Recommendation

Beginner Podcaster . . . ?

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Everything begins somewhere. If you’re a beginner podcaster, you need a place to start and today’s world makes it easier than ever for you get a good start on your chosen subject or subjects.

There is hardware and software — some inexpensive and some not — that can turn out just about any quality of production you desire. Free stuff is available, whether it be information or programs or sites, and it is easier than ever to be syndicated.

There are so many people out there in the world that are creative in many differing ways and their ideas for podcasting (both audio and video) cover the spectrum from “the ridiculous” to “got to have it daily”. I am quite amazed at how much diversity really is available. Some of it I like and some of it is absolutely useless. (Oops, there I go getting opinionated again.)

If you are a beginner, it doesn’t hurt to do a little research on the history of this popular medium called podcasting. You don’t have to let that keep you from getting started, but it is always good to know the roots of your chosen interest. This will help you understand where it came from, but more importantly, it will help broaden your vision for the future. This is a relatively new industry and it is looking to go forward and not repeat the mistakes of the industries that preceded it and yet take the best things from those predecessors and build on their positives.

If you think it is easy to turn out a quality product without forethought and effort, you can rest assured that your stay in this arena will be short. Whether you offer daily or weekly broadcasts similar to radio or TV, or information on your favorite handy tip for around the house, you will soon recognize that quality is going to become more and more important. People want to listen to a good sounding program or see a good looking video product. That is why you will want to experiment with different hardware and software to find what works best and easiest for you. Spending a little time with some demos could possibly save you a bundle in the long run, when it comes to investing in those products you want to, or will, use. Reading about or listening to some veterans’ thoughts on the type equipment that can work best for your situation is always a good investment.

It is work (although it can be a lot of fun) to turn out a product that will cause your audience to want to return again and again. That is why it is so important to enjoy what you are doing. When you’ve had a rotten week and the world has crashed down around your shoulders, your podcast can be a sanctuary for you. It can be the place you forget about all of the problems and stresses and just enjoy doing whatever it is you do and offer people a place to come and enjoy that very same thing.

Beginning at the beginning seems to be a good place to start BUT it doesn’t have to hold you back. Spending some time studying and listening to the veterans will make your advancement take place more quickly because you won’t have to stumble around in the dark, looking for the right equipment and software to turn out your best product.

Podcast Solutions: The Complete Guide to Podcasting (Solutions)That is why I do highly recommend this book, Podcast Solutions: The Complete Guide to Podcasting (Solutions). It is a wealth of information and really is a “Complete Guide to Podcasting”. If you are a beginner in podcasting you won’t regret the investment. The same holds true if you are an advanced podcaster. It is a good investment!

See ya next time . . .

‘Free Stuff’ vs. ‘Pay Stuff’

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Everybody likes ‘free stuff’. I am no exception for, you see, I like ‘free stuff’ too. There will always be ‘free stuff’ available and it should be that way. ‘Free stuff’ is good, but, not always the best. ‘Free stuff’ is sometimes free because it has little or no value or, it’s free because the info is somewhat outdated and only useful to attract your attention to newer ‘stuff’. At other times, some ‘stuff’ is really good and very valuable but it is free just because the person that makes or owns it wants to give it away no matter how much value it has.

Now, even though I say free stuff isn’t always good, I do have a great resource spot you need to check out. It is free and, even better, it is good. It is made for beginners in podcasting as well as helping the experienced podcaster make his/her podcast even better. You really should give this place a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. You can find it at, studio.odeo.com/create. If you want to create something new or just listen to others let loose their creativity, this is a ‘must do’ place. (Besides, it’s f-r-e-e, so what do you have to lose.)

I was introduced to this site by a very good friend of mine named, Christer Edwards. He is a very knowledgeable internet marketer and educator. (You can, and should check out his blog at www.christeredwards.com. It is full of great! information, and, by the way, he has a vast amount of technical knowledge and skill and is more than willing to share it.)

Now, getting to that ‘pay stuff’. When someone has something they (or we) perceive as valuable, we are willing to pay for their knowledge or product. If we don’t perceive it as valuable, we may find their asking price too high or their knowledge lacking in some fashion. Either way, we as the customer (or audience) make the choice as to how much value is placed on the product(s) in question which determines its monetary value and “staying power”.

