New Free Goodie: Recording of making friends with technology

Photo credit: riddle_

Hey, remember that Making Friends with Technology open discussion from a few weeks back?

I seriously waffled about whether to release the recording. I was in a bit of a down mood that day, and I worried that it would be painfully obvious to anyone listening.

In fact, I was pretty well caught up in a spinning vortex of resentment (fewer people signed up than I had hoped for) and self-flagellation (if I had announced it earlier… promoted it more… not been such a huge chicken… surely I would have gotten the response I hoped for).

Which, I have to tell you, totally sucked.

But enough people had dialed in that I felt like I had to keep up my end of the bargain/conversation. The show must go on, I heard like a drumbeat in my brain.

Which is not the nicest or healthiest way to start off an hour of friendly and encouraging discussion.

But here’s the thing: I love technology so much, and I’m so deeply passionate about helping people past their fear of it, that my love of the topic took over my brain within a very short time. And I was no longer on the phone simply out of obligation — I was speaking from my heart.

Sometimes it was a little awkward, because for most of the call I just talked, and even when I paused for questions there wasn’t much interaction (at one point I actually said “wouldn’t it be nice if bacon rained from the sky?” and then realized that maybe it’s only me who thinks that would truly be nice. mmmmm, bacon… Oops, I digress).

In the end, I think I said some valuable and interesting things, and I made the slightly scary decision that letting people hear me (even on a down day) would do more good than hiding the recording away.

So it’s now available for download (the usual AWeber sign-up procedure applies).

…and if all else fails, remember these words:

Klaatu barada nikto.

Are you a complete website beginner?

Photo credit: grendelkhan

I’ve been getting more email recently from people who self-describe as chicken, or even totally chicken or completely chicken, when it comes to setting up a website.

Hey, that’s OK. We all started somewhere. Two years ago I was a complete WordPress beginner myself — the first theme I installed made me want to tear my hair out. And then there was the trauma of upgrading. It wasn’t exactly easy.

Ain’t nobody here but us chickens

I’m still totally chicken about a lot of things. Including some tech things! A sampling:

  • Spiders. Especially really big ones.
  • Runny eggs.
  • Dropping tables from my databases.
  • Earthquakes.
  • Cloud hosting.
  • The fact that in 7 billion years or so, our Sun will become a red giant and destroy all life on earth.
  • Running traceroutes to check my website’s load time.
  • Letting people down.
  • Analyzing my web stats to optimize for relevant keywords.

So, yeah. You’re not alone. We’re all chickens. And wow, I didn’t even realize until this moment that it’s Friday and I’m writing about chickens, even though this post totally different from my beloved Havi’s Friday Chicken. The subconscious mind is a weird and powerful thing. Respect it!

Here are some of my thoughts about the particular brand of being chicken that is related to starting your website.

  1. There are lots of parts and details and factors and ideas that all combine when you’re starting a business. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of it. That’s normal.
  2. A website is only one of those details…and yet it contains a multitude of details of its own. Like a fractal. Wait, this isn’t helping, is it?
  3. OK, how about this: Those website details are figure-out-able. Website technology is a tool that you can learn, the same way you learned to dial a phone and use a microwave oven and record your favorite shows on your DVR.
  4. Not only are they figure-out-able, they are learnable by regular people. You don’t have to have a degree in computer science or a certificate granted by…well, anybody.
  5. Your tech overwhelm is temporary. I promise. All you need are some training wheels, some non-shouty instructions, and maybe a gentle push. Soon you’ll be all look world, no hands!

From totally chicken to cock of the walk

Photo credit: travlinman43

You can see where this is going, right? Yep, you got it: I’m going to be your cheerleader and wave my pompoms as you sprout your glossy feathers and strut your stuff on your very own website.

And even though I am skeptical of cocky attitudes in general, I think the phrase “cock of the walk” is hilarous, so I’m totally using it even though I would probably never describe you that way. Or me, for that matter.

Here’s my point: You can learn this website stuff, and I can help you. Here are four ways you can get help (the first two are free):

  • Download some free stuff.
  • Call me during Open Office Hour.
  • Join my WordPress Swimming Lessons class starting on October 18. This is the last time this class will be offered in 2010 — the next session won’t be until January 2011.
  • Have me install WordPress for you so you can apply what you learn in the Swimming Lessons. You can have your website up and running in time for holiday sales!

What are you chicken of? Join the conversation by leaving a comment (unless you’re chicken, of course…)!

Making Friends with Technology: Open discussion October 6

Meet your robot overlords (not!)

