Podcast 17 - Forum Help, Media Appearances
Another day, another Web hosting podcast. This is episode number 17 of the Web Hosting Show, the voice of the Web hosting world. On today’s show we are going to cover the wrap up of HostingCon 2005, a few of my media appearances, give you a reason why you need forums, and more Web hosting fun than you can shake a stick at.
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Run time: 23 minutes
Hello, I am Mitch Keeler and you are listening to the Web Hosting Show, the voice of the Web hosting world. This show is sponsored by the fine folks over at Web Hosting Chat. Web Hosting Chat is your number one place for Web hosting discussion. This is more than one way to skin a cat and there is more than one way you can get this podcast. You could download it right from the Web site. You could receive new updates via our RSS feed. You could get a podcasting client that would download all the new shows for you. There is no wrong way as long as you promise to listen every single week.
It seems like the “norm” level of downloads for the show has peeked for last week’s episode at around 200. For anybody else that might not be too much but for me, well I am very excited about it. Honestly I never thought I would move outside of the market of 15 people. So to know that around 200 of you are tuning in and care what I have to say about the Web hosting world, it really means something.
If you want to know how you can help spread the word about the show, visit WebHostingShow.com and click on the “About the Show” Web page. There you should be able to find out all the information you need about the best ways to tell your friends about the best damn Web hosting podcast out there today. Also feel free to vote for us over at PodcastAlley.com as well. Every vote counts, so if you haven’t voted this month please do so now.
Web Hosting Headlines
The Web hosting news and headlines are brought to you by The Web Host Industry Review. The Web Host Industry Review is the place to go to get all the latest Web hosting news from around the globe.
AOL Launches Free Email Service
Internet service provider America Online announced on Monday it has a launched a free Web-based email service. The Time Warner Inc. unit says the mail program will provide users with 2GB of storage, as well as an anti-virus and spam component.
Blog Registration Mandatory in China
Chinese authorities have ordered all private Weblogs and Web sites to register with the government or face fines and closure, reports say.
HostingCon 2005, the two-day Web hosting conference held this week in Chicago concluded on Tuesday with a fresh round of information sessions, and keynote addresses.
Do you have some Web hosting news? Make sure you send it to mitch@mitchkeeler.com and I’ll try to get it on the next episode of The Web Hosting Show.
Web Hosting Tip of the Week
Every so often you just need a quick nugget of knowledge. The Web hosting tip of the week is brought to you by Mitchelaneous. Mitchelaneous is my own personal writing space where I go one on one with you everyday with some of my Web hosting articles, random postings and updates on my current projects.
This week’s Web hosting tip is for the Web hosts out there especially. I guess it could be said about any business out there today, but since the inspiration for it came from my article in the current issue of Ping! Zine I want Web hosts to listen extra carefully. The tip is to add a set of forums to your company’s Web site.
Forums are a good way of adding a new way for your customers to communicate with you and other customers about their hosting problems and experiences. You could set up a set of forums to update folks when there will be a problem with one of the servers, so they can follow along as you fix the issue. You could create a set of community forums where people can gather and just talk about their ever day lives. The most important set of forums you’ll need though is a set that offers support. You could do so by having your staff post articles about Web hosting problems that come up most often.
You could have a place where customers can ask other customers about problems with things you can not or will not support. The key thing to remember is to create the forums. I promise you that if you build it, they will indeed come.
Do you have a Web hosting tip? Make sure you send it to mitch@mitchkeeler.com and I’ll try to get it on the next episode of The Web Hosting Show.
Web Hosting Thoughts, Views and Ideas
All of my Web hosting thoughts, views and ideas are sponsored by Data Center Talk. Data Center Talk is the best set of forums on the Earth about the world of Web hosting data centers.
Web Hosting Show is Running Wild!
Over the past week or so it seems like I have been all over the place as far as other media outlets are concerned. The first appearance was the Web Hosting Show’s one page article in the current issue of Ping! Zine. I also had an article I wrote in that issue as well about the importance of Web hosting forums and why Web hosting companies should get a few of them set up and running for themselves.
The next big “Mitch News” of the week came via the folks at the WHIR TV. I recorded yet another commercial voice over for them. Well, not exactly big new for anybody but myself, but watch a few of the latest editions of WHIR TV and see if you can hear me during the commercials!
