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With over 20 years in the technical field, Andy White of Summit Solutions provides computer consultancy, bespoke software development and podcast consultancy to organisations throughout Sussex, UK.
Visit the blog at www.summitsolutions.co.uk
August 23, 2007
Which is better?
Both have their advantages and disadvantages. I will quickly summarise my opinion upon this based on what I know.
Firstly audio podcasts:
Audio podcasts are good because:
- They don’t use as much bandwidth
- For information based content you can pack in a lot more information than in a video podcast of the same size
- Where video does not add to the content in any useful way, this is recommended
- Hosting your podcast is usually cheaper since bandwidth is not as great
Video podcasts are good because:
- You can provide visual content to enhance the information message
- Visual content, lends itself more easily to branding and also display of additional advertising in a visual form which may be more attractive to advertisers
- If you want to get into tv, the movies or advertising you can get more exposure for yourself, especially if you appear in it by using a video podcast medium
Bear in mind with video, there are many formats and not all of them are compatible with every viewer. Consider the format of your video carefully before committing.
So as you can see the format you use is not cast in stone. You can use both as well. Such as Joe Satriani in his super colossus podcast. He has an audio and a video version.
Ultimately the form you use should be determined by a careful consideration of your goals, combined with an assessment of your marketplace.
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Graeme Sprigge is the webmaster of www.podcastdir.net - podcast directory
July 10, 2007
MP3 players have changed the way we organise and enjoy our music: the key is that many of us
have now integrated our music collections with our home computers - and with the all important
internet. As a result, the new possibilities are endless and it’s the world of Podcasting that’s
leading the way forward.
Radio shows, TV, short film clips and personal audio and video blogs are all
instantly accessible at the press of a button, to be downloaded and listened to whenever you want,
on your computer or on a portable player.And anyone with a computer and the right software can run
their own podcast, available to listeners all over the world.
So what is Podcasting?
The word itself is a combination of ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast’, although there’s nothing about podcasting
that’s exclusive to Apple or its iconic little portable. So what does the word this word actually mean?
Firstly, podcasting refers to something more than just a downloadable radio show. In fact, a podcast doesn’t
have to be an audio recording at all. In short, the word ‘podcast’ refers to any ’show’ or ‘clip’ thus audio,
video or both together that is made available on the internet using an RSS feed. This means that you, the user,
’subscribe’ to a podcast, so that whenever the relevant podcaster posts a new ‘episode’, it will be
automatically downloaded onto your computer by whatever software you use to organise your podcasts (for example
iTunes if you’re an iPod user.
The latest version of iTunes includes a comprehensive, smooth-running Podcast section, with an extensive
directory of podcasts for you to subscribe to, including Virgin Radio and Disney, as well as a huge
number of comedy podcasts, short films andsport punditry.
So what do I need?
In order to start subscribing to and listening to podcasts (incidentally, the word ’subscribe’ doesn’t
mean you have to pay for it as most podcastings are free), you’ll need to download
some software like iTunes but there are alternatives. The most popular softwares are Juice and Doppler,
and there is an increasing number of software applications designed to be used with specific MP3 players.
Podcast it yourself?
Podcasting is a two-way thing, and software such as BlogMatrix Sparks or EasyPodcast from
www.easypodcast.com enables you to create and publish your own podcasts easily. An audio-only podcast is,
in effect, a very simple thing to produce. There are three basic stages:
- Use some form of audio recording/editing software to create your audio ’show’. For simple-to-use software,
PC users should look at Cool Edit Pro, while Mac users can use GarageBand, which comes free with Macs as part
of the iLife software package.
- Turn your finished audio recording into an MP3 file. Once you’ve finished editing your podcast, save
it as an MP3 file using your media player such as iTunes or Windows Media Player.
- Use a hosting site to ‘host’ your podcasts. These will store the actual data, and provide you with
a web address and the RSS feed so anyone around the world can easily subscribe to your podcast.
And that’s all you need to become a podcaster yourself. For more tips, check out www.ipodder.org or
the podcasting section of the iTunes music store.
Learn Podcasting & Pod Cast Secrets Revealed. How to podcast in 3 easy steps. Professional Radio Disc Jockey reveals inside secrets and takes you step-by-step through the process. A content rich e-book
tells all the Secrets on how to create, market, and make Money With Podcasting!
