The Business of Digital Podcast

How user friendly are your offline processes? Can people find things on your web site? Dig into UX & UI with the guys in this episode.

This episode like many is because so often things online (and offline) are setup to be harder than they should. When solving problems there are often are many ways but very often the solution causes more problems than it fixes.

People cant find something on a web site? Create a mega menu.Lots of Categories? Show none in the menu.Have a big menu? Dont include the search functionality.Move from sit down to take out only restaurant. Fail to plan for lines.Build a beautiful and clean website. People can't find contact or menu options.Users are young or old. Design your product for a different group.

We talk about some of these in the episode and many others.

Test Your Own Stuff

If you get nothing else from this episode, we hope you think through your online and offline processes. Have friends, family or hire someone to go through and do things on your website. Ask customers what they expect from your offline store now and in the future.

As Dave spent a ton of time (and likely many other parents have in recent weeks) trying to figure out a number of e-learning solutions. If he and others that are tech savvy are unable to figure out how your UI works, how is a small child? Is someone can't easily navigate your site or product do you think they will invest time or just leave?

Resources and Links

LoomUser TestingUse Design Thinking to Solve Your Next Marketing Problem: Here’s HowOff Color Brewing Mousetrap's Instagram ExampleWill Barnes & Noble Ever Fix Its #CX? | #FrictionHunter

Full Transcript

Matt Siltala: [00:00:00] Welcome to another exciting episode of the business of digital podcast, featuring your host, Matt  and Dave roar. Hey guys, excited to be with you on a, another business of digital podcast episode. Um, how's it going, Dave?

Dave Rohrer: [00:00:18] It is going, sir. It is going, going.

Matt Siltala: [00:00:20] We are all surviving everything that's going on around us in the world, so hopefully everyone's doing well.

Um, because of stuff that's going on in the world, it's kind of given us a good idea for a well. I mean, it's not just the stuff that's going on around the world. It's kind of a good idea to be practicing like some of the stuff that we're going to be talking about, like common sense all the time. But a, why UX and UI matter, Dave?

That's what, uh,

Dave Rohrer: [00:00:47] I still confused the two. I don't know why. I just always confuse them. That will include from WordStream that breaks them apart. And I'm like, yeah, they're the same to [00:01:00] me. I know someone  I'm like, yeah, nice. Yeah.

Matt Siltala: [00:01:04] Well, it comes from , and in the simplest form, you know, we use some of these, and I'll just share this example, um, to kind of kick things off and you can share some of the ones that you did, but, um, even something as simple as like, if you're on social media and, and in this, uh.

Covert 19 thing that we're dealing with and, and restaurants and places, trying to stay in business and doing everything that they can to stay afloat and keep people safe. Um, when you post on social media, something about having contactless, um, service or whatever it might be, but you post a picture of handing a bag to someone and there's contact being made.

You failed at what you've been trying to do. And again, I know that you're doing your best. Um, but that, that's the kind of stuff that we want you to think about. If there's con, and I've seen people do it right. You know, they have pictures [00:02:00] of the door with the bag down your driver, eight feet back,

Dave Rohrer: [00:02:05] stock photography.

Well, you talked about that before. Don't use it.

Matt Siltala: [00:02:11] Don't exactly. Well, I mean, you know my take on that already, but yeah, so the point is, you know, you're going to get these, um. These just like, think about that kind of stuff, like, you know, um, don't anyway. It's just, it, it, it makes me laugh. And I

Making time for personal development and improving skills can be tough. Dave & Mat walk through a number of resources to help you now and in the future to improve yourself.

While you may or may not have some free time right now there are still a ton of resources here for you to use to improve your skills in the future. If you missed our episode with Aleyda where we dug into a number of tools and ways to work remote you should check that out too.

From online coding, learning SQL, data science, writing classes or get certified for Google Analytics and Google Ads. So if you have downtime take a look at these or others and even if you are currently working normal hours or are crazy slammed, save this list for a future date.

Personal Development & Training Resources

AirTable Tool and Resource List450 Ivy League courses13 Ways Businesses Can Use SEO & Marketing to Combat Coronavirus ImpactMasterClass (currently having BOGO)LyndaGoogle Certifications for Analytics and Ads.UdemyFind Webinars - tons of companies are doing even more webinars than normal.

