Month: June 2007

Kidd Kraddick in the Morning Needs an Online Blogger / Web Personality

This post was planned since Monday, so despite some interesting recent events, I chose to go ahead and post it today. After further reflection, it is apparent that Kidd Kraddick in the Morning is lacking a designated show blogger / web personality to boost the show’s online reputation. With four hours of live broadcast each day and hours of show prep afterwards, it’s rather obvious that none of the show’s cast has the time to be that full-time web voice. Between show, prep, special appearances, and living a real life, your team is already spent. Hence the reason why everyone doesn’t blog every day and it can take days for regular fans to get a KISSNATION or MySpace response.

Keep your social networking site profiles going. By all means, keep responding to fans as much as possible. Obviously, I don’t know everyone’s job description on staff, so I hope I don’t step on anyone’s toes with these recommendations. However, despite the fact that your show is syndicated on 55 radio stations across the country, there is still sizable room for growth, both on the air and online.

These names may not mean a lot to the less than web 2.0 savvy folks out there, but Matt Cutts and Vanessa Fox are perfect examples of what is needed for KKITM. Matt Cutts is the most popular face of Google. Vanessa Fox also performed this function on some level for Google. Robert Scoble did something similar for Microsoft back in the day. These two, especially Matt, have been the extremely successful faces of the two most important search engines of this decade. While all the SEO professionals out there debate on what Google is doing to rate the value of each website page, Matt and Vanessa keep their employers in good standing with the public. They attend conferences and schmooze with the thousands of search marketers out there. Their jobs are extremely important. They make huge corporations accessible to the little man.

KKITM needs an online personality, someone who blogs about the show each day, not just summarizing, but also adding their own opinions of the day’s show and other related topics. It provides a steady expression for the show without falling into the trap of seeming overly structured and stiff (i.e. micromanaged by the company). It’s that humanity which is so popular on the air, and carries over extremely well in many corporate ventures online. Heck, with all their success and acquisitions, Google must know what they’re doing, right? Granted, both Matt and Vanessa’s blogs are located outside of the company website. I think this lends a greater air of free expression and credibility to the individuality of their stated opinions. You don’t come away thinking that they’ve just parroted their boss’ boss’ boss.

Radio and web fans would have the opportunity to engage this online personality all day. Experience proves that blogs and websites with blogs retain more repeat visitors when they engage each customer comment and question. It’s that priceless human touch which makes a listener/reader feel like an active part of something bigger than themselves. Listeners/readers who enjoy engaging with a company become loyal visitors and brand evangelists. Positive reputation spreads by word of mouth and the listener’s own blog comments.
Those are my two cents for today.

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For those of you who missed Good Charlotte in concert this morning at Texas Bar & Grill in Las Colinas, check out the podcast on iTunes or the Kiddlive.com website. It was a fun time. I made my third visit to the show, and saw the whole morning crew plus Kinsey and Billy the Kidd hangin’ out.

The brothers from Good Charlotte had a good set and answered some questions from the 100+ early birds in the audience. All in all, it was an early morning well spent.
NBA Trade Rumors Abound and the 2007 NBA Draft Approaches

Sadly, the 2007 NBA Draft approaches and the media focus has shifted to Kevin Garnett and who will get him during this offseason. Is it fair to focus on trade rumors rather than the crop of fine talent the teams get to choose from this year?

Perhaps so. I liken Kevin Garnett to Vince Carter. Both players came very highly rated into the NBA. Both received MAJOR sponsor deals. Both were popular with the media. And both were fairly disappointing for years. Both KG and Carter have put up impressive numbers at times, but the NBA is all about winning. If you can’t lead your team to a championship, you do not qualify as an elite player.

Kevin Garnett found himself in an awkward situation with Minnesota. He was making so much money that they couldn’t afford to surround him with the talent he needed to succeed. That’s when you know success isn’t about winning… it’s about the paycheck. Show me a player who negotiates down to help his team succeed and I’ll show you an athlete worth respect. This truth doesn’t flow down to all businesses, just in case you were wondering. At some point, the millions of dollars are superfluous and really only amount to bragging rights. Is your life really so much more meaningful or rewarding with $22 million rather than $15 million?

