I had been looking for ways to add extra pizazz to my blogs and sites, and have only just got into audio and podcasts. Podcasts seem to rank well in SEO. I started by reading a couple of my articles to create a soundfile (using Audacity shareware) and LAME shareware as the format converter to.mp3. It was all easy to set up. The results were passable, and I quickly learned how to edit/splice the sound files using Audacity (after getting tired of umpteen re-takes).

Then I looked more closely at WordPress and discovered that I couldn’t just load and go. I dug around and came across a number of articles referring to WordPress plugins such as Cool Player and Anarchy Media Player. I didn’t feel like setting up yet another plug in, with the attendant danger of the software becoming unsupported and so on (lorelle’s WordPress blog was very informative).

So, I got to thinking. I’d just posted a podcast on Podbean and wondered whether I could make use of that. And I did, though it only appears to work on WordPress blogs which are not hosted by WordPress themselves.

Here’s how:

1. Log into your Podbean account and locate the required podcast under the My Dashboard/Manage tab.

2. Below the ‘Play Now’ buttons you should see the rectangular Audio MP3 button. Alongside this is a list of options underlined with dashes.

3. Click the ‘Embeddable Player’ option and copy (ctrl+c) the script code in the box. There is currently a choice of only two button colours. I had a look at the html code and couldn’t see a quick way to change the button theme colours.

3. Now, create your post in your WordPress blog, with some appropriate text – just a brief summary of what is in the Podcast. My preference is to include the full text of the article/post and offer the Audio option:

‘In a hurry? No time to read this great post? Hit the Podbean button and listen in while you do something else!’

4. Then, paste in the Podbean script where you want it in your post(make sure that you have the html view of the post). I prefer to put it at the beginning, as you don’t want people to read your post and then find out that they could have listened to it (though it does depend on content – whether it is pure entertainment or informational).

That’s it – just publish/update your WordPress post and the button is live.

The great thing is that the button goes out on the blog’s RSS feed and is accessible on the feedreader (I use feedburner, so I have not tested any others) – the button displayed properly, and worked as it should have.

This technique also works on blogger.

So, that’s all there is to it, looks good, works good, but doesn’t always fit the theme colours!

(c) 2010 Phil Marks

A podlet is a small digital media file that can be embedded into one or more podcasts for playback on personal computers or protable media players.

The Podlet Vision

Closely related to the concept of article swapping, podlets are a way for an otherwise single burst of inspiration to be known on the world wide web

Perhaps you wake up in the middle of the night and have a “WOW” experience. You have a great inspiration to create something, you work at it, you push for it, and then it has passed. Once your creativity has expelled itself how do you get it seen, how do you show it to others?

If you start your own blog, this inspiration may be one of the only entries your write. Perhaps it will get noticed by someone, and referenced by others, and it will be popular, but how does it get noticed in the first place?

Podlets are a way to put your inspirational idea, joke, funny quotes, or just plain comments into a condensed format. You can think of it almost like article syndication, only with a multimedia (audio/video) twist. You don’t have to come up with an amazing idea every day. You just need one or two ideas whenever they come to you. You submit your original creative idea to a centralized place. Podcasters pick up this information, and mold it for their podcast, and viola !

What podlets are not

Podlets are not meant to convey marketing/promotional messages. Although it is recommended that some type of fair attribution be given to the podlet author. Podlets must not be confused with advertising. A podlet should enhance the experience of the podcast listener. It gives an oppertunity for banter, feedback, and interactivity.

Podlet examples

* A trivia question, posed to a podcaster, with pauses for the podcaster to respond and guess the answer and then a response, “were you right?”

* A joke or limmerick inserted between plays of two songs within a podcast

* A short story, perhaps used as a segway between sections of the podcast

* A pre-recorded review of a movie or book as part of a “review” section of an existing podcast

Podlets are not limited to only audio media, and may be used to distribute small videos as well to a wide range of podcasters.

Adding spice to your podcasts?

Just like the right spice can make your meal more tasty, a podlet can help spice up your existing podcast. To get started, simply grab this OPML file which contains a list of podlets to which you can subscribe

Want to add your own podlets?

So you have a traditional radio spot, an internet radio station, show, or podcast, and now you need to know how to make newcomers loyal listeners. This article outlines the most essential steps to make your brand’s listeners wanting to tune in regularly.

