Podcast Freq

The wonderful world of Podcamps has been a great way of podcasters meeting up and learning from each other free of charge. At the wrap up session last Sunday, at the Podcamp Boston event…Chris Penn announced a change to future events - one that makes sense to me. At Boston 1,357 people registered, and of those approximately 650 attended, that means there was over 50% of people who did not show up. That is a high amount. I feel for the organisers when this happens as how do you cater…how do you plan logistically…how do you keep costs down, yet ensure that there is enough space etc for the people who show up?

Because of this, they have announced that future PodCamps will be allowed to charge a registration fee, in order to cut down on the no-shows. A small fee will show a commitment to the event and I tend to agree….a nominal amount for an event that helps you reach/connect with other podcasters, an event that has an array of speakers for beginners to advanced, an event that inspires so many….surely that kind of event should inspire us to part with a nominal fee?

I also think there should be a level of commitment from the speakers. There were a couple of no shows at the conference and it causes the organisers such headaches. Clearly, there are unforeseen circumstances and I appreciate that….but it can also be a chance to get your name up there pre the event for publicity and then not show, which I think is dreadful. I think if you have put your name down and you cannot attend then you should find a replacement for your slot…after all you probably know many people attending…

Here are the latest updated PodCamp rules:

1. All attendees must be treated equally.
2. All content must be released under Creative Commons.
3. All attendees must be allowed to participate.
4. All sessions must obey the Law of 2 Feet.
5. The event must be new-media focused.
6. The financials must be fully disclosed in an open ledger.

The photo below is of the Boston Convention Center where this years was held - impressive sight eh! One thing is for sure for a new person to Boston it was not difficult to spot in the night sky!

In my small way I want to promote those independent podcasters that spend time, money and effort podcasting. The reason being that it is getting harder and harder to find these independent podcasters unless you are not an iTunes user!

Today we are up to G, but if you want to check out the other recommendations based on my podcast picks then here is the link to the previous posts.

G= Geek News Central. I love this podcast, not just for the content but also for the fact it is a tech podcast that I can understand and relate to, because the host Todd Cochrane does a really great job of sharing his personality with providing news for us all.

The podcast is accompanied by both a blog and a newsletter which I subscribe to….here is the aim of the site in their words
“Geek News Central is a subsidiary of his company Podcast Connect, with this website launching in May 2002 with the goal of creating a high quality tech and informational site for people of all ages and backgrounds. In addition to Todd a small number of volunteer editors contribute content to the site. The idea of launching this site has it origins from what was in wanting to share information and opinions in a community fashion.

The goal continues to be posting quality links and information along with personal commentary on sites that interest us and hopefully those visiting the site. As you can see from our content we want you to be exposed to new ideas and technologies by publicizing new and innovative software or pieces of information that effect your daily connected lives.”

Once again if you have shows that you would like to highlight that start with the letter G then leave a comment at the end of this post - actually this was one of the hardest letters to choose from as I have 10 shows that start with the letter G!

Well 2 days travel for a 2 days conference. Tough schedule but well worth it as Podcamp Boston was a great event to attend. As I have said before I have always wanted to go to the Boston event as it is the home of the Podcamp and I wasn’t disappointed. So what are the key, top line takeaways for me personally?

1) The US are ahead of Europe in terms of thinking about podcasting. The conversation is much more about social media and how podcasting fits into that model rather than the tools of podcasting. There was much more emphasis on marketing, on creating a community, on branding. But the gap is closing and closing quickly.

2) The importance of face to face meetings/conferences. On line friendships are a vital part of my life now and I see them as strong as many of my offline ones. However, there really is nothing like meeting the face behind the voices. You can see the passion, you can see the personality, you become inspired by the level of ideas being thrown around the corridors and rooms. Never feel “Oh, I can’t be bothered to go…”, be bothered because you get so much personal development and even contacts that events really are worth the effort.

