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Ready, set, podcast! 8 steps to get there.

We are in the golden age of podcasting. More than half of American homes tune into a podcast regularly. Why not YOURS?

Podcasting allows you to control the message, control the medium and tap into new clients, strategic partners and referral sources.

Where do you start?

First, the “Why”?
Are you doing this to position yourself as the expert? Book prospects as guests and build those relationships? Generate solid content for social media? Enhance SEO? Provide useful information to your core audience?
Your answer to ALL of the above should be YES!

Second, the theme?
What is your unique programming theme? Do you expand upon family business, start-up business, mid-market business? Are you focusing on a niche? Young families? Senior living? Middle age madness? Choose a theme and build upon it.

Third, the Title?
The title of your Podcast should give a hint about the content and entice listeners in. No surprise about what “Planet Money” is about. “Football Weekly” tells it all. You could get clever, but you don’t want to be obscure and leave people guessing.

Fourth, Scheduling?
Most new podcasters can’t keep up a pace of more than once a month. That being said, it is worthwhile to record the first three segments all at once. In our binge watching/listening world, give your audience a good dose of what you do.

We help develop a schedule and editorial outline of segments for each business quarter.

Fifth, Guests?
Let’s face it, unless you are stand-up comedian or experienced performer, you should enhance your broadcasts with a guest or two. Guests add insight, variety and color.

The challenge is to book them, prepare them, obtain background materials, etc. That is a critical part of the process.

Six, the Technology?
How will you record? How will you upload to key podcast portals (Spotify, Itunes, etc.)? How will you promote each episode? We’ve reviewed a wide range of platforms and came up with an inexpensive and thorough solution that includes developing a VlodCast (video of the podcast) and the podcast at the same time. Thus, you are bolstering a YouTube channel and reaching key podcast portals.

Seventh, the Promotion?
Now you’ve gone to all the trouble of creating a Podcast, how do you get it out there?

Social media posts, e-newsletter, news release and blog posts help move it along. These messages should ALSO be prepared and customized for your guests to share with their audiences.

Eighth, Work with a Podcast Sherpa.
Ready to go “live”? 5-4-3-2-1. Call us at 781-582-1061 or drop a line to help shape, produce and promote your podcast.

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April is National Occupational Therapy Month.

Adaptable of Middleboro, MA helps visually impaired individuals function at the highest level by providing accessible websites.

During National Occupational Therapy Month, Adaptable digital accessibility service celebrates Occupational Therapy (OT) practitioners and their role in helping visually impaired individuals carry out a number of daily tasks – from preparing meals to paying bills online. Whether teaching an individual a new skill or modifying the environment with adaptive equipment, OT practitioners help individuals carry out important activities. 

Adaptable is a service recently launched by Middleboro, MA-based Shotgunflat, Inc., which helps organizations of all types and sizes ensure that the information found on their websites, apps, and other digital resources are accessible to everyone regardless of vision, hearing, physical and cognitive ability. 

“Essentially, OT practitioners help individuals function at the highest level possible,” explained Mike McKenna, president of Shotgunflat. “For example, an OT practitioner can help a visually impaired individual complete their grocery shopping online by modifying the environment with adaptive tools so they can use technology. But, if that grocer’s website in itself is not accessible, then the adaptive equipment won’t work. That’s where we come in. Adaptable makes websites and apps accessible, which ensures that the adaptive equipment that these individuals are using will actually work when they visit a website to shop.” 

As many as one in five Americans may not be able to use a website because of a disability. Many people with disabilities rely on adaptive tools to use technology. For example, a visually impaired user can utilize a screen reader to help browse a website. If a website is not programmed to meet today’s accessibility standards, adaptive tools will not work correctly, and the user will be left at a disadvantage.

“There are many businesses and organizations that are falling short because they simply haven’t built a website that is accessible. This means that even when an individual has the adaptive tools, they wouldn’t necessarily work,” noted McKenna.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, and website accessibility complaints are on the rise. Currently there are thousands of cases nationwide. Adaptable is stepping up to implement best practices for ADA online compliance. With nearly two decades of website design experience, the parent company, Shotgunflat, is helping companies get ahead of the curve and avoid costly liability.

Adaptable follows a specific set of guidelines that are considered the industry standard and are available to web developers to ensure that the information on a website is accessible to people with visual impairment or other disabilities. 

Adaptable works with businesses and others to analyze their current digital accessibility status, formulate a remediation plan, execute the required changes, and monitor the product going forward to ensure that companies remain compliant over time. 

Adaptable is currently offering a free website audit to businesses, non-profits and other organizations.