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Daniel Dwase is the webmaster and editor of http://www.best-ipod-online a website that provides reviews and buyers guide of iPod Video, Nano, Shuffle and cheap iPod accessories and http://www.ipod-insider.blogspot.com a website that provides the latest news from Apple Computers about iPods.
December 16, 2006
Including an interview in your podcast is one way to make it more interesting to listen to, however, many podcasters will damage the reputation of their guest expert – and the effectiveness of their podcast – simply because they make common interview mistakes.
In this tip, you’ll learn why you should treat interviews over the phone with a guest different from conversations over the phone with your best friend.
Don’t include your own verbal affirmations. When we have conversations with someone over the phone, we usually say things to indicate we’re listening. Whether it’s “Yeah,” or “Uh-huh,” or some other verbal affirmation, resist the urge to do this while interviewing someone for your podcast.
By including your own verbal affirmations, you begin to dilute the message that your guest is trying to deliver. Listeners of your podcast will begin to focus on the number of times you say “Uh-huh,” instead of what the expert is trying to say.
Instead, just be quiet. Don’t say a word. Before you turn on the recording tool, let your guest know that you’re listening to every word they’re saying. When there is dead air, don’t fill it with a verbal affirmation. Instead, count to 3 and if your guest hasn’t started talking again, move on to your next question. Fill the dead air with silence instead of verbal clutter. It’s easier to edit dead air out of your podcast than it is to edit verbal affirmations.
(c) 2006 Leesa Barnes. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Leesa Barnes teaches insider tips on how to use podcasts to open doors, generate leads and make more-money. Leesa has helped hundreds of businesses worldwide make money podcasting using her simple seven step process. If you want to learn how to generate an income using a podcast, visit http://www.leesabarnesbooktour.com to download 2 free chapters of Leesa’s book, Podcasting for Profit.
December 10, 2006
Audio…what?
That’s right, an audio movie. Although the term “audio feature” may be more appropriate, as the finished product will constitute a full feature-length presentation — but audio movie is simple to grasp.
Aren’t screenplays written as a visual medium? This is exactly why they work as audio features. Live screenplay readings have been an irreplaceable tool for the film industry since Thomas Edison’s assistant, W.K. Laurie Dickenson, built the “Black Maria”, the world’s first movie studio. Local theater groups draw enthusiastic crowds by hosting script readings of up-and-coming writers where performers paint an entertaining and vivid image of the story, which is what good screenplays do. Now add life-like sound effects, a compelling musical soundtrack and the portability of an MP3 player, and whalla, the result is unique and engaging entertainment.
The first step is to write or acquire a great script. Preferably the screenplay has garnered some attention, like placing in a reputable screenplay contest. If this has happened, one can be reasonably sure the work is above standard. If not, one of the many script coverage services can provide valuable feedback and suggestions in case the storyline is lacking. The traditional scripting style needs to be tailored a bit for the production — most importantly the scene headings need to be removed and the information embedded into the action lines. For example, instead of a narrator reading: EXT. HOUSE – NIGHT, it could be “Icy winds sweep a steady veil of snow across a frozen field as the bright December moon hovers over a modest farmhouse.” Notice this line implies an exterior scene, at night with a house.
Extensive desktop software programs are available for recording, editing and mastering audio files. Adobe Audition and Final Cut Studio are two prominent products. Since there is a learning curve, especially if one has never used this type of software in the past, a good investment may be a manufacturer or third party training video to help speed things along. Since audio files can gobble up lots of memory don’t be stingy on computing power. An external hard drive for back-ups is money well spent and an oversized monitor will accommodate the software’s multiple audio track display.
There are a number of handy web services available to download royalty-free audio sound effects and musical soundtracks. SoundRangers.com offers convenient downloads from an extensive library. GrooveAddicts.com hosts an enormous database of music files and a friendly interface to sample and download tracks.
A remarkable abundance of digital-ready acting talent is available through the web. Online services like Voice123.com make casting a breeze. By posting character parts on the site, voice talent from around the world can respond instantly with customized demos and price quotes. Or one can search through the company’s lengthy database to match performers perfect for roles. Many voice artists are equipped with home recording equipment and can provide high quality audio files on demand. “Phone booth” recording studios, like Gigs On The Go (www.gigsonthego.com), offer an affordable alternative and can accommodate phone patch services so directors can work with talent in real time.
With the growing popularity of mobile audio devices, demand for unique and entertaining content will grow, and audio features will evolve to rival the thriving audio book industry — as long as there’s a good story to tell.