I’ve been thinking a lot about my relationship with technology (web technology to be specific).

You might know that I’m the world’s biggest cheerleader for the technological tools that make it possible for regular people to build online empires.

But I also get that people might be looking at me like I have two heads when I say things like Have fun with your technology! Don’t be afraid to play with it a little bit! You can be friends with your website!

Because the world wild web can feel like a very scary place. And you can’t relax into a state of play when you’re scared.

Now, I don’t have a whizbang super-duper magic pill that will make the fear disappear.

What I have is my own willingness to play. Everything I know about web technology is 100% self-taught, and believe me, I’ve faced my share of rage-inducing frustration, deep fears of incompetence, and incomprehensible tech glitches! Yet I’m still here, still learning every day, and still passionate about sharing my knowledge and skills with you.

So I’m inviting you to an open discussion on Making Friends with Technology.

Normally I’d call this a “teleclass,” because it has teleclass-style logistics (we’ll all dial into a conference line and I’ll record the call).

But I’m really drawn to the word “discussion” for this topic. Because I want to listen to you and acknowledge your struggles instead of merely cheering from the top of my rah-rah-get-empowered-you-can-do-it soapbox (though I have a feeling I’ll be hopping up on it from time to time because hello, it’s my passion!).

I do have some suggestions for ways to work with fear of techology, and some reassurances (here’s one: You are totally allowed to outsource things that drive you crazy and are hard and scary. I’ll never tell you that you have to do it all yourself). And I have plenty of practical tips for working with the systems I work with most often (websites, email lists, shopping carts).

But most of all I want to invite you to share your experiences and questions (you can email them to me if you’re not the kind of person who likes to speak up during teleclasses — I’ll even keep your name anonymous if you prefer), because I want you to know that you’re not alone, that it is definitely possible to get support, and that entering into a conscious relationship with technology can truly make a difference in your life (online and off).

Here are the deets my friends:

  • Date: Wednesday, October 6
  • Time: 11am Pacific (what’s that in your time zone?)
  • Cost: Free (unless your long-distance provider charges you for the call)

Just enter your email address here to join the discussion:

(Can’t see the form in your email or RSS reader? Swing by the Making Friends with Technology page to sign up.)

I look forward to a fun, fruitful conversation with you!

Tomorrow! Delightful Newsletters class! With Tara Swiger!

I totally squeed myself with delightment when Tara Swiger asked me to help teach her upcoming class, Delightful Newsletters.

Do you know Tara? She’s amazing. Not only does she create handmade, beautiful, eco-friendly yarn, but she delights in figuring out — and then turning around and teaching — smart business-y stuff.

The kind of stuff that one-person businesses, like yours and mine, can really use. Like how to find the right people to buy your stuff, and how to find the right price for said stuff. Whether said stuff is handmade or purely digital.

And now she’s going to tackle The Newsletter Question, and she asked me to help with the technological side. Since I love teaching live classes, I was thrilled to say yes. And I am positive that I will learn new things from her part of the class, too, so count me double-thrilled!

Delightful Newsletters class with Tara Swiger and Wendy Cholbi

What happens to the people who come by your website but decide not to buy?

Do they have something low-risk and totally free to DO?
Or do they wander away, forgetting all about their intention to return and buy their aunt that gift?

The easiest way to grab these potential right-people is to give them something.  Something free, something that gives them regular doses of your awesomeness that is totally risk free.

Often this is a newsletter.

But forget those notions of boring family newsletters or  corporate HR newsletters or spammy mcspammerson everyday buybuyBUY messages.

No, we’re talking about relevant, desired, down-right delightful love notes.

From you.
For your people.
To build trust.
To entice.
To delight.

You may already have a newsletter.
Or you may be too overwhelmed with the tech stuff to start.

In either case, we’ve got you covered.

Tara already has several different newsletter-ish things, each one thrilling her with the way it fulfills her business needs (whether that’s connecting with her people, making sales or growing her business).

On September 8, Tara’s going to teach you her best make-your-people-happy newsletter tricks.

And on September 15, I’ll explain the tech steps you’ll need to take to put those tricks into action.

Each class is $30, or you can get both as a package deal for $50. Go to Tara’s Delightful Newsletters page to sign up.

Each class includes:

  • Invitation to hour-long live teleclass
  • Chance to ask your questions before or during the class
  • Recording of the hour-long lecture
  • Pretty PDF Summary of everything we cover
  • Checklist on setting up newsletter (for How To Make class ONLY)