School of Podcasting - Podcast Tips to Plan, Launch, Grow Your Podcast

This show (download show) was originally recorded last week 4/25. In the hussle and bustle, I never published it. You can read about my "Passing out" at BetterDave.com Audience FeedbackVince from  www.bmoviecast.com agrees that you are never too old to podcast (as he is a baby boomer). Audacity Feedback?Steve from www.djideasharing.com does not use Audacity, but ubercaster (for the mac) had him losing an episode. Blog Views and Blues www.blogsviewsandblues.comThis is a new podcast from Rich Palmer (www.richpalmer.com ) and he turned me on to www.springwidgets.com Wordpress 2.5 BugsIn working with the bugs, I can seem to get the image media manager to work. If i'm lucky enough to get an image to upload without error, I can't get to a screen to where I can insert it into the post. I did find I was able to to do this if I stopped using Internet Explorer and switched to Firefox and it worked. So if you are a big IE fan, then you may not want to update just yet. I've been using the Image Manager plugin. More Fun Toolswww.twirl.org is a desktop Twitter tool. It works on both Mac and PC. From www.celticmythpodcast.com an easy to customize wordpress theme at http://wpthemepark.com/themes/paalam/ It makes it very easy to turn on or off the text on yruo header (as well as upload a custom header. It's widget ready, and if know a little html, its easy to tweak the colors. If you need help with the "technical stuff" please see me at www.podcastfastpass.com Mentioned in this episode:Can You Do Me a Favor? Vote For Me!This only takes a minute, if you could go to www.podcastawards.com and vote for the School of Podcasting in the education category -it would mean the world to me. Podcast Awards2025 Audience Survey

Today we talk with Richard Harrington and Mark Weiser authors of the book Producing Video Podcasts: A Guide for Media Professionals. If you are a audio podcaster looking to get into video, it can help those looking to do it on a shoe string budget or the person looking to invest some big time equipment. For more information about the Authors and the book go to www.vidpodcaster.com The book is available at Amazon.com  Mentioned in this episode:2025 Audience SurveyCan You Do Me a Favor? Vote For Me!This only takes a minute, if you could go to www.podcastawards.com and vote for the School of Podcasting in the education category -it would mean the world to me. Podcast Awards

Today we talk with Scott Sigler who was the first person to have a Podcast only novel. People became addicted to it as the only way to get it was through his podcast. Later he published this book (Earthcore) and a second book (which went to #2 at Amazon.com) and he continues to write and release books (giving the ENTIRE BOOK away in a podcast with each release). His latest book Infected was given away as a pdf prior to its release? Did it effect sales? Nope. Once again Scott was at the top of his genre. In this interview Scott talks about how he got the word out about his novel/podcast, why it makes sense to give it your book away, and how you can use podcasting to start your own word of mouth campaign. For more information about Scott go to www.scottsigler.com You can buy his latest book inftected at amazon.com You can see how he is utilizing social media like MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube below. To join the school of Podcasting go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com Mentioned in this episode:Can You Do Me a Favor? Vote For Me!This only takes a minute, if you could go to www.podcastawards.com and vote for the School of Podcasting in the education category -it would mean the world to me. Podcast Awards2025 Audience Survey

Today I talk about some of my reflections from speaking at the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop. I also play a promo for www.blogsviewsandblues.com  TOO OLD TO PODCAST?There is no age limit on Podcasting. I know of an 8 year old who has a podcast, and I know someone who is in their 60s who is doing a podcast. So if you are saying to yourself, "I'm too old to podcast" you are robbing yourself of a great way to share your wisdom. UNDERSTANDING BANDWIDTHTo understand bandwidth think of your kids or grandchildren. They may have a phone plan that covers X amount of text messages. When they go over the limit they are charged for each text message over the limit. When you have a website you are given a set amount of bandwidth measured in either megabytes or gigabytes. If you go over your limit your host will charge your, and in some cases they may shut your site down. This is why I recommend Libsyn.com www.uselibsyn.com or if you need free go to www.podshow.com UNDERSTANDING STORAGEStorage for your media files is also limited. Think of storage like a filing cabinet. You can stuff more and more files in your cabinet, but eventually it will get full. PODCAMP OHIOPodcamp Ohio is 6/28/08 for more information go to www.podcampohio.com WHERE ARE YOUR LISTENERS?I have been talking about podcasting at podcast conventions. This really doesn't make sense if I'm trying to find people who need to learn how to podcast as most of the audience is already podcasting. I need to find people who need publicity. While I can keep up with technology at the New Media Expo, and meet all of my friends, if I want to find people interested in learning how to start  a podcast, then the New Media Expo may not be the most efficient use of my publicity dollars. Mentioned in this episode:2025 Audience SurveyCan You Do Me a Favor? Vote For Me!This only takes a minute, if you could go to www.podcastawards.com and vote for the School of Podcasting in the education category -it would mean the world to me. Podcast Awards

