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keywestlou · 4 years

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE BROWN

Missed Charlie Brown’s birthday. It was yesterday. Sorry. Never the less, the loving spirit of the Peanuts comic strip was born in effect when it made its appearance 70 years ago on October 2, 1950.

Happy Birthday Charlie Brown! Happy Birthday Peanuts! Happy Birthday Snoopy! Happy Birthday the security blanket! And most of all, Happy Birthday to Charles M. Schulz who penned the comic strip.

First named Li’l Folks, the strip was later renamed Peanuts.

Friend even to Presidents. Charlie Brown mentioned occasionally by John Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.

Today, the comic strip has 330 million readers in 75 countries. It is published daily in 22 languages.

It is thought Charlie Brown has been such a continuing success for so long because of Charlie Brown getting up and trying again after being down. It is called perseverance.

Charlie Brown was a trendsetter in pet relationships. Snoopy. Pets were members of the family and truly best friends and companions.

Schools are open in most parts of the country. I thought the schools were being prematurely opened. I was wrong.

The kids are going. Nothing coronavirus wise of any significance is happening.

In all of Monroe County, there have been only 3 confirmed cases. The 3 located in the northern part of the County.

I got into wearing masks with Robert. He is a Junior at the Key West High School. He said masks were no problem. Everybody wears one and no one complains. The only time they may remove the masks is during lunch.

I checked with an emergency room friend in one of the most northern cities in New York. She says she has not observed any problems. She mentioned a 7 year old who came into the emergency room this week. Not for a coronavirus related problem.

She talked with the 7 year old. The little girl was wearing a mask. She asked her if she liked the mask. The girl nodded a shy yes and then proudly said, “We have a mask break for one minute every morning and afternoon.”

Adults should have adapted to mask wearing as children apparently are doing across the country.

Our President is in the hospital. At his age, coronaviirus could be very serious.

I don’t know what it is, but I feel bad that Trump is ill and may die. My writings clearly suggest I like neither the man nor the way he is running the country. Think he is a bad guy. Recommend everyone vote for Biden.

I must add I doubt Trump feels bad about anyone or anything. He is the original I don’t like prisoners, I don’t like Muslims. His feelings regarding Jews is obvious. He stands for all the bad things America has become.

Yet, I feel sorry for the man and wish him well.

Frank Bruni wrote in a New York Times Opinion piece yesterday about Trump. The column: The Pandemic Comes For The President. Its thrust was no one is invincible. Not even the mighty Donald.

Bruni wrote: “The Presidency and the President are always national mirrors, in many different ways at once…..Trump has shown America its resentments. He has modeled its rage. Now he personifies its recklessness.”

He wrote America is “infected,” it has become a “morality case.”

Every day it is something new about Amy Coney Barrett.

CNN Politics reported yesterday that in the late summer she and her husband were diagnosed with coronavirus. Her husband was asymptomatic. The Judge “felt a little under the weather but recovered.”

My concern is her tendency to be secretive. She has failed in many respects to make full disclosure re professional matters and her religion. Forget not she is 48 and being considered for a lifetime job. Nothing is secret under the circumstances.

The fact that she and her husband had coronavirus may appear non consequential on its face. It probably is. However in today’s climate where the major issue in the election is coronavirus, she should have mentioned it.

Marsha is a long time reader of this blog. From Syracuse, New York. We have never met, except through the blog. We have become good friends.

Marsha sent me a lengthy column she came across. No author. The words intuitive. I share come with you.

“I wonder…..why we all seem to be Russians waiting in line for toilet paper, meat, and Lysol.”

“Why we all look like we are in bad need of a haircut or a facial or a reason to dress up again and go somewhere.”

“There are no images of the first family enjoying themselves together in a moment of relaxation.”

“We are rudderless and joyless.”

“We have lost our mojo. Our fun, our happiness.”

“We have lost the challenges and the triumphs that we shared and celebrated. The unique can-do spirit Americans have always been known for.”

“We are lost.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Do whatever you can to help the cause. Few are they who are not touched by its curse.

There is an urban exodus. A return to the suburbs. A topic I have written about many times.

There are three reasons for the exodus.

The first involves technological improvements. People can work from home. The second the destabilizing threat of rising crime in the cities. Third and finally, people cannot make a living in the cities as they once did. Tied into the fact that city rents and living costs have failed to recognize that fact yet and make city living very expensive.

The urban exodus is expected to be an accelerating one over the long term.

A common example of the financial crush city living is causing, many live in flats with multiple roommates.

Key West is not the only City experiencing the dilemma.

Even great cities sometimes go away. They cannot seem to make it back. Goats were grazing in Rome’s Forum a few decades after the Empire collapsed.

On this day in 1995, O. J. Simpson was acquitted. “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”

I watched the trial everyday for 3 months. Would not miss it.

I had rented a condominium at 1800 Atlantic for the season. Except for 2 days when I had to fly back to Syracuse for a sensitive hearing, I remained in Key West.

My days all the same. Up early. Walked the ocean along South Roosevelt Boulevard. Back to the condo. 1800 had a great pool. I took a cool refreshing swim and laid out on a lounge to sun dry.

Then my day really began. Watched the trial from the comfort of a barcalounge. Exciting! My eyes and ears remained fixed.

The evening was a late dinner somewhere. Generally at Square One. It had become a meeting place. We joined our local and snowbird friends most evenings there.

This is the fourth day in a row that Hackley has written in his 1855 diary about his piles. The poor guy had a real problem!

He wrote, “The piles will not stay up and are very sore. Bathed in the tub yesterday 3 times. Kept a piece of cotton with ointment on the parts and put some more Mustang Liniment on at night.”

I write about poor Hackley’s medical problem because I had a serious hemorrhoid problem twice in my life. Surgery for the first. The problem returned however.

Strangely, nothing seems to have changed as to how to medicate the problem. Every thing today as it was in 1855. I lived in a hot bath, tried all kinds of ointments.

May Johnson continues to fascinate me. I make the following observation for the second time. Conservative school teacher May is not the quiet angelic type. She is not even good looking as the one photo I have seen indicates.

Yet she has the men here in Key West and away chasing her. Or maybe she is chasing them.

She went dancing at La Brisa last night with Charlie and Fritot. They gave her a letter from Everest. He never comes home. Supposedly “her love.” They write and she goes out with others in Key West.

Even her mother appears upset with her meanderings.

After La Brisa, the three “went to Sybil Curry’s, lots of boys and girls there. Charles and I came home at 11 o’clock. KICKING TIRED.”

She warns that a “cyclone is brewing.” If it hits, it will be interesting to read about an 1896 hurricane from a person who was there. An

I have been self-quarantined for way more than 200 days. I gave up counting at 200.

Not a very exciting time.

Tonight is Cocktails at 7.

I met Cathy over the internet. Cathy lived in Key West in 1988. She read the blog and wrote me. We became friends.

A long distance romance, if anything. Cathy lives in Seattle, Washington.

Whatever, I have come to enjoy my one night a week having a drink via Skype with Cathy.

