Podonomics - Podcast Optimization Tips

Podonomics on Wordpress is Now Live

2006-09-05T11:32:00.000-04:00

Podonomics on Wordpress is now live. I'll be updating over there from now on. If you're reading this, click here to follow my thoughts on podcasting.

Big thanks to Jon for helping me through this. You're a gem. I can't thank you enough for doing this for me (as well as the laughs).

Dear Lord, Give Me Patience With Blogger

2006-09-04T11:29:00.000-04:00

As you know, I loathe blogger. So, I've already started the process to move over to Wordpress. My domain name was registered months ago, and the template now sits waiting for me to post my thoughts. Yesterday, Jon started to import my posts from blogger to Wordpress. It didn't work, so Jon is going to try again.

But now, all my posts are messed up. Everything is being posted as one long paragraph. It looks sloppy and I have no clue how to fix this.

(**sigh**)

CBS Should Use YouTube to Air 9/11 Documentary

2006-09-04T09:13:00.000-04:00

After paying out millions of dollars in fines due to Janet Jackson baring her boob during the 2004 Super Bowl half time show, CBS is worried about airing a 9/11 documentary due to the profanity and graphic images.

I saw this documentary on CBS (or was it ABC) about 3-years ago. I taped it and I still have it on VHS. The documentary captured the sounds, sights and emotions of that day. It's also the only known footage of the first plane hitting the North tower. It's available for sale on Amazon.

This documentary was filmed by 2 French brothers - Jules and Gedeon Naudet - and the original intent of the documentary was to capture a typical day of a rookie firefighter. Of course, that typical day turned into one of the most dramatic days in American history.

It is indeed graphic. The brothers talked about some of the things they saw, but chose not to film. For example, a woman exited one of the elevators and she was engulfed in flames, according to one of the brothers. She was in the elevator when the plane hit and the kerosene dripped down the elevator shaft and she was the unfortunate victim. One of the brothers said he's been haunted by that image ever since.

There was another scene where you could hear the sounds of those who jumped from the top floors hitting the ground below. I'll never forget hearing that sound in the film. Never.

So, I can understand CBS' nervousness. They don't want to be hit with more fines. However, to censor the sights and sounds of that day doesn't make sense to me. Each of us saw the mayhem, others experienced it first-hand. I remember being in my apartment at 2am after sleeping for about 6-hours, totally exhausted by the reality of that day. I was jumpy. Everytime I heard a plane go overhead, I sat up, worried that it was coming for my apartment. It took me 3-days before I could sleep without the lights on, and even then, every little sound I heard woke me up.

I wasn't there in New York that day, but man, those images were just so surreal. My sisters and I thought it was a movie. When you don't grow up around violence and you see it happening on TV in real life, we as North Americans can only equate it to a blockbuster Hollywood film.

At the end of the day and at this point in my life, nothing surprises me anymore. Emotions are still raw, even five years later. So, if CBS is nervous about airing the documentary, use YouTube. There's no censorship and then people can have conversations about what they saw.

Now, I'm not advocating that the documentary be shown raw. The brothers who filmed the documentary did say that there were things they saw that they chose not to film. And frankly, I don't need to see human suffering on TV. It's the reason why I avoid films such as Saw, Hostel and anything produced by Quentin Tarantino.

However, put the video on YouTube and just let the conversations take place. Stop being so nervous and just let the people use the documentary as a way to remember and heal through dialogue.

Technorati Tags: youtube, Video, cbs, september 11th, september-11th, 911

Podcamp and Why Driving With Jay Moonah is Safer Than Flying

2006-08-31T18:23:00.000-04:00

I'm heading down to Podcamp next weekend with the ever so popular Jay Moonah and his band, Uncle Seth. One day, I'll be able to say, "I shared a 10-hr car ride with that band."

We won't be the only Canadians down there as I found out by way of Mark Blevis' blog that he's heading down with Bob and Julien.

Podcamp is taking place in Boston the weekend of September 9th & 10th and I just can't wait to see the city. I've heard so much about it and I'm going to take the opportunity to do some sightseeing while I'm there.

Chris and Bryan, just 2 of the many who have organized Podcamp, have been so gracious with their time, helping me to prepare my presentations and just generally being so nice. It's no wonder they say that Bostonians are so much like Canadians because their geniality is quite similiar to our own. I'm looking forward to chatting about Battlestar Galactica with Chris and finally speaking in person with Bryan.

Now, why is Podcamp important? I explain it on Bryan's podcast, but just to sum up, you get the practical advice, tips from the trenches instead of a pie-in-the-sky theory. If you want to podcast, Podcamp will give you a Google-like view of how to get started, how to plan, how to publish and how to promote in just 2-days.

Plus, you'll get to talk to the very people who are doing podcasting themselves. You'll not only learn the how, but you'll also learn what to avoid. Oh yeah and admission is free. You just pay to get there, to stay there and drinks later on.

I'll be presenting on 2 topics - Limited Edition Podcasts & Planning a Killer Podcast. Actually, they'll be more like conversations as I enjoy interactivity rather than me droning on and on for 30-minutes.

I ~~may~~ will do a 5-minute lightning talk on why you can't use podPress with Wordpress if you're using multiple feeds. I know I'll be in a mood to geek-out.

At first, I was going to fly down to Boston. May actually work out to be cheaper than spending the money on gas. But then my sister reminded me that September 11th - the day I return - is the 5-year anniversary of that tragic day when so many lost their lives.

My sister reminded me that all 4 planes left Boston that fateful morning and it'd be just my luck that some wacko may choose the very plane that I'm on to pay homage to the 19 hijackers. She went on to chastise me for wanting to put her though such grief when everything in her life is going so well.

(**sigh**) Siblings... Can I send them back? Yes, both of them?

At the end of the day, my sister's emotional state won out. And because I'm having way too much fun with podcasting, I shall drive down to Boston instead and listen to Jay sing and talk the whole way.

I'll update the blog with pictures, tales and stories from Podcamp. If you can make it down, please do so as I'd love to meet you and share ideas on podcasting.

Technorati Tags: PodCamp, podcasting, uncle seth, battlestar galactica, bryan person, chris brogan

Global Nature of Podcasting

2006-08-31T09:01:00.000-04:00

I was listening to a podcast today and was amazed at how Toronto-centric it was. The subject of the podcast can apply to most professionals in the English speaking world, but references to Chinatown and the CN Tower are not known to a global audience.

I recently interviewed Steve Pratt, Director of CBC Radio 3. CBC Radio 3 is a podcast that features independent Canadian musical artists. He said that about 70% of those who listen to his podcast are outside of Canada.

When podcasting, remember that the majority of your listeners will come from outside your geographical area, whether its your city, your province/state, your country, even your hemisphere.

Here are some tips to help you to be more cognizant of your global audience:

If you mention a landmark, explain what it is. It's not enough to say, "I couldn't see the CN Tower on my way downtown due to the smog," without adding, "The CN Tower is considered the world's tallest free standing structure that's in the heart of the downtown financial district and on a clear sunny day, you can see it from about 100 kilometres north of the city where I live."
If you say an acronym, explain what it means. Unless you're speaking to your industry peers, avoid jargons and acronyms. If you do use them, explain 'em. Once, I used the acronym NBA in a podcast interview. I then explained that the NBA stands for the National Basketball Association and they're a professional league in North America. I distinctly remembered that I'm reaching out to an international audience and not everyone will be familiar with what NBA means.
Release your podcast the same time each week and ignore time of day. Since you're releasing a podcast that will be listened to by a global audience, you will never be able to satisfy the different timezones that your listeners live in. Some will be fast asleep when you release your newest episode. Instead, aim to release your podcast on the same day each week, rather than killing yourself to get it out at a particular time each day every week. Less stress in my eyes.

Just 3 things I can think of really quickly. Can you add any more?

Technorati Tags: podcasting, Business, Marketing

Un-Geek Dinner in Toronto Last Night

2006-08-30T07:55:00.000-04:00

Mitch Joel and Michael Seaton organized a Geek Dinner last night at the Houston Steak And Ribs House here in Toronto. I attended along with a few dozen other people.

I call it the Un-Geek Dinner because mostly everyone that attended is in the interactive space, but don't do any lick of coding in their day-to-day job.

If you don't know who Mitch is, he's like the Canadian version of Seth Godin, bald head and all. What shocked me about this guy is not only how humble he is, but his height. I very rarely meet anyone taller than me, so I was taken aback at how tall he is. Don't let his picture fool you (as it did me).

And Michael is just excellent at connecting people. If he understands what you do and if he likes you (that's 2 stars for me), he's got your back. Michael is also (finally) planning a podcast, so I'm sure he'll report more on his blog when it's ready to go. I believe his recent co-hosting duties on InsidePR has given him the jolt he needed.

I met quite a few people last night, but here's a smattering of the ones that stick out for some reason or another:

Ed Lee - I was familiar with who he is due to all the comments he leaves on the various blogs I visit. He has such a lovely English accent and there was a point where Mitch, myself and Terry Fallis encouraged him to start podcasting.
Sulemaan Ahmed - He's in charge of the interactive group over at Sears Travel. Quite an interesting and animated guy. We chatted at length about social media, branding and just taking over the world.
Luca del Rosso - He organizes The Power Within conferences and was just so passionate about what he does. He explained how he's able to get big names to come to Toronto and speak. More specifically, Luca is able to fill the room with senior executives because it's cheaper for these executives to attend the event than to bring in Bill Clinton on their own for $100,000.
Kathryn Lagden - She's the new General Manager over at AIMS Canada. This lady was taller than me and we giggled at how we purposely wear heels to networking events so we can tower over everyone else. She told me that she was hoping for a honeymoon over at AIMS, but has been running around getting a new website and blog launched.
Stuart MacDonald - I have never met Stuart in person, only conversed with him over email after he left a comment on my blog about my reaction to Mesh not podcasting. He's a jovial guy who seems larger than life in terms of his personality. If you need to juice up your party, call Stuart. He'll add the spark. He's very passionate about the online travel industry, simply because he was the one who helped expedia.ca grow to dominate the Canadian market. He's on the CIRA board and you can read more about his views on his blog.
Terry Fallis - Co-host of InsidePR, I met Terry at Podcasters Across Borders. At first, I didn't recognize him with the suit on, but that soon passed when I saw him smile. Of course, we talked about podcasting and he shared with me the equipment he's using to record his podcasts. Terry is just so engaging and I'll be seeing him again at the Podcast & Portable Media Expo in California.
Mark Evans - Was a no-show and I was hoping to catch up with him. I wanted to ask him why he stopped podcasting, but hey, they'll be other events.

This dinner reminded me about the importance of networking. If you don't show your face and let people know who you are, you lose out.

It was great to meet so many people in person that I've been reading about online. Nothing can take the place of human contact and I encourage all of you hiding behind your computers to attend your industry networking events, conferences and trade shows just to relax and have a gadget-free good time.

Techorati Tags: mitch joel, podcasting, insidepr, social media, web 2.0, networking

Ron Moore at Podcast Expo

2006-08-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

In 30-days, I'll be making my way down to southern California for the Podcast & Portable Media Expo. While I still have to book my flight and hotel room, I'm one of the featured speakers at this event so I will be there.

And now, I can brag to anyone who will listen that I will be sharing the same stage as Ron Moore. Well, not directly, but we'll be at the expo on the same day presenting information on podcasting to a hungry audience, albeit 6-hours apart.

Shall I scream for excitement now or when I meet him? Probably now so I don't act like a bumbling fool or turn to gel when I finally shake hands with the man that I consider a sci fi genius. I'll take pictures, I promise.

For those of you who don't know (which is probably the majority of you reading this), I love Battlestar Galactica (BG). Love it! I love the show so much that I named the corporate arm of my company after the fictional planet on the show (plus, it's a variation in spelling of my astrological sign - that's what I tell those not versed in all things BG).

Ron Moore is the genius who brought the BG franchise back to life. I've seen the series from the 1970s and 1980s, and in one word - BORING. However, under Ron's direction, the re-imagined series that debuted on The Sci Fi channel 2-years ago is by far a ratings and cult hit.

What Ron has done so well is use podcasting to answer fans' questions about where the series is going. He also takes the time to explain why he chose to take a certain direction with a character or why a storyline turned out the way it did. He totally "gets it" when it comes to using social media - in particular podcasting - to engage in a dialogue with the fans of BG.

If you're looking for a podcasting conference to attend where you can learn everything and anything about podcasting, I highly encourage you to make your way to the Podcast & Portable Media Expo. And look me up while you're down there.

Technorati Tags: Podcast Expo 2006, podcasting, Ron Moore, Battlestar Galactica, Science Fiction

The Tragic World of Web 2.0

2006-08-28T20:48:00.000-04:00

Here's just a small list of the weirdest things I heard over the past few days.

A man accidentally dropped his iPod in the toilet on an airplane. Due to his accident, the pilot announces an emergency, lands the plane, and both the canine unit and the bomb squad were called out. He's then carted off by Customs, grilled at length about his ties to any worldwide terrorist group, then was let go. He tells his story here. Guess he dropped a pod-load?
I was at a BBQ on Sunday and I bumped into an old friend who was wearing a tensor band around her hand. When I asked what happened, she said she wasn't sure, but it probably had to do with the excessive amount of instant messaging she did the previous week. She had just moved back into her parents home and was so excited about using a computer again that she strained a tendon in her hand while text messaging her friends.

I dropped to my knees and howled in laughter while she stood and looked at me in shock. "What's so funny?" she asked me, wondering why I found her injury so jovial.

