The Podcast Experiment

Let’s Workshop!

thepodcastexperiment — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:03:38 +0000

So you have your ideas. You have your thoughts. Now, lets formulate them and build this podcast! By now you should have a whole list of items that you want to talk about and hopefully people want to listen to.

Go back and edit that list, scratch off, and add. You will be suprised what you come up with. I have made a little notebook application on my iPhone where if I have a show idea or concept, I will put it in there so I dont forget it.

Just because you thought of it doesnt mean its a million dollar idea. I workshopped Cruise and Blog Radio numerous times through friends, random strangers, and industry experts… sure it had doubts but my belief in it over came them and it has proven success. Watch out for the nay sayers! Believe it or not, and I have friends like this… people will try to impede your work. Keep on moving forward. Workshopping your ideas is a process and time consuming. Don’t rush.

Now that we have started laying the foundation, putting up the frame is next which will be formatting the show. Formatting is more than just writing down what order you want your show to go in. We will tackle this next.

Meet the Google Wonder Wheel

thepodcastexperiment — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:01:37 +0000

Okay so you’re doing a podcast which means you know what you want to podcast about…. right? I hope so. Next step is to start isolating ideas. Remember, talk and write stuff that people want to listen to. How do you know what people are wanting to listen to? Well, I started by doing a word web. Putting my show category in the middle of the paper and stemming from there. Just like when you were in secondary school and drafting idea’s for a paper — same concept.

Now if you are stuck and can’t do that… let me introduce you to one of googles hidden gyms that was introduced to me earlier this year.

The Google Wonder Wheel

The wonder wheel can be one of your best friends when you are trying to think of ideas to podcast. Do a google search on your topic. We will use my topic as an example, “cruises.” Hit search.

Google will yield a bunch of search results from the term “cruises” and websites that pertain to it. Okay at the top of the google search page, right below the field where you type your keyword in it says “show options.” Drop down the “show options” menu and click on “wonder wheel.”

The wonder wheel takes your search a step further by showing you relevent and relative search queries for cruises in wheel/spoke format. This is a good start of you and your podcast, the show content.

Next entry we will talk about finding people to contribute to your show and materials to research your show.

Below is screen shot of the google wonder wheel.

Meet My Baby: My Blog/Podcast

thepodcastexperiment — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:01:38 +0000

Why should you care about my blog and my podcast? Very good question. I can show you things that I have learned by trial and error, by fails, by successes, and by listening to other people. When it comes to blog sites there is a man named Darren Rowse , he is a full time blogger and has written the manifesto to blogging. Be sure to check out his site before you dive into your own blog. He is a pro and the site is loaded with great (free) advice!

Cruiseandblog.com (my blog) was the foundation and building blocks for my podcast, Cruise and Blog Radio. I ll give you a quick back story of my blog site. A few months ago I was at a party and was bombarded with questions from people who never cruised before. The next day I thought that there should be a platform that could answer questions, give advice, and let people know whats going on in the world. If you have knowledge, why hold back, share it. Sure, I was reinventing the wheel doing a travel blog but instead of a Goodwrench tire, this was a Doug Parker tire! The blog launched in June and it’s had a steady incline every since.

To be completely honest, I got bored with just my blog. Sure, people were reading my blog but I wanted more. A friend approached my about a possible radio show to accompany my blog and I jumped. That one phone call snow balled into what’s now — Cruise and Blog Radio. With my podcast, the readers have the option of knowing who I am , my personality, and knowledge about my passion. It also gives the readers a chance to look through my bad grammar

Now you know a little bit of my back story, lets move onto formating your thoughts and putting them into podcast format.

Before You Start

thepodcastexperiment — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:02:18 +0000

If you think you are going to podcast for money — go buy a radio show on terrestrial radio (AM/FM). It would be much cheaper for you in the long run and less stress on you. Terrestrial radio offers a guarantee listener base from day one. One problem that terrestrial radio has that you wont have is identification. Podcast have an identified audience while radio stations are trying to win audiences.

Podcasting is just like a blog, you do it for a passion. In fact if you dont have a blog it might not be a bad idea to start one. There are plenty of free blogging platforms out there (blogger, wordpress, live journal).

Make sure you have time to set aside per day, week, or month to focus on your podcast. No one wants to listen to a bunch of jibber jabber. Have your thoughts penned down and have structure. Don’t worry we will cover this soon enough.

Another important thing is to have a place dedicated where you can record. I record in a bedroom that I turned into a studio. Your “recording” studio can be anywhere thats free of echo like a basement, garage, living room, bedroom, a big closet, or family room.

Now that we have the thoughts and are in the game, lets get some general knowledge. Podcasts generally begin with a niche. Through-out “The Podcast Experiment” we will use my current podcast as a case study (next blog). I will give you my stats, numbers, and real feedback I have gotten from real listeners. It will take time but if your willing to put in the time, the results will be great.

So lets cover the basics:

Don’t expect any return on your podcast for a long time, somtimes years
It doesnt hurt to have a blog or to start one
Have the time to dedicate to your podcast
Have a quiet place

6.5 million people a day are listening to podcasts. Whose listening to you?

Can I Podcast?

thepodcastexperiment — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:23:57 +0000

Before you read anything I write, know one thing, I am NOT an expert on podcasting. I am a normal person just like you who has implemented strategies to grow a podcast from 0 to 350 subscribers in the first thirty days of launch (and climbing).

How did I do this? I have grown my numbers by being creative.

What did this cost me? Not a dime.

Podcasting is a mean of getting what you have to say or offer out to folks without having to spend an arm in a leg on advertising. Most importantly podcasting is FREE! Podcasting gained popularity in 2004 and has continue to climb ever since. A lot of companies are starting to podcast and a lot have been doing it for a while.

For example, the travel industry has used podcasting as an open forum to answer potential traveler questions, give travelers an inside look at destinations, and to give the latest travel trends. There are various free platforms for you to host your podcast without any out-of-pocket expenses. It’s as simple as uploading a file.

How do I podcast? Simple and chances are you already have what you need. A computer, a microphone, and an audio editing program (free) will get you started.

Welcome to the 21st century. Welcome to “The Podcast Experiment.”