3) The power of audio as a brand. Many podcasters such as John Wall from The M Show I could just recognise from the voice….the realisation that the voice is the brand, the sound of the podcast is the brand. That before you change the sound of the brand, ensure that you are not compromising the brand values or if you are, it is part of your plan!

4) That as a podcaster you often do not realise that your passion has faded a little…I love podcasting, love doing 3 shows - The Podcast Sisters, Middle Age Shed and The Engaging Brand but all that editing can drain some of the energy away without you realising it. Finding events like a barcamps or podcamps, can top up that energy by acting as affirmation of why you are podcasting…why this medium was so important to you when you set out…and also how far you have come.

5) Another lesson for me was that, we do have to try and get the podcasting message out to the world! I heard a few people say..other people don’t get it….well I think that is dangerous. Once upon a time, I knew nothing about podcasting…it didn’t mean I was stupid, it meant that someone needed to help me, help explain the benefits and how to subscribe to these free shows…I remember thinking there must be a catch! We shouldn’t build a barrier of superiority because we understand podcasting, but instead throw a challenge down to ourselves that we will have introduced a 1,000 people to podcasting over the next 12 months.

So a great event and I will share more about various sessions during the week but check out the podcamp schedule and if there is one near you go…if there isn’t one…why not organise one yourself?

podcamp, podcamp boston, podcasting, barcamp,

I was interested to read on blogstring.com why he doesn’t listen to podcasts

1. Not searchable- When I’m looking for content, I can easily and visually search blogs. Finding great video content is a little bit tougher. But finding good audio content is nearly impossible for me.
2. Not “bend-over-the-page-able”- I drive a lot. I decided to try out an audiobook for the long ride each day. I quickly learned that audiobooks are not for me. With a book, I can easily return to my last attention spot. But when I listened to the audiobook, I kept drifting off and couldn’t easily find the place where I started to drift.
3. Not discoverable- It is very difficult to discover new audio content, as you have to actually listen to the content in order to gague the relevance. With a blog, it’s incredibly easy to traverse the web finding new posts by following links. If you hit a wall, you can easily recognize that the link you’ve just clicked is not for you. It’s a two second process involving nothing but a scan. Podcasts require a much more significant time expenditure.

I think this is a great summary of why podcasting has not progressed as widely as people imagined. The podcasts that I listen to are not based on specific content, they are based on personal brands…people that I have found through recommendation, accident, iTunes

So question in my head is …..do we need to promote podcasting or do we need to find a way of promoting the personal brand more? Is the podcast part of your social media strategy or part of your personal branding strategy…i.e. which is the subset ?

personal branding, podcasting, podcast, finding podcasts, podcast promotion

I arrived last night from the UK, 2 flights and 12 hours later I was in Boston for the premier Podcamp in the world. I cannot wait for the sessions to start today - if you want to follow on Twitter the you can either use the tracking option - track Podcamp Boston or there is a twitter feed for the event.

I cannot wait for the day to start with a full day of outstanding content. There are 6 hours of speaking events and for each hour there are 7 options! One thing that has struck me is how difficult it is to choose the session - why? Because these podcasters have built incredible personal brands that I connect with, that have built an element of trust with me….a brand promise that I want to buy into and not miss the session. That shows the global power of podcasting - imagine, I have flown just under 7,000 mile because of who is speaking in Boston! For anyone who doubts that podcasting can increase customer loyalty, customer retention, customer advocacy then I am living proof that podcasting can be an important element!

So which sessions are attracting my attention….well here are a few that I want to dip into, today.

1) Web 2.0, Enterprise 2.0 and Beyond - I want to understand how business should be positioning themselves with social media.
2) Measuring Success - I am still interested in understanding new ways to measure success instead of the old methods for old media.
3) How to market with new media - new media is evolving, so what are new ways of using the tools in the marketing space.
4) What is the sound of your brand. Recently I interviewed the brand futurist Martin Lindstrom on The Engaging Brand and he inspired me to think of audio as an increasingly important element of the marketing mix - so want to explore the use of sound as part of your personal brand, part of your podcasting brand.