"Extreme texting!" I cried out while in tears. "You sprained your hand due to extreme texting." I had to get this lady to hold me up with her good arm while I collapsed in hysterics under the weight of this tragic (yet absolutely hilarious) tale.
(I can't possibly make this one up) I was in a sales meeting telling the small team of marketing folks how blogging and podcasting can help them build loyalty with their customers. The head cheese, the VP of Marketing, said that she's not interested in blogging because it was launched 12-months ago and only young kids are interested in it.

I almost choked on the coffee I was sipping on. Then, I sniffed it to double-check that no one spiked it. "Blogging?" I questioned. "Yes," said the head cheese, "Blogging is too new for us to explore. None of the executives we're targetting are even reading those things. Let's focus on podcasting instead."

I stood there for a second wondering if I had time warped back about 5-years, then noticed that it couldn't be true because I saw the word podcasting on one of my slides. Plus, one of the guys on her team had this evil smirk on his face which told me that he thought his boss was an idiot. Instead of correcting her in the meeting, I sent her an email with some blogging stats (by way of my pal Andy Wibbels). Have mercy.

That's it for now. I should write a book. Web 2.0 As Told By Dummies.

Technorati Tags: web2.0, blogging, podcasting

Promoting Your Podcast Released Today

2006-08-28T10:38:00.000-04:00

My colleague, Jason Van Orden, has released a book today called Promoting Your Podcast. I can fully endorse this book for a number of reasons:

1. I got an advanced copy and give it my thumbs up.
2. Jason simplifies the process that gives you tips on how to promote your podcast to gain a slew of listeners.
3. And he has a couple of podcasts so he really knows his stuff.

Not only do I encourage you to buy his book, but Jason has a few bonuses only available to the first 200 orders. He's offering a complimentary 1-hour consultation, a weekly promotional checklist and video tutorials that you will find invaluable.

Jason's book will become a must have for podcasters and podcasting enthusiasts. Grab your copy now.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, jason van orden

Podcast Etiquette - How to Make Your Guest Look Like a Star

2006-08-27T10:56:00.000-04:00

I train alot of entrepreneurs and small business owners over the phone on how to create their podcast strategy. On one of my recent teleclasses, one of the callers said that there needs to be some podcasting etiquette, rules on how to do an interview the right way.

So here's my list of do's and don'ts when it comes to podcast interviews, specifically focusing on how to make your guest look like a star (or thought leader).

If you're the podcast producer:

Do research on the person you're going to interview. Prepare some questions, get their bio and write down all the things that make them great.
Do get the spelling and pronounciation of your guest's name correct before you start recording (This happened to me once where the person kept calling me Lee-za instead of Lee-sa through the 30-minute podcast interview).
On the scheduled day and time of the interview, don't leave your guest scrambling to figure out how to contact you. Since you arranged the interview, you call or skype your guest.
Do send interview questions at least a week before the interview. The day before is no good.
Do remind your guest that the interview is being recorded. This will put your guest at ease and help him or her to relax.
Do let your guest do the talking. He or she is the expert, so let their expertise shine through. I was on a podcast interview once where it took the podcast host about 4-minutes to introduce me, his thoughts on the subject and how excited he was to have me on his podcast. Four minutes!
Do edit all the verbal clutter your guest makes. This will cause you extra work, but doing so makes your guest sound polished and articulate.
Do follow up with a thank you email and a link to the podcast interview that your guest appears in.
Do provide instructions on how the person can access and download their interview (not everyone is well versed on how to listen to a podcast).
Do provide listeners with a URL to your guest's website on your blog under a special section called Show Resources.
Do provide a blurb that your guest can copy & paste and send off to their colleagues, network and/or mailing list. This helps you to grab more listeners and gain additional subscribers by using your guest's database to promote your podcast.

What else would you add?

Technorati Tags: podcasting

Seven of the Hottest Women in Podcasting

2006-08-25T09:06:00.000-04:00

It was bound to happen. Podshow gleefully announced that seven of the hottest women in podcasting are on their portal. Canada's very own Podchick made the list.

Adam Curry says:

"These ladies have great talent, and all they've needed was the proper promotion and distribution. [T]hey are inventing new formats for interacting directly with their audiences, and I expect them to take their amazing skills to the next level."

To which I reply:

"I didn't make the list? Quelle horreur!

Then I remind myself that I'm not even listed in Podshow, so I can forgive the oversight.

In any case, Adam is a master at creating buzz and the creation of this hottest female podcasters list is no exception. One could argue that Adam is good for podcasting. Anytime there's lull in the podcasting space, count on Adam to splash podcasting back into the limelight.

In response, I have come up with my own hottest lists. Here are a few suggestions:

Hottest RSS Feeds in a Podcast
Hottest Male Video Podcasters
Hottest Male Voice in a Podcast
Hottest Interviewing Style
Hottest Editing & Mixing Technique
Hottest Podcasts in iTunes
Hottest Podcast Cover
Hottest Corporate Podcast

Can't think of anymore. Any ideas?

Technorati Tags: podcasting, women in podcasting, adam curry, podchick

Podcast to Best Selling Book Ideas

2006-08-24T10:25:00.000-04:00

I can write and according to some, I write really well. However, I don't like to write. Unless it's a quick blog post, an article can take me eons to put together. The stars and moon need to be aligned "just so" before I can bang out a few articles.

It's the reason why I love podcasting so much. I just open my recording software and start talking into my mic. Match made in heaven.

And as long as I could remember, I've always wanted to write a book. I've looked at self-publishing, then at finding a literary agent (I'm still looking for one), then self-publishing again. While I haven't made up my mind as to how I'll get this book published, I do know that it's now time for me to start writing my first one.

So, my goal is to use a podcast, transcribe it, then polish up the transcription and turn them into pages of my new best selling book.

Here are some ideas that I have:

Podcasting Analogies - Everytime I talk to my friend Jan Janzen, she always reminds me to stop talking like a geek and instead, explain podcasting using comparisons that people can relate to. I've built up a ton of analogies that I use to explain what podcasting is, so I'd put them all into a book to help those interested in podcasting really understand it in layman's terms.
Transperancy Through Social Media - This one would be geared to senior executives with examples of their peers who are blogging or podcasting.
Corporate Podcasting Case Studies - I think there are now enough corporations podcasting to write a book about it. It would have a global approach and would be a text book for other businesses who want ideas on how to use podcasting as a marketing tool.
Online Stars: The Un-natural Development of Internet-based Celebrities - Something fun in which I profile 20 people who have become stars as a result of podcasting.

So, which one should I work on first?

Update: I thought of another one, however, I'll keep it in my back pocket for now. I think this one will be a winner and I'll let you know about it after I write up the proposal.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, blogging, Marketing, case studies, social media, publishing

Get Known Now Using a Podcast

2006-08-23T08:46:00.000-04:00

Just a quick reminder that I'm a guest on a no-fee teleclass on podcasting tonight at 8pm ET. The host is Suzanne Falter-Barns and she's interviewing yours truly and Tim "Gonzo" Gordon all about podcasting.

If you're interested in joining us, register here.

Update: Read Suzanne's summary of the meeting and access to the recording of the teleclass that you can download or listen at your convenience.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, Suzanne Falter Barns, get known now

MarketingSherpa's Practical Podcasting Guide for Marketers

2006-08-23T08:24:00.000-04:00

Excellent report written by an excellent organization. Marketing Sherpa released a special report called MarketingSherpa's Practical Podcasting Guide for Marketers. The special report looks at whether or not companies should consider podcasting in their communications mix.

Of particular note is how easily the article counters the various stereotypes people have towards podcasting, namely:

That the listening audience is broad.
That you don't need an iPod to listen to a podcast.
That it's not a sales pitch.
That you can't just publish one episode "to test the market."
That you can't just release your podcast and expect a slew of listeners.

While Paul says there's nothing too exciting with this report, it's nice to see Marketing Sherpa take a lead in educating marketers about podcasting.

Read it before September 1st. After that, you pay to access it.

Technorati Tags: corporate podcasting, marketing sherpa, podcasting

Don't Give Away the Farm in Your Podcast

2006-08-22T08:37:00.000-04:00

I stumbled upon this post, tooting the fact that corporations can use LiveOffice to turn conference calls into podcasts.

Okay, let me see if I can point out the errors of the ways.

While recording via a telephone conference line is the #1 way to capture an interview, to then put your recording out there as a podcast with no edits is like a plastic surgeon forgetting to remove the markings from his patient after the surgery. Editing the podcast is key since you can remove verbal clutter and even out sounds. In a previous post, I complained about recording over the phone due to many issues and unless you edit, these issues will become a huge problem to your listeners.
Another flaw with this approach is that there's no branding. Once you record, unless you download it and mix in some music, you'll leave people confused as to who you are and what action they should take.
Yet another flaw is that by offering the recording of the conference call for free, you lose out on generating an income stream for your business. Information is golden on the Internet, so why not package the recording in a CD or sell the transcriptions and keep some money in your corporation's pocket?
Something else - If a corporation advertised an upcoming conference call as a paid event, then released the recording of the call for free in a podcast, do you think I'd ever attend another one of their paid conference calls ever again? No way, Jose.

From a corporate podcasting angle, I don't agree with just releasing your recordings as a podcast. There has to be some careful consideration before doing this. I've mentioned a few above.

Update: Here's the link to the press release on Yahoo that sparked this post. Also, read Jon's take on this issue. Lastly, I corrected the LiveOffice URL above.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, corporate podcasting

Corporate Podcasting Summit

2006-08-22T08:23:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that the organizer of the Corporate Podcasting Summit is looking for presentation ideas. If you are a corporation and have used podcasting in your communications with some interesting results or if you develop podcasting solutions for corporations and would like to share your knowledge, send your information over to Anita Yaa (she's an absolute darling).

The dates for the Corporate Podcasting Summit have not been finalized, but it'll be in early 2007 and one will be held on the U.S. East Coast and the other in Europe (most likely England). The first was held in June 2006 in San Franscisco.

For more details, visit this site.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, corporate podcasting

Beware of Podfakers

2006-08-21T21:51:00.000-04:00

You know what gets my hair in knots? When I come across those who want to help people to podcast and they're not even ingrained in the industry themselves. I mean, just because you can record audio doesn't mean you can podcast. Geez!

I call these people podfakers. Definition?

"n: an inauthentic podcaster"

Jon would call these people and their products Snake Oil. He even has a nice category on his blog for these said folks.

If you want to learn how to podcast from someone else, make sure they meet all the criteria below:

Make sure the person has their own podcast and not just one or two episodes. I'm talking about 15 or more. Why? Because this person would've gone through all the mistakes and lessons learned so they can teach you what to avoid in your podcasting journey. I can't tell you how many mics I've gone through before I got the right one, or the strategies I used to combat podfading, or the various editing tools I went through before I found the one that really works for me. Here's a link to my podcast. And another.
Make sure they have a track record of some sort in the podcasting field. For example, do they have a ton of subscribers? Did they develop a technique that's helping them to make money off their podcast? Here my track record that will be featured in Paul Colligan's book.
Make sure others at least reference that this person is a podcasting expert. There are clues online. Google the person's name. Use Technorati and see if the person is being tagged and why they're being tagged. Social media is way more honest in its portrayal of individuals simply because unlike newspapers, very little is filtered. So, trust it as you gather information about your podcasting instructor. Here I am on Google and here's my blog on Technorati. Judge for yourself.

Anything else I missed?

Technorati Tags: podcasting, social media

Leesa's Podcasting World

2006-08-20T13:45:00.000-04:00

Here's some updates on some of the things I've blogged about (or haven't):

My Plantronics headset isn't out of commission. There's a mute button on the headset and it was turned on when I tried to record earlier in the week (d'oh!). Thankfully, the only reason I didn't go out and get a new one is because I couldn't find my receipt that included the extended warranty. So off I go to record more podcasts.
I did hear from Craig Davidson, author of the forthcoming book called The Fighter. He put me in touch with his publicist and I'm just waiting for Stephen to reply. Blogs do work, let me tell ya.
I've got a very busy September ahead of me. You can check out my calendar here. I really like Alex's, so I'm going to do an upgrade as soon as I move to Wordpress.
I'm experimenting with a few recording options. I downloaded Adobe Audition and I'm using their 30-day trial version. All I have to say is, "Wow!" Very steep learning curve, but it offers way better editing tools than Audacity. Thanks Kelly for the suggestion.
I added a few more people to my blogs/podcasts to the side menu. See if I added yours.
I'm really looking forward to PodCamp in Boston. I've chatted with Bryan Person and Chris Brogan (a fellow Battlestar Galactica fan), so this is going to be a hoot. I may be travelling down with Jay Moonah and anyone who knows him knows he loves to chat, so it'll make for an interesting trip.
I may be planning an event here in Toronto related to Web 2.0. It'll be different from Mesh, CaseCamp and DemoCamp, I promise. I'll tell you what it is as soon as I get the thumbs up from a resource. Stay tuned.
Jon Watson is back and he's posted some really interesting stuff on his blog. While I enjoyed taking over the reigns over at BizPodcasting while he was away on his honeymoon, I'm glad to see that he's back, putting the P-O (peeved off) back into podcasting (not really sure what that means).

And those are the interesting things that have been going on in my little podcasting world. What's up in yours?

Results from Do Your Podcast Now Day

2006-08-18T21:27:00.000-04:00

Curious to know what happened (or what you missed)?

Because of the Do Your Podcast Now day, I finished a product called Plan A Killer Podcast. It's a downloadable workbook and audio series to help you, well....plan your podcast.

