So what’cha, what’cha, what’cha want?

May 5, 2009 by Johnny
Filed under: Announcements, Random crap 

That’s a Beastie Boys reference. It doesn’t translate terribly well to a WordPress post title, which is something I didn’t see coming.

Short version of the reason for this post: I need you to tell me what you’d like to learn, using this survey.

The thing is, the stupidly rapid pace at which I’ve been operating sort of tends to obscure the fact that this blog is still really, really new, and hasn’t yet found its legs. You probably think I’m all unprofessional because things are confusing here and I’m like, “HEY! This site is new. Leave me alone!” And then you’re like, “What did I say?” And I’m like, “It’s not so much what you said as how you said it,” and you’re like, “What are you, a chick?”

But yeah. I’m sort of up in the air. I don’t know if I should keep doing live webinars, for instance. They’re a pain to prepare for — not because I need to learn my stuff, but because I have to figure out how to present it in an efficient, non-boring fashion in such a way that I’m not showing off any of the personal information on my computer. Like financial info or octopus porn. Instead, could I just do videos, which I can edit before I post if I fuck up and show something I shouldn’t have? Or can I do online step-by-step tutorials… do THIS, then do THIS, etc?

Well, let’s not step on the survey. Please weigh in by using the link below, if you wouldn’t mind. Then, when you’re done, close the survey window and leave me some comments. Cool. Thanks.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE. WHAT ARE YOU, CHICKEN?

 

 

 

 

Comments

20 Comments on So what’cha, what’cha, what’cha want?

  1. Kim on Tue, 5th May 2009 10:32 pm

    2. Comments:
    Q 3 & 4 are maybes – would refer clients for VA blog set up etc

    Due to international time differences, live things are not a priority for me. When the alarm goes at 5.50am for a 6am webinar (5pm Eastern), I’m turning off that alarm and going back to sleep, no matter how fascinating the webinar may be. Except octopus porn. I think I would wake up for that.

  2. Ginny on Tue, 5th May 2009 10:33 pm

    3. Have you considered offering a coaching group? I’m not technically savvy enough to be able to pick things up after seeing them just once in a teleseminar or webinar, but when I hear/see/learn repeatedly over a period of time, it does finally sink into my aging, resistant brain. Also, coaching groups would be more dollar friendly to those of us who might not be able to afford your well-deserved private consulting fees. Thank you!

  3. Scottsdale Girl on Tue, 5th May 2009 10:40 pm

    4. Please edifiy us on octopus porn….

  4. RhondaL on Tue, 5th May 2009 10:42 pm

    5. I’m less enamored with video/podcasts/webinars than some because I can read/skim faster than I can sit and watch a video or listen to an audio.

    A newsletter with how-to’s and articles, you could monetize. We could subscribe to it. It would be like your blog, but delivered via email.

  5. Rebecca on Tue, 5th May 2009 10:44 pm

    6. I agree about the time difference, but I like online training because I can zip or crawl at my own pace, repeating over and over (like Ginny – doesn’t always sink in) as much as I want to without making people angry!

    I want to know how to build websites better using software already out there…. Like NING.com and other sites that allow you to build on their property, essentiall… Squarebox.com is another I think…

    I want to customize things to my liking… It’s all about doing that on the web…. and then monetizing it….
    Thanks for asking, btw

    PS If you need help making videos…..

  6. TheGirlPie on Tue, 5th May 2009 11:02 pm

    7. I answered for me, but for questions #3 and 4, I’d still like to refer other to you for that (even if I don’t need it.) But while I prefer videos to webinars, I agree with RhondaL’s comment (#4) that I can skim/read faster and that’s my tendency.

    But hey, I don’t want to be picky, since I’m not your target reader here; I just like being able to send people to you ~ !