As a show of good faith, however, we’ll skip over the obvious point and move on to trade rumors. Who to believe? That is the question. Will Garnett go to the Lakers? Will he go to the Suns? Could he possibly go to Dallas? Will Kobe stay in L.A. if Garnett doesn’t make it to town? And how did all my childhood basketball heroes make it into NBA team management positions? That freaks me out. Sorry… off topic.

Teams worth giving up on? With all the unconfirmed trade rumors, the Knicks and Celtics grace the top of the list. Just forget about them. If you are season ticket holders, you undoubtedly make the trip each game to see the opposing team. The Atlanta Hawks would and should make the top of the list of Team Suck, but trade rumors indicate the slight possibility of Amare Stoudamire playing for the birds next year, which would launch them to playoff hopeful for the first time since… well, I have no idea. That’s how long.

I’d love to see Kevin Garnett or Kevin Durant playing in a Mavericks’ uniform this fall. Chances of that happening? Slim to none. Why would one of the two suckiest teams in the West give up their only star? How could Dallas manage to maneuver into a top 5 pick in order to be considered in a Garnett trade deal? It just won’t happen. Wish all you want. I will too. But in the end, if the Mavericks trade for anyone, it will likely be random guy from random team whom we the fans never even thought about.

Don’t worry, Dallas. All is not lost. The Great White Hype may yet lead us on to greatness….
Christian Social Media Sites: Good Idea or Bad?

I will acknowledge the truth that parents need a place for their children to learn, to engage, and to socialize that will not scar them or taint their innocence. I wouldn’t want my kids listening to what I listen to or watching many of the films I watch. Since I am a P.I.T. (Parent in Training), my opinion might not be the most valid… but it is popular.

It all started when I left MySpace the first time in January 2006. I was sick and tired of the half-naked chicks everywhere via True ads. After some brief research, I found MyPraize, a Christian MySpace alternative. MyPraize is censored like there’s no tomorrow. It’s like youth camp and KLTY (boring Christian radio station) mixed together. Sorry, not interested. I set up an account, browsed around for 20 minutes, and then left (never to return).

My encounter with GodTube today was just the straw that broke this camel’s back. Seriously? GodTube? Why is it that Christians are always mimicking secular ideas? Christian musicians make music that imitates the sounds of secular artists. Christian television is seriously sub par. And now we get a whole new wave of sub-parness injected into web culture.

Am I anti-Christian? Of course not. I am a Christian. But I find isolation to be every bit as unrealistic as atheism. Why not just post your videos on YouTube? Why not use Facebook or Virb if you want to avoid the advertisements? At least you won’t only be online with Christians. My primary concern is this: beware of the bubble. It is the chief concern of American Christians to create protective bubbles in every sphere of life in which they can be “Christ-like” with each other but not have to encounter any of that nasty sin stuff.

Well, thanks but no thanks. From an adult non-parental viewpoint, I’d rather be relevant to the world than isolated from it. Now, when it comes to my children, I may sing a slightly different tune. Time will tell.

Want to know what kind of Christian resources I actually like? Why not!

BibleMap is a seriously cool site. Just type in the Bible book and chapter, and you will see where the action took place on a map of the Middle East. For all those times when the names and dates hold no significance to you, this helps you get a little more historical / human perspective of what was happening.

BibleGateway is my favorite site for reading the Bible. You get every possible translation for every verse in two dozen languages right at your fingertips, and the search function is easy to use.Â Search by book, chapter, and verse or by keyword.

EarlyChristianWritings is an excellent resource of writings from the early Church. It’s sorted by date, which helps you to get a sense of the maturity and development of Christian thought over the first two and a half centuries after the birth of Christ.

There are hundreds more tools and sites out there. My general rule of thumb is this: if it’s a useful tool, use it. If it’s for isolating yourself from the rest of the world, don’t waste your time.
Biggest NBA Summer Trade: Kevin Garnett or Kobe Bryant?

Kobe Bryant is still pushing for a trade. The three teams he’s interested in: Chicago, Phoenix, and Dallas. I don’t think he’s seriously interested in Dallas. But he would surely play with the amazing talent of Phoenix or be the center of attention in Chicago. Some people say that Jerry Buss won’t consider giving up his only remaining franchise player. I don’t know anything about the guy, but apparently he takes entertaining Hollywood celebrities very seriously. And big names come to see big names.