Still needs some tweaks and got some great feedback from Bryan Person, one of the organizers of Podcamp and whom I spent 3-hours over instant messaging with today, so I'll post the URL next week after I get some others to give my sales page a once over.

Linda Dessau, one of the callers who took part in this day, also accomplished something. Here's what she had to say:

"Thanks, Leesa, for the boost to work on my podcast today. I'm recording some episodes next week and I was able to finish writing my interview questions, send them to my guests, as well as get a head start on my Episode Guides which I published as 'draft' posts in my Typepad account. I feel so much more prepared (and psyched!) for the calls next week. Leesa, you truly are the Queen of Podcasting!"

Mosy on over to Linda's blog to check out her podcast.

Technorati Tags: podcasting

Snakes on a Plane Uses Social Media, Not Critics

2006-08-18T07:49:00.000-04:00

I think this is a first for a movie. I was watching Global National yesterday evening when Kevin Newman reported that a new film called Snakes on a Plane used social media eg. blogs, podcasts, discussion forums, etc. to promote its release in theatres today. You can view the piece by downloading Global National's podcast (it's the last 5-minutes of their August 17th episode).

There were no advanced screenings for critics. Instead, one of the screenwriters decided to use his own blog to start a conversation with bloggers and podcasters about this film (I would link to his blog, but there's way too much cussing and taking the Lord's name in vain for my liking - use Google and find it yourself).

This is the first blockbuster film (that's what I call films produced by big movie hourses) to be user generated. Bloggers and podcasters told producers they wanted more gore, more violence, more blood and New Line Cinema, the distributor of this film, ordered 5 additional days of shooting to deliver on what fans were asking for.

The film was originally supposed to be called Pacific Air Flight 121, but bloggers and podcasters told them to change it.

Will I go see it? I'll wait for the DVD. However, I'm very interested to how much money this film will generate on its opening weekend. The film took $36-million to produce and if it takes in at least that amount over the weekend, I'd say that this is a wonderful case for word-of-mouth marketing.

Will the online hype prompt you to go see it? Why or why not?

Update: Snakes on a Plane was #1 at the boxoffice over the weekend, pulling in $15.25-million.

Another update: (**sigh**) Of course, the Toronto Sun just has a knack for these things. Is anyone reading this paper?

Technorati Tags: snakes on a plane, podcasting, Blogging, new line

Do Your Podcast Now Day, Gentle Reminder

2006-08-17T18:36:00.000-04:00

Just a quick reminder that the Do Your Podcast Now Day is tomorrow. Bring your podcasting project that you've been sitting on and we'll use each other to get the job done.

We start at 10am ET and (unfortunately) our last call-in will be at 2pm ET (not 5pm ET). This will give you 4-hours to stop talking about your podcasting project and do something to finally make it a reality.

What will I be working on? If you want to know, you'll need to call-in at 10am ET with your own project to find out.

Sign up for the Do Your Podcast Now day by sending a blank email to:

savialane-188335@autocontactor.com

If you want to understand how we'll spend the 4-hours together, read this post.

Moffitt: Top 20 Canadian Word of Mouth Blogs

2006-08-16T12:08:00.000-04:00

Sean Moffitt, Canada's Word of Mouth Expert, put together a list of his Top 11 20 Canadian Word of Mouth Blogs.

My blog, Podonomics, made this esteemed list. What an honour. It means that my obsessive blogging has finally paid off. You can view the complete list of blogs here.

Any tips on how I can make this an even better blog so I can make it on more lists (and yes, I know I need to leave blogger)?

Technorati Tags: Blogging, podcasting, sean moffitt

New Blogger (Beta) Still Has a Way to Go

2006-08-16T10:02:00.000-04:00

As you've read before, I am tired of blogger. Been using it since 1999 and it's now time for me to move on.

By way of Mark Evans, I found out that Blogger has a beta out with some additional features. It's the first upgrade since Google bought Pyra Labs back in 2001.

I checked it out only because I want to give Blogger a 10th chance and here's what I liked:

Labels. Finally, now I can categorize my posts.
In the archives, it shows the number of posts beside the month and you can expand it to see the title of the posts. Right now, if you're searching for an old post, you have to click on that month under the Archives tab, then scroll down to find what you're looking for.
An AJAX-y thing where you can drag and drop what you want to make visible in the template you're using for your blog. Right now, the only way to edit your blog template is to go right into the HTML.
I like the fact that I can use the same login for my Gmail account for my Blogger account. No need to remember yet-another-username.
Posts are uploaded really quick. Has something to do with some server side improvements, stuff I don't really care about, but someone reading (and who can explain it better than I) can probably comment on what was done. All I know is that posting to my blog is really quick.
I can make my blog (or certain posts) private. This can be useful for a CEO who wants only his direct reports to read the blog, or a blog that presents tips & tricks to people who paid for a service.

Here's what's still missing:

No way to make individual labels its own RSS feed. From a podcasting standpoint, this is important since iTunes gets a little fussy when your feed has a mix of text-based posts and audio-based posts.
Still no way to schedule posts to be published in the future. When I was updating Jon Watson's blog, I had scheduled 8 posts on the Wednesday before the long weekend so they would go live while I was at Sherkston Shores.
Still no way to install a non-branded podcast player in your blog. Wordpress has a nice plug-in called Podpress that I've been using for one of my clients. Blogger is missing this.

A little too late in my book as I've already started the motions to port my blog files over to Wordpress. Podonomics.com will be live very soon using a brand-spanking new blog platform. Stay tuned.

View my Blogger Beta page.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, blogger

Limited Edition Podcast to Promote Your Informational Product

2006-08-14T21:14:00.000-04:00

I was reading an article in the Toronto Star about an author who's trying to find a new, interesting and unique way to promote his upcoming book. His name is Craig Davidson and his novel The Fighter will be published on September 30th.

Craig understands that advertising in a major newspaper or going on a book tour are just played out. This is what Craig says about advertising:

Adverts in The Globe & Mail - Penguin (his publisher) might as well flush the money down the toilet. People who might be interested in The Fighter are probably not reading The Globe. Or at least, not enough to merit the ad rate. So say I.

So, Craig gets it. He knows that he has to do something different to raise awareness about his book.

His publicist suggested a fight in a ring at a said place & time. Of which I said, "That's tacky."

I would suggest to this rookie Canadian novelist to try a podcast instead. Craig will reach more people around the world with a podcast as opposed to a ring fight in one city on one night.

I want to help Craig use a limited edition podcast to promote the upcoming release of his book. If we start now, we can get about 8 episodes out the door.

In fact, I extend this offer to Craig and 2 other people who are going to publish a book or another informational product (ebook, CD, special report, whitepaper, etc).

I'll do the following:

Help you plan the episodes.
Host the podcasts.
Create blogsite that your podcasts will be published on (if you don't already have one).
Update your blogsite with episode notes.
Enter your podcast into the 6 podcast directories that really matter.
Create a podcast cover to entice people to subscribe.
Advise you on the tools to use to record your podcast.

You'll:

Listen to this audio file before contacting me (it'll tell you what podcasting is all about).
Promote your podcast using other marketing methods.
Write your own press release.
Find other blogs or podcasts to connect with about your the release of your product.
Be open to the suggestions I provide.

I'm looking for 3 people (including Craig). This service won't be free, however, it will be cheaper than spending the money on launching a full blown website or spending it on advertising.

Email me - leesa dot barnes at gmail dot com

Technorati Tags: craig davidson, podcasting, book tour,

GoDaddy.com Podcasting Service, Get Regular Hosting Instead

2006-08-13T12:13:00.000-04:00

I use GoDaddy.com to host and serve my podcast files. They give alot of space for really cheap and in the the 8-months I've been with them, I've had no downtime.

So, it's no surprise that GoDaddy.com is now offering podcasting service at $5 a month.

What's the benefits of using GoDaddy?

You get statistics
You get an automatic RSS feed
You get a ton of space and bandwidth
You get to create a webpage to publish your podcast

There aren't many drawbacks, save one. Paul Colligan mentions it on his blog. Jon Watson also comments.

More or less, I pay $6.99 per month for a hosting plan that gives me 100 GB of space and 1000 GB of bandwidth. The drawback is that I still have to publish my own blog using blogger or Wordpress and I have to use Feedburner for my feeds.

The GoDaddy.com Quick Podcast plan give you 1 GB of disk space and 100 GB bandwidth for $4.99 per month. The benefit is that this package includes all the tools I need to publish my podcast. The big drawback is for just $2 more a month I get 10x the space and 100x the bandwidth.

My recommendation? Spend the extra couple of bucks on getting more bandwidth.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, godaddy, Hosting, wordpress, feedburner

Podcast Interviews Over the Phone, Thumbs Down

2006-08-10T21:28:00.000-04:00

I'm officially tired of doing podcast interviews over the phone. For every 10 interviews I record, one of them turns out to be awful. Snapping sounds, crackling noices, deafening pops, like I'm eating a bowl of Rice Krispies. How annoying.

I'm listening to an interview I did over the phone and while it was very engaging, there's static in the background. Although I used the Noise Removal feature in Audacity, it warps my audio after it removes the static. Not good.

Not only that, but one person always sounds louder than the other when the interview is conducted over the phone. Always. My editing time is increased because I have to then go through and amplify one person, trim the sound, increase the gain, but only in certain spots. And when you interview over the phone, you only get one channel - mono.

(**groan**)

I tried Skype, but Hot Recorder doesn't work on my OS (I'm on Windows 2000 SP 2; yeah I know, ancient). Plus, not everyone uses Skype.

So, any suggestions on what I can use to record interviews over the phone without stepping into a studio and without breaking the bank (I'm not interested in spending $5000 for a system)? Tell me what you're using.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, podcast interviews, podcast gear

Barbara Bradbury Launches Podcast

2006-08-10T12:07:00.000-04:00

Another one of my students from the 90-Day Podcast course has just launched Episode 2 of her podcast. In her podcast, Barbara Bradbury focuses on helping business people form quality relationships at work and at home.

In Episode 2, Barbara interviews her 2 sons. They sound so cute with their English accents. They comment on their summer holidays and what it's like to stay at home. Barbara then interviews one of her clients to find out how she's coping with the summer holidays with her own children.

I invite you to take a listen. Show your support by subscribing to her podcast and listen as it evolves over time. If you love English accents, you'll certainly enjoy listening to Barbara.

Technorati Tags: podcasting

928 Canadian Friends, I'm Flattered

2006-08-09T11:58:00.000-04:00

I was over at Amber's blog where she wrote up about the results of the Canadian Podcasting Survey that I co-authored.

Some chap said that while I was presenting at CaseCamp, I said that I had my friends fill out the survey.

To which I replied:

"Then I must have alot of friends. Just under 1000 of them. All across Canada. Wonder if I'm related to them all as well?"

My friends? They number in the ones, by golly, not in the hundreds. I asked people with blogs, large mailing lists, huge discussion boards and the like to help spread the word about filling out this survey. From there, word of mouth took over.

This is clearly explained in the methodology section of the report. I certainly didn't write that part of my methodology was to ask my "legion of friends" to fill it out.

Gimme a break, dude.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, canadian podcasting, amber macarthur, casecamp

Plantronics Headset Just Clunked Out

2006-08-09T11:42:00.000-04:00

I have a ton of recording to do. I have to do a few bumpers for my clients (details next week) and I have to get my podcasts out the door.

So, I plunked down at my computer to start recording. I launched Audacity, hit the record button and nothing.

Nothing, I say.

Nadda.

I fiddled around with the settings, closed down Skype, double checked that the thing was plugged in, rebooted my box and yet Audacity wasn't picking up my voice.

Then I plugged in another microphone and guess what? It worked. Which means my Plantronics headset is toast. Now, I'm scrambling to find the bill and the extended warranty that I bought because I'm sure that it's been almost a year since I bought this thing. And knowing my luck, my extended warranty has already ran out.

If you decide to buy a headset, especially if it's Plantronics, always buy the extended warranty. It'll cost you a few extra bucks, but Plantronics isn't known for its longevity, so it'll save you a ton in the longrun.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, plantronics

Do Your Podcast Now Day, Aug 18th

2006-08-08T10:56:00.000-04:00

I got this idea from Andy Wibbels. He held a Shut Up & Write day, so I'm going to do a Do Your Podcast Now day. I was going to call it Shut Up & Podcast, but that's a misnomer. How can one shut up and podcast when you need your voice to podcast?

So, Do Your Podcast Now day is aimed at helping you stop talking about what you're going to do and instead, just get it done. We'll all be accountable to each other, so that should help you achieve miniature tasks.

On August 18th, here's what we'll do:

Call the conference bridge number on August 18th @ 10am ET
I'll introduce you to the call.
In 15-seconds, introduce who you are, the project you'll be working and what you'll have completed by the next hour.
Hang up and get it done.
Call the same conference bridge number at the top of every hour and report on your progress.
Repeat 1 to 5 above until 5pm ET.

Sign up for the Do Your Podcast Now day by sending a blank email to:

savialane-188335@autocontactor.com

This isn't a session where you call to pick my brain about podcasting tips and tricks. I have many paid services for that. This isn't a call where you come to sell your wares. Go to The Shopping Channel or QVC for that.

Instead, use this day to complete something regarding podcasting that you've been aiming to finish, but just haven't gotten about to doing it.

