The Business of Digital Podcast

In this episode we share why we got into business in the first place, besides freedom of our own time, of course we got into it, to make a living. We discuss all the reasons we did not get into business as well.

Regret?

Dave and I already regret posting this because of the nature of the controversial content, but these are views that we share, and in some cases disagree on.

Why we got into business in the first place?

In this episode we share why we got into business in the first place, besides freedom of our own time, of course we got into it, to make a living. We discuss all the reasons we did not get into business as well.

We dive in depth on this episode to help explain why mixing politics and business could be a dangerous stand to take, especially when you have already put everything on the line even starting a business in the first place.

Feedback and Comments?

Agree or disagree, we would love for you to take a listen and share your feedback or experience on the topic.

Dig into Google Core Updates, Technical Audits, Optimizing Food Blogs and more with Matt, Dave and guest Casey Markee.

Casey joins the show and digs into Technical Audits, Food Bloggers and Core Updates that have been hitting sites the past year. And yes we have covered Google Updates in the past and have suggested that you do NOT chase them but you do still need to pay attention to them, your site and the evolution of Google and the SERPs.

Recent History of Google Core Updates

The Google Medic Update last August (2018) didn't just hit medical related sites, but also the Food and DIY niches as well. Google has made a push for a number of things that Casey breaks down - EAT, UX, Searcher's Intent among other factors that site owners should and need to pay more attention too.

The March 2019 Core Update followed up on and continued some of the trends that the August update started.

Good & Bad SEO Advice

Casey breaks down some trends in bad SEO advice that Food Bloggers are getting, some of those that are giving this bad SEO advice and how it is impacting a large number of them. The June 3rd Update a large number of sites got hit again - some going from 30% to 50% traffic drops.

UX and Video vs. Images

Run the data. Ask people. Run tests and focus groups. For your site and niche test things to see what type of content and visuals your audience wants and prefers. If nothing else, install Hotjar and try it to see how people are using a page or pages on your site. Another tool Casey recommended to use to test your UX was UserTesting - try just having a few people use your site and give you feedback.

Ads & Ad Companies

Casey goes into some examples of PBNs (private blog networks) and over some bad advice Ad companies are giving bloggers in some niches. When it comes to SEO should you believe an ad company or Google? Who would you listen too?

Put Users First

If you get nothing else from this episode just remember this - put your users first and give them a great experience and great content!

Co-host Dave Rohrer explains what Conference PopUp is and some of the details around the first PopUp conference in Detroit in late September.

What is Conference PopUp?

Show co-host Dave Rohrer's new project is something in the middle of a conference and meetup with a strong hint of networking. He admits that isn't the best explanation but close enough!

The Detroit Conference PopUp is being put on by him with help from locals Ryan Jones and Elmer Boutin.

Picking a Business/Project Name

As all new business or projects, Dave had the fun task of trying to figure out a domain and name that was available and also had social media available.

Tips for Starting an Online Business Domains: Securing and Keeping Your Online BrandWhy SMBs Need to Reserve Names on Social Media

Local PopUp Keeping it Local

Dave explains that the great speakers at PopUp events are going to be as local as possible. The conference is part conference, part meet-up, part networking event. To help keep conference costs down and thus the ticket price, most of the events will happen thanks to local support of agencies or businesses that host or support the conference in some manner.

Focus on Networking

One of the initial focuses of the conference is to help those that want to, meet 10 new people. Through 1-2 speed networking sessions, breaks, and after the conference networking.

Conference Links

Interested in attending the conference in Detroit or joining, speaking or sponsoring a future event? Here are all the links you need!

Want Us to Come to Your City?Want to Speak?Detroit Digital Conference

Join us as we cover How to Optimize Meetings & Webinars to better serve your team, attendees, clients and prospects. They will all thank you for not wasting their time!

Tips on Optimizing Meetings & Webinars

Matt starts us off with how a meeting drove him to take a drive and then quit his job. The concept went from Dave attending a horrible webinar and ranting about wasted time in meetings to hearing the story of what prompted Matt to start Dream Systems Media which later became Avalaunch Media!

Tips on Wasting (Less) Time in Meetings

The link that we mentioned is this Meeting Calculator. Use it to show the cost of a meeting by entering

Have an agenda. Like have an outline or something in the invite that covers what the meeting is about.

Elon Musk's take on meetings is that if you are in a meeting and don't think you need to be there - just leave.

Set ground rules for meetings. HBR has 8 great rules to help you run more efficient meetings.

Don't accept meeting invites if there is no agenda. The chances it will waste your time is often high.

Do the prep work prior to a meeting. Read a document, review a report prior to a meeting - not in the first 10 minutes of a meeting.

Know when to schedule a meeting.

When you have 3+ people that need to sign off on something, schedule a meeting. Avoid email chains.

Focus on the agenda, goal, and takeaways.

Tips on Hosting Webinars

Get to the point.

Tell us about yourself but quickly. We honestly do not care (sorry) and just want to learn.

What is the goal? Don't beat around the bush, just get into it.

Focus on the agenda, goal, and takeaways.

Dig into 14 newsletters that you may not read but that will help you run your business and marketing efforts.

14(ish) Newsletters Digital Marketers Need

We don't often just list off tools, sites or anything but we thought that this was the best format this episode to really cover so many good (and a few bad) newsletters.

Feel free to dig into the list and in the comments list some newsletters we missed that you think rock.

Bob Lefsetz - music news/rants but often can be applied to any business or whatever industry you are in as they are all changing quickly.

Data Driven  Daily - I don't read all of them but honestly I save them and go digging into them quite often. It really focuses on all data and metrics for business of all sizes.

Nielsen Norman Group - this one is hit or miss (for Dave) but is a nice reminder for me to dig into UX & usability stuff more often. To offset some of the full on marketing blast of newsletters this is a nice reminder and angle to think of things a bit differently.

Bob Hoffman's Newsletter -  was one I found recently thanks to recent guest Dana Todd. It is a weekly snarky look at news and events in Ad space.

Permissionless - Selena Vidya's Permissionless is a podcast and community for creative and entrepreneurs that discusses risk taking, industry jumping, and making difficult choices to abandon the old to pursue the new. PermissionLESS emails where we share a bit of motivation, craziness, and sometimes a bit of story time.

The Daily Carnage is your handpicked list of the best marketing content delivered to your inbox each day.

The Hustle - This site, also known as The Hustle, is actually a daily email that covers the important news in business, tech, and culture.

Tedium - Twice a week, internet obsessive Ernie Smith (formerly of ShortFormBlog) takes a deep dive towards the absolute end of the long tail, and he’s putting his findings in your inbox. Wanna follow along?

Whitespark Local Insider has a great one that focuses on Local SEO and is a monthly compilation of our latest blog posts, resources, and the best in local news from across the interwebs.

A long list of resources and social media related newsletters can be found at https://socialmediapro.com/blog/latest-social-media-trends-updates/

Matt's product newsletter that he talked about is ThermoWorks. Their newsletter is one of the rare newsletters that provide something useful and don't focus on selling, cross-selling or up-selling.

Matt (disclaimer: Matt is involved with this company) also likes the newsletter content in HuskyBeard but then he is the target audience and he just finds it useful too!

Oh Frys. The guys love to hate your sales/informational newsletters.

Dave mentions ticket companies - again it is on the useful/educational side even though it is trying to "sell".

What newsletters did we miss that you love? What other companies have a great newsletter format, newsletter content or that just in general that you think is a great newsletter?