Halfway across the country, rumor is that Minnesota is entertaining bids for Kevin Garnett. While they’re apparently not actively shopping him around, they are listening to what other teams have to say. His contract is so expensive that they simply can’t afford to build a decent team around him.

Everyone keeps mentioning Boston, but who wants to play for Boston? Seriously. Boston couldn’t attract Top 20 talent no matter what. Paul Pierce is talented. So what? The Eastern Conference is weak. It doesn’t matter that the Pistons won a championship. No Eastern team can compete with San Antonio, Dallas, Phoenix, or even Golden State (heck, maybe Denver too). The league is ridiculously imbalanced and no Top 20 player is going to want to give up the goods unless there’s a legitimate shot at a title.

Minnesota can’t heal its wounds. It’s a lame duck like Atlanta. Los Angeles can’t afford to lose Kobe to a Western team and no one in the East has anyone worth trading for.

Still, chances are that one of these marquee players will be traded. So who’s it going to be, and where do they go?
Read Print Offers Free Online Classic Books

Good ‘ol StumbleUpon led me to an excellent literary resource online. Students, teachers, and literary fanatics worldwide can now access the works of more than 90 classic authors at ReadPrint.com. Supported by Google Adsense, Read Print is an excellent free resource to avid readers everywhere.

Authors include Shakespeare, Lord Byron, Sophocles, H. G. Wells, and Virgil. Check it out! No more need to spend money on even the cheap versions of the classics at Barnes & Noble.
7 Realistic Steps to Early Retirement

It’s a question most of us hate to think about because the answer is so depressing. For anyone younger than 55, a million dollars is not enough to retire on unless you are a super whiz when it comes to investing. How will you retire? Have you saved anything? Or are you still doing your best just to get out of credit card debt?

If you haven’t thought much on the subject, now is the time. Read this article on how to make a million dollars first, just to get the ball rolling.

If you’re like me, the more you think about retirement and the ridiculous amount of money you will need, your brain overloads and you start feeling helpless. Then you choose to either obsess about making money or you push the thoughts as far from you as possible. You might even do so with the self-righteous stance of I’m too good of a person to obsess over money. Well, congratulations. You are the world’s most righteous person.

For those of you who are honest with yourselves, you’ll admit that you don’t know how to get to the financial milestone you want to achieve. You could start a business, invest in someone else’s business, save your income, etc.

There is no fool proof way. There is no method without risk. I do, however, have a preference for one method over the rest. While starting a business could be exciting and lucrative, it is also a life-consuming ordeal that puts a heavy strain on many marriages and families.

Here’s one method that can work if you make wise decisions and take good care of your property:

Step 1: Instead of saving $100-$500 per month, pay it towards your mortgage. In fact, do your best to live on one person’s salary and spend the second person’s salary (where applicable) on paying off your mortgage. Pay off your house in 1-5 years.

Step 2: Once the house is paid off, save that same amount you were spending on monthly mortgage payments until you can put at least 20% down on another house.

Step 3: Once you’ve arrived at your goal, purchase another house and move in.

Step 4: While house hunting, put your current house up for rent.

Step 5: Save enough of the rent to pay the property taxes and spend the rest on your new mortgage (as extra payments).

Step 6: Pay off your current mortgage ASAP (probably 2-5 yrs).

Step 7: Begin again at Step #2.

The goal is to live in consecutively nicer houses while still having the means to make double to triple payments on your mortgage each month. Within ten years, you should own somewhere between 3-5 houses, and the number will build faster as you own more houses free and clear.

Granted, at some point you won’t want to move every few months, but you won’t need to. You will need to buy investment properties outright and at some point hire a property management firm (ask me when you get there and I’ll hook you up with a good firm).

While you may or may not become a millionaire (per se), imagine generating income from 5-10 totally paid off rental houses! It’s totally doable. Yes, you will have to repair each house. Yes, you will have to rent each house out. But the risks are significantly lower when you only rent out houses you have paid for! The only monthly expenses you incur are property taxes.

As I mentioned before, if the prospect of managing rental properties scares you, I will direct you to an appropriate property management firm. My point is that this method will actually work. You might not get rich, but you can replace your income within 20 years or less.

