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A User-Friendly Video Creator: FlexClip Review

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Videos are a great way to share your products and services online. However, for many of us, the learning curve to start creating videos is very steep. As a result, the videos we have in mind to create never see the light of day.

If you want to create amazing videos, but are intimidated by the process, give FlexClip a try! FlexClip is an online video creation tool to help you get your videos made quickly and simply.

What Are Online Video Editors?

As the name suggests, online video editors are housed on the internet. As the user, you create an account and start making videos right in your internet browser. This allows you to create videos from any computer, and you won’t have to worry about storage space on your computer, or downloading any software.

FlexClip is one of many online video editors available online. It has a user-friendly interface that allows you to start with a video template. Add your video clips, text, background music and more to the template to bring your video to life. Before you jump into using FlexClip, here is our review so you can decide if this online video creator is right for your business needs.

First Impressions

FlexClip is straight-forward and easy to understand. Before you even start creating your first video, the streamlined website and easy signup process clue you into the fact that this video editor is a breeze to use! Even newbies to video editing will be able to understand which template is best for their needs and where to start.

Your first twelve video projects are free. You get enough free projects to get a solid understanding of how to use the editor. By the time you have used up your free projects you’ll know how this tools can enhance video editing for your personal life or your business. Get started by trying out different types of videos, or jump right into creating content to share your business through video.

If you get stuck, or need ideas of how to use your completed videos, the FlexClip website has a useful blog. Browse through the articles for video inspiration, practical tips, and reviews of related products.

One downside is that FlexClip is only available to use on Google Chrome. That’s great if you are a Chrome user, but not ideal if you don’t currently use Google Chrome.

Creating Your Video In FlexClip

Now that you have a basic idea of what FlexClip is, and some of the features of the online video editor, let’s dive into the process of actually making your video.

  • Browse the templates and choose on that fits the vision you have for your video. The templates are divided into business templates and lifestyle templates. If you don’t have a vision for your video, the templates will give you ideas and get you started on the right track.
  • Add your own video clips, photos, or stock media to your project. You can edit, add, or remove text boxes. There are also options for adding animation to your text, photos, and video clips.
  • Choose your background music or add a voice-over.

Is FlexClip Right For You?

Like all tools, FlexClip isn’t right for everyone. Are you wondering if FlexClip is right for you? Here’s who we think this online video editor is perfect for:

  • Those new to video creation
  • Those who want a simple, streamlined way to create videos
  • Those who aren’t worried about having a lot of bells and whistles when creating videos
  • Those who want to make image slideshows with text overlay and background music

Join the Conversation

Do you create videos for personal or business use? What is your go-to video editor? What are you most excited about checking out in the FlexClip editor?

3 Easy Steps to Creating Your First Product

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For coaches in nearly any field, product creation is the best way to:

  • Reach a wider audience
  • Grow your brand
  • Earn more profits

So why aren’t more coaches adopting the product creation strategy? Like you, they’re stuck in the process, unsure of the steps to take to create a great product.

As a website designer, I had a similar problem.  I knew what the steps were – but I was really stuck in the minutiae of getting it off the ground.  Last year I made it a goal for myself to get my membership site (http://www.wptsacademy.com) off the ground and add some products to it.  You the the thing about goals?  When you make them you really want to accomplish it or you kind of feel like crap.

So I did it.  And it was AWESOME.  OK the part of actually putting the product together and getting it ready wasn’t – but having it done and then people purchasing it – THAT WAS COOL.  Finally I had gotten some of my expertise out of my head and onto a consumable format that my audience was interested in and they purchased it!  VERY COOL.

If you are struggling with product creation, I would like to help you as well.  Let’s get you feeling that awesome feeling as well!

Step 1: Identify a Need

As a coach or service provider, you have great insight into the wants and needs of your ideal client. You chat with her on Facebook, answer her email questions, respond to the comments she leaves on your blog, and even work with her one-on-one.