Her dog Lucy is part of the experience. Lucy always on Cathy’s lap. Lucy is blind.

Enjoy your Day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE BROWN was originally published on Key West Lou

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sempiternalsandpitturtle · 5 years

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5 awesome writing hacks for better marketing copy

Where do you turn when you want to really make a splash in content marketing? When you want to attract the eyes of your target audience and the good graces of Google’s search algorithms? When you’re picking the perfect format for your best ideas?

A kickass blog post, that’s where.

Before you go back and check the date on this post, this isn’t an article from 2009, or 1999. In 2019, the written word remains a powerful tool your brand can use to convert prospects and influence people. You simply have to make sure you’re maximising the potential of your words, writing compellingly instead of just … writing to write.

The following are five ideas that we’ve used. Little tricks that have made creating written content more effective, rewarding and even fun for us.

5 hacks for better marketing copy:

Learn to overcome procrastination

Break up text to increase ease of reading

Build credibility by keeping the numbers current

Use references to make reading your content fun

Win the SEO battle with effective research

If you work these into your own day-to-day routines, you may find the words are flowing more easily than ever before, and your readers are loving what you’re coming up with.

1. Learn to overcome procrastination

Even the best idea for a blog post is no good to you if you never put proverbial pen to metaphorical paper.

That’s why perhaps the most important and necessary writing hacks are the ones that get you started and help you focus on the writing process.

When you load up a new document, ready to craft your next opus, looking at that blank screen can be really intimidating, and act as an enticement to go back to wasting time – but there are ways around that feeling.

Try this: plot out all the sections you want your article to have, and paste the headings right into your document.

Now that you’ve got your headings, you’re not starting from nothing, you’re filling in the blanks. If you have to change something later as the piece comes together, that’s fine. You’ll already be in the swing of things by then.

Full disclosure: The very first part of this article I wrote was the table of contents.

While the outline method can’t prevent distractions from popping up, it gives you somewhere to start and a place to pick up if you pause.

2. Break up text to increase ease of reading

One of the most common mistakes in content writing, one that even experienced and knowledgeable people make, is to fill posts with long, chunky sentences and paragraphs. They may be loaded with facts and clearly well-researched, but readers’ eyes just bounce off them!

Short, easy-to-digest paragraphs, frequent subheadings and bulleted lists are a few of the best tools in your kit when it comes to breaking up the text for readers to focus on, dive into and enjoy.

Attention spans are short today, and it pays to avoid any impediment that may make a reader give up on an article, whether that means run-on sentences, overuse of passive voice or any other shortcomings in style or grammar.

Example

Instead of “The ways to increase marketing content effectiveness include easily readable sentence structures, up-to-date data and figures, relevant topical references and researched SEO-friendly features.”

Consider “Great marketing content includes:

Easily readable sentences.

Up-to-date data.

Relevant topical references.

SEO-friendly features.”

3. Build credibility by keeping the numbers current

This point, suggested by fellow content writer Lexi Goyette, is all about building trust between yourself and the reader.

Basically, you should make sure the data you cite in your articles is as current as possible. Citing relevant studies from five, 10, 15 or more years ago weakens your arguments, especially if the same reports have had more recent editions.

It’s easy to let inertia set in when it comes to supporting research.

When you set out to write, the sources you consult may cite data that’s years out of date. You could just repeat those numbers again, maybe tactfully removing the date of the survey to hide how old it is.

But that doesn’t really help you make your point.

Cite a clearly current study and you’ll make your point clearly and effectively.

Example

Instead of

“According to an Accenture study, 25% of customers prefer…” Consider

“The latest edition of Accenture’s customer study, published in October 2018, reveals…”

4. Use references to make reading your content fun

This suggestion, proposed by senior writer and style specialist Liam Green, is all about making people stick with your articles through a sense of recognition and fun.

When an article feels like it’s getting too dry or academic, there are a few ways to get people paying attention again. A well-placed quotation or pop culture reference could be just the thing the piece needs.

Sports, movies, TV, all are great subjects to go to when you need a creative reference. Giving your audience well-known phrases and pop cultural nods as points to hold on to may help them stay with your article. Every writer will have their own wellspring of trivia and favorite quotes to go back to, and as long as these features are recognisable to the readers, they’ll become fun additions to marketing copy.

References don’t have to be big, extended productions – you can just drop one in to spice up a paragraph. One of Liam’s favorite go-to moves is to add an immortal Cool Hand Luke line.

Instead of

“When your writing is too academic you may make an insufficient impression on your target audience.”

Consider

“What you and your audience have here is … failure to communicate.”

5. Win the SEO battle with effective research

Writing great content is a challenge, but a rewarding one.

Once you’ve put the finishing touches on your article, you’ll have something that your audience will be happy to read, full of shining wit, valuable data and useful insights.

There’s just one more problem – in today’s crowded online landscape, how will anyone find your piece?

There’s a science to search engine optimisation, and it’s a worthwhile undertaking for any new piece of content you work on. Getting on Page 1 of Google’s search results is a way to boost both an individual article and your company’s visibility in general.

When it comes to SEO, guesswork isn’t much of a strategy – it’s time to gather data from tools such as SEMrush, Moz and Ahrefs and see the connections between the current leading posts in your chosen topic. When you have the hard facts on your top posts and competitors’ best offerings, you can iterate over time and get better at drawing eyes to your content.

A better future for your blog

Once you get a handle on these writing and productivity hacks, you’ll be well on the way to creating content that you’re proud to post on your website and Tweet out to the masses.

Whether they’re success stories, research analysis, thought leadership or another type of piece, written articles can be the voice of your brand, explaining in great detail how and why you excel in your industry, and why people should work with you.

Since writing services are our main business, we’ve had plenty of time to come up with writing and editing hacks, and if you’ve put in the time writing and editing marketing content, you’ve probably got some of your own. If you’ve got a surefire writing hack that goes beyond what we’ve described here, leave a comment – we’d love to hear from you, and other aspiring content marketers will welcome the insights.

from http://bit.ly/2ZX0a2f

#content marketing

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foursproutwealth-blog · 6 years

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A brief history of U.S. homeownership

New Post has been published on http://foursprout.com/wealth/a-brief-history-of-u-s-homeownership/

A brief history of U.S. homeownership

During the month of May at Get Rich Slowly, we’re going to turn our attention to home and garden topics. To start, I want to take a brief look at the history of the U.S. housing market. Some folks might find this dry. I think it’s fascinating.

Private land ownership is baked into the U.S. culture and Constitution. It’s part of the material plenty we expect from the American Dream. For most Americans, homeownership implies success and freedom and wealth.

But for a long time, homeownership was the exception rather than the rule. Only farmers were likely to own land and a house during the country’s early days. With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, homeownership became more common for urban dwellers. Still, less than half of all Americans owned their homes until the late 1940s.

Here’s how U.S. homeownership rates of changed over the past 128 years according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis:

The current U.S. homeownership rate as of January 2018 is 64.2%.