*all numbers are subject to investor’s age and ability to make additional mortgage payments
7 Things Kidd Kraddick Needs to Do Online
Kidd, now that I’ve got your attention, we need to talk about what you need to do to maximize your online presence. There are 7 things you can do to RAWK (6 of them are quick and easy):
1. MyBlogLog – Joining this blog community has multiple benefits. Each member can upload a photo or icon to represent him or her which will be posted on thousands of blogs nationwide every time you visit. Some blogs even have functionality which posts the photo/icon when you leave a comment. This is obviously valuable as it lends credibility to your comments (proof that you’re leaving the comment and not some random Sanjaya impersonator – sorry, Taylor!) It is also an excellent way to network, generate interest among bloggers (tip: bloggers are some of the most dedicated commentors), and add cool guest photo functionality to your own site.
2. Gravatar – A gravatar is an icon/image of yourself similar to what I mentioned on MyBlogLog. Since you have a Google Alert set for your name, Kidd, you should connect your gravatar to your email account so that every time you post a comment on a blog equipped with gravatar recognition, your photo will appear beside your comment. This will make the blogger feel special and promote your brand at the same time.
3. Twitter – This is the future of celebrity promotion, Kidd. Guys like Jason Calcanis (founder of Weblogs, Inc. and now head of Netscape) and Robert Scoble have been using Twitter since its inception. You can use your AIM, cellphone, or Twitter website to post comments about what you’re doing. The KKITM crew should use this when they go out to clubs, parties, weddings, vacations, etc. to keep the KISS fans connected. Just post something once or twice a day to keep the fans happy. Twitter is especially effective for celebrities, because they will automatically have fans who want to know what they’re up to. An added benefit of Twitter is that you can post a box on your blog or website which checks for your latest Twitter updates every time the page is refreshed. This means that users who visit your blog can not only read your latest thoughts but check in to see what you’re doing throughout the day. Quite a few people are also using Twitter to promote products, websites, etc.
4. del.icio.us – Bookmark cool articles, blog posts, and websites, so that your fans can read what you like. This is also a great way to promote your advertisers, local bands, local bloggers, fans, etc. There are a dozen other places you can do this, but del.icio.us is the most popular.
5. FeedBurner – I’m going to talk about the current level of suck that your team’s blogs epitomize in a second, but once we’ve covered that, you desperately need to add RSS feeds to your blogs. This gives your fans the option of subscribing to your blog feeds and checking in more often to see what you’re blogging about. Trust me, you’ll see an increase of readership with an RSS feed from FeedBurner.
6. WordPress – Now, back to your blogs. I know you’re a radio show, but you DO have blogs. Anything worth doing at all is worth doing well. Your blog structure is pathetic. Comments are not attached to each post. Posts have no titles except dates. Do you use any kind of blog software? It looks like you guys just type something up and have some computer guy throw it up on the site. It’s unattractive, boring, lacking in any special abilities (like WordPress plugins and widgets), and it screams “we have no idea how to use the Web!” That might sound like a harsh statement, Kidd, but I promote best practices regardless of how they will be received. You absolutely need WordPress for your blogs and RSS feeds attached. Taylor at least has a cheesy Blogger (blogspot) site, but even that is subpar compared to what you can easily get for free elsewhere (i.e. the most wonderful awesome WordPress).
7. KiddLive – Kidd, this website is not appealing to the eye, Again, I say this because I want you to know (in case your webmaster/designers aren’t telling you) the true quality of this site. What’s wrong with it? 1) It’s not usable (find out more about usability and usability testing); 2) It’s unattractive – you desperately need a better site design – you want to look like the cutting edge morning show that you are; 3) your homepage is ridiculously long – throwing up your newest info at the top and pushing everything else down works okay for a blog; 4) usability says most everything in one word – navigation is too small and the drop down navigation is awkward – i could go on.
8. This is a bonus – if you don’t use web analytics, add them to all of your sites ASAP! Google Analytics is free and with the new interface is quite helpful (plus with their acquisition of FeedBurner, you will likely soon be able to view RSS subscription stats on Google Analytics as well). If you want “professional grade” analytics, get Index Tools. You need web analytics to tell you where traffic is coming from, where they are going, and how successful each part of your website is. You’ll learn all kinds of geographic and demographic information as well.
As a search engine optimization and online marketing specialist, I know of which I speak. I tell you these things because someone needs to tell you that your brand suffers because of your online presentation. Your website could be radically transformed by a good SEO-friendly web design team and a content management system that allows a non-web savvy person to easily add content and new pages to the site.