Ray Gross is the creator of http://www.audiocinema.com — a venue for audio features created from original, award-winning screenplays performed by professional talent from around the world.
November 30, 2006
Perhaps one of the most attractive benefits of podcasting is the Power of Choice.
The podcast audience can choose:
- When they consume their content of choice
- Where they consume their content of choice.
The podcasters can choose:
- What type of show they will post.
- What content will be included in their show.
- When they want to post their content.
- How they post their content.
In today’s fast moving world you’ll reach a much wider audience when you give them the option to consume your content on their terms.
Here’s just a few real examples of traditional media and business giving their audience the power of choice through podcasting:
- Traditional radio stations are offering segments of their shows as podcasts
- Tivocast is launching which will bring internet audio and video to real televisions.
- Mobilecasting makes True wirless podcasting possible. Consumers can subscribe and listen to podcasts right from their cell phones and other mobile devices connected to the internet.
- Internet streaming radio giants are offering their shows as podcasts.
- Internet marketers are publishing their tele conferences as podcasts knowing not everyone interested can make the call on time.
- Weather reports are available as podcasts
- Schools and Universities are making their classes available as podcasts.
Why is traditional media and business adopting podcasting so quickly?
They must make their content available on-demand. It is critical that you give your target audience the choice of when, where and how they consume your content.
Keith DeSantis is author of ‘Podcasting Superstar Secrets’ and the free multi-media e-course ‘The 7 Most Powerful Benefits Of Podcasting You Can Use Immediately’. Vist him on the web at http://www.PodcastingSuperstarSecrets.com
November 23, 2006
Podcasting is the new medium fad of the moment. But can it be used for marketing and is it inexpensive? The answer to both questions is ‘Yes.’
First, let me explain for the neophyte what podcasting is. Technology for its use has been around as early as 2000 but its widespread use really made its hey-day in 2003. So it is still new and the power of this new medium has yet to be realized.
Nevertheless, as an audio technology, there are some practical uses.
The name is derived by fusing iPod with broadcasting even though it has nothing to do with the iPod. Simply put, podcasting is taking an audio or video file and placing it on the Internet so that it can be downloaded for personal use by others. By transferring files in this manner, one could listen to a radio program or watch a television show or movie on one’s personal MP3 player, iPod or similar personal portable media player.
So how can this technology be used for marketing? If you have a product or service you can place an audio or video file on your web site describing your product or service and even do product demonstrations. Another use of the podcast is to develop an infomercial-type broadcast in which you accept advertising from other companies, somewhat like a television commercial in the middle of a program. While this use may not be necessarily popular, I believe it can be used effectively.
For instance, instead of interrupting your program with a commercial, put your commercials at the beginning or the end of the podcast. Also, you don’t want to overdo it. Only include one or two short commercials so that you don’t bombard your audience with too much marketeering. In this age, with cable and satellite television and radio, spam blockers and laws and other anti-commercial posturing, too much of a good thing will rub people the wrong way. A good example of this is pop-up advertising; too much is bad but just enough is effective marketing.
The uses for podcasting are endless. They can be short or long, but the key thing is to present them effectively. You want your files to be clear and understandable, so choose a speaker or presenter who looks good on camera and who has a voice that sounds pleasant. Also, treat your podcast like any other media presentation which you would spend hard-earned dollars to produce. Write a script and test it before an audience before you go into production. Do everything you would do for a television commercial you were producing or a radio spot. You want it to be professional and of the highest possible quality.
All you need to produce your own podcast is a personal computer. If you have Microsoft Media Player or RealPlayer by RealNetworks then you can record your own audio file right onto your hard drive. A web cam will do the same for your video file. Another way to capture your presentation is to use a digital tape recorder or a camcorder and download them onto your computer’s hard drive later. Then, you can upload them onto your web site the same way you would upload any other file.
Now that you have a basic understanding of podcasting, give it a shot. Make the most of this new technology and have fun.
Allen Taylor is an award-winning journalist, freelance writer and copywriter. He specializes in world-class marketing for small businesses. For more information about how to make your business shine visit http://www.taylor-and-associates.com Be sure to check out Allen’s ghostwriting services and sign up for the free e-mail newsletter.
November 16, 2006
Podcasting is sharing audio or video information through Rss syndications of your blog. People subscribed to Rss feeds can download and listen to your files on their personal audio or video players such as mobile or personal computer. Famous Podcast services are iTunes and CastPodder.
