This week’s Podcast Review is about the Franchise Interviews Podcast.

Description: Franchise Interviews is an up close and behind the scenes look at franchising. The unique format features a variety of topics on franchising as well as personal interviews with franchisees, franchisors and franchise experts. Franchise Interviews is hosted by Marty McDermott and Don Johnson.

Comments: This is another in great Podcasts (like ours) hosted and distributed through Blogtalk Radio. All franchising all the time, the hosts cover the gambit of topics for those interested in franchising.

The content is great, at times the audio quality is sketchy but the range of topics covered is broad and comprehensive ranging from the beginner to franchising to the multi-location master franchiser. Here is a sampling of some recent shows:

- Interviews with the Juice Stop
- Interview with 1st Inpection Services Franchise
- Solving The Puzzle Of Owning A Franchise
- LA Sunset Tan Franchise Opportunity

Learn more about franchising and different franchises in 30 minutes or less with this Podcast.

Pluses: As it should be the content is king with this Podcast. The web interface makes it easy to find the show you are interested in. Good show notes, RSS subscriptions, a well done podcast.

Minuses: Sometimes the recorded phone call audio quality is a barrier to hearing clearly.

Recommendation: If you are considering franchising, shopping for a franchise or trying to operate a better franchise then Franchise Interviews is for you.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the SalesRepRadio Podcast.

Description: SalesRepRadio brings you sales tips, advice and best practices from some of some of North America’s top sales consultants. Segments are hosted by broadcast veterans and sales pro’s Dan Walker and Susan Anderson.

Comments: All sales all the time this Podcast has some very good content that is valuable to the small business sales professional. Most shows are interviews with authors or consultants.

The audio quality is good with minimal distractions of music or commercials, each Podcast is about 15 minutes in length and new shows appear just about every week. Here is a sampling of some recent show topics:

- Think Like Your Customer
- Leadership For The Self
- Winning The Pricing Game
- Controlling The Decision

Nice show notes about each show are available to help you go to just the show content you are looking for.

Pluses: Instant play, good content, show notes, neat intro bumper, professionally made. Shows as facr back as 2006.

Minuses: No RSS Feed buttons, no content categories.

Recommendation: Nothing happens in business until someone sells something, sharpen your sales skills and knowledge with SalesRepRadio.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the China Business Podcast.

Description: Is China a threat or an opportunity for your company? Are there real growth opportunities for you in the world’s fastest growing market? Expertise and insight from Technomic Asia China, a market strategy consulting firm with more than 20 years in China.

Comments: This Podcast has very credible content on all things relative to business in and with China. Professionally produced, great use of audio to set the stage, clear diction and static free audio make this an easy Podcast to listen to.

Mixing personal humor with relevant stories this show is valuable if you think China and all of its intended and unintended impacts is important to understand. Here is a sample of some recent content:

- Competitiveness in China
- M&A opportunities and challenges in China
- China’s railways and the WTO ruling on auto parts
- Talking economics: China markets and costs

As I said, all things China and business, there are over 20 Podcasts for your listening pleasure available.

Pluses: Great content, instant play, extensive show notes, subscribe buttons, categories, search, very clean site design.

Minuses: I wish there was more frequent audio content.

Recommendation: If China and business is important to you then you need to listen to the China Business Podcast.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the InfoWorld Podcast.

Description: This Podcast is really an 8-topic series of Podcasts. InfoWorld is all things information technology, large company to small, software to phones.

Comments: The Podcasts are well produced and vary in style from monologue to interviews, most have brief commercials or sponsor messages contained within.

All of the best Podcast features are available, instant play, subscriptions, show notes and archives are easily accessible in each of the 8 different segments. Here is a sampling of some recent shows:

- The Virtualization Report
- Storage Sprawl
- THE SOA REPORT
- Beef up your small business

Pluses: The great wealth of content that InfoWorld produces delivered via Podcast. Simple to use site with clean layout for ease of use.