I’m sure you could write a doctoral thesis on the reasons for the growth of homeownership over time. I’m not going to do that. After several hours of research into the history of mortgages and the real-estate industry, I feel like we can summarize everything in a few paragraphs. This article — which is information-only — will serve as background for future Get Rich Slowly discussions about homeownership.

In the Beginning

During the 1800s, most folks had no way to own a house. They didn’t have the lump sum required to make the purchase, and banks wouldn’t lend money for average people to buy homes. Mortgages didn’t become common until the U.S. banking system was stabilized following the National Bank Acts of the 1860s.

After this reform, banks began to experiment with lending money for homes, and by the 1890s, mortgages were popular across the U.S — although not precisely as we know them today.

A typical mortgage in the early 1900s might have a term of five years and require a 50% down payment. Plus, they were usually structured with interest-only monthly payments and a balloon payment for the entire principal at the end of the term. Borrowers could (and did) renegotiate their loans every year.

Compare this to modern mortgages, which usually have 30-year terms and require a down payment of only five to twenty percent. (I bought my first home in 1993 with a down payment of less than one percent!)

These early mortgages worked fine until the Great Depression. When that crisis hit, banks had no money to lend — and the average borrower had no cash either. As a result, potential homeowners couldn’t afford to buy, and many existing homeowners defaulted. (At one point during the 1930s, nearly 10% of all homes were in foreclosure!)

Note: This article originally appeared at Money Boss in April 2016. I’ve updated text-based stats through 2018, but graphics-based data is two years old. However, nothing material has changed in the past 24 months.

Bubbles and Booms

To stabilize the housing market, the U.S. government created the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation in 1933, the Federal Housing Administration in 1934, and the Federal National Mortgage Association (now Fannie Mae) in 1938. These institutions helped to arrest the housing crash and, eventually, spur homeownership to new heights.

But it was the G.I. Bill of 1944, which provided subsidized mortgages for World War II veterans, that changed the face of the housing industry and the American economy. From encyclopedia.com:

The GI Bill’s mortgage subsidies led to an escalated demand for housing and the development of suburbs. One-fifth of all single-family homes built in the 20 years following World War II were financed with help from the GI Bill’s loan guarantee program, symbolizing the emergence of a new middle class.

As homebuying became more common (and more complicated), real-estate brokers helped sellers find buyers for their homes. The National Association of Real Estate Boards adopted the term Realtor in 1916. As the housing market boomed during the 1940s and 1950s, so did the real-estate profession.

By 1950, for the first time in American history, more than half of all Americans owned their homes. As demand for housing increased, so did prices.

For 25 years, Yale economics professor Robert Shiller has tracked U.S. home prices. He monitors current prices, yes, but he’s also researched historical prices. He’s gathered all of this info into a spreadsheet, which he updates regularly and makes freely available on his website.

This graph of Shiller’s data (through January 2016) shows how housing prices have changed over time:

Shiller’s index is inflation-adjusted and based on sale prices of existing homes (not new construction). It uses 1890 as an arbitrary benchmark, which is assigned a value of 100. (To me, 110 looks like baseline normal. Maybe 1890 was a down year?)

As you can see, home prices bounced around until the mid 1910s, at which point they dropped sharply. This decline was due largely to new mass-production techniques, which lowered the cost of building a home. (For thirty years, you could order your home from Sears!) Prices didn’t recover until the conclusion of World War II and the coming of the G.I. Bill. From the 1950s until the mid-1990s, home prices hovered around 110 on the Shiller scale.

For the past twenty years, the U.S. housing market has been a wild ride. We experienced an enormous bubble (and its aftermath) during the late 2000s. It looks very much like we’re at the front end of another bubble today. As of December 2017, home prices were at about 170 on the Shiller scale.

What caused the housing bubble during the last decade? And what’s feeding the current buying frenzy? That’s a great question, and it’s open to debate. Some folks blame loose lending standards. Some blame a lack of government oversight. Some blame real-estate speculators. Some blame the American propensity for consumption. Some blame cheerleading from the real-estate industry. Me? I think it’s a little of everything.

Bigger Everything!

Naturally, increased home prices and increased ownership rates brought increased mortgages. During the past fifty years, long-term mortgages with large balances became more common until now they’re the standard.

Between 1949 and the turn of the twenty-first century, mortgage debt relative to total income of the average household rose from 20% to 73%, and from 15% to 41% relative to total household assets.

One reason mortgage sizes have increased is that housing sizes have increased.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median size for a new home built in 1973 was 1525 square feet. By 2016, that number had jumped to 2422 square feet. In those forty years, kitchen sizes have doubled, ceilings have risen more than a foot, and bedrooms have grown by more than 50 square feet.

But home sizes are ballooning even as households are shrinking! The average household had 2.9 people in 1973. In 2016, the average household had 2.5 people. Let’s run the numbers: Forty years ago, we had 526 square feet of living space per person; today, we have 969 square feet of living space per person.

To me, this seems crazy. Why do we need such huge houses? What’s the point? And do homeowners truly consider the costs when they choose to buy big? A larger home doesn’t just carry a larger purchase price. It costs more to maintain. It costs more to light, to heat, and to furnish. For too many people, big homes are the destroyer of dreams. (I’m not joking. I truly believe this.)

Full disclosure: In the past, I’ve been guilty of pursuing home-size inflation myself, although I eventually came to see the error of my ways. My first house (purchased in 1993) had 1383 square feet. My second house (purchased in 2004) had 1814 square feet. That was “peak bigness” for me. The condo I sold last year had 1547 square feet. And the house we moved into last July has 1235 square feet. I think about 1000 square feet is ideal, but Kim likes having the extra room.

I’m not saying you should live in a shack. Nor am I suggesting everyone should own a tiny home. But I believe it’s important to be logical when it comes to housing. Remember that size comes with a price. If you need the space, buy it. If you don’t, you’re better off saving your money for something else.

The Bottom Line

Housing is by far the largest expense in the typical budget. According to the U.S. government’s 2016 Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average American family spends $1573.83 on housing and related expenses every month. That’s more than they spend on food, clothing, healthcare, and entertainment combined!

Here at Get Rich Slowly, I’m adamant that one of the best ways — if not the best way — to improve your cash flow is by cutting your costs on housing.

Remember, your goal is to manage your financial life as if you were managing a business. If you were looking to balance the budget at a company you owned, you wouldn’t do it by trying to trim the small expenses. No, you’d tackle your biggest expenses first.

If you reduce your labor costs by 5%, for instance, you might be able to save $50,000 per year. But saving 5% on office supplies would probably only save you $50 per year.

The same principle applies in your personal life. If the typical American household cut their grocery budget by 5%, they’d save only $200 per year. If they cut housing by 5%? Well, they’d save $900 per year. So why do so many people put so much effort into clipping coupons while continuing to shell out for more home then they can afford (or need)? Good question.

In the weeks ahead, I’m going to explore different pieces of the housing equation. When does it make sense to rent? When does it make sense to buy? Is it better to prepay your mortgage or to keep it forever? How can you determine how much home you can afford?

