I just gave a webinar using DimDim’s free webinar software. Dimdim touts their software as being cheap, simple and easy, with no installs. I thought this would be an excellent web application for small businesses looking for cheap webinar/video/teleconferencing ability.
There is virtually no set-up to do, you just register with your email address and a password. (Some negligible little apps run in the computer’s background like their share-a-screen capability.) Then you can schedule a future meeting or begin hosting a meeting with the click of a button. For my webinar, I chose to share a document — you can share a PDF or a Powerpoint document. You can also opt to share your computer screen, a whiteboard, or web pages.
My only gripe: I ran into an issue with the Dial-in feature. People who chose to dial in and listen through the phone kept getting hold music. Even I got hold music! I had to hit *3 on my phone to kill it. Then people couldn’t hear me. I contacted support, and immediately someone joined my conference to help me. It was a test meeting only thank goodness! The support person couldn’t reproduce the problem which reappeared during my live webinar an hour later. He just recommended that people hang up and dial in again. So anyway, the dial-in feature never worked as far as I know but no attendees complained. This issue is documented on the DimDim forums but as yet I haven’t seen a solution.
After the webinar ended, Dimdim sent me an email with a neat little link to view or download my chat session and a video of my webinar. So easy! I love it!
Overall I like DimDim. The free version has many cool features. I liked the option to record, public/private chat, video/audio capability, sends you to any URL at the close of the meeting, show/hide attendee list, etc. That’s my review, I would use it again. There is a slight learning curve, so I suggest you do a trial run web conference and watch the video tutorials or read some of the FAQs and Knowledge base posts if you run into any snags!
In other news… I will be editing today’s webinar video and posting a copy shortly…
9 Steps to Building a Successful Small Business Website
November 25, 2009 @ 2:00 PM EST
For small business owners, entrepreneurs and marketing managers who are considering developing a new website for their organization or updating their current website.
Sign Up for the Webinar Here:
On the Agenda:
1. What to consider before you launch a new website project
2. Key steps small-businesses often overlook
3. Case studies and useful resources
4. Leave with an actionable plan to get your website started or updated
5. Webinar is scheduled to last 30-40 minutes
Need an official looking sign for your business or office? Are your stick figure drawings eliciting laughter from the staff, or confusing visitors? Look no further. Official Signs & Icons 2 by Mies Hora is a great resource.
Here’s the Amazon description:
“4,811 standard symbols and signs designed by internationally recognized designers and organizations including the AIGA, SEGD, and DOT. 4-color casebound book, 8.75 x 11.25″; Alphabetical Index; This newly updated, expanded full-color hardcover edition is thoroughly researched, indexed and annotated with chapter intros, notes, bibliography, and resources. Chapters include: Hospitality Symbols, Safety Symbols Labeling, Transportation, Highway Signs (US and foreign), Recreational Parks Symbols, Signals Braille, Computer and Mechanical Labeling, Meteorological Symbols.”
These symbols and icons are royalty free, vector drawn, and tried & true — so you can use them repeatedly, stretch them, edit them, whatever. It’s an inexpensive solution that makes your life easier as a small business owner.
While visiting web sites of companies in my local area today, I ran into several splash intro pages. You know, those intro pages with big Flash animations welcoming you to the web site. Completely unnecessary pre-home pages.
NOTE:
This practice of adding a splash page is outdated. It also fails to add informational or entertainment value as 100% of visitors will skip the intro.
TIPS:
Web site animations should serve a purpose, help users reach a goal, learn something.
Animations which are purely decorative are annoying and useless.
Animations should give users the option to stop, pause, play, skip, fast-forward, rewind.
Animations and/or videos should also give users some feedback — as in length of animation, download progression, etc.
EXAMPLE
After a recent downpour, my roof leaked and ruined the drywall in the ceiling. What to do? Here’s an animation that’s functional and understandable. It is easy to follow, clearly showing the steps for repairs. It includes the text in addition to audio. And, it has the options to stop, pause, play, fast forward, etc. Great job! (By the way, I’ve personally worked with Easy2 DIY programs and staff, and they are absolutely great. Maybe I’ll do a review on their software…)
Hurry hurry! There are only two more days until my contest ends!!
See my previous post on how to get a free 18″ x 24″ poster from Digital Print. You choose your own photo/artwork and get it blown up into a free poster if chosen….
Many websites receive input from varied sources within a company. For this reason it’s important to establish a style guide. A web style guide is a set of web standards that will be followed on your site. It should define the look of the site, typefaces, writing style & grammar, layout style, graphics usage, etc. A well-thought out web site style guide will encourage consistency and ease-of-use. Make sure when additions or changes are made to the style guide, that all designers or web authors are notified of the revised guide.
You may need to define and include:
What format online material should be submitted in (both text & graphics)
What writing style the company will use
Any specific company terminology
Logo style guide
Typefaces
Format & layout
Graphics styles (buttons, photos, etc)
Color usage
Link styles
Sharebrain offers a free Photoshop template for a Website Style Guide. Check it out for ideas, alter it and make it your own. Of course, you don’t need Photoshop to create a web style guide. Just take your time, discuss with colleagues, and take detailed notes. Let us know what is included in your style guide!
Volusion Live Chat Software offers live web chats for businesses who have an online presence and need to offer live support to their customers.
Live Chat is a great web feature to include if your product is complex and needs explanation, or if people need help during the buying process. Written FAQs and forums are excellent resources, but sometimes you just need to talk to somebody. And Live Chat is a great alternative to the telephone. It’s a convenience for customers that can give you an edge over your competition and increase conversions.
Installed on the Mindspring Design Website
The free Volusion Live Chat version offers a free chat application for your computer. You download and install it in a few minutes. When you sign into the application, customers know automatically that you are online and available to chat.
You have the ability to chat with 5 people at once, from one department. And you can customize the online and offline messages that people see. You can upload your own logo and your own “LiveChat” buttons or use the free ones provided. Just copy and paste the code into your website’s HTML code and you’re done.
I installed this on my website for testing purposes. Volusion Live Chat was simple to install and use, and I liked it so much that I kept it on my website. I look forward to chatting with potential and current clients about web and graphic design.
