Month: October 2008

Beginner Podcasters – The Next Three Questions You Need To Ask Yourself Before Starting A Podcast

by

Click the play button below for a message from podcastnorm – Rusty Norman

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Click link to go to #0044 at mypodcast.com

Wouldn’t it be great if there were just three “magic” questions you could ask yourself and then immediately progress to producing your first podcast?

Well … yes … in a way that would be nice, but, it seems as though there are many questions on getting started and then you work through to the normal nuts and bolts questions so you can make your podcast as good as it can be technically.

Why can’t you just sit down and start talking into your microphone or recording device?

Well … the truth is … you can, but, I personally believe, if you are really serious about being a podcaster and turning out a podcast with regularity, you need to consider several things before you jump in with both feet. You need to fully consider what I call ‘the broader picture’ in this adventure called podcasting. Before you go to the all the trouble and possible expense, why not think about your full, long range, plan and intentions.

Does that mean you can’t have any fun and that everything has to be set in stone, serious and perfect from the beginning?? Of course not, it merely means that you should think further down the road than next week, (unless one more week is all you intend your podcast to be around for.)

A couple of weeks ago, I presented you with three questions you needed to ask yourself before starting a podcast. Now that you’ve had a chance to think about your real reasons for producing a podcast, here are the next three questions that would be good to consider before you actually invest your time and hard earned cash in equipment or software to make it happen.

Question one – Uniqueness

  • What makes your podcast unique?  Just what is it that separates yours from others and what is it that will keep you and your listeners coming back over and over again? Is it your personality? Is it the subject matter? or is it just because it is so much fun?

Question two – Niche Knowledge

  • How well do you know your chosen niche subject or subjects? This goes back to the question of, “just because you know a lot doesn’t mean you  know it all.”  If you are an expert in your field and have lots of shortcuts, tips and general, as well as specific, knowledge then you can probably be the authority on the chosen subject.  If not, you may want to consider …

Question three -Type of format

  • What type of format will your podcast be? Will it be an interview type? Or possibly a monologue type? Perhaps you will just depend on your ability to express yourself with your gift of gab.  Maybe you will choose a disc-jockey style with all the bells and  whistles as well as with playlists. May be you will simply talk about your subject with mood setting musical underlays or adding commercials and any number of technical complexities.

Look, I’m not trying to hold you back by asking a bunch of senseless questions or beat the preparation thing into the ground.  I just want to see you turn out the best podcast you can.  These questions don’t in any way cramp your creativity.  If anything, they will enhance your ability to accomplish your end results.

You see, I want you to accomplish your goals and not be disillusioned by the pressing demands over the long run by your continued involvement in this exciting way of communicating. I hope it is your intention to always be learning and striving for excellence with your production while at the same time having a great time and thoroughly enjoying creatively expressing yourself or your subject.

You can have a lot of fun podcasting and you can teach or inform others about your subject and also learn and hone your craft at the same time.  The sky really is the limit and the only thing that can hold you back is lack of preparation and planning.  Sure, there will be times when it is difficult and there will be times you may be disappointed, but, if you “take the time it takes to think it through” before you run across those times, you will succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

See ya next time …

Rusty

Beginner Podcasters, Consider This: Life On The Web and In Podcasting Can Sometimes Be Tough and Short-Lived

by

Click here for mypodcast.com article audio

Click here for podcastpeople.com article audio

I fully intended to be giving you a review of a nice little software program I tried out at the request of one of my reader/listeners … but I have found that they are no longer around. That software was called “Podcast Station” and I gave it a good try for the thirty day trial period and wanted to buy it but found they were out of business.

Wow, how quickly things change in this world we live in … especially this audio and video podcasting world.

That’s one of the problems, or should I say challenges, of getting started marketing either yourself or a product online. Sometimes a great idea is just that, a great idea, but needs to be looked at further BEFORE you offer more than you can deliver or before your hopes and dreams for a program or product bankrupt you either physically, spiritually or financially.

I am sure all of us would like to generate some sort of income from our podcasts, products or productions, but there are some pitfalls that need to be considered also. That’s why we need to look at our future in this endeavor before we’ve invested too much money or time (which is part of the subject I talked about in my last article).

I cannot, and will not, speak for the makers of “Podcast Station” but I do kinda know how they feel. It can be really tough in this life of technology and information sharing, whether you are trying to market a podcast or trying to sell a software program. I’m inclined to believe that just because something is so easy and inexpensive for individuals, or companies, to produce does not mean it will always be successful or valuable.

That’s why I think it is so important for beginner, (or wannabe), podcasters to really think about their short-term and long-term goals for their chosen direction. Although you can’t necessarily see all of the possible problems before you actually turn out your project, you can research and analyze your possibilities by taking just a bit more time before making a long-term commitment to something. Does this mean you can’t step out and just do it? No; but it does mean that you need to take the necessary time to look at your plan before it causes you a lot of grief or heartache.

If you take that little bit of extra time, what does it cost you? Nothing but the extra time it takes. The nice part is that if you take a little extra time and decide to continue on, you may find that it makes your progress towards what you consider success that much quicker. Can that be a bad thing? I don’t think so.

You see, I have this really big “wish list” filled with all kinds of nifty items I would love to have or at least try out. I just don’t have the extra cash laying around to throw at items that I probably don’t need anyway. I have managed to keep my budget relatively low because I took a little extra time to look at what I wanted to do, what I could afford to do and how important it was for me to do it.

I have invested in a couple of pieces of equipment to make my job easier for now and they were things I could use not only for my podcasting adventure, but also for other things I like to do.