Know Your Ideal Listener

Coming up with show concepts is an art form. Beyond that, it’s a must to know exactly who would be tuning into your concept. You will want to both explore which listeners are likely to tune in every week and also which companies and brands would want to target them if you are considering getting sponsors. Basic demographics to consider are geographic areas likely to tune in, races, music preference, gender, and age. After you’ve profiled your ideal listener in these more general areas, you can consider their interests and lifestyle more in-depth. Google photos of what your ideal listener might look like and pin them around your station or in your home where you are likely to see them before going off to broadcast. Over time, you can use real pictures of actual listeners of your show!

Respond To “Mail” and Partner With Their Favorites

Shaping a show your audience loves will take some participation from the audience, and you must listen to their feedback. Positive and negative comments, emails, reviews, or snail mail, should be responded to on a regular basis. As you grow in popularity, you may not be able to them all. Just let your listeners know you do carve time to read them. Satisfy listeners by attempting to partner with their favorite role models, companies, and brands, either in the form of an interview, advertising spots, offers, or events.

Promote a Sense of Community

Emodus Research company committed time in 2013 to understand more thoroughly the bond between NPR and its listeners. According to the study, listeners who are more emotionally connected to a station have a stronger bond than with local, traditional stations that move them to donate at a rate of 4 times the amount than satisfied listeners. This is the difference between satisfied listeners and brand loyal listeners.

You can achieve these results by first completing the previous two suggestions, and continuing to make the station interactive for listeners in innovative ways that maybe others are, or are not doing.

Give Them More Ways To Devour Your Content

Media.info director and radio futurologist, James Cridland, says “Don’t waste your time on which platform is the future, because the answer is: all of them. Radio’s future is a multi-platform future. The right platform, for the right person, right now.” Blogs, videos, individual Facebook accounts and forum user accounts, articles, newsletters and email campaigns are all ways for your fans to stay connected on a more personal and regular basis, further solidifying their level of brand loyalty.

Promote Your Show!

So many radio personalities think sitting on a show is enough to attract listeners and the truth is it’s not and it’s much less fun. Get out there and meet people at events! Donate air time to causes you and your listeners believe in! Brag about your accomplishments and happiest, most satisfying moments on air over your social media accounts! Promote your show however you like, but do promote your show/station.

Almost anyone can take advantage of networking to grow the business. In fact, many claim it to be the the most powerful and important marketing strategy for small businesses and independent professionals.

People who disagree often say that things have changed since the Internet become their main marketing channel. However, let's look at all the social media buzz nowadays. Blatant advertisements and marketing messages that once many people think are the way to go, now are not as strong as they used to be.

Social media focus on the, well, social part of the media. The entire community voices are what count when it comes to product promotion, interesting content, great resources, reviews and literally anything. The power of one influential leader in the industry endorse your product is hundreds of times better than old type of advertising like banner ads.

What does it has to do with podcasts?

Podcast is one type of social media. It allows anyone to express their opinion inexpensively and reach global audience. Just like a blog, it is personal publishing tool and message distribution channel.

Podcasters can take advantage of networking in so many ways. The key to securing a business deal, for example, often depends on the relationship you have built over the time. Not just one shot email that you send when you have a business idea to work with. People often work only with partners who they know and trust.

Like branding, getting yourself out by networking and building relationships will pay later in many forms. Perhaps you will get speaking engagements from people who know someone you know, or book publishing offer, or countless of joint venture projects you even don't know possible.

Being able to establish your expert status within networking partners allows you to get referrals when their clients need help on the topic you are good at.

As a podcaster, building a relationship also simplifies the promotion process. For people who have known your work, they will be impatient just to promote your products when they are available. If you have a podcast, they will not hesitate to recommend to others. Podcasts are even easier to endorse because it does not involve selling.

Networking, both offline and online, is a very important activity that many business professionals overlook. Put some efforts to it, and you will be head and shoulders over your competitions.

Networking is a great asset for professional, career, academic and business development. Besides connecting in person, it is also beneficial to connect online. Virtual networking opens doors and gives you access to many resources and opportunities. It allows you to extend your reach further and connect with others around the world. But, you must do your due diligence and foster online relationships as you would in person relationships.

Listed below are helpful tips for using online strategies to enhance your networking agenda.

Find Online Groups

Connect with online groups on social media platforms which best represent your networking objectives. Once you join the group, become an active participant. Post relevant info, post questions to encourage dialogue and comment on posts. These forms of engagement are excellent ways to brand yourself and build your credibility.

