by Elizabeth Kirwin

Visit the blog
http://barcamp.org/BarCampRDU

There’s a great deal of talent and an explosion of successful web based companies in the Raleigh Durham area. I’m pleased to be traveling to Barcamprdu this weekend, for yet another un-conference.

In May of 2007, I traveled with Sarah Benoit to the DCamp Conference in Raleigh. With one big toe in academia and the rest of me set squarely in the tech industry, I must say I really do understand the importance of the un-conference. Unlike academic conferences, it’s an open forum for teaching and learning, and it’s free. So there is no pre-arranged schedule and no conference fee. ‘Campers’ arrive at the conference and propose sessions (it’s very exciting actually) and then the group splits off into different rooms. Since I’ve been a participant of the un-conference I can say it works well in action.

The organizers of BarCamprdu are wonderful, and the list of sponsors they’ve assembled is impressive. Some of these include: Lulu.com and Icontact.com, as well as Design Hammer, a Durham based website design and programming firm that Sidhe Communications has presented educational seminars with at the Raleigh School of Communication Arts.

Without the barcamprdu sponsors, the before and after party (this year the pre-party is being held at Tyler’s Taproom in Durham) would not be possible, nor would the complimentary lunch or free t-shirts. These are all great ways of celebrating the tech community and continuing to engage with each other.

More than anything, I appreciate the spirit of sharing information, knowledge, and methodology that exists in the un-conference format. As I collaborate with programmers and designers on complex projects, I learn from them, and they learn things from me about organic search. I feel that these aspects of teaching and learning are the most important for professional growth and yet they are often overlooked, because there is very little formal context. It’s not formality that matters, but the dedication of organizers who put an event like Barcamprdu together and the campers that come to participate that ultimately determines the success of the teaching and learning experience.

I’ve learned a great deal from my collaboration with website designers and programmers. In this format, I can listen to them speak about technology they are working on developing. This is fascinating for me, and exciting for the opportunities it brings to the tech world — always on the move and changing quickly.

Thanks to all of the people in the Raleigh Durham area for organizing BarCamprdu this year.

Asheville SCORE Provides Beginner and Advanced Internet Marketing Seminars in the Fall of 2008!

Since the fall of 2007 Sidhe Communications, LLC partner Sarah Benoit has been teaching the Internet Marketing seminars for Asheville SCORE, a small business counseling center located ion the heart of downtown Asheville. “My involvement with the SCORE organization has been extremely fulfilling,” states Benoit, “I am challenged each semester to educate a wide variety of people from different age groups, skill levels, industries and technical knowledge. I am also evaluated by the students and the staff of SCORE each seminar so I am learning as well to be a better communicator, pubic speaker and teacher.”

In the last quarter of 2008 Benoit has been invited to make some big changes to the SCORE seminar content. “After a year of teaching this class SCORE staff members Piet Bodenhurst and Nick Jordan approached me to ask about my ideas for the Internet Marketing class,” Benoit says, “My suggestion was to create two classes: one for beginners and one for advanced students. They agreed, so this fall SCORE will offer both seminars. Students can attend whichever class suits their individual needs.”

SEMINAR 1: INTERNET MARKETING 101

Wednesday October 15, 2008 6 - 9 PM AB Tech Enka-Candler Campus

The Internet Marketing 101 seminar is geare towards small business startups and existing companies interested in integrating the Internet and a web site into their current business model or plan. Internet beginners and business owners unfamiliar with website design are encouraged to attend. If you…

• Wonder if the Internet is a good investment for you
• Want to understand your choices when it comes to web sites
• Need to learn basic Internet and web site design language and vocabulary
• Want to know how to achieve success on the Internet
• Think online marketing and promotions will help your business but aren’t eactly sure how

…then Internet Marketing 101 is an excellent seminar for you. To register visit the Asheville Score web site to sign up and make a payment.

SEMINAR 2: Internet Advanced (SEO, Web Site promotion, Online Marketing, Blogging, Link Building and More)

Wednesday December 3, 2008 6 -9 PM AB-TECH Enka Candler Campus  

This class is geared towards web savvy businesses that want to know how to take their online presence to the next level. If you have already developed an online presence but need to have a clearer understanding of how to increase web site traffic and conversions through…

• SEO-Search Engine Optimization
• Organic Search Marketing
• Blogging
• Social Networking
• Link Building
• Keyword Research and Writing
• PPC-Pay Per Click
• ENewsletters
• Online Syndication
• Online Affiliate Marketing

…then this seminar will be a perfect fit for you. To register and make a payment visit Asheville SCORE. All proceeds benefit the Asheville SCORE organization.

by Elizabeth Kirwin

Audio and video podcasts designed for the web are some of the newest, most widely used communication tools on the Web today. In the American workaday world, many people are engaged for hours in the day or stuck in transit, which leaves little time for reading. People tend to seek information on the web that is portable, informative, and easy to digest.
Podcasts are Portable
Podcasts offer the perfect solution.  They can easily be downloaded onto an ipod, onto itunes on a pc or Mac, and even onto some cell phones with enough memory to handle audio and video podcast files.  Audio and video podcasts can be carried on a trip or listened to while driving or at a person’s convenience.
Podcasts Can be Syndicated Widely
Podcasts are the perfect vehicle for website marketing, because website visitors can send links to interesting podcasts to friends and associates. Podcasts can also be syndicated widely across the web, if they are set in a proper format for RSS feeds on the website.
Organic Search Marketing With Podcasts
In one year organic search marketing campaigns, we always recommend to clients that they first build out their website content, and create a keyword strategy and foundation. Then, six to nine months into the campaign, we recommend adding podcasting to the monthly website promotion techniques which are already in place. Podcasts tend to hold the visitor on the website longer, while they stay and listen on the player.
Podcast Descriptions With Keywords
It’s important to add a keyword rich description to all audio and video podcasting materials, so these materials can be found on search.  Without this description, the podcast could very well get lost – and not claim the audience it rightly deserves.
Podcasts Contain Useful Information
Remember to use podcasting as a syndication tool, and as a way of embedding real information on your website. Fill podcast descriptions with keyphrases that help a website rank on search engines and assist your intended audience to find the information quickly.
Podcasting is not a new technology. The ability to digitally record on PCs or Macs has been possible for some time.  Podcasting has only just recently (within the last 2 years) reached a peak of popularity on the Web, mainly because of the multimedia tools now available on Web 2.0. And, all new computers are being outfitted with the necessary software to easily read the new media.
Professionally Edit Audio and Video Podcasts
Now that podcasting is widely in use, contribute to the stock of audio and video podcasts by employing low cost and easy-to-use recording software such as Garage Band or Audacity or Final Cut.  Then, if you do not have the time or expertise to learn audio or video editing, send it off to a professional editor for finishing. This will ensure that the final cut to be the highest quality possible.
Search marketing campaigns are greatly enhanced by the use of podcasts in the short and long term.  Podcasts that are not date sensitive retain a longer shelf life and have a huge impact and visibility over the long term if they are professionally conceived and produced. Visit http://www.sidhecommunications.com for more information on professional audio and video podcasting.