Work With Internal Teams

If you are seeing some of your schedule at work open up, take it upon yourself to set up meetings with other teams. Create relationships and trainings across teams to help explain what you do or have done.

Sit down with IT/Dev teams, social teams, paid teams, customer service or anyone - just try and learn how you can help them now or in the future better.

Understand Your Company Better

Setup time to learn the data and inner workings of your company. Spend more time in your CRM, Analytics, Email, Google Search Console, or some other internal system.

If you are like Dave was when he was in-house and overworked just set a meeting time. Set 30 minutes a week to dig into Google Analytics. Set another 30 minutes to poke around Google Search Console.

The goal is to try and make time or take advantage of time to improve your skills in tools and understand the data/business better.

Improve Yourself & Your Skills

In the end it is up to you to take the steps to work on your own personal development and improve your skills for your current job or the job you want.

Full Transcript

Matt Siltala: [00:00:00]

Welcome to another exciting episode of the business of digital podcast,

featuring your host, Matt  and Dave roar.

Hey guys, excited to have you on another one of these business of digital

podcast. As always, I got my trusty cohost, Dave there. How's it going, bud?

Dave Rohrer: [00:00:19]

So,

Matt Siltala: [00:00:20]

um, we are, are here at surviving, uh, you know, the current, uh, world

situations.

And I thought that this was a fantastic. Mmm. Opportunity

for, well, it's actually your idea. So I can't say I thought that this was a

fantastic idea, but I do think it's a fantastic idea. Well,

Dave Rohrer: [00:00:38]

it was a possible thing to talk through with the laida and we didn't get to it.

And then I stop trying to even think about it because I was like, we can

totally talk about this for just 20 minutes on its own.

Maybe 15 or maybe 25 I don't know. We'll see.

Matt Siltala: [00:00:53]

Well, yeah. The topic, which is personal development or ongoing training tools

and . And I, I thought this was fantastic because we all have a [00:01:00]

little bit of extra time at home now. I mean, we're not a, you know, you

especially are not going into visiting bars anymore right now in Chicago or

Dave Rohrer: [00:01:08]

anywhere again, or in all of my travel has been, could put, so, yeah.

So,

Matt Siltala: [00:01:13]

yeah. What are your, what are your thoughts on, uh, you know, go ahead and kick

us off.

Dave Rohrer: [00:01:18]

Well, I think like, you know, the last week, if you listened, we listed off

some tools, but, um, with the air table. Again, I'll drop the link to it. Um,

but then I also came across recently and I've just been holding onto these

links.

Free code camp.org has a list of 450 Ivy league courses you

can take for free.

Matt Siltala: [00:01:41]

Really?

Dave Rohrer: [00:01:41]

Yeah. Um, and that's just those, I'm sure there's a ton

In this episode Matt leads us through a plan of what he has been doing with some local businesses as they try and be creative with their marketing and sales.

In this episode Matt leads us through a plan of what he has been doing with some local businesses as they try and be creative with their marketing and sales. This isn't the full outline but does cover 10 important points made during the episode.

Understand that things have changed, and be willing to adapt and do new things. You may have to do some things that are outside your comfort level or that are new to you, but these are things that can save your business.Making customers and employees feel safe during all this is key. What are things you can do to keep your customers and employees safe? Be kind to your employees and help them through this tough time as well.  Using delivery services of some sort are essential during times like these. If you are a restaurant that has not embraced this yet, you need to just jump right in. Making sure that you are constantly letting people know you are open on social media.  Supporting other local businesses as well. If you are seeing awesome things other local businesses are doing make sure and give them props and call them out on social media. We are all in this together and need to support one another. Deals Deals Deals - if you have a nurse come in in scrubs … offer him/her a free meal and I promise you it will be posted on social media. Do not do it for this reason alone, but lets be awesome to those on the front lines right now. Gift Cards - offer killer deals like spend 70$ and get 100$ gift card to be used when this pandemic is over. This helps give you revenue during these trying times. Anyone that posts about how awesome you are doing on social media, take that content (with permission) and re-purpose it. Make sure you have a Google My Business account that is accurate is key to all this as well. Making sure updated hours and menus and everything else you know that needs to be done, is done.

Additional Resources

Yelp sees huge decline in restaurant demand, offers $25MM relief packageGoogle temporarily disables local reviews

Full Transcript

Matt Siltala: [00:00:00]

Welcome to another exciting episode of the business of digital podcast,

featuring your host, Matt  and Dave roar.