Here are a few ideas:

You can work on a plan for your podcast.
You can subscribe & listen to a few.
You can plan future episodes.
You can start recording segments for your podcast.
You can work on an outline for your podcasting book.
You can start researching for podcasting information.
Or, whatever it is you've been saying that you want to do, but you keep putting it off.

Whether you're a seasoned podcaster, or one who's just starting out, join me on this accountability day by registering your spot. Send a blank email to savialane-188335@autocontactor.com to get the call-in details.

Will you join me?

Technorati Tags: podcasting

Instant Podcast Services: Great for Hobbyists, Thumbs Down for Businesses

2006-08-08T08:53:00.000-04:00

Over the long weekend, I reviewed six all-in-one podcasting services on Jon Watson's blog, BizPodcasting (he's back in 2-days).

Take a look at my thoughts:

Instant Podcast Services, Are They Good for Business?

Gabcast: Instant Podcast Service Review #1

Podooch: Instant Podcast Service Review #2

Podomatic: Instant Podcast Service Review #3

Audio Acrobat: Instant Podcast Service Review #4

WildVoice: Instant Podcast Service Review #5

ClickCaster: Instant Podcast Service Review #6

Instant Podcast Services: Great for Hobbyists, Thumbs Down for Businesses

If you have an all-in-oner that you'd like me to review, please add it to the comments section below. I'm going to continue plugging away at these services and put them into a nice little document that you can download.

Techorati Tags: instant podcasting services, podcasting, gabcast, podooch, podomatic, audioacrobat, wildvoice, clickcaster, business podcasting

Social Brew with Amber MacArthur

2006-08-04T13:05:00.000-04:00

That's me and Amber at Social Brew last night. She was showing me her webcam on her brand spanking new 13" MacBook when she took this snapshot of the 2 of us gawking at her wares (the laptop, I mean). I was so enamoured by the Mac (yes, I'm still talking about the laptop) I almost missed out on mingling with the group that had gathered that night.

The event? Social Brew was holding a panel discussion called Women in IT: Challenges and Opportunities. I was on the panel along with 3 other women and Amber was the MC.

Of course, I chatted too much. Panels are miserable for me because I tend to dominate the conversation. I always have something to say (that's why I podcast, silly) and it gets to the point where the moderator has to ask me to hold my thoughts to let the others speak.

Thankfully, that didn't happen last night as we only had a short time to have Q&A. Mama would've been proud :)

Do women need these types of events? Heck ya. They're wonderful to have simply because women need to see who else in her gender is actually working in IT.

However, these types of sessions shouldn't become a bitch sessions. To my delight, most of the women who attended last night were in up beat moods, desiring to focus on solutions rather than problems.

There's always going to be problems for women who work in male dominated industries. We'll always face barriers. However, I'm not interested in lamenting about them at length. I just don't find value in that.

Amber made a great point by saying it doesn't just stop at these events. Women in IT should be exchanging cards and sending business to each other. That's where the empowerment begins.

Hear hear! And now I've got to pull out those business cards.

Technorati Tags: amber macarthur, podcasting, women in technology, canadian podcasting

BizPodcasting thoughts for August 3rd

2006-08-04T12:32:00.000-04:00

Here's what I posted over at Jon Watson's blog for August 3rd.

Tech is the New Bling for the Ladies

Errors in iTunes Costing Listeners

Technorati Tags: oxygen, women and technology, podcasting, iTunes

BizPodcasting thoughts for August 2nd

2006-08-03T11:35:00.000-04:00

Here's what I posted about on Jon Watson's BizPodcasting blog on August 2nd.

Podcasts Make Your Platform Big

Podcast Awards: 110 Podcasts To Listen To & Vote On

MagneticTime: Sound Like a 3006 Robot

Technorati Tags: podcasting, jon watson, podcast awards, Suzanne Falter Barns, MagneticTime

All-In-One Podcasting Services Reviews Start Tomorrow

2006-08-03T11:21:00.000-04:00

Some of you may (or may not) know that I'm updating Jon Watson's BizPodcasting blog while he's on the West coast getting married and honeymooning with his new bride. Hence the reason postings have been skimpy around here.

On Friday, I start a series over on Jon's blog reviewing 6 of the many all-in-one, instant podcasting services that are out there. Two reviews will appear each day with a summary Monday evening.

I'll be looking at each service with my business hat on. My goal is to figure out whether or not businesses should associate their brands with these type of services.

Look for the introductory post Friday morning where I list the 6 services I'll be reviewing.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, podcasting services

Canadian Podcasting Survey, lessons learned

2006-08-02T08:23:00.000-04:00

I posted my lesson learned to a listserv, but wanted to post them here as well. As the feedback comes in regarding the Canadian Podcasting Survey, I see some larger issues emerging.

Namely:

Collaborations are awesome if those involved compliment each other. Sequentia is an expert in communications, my company is an expert in podcasting. We complimented each other's expertise which made working on this survey that much easier.
Word-of-mouth through social media works. We got just under 1000 respondents and we only paid $50 for 1 ad. Anyone want to calculate the ROI here? Word-of-mouth helped us get a good sample size and it's helping us disseminate the results. Even Robert Scoble commented on how powerful word-of-mouth is in the online world.
Focus on a niche issue if you run a survey. We focused on a niche technology (podcasting) and a niche country (Canada). While we may alienate those not interested in Canadian issues or podcasting, we'd like to be seen as an authority in the Canadian podcasting space.

There may be other lessons learned, but these are my top 3.

Thoughts?

Technorati Tags: canadian podcasting, partnerships, word of mouth, Viral Marketing, Buzz Marketing, jennifer evans, Niche Marketing, collaborations

BizPodcasting thoughts for August 1st

2006-08-02T07:57:00.000-04:00

Here's what I posted over on Jon Watson's blog yesterday.

Citizen Podcasters, who protects them?

All-In-One Podcasting Services

Marketing Sherpa : Podcasts & Blogs Very Effective

Technorati Tags: jon watson, citizen journalism, marketing sherpa

Where's the privacy in our conversations?

2006-08-01T14:44:00.000-04:00

Some of the best products come from our frustration with something. In similar fashion, some of my best blog posts come out of a frustrating experience.

I don't claim that this is one of my best blog posts, but I have noticed something very frustrating that I do need to share.

I emailed someone about some information and revealed "a secret" in it. Minutes later, I saw part of "my secret" on that person's blog. I was flabbergasted. Even after repeated inquiries asking that it be removed, the blogger hasn't done so.

Amanda, formerly of Rocketboom, chose to copy and paste all her email correspondences between herself and Andrew that detailed the coming of the demise of their relationship.

When did email - a private correspondence between 2 or more parties - become subject to public display? Why do people think it's okay to publish private, intimate information that's shared in an email and throw it on a blog, discussion forum or other public online venue?

What then is considered private in the online world?

I guess I have to spell things out everytime I email someone, huh? Put a disclaimer somewhere in my email that says:

"the contents herewith are for the recipient's eyes only and are not intended to be republished or reproduced in any resource, whether moving or inanimate, digital or not, without the express written consent of the person who originated the content."

A journalist did this to me the other day. He emailed me to respond to one of my blog posts. He revealed "the truth," something that went on behind the scenes that resulted in his article being written the way it was. While the information was juicy, I didn't publish it to my blog because he started his email with a "don't publish this, but..." warning at the top.

It's sad that our emails and instant messages intended for only a few eyes person can appear in a public forum such as a blog, discussion board or other venue where dozens of eyes are gazing at your private information.

Where's the privacy in our conversations?

Technorati Tags: Blogging, technology, privacy, Email

BizPodcasting thoughts for July 31st

2006-08-01T09:35:00.000-04:00

Here's what I blogged about over on Jon Watson's blog on Monday July 31st.

John C. Havens on Podcasting Misconceptions
I read an excellent article by Havens on why it's a no-brainer for businesses to podcast.

Corporate Logos Web Two Point Oh-ized
I comment on how you can make your logo look like a Web 2.0 company based on some clever designs by someone over on Flickr.

ProfCast Category Converter
A tool you can use to update your feed so it matches up with the new iTunes categories. Useful for non-Feedburner feeds.

Technorati Tags: jon watson, podcasting, john c havens, web 2.0, profcast

Sorry, but TWIT isn't Canadian

2006-07-31T18:51:00.000-04:00

(**sigh**) I found out by way of these comments posted by Brian of commandN that Canada's favourite podcast isn't Canadian afterall.

Although This Week In Tech (TWIT) has some connection to Canada, it's fully produced on American soil. By way of my colleague Dave, Amber (who hosts a podcast in the TWIT family called Inside the Net) confirmed that it is indeed American.

Woe is me, I made a mistake. I mean, something so well produced has to be Canadian, right?

Not in this case.

So, as quickly as you could say Web 2.0, the PDF was updated and a note was added to the download site explaining the change.

Slap me on the wrist. Roast me over coals. To all my fellow Canucks, TWIT is indeed American.

Lesson learned?

Just because it projects like a Canuck, sounds like a Canuck and smells like a Canuck, it ain't necessarily one.

Note to self - Don't write and watch the dishy Orlando Bloom in Pirates of the Caribbean at the same time. There's way too much distraction.

Technorati Tags: canadian podcasting

Podcasting Taking a Hold in Canada

2006-07-31T09:00:00.000-04:00

A couple of months ago, I asked for your participation in a survey I was conducting with another company looking at the state of podcasting in Canada. Well, here's the press release announcing the results.

The press release will tell you how to download your copy of the report. If after reviewing it, you'd like to blog or podcast about the report, do tag it as canadian podcasting.

Podcasting Taking a Hold in Canada
First Comprehensive National Survey Shows Traction of New Media

Toronto, Ontario (July 31, 2006) – With the objective of understanding podcast growth and technology adoption in Canada, the first comprehensive podcasting survey has wrapped up and results are currently available at www.canadianpodcastlistenerssurvey.ca.

Of particular note, survey findings indicate podcast listeners in Canada are almost evenly split between men and women, 59% of podcast listeners are between 25-44 years old, and the baby boomer generation is embracing podcasting at almost double the rate than those under 24.

For 77% of those surveyed, podcast is a familiar word - a compound word that combines: ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcasting,’ and according to Webster’s dictionary, is defined as “an audio file published on the Internet with an RSS feed, allowing users to subscribe to automatic downloads of a series of programs.” Moreover, of those who don’t currently listen to podcasts, 67 per cent said they would be interested in downloading one.

“Podcasting is moving away from early adopters and into the mainstream, and is no longer synonymous with young, tech-savvy men. The survey proves that podcasting appeals to the nation, whether they be young, professional or retired. Moreover, the podcasts users are downloading are just as numerous and diverse as are the podcasters themselves.” says Jen Evans, President of Sequentia Communications and co-creator of the podcasting survey.

While American podcasting research is readily available, especially as Forrester Research Inc. predicts 50,000 podcasters are expected by the year 2010, Canadian research lacks a comprehensive understanding of who, what, when, where, and why Canadians are podcasting. Consequently, Sequentia Communications and Caprica Interactive Marketing joined forces to delve into the state of podcasting from a truly Canadian perspective.

Additional analysis finds that Canadians prefer original, fresh, weekly, and entertaining content that can’t be found anywhere else. The top 5 podcasts of those surveyed include:

TWIT/This Week in Technology (USA)
Ricky Gervais Show (UK)
Quirks and Quarks (CANADA)
LOST (USA)
CommandN (CANADA)

However, poor audio quality, boring hosts, excess advertising, and episodes longer than 6-10 minutes may push Canadians to seek podcasts or alternative sources of information and entertainment, elsewhere.

"Although Canadians rely on other sources of information, Podcasts are quickly becoming integrated into their daily consumption of news and entertainment," says Leesa Barnes, President of Caprica Interactive Marketing and co-creator of the survey. "This survey also shows that Canadians will become impatient with podcasts that fall below their standards. Content is indeed king and this old adage holds true to podcasts as well."

For more information, please contact:
Nicole Meitsch
Sequentia Communications
416-203-3656 x229
nicole [at] sequentia [dot] net

Technorati Tags: canadian podcasting, podcasting, podcasting listeners, canadian podcast listeners survey

Day 31 - How to Produce a Better Podcast

2006-07-31T08:15:00.000-04:00

If Darren Rowse had told me that doing a 31-days series would be one of the most exhausting blog activities that I would do, I would've told him, "Yeah, right."

I don't know how he survived doing his, but I found that by day 25, I was totally beat. Lesson learned? I should've picked the shortest month and just double check it wasn't leap year.

No matter, the 31 Days to Producing a Better Podcast is complete and the entire calendar of topics are below for your perusal.

A big thank you goes out to all the bloggers and podcasters who pointed me to some really great resources. Remember, if you have any to add, just leave them in the comments area.

Day 01 – Start Podcasting
Day 02 – Size of Podcasting Listening Audience
Day 03 – Podcast Interviewing Tips
Day 04 – Planning Your Podcast
Day 05 – Getting the Podcasting Equipment
Day 06 – Recording Your Podcast
Day 07 – Editing & Mixing Your Podcast
Day 08 – Podcast Production Tips
Day 09 – Finding Podsafe Music
Day 10 – Hiring Voice Talent for Your Podcast
Day 11 – Growing Your Podcast Audience
Day 12 – Publishing Your Podcast
Day 13 – Ways to Avoid Podfading
Day 14 – Transcribing Your Podcast
Day 15 – Optimizing Your Podcast
Day 16 – Monetizing Your Podcast
Day 17 – Measuring Your Podcast
Day 18 – Marketing Your Podcast
Day 19 – Corporate Podcasting Case Studies
Day 20 – Podcasting Legal Issues
Day 21 – Small Business Podcasting Case Studies
Day 22 – Podcast Advertising
Day 23 – Podcasting Products, the Good
Day 24 – Podcasting Products, the Bad
Day 25 – Podcasting Experts & Consultants
Day 26 – Podcasts About Podcasting
Day 27 – Educational Podcasting Case Studies
Day 28 – Non-Profit Podcasting Case Studies
Day 29 – Podcast Mistakes to Avoid
Day 30 – General Podcasting Information
Day 31 – Summary of Producing Better Podcast Series

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

I'm taking over Jon Watson's BizPodcasting blog

2006-07-30T20:09:00.000-04:00

Not only will I be posting to my blog, but I'm also going to be posting to Jon Watson's BizPodcasting blog until he returns from his wedding/honeymoon on August 10th.