Minuses: Different segments have a differing frequency of new available content.

Recommendation: If Information Technology is important to you then you should check out the InfoWorld Podcast.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the Deloitte Insights Podcast.

Description: Deloitte Insights is a weekly audio business news podcast that delves into the business strategies that address the issues affecting your industry.

Comments: I know at first pass Deloitte Insight seems like a Podcast targeted at big business, however I would ask you to take a closer look.

This Podcast is well produced very professional and outputs some of the best thinking of the brainpower in Deloitte and their member firms. Paying attention to this thinking should give you valueable knowledge about the future of markets, technology and management thinking. Here is a sample of some recent topics:

- Best Practices for Learning and Talent Development
- Superior Customer Service in the Public Sector
- The Generational Divide in the Age of New Media
- Why Buying Online is Gaining on the Credit Card Business

In total so far there are 58 Podcasts for you to review. The typical length falls within the 30-60 minute range and most are done in an interview format.

Pluses: Heavy hitting content, great show notes, categories, great sound, instant play, subscriptions.

Minuses: The ONLY thing I think would be helpful to add would be a Podcast only search function.

Recommendation: If you like to learn from credible sources across a wide range of critical business topics then you need to listen to the Deloitte Insights Podcast.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the StreetIQ.com Podcast.

Description: StreetIQ.com is a site that aggregates multiple podcasts in one location. With over 30 categories of content most of which are centered around business topics you are sure to find some current and relevant content for your needs.

Comments: Most of the audio quality is good, this portal provides access to hundreds, yes hundreds of Podcasts so I couldn’t listen to them all but the ones I checked out are well done.

Podcasts vary in length and structure but most are done in an interview format. Here is a small sampling of some of the content categories:

- Bonds and Fixed Income Devices
- Economics
- Energy
- Small Business
- Tech News
- Venture Equity

The content covered is both deep and wide, this is what makes this a good Podcast site a good portal to visit.

Pluses: Instant play, the content, search functions, content categories, a rating and sharing system and subscriptions.

Minuses: Not much missed here but I would like to see more comprehensive show notes for the visitors use.

Recommendation: If you want your Podcast listening to be efficient and effective then the StreetIQ.com Podcast is one to check out!

This week’s Podcast Review is about the AIIM Waves Podcast.

Description: Podcasts for information on the ECM (Enterprise Content Management) industry, technology changes, industry trends and research, and special alerts.

Comments: Professionally done primarily via an interview format with brief music intro’s all wrapped around REAL user stories.

Multiple shows available, most are 20 minutes or less, instant play, download and subscription functions are available and clearly visible. Here is a sample of some recent topics.

- James G. Davis Construction Co. Improves Project Coordination
- Focus Data Services Ltd Complies with the EU Data Retention Directive
- Oracle’s Andy MacMillan on the ECM Hot Seat
- ABBYY USA’s Dean Tang on the ECM Hot Seat

Nice photo’s of each guest and decent show notes help to gudie you to the content you need.

Pluses: Wealth of good content, nice website, instant play, browse box in the right column to find your desired content.

Minuses: No show listings by categories and some shows do a little music snippet between topics that I found distracting.

Recommendation: If you work in the ECM industry or are a user of ECM technologies you need to be listening to the AIIM Waves Podcast.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the Ten Golden Rules Podcast.

Description: This Podcast offers weekly tips for online business owners about the leading internet marketing trends, including Web 2.0 and search engine marketing.

Comments: This Podcast is a neat mixture of great and pertinent content for the internet entrepreneur mixed with music, a variety of guests and even some fun.

There are about 17 episodes so far and new content comes out weekly. The show notes are excellent and include time marks that help you go to just the topic you want to hear. Here is a sampling of some recent topics:

- Innovate Like Thomas Edison
- American Marketing Association Bootcamp
- Commission Junction University
- Radio vs Podcasting

Interviews with current internet stars is one of my favorite elements of this Podcast, I like to learn from the best while they are flying high. This show does a nice job of capturing their success for our benefit.