There is SO much stuff! There are so many people I want the chance to meet. I will make in depth notes and of course I will share the learnings with you all, over the next week.

Today I have chosen a podcast that was one of the very first that I listened to…it was in the first 3 podcasts that I downloaded and has remained a must in my podcast feed. To look at which podcast shows I chose for A-E then hear is the link
F= For Immediate Release. For Immediate Release is produced twice a week by Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson, two of the kindest gentlemen on the planet. Shel and Neville discuss all matters to do with communication, pr, and technology. Although, Shel and Neville are the main presenters they have contributions from regular “correspondents” around the world. This show is much more than 2 men talking, this show is built upon a strong community who are incredibly active with their comments both audio and written. One unusual aspect to the show is that Shel is based in California and Neville is based in the South of England. I like that transatlantic feel as it allows news from both sides of the pond and also it is great to have different perspectives on global issues or world events.

As a matter of note, they have recently published a book called How to Do Everything with Podcasting which covers all aspects and is a great read for anyone who wants to learn more about the podcasting world.

podcasting book, podcast, community, podcasts to listen to, how to podcast

How can you use your podcast to earn money? That is probably the question that I get asked the most, when people know that I am a passionate podcaster.

I often say that my podcast is not meant to be my main income, it is meant to be a negative cost. I can see that may confuse some people - negative cost! But my podcast and indeed my blog, are a key part of my marketing plan. They cost me next to nothing - under $120 per annum. But for that level of investment, I have gained just under 70% of my new clients this year from either the blog or the podcast.

Therefore they are saving me money - a negative cost. The best part is that it is a negative cost that is revenue generating….

So why do people want to hire me as a personal coach, business coach or speaker…because they have built trust in my expertise, they have got to know me as a person - my values, my style, my approach - so they have almost been able to test the product before buying. The podcast is almost like that perfume sample on the shelf - when you try it you have no idea whether you will buy it, but if you try it then you are possibly more likely to buy.

For me that is a power of podcasting, people can hear your voice and by hearing you speak they feel closer to you. It is strange when I meet new people they treat me like a long lost friend because they feel they know me…..more so than blogging. When you think how personal the connection is - me speaking in their ears twice every 10 days then you realise that to many people you are more than a podcaster…you are a friend. Sometimes as we sit at our computers editing…which feels very impersonal….we forget how personal the end result is…

podcast, making money + podcasting, marketing, audio, voice

Continuing our series of independent podcasts that I believe are worth listening to, today we are going to look at E. But today I am writing a little tongue in cheek as I am writing about my show! But I do believe it is an excellent show - why? Because I learn a lot from producing the show.

Social media is an enormous area and podcasting as a subset of that, has to understand how to engage listeners, how to build a sense of community.
i
The Engaging Brand is all about how to motivate, inspire and ENGAGE people. Although the show is about engaging people at work, all the principles are as relevant to podcasting, and blogging. There are some great interviews on the social media sphere - Steve Rubel, Leesa Barnes, Joseph Jaffe, Jeremiah Owyang, Seth Godin, David Meerman Scott to name a few. I can honestly say that each interview I learn something new…in fact I see producing the show is part of my own development.

The full archives of the show can be found at Blubrry.

Just so that I am not totally biased ! I will also offer another E…

Every now and then I post about shows that I listen to that are not large corporate podcasts - although I have many in my iTunes feeds - but shows that are produced by ordinary people, independent podcasters without large budgets….but with large amounts of passion and imagination.

Today I look at D, for a look at the previous write up check out the A-Z Of Podcasts to Listen to

D= Dave Jackson. I love this guy! Dave Jackson is a must for people new to podcasting or podcasters that want to learn about podcasting trends, tips and also how to make podcasting easy! His School of Podcasting show is a fantastic resource and one that I always listen to…no matter how much I “think” I know about podcasting…the show always inspires me or teaches me something new.

