Experiment in Progress: YouTube Video to Advertise Blog

I've been thinking of doing something like this: but one of my BlogCatalog neighbors did it first:

"Promoting Blog Through Youtube"
BlogCatalog discussion, (started December 27, 2008)

I hope jjmezzio doesn't base his go/nogo decision solely on what BlogCatalogers say, but asking for - and paying attention to - that sort of feedback seems like a good idea.

The basic notion, using a YouTube video to promote a blog, look very attractive.

Just one problem, for me: I'd have to make a viewable, appealing, video.

Business Advice Blog

Okay: This looks promising.

Benjamin Warsinske
"Business Development For The Service Industry"

"Benjamin is on a mission to educate, inspire and motivate the service industry on business development, branding, and identity...."

Why is B.W. blogging?

"I started this blog as a place to showcase who I am, to write on topics that interest me, and mostly for fun. I am always looking to network with new people. Maybe you came across my blog on my LinkedIn profile. Great! Connect with me. Maybe there is a project we can work on together."
(Benjamin Warsinske)

As I said: looks promising.

I ran into this blog in a comment on BlogCatalog: another example of how online communities are good for a number of things besides hanging out.

Annoying Your Website's Visitors: Not as Good an Idea as it Seems

Someone may still think that disabling the 'back' button on browsers is a great way of keeping visitors on your website. If you don't own your own business, your manager may think so, or have equally daft ideas: that you have to execute.

Which is one reason why I'm glad to be self-employed.

Trapping viewers isn't covered in either of the two posts I discussed in another blog. Annoying ads, pop-ups, not including external links, and forcing visitors to register are.

So is an issue that I need to stay aware of: "Long posts that are hard to scan." (#7 in the Killing Your Blog?... post.)

Do You Want Website Visitors to Return?

If you don't, go ahead:

• Disable the 'back' button
• Make visitors scroll through two or three screens of advertising clutter before finding the registration link
• Make them register to see your content
• Be sure that the registration takes them through at least two screens, and collects their:
  • Home phone
  • Email
  • Date of birth
  • Postal address
  • Buying preferences

Finally, avoid subheadings, bulleted lists, or anything else that will make skimming easier. Remember: it's your website, and you can do what you want!

Or, you can design a website that someone might want to come back to.

The decision is up to you.

Microreviews from Apathetic Lemming of the North:

• "Website Design: Just Because Everybody Else is Doing it - - -"
  (February 4, 2009)
• "Killing Your Blog? Could Be "
  (February 4, 2009)

The microreviewed posts:

• "5 Sickening Habits of Mainstream Websites"
  TechCult (November 11, 2008)
• "10 Mistakes That Could Be Killing Your Blog"
  Write to Done (November 12, 2008)

Obama Wants Caps on Fat Cat Payouts

What? No golden parachute?

Why be a big executive in a big company, if you can't run the company into the ground, and get a generous bonus for your work?

Billions in Losses, Turning a Corner, and Millions in Stock

Back in 2007, the CEO for one of America's 'Big Three' automakers got, as a bonus, a cool $4,100,000 in stock, plus 3,560,000 stock options (at an excise price of $6.14). The company had lost $2,700,000,000 that year. It's okay, though: the CEO said that his company was turning the corner, and would be profitable. Soon.

The stock market seems to be more tightly connected to the real world than many CEOs are, so that $4 million bonus may not be quite as big as it seems. Not now.

Golden Parachutes, Obscene Bonuses: Not a Small Business Issue?

Bizarre bonuses and gigantic golden parachutes don't seem to have much to do with small business owners. Particularly sole proprietors like me.

Let's say I was talking to myself:

"I lost $2,700,000,000 this year. Not to worry, though: I've turned a corner, and things will get better."

"You mean, I'll make a profit? When?"

"Soon."

"Well done! Here's $4,100,000. Don't spend it all in one place."

If I could lose money in the ten-figures range during one year, and get paid $4 million for it, I could retire after that year. But it's not possible: ethically or practically.

I don't envy the Ford CEO, though. He seems to have gotten his bonus in Ford company stock. I don't know what that's worth, now that the stock market is melting down, but it's probably not what it was in 2007.

Big company shenanigans do affect small business owners. The most obviously-affected businesses are eateries and stores near the factories, and where the workers live. When people get laid off, or fired, they're not likely to spend as much as when they got a paycheck.

It doesn't stop there, of course, business owners buy supplies and (sometimes) hire people. When business falls off, business owners don't buy as many supplies, and may have to drop employees.

That means that the former employees won't be spending as much, and neither will the suppliers.

You get the picture.

So, even if you didn't own Ford stock, what's happening to American automakers will affect you, if you're doing business in this country.

Whatever is a Small Business Owner to Do?

I've done a little poking around, and found soem advice that doesn't sound too crazy. It's pretty obvious, but:

• Keep track of cash flow
  • If more's going out than coming in, that's not good news
• Don't need it? Drop it
  • Luxuries are nice, but don't pay for equipment and services you don't actually need
  • That goes for employees, too: and that's a lot harder
• Cash, good: Credit, bad
  • Loans and credit cards are cool - and expensive
• Pay attention to your customers

You're expecting startling insights and useful details? What am I, a consultant?! I'm a middle-aged writer and artist, trying to make his own business work. When I know what I'm doing, I'll let you know.

Meanwhile, here's a thought: many people are looking for ways to do what they need, or like, to do - for less money than they did a few years ago. If you can help them do that, you've got yourself clients or customers.

In the news:

• "FACTBOX: Details of new U.S. restrictions on CEO pay"
  Reuters (February 4, 2009)
• "Obama to Impose Salary Caps on Bailed Out Fat Cats"
  FOXNews (February 4, 2009)