Pluses: The content is strong in this Podcast, almost instant play is available (loads your local media player), good show notes and I like the song of the week idea to close out the show.

Minuses: The website is a little clumsy for me, maybe it is the color scheme but my eye has a hard time using the page. There is no search nor categories for the shows.

Recommendation: If you are an internet entrepreneur then you need to give this show a listen, good direct advice and some heavyweight guests make the Ten Golden Rules Podcast a must listen for you.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the Strategy Driven Podcast.

Description: StrategyDriven Podcasts focus on the tools and techniques executives and managers can use to improve their organization’s alignment and accountability to ultimately achieve better results.

Comments: This new but content rich Podcast has great production values, sound, use of music and clarity of presentation.

Each Podcast is about 30 minutes in length and occurs primarily in an interview format with a host and a topic consultant. Here is a sampling of some recent topics:

- What is a Strategy Driven Organization?
- Make the Mission Measureable
- Introduction to Organizational Performance Measures
- Vertically Cascading Organizational Performance Measures

New shows seem to come out once per week so I expect a continued stream of new and valuable content.

Pluses: I like the website design, the gold on black is attractive, instant play is available and the show notes are good. RSS subscriptions are available.

Minuses: It takes a couple of clicks to get to listen to a show, Podcasts pages are not standalone searchable and there are no subcategories for Podcast topics.

Recommendation: I think the content and the quality of thought and advice is the strong suit here and should be a must listen for senior executives and leaders. I suggest you check out the Strategy Driven Podcast.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the 60 Second Ideas Podcast.

Description: 60 Second Ideas spans the globe for proven new small business ideas you can tweak, borrow, copy, pilfer or simply be inspired to come up with your own profitable small business ideas or home based business ideas.

Comments: Billing itself as the ‘most profitable minute’ on the internet this Podcast has some great content. Minimal music, good sound quality, no ads and a very eclectic mix of stories and ideas you are sure to learn and be inspired.

If you listen online there is even a small slideshow that plays along with the audio, sort of a still image Vodcast or video Podcast. Here is a sample list of recent topics.

- It’s A Virtual Party – Go Cake Go
- Home Business Idea – Do My Stuff!
- Imagination to Profit
- Interview Donald Trump’s Season One Winner, Bill Rancic

Most of the content has some age to it but I think there are some good short nuggets worth the visit.

Pluses: Instant play, short length, image slide show and simple but clean sound in the Podcast.

Minuses: Not enough frequent content, more content only findable by category, not archives, or search.

Recommendation: If you are willing to work at the site just a little I think you can find some interesting 60 second bites of ideas and wisdom in the 60 Second Ideas Podcast.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the MidwestBusiness.com Podcast.

Description: Adam Fendelman and Brad Spirrison host MidwestBusiness.com which covers technology and business news in Chicago and the Midwest of the United States.

Comments: These quick (usually less than 5 minutes) Podcasts do a very thorough job of covering the startup technology landscape. A quick show intro and Adam and Brad are into the subject, no fancy production values, no commercials just tech company talk quick.

There are over 30 shows available and new content is provided just about every week. Here is a sampling of some recent show topics:

- Financial Tech Ripe For Growth
- Technology Predictions For 2008
- Is Facebook’s $15 Billion Valuation an Aberration?
- GrubHub Scores Food Loot, New Legal Repository

Pluses: Instant play, short bites of content, over 30 shows, simple clean website, subscriptions and show notes.

Minuses: My only negative is that Adam and Brad’s voice’s can be kind of monotone, I know they are passionate about their subject but a little more emotion in the delivery would be great.

Recommendation: If you care about the Midwest USA technology environment at all then you need to check out the Midwestbusiness.com Podcast.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the Small Business IT Radio Podcast.

