Podcasters Emporium #021 :: Working with Voice featuring Tim Noonan :: February13, 2010

Posted on 13. Feb, 2010 by lifestylepodnetwork@gmail.com in Podcasting, Podcasts

In today's show we continue looking at practical ways you can improve your voice, and getting the best from it in your podcast. Today we work with a Podcasters' Emporium listener and host of The Sci Fi Diner pocast - Scott Hertzog. Tim Noonan is from Visionary Communications at www.visionarycommunications.com.au

Changing your iTunes podcast feed URL

Posted on 07. Feb, 2010 by James Williams in Feeds, Podcasting

There will be times when you need to change the URL of your podcast feed.  The problem arises though, that you have submitted your feed to iTunes and other podcast directories using your old URL.

This problem can be resolved proactively by using a redirection service like feedburner to manage your RSS feed, allowing you to change your URL as you wish.  This however is no good if you aren’t using feedburner from the start when you submitted your show.

So how do you resolve this problem?  There are two steps in fixing it actually – one is to tell your existing podcast subscribers that the URL has moved, the second is to point your old feed to the new location.  Both of these solutions assume that your domain names are still current and you still have hosting in both places.

Telling your existing subscribers

There is a small line of code you need to add to your existing (old) RSS feed, to let your subscribers know that the show has moved.  You should leave this code in place for at least two episodes of your show after it has been moved to the new location.  The code is:

<itunes:new-feed-url>http://newlocation.com/example.rss</itunes:new-feed-url>

Where http://newlocation.com/example.rss is the location of your new feed.

Telling new visitors to your old feed

This part is the trickier part, and it involves modifying your .htaccess file.  The good news is that if you follow the instructions then it’s only as hard as editing a text file.  In technical terms what we are doing is setting up a 301 redirect, which is an instruction to the web server to redirect all traffic to this particular file, to the new location.

What you need are: the address of your old feed, and the address of your new feed.  You will also need FTP access to your web hosting space.

The first step is to download your exising .htaccess file which you will locate in the root (or top level folder) of your hosting directory.

Once downloaded, open the .htaccess file using a basic text editor like notepad.

On a blank line you need to add the following code:

Redirect 301 /podcast/oldfeed/rss.xml http://newdomain.com/feed/newfeed.xml

Notice in the example the first section only shows the path from the existing top level folder, so you exclude everything from http:// to the first /

You’ll also see that the second part of the redirect shows the full path of the new web address including http://

Once done, save the file and upload the file to the same location as you downloaded it from.

You can test that everything has worked, by typing your old feed URL, and what you should see is that it automatically redirects you to the new location.

If it doesn’t do this, check your code for errors.

 

Drop me a comment on the blog post if you hit any challenges, or have questions and I’ll see what I can do to help.

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Episode 20: Promoting Your Podcast Part 2

Posted on 08. Nov, 2009 by lifestylepodnetwork@gmail.com (Lifestyle PodNetwork) in Marketing, Podcasting, Podcasts

Pimping your podcastToday’s show continues on last week’s theme where we started to talk about the things you need to know to promote your podcast successfully.  We’ve got a whole heap more thoughts in this episode, plus your comments and some listener audio as well. This is a participatory show, so perhaps there are some things we haven’t mentioned, a promotional tip or technique you use on your show.  This is where we want you to contribute to the community and share your thoughts, hints and tips with us on the blog, or by email to podcastersemporium@gmail.com.

We also answer your questions on the show, so if you have something you’d like to know about then drop us a comment on the blog, or send an email to podcastersemporium@gmail.com and we will be happy to cover your question in a future show.

Thanks to everyone who contribued to the blog and sent us audio comments since the last show, we love getting your questions, feedback and thoughts on how to podcast better.

Here’s what we mentioned in today’s show:

Does paid advertising work?

  • Google adwords
  • Consider your audience – will they see or read and most importantly respond to an ad?
  • Banner ads
  • 150×150 spots on relevant blogs

Plugging your show

  • comments
  • twitter
  • guest spots
  • become a subject matter expert
  • actively seek out opportunities
  • Know your audience
  • Email Signature

Guerilla Marketing

  • Does it work?
  • How do you know it works?
  • Working with metrics
  • Where did you hear about us
  • Making a flyer
  • Cafe’ Press merchandise
  • Marketing Stunts 
  • Considering the legal implications of your actions

Community Promotion

  • Ask your audience to tweet they are listening with link
  • Ssocial Sharing tools e.g. StumbleUpon etc. 
  • Word of mouth
  • Use Caution with “walled gardens” like Facebook
  • Don’t waste too much energy

Be an an active member in your own community

  • Respond to comments
  • Post in forums
  • Respond to emails
  • Play voicemails
    tweet

Services we mentioned in today’s show:

Podcasts we mentioned in today’s show:

 