Listen to / Create a Podcast

This is another great way to build community and support. If you are listening to podcasts, make it a point to post questions and share the recording. Follow podcasts which can help you develop in your career, offer resources for growing your business or support your community interests. If you are creating a podcast, the same criteria applies. Talk about relevant topics which connect you to your audience, objectives etc. Use the podcast to promote your agendas as well as create a platform for exchange.

Scheduling Apps

Utilize a scheduling app to make appointments and meeting seamless. These automated services allow you connect with others by date, time, location etc. They also offer friendly reminders and other details to make your meetings successful.

Networking Apps

Download networking apps onto your phone to connect easily with people at events. Once you have connected with them in person, you can migrate to online to continue the relationship building. These apps also offer reminders and updates about your contacts. This information can be useful for gaining resources, developing partnerships or getting leads and referrals.

Use these strategies to expand your online communications and networking objectives. Definitely take the time to manage ways of effectively and consistently connecting and adding value.

Podcasting is only one technology within a whole array of web-based technologies that are used in distance education. In addition, podcasting can be used in many different instructional ways. Therefore, there are many combinations of what is possible with podcasting in education.

For example, consider combining a teacher podcasting with student and teacher discussion groups, and vlogging of student presentations. Or perhaps a face-to-face class in which students create a podcast project that extends in rotation across several class sessions. In this way students can participate in sharing research and perspectives on course material.

The important point is that we do not have to be confined to one model of instruction. This premise is especially true when we have the opportunity to work with digital natives who may very well catalyze new perspectives of the content during the creative process.

Podcasting has been a movement by which more of the general public could be part of the media. It is called the “democratization of the media”.

In a similar way, couldn’t podcasting be a push in the direction of co-learning in colleges and universities? Perhaps, we could begin to see teachers and students share, dialogue and engage more through this media. The professors are content experts, the students may provide expertise in the digital culture. This provides a place where we might have a creative nexus.

In addition, large questions lie right in front of us that I believe students of all ages in higher education can explore, such as:

• Political issues that collide in the close spaces of our classrooms
• Cultural understandings that need to be understood within our local and global communities
• Economic issues that impact worldwide audiences rather than solely local or regional spaces

Such questions pose fertile opportunities for 20, 30, or 50 year old learners as podcasters. Or similarly any aged podcast listener?

From creating podcasts, to critiquing their meaning and constructing new understandings, digital media is a nexus of innovation, technology and empowerment and these are generative elements. Let’s unleash some new possibilities of deeper learning coupled with creativity and expressing understanding. Effective communicators of the 21st century will need these same skills for their professional success. Why not take advantage of the need, the resources and the opportunity to develop engaging critical audio projects in higher education classrooms and training settings?

In a future article, we will discuss how podcasts provide other benefits for these constituencies also.

Medical casting or “Medcasting” is the commercial application of podcasting for medical related institutions. Medcasting is the distribution and publishing of audio and video feeds, that offer medical information delivered over the Internet, for on demand listening.

This is a new step in the evolution of on-demand medical information delivery, making it accessible, informative, useful and appealing. This mix presents the medical industry with a very unique opportunity to reach its community through this new medium. Those individuals, who are already seeking medical information actively, will use RSS subscription technology built into each podcast feed, to receive information immediately as it is updated by the medical institution. With one click of a button, a user can subscribe to a feed that may be interesting, and any related information that is ever updated to that feed will be automatically processed to their personal aggregator. An aggregator is able to subscribe to a feed, check for new content at user-determined intervals, and retrieve the content.

To take this process one step further, podcasting publishes each feed with the capability to be transferred to any portable audio or video device. So with the growth of the ipod and all the other portable media devices, you have the ability to grab Medcasts and place them on your portable player for listening or viewing. Most users attach their portable players to their computers daily or weekly, and once the player is attached they automatically receive the new medcast updates.

The flexibility of this medium is what will drive the growth of Medcasting tremendously over the next few years. Currently the most useful application for medical institutions worldwide is to compliment already existing medical information web pages. Most institutions have numerous web pages which deliver medical information in text format, by providing an audio or video link on that page it gives the user a different and potentially more effective format for receiving the information. This is also a great way to teach your existing users how to start utilizing medcasting services.

The popularity of portable on demand information will grow even greater as wireless internet services continue to flourish across the country. These portable devices will no longer have to be connected to the internet; they will receive information wirelessly as it is updated. In addition, as cell phones and portable devices continue to merge together, the market grows larger.