What is it she needs the most help with right now? This is the product you should be creating, because you already know you have a built-in audience.

Step 2: Gather Your Documentation

If you’ve been coaching for more than a few weeks, chances are you already have all of the answers required—all you have to do it organize it. Some places to look for content you can repurpose include:

  • Your blog
  • Your emails (and autoresponder)
  • Your client calls
  • Your social media accounts
  • Your YouTube channel
  • Your personal checklists and worksheets

All of these things (and many more) can be edited and organized into a comprehensive product that solves a serious issue and you can do it in less time than you might think. After all, you already have the bulk of the work done!

Step 3: Create the Solution

Now that you have your content, it’s time to put it together in a way that will make sense to your audience. Will you…

  • Write a Kindle book? This is a great option for solving a very focused, single problem. Even better, Kindle books offer a fabulous opportunity to reach a wider audience.
  • Create a membership site? For a comprehensive, step-by-step course, you can’t beat the flexibility of a membership site.
  • Offer a group coaching program? Add personal time with you to your membership site and you’ve got an instant group coaching program. Not only that but you’ve dramatically upped the value (and cost) as well.

Your choice will depend largely on the scope of the solution. Is it a simple answer that can be explained in a few pages or is it a complex issue that requires several weeks of work?

Creating a product doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. Sure, you can design a massive, all-inclusive course if you like, but when you’re just getting started, that’s a daunting prospect. Instead, work with what you already have and you’ll have your first product up and selling in no time.

If you are looking for a resource that will help guide you in this process – I highly recommend my coach and mentor, Kelly McCausy.  She has really pushed me this year to get my products online and out into the world.  Because of her I increased my email list and made money through selling my classes and guides – she is awesome.  

 

Mailing List Management: You’re Asking the Wrong Question

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Mailing List Management: Web Pages That Sell

Here’s the question that’s on everyone’s mind when they start thinking about mailing lists:

“Which service should I use?”

You’ve probably wondered yourself, and maybe even spent a few hours (or days, or weeks) researching your options.

Stop!

This is not the question you should be asking (yet). And it’s exactly why so many entrepreneurs get stuck in the planning stage of list building.

The First Step In List Building

Before you need to think about tools, you must ask yourself this:

“How can I best serve my market?”

Whether you’re coaching business owners, new moms, bloggers, or youth pastors, they have a need that only you can fulfill. And when you discover what that need is, you’ll have two valuable pieces of information:

  1. What incentive will be a true no-brainer for your ideal client to opt-in to your list?
  2. How can you use your mailing list to provide the best value for those who join your list?

Don’t over-think these questions, though. Your opt-in incentive can be as simple as a resource guide or a short how-to video that answers a common question. You don’t have to go overboard with dozens of downloads and a 100-page eBook. Rather than providing value, these massive downloads are more likely to overwhelm your reader than encourage her to learn more.

And when it comes to providing value to your list members, keep three things in mind:

  1. Regular communication is a must (consider an autoresponder series if you’re not good with scheduling email updates)
  2. Marketing is second to information—too much selling will cause your opt-out rates to soar.
  3. It’s your responsibility as a thought leader in your market to distill and provide the information, tools and products your audience needs.

“What is my list-building goal?”

How will you be using your list? Will you:

  • Send a weekly or monthly newsletter?
  • Create an autoresponder series that delivers content on a pre-determined schedule?
  • Use affiliate links as an income generator?
  • Promote your own services and products?

The answers to these questions will help you determine not only the right tool for your list-building needs, but will also determine the path for your ongoing mailing list content, promotions, and growth.

Get Seen, Get Traffic: Three Ways to Borrow Someone Else’s Audience

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Get Seen Get Traffic, Rebecca Metz, Web Pages That SellAsk nearly anyone who runs an online business what their biggest struggle is, and chances are they’ll say “more traffic.”

You need traffic to build an email list.