Our new Podcasters’ Emporium 30 second bumper

We’d love for you to play our 30 second Podcasters’ Emporium bumper in your show.  Let us know when you do, so we can mention you and your podcast on Podcasters’ Emporium

Download (mp3)

Episode 19: Promoting your Podcast

Posted on 05. Oct, 2009 by lifestylepodnetwork@gmail.com (Lifestyle PodNetwork) in Podcasting, Podcasts, Wordpress

Podcasters' Emporium Episode 19 - Promoting Your PodcastToday’s show covers the things you need to know to promote your podcast successfully.  This is one of a multipart series where we look at tips and techniques for podcast promotion, starting from getting your website right, through SEO and creating a promo that other people can play on their shows for you.  Tap into James and Dave’s experience in podcasting to learn how you can get your podcast in front of a wider audience.

This is a participatory show, so perhaps there are some things we haven’t mentioned, a promotional tip or technique you use on your show.  This is where we want you to contribute to the community and share your thoughts, hints and tips with us on the blog, or by email to podcastersemporium@gmail.com.

We also answer your questions on the show, so if you have something you’d like to know about then drop us a comment on the blog, or send an email to podcastersemporium@gmail.com and we will be happy to cover your question in a future show.

 

Here’s what we mentioned in today’s show:

Make your website or blog a vehicle to promote your show

  • Blogs (e.g. Wordpress, Blogger, Typepad etc.)
  • Forums
  • Website

Make sure your website has the following things right:

  • It should be searchable by applying basic SEO techniques
    • Website and Post Titles
    • Website Keywords and Post Tags
    • Each podcast episode should have a unique name
    • Tag each of your posts with appropriate keywords
  • We provide a list of Wordpress plugins to help you with this
    • Auto Tags (plugin),
    • Socialize this (plugin)
    • All in one SEO pack (plugin), Consider wpSEO $24.95 but excellent
    • Akismet (plugin),
    • Google XML sitemaps (plugin),
    • Google Analytics for Wordpress (plugin),
    • Redirection (plugin)
  • Make sure you’ve got a podcast episode player – BigContact.com is a good source
  • Make your feeds accessible and compliant
  • Consider quick links to Zune and iTunes

Creating Audio Promos

  • technical specs
  • what you should include
    • What your about
    • Why they need to listen
    • Call to action
    • Where to find it
  • Passive promos vs. an ad
    • passive promos give you a great opporunity to plug your show. e.g. audio feedback on other podcaster’s shows
  • what you should avoid
  • who is the audience?
  • formats, production quality, length (consider multiple lengths)
  • self-assessing the rating –  no point pitching an R rated on a family podcast (2schooners example – create an R rated promo AND a G rated one)
  • even if you have a video podcast, consider audio, and vice versa
  • Collaborate with other podcasters that have done it before
  • Use your audience
  • Voice talent – the good the bad and the ugly
  • There are some repositories and promo exchange services

Submitting audio promos

  • sharing your promos
  • the etiquette of promo playing
  • Format – bit rate and sample rate to suit the podcaster your giving it to
  • Assumed agreements – are you aware of any?
  • Linking and playing nice in your show notes

 Getting your show listed in iTunes

  • iTunes tips and tricks
  • things to know

 Submitting your site to podcast directories

  • Is the day of the directory dead?

 

Services we mentioned in today’s show:

  • BigContact.com - free podcast players for your website
  • WordPress.com – Free WordPress hosted blog, but less extensible than the version you host yourself.
  • WordPress.org -  (site where you can download your own copy of WordPress).  Blue Host support WordPress and provide free automatic installers from their control panel.

 
Free Wordpress Plugins that James recommends:

  • Auto Tags – this plugin uses Yahoo and tagthe.net to find relevant plugins for your blog post. Great if you forget to tag your posts.
  • Socialize this – An easy to use wordpress plugin that alls you to generate Social Icons to spread your blog posts and podcast episodes.
  • All In One SEO – Creates unique TITLES, DESCRIPTIONS, KEYWORDS for your blog and post pages as well as managing duplicate content.
  • Akismet – this plugin comes with Wordpress, but you need to get an activation code by creating a free account at Wordpress.com. Check the plugin for instructions. This will save you a lot of SPAM heartache.
  • Google XML Sitemaps - this plugin creates a Google sitemaps compliant XML-sitemap of your Wordpress blog. Your sitemap is updated automatically everytime you post to your blog.
  • Google Anaytics for Wordpress – this plugin automatically tracks and segments your outbound links from within your blog. It allows you to see where your visitors are coming from, going to and how long they stay on your site. This plugin requires a free Google Analytics account.
  • Redirection – this plugin is perfect if you’re changing from another blog or website.  It allows you to put in old URLS and map them to a new location on your new website.  This is perfect to make sure that people can still reach your website from old search engine results or web links from other sites.

