Words to the Wise

Sometimes, while I’m writing (or re-writing) web content for a client, they ask me if they should start an AdSense campaign to generate some extra revenue.

My usual answer is “no” because the cost of an AdSense campaign for most of my clients is way too high.

“But Jay,” they say, “AdSense doesn’t cost anything. Google gives you the code and you paste it into your website HTML.”

True. Every word of it. But the cost I’m referring to is the depreciation of your brand because you’re adding advertising to a site that wasn’t meant for it.

Why would you want to give visitors to your site an opportunity to leave your site and look for something else? Is the 25 cents really worth it? On top of that, it makes you look like you want their pocket change, not their dollar bills.

Don’t get me wrong. There are certainly times when AdSense makes sense (and cents) on a website. Take my Clayton, NC relocation website for example. It has ads, a job board and may soon have YouTube advertising. But the difference is that my Relocate Clayton site isn’t selling anything. It gives away every word of information for free with the hope that visitors will find the relevant ads enticing enough to click.

There’s a saying going around the web right now:

“Boring podcasts suck”

Thankfully, the phrase acknowledges (albeit by subtraction) that there is the possibility for a suck-free podcast - which is exactly what my BlogTalkRadio show, This Hour has 22 Widgets, proves…or is in the process of proving.

I’ve wanted to podcast for well over a year now. But every time I listened to a podcast, I’d get turned off. My initial reaction to most podcasts is “I don’t want to do my own podcast and have it be as boring as the one I just listened to.”

I think, for too long now, companies have focused on the content of their podcasts and not the delivery. I believe content and delivery are of equal importance when it comes to podcasting. And it seems like a lot of companies these days aren’t getting that. I’m not sure if it’s their need for some marketing guidance, or if a PR agency has sold them on the idea that ‘dry is better,’ but I’ve heard WAY too many PR agency account execs read word-for-word from a script while their clients read back from an equally dry and over-prepared script.

It’s time for podcasts to stop sucking. It’s time to discover BlogTalkRadio, which is what I did.

If you’ve got a business, product or service, and you want to be featured on my show, email me. Here are five very good reason why this form of podcasting is so powerful:

1. It’s live…at first. When the green light turns on, and my intro music plays, there’s no turning back. Whatever game you brought with you that day is the game people are going to hear. The good news is, I’m pretty good at interviewing, have a halfway decent sense of humor and can help you get (and keep) your head in the show.

2. I’s live…forever. One of my favorite things about my show is that it’s always live - even if you listen to it a year after it’s recorded. It’s like watching old episodes of The Price Is Right. There’s excitement and vitality in every episode, no matter when you watch.

3. In the end, it’s YOUR show. While I submit a copy of the final podcast to iTunes and keep a copy on my BlogTalkRadio show page, you can do whatever you like with your copy. Put it on your site to build content. Put out a press release about it. Send a link to it in your company’s e-newsletter. There are a ton of ways to use a podcast as a business-building tool.

4. You control the content. Except for the odd commercial, sound effect and my theme music, the show is really yours. You tell me what you want people to hear, and I ask the right question to let you get your message out. There are no gags, no tricks, no potty mouth, just a live radio show to get your message out.

5. You can be anywhere. I live in North Carolina. You can live in California and still be on my show. I’ve got clients in Florida, Connecticut, Canada, New Jersey and other places. My show works no matter where you are.

What’s keeping you from podcasting?

“This Hour Has 22 Widgets” to Deal With Unique Products and Services, Marketing Strategies and Tactics

News Facts:

• Jason Pedley, a North Carolina-based freelance copywriter, has announced he will host a BlogTalkRadio show called “This Hour Has 22 Widgets.” Pedley’s host page can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/jason_pedley.

• “This Hour Has 22 Widgets” will showcase products, services and ideas from his clients and other companies across America and discuss marketing topics and ideas that contribute to business success.