To arrange for a free website audit, or to learn more about Adaptable, contact Chris Herlihy at 781-801-5803 or ch@adaptablelab.com or visit www.adaptablelab.com

About Adaptable

Adaptable is a service of Shotgunflat, Inc.  Since 2002, Shotgunflat has been designing and building compelling websites and apps for small businesses and non-profits, as well as marketing, branding, PR and advertising agencies across the U.S. The firm’s comprehensive suite of services includes Adaptable digital accessibility, web design and development for enterprise, and website maintenance and support. 

An innovative leader in accessibility compliant websites and apps for retail, dining, internet and other industries, Adaptable is based at Shotgunflat headquarters in Middleboro, MA. For more information about Adaptable, contact 781-801-5803 or visit https://www.adaptablelab.com

April is National Occupational Therapy Month.Read More

Accessibility and Liability. Adaptable Digital Accessibility Service in Middleboro, MA Announces Legal Division

During this time of uncertainty, many businesses have begun to refocus their efforts on marketing and other strategies amid slow-down. As such, now is the time for law firms to consider their own liability and take action to ensure their firm’s website accessibility.

Adaptable, a digital accessibility service based in Middleboro, MA, has recently announced a new Legal division which caters specifically to law firms. Adaptable helps businesses and organizations of all types and sizes ensure accessibility for their websites, apps, and other digital resources. 

“Website accessibility is an often-overlooked aspect of building, maintaining and owning a public-facing website,” said Chris Herlihy, EVP of Adaptable. “ADA website accessibility complaints are on the rise and not having an accessible website can have some serious ramifications. Our new division was set up to help law firms ensure that the information found on their website is accessible to all users, regardless of ability.”

Case in Point
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. recently faced and lost an ADA-based website accessibility lawsuit—the first of its kind. Lawsuits against businesses with inaccessible websites are on the rise, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and fines.

Meeting Accessibility Standards
As many as one in five adults in the U.S. have some type of disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Many people with disabilities rely on adaptive tools to use technology. For example, a visually impaired user can utilize a screen reader to help browse a website. If a website is not programmed to meet today’s accessibility standards, adaptive tools will not work correctly, and the user will be left at a disadvantage.

Adaptable is stepping up to implement best practices for ADA online compliance and helping companies get ahead of the curve and avoid costly liability.

Services provided by Adaptable’s legal division include: 
– Analysis of current digital accessibility status
– Formulation of a remediation plan
– Execution of the required changes
– Ongoing monitoring going forward to ensure that the firm remains in compliance.

Herlihy continued, “We assist law firms by focusing on the accessibility of their digital properties so they can continue to concentrate on their core business. Our legal division provides them with an essential solution for attaining and maintaining website accessibility compliance.”

Adaptable is offering a free website audit to law firms.

To arrange a free website audit, contact Chris Herlihy at 781-801-5803 or ch@adaptablelab.com or visit  www.adaptablelab.com

About Adaptable
Adaptable is a service of Shotgunflat, Inc. Since 2002, Shotgunflat has been designing and building compelling websites and apps for small businesses and non-profits, as well as marketing, branding, PR and advertising agencies across the U.S. The firm’s comprehensive suite of services includes Adaptable digital accessibility, web design and development for enterprise, and website maintenance and support. 

An innovative leader in accessibility compliant websites and apps for retail, dining, non-profit, education, high-tech and other industries, Adaptable is based at Shotgunflat headquarters in Middleboro, MA. For more information about Adaptable, contact 781-801-5803 or visit https://www.adaptablelab.com

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Abington Resident Named New Quality and Contracts Director at OCES in Brockton

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County, has promoted Joelle Bellotti to Quality and Contracts Director. She is a resident of Abington, MA.

Joelle Bellotti

In her new role at OCES, Bellotti will report directly to Diana DiGiorgi, Chief Operating Officer at OCES. She will oversee the Quality and Contracts department and staff.  For two years prior to her promotion, Bellotti served as Contracts Manager overseeing more than 60 plus service provider contracts, provider audits and handling any issues with providers, OCES’ staff and consumers. 

Bellotti began her career at OCES in 2014 serving as a Care Manager in the Home Care Program for one year prior to being promoted to Home Care Program Supervisor. She was promoted again in 2017 to Contracts Manager.

Bellotti is a member of OCES’ Home Care Aide Council Board of Directors.

Bellotti holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Psychology from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. She is a native of Abington, MA and graduate of Cardinal Spellman High School. 

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 25 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

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Got your back during Covid-19. Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island offers help finding care during the pandemic.