 

Paid Wordpress Plugins that Dave recommends:

 

Podcasts we mentioned in today’s show:

 
Be a Part of the Podcasters’ Emporium Community!

  • Please send us your feedback via Email
  • Follow the hosts on twittter: Follow James and Dave
  • Leave a comment here on the blog
  • Follow show on Twitter (news and new shows only) Send us a Direct Message when you add us to twitter and let us know that you listen to the show.
  • Send us Audio Feedback by email recorded at: 128kps at 44.100 khz

 

Podcasters’ Emporium is produced in conjunction with the Lifestyle PodNetwork. You’ll find more great podcasts like this one at LifestylePodNetwork.com.

If you’re a podcaster who would like to join the Lifestyle PodNetwork you’ll find more information on our website.

Episode 18: Legally Unblonde

Posted on 27. Sep, 2009 by lifestylepodnetwork@gmail.com (Lifestyle PodNetwork) in Podcasting, Podcasts

Podcasters Emporium 18 Legally UnblondeIf you are a podcaster or a blogger, this is a show you do not want to miss.  We speak to Los Angeles based attorney Gordon Firemark about all things copyright and specifically how copyright affects you, as a podcaster and blogger.

Gordon shares his expertise free of charge with us, to explain how we can avoid some potentially curly situations with our podcast, and the content we put in it.

So now you’ll have a better idea about the steps you need to take to protect yourself against infringing other people’s copyright in your shows.

We also answer your questions on the show, so if you have something you’d like to know about then drop us a comment on the blog, or send an email to podcastersemporium@gmail.com and we will be happy to cover your question in a future show.

About Gordon P Firemark

Gordon Firemark is an attorney whose practice is devoted to the representation of artists, writers, producers and directors in the fields of theater, film, television,and music.

Gordon Firemark is an attorney whose practice is devoted to the representation of artists, writers, producers and directors in the fields of theater, film, television,and music. He is also the publisher of Entertainment Law Update., a newsletter for artists and professionals in the entertainment industries. His practice also covers intellectual property, cyberspace, new media and business/corporate matters for clients in the entertainment industry

Mr. Firemark serves on the Boards of Governors of The Los Angeles Stage Alliance , (the organization responsible for the annual Ovation Awards for excellence in Theater) and The Academy for New Musical Theatre. In the past he has served on the Board of Governors of the Beverly Hills Bar Association , where he served as liason to the Association’s Entertainment Law Section (of which he is a former chairman).

Mr. Firemark holds a B.A. in Radio, Television and Film from the University of Oregon, and earned his law degree at Southwestern University School of Law. Before opening The Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark, Mr. Firemark was a partner with the Business Affairs Group, a boutique entertainment law firm in Los Angeles. He has also worked in the legal and business affairs departments at Hanna Barbera Productions and the MGM/UA Worldwide Television Group, and started his legal career as an associate at Neville L. Johnson & Associates, a West L.A.firm specializing in entertainment litigation.

Gordon is an alumnus of the Commercial Theatre Institute, and  is also  an accomplished producer of stage plays and musicals.  He serves as CEO of Fierce Theatricals , which produces small cast musicals, cabaret shows and regional tours. He has been involved with the entertainment industry in one way or another since his youth as a sound, lighting, and special effects technician in the theatre. Prior to becoming an attorney, he worked in the television industry, producing and directing live sports telecasts, public affairs programming commercial announcements, documentaries, and industrial videos.

Mr. Firemark teaches Business Law at Loyola Marymount University, and has offered courses in Theater Law at Cypress College, and Entrepreneurial Studies at California Institute of the Arts. Mr. Firemark has served as a moderator and featured panelist at seminars sponsored by the Beverly Hills Bar Association, California Lawyers for the Arts,Theatre LA, and the Oregon Artist’s Rights Coalition. Hehas also been a guest lecturer at Southwestern University School of Law, Loyola Law School, California Western School of law, UC Irvine, and California State University, Northridge.

You can follow Gordon on Twitter @gfiremark

You will find Gordon’s podcast Entertainment Law Update at: http://entertainmentlawupdate.com/

Source: firemark.com

Here’s what we mentioned in today’s show:

Services we mentioned in today’s show


Software we mentioned in today’s show:

Podcasts we mentioned in today’s show:

Be a Part of the Podcasters’ Emporium Community!

  • Please send us your feedback via Email
  • Follow the hosts on twittter: Follow James and Dave
  • Leave a comment here on the blog
  • Follow show on Twitter (news and new shows only) Send us a Direct Message when you add us to twitter and let us know that you listen to the show.
  • Send us Audio Feedback by email recorded at: 128kps at 44.100 khz

Podcasters’ Emporium is produced in conjunction with the Lifestyle PodNetwork. You’ll find more great podcasts like this one at LifestylePodNetwork.com.

If you’re a podcaster who would like to join the Lifestyle PodNetwork you’ll find more information on our website.