Today I explain why you had an episode show up a few days early. I also explain that I'm not going to be speaker at the Expo in Las Vegas (but will be going to Podcamp Ohio www.podcampohio.com ). I also talk about post dating Podcasts and the easy mistake you can make that will have things going out immediately (oops). Dave Sholes got a free month at the School of Podcasting by sigining up for the Podcast Secrets preview call at www.secretswithdave.com I also share some of the tips from out weekley roundtable at the School of Podcasting (www.schoolofpodcasting.com )Mentioned in this episode:2025 Audience SurveyCan You Do Me a Favor? Vote For Me!This only takes a minute, if you could go to www.podcastawards.com and vote for the School of Podcasting in the education category -it would mean the world to me. Podcast Awards

Today my friend Paul Colligan from Podcast Secrets is on the show. Paul is a full time podcast consultant and Internet Marketing guru. While we are all at work, Paul is out testing new technologies, new strategies, talking with other successful podcasters, and taking lots and lots of notes. Then once a year he offers a class (available at my partner link at www.secretswithdave.com ) where he reveals what he has learned. Not sure if this call is for you? Then go to www.secretswithdave.com and find out about the call happening April 2nd (after April 2nd you can find out about the class) that gives you a preview of the information that they will be covering. This way you can decide if this class is for you. You see, Paul doesn't want you if you're not serious. This is for people looking to make a six figure income from Podcasting. He is going to be telling you how people ARE DOING THIS now (not how this might work, or this should be tired, this is how people are doing this in 2008). So if you're interested sign up for the call at www.secretswithdave.com and send me confirmation and I wil lgive you a free month at the School of Podcasting. If you sign up for the class, I will give you a free year at the School of Podcasting. Mentioned in this episode:2025 Audience SurveyCan You Do Me a Favor? Vote For Me!This only takes a minute, if you could go to www.podcastawards.com and vote for the School of Podcasting in the education category -it would mean the world to me. Podcast Awards

Show #129 originating from www.schoolofpodcasting.com Today we get the answers from last week's poll about USB interfaces and using Audacity. Thanks to: Joe from www.onthepodcast.netAnthony from www.diabeticincandyland.com Mike from www.mikeshotdish.com Warren from http://pewpodcast.podomatic.comTerry from http://quiettimepodcast.com/wp and http://oldcootcast.comLarry from http://goinglinux.comSally from http://www.podcastasylum.comDaryl from http://www.poddog.ca/suburbia Jay from www.jayjennings.com creator of Cloak and Tracker 75% use a USB interface75% use Audacity. Most feel Audacity is stable, and people using USB microphones seemed to lve them while people using USB interfaces seem to find them a bit of a hassle (especially if this is on your main unit). Items mentioned: Blue Snowball USB mic $99Samson CO1 USB Mic $90Alesis MultiMix 8 USB Mixer $149Alesis Podcast Mic (comes with mic, heaphones, software) $99Behringer UCA202 USB Interface (connect from your mixers tape out) $30Zoom H2 Portable Recorder $199Behringer USB Podcast Kit (includes mic, headphones, mixer, usb interface, software) $100Rode Dynamic USB Podcaster Mic $230 NEXT WEEKRich Harrington and Mike Weiser authors of the book "Producing Video Podcasts." Buy it at amazon.com Mentioned in this episode:2025 Audience SurveyCan You Do Me a Favor? Vote For Me!This only takes a minute, if you could go to www.podcastawards.com and vote for the School of Podcasting in the education category -it would mean the world to me. Podcast Awards