Videoblogging and Podcasting is the next big thing at the moment and hold great potential to be money-spinner in the near future.
Wordpress users can install the software and instantly start podcasting. All you need to do is link your favorite audio or video file in your post and wordpress will automatically add this to your Rss feeds more specifically Rss 2 enclosure feeds, available for subscribers.
There are many plugins available as well if you are not satisfied with the default feature, such as WP-iPodCatter to create valid feeds for iTunes podcast directory or SmartCastTM from Feedburner.com.
Steps to create your own prodcast included the following.
1) Create a music of your choice with various softwares such as wavepad for Windos or Audacity for Mac OS X.
2) Upload your music file (mp3 most often) on your server.
3) Create a post and add the link to your music file (URL).
4) Hit the Publish button and pray to god everything goes fine! This is called Podcasting.
5) Promote your blog and Rss feeds
If you are a regular podcaster, you can very well create a new category through your admin specifically for podcast so that every time you add a new post, you can assign it to this category. This way all your posts will be under a single category and it wil be easy to promote this category’s Rss feed.
Rakesh Ojha is a SEO specialist and Online Marketing Consultant with over 5 Years in SEM Industry. Contact him at rakesh@searchengineoptimization4u.com or visit his website at http://www.searchengineoptimization4u.com.
Read latest SEM and SEO articles on his blog at http://semblog.searchengineoptimization4u.com
July 13, 2006
When the signs of a new technology for developing web content appeared, nobody was aware about its growth speed. Now, after months, the podcasting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting) is going to be more and more popular and new publishers are developing content, based on this technology. They have found this method intuitive and attractive to clients. But regardless of the fascinating aspects of multimedia content, what other options make the podcasting different than other methods of providing and publishing content? Here, I have listed five major differences. Perhaps, at the time that you read this article, as this technology is going to be more mature day by day, new reasons could be added to my list. I leave it to the readers’ interests to search for new options.
- In spite of other known methods of delivering content which are mostly based on Push technology, the podcasting is based on pull technology. In push technology, the content is delivered, directed from the source to the consumer. The consumer has no control over it. For example, when a radio channel starts at a specific time, follows based on a predefined and fixed program and ends at a specific time, the consumer has no chance or permission to alter any part of it. If you lose a part of the program, you won’t be able to re-listen to it. You can not rewind it, stop it and think a while about the subject then re-play it. This is push technology. But, if you could have control of the flow of the content, it would be pull. The consumer selects the content and controls it. Podcasting is a kind of pull technology. You download selected content and use it based on your own desire and full control over the flow of content.
- However there are many notifying and automatic content syndication utilities, but you should always surf different websites for different content. This is your responsibility, as the consumer of the content, to go and visit the source of the content, on a website. But podcasting removes this step. Just one time, for ever, you choose your desire radio channel, news feed, poet channel or else. Then the aggregation software would be responsible to deliver the most recent casts right in your mobile MP3 player. After a while, you would even forget the address of websites and just listening to the downloaded up to date content would be your daily fashion.
- Internet connection is not that much easy to be available every time and every where. So, using web contents would be impossible in many cases. When you are driving, climbing, resting and walking in the morning, you would be deprived of having access to web content. No web log, no web surfing, no radio channel and else. But, the downloaded podcasts are available in the MP3 player which could be accessible to you in different occasions and places, making casts ready to use. No laptop and phone line to connect to the Internet is needed. No clean place to sit and use your PC for surfing the web sites is required. Everything is loaded in your tiny MP3 player which is able to play hours without any need to electricity plugged.
- The device for using podcasts is a tiny, every time and everywhere available MP3 player. The iPod is a brand which is owned by Apple company. It is why this technology is called Podcasting. The Pod is derived from iPod and cast from Broadcast. The iPod is not the only MP3 device that could be used. There are numerous providers of MP3 player devices that the consumer could use for listening to podcasts. These small devices are mobile. Consume very low energy to work. They are light and small. They are not expensive and are available with different capacities. MP3 players are very popular and you can see many people in the street that have hung them over their neck and are listening to the music. They are now part of the daily life. It makes the penetration ratio of the podcasts deeper than other type of contents that are basically dependant of having a PC, or laptop and Internet connection.