If you have a specific question about housing and money, please let me know!

The post A brief history of U.S. homeownership appeared first on Get Rich Slowly.

#Wealth

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ourlittledinosaur · 7 years

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Moments I Could Have Missed...

New Post has been published on http://ourlittledinosaur.com/moments-i-could-have-missed/

Moments I Could Have Missed...

*Note: Our family has been in the throes of moving chaos and this post got lost in the shuffle. It was originally written in mid-July, about two months ago, but it is just too sweet not to share. Please enjoy this snapshot into my family’s dearest moments.

Please Just Go To Sleep

Tonight my son had a difficult time going to sleep. We started his bedtime routine on time just as we do each night, and went through our whole process. It took him almost an hour longer to fall asleep than usual. Any parent reading this I’m sure has also pleaded in weariness, “Why is this happening to me?”

As a first time Momma, I’ve read a lot in an effort to learn about babies and sleep. In the spirit of full disclosure, I definitely wasn’t following many of the suggestions that have been given on this particular night. We’ve been going through quite a transition lately because we are in the process of moving. The routine is all over the place and despite my best efforts to maintain consistency for my baby’s sake, some days it just hasn’t been possible.

Why Are You So Stinkin’ Cute?!

So tonight, instead of keeping everything dark and quiet, as my son began to cycle awake, I just went with the flow, too tired to fight it. When his eyes popped open and he smiled, I knew we were in for it. He didn’t want to nurse anymore, so I put him up on my shoulder. Then he saw his Daddy laying quietly on the bed. Another smile and a bounce.

I was still rocking him in the trusty ol’ rocking chair and he started to giggle. I realized with him on my shoulder, rocking was a bit more of a ride than a calm way to settle him. You would think I would have stop upon realizing this, but instead I gave in to the fun! So, as I rocked back, I gave him a little bounce and a “Weee”. This produced another giggle. We continued this way for a few minutes and the giggles grew into a continuous chain of laughter from all three of us. I can honestly say, neither my husband or I have seen and heard my son laugh so much and so hard. It was hilarious, entertaining, and heart-warming to see my son having so much fun…even if he was SUPPOSED to be sleeping.

Cry It Out Isn’t For Us

There is a lot of pressure for parents today to let their babies “cry it out” as a method of sleep training. This post is not meant to condemn those who choose this method, but rather encourage those who do not WANT to choose this method for their child. In another post, I will address the reasons my husband and I have decided that this method is not for us and our son. And although there have been times I’ve nearly caved to this sleep “training” method, today I simply want to say, I’m so glad we didn’t miss this precious and enjoyable moment. It was so very special.

No amount of couch time, TV watching, game playing, book reading, or even adult conversation (which I do desperately crave these days), or progress in unpacking could have been any more enjoyable and fulfilling than those few minutes of playtime and laughter with our son. My husband and I will remember it forever.

If We Had Chosen CIO, We Would Have Missed This!

There are other experiences with my baby I hold dear that would not be the same if I didn’t nurse, sing, or rock him to sleep. One of the sweetest things that comes to mind is how my son pats my face while I rock him and sing. His little hand finds my mouth (sometimes I’m like a fish on a hook with his little fingers in my mouth) as he feels my warm breath on his hand. His little fingers crawl up and find my nose which becomes a handle, as he closes his eyes. I can’t tell you how many times he has fallen asleep with his hand on my face and I absolutely love it.

In fact, it’s become a new part of our nap time routine for me to name the features of my face as his fingers touch them. “Mouth”, “nose”, and sometimes even “eyes” if I lean down close enough. We are also working on signing for milk which we can incorporate a bit before he falls asleep.

I wouldn’t trade these sweet moments for all the 8-hour uninterrupted nights I’m missing out on. They are just too precious.

A dear friend told me that waiting 18 months for this sleep thing to work itself out “sounds like torture”. She is not a stranger to sleepless nights as her son is only a few months older than mine and we like to help each other in sharing our thoughts on various parenting topics.

One Day, He’ll Be Grown

And yes, I am tired. However, I have peace in the knowledge that one day my son will sleep through the night. One day he will wean and not need Mommy’s milk (affectionately called nursies in our home) for nourishment or even comfort anymore. One day, he’ll be too big to rock to sleep. One day, he will not need me to sing to him so that he can fall asleep, in fact, he may not want me to sing to him at all. One day, I won’t lay him in his crib (and co-sleeping will be a dream) as he’ll crawl into bed on his own, shoo me away, read his book on his own, flip off the light, and go to sleep…all by himself. And I’ll miss him.

Today, my son is nearly 8 1/2 months old and I can hardly believe how fast time is passing. These few months, which may add up to only a couple years will pass quickly enough, with or without sleep (and to be honest, I am finding ways to get rest). I simply choose to cherish all these moments while I have the opportunity to do so.

Proverbs 23:15-16

“My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad; and my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.”

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golicit · 7 years

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Up Next: Mandatory Securities Claim Arbitration Provisions?

For a while a few years ago, litigation reform bylaws were all the rage – including forum selection bylaws, fee shifting bylaws, even mandatory arbitration bylaws. More recently, discussion of the topic quieted down, in part because the Delaware legislature enacted legislation allowing Delaware corporations to adopt forum selection bylaws while also prohibiting fee-shifting bylaws. However, the topic of litigation reform bylaws may be back on the docket again. In a speech earlier this week, SEC Commissioner Michael Piwowar invited companies heading toward an IPO to adopt arbitration provisions in their corporate bylaws.

According to a July 17, 2017 Reuters article entitled “U.S. SEC’s Piwowar Urges Companies to Pursue Mandatory Arbitration Clauses” (here), Piwowar said in a speech at the Heritage Foundation that “For shareholder lawsuits, companies can come to us to ask for relief to put in mandatory arbitration into their charters. I would encourage companies to come and talk to us about that.” A video recording of Piwowar’s speech can be found here.

As Alison Frankel points out on here On the Case blog (here), mandatory arbitration of shareholder claims is not a new idea. Academics have been debating the possibility for decades. And as I noted in a post a few years ago, several courts did uphold the enforceability of one company’s bylaw provision requiring arbitration of shareholder claims.

Nevertheless, at least until now, the view has been that the SEC opposes provisions requiring shareholder claims to be arbitrated. The agency’s position has been a corporate charter provision mandating arbitration of shareholder claims would violate Section 29 of the ’34 Act, which voids any contractual provision that would seek to waive any right under the statute. As I noted in a post at the time (here), in 2012, the SEC advised the Carlyle Group, which planning an IPO, that owing to the mandatory shareholder claim arbitration provision in the company’s bylaws, the agency would not accelerate the firm’s registration statement. Carlyle ultimately withdrew the arbitration provision.

Piwowar’s comments at the Heritage Foundation earlier this week seem to suggest that perhaps the agency will now take a different position on mandatory shareholder claim arbitration provisions. What isn’t clear is SEC Commissioner Jay Clayton stands on the issue. In his first public speech a few days ago, SEC Chair Jay Clayton called generally for regulatory reform and even invited companies to petition the SEC for disclosure requirement exemptions, but he said nothing about mandatory arbitration provisions.