You need traffic to make sales.

You need traffic to fill your coaching programs.

So the big question is, where do you get all that traffic?

Sure, you could buy ads, but if you aren’t careful, you might just fill your list with less-than-ideal audience members and that will do nothing for your sales. You could focus your time and energy on search engine optimization but unless you have years to build your business (and who does?) then SEO should not be your top choice.

Good thing you have other options.

Be a Guest

Everyone needs content. It’s the one thing that remains consistent among all content creators—there is never enough. That’s where you can help.

By guest posting on other coaches’ blogs, you can “borrow” some of their traffic.

You can’t simply regurgitate old content and send it out in a dozen directions though. To get the best results, you’ll want to:

  • Create custom content designed with your host’s unique audience in mind.
  • Provide stellar value with actionable ideas and strategies not found everywhere else.
  • Inject your personality so those new to you will instantly connect with you.
  • Offer a compelling reason to click through to your website or blog for more information.

Partner Up

No list? Here’s a quick way to “borrow” someone else’s list to kickstart your own: Schedule a free event with a partner.

Here’s how it works.

  1. You (as the one with the small list) create a compelling, free training which leads naturally to a low-cost, no-brainer product.
  2. Install an affiliate tracking system such as aMember, Infusionsoft or 1Shopping Cart.
  3. Offer your best affiliates a higher percentage of profits in exchange for co-hosting your webinar and bringing their traffic along for the ride.

This is a win/win for both of you, as you gain the traffic while your affiliate gets a bigger payday. Just be sure you have a good funnel in place so that your new list members can benefit from all that you have to offer.

Get Interviewed

Want to really show off your expert status and bring traffic back to your site, too? The easiest way is to get on the interview circuit. Just like authors with new books and actors with new movies, coaches and service providers can get in front of new audiences simply by answering questions about what they know.

Of course, you’re probably not going to appear on the Today Show or Oprah (although that’s not impossible), but there are still plenty of opportunities out there for coaches and consultants in every niche.

Look for interview and speaking opportunities on:

  • Podcasts
  • Other blogs
  • YouTube
  • Periscope and Blab
  • Local events
  • Industry conferences
  • Telesummits

Start by reaching out to your colleagues and to podcast and blog hosts you most admire. Get the word out with your friends and your list that you’re looking for opportunities.

Even if you don’t yet have a list of your own, it’s easy (and fun) to kickstart your audience growth simply by making yourself available for these and other opportunities. Each guest post, podcast interview and webinar is another chance to get in front of a whole new market, so take advantage of it!

Once you start getting more traffic to your list, be sure to start tracking your traffic with Google Analytics!  If you would like to know more – be sure to check out the guide, Google Analytics Explained for only $27!

 

Is Your Site GDPR Compliant?

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Is Your Site GDPR Compliant

It is quite possible that you have been receiving several emails regarding the upcoming GDRP requirement for websites.  You may be asking yourself what it means to your business and what do you need to do to comply with it.  This email is intended to share with you what I know about it and what I understand to be the requirements for your business.  I am also including resources for you to learn more and to take the necessary actions AND also provide you the option for me to help you with this new requirement.

 

Before I begin I must share this disclaimer.  I am not a legal expert, and this information does not provide legal advice. I care about you and your business and that is why I have put this together. If you need

legal counsel, talk to a lawyer. I strongly advise you to research GDPR on your own and consult with a certified legal professional in regards to your decision to make your site GDPR compliant.

I also HIGHLY recommend that you have a conversation with your lawyer.  The material that I am providing to you was not created or written by a lawyer. It is a conglomeration of advice and info I’ve collected from various sources and pieced together to what I believe is sufficient for my business.  This is not legal advice, and should you use this information, you acknowledge that you are using it at your own risk.

 
Who This Information is For:
Bloggers and solopreneurs  that do not target European Union customers 
 
This advice is not applicable to you if you have employees, target customers in the European Union and work with sensitive data.
 