This is also the way it should be. The question now becomes, “Who and what should we be willing to pay for and how much is that information or programming worth?” If we are making our product available for free, does it contain value for those that receive it even though it may have a sort of ‘hook’ attached to it? When it comes to podcasting, it is my personal opinion that ‘value’ is a very “key word”.

See ya next time . . .

“Podcast Solutions”by Michael Geoghegan and Dan Klass … This Months Book Review/Recommendation

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Podcast Solutions: The Complete Guide to Podcasting (Solutions)(click on the pix to get it quick!)

This is my recommendation for the book to read for the month of February if you are a beginner looking to get started, or simply like would like some great info for making or improving your podcast.

I realize there are a lot of books on the market for podcast beginners and advanced users. I think this book is well worth the investment whether you are a beginner or an old pro, (maybe even a young, old pro). Because there is so much in this great book I just want to tell you a little of what it contains. Now, that doesn’t mean I won’t be metioning more about it later, it just means I want to tell you a few things about it at this time and hope you will pick it up as a valuable resource you will be able to refer to on a regular basis. These guys KNOW what they’re talking about.

From the pages of this book you will harvest a wealth of information on things like:

  • How to use “podcatchers” like iTunes, iPodder Lemon, and iPodderX
  • Secrets of creating the perfect podcast
  • Expert advice on how to design a successful show
  • How to set up an effective studio in which to record your podcast
  • Includes the complete “Podcast Studio Buyer’s Guide”.
  • Everything you need to know about recording, editing and encoding
  • Everything you need to know about uploading your podcast
  • Information on using music “legally”
  • Attracting sponsors, advertisers and other evenue sources for making money with your podcast

Michael Geoghegan and Dan Klass are pioneers in podcasting. (You can find out more about them by clicking the links in “Podcasting Quick Tips #2” This book a not just something you will want to have for one read. It is something you will want to refer to often even though podcasting is a technology that is changing rapidly. This book is jam-packed with great information and I like the way they offer the important information and yet keep it simple and straightforward. They present it in an understandable way and that is a BIG plus for those that pick it up to get a great headstart on podcasting even though they may be absolutely new to the technology.

Now here’s another thing about this book I really like. It comes with a CD, (worth the price of the book by itself), packed with useful programs, although mostly trial versions, for getting started in podcasting. Even though some of the programs are trial versions they will give you a good feel for the programs BEFORE you invest your hard earned money and that can help you get started on a shoestring and move up as you progress or start up without having to go at the programs ‘cold’.

All in all, I guess you can tell I like the book. I would rate it at least four and a half stars.

See Ya Next Time . . .

(Podcasting Quick Tip #2) Try this. . .

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Podcast Solutions: The Complete Guide to Podcasting (Solutions)There is a lot good stuff going on the software and hardware areas of Podcasting these days. I am always looking for ways to make things easier for myself and I am favorably impressed enough with this piece of software that I am willing to recommend you try it.

First, let me tell you how I came across it. There are millions of search results for anything to do with podcasting. So I don’t generally go that route. I tend to use people’s sites that I have come to trust over time. One of those is Paul Colligan. I visited his site again a few days ago, (something I do quite often), and he mentioned this software that is available from GigaVox media. It is called the “LEVELATOR” by GigaVox media. (Although it is free for personal use at the moment, there will probably be a reasonable charge in the future for those that will be using it commercially.)

It is the “podcasters dream” as they say. It is able to take uneven audio (like when you interview someone over the phone or in another type situation and your audio is not at the same level for both speakers) and it levels out the audio (bringing the two into a much closer reference level). It should be used before you convert the file to mp3 and it only works with WAV files.

I tested it with a very bad beginning to a taped seminar. To add a slight twist to this particular test, I had to convert the mp3 file back to WAV (which I did with ‘audacity’) and then run it through “Levelator”. I have to admit, the result was quite acceptable. I was very pleasantly surprised and pleased, I will admit, it wasn’t miraculous, (it could not bring back what wasn’t there) but it did a good job of what it was made for. Give it a try. I really think you will like it.

By the way the book shown above is co-authored by Michael Geoghegan (CEO of GigaVox media) and Dan Klass (“The Bitterest Pill”) . It is a good source for podcasting because it covers the whole world of podcasting, whether you’re just a listener or a podcaster. (Just clickon the picture above to purchase it) Be sure to visit the GigaVox media site for more info on the “Levelator”. They are also a great source for info and all kinds of related ‘stuff’ to podcasting.

See ya next time . . .