He and I tend to have similar viewpoints on many items, so you won't really notice a difference. One thing I will do is fill his Snake Oil category with a few more products. I'll enjoy that.

So, just look at it as more of me to love. Or hate. Or neither.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, jon watson, leesa barnes

How many podcasting hours are you clocking in?

2006-07-30T12:34:00.000-04:00

I use iTunes to listen to my podcasts. I just double-click the icon on my desktop and that little baby opens up showing all the podcasts I'm subscribed to.

At last count, there's about 27 podcasts on my list. I subscribed to some for research purposes and found them good enough to keep on my list. Others are there because I met the host in person and liked their attitude so much, I subscribed to their podcast. Still others are on my list because I just find the content engaging.

Until I looked at the number of listening hours that showed up at the bottom of my iTunes screen.

"47 items, 19.4 hours, 917.8 MB"

My goodness, where am I going to fit in 19.4 hours of listening time?

Update: I just unsubscribed from a whole slew of podcasts and have narrowed down my listening hours to 6.9 hours for 15 podcasts.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, iTunes, podcast listening hours, podcast listeners

Day 30 - General Podcasting Information

2006-07-30T09:04:00.000-04:00

Here are some great podcasting resources that didn't fit into any of the other categories, but were so good I couldn't NOT mention them.

Donna Popacosta on Everything I Knew About Podcasting I Learned in Kindergarten

Paul Colligan on 7 Reasons Businesses Must Embrace Podcasting

Kay Stoner on The Business Case for Podcasting

Kelly McCausey on The Burning Fear of New Show Hosts

John Havens on Are People Tuning Into Podcasts?

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Day 29 - Podcast Mistakes to Avoid

2006-07-29T08:41:00.000-04:00

Even though podcasts are still a fairly new medium, there are some guidelines that every podcast producer can follow to ensure success. Just in case, here are a few resources that point out things you're probably doing in your podcast that are totally wrong.

Leesa Barnes on How to Explain What Podcasting Is Without Using iPod or Broadcasting & 2 Ingredients Your Podcast Is Missing and Why Using Them Will Increase Subscribers

Marco on How to Make a Podcast that Doesn’t Suck

Jen Kothe on Avoiding the Pitfalls - Common Podcasting Mistakes

Homework: Double check that you're not making these errors in your podcast.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Day 28 - Non Profit Podcasting Case Studies

2006-07-28T19:45:00.000-04:00

Want to understand how to use a podcast for a non-profit organization? Check out the resources below for ideas.

Donna Popacosta on Non-Profit Podcasting

Podcasting News on Non-Profit Podcast Directory

Homework: Write down ideas for your own podcasting strategy from these examples.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Business Blog Angel is podcasting

2006-07-27T15:36:00.000-04:00

(**sniff**) Nothing is more rewarding than being influential in someone else's creation (yes, quote me).

The Business Blog Angel, Claire Raikes, is a participant in my 90 Day Podcast course. We've just finished week 8 of the 12-week course and Claire has just produced her first episode.

The name of her podcast is Blogging for Business and she provides tips to businesses and entrepreneurs on how to make the most out of their blogging strategy.

Do gander over to her blogsite to listen in. She's just entering the details of her podcast into various podcatchers and we still have to cover a few more points in the next 3-weeks, so just show her some love and give her a pat on the back. If you have iTunes, you can subscribe to her feed.

And if you're a sucker for English accents, you'll just enjoy listening to Claire's business blogging advice week after week.

Technorati Tags: business blog angel

Where's days 25-27 for the better podcast series?

2006-07-27T09:55:00.000-04:00

It's coming.

Why the Raptors are a great podcasting example

2006-07-27T09:12:00.000-04:00

I love basketball, I played the game competitively right up until my 2nd year in university and if you've been to any of my speeches, I use my basketball as part of presentation.

So, when Toronto was awarded an National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise back in the mid-1990s, I was estactic.

Because the Toronto Raptors is in a Canadian city, they've had problems getting the best players to cross the border. Some think that we have 12-months of cold and refuse to come (like Steve Francis). Others say they want to win a championship and immediately want to be traded (like Alonzo Mourning). Others think they'll be payed in Canadian dollars and cite taxes as their main concern. And on and on it goes.

However, the new general manager, Bryan Colangelo, is doing something I think is very smart. Instead of chasing American-born players, he's going after International players. In the world of branding, he "gets it."

Colangelo recently drafted Andrea Bargnani from Italy as his #1 pick in the NBA Draft earlier this spring. Along with 2 players from Spain and 1 from Slovenia, the Raptors are beginning to look a bit like the United Nations.

In turn, having these International players on the roster means that more Canadians who identify themselves as decendents from these countries will start to fill the seats. Which means a packed stadium. Which means more revenue. Which means Colangelo is just so damn smart.

Toronto is a multicultural city. While we say we're Canadian, many will claim another country as their roots. Even those who were born in Canada will claim their parents or grandparents land as their source of pride. It's not to say that we don't love Canada. On the contrary, Canadians will fiercely defend their adoptive or native land. However, because many of us are influenced by the customs of other countries while being raised, it's way more fun to have both feet firmly planted in 2 countries.

When Yao Ming was drafted by the Houston Rockets, people were shocked. Why bring in a Chinese player who can't even speak English, some said. However, when the Houston Rockets made their way to Toronto for a game, the Air Canada Centre (ACC) where the Raptors play their home games was packed with Chinese Canadians.

Colangelo is on to something. By bringing in International players, he's building a team that directly reflects the very city the Raptors play in.

Just brilliant.

Now, what does this have to do with podcasting? Well, you've got to know your brand before you can craft your podcasting strategy. But knowing your brand is the first step. You also need to provide information in your podcast that directly influences a particular niche. That way, you will gain new subscribers who will stay with you for the long haul.

Pull a Colangelo with your podcast.

Technorati Tags: raptors, toronto, Basketball, canada, podcasting, Business

Oh blogger, how I loathe thee

2006-07-25T08:47:00.000-04:00

It took me two dozen hours yesterday morning to update my blog. Here's the message I got around 10:45am on Monday as I tried to publish a post:

"Error. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are unable to process your request at this time. Our engineers have been notified of this problem and will work to resolve it."

It's time for me to move on, leave blogger behind and port my thought-provoking posts to another blog tool.

I've used blogger since 1999. I continue to use it today because I love that it shows I've been a member since 2000. It's like a badge of honour for me to say that I've been blogging for 6-years (should be 7).

Blogger was the first on the market and I enjoyed the freedom of posting my thoughts whenever I felt like it. I went through the growing pains with Evhead who had to ask us for donations to buy more servers to keep up with the growth. It was a labour of love for Pyra Labs and I laboured with them.

Then, they were acquired by Google in (I believe) 2003. I shouted for joy thinking that with the big name would bring much powerful servers and more resources.

Instead, it's brought nothing but headaches. There are constant outages, lost posts, server disconnections, on and on it goes.

I now grow tired of blogger. It's the one resource that Google totally sucks at. So, I'm now on a quest to port my blog to another service.

I need your help. Should I go with Typepad, Wordpress or Movable Type (is this one still around)? What are the benefits of each? Which one do you like and why? How can I port all my posts and comments to the new service without losing anything? Post your comments below.

Technorati Tags: blogger, blogging, wordpress, Blogs, google, typepad

Day 24 - Podcasting Products, The Bad

2006-07-24T10:24:00.000-04:00

No one has done a better job of "calling out" snaky podcasting products than Jon Watson over at Biz Podcasting.

Below, I provide just a small sample of "snake oil" podcasting products that have fortunately made Jon's list.

Jon's review of Kent Sayre's ebook on podcasting & Victor Pryles' The Wonderful World of Podcasting

Homework: Add your snake oil podcasting product to this list in the comments section.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Day 23 - Podcasting Products, The Good

2006-07-23T10:01:00.000-04:00

Curious to know which podcasting products to buy so you can learn more about how to podcast? Here are a few products you'll enjoy.

Disclaimer - I personally reviewed each resource below, either by purchasing it or getting an advance copy.

Jeff Mills' Podcast Secrets Revealed

Tim Gordon's Profitable Podcasting Case Studies & Podcasting Adventures Online

Scott Patton's Podcasting Unleashed

Stephanie Ciccarelli' The Podcasting Ebook

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Day 22 - Podcast Advertising

2006-07-22T09:43:00.000-04:00

There are mixed feelings about including advertising in podcasts. Otherwise known as podvertising, some want 'em in their podcasts, others don't. Take a look at the resources below and make up your own mind.

Opinions

Steve Rubel on Pondering Podvertising Possibilities
Jay Fienberg on Why PodVertising Doesn't Work
MarketingLoop on National Public Radio's Podvertising Success

Podvertising Services

Cheeze - http://www.cheeze.com
Podtrac - http://www.podtrac.com
Podshow - http://www.podshow.com
FourSevens - http://www.foursevens.com

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Day 21 - Small Business Podcasting Case Studies

2006-07-21T12:53:00.000-04:00

We looked at corporate podcasting case studies. Now, we turn our attention to small businesses who are using podcasting to increase sales and find new clients. Take a look at the following resources that focus on small business podcasting case studies.

Paul Colligan's The Business Podcasting Bible

Tim Gordon's Profitable Podcasting Case Studies

Homework: Review these resources so you can understand the different ways to use a podcast in your communications plan.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Day 20 - Podcasting Legal Issues

2006-07-20T07:59:00.000-04:00

Just because you're podcasting doesn't mean you're above the law. Check out the following resources so you're aware of the legal issues surrounding podcasting.

Philip Nicosia on Podcast Safe Music

Creative Commons on Podcasting Legal Guide

Jon Watson's Archives on Podcasting Legal Issues

Homework: Review any questions you have about how to use content in your podcast using the resources above.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Day 19 - Corporate Podcasting Case Studies

2006-07-19T10:20:00.000-04:00

Want to learn how corporations are using podcasting? Check out these corporate podcasting case studies for inspiration.

Leesa Barnes on Review of Connecting Point Podcast, Ontario Media Development Corporation Podcasts & Torys Video Podcasts

Homework: Determine how you can use some of these strategies in your own podcast.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Day 18 - Marketing Your Podcast

2006-07-18T10:50:00.000-04:00

If you produce it, they won't listen unless you tell them to. Here are some strategies on how to market and promote your podcast so you can increase your subscribers and grow your podcast.

Paul Colligan on 7 Things Your Mom Never Told You About Promoting Your Podcast

Sharon Housley on Tips On Promoting Podcasts

Graeme Sprigge on Promoting Podcasts – 3 Basic Tips

Donna Popacosta on Podcast Power Promotes White Paper

Homework: Put a podcast marketing plan together that takes in the tips above.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Long tail effect and podcasting

2006-07-18T09:09:00.000-04:00

I was reading the Toronto Star this morning. I'm not particular of The Star (my favourite is Globe & Mail), but I've been reading it this past week because I get a copy for free.

In the I.D. section, there was an interview with Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired and author of The Long Tail. If you don't know what The Long Tail theory is, read about it here.

This is reason why I believe that the number of podcast subscribers compared to podcasts will continue to be small, yet influential. If we apply The Long Tail effect to podcasting, podcast listeners will seek out podcasts that fulfill their particular tastes. While the average podcast may only have a few hundred subscribers, these subscribers will become so loyal that their economic impact can't be ignored.

Businesses that believe that you'll get millions and millions of listeners in a matter of days just because you produced a killer podcast is in for a huge surprise. This antiquated mode of thinking produces a The Short Tail effect - a huge spike in interest that only lasts for hours at worst, or days at the most or maybe a couple of years. Think Spice Girls.

It took Rocketboom close to 2-years to see downloads in the hundreds of thousands. Many user-generated audio and visual content sit around on YouTube, not because no one is interested, but because the buzz is slowly building as friends pass the URL on to another friend.

But businesses grow impatient with this. Many businesses don't want to sit around waiting years to see a return on their investment. Budgets are crafted, money is spent and at the end of the year, the books need to be balanced.

I appreciate that. Hence, I would advise businesses to employ both a Short Tail and Long Tail effect into their marketing mix. However, ensure that each campaign is unique. Don't use a 30-second ad that you air on Global and try to post it to YouTube. It won't fly simply because that's like church and state sleeping in the same bed.

Instead, run your 30-second ad, but produce something unique and clever online. In order for you to get millions of dollars in publicity on just $300 (thanks Michael Geist for such a wonderful title), you really need to niche your online audio and visual communications. Otherwise, it'll fail miserably.

My meanderings this morning.