Additional formats that are being used consist of; medical talk shows, where various specialists within each institution will speak or answer questions on a certain topic. Medical lectures and seminars can be recorded and made available for the public or employees to download easily and on-demand. In addition, any information that may need to be delivered to employees can be recorded and made available on an in-house delivery network. For institutions that have thousands of employees, the distribution of company information is very important, and once again this offers each institution a method of on-demand delivery which is convenient to all. Medcasting can also be used as a direct line of communication, by recording video-casts of company messages from executives for company wide distribution.

There are numerous uses for medcasting currently, and over the next few years it will explode in popularity. It is beneficial to institutions as well as the consumer, and it will be seen as a great tool in any medical organizations’ operations.

Podcasting Is A New Form Of Fun Stuff

To Do On The Computer.

The Ipod Was Made For Music Downloads,

But The Reality Is That It Has Created

A Launch Of Mini Shows,

That Are Uncut And Cheap To Produce.

Every Event You Can Imagine Is A

Potential Contender As A Reality Radio

Broadcast Show From Rio To Cape Cod,

And From Boston To Broadway.

CB Radio,i.e. Ham Radio, Was Developed

As Radio For The People, But

Now Another Page In The Consumer Notebook

Of Modern History Has Turned.

Any Music Concert Can Become An Mp3,

Whether It’s By Players Like Eminem

& 50cent Or Country Music And

Guitar Songs Dedicated To Andy Griffeth.

Mp3 Audio Can Include A Report From

A Reality TV Show To A Las Vegas Show,

To A Looney Tune Review,

And It Can Range From Humor To Commentaries

On The Weather, Oprah Winfrey & American Idol,

The Titanic, The Da Vinci Code,

Or Even A Live Sex Show In Harmony Hall.

They’re All Now Available As A Downloadable

Music Composition, A Video Or Even A Slide Show

On Your Computer,

And I Wouldn’t Be Surprised If

Some Of These Shows Show Up On Sirius Radio,

XM Radio Or Other Satellite Radio Shows,

Conventional Radio Or Even On TV.

The Ipod Is A Creative Way To Download

Digital Music Automatically Via Computer

Around The Clock, By Virtue Of Podcasting.

This Is Not About Downloading Online Music

Onto Your Computer Via Music File Sharing.

This Is About The Bone Thug Across The Street

Writing A Music Lyric On His Computer

Calling It A Skin Tune

By Frankie J & Lil Jon Luny Mas,

And With No Harmony Or Melody,

Having A Ball, Because Some Stranger

In Central Louisville Looking For

Cheap Music Downloads Records It

To His Mp3 Player While Waiting

For A Pizza Delivery.

The Apple Ipod Is Not A Technology

Whose Life Is Limited To A

Trade Show Display.

It’s In The Hands Of The People.

Podcasting Is Way Bigger Than

Two Way Radio Or Any Online Computer Game,

And It’s Not Limited To The

Ipod Mp3 Player Or Even The Rio Sport

Mp3 Player.

Newer Models Are Creating Competition

And Getting Cheaper, Just Like All

Computer Technology Always Does.

Just Look At The DVD Player.

Ipod Is Getting The Credit,

But Adam Curry, Former Music Video DJ

And MTV Host In The 1980’s,

Is The Central Player In RSS

(Real Simple Syndication).

A Music Download To A Mini Portable

Mp3 Player Is Not New, The Ipod Buzz Is.

Podcasting Is Going To Be Big.

I Feel Lucky To Have Gotten In On It

At An Early Stage,

With My Daily Podcast Sunny Thought Of The Day.

It Supplements My Free Affirmations By E-Mail.

So Now You Have 2 Free Ways To Get

Positive Thinking From Me.

I Was Interviewed Last Month

In The Honolulu Star Bulletin,

Who Told Me I Was The Only Daily Podcaster

In The State Of Hawaii.

Since Then I’ve Found Out I’m One

Of Only A Handful Who Podcast Daily

In The Entire World.

And My Radio Interviews – I Was Interviewed

By Positive Purpose Radio Host Kevin Mcdonald,

On KLAY AM Radio In The Seattle Area,

5 Times – 1 Hour Each – Those Shows

Were All Podcast Internationally, Too.

Welcome To The Future!

It’s Evolving One Day At A Time.

Why Not Hit The Computer Airwaves Yourself?

And Start Podcasting Today!

Fitnesscasting is the commercial application of podcasting for the personal fitness industry. Fitnesscasting is the distribution and publishing of audio and video feeds, that offer personal health and fitness training and information delivered over the Internet, for on demand listening.