Description: Small Business IT Radio is a show for IT Professionals that service the small business market.

Comments: This BlogTalkRadio hosted Podcast is a Canadian based program. Audio quality is good and most shows typically get right to the topic. Occasionally their is a sponsor message but off-topic content is kept to a minimum.

This show provides new content every week and averages from 45 to 60 minutes each. Usually they have a guest expert that is interviewed. Here is a sampling of some recent show topics:

- Inside the DELL PartnerDirect Program and Small Business
- Facebook for Business
- Andrew Barber-Starkey’s “The 7 Success Accelerators”
- Top 10 Ways to get leads into your business

There are well over 25 different shows focused on helping Small Business IT firms achieve success. Show notes are available but not necessarily detailed.

Pluses: I like the focused content and the shows focus, small business success for IT providers is difficult and I think the show has targeted a good audience. The audio is good, the topics and content is strong. The Blogtalk interface provides good web basics, search, RSS, instant play and archives.

Minuses: Occassionally the sound level between the host and guest is wide meaning you have to play with your volume levels to listen effectively, this can be distracting. There are also no show categories available.

Recommendation: If your business is providing IT services and products to the small business audience then the Small Business IT Radio Podcast is one you should check out.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the Manager Tools Podcast.

Description: Manager Tools is a weekly podcast by Mike and Mark focused on helping you become a more effective manager and leader.

Comments: This Podcast covers management basics, the sound is great, the content is very clear and specific and the speakers waste no time getting to the point.

Most of the Podcasts are 30 minutes or less which makes them very digestable. The site also provides PDF show notes so you can take away the key points of the specific topic you need. Here are some of the recent topics covered:

- How to Set Annual Goals
- How to Schedule One on Ones
- How to Handle a Group Interview
- Basics of Calendar Management

Pluses: Great content delivered quickly, instant play site audio, RSS feeds, PDF show notes, clean and basic website, access to premium content is available if you care to pursue it.

Minuses: No archive visible or categories other than premium and basic Podcasts. I would like to see the topics covered grouped by category.

Recommendation: I really like this Podcast and think there is a great need among small businesses for management and supervisory basics. Check out the Manager Tools Podcast today.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the Blue Box Podcast.

Description: Dan York and Jonathan Zar once a week (roughly) get together to have a conversation about Voice-over-IP (VoIP) security.

Comments: Great sound, nice music, Dan and Jonathon tag team a big topic that is very relevant to small businesses today, VOIP security.

Each Podcast is about 45 minutes in length and they have been at it since October of 2005, there are over 70 Podcasts for your enjoyment. Here is a sampling of some recent topics they covered:

- VLAN Hopping, SIP Digest vulnerability, VoIP security hype, Skype security, Google’s latest moves
- Interview with ZFone and ZRTP creator Phil Zimmermann by Brenno de Winter
- Linksys SPA-941 vulnerability, SIP DDoS, New release of SIPVicious, Asterisk security roadmap
- SIP Security discussion with Cullen Jennings of IETF and Cisco

Yes this is a deep technology show, Dan and Jonathon discuss the very latest in VOIP technology and related security issues.

Pluses: Instant Play (My Favorite), RSS Feeds, extensive show notes, categories, good content and sound and an incredible amount of material is available.

Minuses: The 2 right sidebars are VERY busy and distract my eye from the left column content too much. I know there is value in the sidebars buy it is not easy to use. (IMHO)

Recommendation: If VOIP is important to you then you MUST add this long lived and content packed Podcast to your list of must listens. Check out the Blue Box Podcast today!

This week’s Podcast Review is about the Hackoff.com Podcast

Description: An historic murder mystery set in the Internet bubble and rubble.

Comments: Author and former CEO Tom Evslin, like hackoff.com CEO Larry Lazard, founded a company-ITXC- which went public during the Internet bubble. Unlike Larry, Evslin lived to tell the story of those times.