Hey guys, excited to be with you on a, another one of these business of digital

podcasts, a grateful for you as always, taking the time to join David. I, how's

it going? Dave?

Dave Rohrer: [00:00:21]

It is going, sir,

Matt Siltala: [00:00:22]

except for the fact that you're a little bit under the weather right now.

I am

Dave Rohrer: [00:00:27]

sick. Aloe was allergies and then I think it turned into a full blown stuffy

nose type of fun stuff.

Matt Siltala: [00:00:35]

So

Dave Rohrer: [00:00:36]

yes, yesterday I was, I had a client call where I delivered a a 30 page audit

and like the very first words out of my mouth, like cracked as if I was going

through puberty.

Matt Siltala: [00:00:44]

It was fun.

Dave Rohrer: [00:00:45]

There was another 35 or 40 minutes of that.

Matt Siltala: [00:00:48]

I was like. I was

Dave Rohrer: [00:00:49]

like, I apologize. At least 50 times. Well, I apologize to anyone listening

today that's going to do most of the talking.

Matt Siltala: [00:00:55]

And I do appreciate you doing this though, because when, when Dave and I get

together and [00:01:00] we talk about when we're going to record these, I just

felt that this was something that we needed to get out there.

There's a lot of businesses, uh, struggling right now. A lot

of local businesses, you know, local restaurants, uh, places like that. Um,

everyone's trying to navigate through this whole coven, uh, 19, uh, epidemic,

pandemic, whatever you want to call it. And so I, uh, I just wanted to, like,

I, I talked to Dave and, and I was suggested by a couple people because I, I

have a, a, there's a local business here that I've helped and I've pretty much

given them as much, um, guidance as possible.

Uh, and, uh, you know, it's one of the places

Dig into tips, tricks, rules and resources for working from home or working remote with guest Aleyda Solis of Remoters.net and Orainti.

Taking advantage of Aleyda's lack of a travel schedule, her past two years starting and working on Remoters.net and her life as remoter/work from home type the past 7+ years we thought she was the perfect guest to dig into this topic.

She also just posted a Work from Home Worker Checklist (link below) for those working remotely from home for the first time that newbies to this way of working (Matt & Dave both have been remote/WFH for many years now too).

Remote Work Resources

13 Ways Businesses Can Use SEO & Marketing to Combat Coronavirus ImpactRemote Living & Working Tool List (time tracking, chat, video chat, meeting software, etc.)Remote Water Cooler on Discord (Organized by Aleyda)Remoters.net (jobs, tools, interviews, etc.)Work from Home Worker ChecklistDave Rohrer's interview on Remoters.netList of Free Software & Services during Coronavirus OutbreakCoywolf - Online Community Digital Marketer's OrganizationLook for online happy and social hours on Twitter and Facebook happening during quarantine.Meeting Cost CalculatorSneek.ioPukkateamSnag-it - Aleyda recommends and Dave uses this dailyScreencast-o-maticZoom (conference call)Time Management Technique

Aleyda's First Time Remoting Tips

Have a routine. Have discipline and use that and the routine so you start the day and end the day. Have a specific space for work. Have a room if possible or a corner that you work at and can walk away from at the end of the day. The goal is to have a separation of "work space" and "living space". For those that live with significant others or children this will also signal to them that "you are at work".Set a schedule. Again this leaving the "work space" will create a separation from working at home and living at home.Upgrade your equipment for not comfort (table, chair, monitor, video, etc.) but a quality mic and headphones. If possible noise canceling headphones will help you focus if you life and work with others. Having a schedule will help others know when to reach out to you or when you will be looking at email/Skype/Slack/etc. Also have internal rules for when the team should have conference calls, video calls, slack chat hours, etc.

Full Transcript

*as always this is not an exact and correct transcript as it is done by AI but it is VERY close for those that want to read instead of listen*

Matt Siltala: [00:00:00]

Hey guys, excited to have you join us on another one of these business of

digital podcast. And today, Dave, uh, I am really excited you're that right,

Dave? Yes. So we have a special guest. I'm Alita solace, and I'm, I just with,

with what's going on in the world right now, and.

