Saturday Edition: Local Business 2-0-1-0 :: Interview with Mr. Rodney McNeil of Greenville, NC

TaylorThyme on BlogTalkRadio :: Saturday Edition: Local Business 2-0-1-0
(Episode #2 : Saturday, April 10, 2010, 1:30-2:30pm)

Today’s episode of TaylorThyme on BlogTalkRadio, Saturday Edition was my second live broadcast in the arena of internet radio. (The first broadcast on was earlier this week!). There are two audio excerpts included below. (Audio Excerpt 1 :: Audio Excerpt 2 :: Listen to the full interview)

What Is TaylorThyme on BlogTalkRadio, Saturday Edition?

About BlogTalkRadio: “BlogTalkRadio is a provider of thousands of internet talk radio shows. Our streaming and archived shows are produced by anyone that wants to be an internet radio host.” (description from their website)

About TaylorThyme Saturday Edition: Local Business 2-0-1-0: “Interviews with Local Business Owners who are incorporating the current internet technologies, social media, and web apps into their mix in 2010.”

The Show This Week

This week’s guest was Mr. Rodney McNeil, a local business owner based in Greenville, North Carolina.

Mr. McNeil owns two local storefront businesses in the area: Copious Copies and My State Wireless. He also has created customer-facing websites for both businesses: CopiousCopies.com and MyStateWireless.com.

Why Did I Choose To Interview Rodney McNeil?

McNeil is the epitome of a good client. He knows what he wants, knows what he does not know, allows you to do your job, actively participates in discussions about what can work, does the part that clients need to do to help you make their internet presence work, pays his bill on time, asks questions, makes suggestions, takes your suggestions . . . And owns not one, but two, local storefront businesses. Plus, he sounds good on air!

The focus of this episode was local business owners who are incorporating the current internet technologies like social media and web applications into their marketing mix in 2010. We discussed how Rodney has created a web presence for both his local businesses, how he uses video to educate and entertain, and the behind-the-scenes web applications he’s using to power his websites.

Audio Excerpt #1: Extra Exposure; Role of Video

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Listen to the full interview :: Upcoming shows

Following is a synopisis of the process, an outline of the topics of this broadcast, some highlights from the discussion, and a couple of audio excerpts from the broadcast.

The Process

Old hands at using internet TV and internet radio might wonder why I include “the process” as a part of my write-up on each broadcast — or why I bother to “write up” a broadcast, when people can just listen. Here’s why: Some people will just want to listen, but others might be producers, looking for assistance to create their own online radio or TV shows . Newcomers to either medium are often lost, can’t find the information they need to “make it work,” or would just like to know how someone else solved a conundrum concerning the tools, systems, and (yes) the process.

Every time I do a broadcast, something is different. And oftentimes, I run into issues, problems, or questions of my own. I’m fairly new to using internet tv and radio as social media, but I am an old hand at resolving computer problems, software idiosyncrasies, and web application issues. Once I “get it” I like to write it up so I can refer to the solution again, and share those solutions with others who just might need that bit of information or some encouragement to keep moving forward.

Hence, “The Process.” (And if you find it useful, feel free to drop me a note in the Comments section!)

A few things about the process for this episode:

1. Using Skype was abandoned
2. Uploaded a new audio segment to play as the introduction
3. Time lag for episode to appear
4. Something weird about another show cuing up to start right after I was finished with this one

Post-Production:

• Used Audacity to edit out strange sounds, coughs, etc.,
• and to create snippets used here
• Used WordPress Audio Player to include short audio excerpts in this post

Outline of the Topics

In addition to talking about the decision to create an internet presence for his businesses, these are the topics we talked about:

Using video as part of his strategy

• How did you decide to start using video?
• How Rodney McNeil uses video on his business websites?
• Why did he select the particular videos on CopiousCopies.com?
• Why did he select the particular videos on MyStateWireless.com?
• What About Creating Your Own Videos & Audio?

Behind the scenes Web applications that power the websites

• What kind of Polls?
• Why Use Maps on your website?
• How Important Has eCommerce, like PayPal, been?
• How Do You Use A Quotes System?
• How Do You Showcase Your Work?
• Which Website Platform?
• How are you using Social Media?

What would you say to local businesses who . . .

• don’t have a website
• have a website but don’t use any video
• have a website but don’t use any other technologies (for example only have a business card site)

Highlights From The Interview

Using PayPal in different ways for the two different sites: one is service oriented, one is more focused on products

Treat your internet presence like another important part of your business

Video for educating clients: they are more prepared and better understand what they want after watching a product video

Using social media: allows instant contact with vendors in my industry for a variety of reasons, including understanding what works and what to avoid

Surprised that an application like WordPress has so many features, works well for a business website, and excited to be learning how to use it

Video on websites provides for customer interaction and keeping them coming back looking for what we’ll have for them on return visits

Hiring an internet coach is a good business inverstment

What would you say to local business owners?

McNeil also gave me a little plug in his interview as part of the advice he offers to other local business owners, encouraging them to create an internet presence for their enterprises.

Here’s a snippet:

Audio Excerpt #2: Advice To Business Owners

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Listen to the full interview :: Upcoming shows

Thanks To My Guest

Many thanks to Rodney McNeil. If you’re in the Greenville, NC area, stop by. Otherwise, skip over to his websites and let him know you heard him on Local Business Coach Online. His contact info is below.

200 E Arlington Blvd
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 258-2693

200 E Arlington Blvd
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 406-4797
www.mystatewireless.com

Get In On The Action!

Feel free to suggest a local business owner to interview (including yourself) on the Saturday Edition of Local Business 2-0-1-0.

Or, suggest a topic for the Wednesday Edition of TaylorThyme. Want to come on the show and talk about something dear to you? Get in touch … Just leave a comment below.

The previous edition was about fatherhood, homeschooling, and nontraditonal students. It was great . . . and you can have your say on any issue you’re interested in.

About The Shows

There are two shows . . .

Wednesday
Wednesday Break With TaylorThyme on BlogTalkRadio
Listen to Taylorthyme on Blog Talk Radio on Wednesdays at 2:00pm EST (1 hour long)
Topics vary. Some chosen by guests. Some chosen by me. Feel free to suggest a topic.
Listener dial-in number: (347) 850-1827
Main Page: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/taylorthyme
Keywords for This Show: vary according to topic

Saturday
TaylorThyme on BlogTalkRadio :: Saturday Edition: Local Business 2-0-1-0
Listen to Taylorthyme on Blog Talk Radio on Saturdays, 1:30-2:30pm, EST
Interviews with Local Business Owners who are incorporating the current internet technologies, social media, and web apps into their mix in 2010.
Listener dial-in number: (347) 850-1827
Main Page: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/taylorthyme
Today’s Show: Listen here
Upcoming Shows: Saturday Edition :: Local Business 2-0-1-0
Keywords for This Show: interviews, local business owner, entrepreneur,video for business, social media, web applications, internet coach

Thanks for listening!

About Vernessa Taylor

As a Technology Consultant and Internet Coach, Vernessa Taylor+ works with both online and offline business owners. She writes about small business systems such as project management and customer referral systems at CoachNotes Blog.

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