Though Piwowar seems to have invited companies planning IPOs to step forward with mandatory securities claim arbitration provisions, there may be some good reasons for companies to hold back until the situation is clarified. For starters, notwithstanding Piwowar’s comments, it is not entirely clear whether a securities claim arbitration provision would withstand scrutiny. Among other things, a court might conclude that, notwithstanding the SEC’s position, an arbitration provision is contrary to the prohibitions in Section 29.

There may be a more practical reason companies might hold back from adopting a securities claim arbitration provision, and that is concern about the market’s reaction. In her blog post, Frankel raised the question whether big institutional investors might balk at waiving their right to sue. Frankel quotes Columbia Law School Professor John Coffee as noting that a company’s adoption of an arbitration provision could have an impact on the company’s share price at the IPO. On the other hand, Frankel also quotes Michigan Law School Professor Adam Pritchard as suggesting that investors might pay more for shares of companies that could be able to avoid the expenses of securities class action lawsuits.

In any event, I expect that we will be hearing a great deal more about this topic. We likely will hear more from Piwowar himself, and perhaps even from Clayton. I also think that it will not be long before a company takes Piwowar up on his invitation and steps forward for an IPO with a securities claim arbitration provision in its bylaws. If the IPO candidate’s submission passes agency muster, not only will these kinds of provisions quickly become standard for IPO companies, but many of the already public companies will quickly take steps to adopt similar provisions, just as they did with forum selection bylaw provisions a few years ago.

So, just to follow this conjecture to its logical conclusion, what might it mean if shareholder securities claim arbitration provisions become standard? It could mean serious changes in the way securities claims are litigated in this country. Indeed, it is possible that the current securities class action litigation mechanism could be completely dismantled, as prospective claimants are diverted into individual arbitration proceedings.

To whatever extent changes of this magnitude are even in the realm of the possible, we are a long way off from any of these kinds of things taking place. Even if these kinds of arbitration provisions actually do take hold, there are still a lot of other things that could happen. As we saw a few years ago when fee-shifting bylaw provisions were all the rage, the Delaware legislature stepped forward and changed the relevant laws, pretty much stopping the fee-shifting bylaw bandwagon in its tracks. By the same token, if securities claim arbitration provisions were to take off, Congress might act. Sure, both houses of Congress are dominated by Republicans now, but as we have seen this week, Republicans do not always act in unison. In addition, Congress blows hot and cold on securities litigation issues (compare the PSLRA to SOX and Dodd-Frank).

My crystal ball is no better than anybody else’s, so I am not making any predictions about where any of this is headed. Except this one – if Piwowar’s recent suggestion succeeds on getting things started, it could get very interesting. For now, put the question of mandatory securities claim arbitration provisions at the top of the list of things to watch.

One final note – if you are not reading Frankel’s blog every single day, you are making a mistake. Her post on Piwowar’s comments and the topic of securities claim arbitration clauses is particularly good and worth reading at length and in full.

Anything Better Than July?: Nope.

Pentwater, Michigan, July 17, 2017

The post Up Next: Mandatory Securities Claim Arbitration Provisions? appeared first on The D&O Diary.

Up Next: Mandatory Securities Claim Arbitration Provisions? published first on

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simonconsultancypage · 7 years

Text

Up Next: Mandatory Securities Claim Arbitration Provisions?

Anything Better Than July?: Nope.

Pentwater, Michigan, July 17, 2017

The post Up Next: Mandatory Securities Claim Arbitration Provisions? appeared first on The D&O Diary.

Up Next: Mandatory Securities Claim Arbitration Provisions? published first on http://ift.tt/2kTPCwo

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williamjharwick · 7 years

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Top 10 Tips for Brand New Podcasters

Although podcasts have been around for over a decade, now is the best time to start one if you haven’t already.

Podcast hosts are standing out from the crowd in their niche. Brands are getting more reach and building bigger, tighter audiences. Coaches are getting more clients, and new entrepreneurs are using podcasts to launch their new businesses, or power-up their existing one.

As with any content platform, when it starts to go mainstream, a lot of people rush into it and fail to have the proper expectations and strategies to make that time worthwhile. Podcasting is an incredibly powerful medium, and these top 10 tips for brand new podcasters come from my own experience hosting several of my own shows, and helping thousands of others create their own.

1. Push the Fear Aside and Just Get Started

In December 2008 when SPI was only three months old, I published a blog post announcing my new, upcoming podcast. I even published my first audio file online, just to test my new microphone equipment.

Here is that audio file below. It’s . . . well . . . not my best work:

So that was December 2008. My first episode didn’t come out until July . . .

. . . of 2010.

Yes, that’s a year and a half later. I waited that long because, more than anything, I was scared. I was scared of recording my voice and putting it out there in the world for everyone to judge. I was scared about what people thought about my show, or me as a person, because unlike a written blog post, a recorded audio file (even though you can edit), is a lot harder to “hide behind.”

Eventually, I got over the fear, and thanks to the encouragement of dozens of other supporters, I published the first episode of The Smart Passive Income Podcast in July 2010.

Looking back, I truly wish I had started earlier.

2. Don’t Worry About the Sound of Your Voice

One thing in particular I feared was how people would respond to the sound of my voice. I didn’t like the sound, and I would always cringe when listening to my own recordings.

I still do.

Honestly, I don’t think anyone likes the sound of their own voice.

The truth is, the sound of your voice doesn’t matter. It’s the information and inspiration you share with that voice that matters. So, if you have an accent that you think is “too thick” or a voice that’s high and piercing, it doesn’t matter. You should be podcasting anyway.

And even if people didn’t like your voice for whatever reason, those aren’t the people you’re meant to serve anyway.

3. You Don’t Need a Super Expensive Setup

The most important tool a podcaster has, besides their voice, is the microphone that captures that voice.

A lot of beginners think they need a setup that costs over $1,000 to get started, which includes not only the microphone, but also the mixer, decompressor, and other metal boxes that have a ton of dials and switches that really just makes things more confusing. Perhaps that was the case back in the day when professional broadcasters were the ones starting podcasts, but nowadays, with the progression in microphone technology over the years, all you need is a quality microphone that plugs into your USB.

Professional audio engineers may cringe to hear that, but let me tell you something about pro audiophiles: they hear everything. They are so talented and involved in what they do, they can notice the difference between two microphones just like a car enthusiast could name a car just by hearing the engine.

Us regular-eared people can still hear the difference between bad audio quality and good audio quality, but with the mics available to us today, most of us can’t tell the difference between an $80 microphone and a $350 microphone.

I paid over $700 in equipment I never used when I started, which is why I was happy to find this bad boy: the Audio-Technica ATR-2100. [Full Disclosure: As an affiliate, I receive compensation if you purchase through this link.]

I love my ATR-2100!