And, uh, so many people working from home. I am so excited

that to have this conversation and talk about, you know, the remote work life

and whatnot. But, uh, before we really jumped into it, I just want to give a,

um, a Lita shout out and say, thanks for joining us, my friend. It's good to

have you on

Aleyda Solis: [00:00:44]

the air.

Thank you very much for the invite is, uh, super excited to

be talking with you and Dave about something that is actually not a CEO. So

this is, there was nice, this difference. I, I love it. Thank God.

Matt Siltala: [00:00:59]

But before [00:01:00] we really jumped into, I mean, if you want to give her

the, our listeners a little bit of a. A brief, uh, background, uh, to who you

are, some that may not know you or are new or whatever.

Just give a little bit of an introduction and what, what you

want people to know about yourself and then we'll jump into it.

Aleyda Solis: [00:01:15]

Yes, sure thing. Well, I am actually an SEO consultant. I have a boutique SEO

solvency that is called, um. Alrighty. We work with clients from all over the

world. It is me and three more people who are also SEO consultants and we are

spread out.

So we are remoting general. Right? And this is the thing.

Until now, what I usually tend to do is that, uh, I work. From home when I

From corporate headshots to your new social or LinkedIn profile or new photos for your GMB and Instagram post every business needs photos. Get tips and best practices in Episode 141.

Do you need to do a professional photoshoot each week? No. Plan a day and a list of photos and yes have a professional come in every so often but many photos can be done by someone on the team using a phone or up your game and have a good camera on hand in the building. Here are some more quick tips:

Lighting - do make sure that you have overhead and maybe support lighting to make sure you can see the person or product.Background - Have a consistent background if possible. If you have a logo or really great wall, use that each time so your team photos are consistent.Product - use a soft box or white poster board to help make the item really pop.Have a quality camera but also don't be afraid to take lots of photos with a phone camera. Balance professional setup shots with raw in the field shots. Not every photo will need to be staged but there are times where you will want a staged or want spur of the moment photo.Plan - know what people, teams, products, food, etc. you are going to shoot that day. Know where and when and how much time you have so you can make sure you use your shoot time properly.Use them in your social media and like in E140 last week use them to support your marketing, Google My Business, Google Posts and Local SEO.Use the photos and photoshoots to tell your story and answer questions that people may ask. Think about what questions people have and do you tell your story and answer those questions on your Facebook, Instagram, Google My Business, and website.We also suggest you check out past shows around photography and images for your website and social media.Alternative Ideas to Using Stock PhotographyInstagram Tools for Business

Product Photography

Have a professional but also have your own DLSR, point and shoot and phone camera ready to walk behind and get shots of various angles, behind the scenes or just different looks.

The goal is to get all the photos you may ever need at that time of the product and setup that you can.

LinkedIn & Headshot Photography

Focus on headshots from shoulders up. To see the Avalaunch branded background that is below head to the About Page.

Think about branding, consistency, being fun, or whatever you want but this is just another way for your team and business to leverage the photos in multiple ways.

Restaurant Photography

Not every week or special requires a photoshoot but when you do them make sure you supplement the pro photos with more raw ones from your own camera or phone camera.

The goal is to have a mix of user generated content, professional photos and more raw camera/phone camera images available for your website, social media and marketing at all times.

Internal & Business Photography

As we stated in the show, plan out your day, have people dress and give them notice/examples, mix in action shots with head shots with candid photos of teams and people working.

If you are a service business that does landscaping, flooring, handy services or anything along those lines make sure your in the field staff take before and after. Work permission to use photos into contracts and ask/get for permission to help create an endless supply of possible photos to use when you need them.

Photography Tips & Links

11 tips to follow for the perfect LinkedIn profile picture in 2019How to Take Perfect Headshots: Six TipsHow to prepare for Corporate Headshots?10 Tips for Picking the Right LinkedIn Profile Picture8 Tips to Instantly Improve Your Restaurant Photography14 Business Photography Tips for Products and ServicesCanvaRelayThat

Full Transcript

Matt Siltala: [00:00:00]

Hey guys, excited to have you on another one of these businesses, digital

podcast. Uh, looking forward to chatting with you about this one, especially

today. This is something that's, uh, near and dear to my heart and right up my

alley.

But before we get into all that, Hey, Dave, how's it going?

Dave Rohrer: [00:00:25]

It is going, sir, do you kn