Take my advice, Kidd. If you follow these seven steps, you will begin to see a difference online very quickly. Once you’ve taken these steps, There are deeper levels of tips I can give you to hone your blogging and online message.
An Interview with StefanAnion

We met up with Dallas-based musical artist StefanAnion, a German/Italian dual citizen mixing tracks in the U.S. We spoke with him for a few minutes and we're posting the conversation right here. CF: Stefan, how many years have you been mixing? SA: I've been a DJ for about 13 years and writing music for 10. CF: Has your approach to the "remix" changed over that time? SA: My approach to doing remixes hasn't really changed much. I usually take the best bits from the parts I get and write a new track with them. CF: What technology did you start off using and what are you into now? SA: Technology-wise, things have changed quite a bit for me over the past few years. I originally started out using Tracker software and stuff like Re-birth before I got into using synths and samplers. A few years into having a fully stocked studio and as computers became more powerful, I sold off most of the synths and started using software again. Nowadays it's a combination of both, but a lot is done using plugins and such. CF: What's been your most successful remix so far? Where has it been a hit? SA: Hmm..interesting question. I don't really pay too much attention to how well my music does once it's been released, but i would say that the recent remix of Hybrid's "Until Tomorrow" seems to have gotten the most attention. CF: So you've been doing this for a while and you've experienced some success. What's the next step? How do you take your work to the next level? Or is it more an issue of increasing your production? SA: Well, the next step at this point is to work on the album and see how that will do. In the meantime, I'm hoping to pick up more remix work and also get out and play a few gigs here and there. Eventually I'd like to get into scoring films, so i've been using more of that "soundtrack" type of approach when i work on tracks. CF: Who out there are you tracking year by year in the industry? Do they inspire your tracks, or are they a different feel just for your personal use? SA: I'm a big fan of bands like Radiohead and Kasabian. I don't really "track" them, but i do check in to see if new albums are available. I really like going out on iTunes or in local music shops and find new and interesting stuff I've never heard before – which has so far had a positive impact on my creativity. CF: Okay… New subject. Money or Recognition? Which one motivates your music more? SA: Neither. I LOVE music. I love writing and learning new things each time I'm in the studio. It's the experience of writing music and seeing a track through from beginning to end that motivates me the most. It is, of course, my dream to make music full time and make a living with it, but that's going to take a lot more work 🙂 CF: Give us an idea of how much time you dedicate to your music each week. SA: That usually depends. Sometimes i'm in the studio 60 hours a week and sometimes i just need a break and go do other stuff, like hang with my mates or go to the lake and chill. CF: You obviously listen to quite a few genres. But which genre will you return to over and over again to recharge and get away from dance/club music? SA: 2 genres actually: Rock and Classical. I really don't listen to dance music all the time, but more so to rock, acoustic or classical. CF: Any strange hobbies or interests that influence your work in some way? SA: No strange hobbies really. I love being outside and going for a walk to recharge. Inbetween remixes i like playing video games every once in a while too 🙂 CF: What about art? painting? sculpture? literature? composers? Any major influences or greats that you appreciate? SA: As far as composers go i would have to go with Claude DeBussy, Hans Zimmer and Harry Gregson Williams. Literature-wise i love all of Douglas Adams' work (although i don't read that much) CF: Do you consider yourself a success based upon income, exposure, travel invitations, etc? SA: I don't really think about that, but I guess the more requests for remixes and gigs i get – that could be seen as increasing success, I suppose. CF: I've heard you're your own worst critic. How do you overcome your own opinion? Do you have some friends or other DJs in the industry that you run your stuff by for a creative opinion? SA: I am… hehe 🙂 I'll always be that way, but that's a good thing. it drives me to continue learning more about music and production as i go along. I'll never be done learning. Most of the time i don't play unfinished tracks to anyone except for my best friend, but that's rare. CF: For all those kids out there thinking about becoming a DJ, throw out 3-5 tips you'd give them to help them get started in the industry. SA: 1. Do it for the Music 2. Listen to as much music as you can and always try to explore new genres 3. Experiment with making sounds and have fun with it * * * * * Thanks, Stefan. For more information about StefanAnion and to listen to his music, visit www.stefananion.com. I am personally a fan of his Mad World Remix, available online.
My First Impression of Kidd Kraddick In the Morning Studio

In a random chain of events, Mystery SEO and I happened upon the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning Studio. Our office is located in the same building as the Studios of Las Colinas. I took Mystery SEO to Texas Bar and Grill for lunch by the canal yesterday. After eating too much, we walked around to see what else was going on in the area. I’m walking by these office windows when I see Shout Out! written on a piece of paper taped to a window.