In a recent "Roundtable" at the School of Podcasting where members from the School of Podcasting get together and share tips and insights into all things podcasting we go to talking about using USB interfaces. People loved their USB microphones, but it seemed to be a trend of people getting USB interfaces, and then not use them. Also, back in 2005 people that used Audacity often had an "Audacity crashed" story. That was a while ago, and Audacity has been upgraded and I'm looking to see if it is indeed more stable (as I haven't heard a story about Audacity in a while). Please CLICK HERE to take the quick survey (using wufoo.com ) and let us know about your experience with USB devices and Audacity. Also we are running low on Podcast Promos at www.podcastpromoshow.com Thanks in advance and next week I'll tell you what I learn. Sites Mentionedwww.podcastvoicemail.com www.wufoo.com www.sleddogpodcast.com www.a1artistspotlight.com Mentioned in this episode:2025 Audience SurveyCan You Do Me a Favor? Vote For Me!This only takes a minute, if you could go to www.podcastawards.com and vote for the School of Podcasting in the education category -it would mean the world to me. Podcast Awards

This show originates at www.schoolofpodcasting.com If you want to have a sponsor for your show, you need to be a SALES PERSON. New to sales? Check out Zig Ziglar or Tom Hopkins but you need to have a system in place to PROVE to the advertiser that YOU brought them traffic, and that your listeners bought their products. So you should: 1. Have some sort of stats system. I use Libysn stats, or in the case of some podcasts I use stats from podtrac.com 2. Have them create a "landing page (this could look like their home page, but its' just a different address). So it could be www.theadvertiserssite.com/podcast" now they can go into their stats and see how many visitors came from your show. 3. Have them offer a deal. This could be a coupon, a discount, SOMETHING that ONLY YOUR LISTENERS get. 4. Track the number of links from your site to their site. This is easy with a tool like Jay Jenning's Cloak and Tracker software (and very, VERY, easy to setup). So now no matter what happens, if a person goes to their site (After hearing it on your podcast), if they purchase something (using the coupon), or if they click on an image from your site (which should be a bargaining tool) to go to their site - you can track the traffic, and hopefully prove the results. The advantage of sponsors that you find on your own is you get all the money. You don't have to split it with people. The potential bad news is you might feel yourself editing yourself so you do offend any potential sponsors. This is why some people are turning to the Premium Podcast Solution. I call this the "Chic Fil-A" way to podcast. Chic Fil-A in the states often gives out a sample piece of chicken so that you go buy a whole sandwich. Podcast pioneer Dan Klass of the Bitterest Pill has just adopted this model. After podcasting for two years he will produce one free episode (the sample chicken) and four episodes a month of "premium" content (the whole chicken). He is using Premiumcast.com for this (A great system).   Watch Dave's Video on Carbonite that allows you to back up ALL of your files for $50 a month.   Are you looking for a Podcast Expert? Looking to get into Podcasting on a budget? I've got step by step tutorials that will show you how to podcast at www.schoolofpodcasting.com Mentioned in this episode:2025 Audience SurveyCan You Do Me a Favor? Vote For Me!This only takes a minute, if you could go to www.podcastawards.com and vote for the School of Podcasting in the education category -it would mean the world to me. Podcast Awards

This show originates from www.schoolofpodcasting.com The NEW School of Podcasting site (created with www.wordpresstool.com ) is now live. Today we talk with Rob Walch from Wizzard Media. (www.wizzard.tv) as well as www.podcast411.com and co-author of Tricks of the Podcasting Masters he also is a co-host of Today in Podcasting www.todayinpodcasting.com Wizzard has technology to let you GEOGRAPHICALLY target your audience. They also have tools to allow you to get demographic information so in the end an advertiser could ask Wizzard, "I want to put get my product or service in front of males 18-25 years old in the Dallas Texas area." Keep in mind the more detailed they get, the more you can charge. This involves being hosted at Libsyn (www.uselibsyn.com ) If you are looking to learn how to podcast, check out the School of Podcasting at www.schoolofpodcasting.comMentioned in this episode:Can You Do Me a Favor? Vote For Me!This only takes a minute, if you could go to www.podcastawards.com and vote for the School of Podcasting in the education category -it would mean the world to me. Podcast Awards2025 Audience Survey