Update: Another great article in the Star on The Long Tail. The title? Mass market economy to be a million niches. Love it.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, the long tail, technology, trends, chris anderson, the short tail, future, blogging , rocketboom, youtube

Outstanding Women Speakers now podcasting

2006-07-17T15:39:00.000-04:00

It's so wonderful to be a midwife as someone gives birth to a podcast. I'm proud to announce that Outstanding Women Speakers, a speaker's bureau representing some of the best female speakers around the globe, is now podcasting. I know that OWS is the first speaker's bureau in North America who's podcasting.

Of course, the best way to introduce a podcast is to talk about podcasting. Well the first episode features yours truly as I explain what podcasting is and how it can help your business. Look for future episodes on different management issues.

I do want to note that Outstanding Women Speakers represents me and my company is producing their podcast.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, speakers, presentation, speakers bureau

Are we really still measuring things in hits?

2006-07-17T09:11:00.000-04:00

I get so annoyed with this, yet somehow someone started this "hits" thing and it's stuck like a bad tan.

I was reading a fascinating article in The Toronto Star regarding an online video campaign that a few companies are clamouring to be a part of.

Well, the person who wrote the article, a lawyer by the name of Michael Geist, said this:

"Less than two months after it was first posted, the video has attracted millions of Internet hits and has become a commercial success story."

You're kidding me. "Internet hits" for a video? That's sooooooo circa 1999.

Do you know what hits are? According to Wikipedia, a hit is "a request for a file from the web server; available only in log analysis." But it's not just the webpage, but it's everything on it as well, such as images, the CSS file, any javascript and so on.

So, let's just say you go to one of my podcasts, cubicledivas.com. When that page pops up, there will be my picture, some text, some links, the MP3 file, the cascading style sheet, the online player. Although you opened only 1 page, the number of hits counted will be 5 or more.

It's like going to a restaurant. You sit down and order chicken. When it arrives, it's garnished with oregano, chives, pepper, salt, onions, garlic and it sits on a bed of basmati rice. Now, you didn't say "I wanted chicked with oregano, chives, pepper, salt, etc." did you? No. It's a given that if you're ordering chicken off the menu, you'll also get the corresponding garnishes and side dish without having to specifically request it. Otherwise, you'd get the raw chicken on a platter.

It's similar to a webpage. You go to a website, but when you get there, you don't type in, "Oh, and by the way, throw in the images and moving text and files as well." No. It's a given that when you go to a website, that you'll get the corresponding pictures and text without having to specifically request it. Otherwise, you'd just get a blank page.

That's why measuring anything online using hits is inaccurate. One person can create 10, 20 even 50 hits just by typing in one webpage into a browser. Therefore, the best way to measure anything online is through a combination of downloads, unique visits or subscribers and session length (how long they stick around).

When it comes to a website, measure your results by unique visitors, length of time spent on your site and repeat visitors.
When it comes to podcasts, measure using downloads, subscribers (see this post for more tips).

And lastly, don't forget to survey your audience. Sometimes your stats won't tell you everything, so asking your target market will. Magazines do this very well with a reader's survey, so develop something similar for your website or podcast.

Update: Michael sent me an email directing me to the original article on his website. As you can see, there's no mention of Internet hits in his original article. Very good.

Technorati Tags: Web analytics, best practices, Tips, Internet

Day 17 - Measuring Your Podcast

2006-07-17T09:02:00.000-04:00

If you measure your podcasting results, you'll have much more success knowing whether it's working. Read the tips below to determine how you can measure your podcast.

Donna Popacosta on A Way to Measure Your Podcast Audience

Paul Colligan on Podcast Metrics

Homework: Use the tips above to help you measure the success of your podcasting strategy.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Day 16 - Monetizing Your Podcast

2006-07-16T23:59:00.000-04:00

The biggest question many people have about podcasts is, "How do I make money of these things?" Here are a few tips on how you can monetize your podcast.

Andy Wibbels on How Podcasts Make Money

Patrick Curran on 3 Way to Make Money With Your Podcast

Homework: Develop a plan to help you make money off your podcast.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Day 15 - Optimizing Your Podcast

2006-07-15T23:54:00.000-04:00

Publishing and producing your podcast is the first step. Now it's time to optimize your podcast so you can receive search engine traffic and listeners. Here are some resources that can help you to optimize your podcast.

Stephen Spencer on How to SEO Your Podcasts

Lee Odden on Podcasting and Search Engine Optimization

Jon Watson on ID Tags & Meta Data

Leesa Barnes on Podcast Listing Mistakes to Avoid

Homework: Use the tips above to increase your podcast listenership.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Day 14 - Transcribing Your Podcast

2006-07-14T07:39:00.000-04:00

Hearing your podcast is great, but reading it is just as good. By transcribing your podcast, you offer an additional way for people to consume your content. Better yet, you can develop an additional income as you can offer the transcripts of your podcast for sale (many talk shows on TV use this approach).

There are a ton of companies that offer podcast transcription services. The ones below are just a sample.

Casting Words Transcription Service - 42-cents per minute of audio

PodTranscript - $10 for 30-minutes of audio

PodcastScribe - $3.50 per minute of audio

Production Transcripts - $50 for 30-minutes of audio

Transcribr - $1 per minute of audio

NotePods – 50-cents per minute of audio

Podcasts Transcribed - Contatct them for a quote

Jon Watson reviews PodZinger, a service that transcribes your show for free so that the contents are searchable in a search engine

Mark Blevis reviews PodScope & PodZinger and gets marginal results

Homework: Use one of the services above to transcribe an episode of your podcast.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

My podcasting thoughts in German

2006-07-13T22:14:00.000-04:00

Ever since I launched the 31 Days to Producing a Better Podcast, I've noticed quite a number of trackbacks and tags from those who blog in German.

As I peruse Technorati to check on who's pointing back to my blog, I'm amazed at the number of blogsites in German that reference mine.

My mother tongue is English and I attempt to speak a few paultry syllables in French. However, I am all linguistical thumbs when it comes to German.

So, Christoph Hörl says:

"Leesa Barnes hat am 1. Juli in ihrem Weblog "Podonomics" eine Artikelserie zum Thema Podcasting begonnen. In diesem Monat will sie 31 Beiträge in ihrem Weblog veröffentlichen, die beim Aufbau und bei der Verbesserung von Podcasts helfen. Bisher sind 11 Tage vergangen und es waren fast jeden Tag nützliche Sachen dabei."

But it appears that Manuela Hoffmann started it all as the blog I mentioned above links back to hers. Her blog says:

"Leesa Barnes wird am 1. Juli 2006 die Serie 31 Days to Producing a Better Podcast beginnen, die sich über den gesamten Monat ziehen wird. Täglich wird es einen Tipp zum Thema Podcasting geben."

I love languages and I can pick up some words based on linguistical patterns from other languages. For example, I can tell that "hat am" translates into "is at." "Und" seems to be "and." But overall, I don't know if these Germans bloggers are signing my praises or telling me to go do something better with my time.

One thing I do know - when I develop my multi-layered, multi-platform, open-sourced podcasting gizmo, I'm going to launch it in 2 languages - English & German.

Have any of you been blogged about in a different language?

Technorati Tags: blogging, german, technology, podcasting

Battlestar Galactica Webisodes

2006-07-13T19:59:00.000-04:00

Anyone who knows me understands that I'm a bit obsessed with science fiction. For the longest time, no sci fi show could hold a candle to the Star Trek series. My ultimate favourite is The Next Generation, followed by Enterprise (there's something about that Scott Bakula; he can quantum leap me any day). Voyager and Deep Space 9 fall far down on my list, in that order. And I watch The Original Series only when I need a good laugh and a good dose of cheese.

So, imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon Battlestar Galactica (circa 2005) and fell in love. I mean, obsessively in love.

When I discovered that there will be webisodes of Battlestar Galactica that will begin airing on The Sci Fi Channel later this summer, I almost screamed.

And what a terribly good idea. Any TV show that wants to keep their fans engaged and interested during the off season should follow BG's lead. Actually, this is a wonderful idea for anyone who wants to find an inexpensive way to communicate with your target market using the power of video podcasting.

Do you think Fox will use this approach and bring back Arrested Development?

Technorati Tags: star trek, sci-fi, Science Fiction, TV, video podcasting, battlestar galactica, arrested development, TV Shows, podcasting

Day 13 - Ways to Avoid Podfading

2006-07-13T11:03:00.000-04:00

Around your 8th episode, you'll begin to feel the effects of podfading. How can you get past this and still put out a stellar podcast? Read the tips below so you can overcome podfading before it happens.

Wikipedia on What Is Podfade?

Steve Friess on Podfading Takes Its Toll

Manuel Viloria on Podcasting Sustainability: How to Make Your Podcast Last

Homework: Develop a plan to help you avoid podfading. Maybe you'll delegate the tasks you don't want to do, maybe you'll scale back on the number of segments you feature in your episode.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Nielsen's take on podcasting rubs people the wrong way

2006-07-13T09:52:00.000-04:00

Think my take on the Nielsen numbers was harsh? Take a look at a few other perspectives.

Jon Watson over at BizPodcasting says that the Nielsen report wrongly compares bloggers to podcasters. As he puts it:

"That's like comparing newspaper readers to karoake singers. No correlation between the two."

Robert Scoble, VP of Media Development at PodTech.net, says that the Nielsen numbers blows when it comes to podcasting. He says:

"And podcasting doesn’t need the false hype. We need real numbers, real research, with organizations we, and advertisers, can believe. This doesn’t help us out AT ALL."

Neville Hobson also had the same question in his post. More specifically:

"Um, podcast listeners on a par with blog writers? And online daters? What a strange comparison. Am I missing something here? I’d love to know what their survey methodology was."

Read the Neilsen report. What are your thoughts?

Technorati Tags: podcasting, podcasting trends, Robert Scoble, jon watson

Podcasting audience young and highly wired? Think again, Nielson

2006-07-12T22:20:00.000-04:00

Yet another survey being released on podcasting. This time, Nielson is weighing in on the growth of this industry. One thing really stuck out:

"In typical Internet fashion, podcasting is being adopted first by younger, more tech savvy demographics. The youthful end of the adult world, 18-24 year-olds, are nearly twice as likely to be active podcast consumers, while adults 45 and older fall mostly below the podcasting curve."

Well, it seems like Canadians are finally outpacing Americans in this area. According to the survey that Sequentia and my company ran (the report is being released on July 21st), Canadian podcast listeners are older and are almost evenly split between men and women. Fifty-one percent of the people who filled out our survey are women, while 59% of Canadian podcast listeners are between 25-44.

Nielson reports that Americans over 45 fall mostly below the podcasting curve. However, Canadians over 45 know about podcasting and are actively listening to them. What's surprising is that 25% of Canadian podcast listeners are over 45, while only 14% of Canadian podcast listeners are between 18-24.

So, gimme a break Nielson. Stop feeding unfounded stereotypes about who podcast listeners are. At least Canadians are mature in their podcasting habits.

Technorati Tags: podcasting trends, podcast listeners, canadian podcast listeners survey, podcasting

Podcast Academy 4, where are the ladies?

2006-07-12T11:25:00.000-04:00

By way of Paul Colligan, I found out about Podcast Academy 4 (PA4). It's all about video podcasting, so I may fly down a day earlier so I can take in this event before I speak at the Podcast & Portable Media Expo.

A quick scan of the speakers at PA4 shows me that of the 8 sessions, 6 of them are led by men. There's one slot still left to be filled on a session about metrics (I can't think of any women who can talk about this) and the live taping of 88Slides.com is being co-hosted by a man and a woman (although, I believe the woman is just eye dressing).

(**sigh**) I guess I now have to launch a video podcast so I can be included in this fine group. But why is this burden my own to bear?

Technorati Tags: podcasting, video podcasting, podcast academy 4, PA4

Boost Your Business with a Podcast - No Fee Teleclass TODAY

2006-07-12T11:10:00.000-04:00

By way of my trackbacks below, I was led to a very cool blogsite that has everything and anything you need to know about upcoming internet marketing events.

It reminded me to let you know about a teleclass I'm a guest on today at 2pm ET, hosted by Kelly McCausey. It's part of her Hot Seminar Series, so if you want to learn more about podcasting, register now.

Techorati Tags: kelly mccausey, Leesa Barnes, podcasting

Day 12 - Publishing Your Podcast

2006-07-12T10:49:00.000-04:00

Now that you've created your podcast, where do you host it? How do you publish it for the world to see? Check out the mountain of resources below that will show you how to publish your podcast.

Jake Ludinton on Publishing a Podcast

Podcasting Tools on List of Sites That Accept Podcast Submissions

Kay Stoner on Podcast Directories to Submit To & Hosting Solutions for Your Podcast

Jason Van Orden on Podcast Hosting Solutions & Naming Your Podcast File

Scott Bourne’s Review of Liberated Syndication as a Hosting Platform

Podcasting News on Top Podcast Directories to Submit To

Kelly McCausey on Podcast Directories to Submit To

Homework: Go forth and publish your podcast.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, 31days podcasting

Day 11 - Growing Your Podcast Audience

2006-07-11T18:35:00.000-04:00

Jason Van Orden on Writing Your Show Notes

Leesa Barnes at Podcasters Across Borders on Grow Your Audience

Sharon Housley on Set Up Your Podcast For Success

Homework: Put together a plan to double your listenership over the next 3-months.

Did I miss a really great resource that fits the theme of this post? If so, leave the URL in the comments and I'll add it to this list.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts

Day 10 - Hiring Voice Talent for Your Podcast

2006-07-10T09:30:00.000-04:00

Having a professional voice talent provide an intro and outro for your podcast helps improve the quality and gives the listener a sense that you take podcasting seriously. Check out the resources below so you can hire the right voice talent for your podcasting needs.