    Thanks for asking — it was a quick survey in a busy day, so I appreciate your respect for out time –

  7. Geoff on Tue, 5th May 2009 11:04 pm

    8. Personally, I’d love to see a video that covers everything you would otherwise plan for a webinar, followed by a detailed Q&A for questions people submit related to the video over 2-3 days. That would give everyone a chance to see the material and have common reference points for clarification, e.g. “At 2:23 in the video you did X, but could you do Y?”

    The fabled Beast with 2 Backs, like an octopus, has 8 limbs; anecdotal evidence suggests that they may have an uncommon degree of autonomy like those of an octopus as well.

  8. Katrina on Tue, 5th May 2009 11:28 pm

    9. I am a total noob. I can log onto the net, check emails and surf around a bit but that’s it. I need help with everything but wouldn’t be able to pay you to do the work for me and I want to be able to do all of it myself, anyway so I reckon the online tutorials would be great. And Q&A as well. Maybe some kind of noticeboard where other readers can help with advice also so it takes some of the pressure off you with the questions.

  9. Denise dS on Wed, 6th May 2009 12:09 am

    10. Nothing helpful to say as I haven’t yet taken the survey; just killing time while I finish cracking up over the dialog in your first paragraph. Oh and thanks for the Beastie Boy annotation. And it would be nice to have a bit of a gutter on the left; at least in IE 7 (blech, yuck, ptooey) the left margin is pretty much totally abutted. Aright! aright! On to the survey.

  10. Denise dS on Wed, 6th May 2009 12:13 am

    11. #4 Really needs a “maybe” choice. Who knows what the future may bring?

  11. Barbara J Carter on Wed, 6th May 2009 8:07 am

    12. I’m not sure I’m your target market, I’m a real do-it-yourselfer on the web, plus I’m ridiculously frugal. But I did get some useful info from your (truncated) free webinar about email newsletter services. So I took your survey, but maybe that just messed up the stats. :)

  12. Les Cross on Wed, 6th May 2009 8:33 am

    13. I feel a bit of a cheapskate for some of the answers I have put on the survey – you are never going to make any money off my it would seem! I don’t need a fancy website and the help you have given so far has been great (especially in fielding emails subsequently). If the videos are sufficiently comprehensive I don’t need to see it live.

    (My interest is getting my ‘meaning’ out there – I know it has to be professional but I would drop things like PowerPoint in a heartbeat and go back to chalk-and- talk when I lecture, so my approach is very different from most, if not all, of your clients.)

    What do I need? (A Zig-a-zigar, answer supplied by the Spice Girls in keeping with your musical question). I need a human face/interaction to help tutor me on the problems and the specific opportunities and choices I have. Yes you need to be all things to all people. A personal coach (in whatever form) to answer questions at different levels. Let me explain:

    I have two competing IT factors. First, there is just so much stuff out there, and its changing all the time- so how can I get a handle on this? Second, does everyone have to do all this stuff in order to make a business out of it? Where are the basic instructions to help me wade through all this and where the heck did everyone else get their information from? Did I miss a meeting?

    I will put another idea in an email (too long to explain here) however.

    As for Octopus porn (do you sense another venture?) then who can forget such films as “Octo-pussy”, “Ten-tacled Tom” and the outrageous ‘all-natural’ musical “Squidoo!”, featuring such ‘prawn-star’ classics as “New squid on the block”, “I’ll take the bait” and “I’ve got eight legs (and an eye on you)”?

  13. Susan on Wed, 6th May 2009 6:44 pm

    14. That certainly was quick. I agree with the #3 &#4 questions needing an intermediary choice. While I would love to hire you now, I need to get the business earning some bucks to pay for all the handy services that would allow me to make the bucks. A chicken or egg scenario.

  14. Mahala on Wed, 6th May 2009 11:52 pm

    15. I have a feeling I would click completely different answers on a different day, so I’m not sure my survey answers were all that useful.
    One thing I will say, I’ve certainly received valuable nuggets of information from your webinars which is why I keep returning. But I’ve also found your natural style goes a little too fast and confusing for me. So I’d like to see more webinars but with the level of organization you’ve put into your ebook instructions.