I remember when I found out about it too. Big thanks to Father Roderick who mentioned it on Facebook over seven years ago.

This will run you about $70 on Amazon, and it plugs directly into your computer’s USB port. This, and recording software like GarageBand or Audacity, and you’re good to go. [Full Disclosure: As an affiliate, I receive compensation if you purchase through this link.]

You may want to upgrade later on when you start to generate an income and make a business out of your podcast, but you may find that even then, you won’t need to upgrade.

4. Plan Your Future Content. Please!

For the first few years of the life of my podcast, I had the same thought every Wednesday morning after hitting publish on that week’s podcast episode:

“Woohoo! [Small celebratory dance.] Okay, now, let’s figure out what next week’s episode is going to be about . . . UGH.”

In the beginning, those thoughts about next week’s episode came rather quickly. But over time, the minutes spent thinking about what to do next turned into hours, which turned into days until eventually I began to miss publication dates for my show.

If you allow yourself to “wonder what’s next,” you can be sure that eventually you’ll wonder what happened to your show. Taking time upfront to plan your content calendar will save you so much stress and anxiety when it comes to the production of your show.

Please, no matter where you’re at in your podcasting journey, plan ahead. At the beginning of each quarter, my team and I get together and brainstorm blog post and podcast episode topics for the next quarter. Yes, things change sometimes, but it’s so nice to have an idea of what’s coming next.

If you’ll be inviting guests on your show, it’ll make it easier to schedule. If one of those episodes requires some research, you’ll actually have time to do it. And if you’re planning a launch of a product or some special event, you can plan around that as well and have your podcast episodes support your business better.

For the beginner who has yet to launch their show, try to write down fifteen topics, ideas, or guests you could have on your show, and try to put them in order starting from episode one. Don’t worry about the titles yet; fine tuning that can always come later.

And if you find you can’t list fifteen topics or show ideas yet, that’s a sign that you need to put a little more research in before you light that fuse.

5. Launch Your Podcast with at Least 3 Episodes

I remember my first one-star review for my show. It was harsh, and it came almost immediately after my first episode came out.

Not a great way to begin.

The reviewer commented on the the fact that I spent time in that first episode sharing my vision of what the podcast will become.

Kind of harsh if you ask me. But it taught me a valuable lesson.

First, an introductory episode (episode #1) that shares what’s coming and gives nothing else to chew on is really just a big fat tease . . . and some people don’t like to be teased. This person had to wait an entire week to finally get the goods, which is not ideal. I should have launched with more than just a “here’s what you can look forward to.”

The launch of your show should be treated like an event, so give your listeners something to bite into! Launching with at least three episodes gives listeners more of an opportunity to dig deeper with you, and it gives them a sense of really what the show is going to be like moving forward.

For you, that means increased downloads, more calls to action inside of people’s ears, increased subscribership, and potentially even more ratings and reviews than you would have received otherwise.

A single episode alone may not resonate with a person, but if there are three, it’s much more likely one of those episodes will hit the mark.

6. Pick a Date and Make it an Event

I’ve already mentioned this in a previous tip, but it’s worth mentioning again. Before you launch your show, and even before you begin recording your first episodes, pick a launch date in the future, put it on the calendar, and make a commitment to stick to it.

Beyond that, the date you selected should be treated like it’s the day of a big event because it is!

Think about an actual in-person event that someone might host. Do they, without any notice to anyone else, open doors on the day of the event and hope people come in? Not usually!

Typically, there is quite an effort that goes into letting people know that the event is happening, and that date and the location are always mentioned. You could even set up a contest of sorts, get your friends and family involved, and make this day something fun and memorable for you and all of your new subscribers.

7. Understand the Truth About A-listers

A-listers are the top people in your space, and in terms of people to interview for an episode, they are the ones most podcasters always shoot for.

Having A-listers on your show is great. They can definitely drop some amazing knowledge for you and your audience, and the credibility that comes with interviewing an A-lister is very real. I definitely recommend trying to make that happen, but there are a number of concerns that I need to bring up, especially for the beginning podcaster:

A-listers are not always easy to convince to have on your show. They are typically being asked by many other people for their time, and most A-listers want to make sure their time is well spent. If you don’t have a relationship with the A-lister already, the answer is almost always an immediate no.

If you do happen to score a lucky interview with an A-lister, congratulations! But now you have the challenge of making sure that interview becomes something unique. Like I said, other people are probably asking this person for an interview too, so how are you going to make this one better than the rest? It can be very challenging, especially if this person is saying yes to many people.

For beginner podcasters, I recommend interviewing the following three groups of people:

B & C-listers: People in the same space who can contribute to your show and add value to your podcast. These people are potential up-and-comers, and are far more likely to say yes to an interview because they are looking for exposure too. They are bloggers, podcasters, and video content creators who are consistently coming out with great stuff. And generally, they’ll be more likely to reciprocate than an A-lister would.

Success Stories You’ve Created: This is one of the most underutilized groups of people to potentially interview in the podcasting space. That is, people in your audience who have found success because of you! There’s no better way to prove your expertise and ability to help others than to showcase a student of yours who took action. Unlike an A-lister, these people are far more relatable, and only a few steps ahead of your audience, so this will fire up your listeners like nothing else.

Success Stories that Haven’t Happened Yet: Instead of interviewing successful people and experts in your space, what about people who are on their way? This likely represents the top percentage of listeners of your show, so if you invited a person on and coached them through a specific pain or problem, that immediately demonstrates not only your knowledge and expertise, but also your love and care for your audience. If you offer any coaching, this is one of the best ways to get new clients, because your audience gets to taste test exactly what learning from you is like!

8. Use Royalty-Free Music and Audio

Lots of new podcasters have questions about using music and audio clips in their show. Even if it’s just a clip, even if that clip is only one second long, you are putting you and your business at risk by not getting permission to use other people’s intellectual property in your show.

Yes, a podcast is cool because it’s your show and you can build it and structure it in any way you wish, but you still have to follow the rules when it comes to legal stuff, or else you could get in trouble.

Not all podcasters follow the rules though, so just because you hear an audio clip or a song on another podcast doesn’t mean you can use one too. You don’t know if the other podcast licensed the use of that clip or song, which is also possible (but typically very expensive).

The best practice, especially when starting out, is to create the music yourself, hire someone to do it for you (and you own the song), or use a service that has royalty-free audio that you’re allowed to use in your podcast.

Here are a couple of resources I’m excited to share with you that may help you here at the start:

Music Radio Creative: Mike and Izabela created this service to help those who want professional, royalty-free music and voiceovers done for their show. I’ve used it for AskPat, and several other podcasters have been completely happy with their service. Even some new students of mine in the founding group for my online training course, Power-Up Podcasting, enjoyed using their services. [Full Disclosure: As an affiliate, I receive compensation if you purchase through this link.]

Artlist.io: This is my latest find when it comes to royalty-free music, and there are actually some decent tracks on here I could imagine myself listening to in the car. I use this mainly for music that goes into my live streams to accommodate Facebook’s strict rules. But you can download, edit, and use these in your podcast episodes as well.