What is GDPR?
GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation.  It is a legal framework that sets guidelines for the collection and processing of personal information of individuals within the European Union (EU).  The reason that the GDPR affects your US based business is because your website can be accessed from around the world including those people from the EU.  Here is a great article that I found that describes what it is and what you need really well: https://blogaid.net/tips-tuesday-gdpr-guide/.

 
What Needs to Happen on Your Website?
 
1. Update your Privacy Policy
Your website should have a privacy policy.  If you don’t currently have one, now is a great time to do so.  If you do have one, you will need to update it to make it GDRP compliant.  This privacy policy states how data is collected, legal cause for collection, how to request, amend or delete data, and who handles the data.  You should also list (and link to their policies) and third-party processors that you use (i.e. Mailchimp, PayPal, Infusionsoft, LeadPages, etc) and who to contact if they have questions.
 
2. Update or create a Cookie Policy
To refresh your memory, a Cookie is a piece of information that allows tools like Google and Facebook to track who visits your site.  Great for marketing – but we need to be really clear and transparent to visitors that we are using it – and give them an option to opt out.
 
You might be seeing all these notification notices coming up on the bottom of websites.  That is what this is. For all you WordPress users you have the ability to add a plugin that will make this happen easily.  There are several plugins out there.  The one that has been recommended to me that makes the most sense is this one: https://wordpress.org/plugins/cookie-notice/.  
 
3. Confirm consent from current EU and UK subscribers
If you have any subscribers on your list from the EU and the UK, you must get them to RE CONSENT to receiving your eNewsletter messages.  If they don’t re consent, you must take them off your list.
 
4. Update opt in forms for compliant language
You probably already have clear language that lets your subscribers know what they are getting when they sign up to be on your list or sign up to get your free opt-in.  Review and check this to make sure you are super clear about what you are collecting, why you are collecting it and what you are going to do with it.
 
5. Update all subscribers a to your policy updates
You may have already received these notices.  This is one you should send as well after your privacy policy has been updated.

Can You Take Care This Yourself?
Here are some resources that I have found helpful to guide you through this:

 
Rebecca, Can You Take Care of This for Me?
Short answer, Yes.  
 

Disclaimer: I need to make the disclaimer again that I am not a legal expert, and the service that I am providing is not legal advice. I put this together because I am concerned about you and your business and don’t want you to get fined because of GDPR. If you need concrete legal counsel, talk to a lawyer. I strongly advise you to research GDPR on your own and consult with a certified legal professional in regards to your decision to comply or defy GDPR.

I also HIGHLY recommend that you have a conversation with your lawyer.  The service that I am offering was not created or written by a lawyer. It is a conglomeration of advice and info I’ve collected from various sources and pieced together to what I believe is sufficient for my business.  This is not legal advice, and should you use this information, you acknowledge that you are using it at your own risk.

 
The Details
I will put together for you is what I have created for myself.  I will do the following for you and get it installed by end of the day, Thursday, May 25th if paid for and information required send to me by 3 PM Wednesday, May 24th.  If you order it after – I will still get it up and going as soon as possible.
 
  • An updated Privacy Policy based off a template added to your website with a website link to it
  • DFactory Cookie PlugIn installed with Cookie notification language based off a template
  • Verbiage sent to you that you can send to any EU and UK Subscribers in your list
  • Verbiage sent to you that you can send to all of your subscribers informing them about the updated Privacy Policy
  • Verbiage for your opt-in forms added to opt-in forms
I will need information from you and will send you a form for you to complete.  Once that information is sent I will give you a time frame of when this will be completed.
 
The cost for this service is $197.  Click here to get started.

What to Look for in a Website Hosting Provider

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As a website designer and developer, I frequently get asked for my website hosting provider recommendations. I am always on the lookout for hosting companies to use myself and to recommend to my clients. Therefore I have created a checklist of what I think is important and will provide the best experience.  