This novel turned podcast takes you through the fun, games and hysteria of the turn of the century Internet bubble and blowup.

With all the best features of a true mystery novel, sexually charged players and of course technology, this novel set to podcast will pull you in and not let go.

The sound is great, the narration and character play terrific. Before you know it hours will have passed while you listen to the story. With 15 chapters each containing multiple episodes this story is well done. Here are just a few chapter titles for your enjoyment:

- The Beauty Contest
- Themepunks
- An Instance of Blinding Light
- Death Sucks

and so much more. There are terrific show notes and you can even purchase the printed edition or subscribe to the podcast or print edition.

Pluses: I love this whole idea of a relevant fictional story set in recent times, revolving around technology in both print and podcasted format (complete with stock charts). The site is great, the graphics are effective and the visitor choice is maximized. You can even bookmark your place if you stop part of the way through the story. I even learned a new term ‘Blooks’ blogs as books or books as blogs, whichever you prefer.

Minuses: Occasionally the sound is a little echoey but I can find no other fault with this great and creative podcast.

Recommendation: If you like great stories you need to try out the Hackoff.com Podcast.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the Beermat Radio Podcast.

Description: Beermat Radio, in association with the Financial Times, is a series of unique business radio shows. They talk to successful entrepreneurs, CEO’s and thought leaders about their lives and businesses.

Comments: These Podcasts are very professional produced, the sound is great, particularly the capture of the voices. There are small commercials once in a while in the audio but they are non-intrusive.

This is the first site I have reviewed that has a blend of Free and Fee podcasts. The 10 minute versions are Free and the long version has a cost per podcast (35 minutes in length) or you can buy a membership for access.

The website is excellent with links to a bunch of free stuff, subscription choices are clear and explained, the show notes are kind of thin but all things are designed to get you to the audio. Here is a sampling of topics:

- Mindy Gibbins Klein: The Book Midwife
- Christine Comaford-Lynch: Rules for Renegades
- Eric Edmeades: The Entrepreneur Adventurer
- Andrew Bishop: FX, spuds and rock’n'roll

There are about 75 shows in all currently available on a wide range of topics.

Pluses: I like the content, I am partial to the British accents as well, they sound so formal even when they are not. The clean website is nice and the pictures of the authors is a nice touch as well.

I think they have done a nice job of making the short, free versions of the show still good and valuable.

Minuses: There is no instant play available except on the home page and then only of the latest show, otherwise you have to download the file to listen on your computer.

I would also like to see the content categorized so I can get to my chosen topic quicker. There is a search box but it has a strange label on it and could not tell if it would search show content.

Recommendation: I think this show is worth exploring as the content is quite good. I would suggest that you give the Beermat Radio Podcast a try.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the For Immediate Release Podcast

Description: For Immediate Release is the twice-weekly podcast of Neville Hobson, ABC, and Shel Holtz, ABC, a pair of communication professionals who think they have something to say.

Comments: Ranging in length from 5 minutes to an hour this Podcast is well produced, the great sound, music and outstanding conent makes this Podcast a great one to listen to.

The show is typically done in a newscast type of format, headlines, story snippets and even some weaved in humor keep the listener entertained and informed. Here is a small sampling of some recent show titles:

- Paperless maps are the next killer app
- MoveOn.org takes on Facebook
- Vodafone offers calls and text service inside Second Life
- Weak US dollar spells opportunity for US PR firms

There are literally hundreds more shows to choose from on an infinite number of topics.

Pluses: Very good website, instant play, multiple subscribe options, very good show notes and requests for feedback make access to the audio easy. The biggest plus is the content, over 290 shows, WOW!

Minuses: Not much to criticize here but I do wish the categories listed were also organized by content area and not show segment. Their is a search box for help however.