9. Put the Numbers into Perspective

I once asked a friend of mine how often he checked his podcast downloads stats. His answer?

At least ten times a day!

Ten! That’s a lot, but I don’t blame him. One of the funnest parts of podcasting is seeing exactly how many people are on the other end listening. At the same time, it can also be one of the most depressing podcaster rituals, because those numbers may not be as big as you want them to be.

It’s always good to want to grow, and so you should always strive for bigger download numbers, but at the same time, I want to help you put into perspective what these numbers actually mean.

A podcast with only 100 downloads an episode may seem like it’s not going anywhere. But imagine this:

A room filled with 100 people, and you’re up on stage at the front. People came there to watch you and take in every word you said. For many people, that imagery scares people to death. Why? Because that’s a lot of people to stand up in front of and deliver a message to!

To me, a podcast is no different. It’s your message, on a digital stage, that people have chosen to listen to. You may only start with small numbers, but remember those numbers represent actual human beings who are interested in you and your message, and could potentially share your message with others too.

Is there no wonder why I prefer podcasting over speaking on stage? It’s not because I don’t have to travel and I can record straight from home. That’s a plus, yes, but the amazing thing is that in order to get in front of hundreds, thousands, and even tens of thousands of people, each week, all I need to do is record an episode from the comfort of my own home.

Imagine trying to hold a real-life event each week with that many people, and how much that would cost.

10. Create Your Podcast SOP

An SOP, or standard operating procedure, is a written list of steps or requirements that you (or another person) can use for a repetitive task. When you have one for your podcast, it makes life SO much easier! After you get started, creating an episode from start to finish starts to become second nature. In the beginning, however, it’s almost like you’re learning how to walk for the first time.

As you create your episodes, write down the steps you take. Every little thing matters, from where you drop your files in the host that you choose, to your show notes and even how you promote your show on social media.

The benefit of writing this down is you don’t have to waste time thinking anymore, and you could even hand that off to someone else to produce most of it for you in the future so that all you have to do is record content, and everything else is taken care of.

A Free Checklist / SOP for Starting a Podcast

I’ve helped thousands of people start their own podcast, and I want to help thousands more. Like I said, it’s the number one content platform available to you for sharing your message in the most impactful way, and if you’re hoping to build a strong rapport with your audience, there’s no better way to do it.

I created a free podcasting cheat sheet [LINK TO PODCASTING CHEAT SHEET LEADPAGES FORM] for those of you who are interested in starting your own show. The cheat sheet includes worksheets to help you learn more about what your show is going to be about and how it’ll stand out from the crowd, getting started with your content calendar, and also a checklist for all the things you need to do to from now until launch date to get your show up on iTunes and other directories.

//static.leadpages.net/leadboxes/current/embed.js Click here to download the podcasting cheat sheet for free, and I look forward to seeing your show up on iTunes soon! If you found this article helpful, please click here to share it!

These 10 Tips for Brand New Podcasters will help you get your podcast started! Click To Tweet

Top 10 Tips for Brand New Podcasters shared from David Homer’s Blog

0 notes

andrewmrudd79 · 7 years

Text

Top 10 Tips for Brand New Podcasters

Although podcasts have been around for over a decade, now is the best time to start one if you haven’t already.

1. Push the Fear Aside and Just Get Started

Here is that audio file below. It’s . . . well . . . not my best work:

So that was December 2008. My first episode didn’t come out until July . . .

. . . of 2010.

Eventually, I got over the fear, and thanks to the encouragement of dozens of other supporters, I published the first episode of The Smart Passive Income Podcast in July 2010.

Looking back, I truly wish I had started earlier.

2. Don’t Worry About the Sound of Your Voice

One thing in particular I feared was how people would respond to the sound of my voice. I didn’t like the sound, and I would always cringe when listening to my own recordings.

I still do.

Honestly, I don’t think anyone likes the sound of their own voice.

And even if people didn’t like your voice for whatever reason, those aren’t the people you’re meant to serve anyway.

3. You Don’t Need a Super Expensive Setup

The most important tool a podcaster has, besides their voice, is the microphone that captures that voice.

I love my ATR-2100!

I remember when I found out about it too. Big thanks to Father Roderick who mentioned it on Facebook over seven years ago.

You may want to upgrade later on when you start to generate an income and make a business out of your podcast, but you may find that even then, you won’t need to upgrade.

4. Plan Your Future Content. Please!

For the first few years of the life of my podcast, I had the same thought every Wednesday morning after hitting publish on that week’s podcast episode:

“Woohoo! [Small celebratory dance.] Okay, now, let’s figure out what next week’s episode is going to be about . . . UGH.”

And if you find you can’t list fifteen topics or show ideas yet, that’s a sign that you need to put a little more research in before you light that fuse.

5. Launch Your Podcast with at Least 3 Episodes

I remember my first one-star review for my show. It was harsh, and it came almost immediately after my first episode came out.

Not a great way to begin.

The reviewer commented on the the fact that I spent time in that first episode sharing my vision of what the podcast will become.

Kind of harsh if you ask me. But it taught me a valuable lesson.

A single episode alone may not resonate with a person, but if there are three, it’s much more likely one of those episodes will hit the mark.

6. Pick a Date and Make it an Event

Beyond that, the date you selected should be treated like it’s the day of a big event because it is!

Think about an actual in-person event that someone might host. Do they, without any notice to anyone else, open doors on the day of the event and hope people come in? Not usually!

7. Understand the Truth About A-listers

A-listers are the top people in your space, and in terms of people to interview for an episode, they are the ones most podcasters always shoot for.

For beginner podcasters, I recommend interviewing the following three groups of people:

8. Use Royalty-Free Music and Audio

Here are a couple of resources I’m excited to share with you that may help you here at the start:

9. Put the Numbers into Perspective

I once asked a friend of mine how often he checked his podcast downloads stats. His answer?

At least ten times a day!

It’s always good to want to grow, and so you should always strive for bigger download numbers, but at the same time, I want to help you put into perspective what these numbers actually mean.

A podcast with only 100 downloads an episode may seem like it’s not going anywhere. But imagine this:

Imagine trying to hold a real-life event each week with that many people, and how much that would cost.

10. Create Your Podcast SOP

A Free Checklist / SOP for Starting a Podcast

These 10 Tips for Brand New Podcasters will help you get your podcast started! Click To Tweet

Top 10 Tips for Brand New Podcasters originally posted at Homer’s Blog

0 notes

judithghernandez87 · 7 years

Text

Top 10 Tips for Brand New Podcasters

Although podcasts have been around for over a decade, now is the best time to start one if you haven’t already.

1. Push the Fear Aside and Just Get Started

Here is that audio file below. It’s . . . well . . . not my best work:

So that was December 2008. My first episode didn’t come out until July . . .

. . . of 2010.

Eventually, I got over the fear, and thanks to the encouragement of dozens of other supporters, I published the first episode of The Smart Passive Income Podcast in July 2010.