There are several factors that I look for in a hosting company and I have compiled my factor list as well as a list of reputable hosting providers for you to choose from.  The providers that I have listed have either been recommended to me by colleagues that I respect or I have personally used them myself.  

Factors That I look For in a Website Hosting Provider

Cost/Value
Being mindful of our monthly and yearly costs is essential to running our business.  Too easily we can get into the trap of signing up for too many services.  Because there are so many website hosting providers available, there is a lot of competition so you can usually get some good pricing and even digital coupons! A low price is great, but if your hosting company is not up to snuff you could be paying in low speed and have a low SEO score because of it.  On the other hand, you may get sticker shock on some of the prices that providers are charging – so it is important to know what is included in that price and if it will save you a headache, time and money in the future.

Customer Service
In my opinion, the most important aspect of working with a hosting provider is their customer service.  If my or my client’s website is down, I want to be able to connect with someone immediately.  I don’t want to wait until the next business day or have a company point the finger at another provider.  I also want the customer service person to go the extra mile and help solve my problem, whether or not it is theirs to solve.  For example – a hosting company isn’t responsible for the WordPress installation or the plugins that have been added, but I sure appreciate it when they help me with it anyway – or at least point me in the right direction. 

Ability to Talk to a Human that Speaks English 
If I have the ability to physically call someone and talk to them AND they speak fluent English and can understand me – that is a huge stress reducer.  I love being able to use the chat feature and that works for some issues – but I want to know that I can talk to someone as well.  

Bandwidth/Storage
Keeping your website light is important, but having an abundance of space makes your site run faster with few problems.  In addition, if you are running a campaign and hoping to get a lot of website visitors, you want to know your website can handle it.

Uptime
If your hosting provider goes down – your site goes down as well.  And your email.  That is a real drag.  Sometimes it happens and those are punches we have to roll with.  By going with a reputable hosting prover and checking their uptime status is important and can save you a big headache should this happen.

SSL Certificate Cost and Installation
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer and it is a certificate that shows the world that your site is protected and they can visit and peruse your site with confidence.  How you can identify that a site that has an SSL certificate installed is by whether or not there is an HTTP or an HTTPS in front of the www.  HTTPS indicates that the site has an SSL Certificate installed.  Traditionally this used to only be important for financial and e-commerce sites.  Now Google is requiring all sites to hold an SSL certificate or they will be penalized with their SEO score.  So it is important to have one now and I recommend all sites get the SSL certificate installed.  Some hosting providers offer this automatically and will install it for you as well.  Some upcharge for this service.  An average price for the yearly certificate and installation is about $150.  So if your provider includes it, it is a nice benefit.

Regular Web Site Back Ups
As a website owner, you are responsible for backing up your website on a regular basis.  If something happens to your website and you don’t have a backup – sorry to say, but all your work, all your blog posts all your SEO effort – everything – goes right down the toilet.  So please back up your site on a regular basis.  That being said your hosting company should also have your back.  Most hosting companies will do daily backups of the site to their servers.  This is a real plus.  They may charge you a fee to restore it for you and they won’t keep it forever – but at least it is available. 

Ability to Add Additional Databases
If you install WordPress you will need to install a database.  This is where all the content (blog posts, page content, images, etc) are collected.  In essence, the database runs the site.  For many website owners, one database is plenty.  However – if you ever want to create additional subdomains, add domains, add sites, add a membership site, a course site, etc you will need to be able to add additional databases.  Only having one database allowed on your server severely limits growth and the ability to add additional functionality to your site.  Most hosting providers allow you to have unlimited databases.  Go with one of those.

The inclusion of eMail services
Getting an email address at your domain name adds professionalism to your communication and reinforces your brand.  It also makes it easy for others to refer you.  Most hosting providers offer email addresses and space to store your email messages as part of the package or at a nominal upcharge.

