/praeclarum), Blog (http://praeclarum.org), GitHub (http://github.com/praeclarum)

* James: Twitter (http://twitter.com/jamesmontemagno), Blog (https://montemagno.com), GitHub (http://github.com/jamesmontemagno)

* Merge Conflict: Twitter (http://twitter.com/mergeconflictfm), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mergeconflictfm), Website (http://mergeconflict.fm), Chat on Discord (https://www.mergeconflict.fm/discord)

* Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by Adventureface (https://soundcloud.com/adventureface)

⭐⭐ Review Us (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/merge-conflict/id1133064277?mt=2&ls=1) ⭐⭐

Machine transcription available on http://mergeconflict.fm (http://mergeconflict.fm)Sponsored By:* Instabug (https://instabug.com/merge?utm_source=mergeconflict&utm_medium=podcasts&utm_campaign=mergeconflict-podcasts-q419-october): Understand How Your App is Doing With Real-Time Contextual Insights From Your Users

Instabug helps mobile teams to connect with customers, accelerate their workflow, and release with confidence.

With the best-in-class bug and feedback reporting, secure crash reporting, intuitive in-app surveys, and reliable infrastructure that supports over two billion devices worldwide, Instabug helps development and product teams easily collect bugs and feedback from beta testers and customers. (https://instabug.com/merge?utm_source=mergeconflict&utm_medium=podcasts&utm_campaign=mergeconflict-podcasts-q419-october)Support Merge Conflict (https://www.patreon.com/mergeconflictfm)Links:* Color - Visual Design - iOS - Human Interface Guidelines - Apple Developer (https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ios/visual-design/color/#dynamic-system-colors)* Color - Visual Design - iOS - Human Interface Guidelines - Apple Developer (https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ios/visual-design/color)* Modernizing iOS Apps for Dark Mode with Xamarin | Xamarin Blog (https://devblogs.microsoft.com/xamarin/modernizing-ios-apps-dark-mode-xamarin/)

Thanks to Dan Smolen for joining our team this week to talk about his show, The Tightrope, you can catch his feature shortly after the beginning of the episode. Mike and Todd discuss some issues with Apple’s latest OS release, Catalina and what this means for some popular podcasting software. We’re working on a new service that our team is close to releasing, that we think network podcasters are really going to enjoy.

Thanks for joining us on this episode of Podcast Insider.

Interview:

Dan Smolen – The Tightrope (https://dansmolen.com/)

News:

* Mac’s OS, Catalina, does not support Audacity (https://www.audacityteam.org/macos-10-15-catalina-is-not-yet-supported-by-audacity/) (or any 32 bit software)

* According to @MyCastReviews (https://twitter.com/MyCastReviews/status/1182501921023762433), Apple has hit 750,000 podcasts in their directory. Apple approved 2,200 new shows in just one day!

* Some Spreaker weirdness – They’ve been IAB Certified, but as of now as just starting to use the IAB Certified stats for their customers.

* Podiant Communities are ending soon.

Best Practices:

* Taking a break, and when to do so.

Blubrry News:

* Network Plugin is nearing completion and we hope to demo it early next week.

* Texas Podcast Conference (https://www.texaspodcon.com/TexasPodCon) – Todd is speaking about the following:

* Business podcasting and why you should

* Importance of building your brand on your .com and why you need a podcast host

Support:

* Passwords – When you change your password at Blubrry, you also have to re-login into PowerPress to keep them linked.

* FILE NAMES of your media are important. Simple is better!

* When it says ‘you’re out of space,’ that means you’re out of storage space for the month.

* Check to see that you’ve uploading the correct file (no wav files or Audacity project files)

* Did you release more episodes or longer episodes this month?

Promo code INSIDER for a free month at Blubrry.com (https://blubrry.com/)

Coming at you this week from the New Media Studio in Southern Michigan and Mike Dell’s World Studio (https://mikedell.com) in Northern Michigan.

Contact Us:

[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Matty Stratton talks with guests Ken Mugrage and Sasha Rosenbaum about their new event DeliveryConf (https://www.deliveryconf.com/).

The beta summers are over and it is time for the beta hangovers where we have to somehow deal with all of the craziness now that new operating systems are out.

Follow Us

* Frank: Twitter (http://twitter.com/praeclarum), Blog (http://praeclarum.org), GitHub (http://github.com/praeclarum)

* James: Twitter (http://twitter.com/jamesmontemagno), Blog (https://montemagno.com), GitHub (http://github.com/jamesmontemagno)

* Merge Conflict: Twitter (http://twitter.com/mergeconflictfm), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mergeconflictfm), Website (http://mergeconflict.fm), Chat on Discord (https://www.mergeconflict.fm/discord)

* Music : Amethyst Seer - Citrine by Adventureface (https://soundcloud.com/adventureface)

⭐⭐ Review Us (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/merge-conflict/id1133064277?mt=2&ls=1) ⭐⭐

Machine transcription available on http://mergeconflict.fm (http://mergeconflict.fm)Sponsored By:* Raygun (https://raygun.com/mergeconflict?utm_source=mergeconflict): Don't wait for users to report problems. Raygun gives you complete visibility on errors, crashes and performance problems affecting your end users. Raygun has full support for .NET, Javascript, Xamarin, and all other major languages and platforms.

 (https://raygun.com/mergeconflict?utm_source=mergeconflict)* Voice In A Can (https://voiceinacan.com/): Voice in a Can gives you standalone native Alexa apps on the Apple Watch, iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android, WearOS, Samsung Galaxy Watches, and the Xbox, created of course using Xamarin. (https://voiceinacan.com/)Support Merge Conflict (https://www.patreon.com/mergeconflictfm)Links:* What's new in C# 8.0 - C# Guide | Microsoft Docs (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/whats-new/csharp-8#nullable-reference-types)* mono/SkiaSharp: SkiaSharp is a cross-platform 2D graphics API for .NET platforms based on Google's Skia Graphics Library. It provides a comprehensive 2D API that can be used across mobile, server and desktop models to render images. (https://github.com/mono/SkiaSharp)* [BUG][macOS] EntryPointNotFoundException after upgrading to 1.68.1-rc.147 · Issue #968 · mono/SkiaSharp (https://github.com/mono/SkiaSharp/issues/968) — l problem since 1.68 does not work on Catalina but this beta does (before it crashes)* CI & CD for .NET Libraries with Azure DevOps (VSTS) - James Montemagno (https://montemagno.com/continuous-integration-delivery-for-net-libraries-with-vsts/)