In deference to patients suffering from pain and severe discomfort, Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island, representing over 60 chiropractic doctor offices throughout the Ocean State, underscore that many offices are open by appointment or via Tele-Health during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

“Many of our chiropractic physicians are available to patients for emergency treatment,” noted Michael Zola, President of the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island.  He added, “Many offices remain open for several reasons. One, as chiropractors we want to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits that may expose our patients to Covid-19.  Two, our colleagues are uniquely trained and qualified to provide the spinal manipulation that can help reduce pain and expand range of motion.  Three, the health of our patients  is our first priority.”

Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island encourage all chiropractors to follow the strictest guidelines of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RI DOH).

Many insurance providers cover video/telemedicine at this time. Consumers should double check with their provider regarding coverage.

To talk with a chiropractic physician regarding your health concerns, please contact your chiropractic physician or  the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island main number – (401) 207-0700. 

Got your back during Covid-19. Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island offers help finding care during the pandemic.Read More

Lawn Dilemma: To seed or not to seed.

Contrary to conventional thought, spring lawn seeding is NOT recommended.  That’s right, Lawn Doctor experts encourage you to wait on seeding.

There are three reasons why you shouldn’t see in the Spring.

First, seed is very slow to germinate in the spring due to cooler soil temperatures according to Tom Norton, owner of Lawn Doctor.  “Even fast- growing perennial ryegrass will take 3-4 weeks when planted in April.” Secondly, Spring is the biological time for turf to reproduce and therefore expends its energy on the production of seed and top growth and not root development. “Turfgrass knows that spring is time to reproduce. It focuses all of its resources on growing tall, green shoots and seed heads instead of a root system. All the water in the world will not be enough to protect your grass from summer stress if it doesn’t have a developed root system.”

Third reason?

Weeds, weeds, weeds! The most important, time-sensitive thing you can do for you lawn is apply a weed and crabgrass preventative, AKA preemergent. If you seed, you cannot apply pre-emergent, and if your grass can’t make it through the summer, it’ll be overtaken by crabgrass. You’ll end up seeding in the fall again anyway. Even if you watered and fertilized faithfully, odds are, you’ll still end up with patchy, bare areas after the crabgrass recedes in the fall. 

Lawn Doctor is a local, family owned and operated business. Over 50 years of serving their neighbors has provided their team with invaluable insight as how best maintain your home’s greenest asset.

Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your lawncare routine or create one from scratch, the experts at Lawn Doctor can get you on track. For more information about Lawn Doctor, visit http://www.lawndoctor.com/or call 800-831-1319.

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Girlfriend, can we talk? Is selling a dirty word? Woman to woman. Our Sales Coach now offering Sales Training and Coaching specifically for women.

Is the sales environment different for women?  Of course it is.  From expectations to safety.

Thus, led by Christine McIntyre, Our Sales Coach, a Braintree, MA-based firm is offering a new service for women by women.  The initial live virtual training series begins this Spring and runs for 16 weeks.

“Women can approach sales in different ways than their male counterparts. That’s why we are offering a sales training and coaching program exclusively for women,” outlined Christine McIntyre. She continued, “We believe an environment with just women will help them build confidence, develop better skills, adopt an empowering attitude and change their behaviors in ways that will produce faster results.”

Sales is a great career path for women and there are many who have become top producers.  Some become executives, CEOs or successful entrepreneurs.  A sales career offers flexibility and  opportunities for unlimited growth.  Regardless of one’s role in business, sales skills are necessary for advancement.  The success of any business resides in the ability to continuously increase sales production.

There are many coaching, leadership, management training programs for women.  Sales training opportunities for women are typically two hour workshops, one day boot camps or just coaching programs. They offer worthwhile advice and mentorship, but aren’t the type of programs that will produce transformative results.  This is a comprehensive training and coaching program with real solutions for women responsible for revenue growth in their firms.

The series begins with lead generation:

  • Develop a focused market strategy
  • Know how to get the attention of your ideal target
  • How to differentiate
  • Know when to reach out
  • What prospecting channels will work for you
  • Get clarity on your formula for success
  • Develop a system to keep yourself accountable
  • Know what and how to track

Next segment addresses the sales process

  • Building trust
  • Controlling the sales process
  • Finding the compelling reasons to do business
  • Getting commitment
  • Managing the decision process
  • Getting to decision makers
  • Uncovering the budget
  • Successful presentations
  • Handling objections
  • Negotiating
  • Time management

Participants will receive training and one-on-one coaching on each of these things on a weekly basis so they have the time and ability to apply what they have learned. The goal is to change your behavior and teach you the skills to overcome barriers and self-limiting beliefs.

Our Sales Coach helps very capable professionals exceed their business development goals and reduce stress. Clients include service providers, business owners and select salespeople. Sales goals are guaranteed.  Our Sales coach develops a sales strategy and execute a sales process that makes sense for your business and provide coaching and training that ensures success.