  15. Johnny on Thu, 7th May 2009 2:00 am

    16. Thanks to everyone who commented and responded to the survey. Really some surprising results, so I’m really glad I asked. I’ll post them in a day or two and try to lay out a plan of some sort.

    Keep the feedback coming!

  16. Meredith on Thu, 7th May 2009 5:01 pm

    17. I take in information slowly when I want to actually integrate it into what I am doing. So, for me, having something that I can get back to (ebooks, step by step tutorials, etc) is the best way to support my learning process. The video stuff and live stuff is nice for simple ideas and entertainment (connecting, as it were), but those media don’t ususally change what I do.

  17. Mimi on Thu, 7th May 2009 10:13 pm

    18. Johnny, I loved what you did recently to get those of us who are new at all of this through the hoops at GoDaddy.com. It was GREAT having snapshots so I could see exactly what I was supposed to be looking for and go find it. That was super.

    I also work best with info that I can revisit at my own pace and puzzle through.

    Thank you for your wonderful help!

  18. Survey results awesome but surprising « Learn To Be Your Own V.A. on Sat, 9th May 2009 2:28 am

    19. [...] Webinars « So what’cha, what’cha, what’cha want? [...]

  19. Johnny on Sat, 9th May 2009 2:43 am

    20. @Kim – I should have included a maybe option. I may refine this down the road. And honestly, I don’t watch webinars or listen to teleseminars live either. I always prefer the recordings.

    @Ginny – I mentioned your suggestion in today’s post and will probably take it. Thanks!

    @SG – It’s the Japanese. Google it. With the kids out of the room.

    @Rhonda – I don’t think I’m ready to undertake a newsletter yet, but I should look to my own habits re: audio and video. I’m like you. I don’t want to watch/listen live.

    @ Rebecca – I owe you an email. I’m just buried in them, sorry.

    @GP – Well, I’m not going to complain if you send people to me!

    @Geoff – I’m not sure how to handle the Q&A, but I’ll figure it out. I want to work with how you all want it done.

    @Katrina – Well, that’s the point. The site is “Learn To Be Your Own VA,” not “Hire Me To Be Your VA.” Frankly, I’m not eager for more linear, hourly work. So you’re in the right place. DIY is exactly what this site is supposed to be about, so please keep the feedback coming on all aspects of what you’d like relative to how I’m delivering.

    @Denise – I will not bow to IE 7.

    @Barbara – See my comment to Katrina… you’re EXACTLY my target market. I’m offering the “I do it” services as an addendum. The point of this site is supposed to be about YOU doing it.

    @Les – I owe you an email or two as well. Sorry about that. But to answer, I think if you keep reading this site, it’ll do a decent job of keeping you up on stuff. I know how you feel, though… it seems like you MUST KNOW IT ALL AND DO IT ALL PERFECTLY. I personally don’t think you need to know how to do it all. Each bit you add may help, but you have a site and you talk to your readers through it. That’s enough. Everything else is gravy. Will it help? Sure. Is it totally necessary, or necessary RIGHT NOW? Not at all. Deep breath.

    @Susan – Another on the intended DIY nature of the site. I don’t want most people to hire me. I’m not in this to be “hired.”

    @Mahala – The problem is that it would take forever. The webinars would last three hours. I think videos are a natural middle ground, combined with online tutorials. You can move at your own comfortable pace. Really, another reason why live webinars might not totally make sense.

    @Merideth – Great. Good to know, because that’s the direction I’m headed.

    @Mimi – Yep, that’s EXACTLY what I’m thinking of for the tutorials. Anyone who has had me install a blog, the 10-step process you walked through is what I want to do for the rest of this stuff. It’s going to take a lot of time, and it will come slowly… but it will come. So tell your friends.

  20. Survey results awesome but surprising : Johnny B. Truant on Sat, 19th Sep 2009 9:11 am

    21. [...] am really, really, really glad I made this survey, and I’m really, really, really glad so many of you answered it. I suppose the second is more [...]

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