- Possibility of developing podcasts is high. It is cheap and easy to develop. From very professional radio channel owners to amateur poets who have little audiences among their school friends would be able to easily develop podcasts. Just a personal computer with very basic multimedia capabilities, like, microphone input, audio output and software to record voice, combine with background music and convert to low quality and small size MP3 format. Then you need just a FTP account for uploading the MP3s. A very basic knowledge about RSS 2.0 standards is also required. For this last option, you can use current available feeds and alter them for your own needs. I just started using this method, as learning RSS 2.0 needs times. I copied an already created RSS file and edited it based on my own needs and it worked without having enough knowledge. To download your podcasts, the consumer should install very basic aggregator software, one like iPodder (http://ipodder.sourceforge.net) which is free. And finally a MP3 player software like iTune (http://www.itune.com) or Microsoft Media Player which is already installed on Windows operating systems.
Podcasting, like web logging, is rapidly growing and every day, new podcasts in different fields, from poetry to technology, from training to radio channels are being created and published on the Internet. There are special directories and websites that index podcasts and podcasting websites. You can start from one of these directories and reach hundreds and thousands available and known podcasts on the Internet. One of these directories is http://www.podcast.net which has categorized podcasts in a directory structure. It could be a good start point for your adventure.
About The Author
Mahmood Bashaash is the owner of SGNetway (http://www.sgnetway.com) company which is focused on developing web sites and web applications. SGNetway is specialized on managing outsourced projects and uses Microsoft .Net platform with C# to develop complicated web applications and web services. Mahmood Bashaash is the author of www.MahmoodB.com and www.appliedmarketingtips.com websites focused on Internet marketing tips and tricks. To access his articles, visit: http://www.mahmoodb.com. His native language is Persian and his web site is totally in Persian language.
July 8, 2006
If you haven’t heard the term ‘podcast’ yet, you will.
It’s about to blow the world of online audio through the roof as every Tom, Dick and Shirley can now operate a high powered Internet Radio station providing on-demand audio (and shortly, video) with nothing more than a microphone, simple software, and a little imagination.
Just like cable TV in the 1980’s gave smaller networks and individuals a voice on television, podcasting gives individuals a voice (literally) through online audio.
Podcasting is actually the audio form of ‘blogging,’ where individuals share their thoughts in writing over time on a dynamic webpage known as a ‘blog.’
With blogging, subscribers and other blog publishers subscribe to and cross promote each other’s content by linking to and writing about each other.
With podcasting, the author shares his or her thoughts in audio form (MP3) and subscribers download and listen to the audio either on their computers, burn the files to CD, or transfer the files to one of the increasingly popular portable MP3 players.
In fact, the term ‘podcasting’ draws its name from the iPod, created by Apple Computers.
Initially you might think the only people podcasting are geeks and computer nerds, but that’s not the case.
If you imagine ‘talk radio’ meets ‘free cable access’ then you have and idea of what pocasting is now and how it could evolve in the future.
Right now, any idiot (like me) with a microphone and something to say can create an online radio show.
This type of access to media that reaches a world-wide market enables smaller, niche publishers to develop a world-wide following that just isn’t monetarily feasible in traditional mass-media.
That means talk shows like ‘Chihuahua Breeding’ or ‘Motorcycle Fashion Weekly’ that could never hope to afford air time in a local market, can now develop an audience on the Internet.
Log on to PodCastAlley.com to peruse a wide range of available shows on everything from dog training to wine selection and tasting tips (one of the most popular).
Despite all this potential power, podcasting remains in an infancy stage right now.
But, the Internet has always proven in the past that a powerful but simple technology will always find a way to make itself felt quickly.
All it needs to explode is a few people to lead the way and show exactly how to use the technology to entertain and educate subscribers.
I also think two worlds will evolve for podcasting program publishers, just like cable vs. network television.
Some content will remain free (network TV), while some subscribers will gladly pay for more specific ‘niche’ or pay-per-view content (cable TV).
As the quality of the programming increases along with more widespread acceptance of the tools necessary to consume the content (MP3 players and portable video players), podcasting will grow to stand beside other mainstream media.
It won’t happen overnight, and it won’t penetrate every market, but as members of the ‘global village’ seek to find and feel a connection with like-minded individuals, regardless of their physical location, podcasting provides a cheap, powerful, and innovative solution for that basic human need.
© Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
http://www.thenetreporter.com
About The Author
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to use fr^e articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate links…
Simple ‘Traffic Machine’ brings Thousands of NEW visitors to your website for weeks, even months… without spending a dime on advertising! ==> http://www.turnwordsintotraffic.com.
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