For more information about Sales Training and Coaching specifically for women or other programs, visit OurSalesCoach.com or call (781) 930-3220.

Girlfriend, can we talk? Is selling a dirty word? Woman to woman. Our Sales Coach now offering Sales Training and Coaching specifically for women.Read More

Braintree-based Harbor Mortgage Announces Jumbo Reverse Mortgage Loans Now Available

The Division of Banks (DOB) in Massachusetts and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) recently announced approval of new Proprietary (Jumbo) reverse mortgage programs in addition to the HUD FHA-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) reverse mortgage.  

With these new programs, Braintree-based Harbor Mortgage is approved to offer home and condominium owners Jumbo (Proprietary) reverse mortgages. These Proprietary programs are non-insured reverse mortgage programs offered by private lenders and generally provide funding amounts greater than HECM limits.

Harbor Mortgage is licensed and approved to offer the Proprietary program in Massachusetts.

George Downey, CRMP,
founder of Harbor Mortgage 

“The introduction of these programs provides Massachusetts home and condominium owners access to greater funding amounts, more choices, and fewer eligibility limitations,” explained George Downey, CRMP, founder of Harbor Mortgage and a 40-year veteran in the Massachusetts real estate and residential mortgage business.

Dedicated to serving the unique home financing and often complex needs of senior home and condominium owners, Harbor Mortgage focuses on providing seniors looking to age-in-place or transitioning to retirement living, with a better understanding about housing wealth, HECM and Jumbo reverse mortgage programs.

The team’s specialty is consulting to professional advisers and homeowners on the various methods housing wealth can be utilized and coordinated with financial management to achieve greater results and extend retirement security.

Downey continued, “Home equity, referred to as ‘housing wealth’, has become an important and valuable resource to improve financial planning and extend retirement security. If, how, and when to use it is a key question. Every situation is different and the options are increasing as new programs emerge to meet the changing times.”

Home and condominium owners interested in learning more about their options may contact Harbor Mortgage at 781-843-5553, or visit HarborMortgage.com.

About Harbor Mortgage

Harbor Mortgage Solutions, Inc. is a family-owned, residential mortgage company serving Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Recognized as a leading housing wealth management authority, Harbor Mortgage is dedicated to serving the unique home financing and often complex needs of senior homeowners, while also promoting those needs among consumers, professional advisors, state legislators and industry regulators. 

Harbor Mortgage (NMLS #2846, MA-MB2846, and RI 20041821LB) is located in Braintree, MA. For more information, contact 781-843-5553 or visit HarborMortgage.com.

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Simple steps towards spirituality. New book streamlines the works of Rudolf Steiner.

Are you drawn to your better angels?  Overwhelmed by the language of the literature associated with spiritualism?

There is a new alternative. The newly released book, “THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN – Revisiting the Vision of Rudolf Steiner for the 21st Century: Our Participation in Earth’s Evolution as the Planet of Love” is direct, concise and transformative.  Cape Cod author Eliza Joslin Kendall walks you through the journey in her “Simply Steiner” series.

Steiner stated: The Gospel of St. John is not a book of instruction, but a force that can become active within our souls.  Heralded and much respected, Rudolf Steiner was a brilliant late- 19th-century Austrian visionary whose astonishing spiritual perceptivity brought about the Waldorf Schools, architectural developments, biodynamic agriculture, and much more. But because the books and lectures based on his profoundly forward thinking were written down by others in German, and then translated into English, even dedicated Steinerians have often found his books difficult to understand.

Raised with Steiner’s ideas from a young age, Kendall is drawn to revealing his insights. “When I read Steiner,” she writes, “I just knew that I knew all that he was talking about, as if I had read it before. His writings resonated so deeply within me that I immediately felt called to take Steiner and his philosophy to the public in a way that can be taken in by the soul, not just the mind. I continue to feel that this is greatly needed. Especially in today’s world.”

Whatever your religious beliefs or background, Steiner’s Gospel of St. John via Eliza Joslin Kendall can help shift your perspective of yourself, the human community, and the planet.

Eliza Joslin Kendall is a Certified Transformational Life Coach and Medium.  She is also accredited in Energy Healing,  as well as Mediation and Conflict Resolution. Eliza helps clients to overcome self-destructive routines and make positive life choices. 

An entrepreneur, wife, mother and grandmother, Kendall leverages her expansive human experience to help translate spiritualism into ways readers can take in and make practical use of.

For additional information about THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN – Revisiting the Vision of Rudolf Steiner for the 21st Century: Our Participation in Earth’s Evolution as the Planet of Love,” visit https://capecodspiritualcoach.com/books/

Simple steps towards spirituality. New book streamlines the works of Rudolf Steiner.Read More