One of the best investments I think I have made is how I record my voice for this podcast. I use a ZOOM H4 Handy Recorder. It is a portable and handy device that captures (records) directly to an SD memory card (up to 2g) in either wav or mp3 files from the built in x-y pattern mics. It also has the capability to directly connect external mic or instrument inputs. In fact, it is actually a hand held 4 track studio.

As I have mentioned many times before, I use Audacity to edit my programs. It is free, versatile and works extremely well. (Now, admittedly, I use ver. 1.2.6 just because I like the stability of it but I have used the newer versions which do even more and also perform well). Did I mention it was FREE?

You see, I’m a believer in not spending more than you need to and I also believe in keeping things simple. Both of the items I have mentioned here are easy to use and affordable. I didn’t start out with the H4 but took equipment I had laying around and used that until I determined what would be the best for me to invest my limited finances in. I’ve used an old hand-held, full-size cassette recorder and then graduated to using my little hand-held, audio note-taking digital recorder (made by Olympus) until I made that investment in the H4.

Now, I feel as though I am working with two things, (the H4 and Audacity), that allow me to quickly turn out a very good production and also serve me well in other areas of interest.

Does that mean I can’t do better?

No … it means I have put off making a larger financial investment in some equipment I would someday like to have until I really need it. I think what I use serves me quite well considering what I have invested in it.

You may ask the question, “Do I really think my podcast is that important or popular?”

I would answer you this way. If I can help just one person make a better decision in their quest for a dream, then I have accomplished at least one purpose for this website. My hope is that I have reached, and will continue to reach, more than one. I have considered my purpose and investment and it is worth the price for me to continue trying to help people not waste their time or money and become frustrated.

Am I looking to be popular? Although popularity is always appealing — no — I am looking to help you make wise decisions to accomplish your most burning desire in podcasting. The most important thing I have to offer is my experience in recording, editing and turning out productions and doing it the best I can. That part may not be important to you, but I have been doing it for a long time and I do care about what I do.

See ya next time …
Rusty

Beginner Podcasters – Three Important Questions You Need To Ask Yourself Before Starting A Podcast

by

Click the Play button below to hear a message from PodCastNorm – Rusty Norman

PlayPlay

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Go To podcastpeople

“So … why can’t you just start a podcast?” Well, that’s a really good question and here’s another. “Why bother thinking about the ins and outs and pesky details of making a podcast when all you want to do is interview people and/or talk about what-ever comes to mind?” Well, that’s another good question, and here’s one more. “When all is said and done, couldn’t spontaneity be the key to a successful podcast?”

The answers to these three questions are:

  • you can;
  • you don’t have to
  • and, yes.

But these are not the three most important questions you need to ask yourself before you start your own podcast. Hopefully, you will consider these and other questions as you progress towards producing your own podcast, but, you see, there are a lot of things that need to be considered and some are more important than others.

Let’s get real here. Audio recording and editing (especially simple, digital recording and non-destructive editing) is not at all difficult in this day and age but it is an ever-evolving craft as far as equipment and software is concerned. Although not quite the same, this same thought holds true for video recording and editing. Podcasting, more often than not, is merely an extension of recording and editing either audio or video or both.

While we’re at it, let’s not forget what a definition of podcasting actually is. It is the ability of the listener to take recorded audio or video files of information they’re interested in and listen to them at a time more convenient for them. Perhaps better stated, it is a recorded audio or video file that is portable and time-shiftable by the listener.

In the end, however simple or complicated you decide to make the above tasks determines what equipment and software you will need, but those are questions we can better answer later.

Now that we’ve gotten those preliminaries out of the way, there are other things you need to consider as you plan producing your podcast. You don’t need to consider every little detail here at the beginning, but you do need to think about the bigger picture. In other words, you may know you want to be podcaster, but, do you know what you are getting yourself into?

Let’s take a look at three of the questions you really need to ask yourself before you get started and before you make any large investments in equipment or software.

First: Just how serious are you about making a regular podcast?

  • You must first make up your mind whether or not you are really serious about doing a regular podcast. Believe me, somewhere down the road you will definitely come to the point of answering this question and you might as well answer it first. It is one of the most important you can ask yourself right now, before you spend any money or invest in any equipment or software. Think it through. After the newness wears off and the drudgery kicks in will you still want to pursue this?

Second: How much do you want to invest in this adventure?

  • Just because you only have a little money — or don’t have any money — to invest in equipment or software doesn’t mean you can’t achieve your goal. It just means you may have to be more creative in your approach to getting started. It may mean you have to think a little harder or consider more broadly how you can actually get started or where you want to spend what little money you do or don’t have to purchase the necessary equipment or software. It is my opinion, if you have a relatively new computer and a microphone that records your voice somewhat decently, you are ready to get started, (even if only on a limited basis to begin with.) Your options are still wide open in any case. Trust me, if you really want to be a podcaster, there are even ways to be one whether you have a computer or not.

Third: How willing are you to listen to the input of others even if you have a working knowledge of recording, editing and podcasting?

  • Just because you know a lot doesn’t mean you know it all. Swallow that pride, be open-minded and listen to the input of others. You may not agree with them and you may not use all or any of what they offer but you can gain valuable input and information from them; and come to better know why you do things the way you do and why their way won’t work for you. You never know, you may actually find they have some really good ideas that you can tweak and use for your own purpose. (Who knows, you may even one day discover that people are willing to listen to what you have to say concerning this ever-changing way of communicating ideas to others.)

As I said earlier in this article, there are many things you need to consider before jumping headlong into your choice of podcasting. These are three of the ones I consider to be most important to consider before you get started. I do believe if you take the time to evaluate them and your plans for your production you will be miles ahead now and in the future.

See you next time …

Russ