Security features
Because WordPress is such a popular platform for websites, it is also the most “hacked”.  To avoid unwanted malware to be added to your site without your knowledge, it is important to have ongoing malware scanning, regular updates of WordPress, plugins and themes, regular database and full backups of your site and easy restoration should everything go bad.  Some hosting providers offer this service as part of their packages or as an upcharge.  This can be somewhat costly, so the incorporation of this can be a great value.

Move in Service
Moving from one website hosting provider to another is a huge pain in the neck. Your site will typically be down for several days and that can also mean an issue with your email being down as well.  So many things can go wrong and your SEO can take a hit as well.  There are also a lot of variables on what is transferred as well.  When hosting providers offer this as part of their service or a nominal charge, it makes everything so much easier.  Note, it is still a pain, but much less so.

Extra Software
This is fun when you get some bonus tools and software just for using a hosting provider.  For example, some providers offer Microsoft 365 for low or no cost.  When a desktop version can cost over $400 – this can be a nice added bonus.

My Website Hosting Provider Recommendation List

This is the hosting provider that I currently use. I found it when I did a Google search on hosting provider reviews and several review sites ranked this one very high. I have found the cost to be of very good value, I can find someone to talk to for help through phone and online chat when I need help and the uptime has been great.  I take care of my own website security, so I don’t need that and not even sure if they offer it.  Overall I have been very satisfied with InMotion hosting. I do however find myself always looking for something better and worry that maybe I don’t have enough space for high volume visits.  I wonder if my SEO would be better if I went with a different provider – but not enough to really do anything about it. I am happy to recommend them.
This company is owned by my colleague Kelly McCausy.  She is awesome and the people that work for her are as well.  I became an affiliate for Moms Web Hosting and have added several of my client’s websites to Moms Web Hosting. The cost of the service is really affordable, you get a free SSL certificate and they will install it for you.   Email and move in service is included.  There is no phone support – but Scott, the primary customer service agent, is “Johnny-on-the-Spot” helpful when you put in a ticket.  I always get a weird feeling when I put in a ticket and worry I won’t hear back for days – but usually, I hear back immediately.  As far as storage and bandwidth- if you are just starting out the smaller one is probably good enough, but I would consider going with the larger packages for more volume.
 
 
GoDaddy has always been my standby hosting referral.  They have been around for a long time and their customer service ROCKS. I always get a native English speaker who is super duper helpful.  I probably call GoDaddy an average of 3 times a week on behalf of different clients and each time I get rock solid service.  They offer a variety of packages that include different benefits and SSL certificates at an upcharge. Variations of the packages include email and a license to Microsoft 365.  They offer a (in my opinion) watered down version of website security, so I don’t usually recommend that. Uptime, bandwidth/storage is all within acceptable ranges. Overall a solid company to do business with.  
 
 
This is a company that I have not used or suggested to my clients in the past.  However many of my fellow web developers have recommended them and I keep looking at them as my next move.  Their price point is much higher – but in my opinion, a good value.  What makes them appealing to me is that their servers facilitate very high-speed sites, 24 hours 7 days a week customer service, automated SSL certificates and I believe that the security solutions are incorporated.   
 
 
 This is another company that I have not used myself or recommended until now, but know that they come highly recommend.  Therefore, it is on my watch list. Like WP Engine, the price point is higher – but allows for high volume visits, incorporate website security, and awesome customer service available at all times.  
 

Note of Caution:

Please do not “piggyback” off of another person’s hosting company.  Have your own website hosting provider.
 
Some hosting providers offer unlimited websites.  As a friendly gesture the person who build your website, friend or family member may offer this as an option.   The perceived benefit is that it is free to low cost and someone else is handling the details.  As attractive as this sounds  – this is not advised.  If there is a malware security breach on one site, it could affect all of the other sites on that server.  You as a business owner should always have control over your own site.  If the relationship goes south -now you have an awkward situation and could potentially lose your website. 
 
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