Comments on: …And I Was Just About to Jump on the Podcasting Bandwagon

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 05:37:14 +0000

I believe it will take a new generation of ipods with wireless internet connectivity with the ability to stream podcasts. At that point it should become very mainstream. If you could steam video like that easily it would be like you tube but way bigger.
- Jonathan Armstrong

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 17:07:37 +0000

In terms of what makes a good Podcast, subjectively speaking of course, content is King. Obviously. Enough structure so it doesn't come off as stream-of-consciousness is also important and has been mentioned elsewhere.
I would add that the technical quality of the work is almost as important as the content, catchy intro and extro themes are a real asset, a well thought out and short name is quite helpful, and providing some sort of on-line “show-notes” allows a listener to relax knowing that they can check out the things you talk about later.
Who would you host with? I hear good things about Libsyn.
- Micah

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 15:44:20 +0000

Ok, so only 1% of North American households listen to podcasts. Well when you consider that the podcast is only just 2 years old or so it can be expected. Another thing is that you're appealing to a very small group of people. People have an interest in the internet (i.e. Web developers) which is a small group as it is.
I find the best Podcasts are ones that have structure, but are not scripted. So come up with a list of things to talk about with maybe a note for how much time you want to spend on the topic. Then just go through the list if you reach the time frame you want to stick with then just cut a topic out and talk about it next week.

By: Jim Courtney

Jim Courtney — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 02:22:02 +0000

Check out Phil's comments at Skype Journal on 1% market share for podcasting….

By: Tyler

Tyler — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 00:21:31 +0000

Make sure the Post has a way of telling you how many hits you're getting. I've been doing it for two months or so with the Star and there's been no feedback mechanism — my friends excluded — because the service the Star uses doesn't track hits. They're hoping to change to something better soon, but until then it's like talking to myself while lost in the Rockies. I will say that, in my experience, simply reading your story or an abridged version of it is boring… it's got to be completely different, and somewhat interactive in the sense that you have Q&A or something like that. I'm sure you and Kev will work it out.

By: Stephen Hayward

Stephen Hayward — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 22:38:14 +0000

You had a couple of trains of thought in your post.
1. Size of market, this is still emerging and I know it was tongue-and-cheek, but certain podcasts are getting very good attention. PodcasterNewsNetwork is a good and growing location.
2. Format of your show is largely about your style, personality and day. You could do a daily recap of your observations throughout the day for 5 minutes that would rock, and then do a weekly longer format show. I see a lot of people doing that. Check out mip's scan and his show on PCN - leading edge technology. I do a weekly podcast which is an conversation with a variety of people in our industry, because I am often in that format throughout the week.
3. The last discussion on content and the RIP of podcasting is like anything. The content is King, if it is good people will find and listen to it.
I think you have very interesting viewpoints and should consider this media as your blogging, and other media channels change. For example, you do some interviews for National Post, use the information in an article in the paper, then 30 days later you can publish snippets from your interview as a podcast/blog post.
Just some thoughts.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 21:13:04 +0000

If you can add the podcast as a channel for the National Post, I think you'll do ok. Maybe re-cap and expand on stories that appeared in the paper - a summary for those that didn't get to read the paper.
Best of luck!