The last big epic event to take place this week for myself and the Web Hosting Show was my new weekly segment added to The Chris Pirillo Show. I’ve been wanting to get on there for the past few weeks, and last Thursday it finally happened. I want to thank Chris and the whole crew for accepting this Web hosting geek onto the show’s regular format and I hope all of you listen live every Thursday to the show!
Wind Powered Web Hosting?
Weird is the first thought that came to my mind when I first heard about wind powered Web hosting. After giving it some thought though, I think it is a great idea for those out there who want to be “green entrepreneurs”. Web hosting that is eco-friendly, who would have guessed it would have ever been possible?
Read more about this at Mitchelaneous!
Do you have a Web hosting topic of discussion you’d like to hear me cover on The Web Hosting Show? Then make sure you send it to mitch@mitchkeeler.com and I’ll try to get it on the next episode of The Web Hosting Show.
Web Site Design Help
All of The Web Hosting Show’s design help is sponsored by BrowseHosts. BrowseHosts is the most comprehensive Web hosting directory out there today.
This is a Web site that came to me via the BrowseHosts forums. The person posting the URL was one that wanted an honest opinion about his three message boards. Since this is only a 20 to 30 minute podcast, I decided to pick just one. Well that, and to be honest, the same could be said for all three designs. You see they are all rather generic looking and are almost carbon copies of each other. So that’s the reason for the three for one special deal here. Just don’t ask me for any extra cheese.
The URL in question is DNWorld.net. First things first, right at the URL I have no idea what your Web site is going to offer me. That might be a little picky to some but I like for things to be as easy to read as possible. If you go to pickle.com you have a good idea that you are going to a Web site about pickles. If you go to mitchkeeler.com you have a good idea that your going to a Web site about yours truly.
Now as far as the design goes for the forums, it’s real pretty but still rather generic. Your Web site layout should say something about your Web site. You could do so in colors, in graphics, in text, it doesn’t matter. When you see a fireman walking down the street you recognize him because he is dressed like a fireman, correct? Well make sure your Web site is “dressed” to suit the theme of your Web site content.
Finally, with the Google ad you have at the top, I’d try to customize it a ‘bit more and make it a little wider. Right now it sticks out like a lime green dress at a funeral. So you still have some work to do, but let me know how it goes and I’d be more than happy to take a second look once things get a little more developed.
Do you need some help with your Web site design? Would you like me to just let you know what it is you could do to make your Web presence that much better? Make sure you send me an E-mail to mitch@mitchkeeler.com and I’ll try to get your questions answered and your Web site reviewed on the next episode of The Web Hosting Show.
Web Hosting Web Site of the Week
The Web hosting Web site of the week is brought to you by Banners World. Banners World is the number one place to visit to get all your Web site graphics, banners and designs done.
The reason This Damn Blog is the Web hosting Web site of the Week is because of an interesting audio interview I found there. Now going through the main Web site, the interview might be a little hard to find. So instead, I’ll post a link for his profile on Podcast Alley so you can get the direct download from there:
This Damn Blog - William Anderson Interview
The audio interview is with William Anderson of Sysadmin. There they talk about a few hosting topics that I found pretty damn interesting. It is nice to see a few more new folks out there jumping out on the Web hosting podcasting limb. The interviews and podcast don’t look to be updated on a regular basis, but hopefully in the future there will be a few more of them lined up as good as this one. Only problems I had with it was some of the audio was a ‘bit wonky. Then again, it took me a while before I got the levels for this show just right. Can’t hold too much against him there.
So check out the Web site and let them know that the Web Hosting Show sent you there!
Do you have a Web site that deserves to be the next Web hosting Web site of the week? Make sure you send it to mitch@mitchkeeler.com and I’ll try to get it on the next episode of The Web Hosting Show.
Final Web Hosting Thoughts
That is it for this week’s show! Make sure you send me your feedback, thoughts, suggestions and ideas to mitch@mitchkeeler.com or stop by The Web Hosting Show Fan Forums. Next week we will be doing more of the same! I am Mitch Keeler and you have been listening to The Web Hosting Show, the voice of the Web hosting world.
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