• Pedley’s first guests will be Kim Mack and Staci Douglas, founders of Out of the Box Party (www.outoftheboxparty.com). Pedley will interview them about their online business and what marketing tools they use to be successful. The segment can be heard live on BlogTalkRadio.com on Tuesday September 25th, 2007 at 10:00am Eastern time.

• BlogTalkRadio allows anyone to host their own live radio show online. Hosts are assigned a number that they dial into and use a web-based control panel to manage callers, advertising, music and effects. Listeners are given a dial-in number to call that allows them to ask questions and interact live with hosts and guests. Listeners may also send emails and instant messages to the hosts during a show to ask questions.

• Shows can be scheduled up to one month in advance and listeners can tune in on the BlogTalkRadio website at www.blogtalkradio.com. All segments are recorded and available afterward as podcasts through the BlogTalkRadio website and iTunes.

• Jason Pedley is a freelance copywriter with website content and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) experience in real estate, gaming, tourism, dining, entertainment, retail, meetings and conventions and technology.

Please use this URL to access a purpose-built del.icio.us page, for more information about Jason Pedley: del.icio.us/jasonpedley

(Visit www.jasonepdley.com/resume.html for Jason Pedley’s history or www.linkedin.com/pub/2/64b/756 for Jason Pedley’s LinkedIn profile.)

Quotes attributable to Freelance Copywriter Jason Pedley-

• “I got the idea for my BlogTalkRadio show after hearing one too many dry, run-of-the-mill podcasts produced by PR agencies and hosted by account executives reading word-for-word from a script.”

• “This Hour Has 22 Widgets injects life into the podcast and brings excitement and energy to the format. ”

Please email press@jasonpedley.com to arrange an interview and/or for additional quotes.

About Freelance Copywriter Jason Pedley:
Jason Pedley is a freelance marketing, public relations and advertising copywriter who provides value to his clients by writing copy that is on time, on target and on budget. His copywriting experience has brought him projects in gaming, tourism, real estate, entertainment, retail, non-profit, technology and other sectors. To learn more about Jason Pedley, his services, and how they can help your organization, visit www.jasonpedley.com, jasonpedleycopywriter.wordpress.com, or email him at press@jasonpedley.com.

Contact Info
Jason Pedley
860.886.3455 cell
press@jasonpedley.com
www.jasonpedley.com

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Statistics how that Americans spend 12 weeks every year — a full three months — looking for things they know they have, but just can’t find.

Luckily, there are people like Doreen Stern, PH.D., aka The Desk Doktor, to save us.

Doreen will be my host on Thursday, October 4th at 10:00am on This Hour Has 22 Widgets. We’ll talk about simple things we all can do to clear the clutter from our lives, our businesses and our minds and get back to the things that truly matter.

And speaking of businesses…the average American executive wastes six weeks every year searching for misplaced documents. Also, the average American employee has about 37 hours of unfinished work on their desk at any time…and typically takes three hours each week to sort through piles.

I’d tell you to write the date and time down on a piece of paper, but with all these statistics, I’m afraid you’ll lose the paper.

One of the most common complaints I get from clients when I suggest that they start a blog is that they don’t have the time to sit in front of a computer and ‘talk’ to their customers.

First of all, in my experience, potential clients don’t want to hear about your trip to Cameroon or what’s going on with your dog. There’s a way to write that is conversational, yet still manages to incorporate important selling points about your products and services.

My solution takes you less than one hour per week, and the I do most of the work.

Here’s how it works: You and I have a conversation where we discuss one or two topics that you would like ME to blog about for you the following week. It’s just like ghostwriting – I write in your tone about your products and services, add relevant links back to specific pages on your site and make you, once again, look like a subject matter expert.

I do a maximum of two blogs per week, and use WordPress as my blog service of choice.

This type of work is very affordable and pays off because of the relevant links and content. If you’re not sure blogging is for you, give me a call or send me an email and we’ll talk about it.