Jon Watson on Professional Voice Over Roundup

Leesa uses Audioconnell

Voices marketplace

Homework: Hire someone to do a professional intro and outro for your podcast.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts

Rynor: The community building aspect of podcasting

2006-07-09T16:50:00.000-04:00

Becky Rynor, a writer who attended the Podcasters Across Borders conference a couple weekends back, had an article published today on podcasting. The lousy thing is that you need a subscription in order to read the article. So un-podcast-like. I mean, the purchasing part.

In any case, I went to my closest Internationale Presse store and purchased a copy of the Ottawa Citizen. I was rather pleased with the article. I was happy to see Rynor clear up some misconceptions ("No, you don't need an iPod to listen to a podcast") and she included many female voices, including yours truly.

She included a quote from me at the end of the article that seemed to sum up the mood of the conference and podcasting in general. What was my winning quote?

"That's what I love about podcasting. The community of podcasters is so open, even though we are all here as competitors. No other industry does this. We share ideas. We give. And we give back."

Blah. I've got to come up with some better quotes. Here are some quotes from the article that I wish I had said.

Bob Goyetche, organizer of PAB and host of Canadian Podcast Buffet:

"With podcasting, I'm as powerful as ABC."

Julien Smith, host of In Over Your Head:

"I would rather listen to a 15-year old who is having trouble at school, than a mainstream radio host who has nothing to say."

Cathi Bond, host of The Sniffer:

"Podcasting is about doing every single thing the CBC won't let me do."

Neil Gorman, host of Comicology:

"[Podcasting] is out Speaker's Corner. It's so cool."

Grab a copy online or go to one of those stores that sell international magazines and newspapers to pick up your copy of this article.

Technorati Tags: pab2006, ottawa citizen,

Day 9 - Finding Podsafe Music

2006-07-09T10:04:00.000-04:00

Need to include some powerful music in your podcast? You can't use your favourite Britney Spears song as you'll violate copyright laws. Instead, check out the resources below to help you find podsafe music for your non-commercial podcast.

Philip Nicosia on Podcast Safe Music

Brent Morris on Finding Podsafe Music

Podsafe Music Network

Homework: Use on the resources above to find a piece of music for your podcast.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts

CaseCamp with Andrew Barron of Rocketboom

2006-07-08T11:19:00.000-04:00

Last night, I attended CaseCamp. Very cool event organized by Eli Singer. It was a packed room and I had a chance to share a case study on a Podcast Gone Bad.

The last speaker of the evening was Andrew Baron of Rocketboom. I first met him at the iSummit conference back in March.

I tell you, Andrew doesn't have an evil bone in him. He has this child-like innocence that makes you just want to hug him for days. He reminds me of a teddy bear, only way less plump and not at all fuzzy.

Of course, he summed up what happened between him and Amanda. I think it was a therapy session, to be honest. He didn't paint her in a bad light, on the contrary, he took responsibility for what happened and said it was like a marriage that had gone downhill.

At the end of the day, Andrew has taken the high road in all this. He never once painted Amanda in a bad light, never posted email communications on his blog, nor did he use Rocketboom as an opportunity to make the other party look bad.

His only regret is that he didn't speak up sooner. He said that blogosphere is painting him as the evil business guy who cut costs by cutting his host. He said that Rocketboom was prepared to move the production team to Los Angeles, but that their newly acquired business partner advised them that due to costs, they should stay put in New York.

Some suggestions from the audience on what Rocketboom should do on Monday morning:

Andrew become the host
Bring in a celebrity
Do "The Best of Amanda"
Poke fun at themselves by dressing Andrew up as the "evil business guy"
Interview several hosts over the next few weeks and get the viewers to vote on their favourite

Andrew did say that he's working on an angle, but the best thing he can do is not share it. That made the audience laugh in hysterics.

At this point, his main concern is not selling ad space for Monday's show so he can make a ton of cash (this is what one audience member suggested he do). Instead, Andrew's only goal at this point is to address the feelings of the Rocketboom fans. And if anything, that's one thing that Andrew knows really, really well.

Update: I was a bit miffed that someone had posted the video of Andrew's entire speech on You Tube. It has been pulled and rightly so. Eli, the organizer of CaseCamp, assured me that no one was recording our speeches. I was nervous about that because I didn't want to embarass the company whose podcasting strategy I "called out" during my presentation. Andrew bared his soul last night and even joked that those in the room were getting an "exclusive" since it was the first time he was speaking out. To provide a scoop is one thing, but to provide a scoop when the organizer promised that no one was going to record is inappropriate.

Update #2 - By way of Matthew Ingram I found out that the video is back up. Through an email interaction with Eli, he said to me that he and Andrew spoke about it and it was after that conversation that Andrew gave the thumbs up to the chap to re-post the video. If both Eli and Andrew are okay with it, then so am I. (**sigh**) I feel a post coming on about the responsibility of citizen journalists when it comes to breaking a story.

Technorati Tags: rocketboom, amanda congdon, Andrew Baron, casecamp

Day 8 - Podcast Production Tips

2006-07-08T11:14:00.000-04:00

Want to tweak your podcast? You'll need to learn the secrets on how to produce your podcast so it sounds like it was done in a professional studio. Read the podcast production tips below for some ideas.

Karen Soloman on How to Record, Edit & Promote Your Podcast

Sharon Housley on Podcasting Tools

Homework: Take some of these tips and improve your podcast.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts

Report on Small Business has a podcasting consultant

2006-07-07T14:23:00.000-04:00

Go here, scroll down and who do you see? It's me! Yes, I'm now (as the Editor says) "a Globe consultant."

If you have any questions about podcasting, you can post them over there.

Technorati Tags: Leesa Barnes, podcast consulting, small business, globe and mail, The Globe and Mail

Day 7 - Editing & Mixing Your Podcast

2006-07-07T14:05:00.000-04:00

To really add punch to your podcast, try editing the audio file you recorded, then mix in sounds and music. Check out the resources below to understand how you can edit and mix your podcast so it sounds professional.

Jason Van Orden on Using Audacity to Edit & Mix Your Podcast

Bruce Murray at Podcasters Across Borders on Editing Your Podcast

Homework: Use the tips above to mix and edit your audio recording.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts

Rocketboom is changing

2006-07-06T09:20:00.000-04:00

Here's the question I asked myself when I read this story.

If everyone in blogosphere is blogging about this item, should I blog about it too? Every other blog I visit is blogging about this story, so if I've already been scooped, should I bother? If thousands of bloggers are blogging about it, what new ideas can I possibly add to this story?

So, I decide not to blog about it. But then, I suddenly realize that I'm actually, really blogging about something that everyone else is blogging about.

At the end of the day, there are 3 sides to every story - Amanda's, Andrew's and the truth.

Technorati Tags: amandacongdon, amanda congdon, Rocketboom, vlog, Andrew Baron

Day 6 - Recording Your Podcast

2006-07-06T09:07:00.000-04:00

Stuck on what to record your podcast with? Try some of the tips from these podcasters below.

Jay Ludington on Recording a Podcast Using Audacity

Glenn Fleishman on How to Record a Podcast (Mac specific)

Stuart Henshall on Using Skype to Record Interviews

Donna Popacosta on How to Record a Podcast

Kay Stoner on How to Record Your Podcast Without a Microphone

Jason van Orden on Choosing a Recording Location & How to Download and Install Audacity

Homework: Buy a microphone and download recording software so you can record your audio.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts

CaseCamp Toronto, July 7th

2006-07-05T10:23:00.000-04:00

By way of Kate's blog, I found out about CaseCamp being organized by Eli Singer. I saw that there was one more space left for a speaker, so I grabbed it. I'm going to speak about Podcasts Gone Bad based on one of my past posts. I'm also going to make the session interactive by asking the group what they would've done differently. Should be fun.

Interested in attending? I'd love to meet you and network. Check out the event's wiki page for more details and add yourself to the list of attendees.

Technorati Tags: CaseCamp, toronto

Which Liberal Leadership Candidate Is Podcasting?

2006-07-05T08:38:00.000-04:00

I was listening to Global National the other night and they did a story on the top rated Canadian podcast in iTunes being that of our Prime Minister.
They went on to say that the only Liberal leadership candidate who's podcasting is Michael Ignatieff, the chap that many believe will eventually become leader of the federal Liberal Party (doesn't he resemble John Kerry?).

So, I went on a mission. I visited the websites of his competitors, including the mothership, the Liberal Party. Here's what I found:

The Liberal Party is podcasting (although you can download instructions on how to listen through iTunes via a PDF).
Liberal leadership candidate #2, Bob Rae is NOT podcasting (although you can get his news, event and media information in RSS feeds).
Liberal leadership candidate #3, Joe Volpe, is NOT podcasting (although you can read his extremely lengthy What I Believe section).
Liberal leadership candidate #4, Gerrard Kennedy, is NOT podcasting (although he provides graphics for bloggers).
Liberal leadership candidate #5, Stéphane Dion, is NOT podcasting, however, he has forums and he has an online video welcoming people to his website. So, he's almost there.
Liberal leadership candidate #6, Martha Hall Findlay is NOT podcasting (although there's a page under Engage the Issues that lists podcasts & blogs, but when you go to that page, all that's there is are 2 fan blogs and a streaming video file where you need Real Player to view).
Liberal leadership candidate #7, Scott Brison is NOT podcasting (although he has something called a Scott-cast, but it's in a WMA format so at the end of the day, it's simply audio on a website, but it's a start).
Liberal leadership candidate #8, Ken Dryden, former hockey player is NOT podcasting (however, he seems to support blogosphere with his BlogBuzz page).
Liberal leadership candidate #9, Carolyn Bennett, is NOT podcasting (although she has a most interesting image that acts as a blog - her "blog" turns out to be text on her blackberry).
Liberal leadership candidate #10, Maurizio Bevilacqua, is NOT podcasting (although he has a "blog" which turns out to be simply text on a webpage).
Liberal leadership candidate #11, Hedy Fry, is NOT podcasting (although she has streaming video played through QuickTime and she too has a blog, but it's being updated by someone on her campaign).

No wonder the Liberal party is in trouble and won't win any federal election in the foreseeable future. The candidates for the leadership of the federal party is embracing social media tools in a wishy washy way.

Some have blogs, but they're either just slapped on a webpage (instead of using a real blogging tool), or it's being updated by a campaign manager. Some are using what they think is podcasting, but it isn't since you need to download a player to view or listen to it, plus you can't find it in iTunes. Some have forums that don't even include real debate since someone is probably deleting any dissenting comments.

Social media in the form of podcasting, blogging, discussion boards, etc. could help these candidates form real relationships with the very people who are eventually going to vote for them at the leadership conference in November.

Not just that, but for those who truly embrace social media, not just treat it as a casual afterthought, could really set them themselves apart from their competitors and connect with Liberal party members in a way that seems real and not contrived.

No wonder innovation is lost is this country. How many small, innovative Canadian tech companies are now just a division of a American company because they've been acquired? How many brilliant Canadian minds are we losing to lucrative scholarships and job offers in other countries?

It all starts with our leaders. If our politicians are not willing - or don't care to - embrace the technological tools that the common Canadian person is using, then it's comes as no surprise that once they get into office, we feel the effects of their techno-ignorance through archaic policies.

Being a candidate is the perfect time to really understand how social media can help your campaign. Don't leave it to your campaign manager or someone else on your staff. Really take an interest, understand it, then farm it out to someone else.

Out of all the candidates, Michael Ignatieff and Ken Dryden pass my social media test. I highly recommend that if the other candidates want to make an impact in November at the leadership conference, develop a social media campaign that will turn heads, get blogosphere talking and podosphere buzzing.

Your time is right now.

Technorati Tags: Canada, liberal party, social media, Blogging, podcasting

Day 5 - Getting the Podcasting Equipment

2006-07-05T08:30:00.000-04:00

Not sure what to use to start creating your podcast? Here are some tips on the podcasting equipment - software and hardware - that you need to start developing your first episode.

Philip Nicosia on Podcasting Software – 10 Essential Tips

Jason Van Orden on Basic Podcasting Gear

Bob Goyetche at Podcasters Across Borders on Building Your Podcast Studio

Homework: Go grab some podcasting gear.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts

Day 4 - Planning Your Podcast

2006-07-04T08:01:00.000-04:00

Nothing can kill a podcast than one without a plan. If you need tips on how to plan your podcast, I've dug up some really great resources.

Sherry Frewerd on Choosing a Great Topic for Your Podcast

Jon Watson on Picking a Topic, Choosing a Niche Topic & Planning Episode Ideas in Advance

Jason Van Orden on Choosing a Format for Your Podcast & Choosing a Topic for Your Podcast

Cathi Bond & Nora Young at Podcasters Across Borders on Planning Your Podcast

Carson McComas on 20 Great Ideas For a Podcast

Homework: Based on the tips above, take out a piece of paper and write out an episode plan.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts

Women's Podcasting Expo vs. BizPodcasting

2006-07-03T11:16:00.000-04:00

Jon over at BizPodcasting is a guy I like. He and I seem to think alike and his blog posts are just so clever.

He has a category called Snake Oil where he analyzes podcasting products and determines if the person is trying to make a fast buck in the podcasting world.

Well, Jon just analyzed a new item in his snake oil category and this time, he started a firestorm (read the comments). He analyzed the Women's Podcasting Expo taking place online July 14-16, 2006. Jon's beef is that the organizers are charging speakers to speak. In essence, you purchase a booth for $100 and that gives you the right to present at the expo.

