Opinion

(Click Here) for the podcast version of this article

I can’t tell you why I’m so hung up with this forest stuff at the present. I guess the images in my mind just fit for the moment. Every once-in-a-while, it seems I just have to spout off a little and make my position known and, I guess this is one of those times.

As I look out at the podcast landscape, I see many things available, and yet, so little of what I am looking for. When I do find something I am looking for, I either get excited or disappointed. I get excited when I find someone has actually put a little thought into their production and turned out a decent podcast and, believe me, that happens quite often. The disappointment comes for several reasons, one of them being, either they just don’t get it or I don’t.

Please don’t misunderstand me; there is some really great stuff out there in both the audio and video areas. Many are very professional technically and extremely excellent in production and content. I guess I just get weary sometimes with what some call being creative. (Of course, there is always that inattention to detail thing I harp on a lot.)

Now, admittedly, I am more oriented toward the educational side and less toward the entertainment side, but, both require a few things to be done right for them to be effective, at least in my opinion. These few things have very little to do with the way a person talks, (or looks, if we are talking video), and a lot to do with how they want to be perceived by those that will be listening or watching. It has to do with making a production that is worth seeing or listening to. It has to do with choosing the right equipment and software; maybe even in choosing the right format to get their point across to their audience in the most effective way.

I am not criticizing, nor minimizing, a person’s ability or freedom to be creative. I just think there is more than enough junk out there that keeps people from seeing the beauty of the forest. Some podcasts are nothing more than trees and have nothing at all to do with the forest because they don’t fit. The vision for them is so limited, they really ‘can’t see the forest for the trees.’ I know podcasting is still in it’s infancy, but some don’t understand they are helping lay the groundwork for the future of the industry as a whole and what peoples’ impression of it will be.

Another of the main reasons I get disappointed is poor production techniques that could easily be improved upon with a little bit more of ‘paying attention to detail’. I guess one thing I notice the most these days is how disinterested some people are in doing a good job. It seems to me they think it is cool to just get their podcast on the net and shock people with their new found freedom. They don’t have much to say and what they do say is filled with with lots of coarse language and very little content. Mostly, this type will fade pretty quickly, but it makes me wonder what their original vision was.

And then there are those that could do one or two things differently and have a much better production. I know I am a bit picky when it comes to certain things, but, things like room ambience and echos distract me. I know those little detail things don’t bother some at all, but I know I am not alone when it comes to being distracted by them.

Now bear with me for a few moments while I ride out this rant I’m on. I know that you, as a beginner podcaster, can do better than others. You’re taking the time to do a little research and planning. You have something to say and it needs to be said. Go ahead … the microphone is yours … make your point, show you’re creativity, get those laughs or enter into the land of “oohs and aahs”. But don’t forget to pay attention to those little things that can make your good podcast, great!

Hey, I like to laugh as much as anyone and I can be moved to tears without embarrassment when the message is right. Just show me that you can do it without taking the easy way out. Show me you’re creative enough to make your point, and make it well, without all of the cheap shots. And while you’re at it, do it without taking the short cuts. Take the time it takes to do it right! Taking that time doesn’t always mean hours … it could just be minutes or seconds that can make a positive difference.

In the same way that people can’t see the forest for the trees, many can’t see the value in putting forth a little more effort to create a better podcast and therefore making it more successful. There is more to it than just getting it out. Make it good … make it happen … look at the big picture. See the forest … not just the trees.

See ya next time . . .

(Click Here) for the podcast version of this article

There is an old saying people use and it goes something like this: “If a tree falls in the forest, does it make any sound if no one is there to hear it?”

That’s a good question even if it does sound a little dumb. If the falling tree does make a sound and no one is there to hear it does it make any difference whether it happened at all? Will anyone even know or care that it happened?

I think we all know the sound is there, it just takes someone to be there to experience it to be sure of the fact, or at least, share the experience with others so they will know that it happened.

I think that’s the way it is with podcasting also. There are many existing and brand new podcasts being put out every minute of everyday. Some are heard and some are out there just waiting to be heard. Some are great, some are good and other’s … well … they’re there, but … who knows why? (Sorry, sometimes those editorial comments just kinda slip out.)

If the sites and sounds are there but no one is there to see or hear them, that’s as if they aren’t there at all, isn’t it? No one knows about them. No matter how good or bad they may be, without an audience, they are just background noise that is ignored and goes completely unnoticed. To a beginner, that can be somewhat discouraging. To an advanced user, it is a challenge. The challenge to both being how to get someone, or many someones, to hear and see the sites and sounds and share the experience with others.

Now, I don’t want to go into a big discussion on how to get or grow an audience at this point, but I will say this. The better the quality of the material and the way it is presented, the better chance it has of being recognized in a positive way and becoming a successful venture.

Why would anyone care if their podcast is successful or not? Isn’t it enough that they produce it and it is there for someone to listen to?

You don’t have to look very far to see the answer to the first question. Podcasting, whether audio or video, is becoming one of the most important means of communicating ideas between people. Some are there just to make us laugh and some are there to help us understand what is going on in the world around us. Even others are there to inform us of our favorite past-time, hobby or interest, or, educate us in any number of subjects. If someone produces one and no one knows it exists, the information is sitting there with no audience and no hope of becoming effective or successful in any way. So, simply producing one doesn’t mean that the information it contains will ever be heard or seen.

It is important to remember the reason why you want to produce yours if you want to see your audience grow. What is the reason you wanted to do one in the first place? Was it to communicate an idea or raise the awareness of some injustice or concern? Was it to make people laugh at certain situations, or, themselves? Perhaps you wanted to generate an income, or help others generate one, and you use the medium to sell the products, share the information and the process. Whatever the reason, there must have been something about it you thought was important enough to spend time in producing it.

At some time or other, you will want to be sure that the message you have for others is going to be heard. There are ways to accomplish this and we will discuss them along the way over the next few weeks. In the mean time, just remember the reason a podcast can sometimes be like a tree falling in the forest is because no one is there to hear it.

See ya next time . . .