Great news!!!

Just wanted to let you know that ever since my Comedy Clip of the Week podcast was listed on iPodder.org, my site hits and downloads have increased something close to 500%! And I'm #5 when you search for "Comedy Clip" in Google!

Unbelievable! Upon my 2nd try to submit Brain Storm!, my business news, technology and strategy podcast, I was immediately (and very graciously) received and accepted by the business page administrator.

I've decided to totally revamp my marketing system, and focus solely on blogging and podcasting for marketing. I'm perfectly set up for it, since I have so many excerpts from Encouraging Audiobooks audio books.

If you are not up and podcasting yet, don't waste any more time...if you need help, ask for it. If you want to do it all yourself, go for it. If you want to outsource it and spend your time doing what you do best, then outsource it.

But don't wait any longer...think 500% increase in traffic and orders!!! (smile)

Penny

In a March 22, 2005 article by Stephan Spencer entitled "Move Over Blogs: Here Come Podcasts", he makes some excellent observations.

Podcasting is not for everyone?

Not everyone likes to listen, and not everyone likes to talk. And for those that do like to talk and listen, not everyone has the technological know-how to create a podcast.

Spencer quotes Laura Ries, author and expert on marketing and branding, as saying:

"Blogging is a written medium, and podcasting is an audio medium," says Ries. "It takes a unique skill to deliver content verbally. Some bloggers could make the switch, but many I am guessing could not. Also, one of a blog's unique features is the ability to link to other content on the Web—something that podcasting would have difficultly doing."

Now, I must say that I agree and disagree with Laura's comment.

I agree that bloggers will not all be able to make the podcasting transition. Not all writers are good speakers, and not all bloggers have the technical skill it takes to create a podcast.

I disagree about the disadvantage of not being able to link to other content on the Web. Quikonnex has solved that problem and made it possible to enjoy the best of both worlds. You can have your podcast, and your links, too!

Remember that a podcast is an RSS feed with MP3 "enclosures", and you still have that business blogging advantage when you podcast on Quikonnex. You keep your links and your key-words. You ping weblog search engines. You just also double your potential audience by offering your thoughts in audio as well.

Doug Kaye of ITConversations.com doubled his site traffic by podcasting.

Now that has to tell you something. But he also makes another very good point:

"As the number of podcasts grow, amateur podcasters will find it increasingly difficult to compete with the more formal, information-packed, professionally produced podcasts," Kaye says.

Not everyone has the skills or abilities to record and edit audio.

Some may have both skills and abilities, but no time or patience to get it done. They are busy taking care of their own business. The problem is that they are missing out on an incredible opportunity for exposure by sitting on the sidelines.

That's why 1st Podcast Publishing (or 1stPod.com) offers everything you need to create a podcast,

including your own dedicated RSS feed and podcast channel (public or private) or a shared podcast channel, storage and bandwidth options, recording options and resources, editing, music mixing, and even narration for those who don't like public speaking, or just don't have the knack for it.

So if you are interested in creating a podcast, but don't want to have to learn it from scratch, 1st Podcast Publishing will get you up and running within a week. You can share a podcast with others, or enjoy a dedicated podcast for your business alone. If this is what you've been looking for, contact Penny Haynes at penny at 1stpod . com, or use the QMTP (Quikonnex messaging system) on this page. We'll get you up and running within 1 week - that's my promise to you!

So what are you waiting for? Get podcasting!

Those of you with iPods can have our audio-only interviews automatically placed in your iPods. For instructions, go to the “RSS Feeds” tab at www.insidedigitalmedia.com

If you would like to help others learn about our interviews, go here to get a page where you can vote at for Inside Digital Media

Summary: We’re doing a lot of interviews about podcasting because we think the innovation is ultimately going to be profoundly significant. Here’s why:

First, just about anyone can create audio programs at their computers focused on any given topic. However, until the advent of podcasting there was no way that audience members could automatically have the programs downloaded to their computers and/or transferred to portable device players like the iPod. Prior to podcasting it was necessary for audience members to go to the website and either listen to the streamed files at their PCs or manually download them.

Second, while Audible.com really introduced the concept almost ten years ago, they have focused primarily on spoken word content from major publishers like Random House and The Wall Street Journal. In contrast, podcasting as it has emerged during the past nine months or so, is mostly a phenomenon of grass roots content creation in narrow niches by ordinary people. There are thousands of podcast programs covering virtually every conceivable field of interest.

Third, websites such as those represented by today’s guest company, podcastalley.com, are registries that provide consumers with guides to the podcast providers. Users are able to rank the various content providers much like sellers and buyers are rated on eBay or Amazon.com.

Fourth, podcasting is going to be a serious challenge to the conventional broadcast radio industry. Increasingly, iPod owners are playing their iPods in the car through the automobile stereo system. Adapters at the Apple stores, and elsewhere, make this possible. Not only are the owners going listen to pre-recorded music from the iPods in their cars, but they are also going to discover podcast programs of special interest that they want to listen to on their commutes and while exercising.

Fifth, ultimately podcasting will be a serious challenge for television. There is no reason why a podcasted program has to be limited to audio. It can be video as well. The video files can be played on the PC instead of the iPod. Ultimately, Apple may introduce an iPod that holds video files that will enable the iPod to become a “portable TiVo”. You could take such a device to anybody’s TV and with RCA jacks plug it in and play through the TV whatever video is on the iPod.

Subject: Today’s guest on Inside Digital Media is Chris McIntyre who is the founder of podcastalley.com.

Length: This audio-only interview is covered in about 32 minutes.

Today’s interview is audio-only. There are two ways to listen by visiting www.insidedigitalmedia.com and selecting the March 7th interview.

Stream. You can stream it to your computer and play it through the RealPlayer.

Download. You can download the entire dot-MP3 file which enables you to make it portable if you wish. For example, you can “burn” the interview to a blank CD thereby enabling you to play it in your car or you can transfer it to a portable device like the Apple iPod.