Recommendation: If you are a communications professional or you just like to listen to smartly presented excellent content then the For Immediate Release Podcast is one you should listen to.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the StartUp Bizcast Podcast

Description: Startup BizCast offers weekly small business advice, tips, and education from owners of small businesses.

Comments: Over 20 different podcast shows. Great sound, music and production values. The shows are quick to the point, 15 minutes or less in length.

Each show has a focus topic but all shows also have a small business news segment to keep listeners up to date on the latest news. Here is a sampling of show topics:

- Alternative Advertising
- Voice over IP for your Small Business
- Your Small Business Elevator Speech
- Small Business Logos

Nice website, all of the latest bookmark and subscribe options, between podcasts they post a good recommended reading list. Decent show notes and an easy to get to episode list is available as well.

Pluses: I really like the 15 minute or less length of the shows, of course my favorite instant play and the multitude of ways to get to the content.

Minuses: The site is just a wee busy for my eyes, too many chicklets and links on the right side. My eye doesn’t know where to land.

Recommendation: If you like quick access and quick content focused on a wide range of small business topics then the StartUp Bizcast Podcast is one you should give a listen to.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the 10 Golden Rules Internet Marketing Podcast

Description: Jay Berkowitz is a small business Internet consultant with more than 20 years of marketing experience and he uses this Podcast to focus on the 10 Best Rules for Internet Marketing Success.

Comments: Good sound, simple but effective intro clips (bumpers). Sometimes Jay is solo and sometime with guests. He even shares content live from various Podcasting events.

Shows seem to be 30 to 60 minutes in length for the most part. Jay brings to our ears a who’s-who in the Internet marketing world. Here is a sampling of his topics:

- Finding your voice for your podcast, how and where to host your podcast, the software and hardware you need to produce a podcast, how to prepare a show, how to develop great content and entertainment, strategies and tactics for free and paid promotion for a podcast.

- Finding your voice for your podcast, how and where to host your podcast, the software and hardware you need to produce a podcast, how to prepare a show, how to develop great content and entertainment, strategies and tactics for free and paid promotion for a podcast.

From just these two descriptions you can see that Jay packs each show with some great depth and breadth of valuable advice and insight.

Pluses: I like the sound quality, the content and the presentation. The website is pretty basic but it does have instant play, good notes, requests for comments and feedback and RSS subscribe links.

Minuses: I would like to see search, categories and archive access provided. As more content is put up I am sure these functions will be added.

Recommendation: If Internet marketing is important to you then you should give a listen to the 10 Golden Rules Internet Marketing Podcast.

This week’s Podcast Review is about the Managing the Gray Podcast.

Description: C.C. Chapman, new media maven for hire, uses this marketing podcast to help business professionals and individuals stay up to date on what is happening in the world of new media, consumer generated content and no control Public Relations.

Comments: With great audio quality, professionally produced intro’s and a great audio voice, C.C. Chapman brings you engaging content delivered with polish and panish.

Sometimes solo and sometimes with a who’s who of new media guests, he covers a wide range of topics surrounding new media and sometimes the edge of today’s new lifestyle choices, freedom of thinking empowered by technology is a key tenent to his podcasts. Here is a sampling of some recent show titles:

- Calculated Risks and Taking Chances
- Is the Word Conversation Cliched?
- Google Look Out – Zoho Is Gunning For You
- 5000 Web Applications

I can almost guarantee that you will learn something new or be exposed to something interesting that will make you think, “I had no idea about that.”

Pluses: Great content, slickly produced and the eclectic mix of topics is incredible. The site is easy to navigate, has literally the entire show transcripts available in a blog post.

Easy subscription buttons for RSS and other subscription types. Almost instant play, nice website, clean and easy to operate. Archives by date and category as well.

Minuses: Not much to criticize with this Podcast. Maybe in-post audio player versus launching an external player would be helpful.

Recommendation: One of the best produced podcasts I have listened to. Give the Managing the Gray Podcast a try.