I also like the fact that he has found ways of monetarising his work by thinking about the needs of podcasters, thinking about what his audience needs. He has some fantastic tutorials for instance that come at a premium but provide all the information that you need to get started. Here are some of the titles
How To Create a Podcast
What is Podcasting?
Sound Effects
Choosing a Microphone
Choosing a Web Host
Understand RSS
Using Wordpress
Choose Your Hardware
Interviewing Guests
Finding Podsafe Music
Podcasting Books
Promoting Your Podcast
Production Music
Voice Over Talent
Choosing Your Style
Pick the Right Software
Find a Toll Free Number
Find Voicemail
Get More Listeners
Save Production Time
Make an RSS Feed

So an excellent resource and one that I believe should be in your feed!

Today we have published Show 24 of The Podcast Sisters which is a fascinating talk with Krishna De about how to generate income from your podcast and your blog. Often people think purely of producing the show but there are many tools that you can use to “reap while you sleep!”.

I think this is also where it is important that you combine a blog with your podcast. Your blog can help provide a platform from which you can sell from and also provide more content that can help generate income.

In terms of podcasting, it is important to see that podcasts themselves can earn income but they can also be a marketing tool to bring people to your site to look for more products that you offer. If people are coming to the site because they are engaging with you, with your content, with your expertise then why not offer other audio products for a small cost. You could do a series of podcasts on a particular subject, you could offer a CD of the best of your show - remember some people would prefer it on CD for their car. You could offer a special edition podcast or CD that is not on the RSS feed…..key is thinking about your consumers, not what is easy for you to produce, what will provide value to their life?

So if you are looking for ideas on how to create income or cost effective tools available on the web that allows you to easily produce products to sell then check out Show 24…and if you have any ideas to share then leave a comment on this blog post or let us know by e-mailing podcast.sisters@googlemail.com.

For anyone in the US next weekend sees Podcamp Boston, and it looks as though it is going to be a superb event. The line of speakers looks incredible from Mitch Joel, David Meerman Scott, John Wall, Christopher Penn. They have produced an offical guide to the event which gives every details from sessions to hotels, from transport to maps.

There are well over 1000 people attending the event and for me the Boston area is at the hub of all things great in podcasting. When you look at the title of the streams you see how far the conversation has moved over the last 2 years. This year the streams are
1) Lessons in New Media
2) Business Trends and Issues
3) Video and Community
4) All Things 2.0
5) Intro/101
2 x Focus Topics

I like the fact that the event is wider than podcasting, it is looking at how podcasting fits in with the wider social media community and helping us learn and think about how social media will be changing over the next few months and years. Some say podcasting is dead, I don’t believe that for a moment - podcasting is part of a marketing/communication mix and I will enjoy hearing from some of the leading thinkers in the podcasting community how they see the podcasting medium evolving over the next year.

podcasting, podcasts, communication, marketing, podcamp boston

I published today an interview on The Engaging Brand with Martin Lindstrom who is a self entitled brand futurist. Martin is a wonderful speaker and talked through the importance of senses in marketing. It made me think what an important role podcasting can have in your marketing mix.

Most channels appeal to sight - flyers, magazine ads, advertising on tv, internet banners etc - but podcasting is one of the tools that you can use to appeal to the sense of hearing. When I think about it, I would recognise now most of the podcasts that I listen to by the intro music…it forms part of your branding either on a personal front or as a corporation. One company, that relies on podcasting has just issued their intro music as a ringtone to offer consumers or listeners to their Wiggly Wigglers show - great idea.

Added to the fact that podcasting appeals to your sense of hearing…it does in an intimate way. It is normally a 1:1 connection, often through ear buds…..speaking directly to the podcast consumers mind. I think all this means that we should
1) Choose our music carefully - does it reflect the brand values that you want to convey.
2) Try and link the music across platforms.

