We listen to our customers. While a vast majority of our students all said the seminar was worth every penny, and then some, we kept hearing two things- I like the information and the way you present it- but I want more about how to use WordPress- a more intensive software instruction seminar- so now we have 2 seminars- for the price of less than one of the old one.

BUT I PAID $99 FOR THE SEMINAR THAT IS NOW $49!

Don’t worry- we’ll take care of you, if you took the original seminar– you can come to one of the WordPress advanced seminars for FREE! But only in July and August- with a reservation. After that, it’s $49 just like everyone else pays.

What will the new seminar cover?
WordPress advanced will go into more detail on each of the function in the Dashboard interface, how to set all the controls for discussion and users, how to format your posts and of course- how to write posts and use the categories to get to the top of Google. We’ll also dissect themes- and look at what makes a theme good- and what makes one bad. You’ll learn how to FTP your plug-ins and themes, and we’ll look at some really useful plug-ins, and discuss how to expand functionality of your site- without having to be a coding genius. It’ll be WordPress Advanced, but still catering to HTML dummies.

Since the Dayton Daily News doesn’t allow open access to stories forever- here is the complete text of the story about the Blogosopher seminar. Note- this was so easy to do- it was posted on the morning it appeared. Which begs to ask: Can your web site do that?

‘Blogosopher’ sings praises of blogs as marketing tools

David Esrati says businesses can craft Web sites that will lure attention through search engines like the Web giant Google.

By Leigh Allan

Staff Writer

Believe it or not, a blog need not be minute-by-minute updates of mindless self-centered blather. Or pompous political posturing. Or miles and miles of teenage angst.

So says David Esrati of The Next Wave advertising agency of Dayton — yes, the same David Esrati who a few years back was better known as a regular candidate for city offices and a thorn in the side of the city commission.

Esrati is known more these days as the Blogosopher, host of blogosopher.com and leader of seminars on how to use small blogs to beat the big guys and make big bucks.

So far, 100 people have taken Esrati’s 3½ hour course on why blogs are the best way to attract the attention of major search engines, and how a business can use that to its advantage.

Esrati says he spent years learning how major search engines work, especially 800-pound gorilla Google. He touts simple, inexpensive ways to beat the expensive, intricate attempts of major corporations to get to the top of search results.

He says he has been so successful at his own company’s site (thenextwave.biz) that searches for rival Ohio ad agencies often lead to him.

“I’m not doing that to disrespect them,” Esrati says, “I’m just getting people to take a look.”

Kris Oser, director of strategic communications for eMarketer market researcher, says the Blogosophy strategies should work to attract search engines, and thus attention, especially the constant updating.

But she says the story for blogs is the story of using the Web for advertising in general — it’s very much niche marketing, because “people who read blogs are trying to connect with people with similar interests.”

Esrati isn’t just Blogosophizing these days. He’s also involved with a local Veteran Owned Business group (vob108.org) that helps vets seek government contracts, and he has revived his old political Web site: esrati.com.

Blogging tips

Avoid Flash: Major search engines are Flash phobic. The blogs’ simplicity is search engine-friendly.

Change is good: When updating their data banks, search engines seek out changes. Blogs are the easiest and cheapest way to continually change your site.

It’s easy: Open-source WordPress software provides a simple way to produce a business-quality blog.

Well, a few of our star blogosopher graduates got together and helped us with our new tv spot- the “Website blues”- it should be running on WRGT and WKEF starting this week. Click on the image at right to see the spot.

The guitar player is David Cousino – www.davidcousino.com and www.lakeishasabol.com and www.awilum.com also participated!