This is a new step in the evolution of on-demand health and fitness information delivery, making it accessible, informative, useful and appealing. This mix presents the health and fitness industry with a very unique opportunity to reach its audience through this new medium. Those individuals, who are already seeking health and fitness information actively, will use RSS subscription technology built into each podcast feed, to receive information immediately as it is updated by each organization. With one click of a button, a user can subscribe to a feed that may be interesting, and any related information that is ever updated to that feed will be automatically processed to their personal aggregator. An aggregator is able to subscribe to a feed, check for new content at user-determined intervals, and retrieve the content.

To take this process one step further, podcasting publishes each feed with the capability to be transferred to any portable audio or video device. So with the growth of the ipod and all the other portable media devices, you have the ability to grab fitnesscasts and place them on your portable player for listening or viewing. Most users attach their portable players to their computers daily or weekly, and once the player is attached they automatically receive the new Fitnesscast updates.

The flexibility of this medium is what will drive the growth of Fitnesscasting tremendously over the next few years. There are numerous formats that can be used in developing a fitnesscast. Audio and video workouts give the power to the listener or viewer to receive on-demand health and fitness training. In addition, podcasts are being placed on portable video devices to offer exclusive training workouts for those clients who may travel a lot, or want to workout in the comfort of their home or on their own schedule.

The best thing about fitnesscasting is that the opportunities are endless. Here are some examples of how podcasting will benefit the fitness industry. Most Americans have heard of 6 minute abs or the home jazzercise videos, in fact, these have sold extremely well in our society. With as busy as people are in today’s society, some individuals do not have the opportunity to make it to a gym as much as they would like. However, these same individuals are not looking to give up their workout routine, they just need it custom fitted to their likings. With fitnesscasting, you have the ability to utilize this medium on-demand at the convenience. In addition, with audio and video ipods you can take these fitnesscasts with you when traveling.

Another example of its use could be in large scale gyms. All gyms have trainers who help their patrons’ workout and develop their bodies, yet, sometimes there are either not enough trainers or time schedules do not match up. With fitnesscasting, you have an audio or video of a trainer giving you instruction, at the touch of your fingers and on your time schedule.

The options are wide open for the development of fitness programs that are cutting edge, and highly opportunistic in terms of converting listeners and users into consumers and revenues.

The popularity of portable on demand information will grow even greater as wireless internet services continue to flourish across the country. These portable devices will no longer have to be connected to the internet; they will receive information wirelessly as it is updated. In addition, as cell phones and portable devices continue to merge together, the market grows larger.

For organizations that have members worldwide, the distribution of company information is very important, and once again this offers each institution a method of on-demand delivery which is convenient to all.

There are numerous uses for Fitnesscasting, and over the next few years it will explode in popularity. It is beneficial to organizations as well as the consumer, and it will be seen as a great tool in any health and fitness organizations’ operations.

Do you wonder why anyone would want to record the audio of a Television program and call it Audio Television or Podcast? The answer is that some Television programmers thought their programs should benefit from more exposure and, so arranged for special radios to begin playing television programs audios for people who are interested in listening to edited audio of television programs.

Audio Television, as the innovation became known, did not become as popular as the real television, but it has not gone away either, because listeners felt as if they watched a particular television program each time they listened to its audio; and because you could follow the audio of a television program, see the pictures in your minds eyes without the distraction you would normally experience if you actually view a television program while engaged in any work.

This development brought about Podcasting, audio only versions of Television programming which are now common on the Internet. And as should be expected, individuals started producing audio summary of films, plays, drama, comedy etc in Podcast formats, which they host on their websites or blogs for free listening by their visitors.

Several electronic media houses have recorded success stories with a mixture of news stories specially designed for podcasting. An example is “The Afternote,” a political newsletter Podcast of juicy sound bites. There are also instances of unedited Television shows used verbatim for Podcast. Examples are “Meet the Press” and “Nightline.”

The Advent Of Internet Television And The Gradual downfall Of Podcasting.

Podcasing enabled people to follow edited audio of their favorite Television programs on the internet until Internet Television happened not long ago. Yes, now it has become possible for you to enjoy Internet television. Yes, with software, Satellite Television has merged with the Internet making it possible for you to watch Television Stations from any region or country of the world.

So what are you waiting for, turn your PC or Laptop into an instant TV by searching online for Internet Television software vendors. But make sure to buy only from a vendor who sales through Clickbank, so that you can ask and get a refund if you are not satisfied.