With KKITM on the brain these days, I instantly thought of JC and Kidd Kraddick’s morning show. Peering into the dark windows, I saw nothing. Ten feet further on was a door with Kidd Kraddick in the Morning printed on the glass. Seriously? How did I not know that Kidd and the gang were this close? I always pictured them out in the middle of nowhere like Denton or Gainesville.

I woke up this morning at 5:30 (radically early for me), and wrote a blog about the Wall Street Journal’s article on reputation management. I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I showered and dressed and headed for Las Colinas. I showed up in my infamous yellow long-sleeved shirt. It’s the same shirt I’m wearing in my DanielthePoet photo online.
I was a little surprised to actually see the morning show crew live and right there in the window. Big Al was chillin’ in his plaid shorts and flip flops, lookin’ like he’s ready to hit the beach. Kidd was hopping around the studio because he got his foot butchered at the doctor’s office yesterday. JC looked a little younger than I expected, but he’s got this easy going playful attitude like he doesn’t have a care in the world. He also was the one who looked outside the most, as if to see if we (the people outside) were laughing at the same things. Kelly was a surprise. I expected her mannerisms to be a little bit more stern and motherly. She actually has an endearing cuteness about her that caught me by surprise. Taylor had her back to the window the whole time, and only turned around to wave at two girls in the audience. She seemed down to earth, and less frilly than I expected. Shannon was the biggest surprise of the group. She wasn’t nearly as strange looking as everyone’s comments suggested. She’s a cute girl who could use a little more morning cheerfulness.

Honestly, looking at everyone, they look a little less thrilled than I expected, as though their Starbucks subscription just expired. They looked like they need a caffeine injection, but you couldn’t hear it in their voice. Maybe it’s just what happens when you do a radio show for years. They turn it on when they need to, but they don’t force it.

Good first impression. Maybe I’ll check them out again soon.
Are Blogs the New Books?

Seth Godin is a very famous marketing “guru” who got famous from marketing outside the box and then coining terms to describe new marketing phenomena. In a recent interview, Seth was asked about the value of the New York Times Bestselling List and whether writers should still aim for that accomplishment. Seth’s response was (as should be expected) to answer a question with a question.

Basically, Godin pushes his own product, Squidoo, and his books. He is trying to establish himself as the foremost authority on marketing by denouncing things like search marketing and by attempting a hard reboot of marketing strategies. Not that his promotion of “outside the box” thinking is necessarily off target. But really, if you’ve read one book, the rest are fairly obvious continuations. Get one book, grasp the premise, and then read the others only if you become a huge fan.

It’s all smoke and mirrors, anyway. Whether you’re Seth Godin, Aaron Wall, or Rand Fishkin, it’s all about creating perceived value and getting a few influential friends to back up your play.

Seth’s statement about the small percentage of book purchasing /reading Americans is a valid one. How many people will you actually be influencing if you make the bestseller list? Answer: millions in the long term. More and more people read blogs and news websites rather than books and newspapers. That’s a given. But don’t give up your dreams to be an author just yet.

As you will see in the months and years to come, CultureFeast is an example of blogging your way toward a book. It sometimes takes a little momentum, confidence building, practice, and target audience building to pave the way for that first successful book. Rather than buying into Mr. Marketing’s every word, consider doing what motivates you. If you really want to blog, then blog. If you want to write a book, write a book. The problem with marketing gurus is that they’re chief end is to line their pockets by telling you how to line yours.

Of course you want to make money! Sure, you want to give up that crappy job and do your own thing! But for now, do what you love. Make room for it in your life. Spend time on it. Just enjoy it. Keep up with marketing best practices just so you don’t completely fall off the relevancy map, but don’t go changing your life every month when a new guru is announced.