Penny Haynes, who is really making an impact in the podcasting world, organizes these virtual expos and she does a bang-on job. And I know that she uses these expos to not only raise awareness of podcasting, but to do a revenue share with all the people involved in organizing this virtual event.

I spoke at the International Podcasting Expo in April which was loads of fun. I'm also speaking at this Expo in 2-weeks. I enjoy being part of this effort.

What do you think about this? Should speakers pay to speak at a conference? Should speakers be expected to pay the entrance fee to access an event they're speaking at?

(BTW, Tim Bourquin's blog post on this topic makes an interesting read. He organizes the Podcast & Portable Media Expo. I'll be speaking at this event in September.)

Technorati Tags: Tim Bourquin, penny haynes, jon watson, women's podcasting expo, Podcast Expo 2006

Day 3 - Podcast Interviewing Tips

2006-07-03T07:31:00.000-04:00

Want to learn how to use great interviewing techniques so you make yourself - and your guest - feel at ease? Here are a list of resources that give you really great podcast interviewing tips.

DJ Nelson on Interviewing For Your Podcast

Leesa Barnes on How to Record an Interview for Your Podcast When the Person Is In a Different Location

Jason Van Orden on What to Do If You Hate the Sound of Your Own Voice

Scott Bourne on Podcasting Interview Tricks

Mark Blevis at Podcasters Across Borders on Podcast Interviewing Tips

Homework: Craft up your own interview strategy based on the tips above for your first guest.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts, interviewing tips

Day 2 - Size of Podcast Audience

2006-07-02T17:15:00.000-04:00

How many people are actually listening to podcasts? How often do they listen and are they listening right until the end? Check out the resources below to determine the size of the podcast audience.

Forrester reports that 1% of the 5000 adults surveyed have ever downloaded a podcast

Podtrac surveys 55,000 Americans and finds that 41% of U.S. online adults are aware of term "podcasting

Nifty surveys Japanese on podcast listening habits

Feedburner reports that the average podcast has 35 subscribers

Libsyn reports over 45-million requests for podcast feeds

CBC surveys 10,000 podcast listeners and finds that they really like CBCs podcasts

Homework: Using the statistics above, determine for yourself if it's worth it for you to develop a podcasting strategy.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, 31days, better podcasts

Day 1 - Start Podcasting

2006-07-01T06:37:00.000-04:00

Want to learn more about podcasting? Check out these resources that will help you to start podcasting right away.

Khieng 'Ken' Chho on Podcasting: What Is It & How Do I Begin

Kay Stoner on What’s So Great About Podcasting

Eunice Wallace on How to Start Podcasting

Jason Van Orden on 7 Reasons to Create Your Own Podcast

Patrick Curran on How to Podcast? An Introduction to Podcasting

Homework: Follow these tips and record your first audio file.

Technorati Tags: 31days, better podcasts, podcasting

31 Days to Producing a Better Podcast Starts Tomorrow

2006-06-30T19:23:00.000-04:00

I begin my endeavour tomorrow.

Jon was wondering what I'd be doing each day. Well Jon (and others who are reading) each day I will provide a theme and a collection of links of really great blog posts and articles that can help you produce a better podcast. I tried to find the best of the best and present them to you. At the end of each post, I present an action item for you to follow-up on. Consider it your homework.

So, get ready. This was no easy task, but heck, someone had to do it.

Bin Laden podcasting

2006-06-30T07:15:00.000-04:00

Ummm...no, he's not.

But this came to mind while I was watching CBC National. It seems that Bin Laden has just released a 19-minute audio praising the work of the slain Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and demanding that the U.S. treat his body with respect.

Now, the contents of his message isn't what I want to focus on. Instead, I'd like to point out that the terrorist movement uses the Internet far better than many organizations to recruit and build its brand. And this is sad since the terrorist movement does nothing more than to promote fear and destruction.

What would happen if al-Qaeda started to podcast? Would iTunes accept their submission into their podcast directory? Would any of the other podcatchers do the same? They currently accept podcasts that focus on porn and hate, so what makes a podcast focused on terrorism any different?

Please note - I do not support terrorism in any form, whether it's al-Qaeda, Hamas or a bully boss at work. I'm raising this as a point of discussion and I'm free to do that in this country.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, technology, terrorism, Current Affairs

Citizen Jounalism Code of Ethics

2006-06-29T08:44:00.000-04:00

I've had a number of incidents happen to me over the past few weeks that brings to light how important it is for citizen journalists in the social media space - for example, bloggers, podcasters - to be guided by a code of ethics.

I recently emailed someone about the comments he left on my blog. It took me a couple of months to respond to him, but I finally did earlier this week. While I was quite apologetic, the tone of his email seemed to suggest to me that I only re-opened a can of worms.

But one thing stuck out from his email. He said that the problem with blogosphere is the amount of misinformation that's circulated. He felt that one of my blog posts was just that - a post filled with inaccuracies.

Another issue popped up with my blog recently where someone I had blogged about asked me to remove the picture I posted of him holding a drink in his hand. While he didn't mind, he was afraid of how that would look to his employer.

Both these incidents got me thinking that as citizen journalists, we are not absolved to reporting accuracy in our blog posts and treating people fairly. While this doesn't mean that we can't be critical of what people are doing, if we want to be taken seriously, citizen journalists need to be guided by a list of principles.

While we could look at the Canadian Journalist Association's (CAJ) code of ethics, it doesn't capture our world in both blogosphere and podosphere. For example, the CAJ code says that there can't be biased while reporting the news. However, bias is what makes blog posts really, really interesting.

So what are citizen journalists to do? Well, craft our own code of ethics. Here are my ideas:

Fairness

Respect the rights of people
Research facts
Avoid using aliases
Clearly identify sources and conflict of interests to our readers and listeners
Allow commenters to freely leave their feedback, but place a disclaimer saying these ideas don't belong to the blog or podcast owner.
Question anyone who wants to be paid for their information.
Do not post pictures or images that show our sources in a compromising position.

Accuracy

Where possible, the citizen journalist will confirm the accuracy of his or her story before posting. Document this either using bookmarks, emails, trackbacks, tags or other virtual breadcrumbs.
Correct mistakes quickly and clarify, apologize in a public forum.
Publish altered images with a caption saying it was altered.

Privacy

Individuals have a right to privacy.
If you plan to copy and paste in your blog or quote word-for-word an idea or feedback from an email blog or podcast about an email you received, get the permission of the sender first.
Do not stalk, chase or harass individuals to take their photos.
Always get permission before taking a photo of someone.

If you plan to quote a source online, do not post it in its entirety in your blog. Instead, provide a quick summary, credit the originator of that idea, then provide a direct link to the full source.
Use photos in your blog only with the permission of the owner of the photo. Post that permission in your blog or mention it in your podcast.
Do not re-write an idea and claim them as your own. This is plagarism. Instead, give credit to the originator of the ideas.

I'll finish this up later. I've got a few more to add, but chew on these for now.

Adapted from the Canadian Association of Journalists Ethics Guidelines.

Technorati Tags: citizen journalism, Blogs, social media, podcasts, citizen journalists

Podcaster Space, join now

2006-06-28T07:49:00.000-04:00

My esteemed colleague and podcasting guru, Paul Colligan, has launched a new social networking site for podcasters and podcasting enthusiast. It's called PodcasterSpace and you can join for free.

I checked it out and although I had to get Paul to tell me where to sign up ("Top right corner, Leesa," I could hear Paul saying in his email while rolling his eyes) and had to get pointers on how to upload my photo, it's a pretty swanky tool.

What do I like about PodcasterSpace?

You can start and join discussions.
You can create your own community within this community.
You can share and tag photos.
And, you can network with me (isn't that just the icing on the cake?).

Sign up now and join the discussion. There's just me and Paul right now and although I think he's a cool dude, we can easily share ideas over email. So, please join us if you're a podcaster or podcasting enthusiast and let's grow this community.

Technorati Tags: paul colligan, social networking, web 2.0, podcasting

Podcasts Gone Bad

2006-06-28T07:31:00.000-04:00

I'm hearing quite a number of podcasting horror stories. Companies, entrepreneurs and individuals who have created their own podcasts and are now abandoning it due to poor quality, unmet expectations and generally just a bad experience.

The problem that I see is that these companies did not bring in a podcasting expert, consultant, strategist to advise them on how to develop a strong podcasting strategy. Instead, through unbridled enthusiasm, these companies and individuals think that all you need to do is record your voice, slap in some music and voila! A podcast.

I'll keep the names of the unfortunate a secret, but here's what I'm hearing:

A conference who had another "podcasting" company record all their panels and sessions, only to get such poor quality with their podcasts that they're practically un-usable.
An entrepreneur who thought that having a voice talent read articles in their podcasts only to have no one subscribe after 3-months (that's unheard of).
A big name company who had such negative feedback from their customers about the poor quality of their podcasts that the company is now scrambling trying to protect its brand.
A coaching podcast that have seen their subscribers decrease steadily over the past few weeks due to poor sound because they're using a phone recording service to record their podcasts.

If you're thinking about podcasting, please, please, please, contact me first. I've been engrossed in this podcasting thing for close to 2-years now and I get it. I study, breathe, research and network in the podcasting space and I know what you don't.

I'll give you a 20-point assessment to determine if podcasting is right for you. Then, we'll go through a 10-page document to help you determine how to craft a podcast that will tie in with your marketing strategy. Lastly, I'll give you the tools to start recording your podcast. Then, you let my company do the rest.

I beg you, don't do this alone. I can help you out with a no-fee session and I can shave so much time off your podcasting schedule. I'd rather you consult with me first than for you to embark on this podcasting journey all by your lonesome, then totally abandon the tool because of a bad experience.

Let me be your first. Email me at leesa [dot] barnes [at] gmail [dot] com.

Technorati Tags: podcasting

Canadian Podcast Listeners Survey, we're getting there

2006-06-27T07:52:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to let you know that we're getting close to our Ipsos-Reid-like numbers for the Canadian Podcast Listeners Survey.

After asking everyone and their mama to blog or podcast about this survey, we jumped from 350 to 770 in just 7-days. Now that's the power of blogosphere and podosphere. What an incredibly wonderful story. I can't wait to share the results with you all in July.

BTW, the survey is open until June 30th. Click here to fill it out.

Sprint's Wireless Etiquette Podcast

2006-06-27T07:36:00.000-04:00

In July, Sprint is celebrating National Cell Phone Courtesy Month with the release of podcast. This podcast will help cell phone users brush up on their wireless phone manners, things like talking way too loud on a crowded bus, letting your ring tone play out like a song on the radio and (don't you hate this one) remembering to turn your cellphone to vibrate while at the theatres or in a meeting.

So, here's yet another corporation using a podcast to convey useful information to their customers instead of using it as an infomercial for their products and services. What a clever idea.

Listen to the podcast by clicking here.

Want podcasting fame? Podniche!

2006-06-26T07:40:00.000-04:00

At the Podcasters Across Borders conference over the weekend, I encouraged people to focus on a niche. While podcasts such as Two Boobs & A Baby, Keith & The Girl, Soccer Girl Incorporated and The American Family all enjoy a slew of podcast subscribers, not all podcasters will be able to gain thousands upon thousands of subscribers.

Why? Because at last count, there are now 50,000 podcasts out there. The podcasting space is beginning to get cluttered. Because of this, if you have a podcast (or are thinking about producing one), it's important that you focus on a target market and provide topics of interest to them. In other words:

Podniche (n) = 1: A podcast specially suited to a very specific market; 2: A special area of demand for a podcast

Take the example of Lynne Gryphon, a 33-year-old mother-of-two leading a quiet life with her husband in Australia. She produces a video podcast called Lynne's Sci Fi News. Because she podniched, she has become a darling in the sci fi world where 4000 subscribers eagerly wait for her podcast each week.

Are you looking at becoming the darling in someone's eyes? Or at least a few hundred eyes? Podniche.

Technorati Tags: podcasting trends, podcasting optimization, podcasting

BloggerCon does podcasting right and wrong

2006-06-26T07:11:00.000-04:00

I like when people at conferences include pictures and commentary in their blog while the event is happening.

BloggerCon 2006 is no different. ZDNet is blogging from the event and it's interesting to see what type of conversations are taking place and what kinds of people are attending.

I also like that BloggerCon is podcasting from the event right away. Most conferences who podcast release them weeks, even months after the event is over. And when they do release them, it's about 10 of them all at once. So, I like the fact that BloggerCon is doing them as soon as each session is over.

However, podcasting the entire session and giving it away for free is the wrong approach. Many conferences do this and unfortunately, BloggerCon is no exception.

Giving away unique content in a podcast in its entirety will dilute the importance of your conference. Attendance numbers will suffer because attendees will soon figure out that they can save alot of money just waiting for the podcasts at home. Why pay $350 for a 2-day pass, $700 for a plane ticket and $200 a night in a hotel when they can experience the conference in real-time from the comforts of home?

Instead, treat the podcasts as a lead-generating tool that guide people to purchase the full sessions on CD for a fee. Yes folks, I mean make money. That's how you monetize a podcast. You repurpose existing content by offering a small snippet in the podcast. Tease the listeners. Then, guide them to your website where the recording is available for sale.

Attendance numbers don't suffer (actually they should increase for the following year), you add another income stream to your bottom line and you still get to use a cool piece of technology to market your conference throughout the year.

Technorati Tags: bloggercon, podcast monetization