Mersey web pioneer asked to speak at key new media event

By on May 7, 08 08:21 PM

A MERSEYSIDE online pioneer has been invited to address one of the world's largest new media conferences.

Don McAllister, who founded ScreenCasts Online in 2005 to offer online video tutorials in how to use Apple Mac computers and software, will be speaking at the New Media Expo, in Las Vegas, in August.

Mr McAllister will tell delegates at the prestigious convention how he has been able to make money online.

His site provides half-hour training tutorials in how to use Macs and Mac software. Half the videos are free to access, while the other half and the archive of 140 are available to paid members of the site.

The company launched in August, 2005, and by March, 2006, he realised he could make enough money to leave his job as an IT consultant to go full-time.

"It's quite unusual for a podcast to make money. It was slightly easier for me to do it because there's a perceived value in training.

"Over the next 12 months, I built up more and more of a following."

The Expo, now in its fourth year, aims to bring together the leading lights of the growing online audio and video sector. It will attract more than 3,000 delegates.

Mr McAllister says he wants to share his experience and help other people make a living from their websites.

He developed his screencast videos as a way of helping friends and relatives use their Macs, and soon realised it could develop into a business.

Mr McAllister is staying ahead of the technological game by making his videos in high definition.

His website screencastonline.com now has readers all over the world.

He said: "Podcasting is a global phenom- enon. There are no geographical boundaries. My readership is up to 60% American, but the rest comes from all over the world."