We are now very used to audio brands..the Nokia ringtone for example……we should think of our podcast as a product of our brand but also an audi brand in itself.

podcasting, podcast, audio, brands, sensory branding, nokia, martin lindstrom

Over at Podcasting News they have a research story about a company that I had not heard of before…Scouta. Scouta as described on their website do…

* Personalized video and podcast recommendations.
* Based on what you watch, listen to, or rate.
* Share favorites with friends and groups.
* Use our new iTunes Scouta Agent to make it effortless.

Scouta provides you with personal recommendations for video and podcasts that suit your interests and tastes. It does this based on your favorite online videos or podcasts that you bookmark in your My Scouta account. Scouta also works with iTunes, taking into account all the podcasts and vodcasts that you watch or listen to in iTunes, on your iPod, Apple TV, or iPhone, by using the Scouta Agent.

Interesting concept especially when you know how I feel about the ability to find good podcasts. I am not sure how they determine the recommendations, I need to read a little more….for anyone interested there is also a blog called Scouta

I expect that other software companies will emerge in this area, or at least I hope they do to try and bridge this gap of usability of search within directories.

scouta, podcasting, podcast directories, vodcasts, itunes

There is no getting away from the rise and rise of facebook. Whether you enjoy facebook or not, many of your potential consumers are participating within this social networking environment. My show, The Engaging Brand, tends to be less of a community for listeners and more of a 1:1 relationship between me and the listeners. I am finding it quite hard to build the facebook group, but that is not a problem - it is an opportunity! But I have been looking at how other people are using it to promote their work…this is what I have found but would love any of your ideas to share with the podcast freq community.
1) Use a facebook flyer to promote your services or show.
2) Form a group and use it to remind people of new shows, to post discussion ideas.
3) Offer something to the facebook members that is only available to them - maybe a small discount, an insight into you or your company, first sight of latest products.
4) Competitions for 100th, 200th, 250th, 500th or 1000th member…maybe a slot on the show.
5) Post a podcast player on your profile to promote your show.
6) Follow links to your friends profile and find more about their contacts. If you feel a synergy then add value to the community or their groups by sharing ideas, links or thoughts that will help others.

So here are my initial findings - what thoughts do you have? What works well for you?

facebook, promoting your podcast, facebook flyers, podcast player, podcasting, community, listeners

As many of you know, I recently visited the US to take part in the Podcast Expo in California. The downside from having time away was the run up to the date of departure - it was mad! - I had to record, edit and post 3 episodes of The Engaging Brand which would go live during my time away. Phew, it all worked out but as I got on the plane, at that point I don’t think I would have minded if I never produced another show.

However, having a break…a break mainly from the editing and the posting..has really helped with my motivation

1) I looked forward to getting the next show up when I got back, I missed it…like a pet!
2) I used the time away to think about how I wanted to take the show…and future shows…forward. Just having that time away really helped, it made me more objective and more creative at the same time.
3) That time away let me bounce around a few ideas with people who were my target audience…having that time to really engage with their issues, what they wanted in terms of value, in terms of what they would potentially pay for…was invaluable.
4) Reenergised my voice! You can really tell that this weeks show is produced by someone who is refreshed..the voice has more energy. That illustrates to me the importance of staying fresh, after all who wants to listen to a tired, bored podcaster!

Sometimes it can feel that you cannot stop, cannot take a break…but you can ! You could arrange a guest host to stand in, you could record ahead of time - like I did, you can say to the listeners that you need to take a break….that is so much better than going through the motions. So do you have a safety mechanism near you or build in that helps tell you when YOU need to take a break? If not find one…I find that my friends who listen to the show are my safety valve…they are not scared to say, “You need a break, your energy has gone” Painful at times but so much more rewarding in the long run.

podcasting, motivation to podcast, editing audio, podfade, podcast expo