Looking back, I truly wish I had started earlier.

2. Don’t Worry About the Sound of Your Voice

One thing in particular I feared was how people would respond to the sound of my voice. I didn’t like the sound, and I would always cringe when listening to my own recordings.

I still do.

Honestly, I don’t think anyone likes the sound of their own voice.

And even if people didn’t like your voice for whatever reason, those aren’t the people you’re meant to serve anyway.

3. You Don’t Need a Super Expensive Setup

The most important tool a podcaster has, besides their voice, is the microphone that captures that voice.

I love my ATR-2100!

I remember when I found out about it too. Big thanks to Father Roderick who mentioned it on Facebook over seven years ago.

You may want to upgrade later on when you start to generate an income and make a business out of your podcast, but you may find that even then, you won’t need to upgrade.

4. Plan Your Future Content. Please!

For the first few years of the life of my podcast, I had the same thought every Wednesday morning after hitting publish on that week’s podcast episode:

“Woohoo! [Small celebratory dance.] Okay, now, let’s figure out what next week’s episode is going to be about . . . UGH.”

And if you find you can’t list fifteen topics or show ideas yet, that’s a sign that you need to put a little more research in before you light that fuse.

5. Launch Your Podcast with at Least 3 Episodes

I remember my first one-star review for my show. It was harsh, and it came almost immediately after my first episode came out.

Not a great way to begin.

The reviewer commented on the the fact that I spent time in that first episode sharing my vision of what the podcast will become.

Kind of harsh if you ask me. But it taught me a valuable lesson.

A single episode alone may not resonate with a person, but if there are three, it’s much more likely one of those episodes will hit the mark.

6. Pick a Date and Make it an Event

Beyond that, the date you selected should be treated like it’s the day of a big event because it is!

Think about an actual in-person event that someone might host. Do they, without any notice to anyone else, open doors on the day of the event and hope people come in? Not usually!

7. Understand the Truth About A-listers

A-listers are the top people in your space, and in terms of people to interview for an episode, they are the ones most podcasters always shoot for.

For beginner podcasters, I recommend interviewing the following three groups of people:

8. Use Royalty-Free Music and Audio

Here are a couple of resources I’m excited to share with you that may help you here at the start:

9. Put the Numbers into Perspective

I once asked a friend of mine how often he checked his podcast downloads stats. His answer?

At least ten times a day!

It’s always good to want to grow, and so you should always strive for bigger download numbers, but at the same time, I want to help you put into perspective what these numbers actually mean.

A podcast with only 100 downloads an episode may seem like it’s not going anywhere. But imagine this:

Imagine trying to hold a real-life event each week with that many people, and how much that would cost.

10. Create Your Podcast SOP

A Free Checklist / SOP for Starting a Podcast

These 10 Tips for Brand New Podcasters will help you get your podcast started! Click To Tweet

Top 10 Tips for Brand New Podcasters originally posted at Dave’s Blog

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davidmhomerjr · 7 years

Text

Top 10 Tips for Brand New Podcasters

Although podcasts have been around for over a decade, now is the best time to start one if you haven’t already.

1. Push the Fear Aside and Just Get Started

Here is that audio file below. It’s . . . well . . . not my best work:

So that was December 2008. My first episode didn’t come out until July . . .

. . . of 2010.

Eventually, I got over the fear, and thanks to the encouragement of dozens of other supporters, I published the first episode of The Smart Passive Income Podcast in July 2010.

Looking back, I truly wish I had started earlier.

2. Don’t Worry About the Sound of Your Voice

One thing in particular I feared was how people would respond to the sound of my voice. I didn’t like the sound, and I would always cringe when listening to my own recordings.

I still do.

Honestly, I don’t think anyone likes the sound of their own voice.

And even if people didn’t like your voice for whatever reason, those aren’t the people you’re meant to serve anyway.

3. You Don’t Need a Super Expensive Setup

The most important tool a podcaster has, besides their voice, is the microphone that captures that voice.

I love my ATR-2100!

I remember when I found out about it too. Big thanks to Father Roderick who mentioned it on Facebook over seven years ago.

You may want to upgrade later on when you start to generate an income and make a business out of your podcast, but you may find that even then, you won’t need to upgrade.

4. Plan Your Future Content. Please!

For the first few years of the life of my podcast, I had the same thought every Wednesday morning after hitting publish on that week’s podcast episode:

“Woohoo! [Small celebratory dance.] Okay, now, let’s figure out what next week’s episode is going to be about . . . UGH.”

And if you find you can’t list fifteen topics or show ideas yet, that’s a sign that you need to put a little more research in before you light that fuse.

5. Launch Your Podcast with at Least 3 Episodes

I remember my first one-star review for my show. It was harsh, and it came almost immediately after my first episode came out.

Not a great way to begin.

The reviewer commented on the the fact that I spent time in that first episode sharing my vision of what the podcast will become.

Kind of harsh if you ask me. But it taught me a valuable lesson.

A single episode alone may not resonate with a person, but if there are three, it’s much more likely one of those episodes will hit the mark.

6. Pick a Date and Make it an Event

Beyond that, the date you selected should be treated like it’s the day of a big event because it is!

Think about an actual in-person event that someone might host. Do they, without any notice to anyone else, open doors on the day of the event and hope people come in? Not usually!

7. Understand the Truth About A-listers

A-listers are the top people in your space, and in terms of people to interview for an episode, they are the ones most podcasters always shoot for.

For beginner podcasters, I recommend interviewing the following three groups of people:

8. Use Royalty-Free Music and Audio

Here are a couple of resources I’m excited to share with you that may help you here at the start:

9. Put the Numbers into Perspective

I once asked a friend of mine how often he checked his podcast downloads stats. His answer?

At least ten times a day!

It’s always good to want to grow, and so you should always strive for bigger download numbers, but at the same time, I want to help you put into perspective what these numbers actually mean.

A podcast with only 100 downloads an episode may seem like it’s not going anywhere. But imagine this:

Imagine trying to hold a real-life event each week with that many people, and how much that would cost.

10. Create Your Podcast SOP

A Free Checklist / SOP for Starting a Podcast

Click here to download the podcasting cheat sheet for free, and I look forward to seeing your show up on iTunes soon! If you found this article helpful, please click here to share it!

These 10 Tips for Brand New Podcasters will help you get your podcast started! Click To Tweet

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ourlittledinosaur · 7 years

Text

Moments I Could Have Missed...

New Post has been published on http://ourlittledinosaur.azurewebsites.net/moments-i-could-have-missed/

Moments I Could Have Missed...

Please Just Go To Sleep

Why Are You So Stinkin’ Cute?!

Cry It Out Isn’t For Us

If We Had Chosen CIO, We Would Have Missed This!

I wouldn’t trade these sweet moments for all the 8-hour uninterrupted nights I’m missing out on. They are just too precious.

One Day, He’ll Be Grown

Proverbs 23:15-16

“My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad; and my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.”

Like this post? Help us and others by Sharing!

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#Parenting Advice #Sleep Association #sleep training

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