Blogging from the Alley

2 More Weeks of Voting for Your Favorite Podcasts!

theferf — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:06:46 +0000

As mentioned previously, the 2009 Podcast Awards are now open for voting! It is super easy to do, and you can return daily to vote for all of your favorite shows.

Shows are categorized into 22 different categories and all you need to do is select one of your favorite podcasts from each of the categories and be proud knowing you are supporting the shows that create great content for you!

The image here is an example of one group of shows that are up for voting this year…. so you can see there is a good assortment of well known and more independent shows to choose from.

To Vote:

Go to www.podcastawards.com
Choose the shows you want to win by checking the box (choose 1, or 1 from each category)
Add your name and email at the bottom
Submit the form
Return again tomorrow to vote again!

Voting ends November 30th, 2009 — so make sure you get your votes in now for your favorite podcasts!

Everyone is Making Money Podcasting, Are You? Mashables 9 Ways to Make Money Podcasting

theferf — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:25:52 +0000

Photo from Photos8.com on flickr

Adam Curry (from the Mevio Network) said he has three podcasters that will make between $500,000 to $1,000,000 this year. If you are a podcaster, don’t deny yourself the opportunity to learn, at any level or audience size, how to make money with your show. Even if your show is a part time gig, there are systems in place that will allow you to make money. You just have to find what works for you: do you want to let someone else sell advertising on your behalf like RawVoice and Mevio do? Or would you rather keep the show free and offer companion content or iPhone apps like Wizzard Media does?

The Mashable list titled “9 Successful Techniques for Making Money with Podcasting” is an amazing introduction to anyone looking to monetize their brand and podcast. A lot of thought went into the list covering all aspects, and all levels, of monetization. Seriously, this is not an article you want to miss. Kudos to David Spark from Mashable for creating another great resource for podcasters!

5 Steps to Getting Distribution through Video Aggregators

theferf — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:39:40 +0000

ReadWriteWeb

Podcasters want to share their information with the world and to build their audience. There are a ridiculous number of services out there to help do this, it is hard to figure out where to start. Which site do you upload to? Which will net you the most bang for your buck? You have to worry about comments, plays and people recommending your show to their friends… not to mention revenue! This is no easy task, but there are resources out there for you. Below is one idea.

ReadWriteStart is the new section of the ReadWriteWeb blog that covers startups and entrepreneurs. In a recent post they created a List of Easy Video Aggregation Tools which highlighted services used to curate videos from your different networks across the net. This list of services is designed for your audience members. Your job, as a content creator, is to connect with your audience in the places they visit already. This means that you have to talk to your fans, find out what sites they use… and be there!

The list featured by ReadWriteStart includes companies such as VodPod, and Redux (my favorite) where users can create channels of their favorite videos, watch videos suggested by their friends, comment on the videos and share them with their friends. But how do you get onto these sites? It’s easy.

5 Steps to Getting Distribution through Video Aggregators

Create a Video
Upload it to 25+ video sites at once using TubeMogul
Create accounts at the Top Video Aggregator sites like PopScreen, Mevio or Yubby
Add your videos to the new aggregator sites
Connect with your audience through these new aggregator sites!

I know it’s not easy to curate your community and your branding across multiple websites. But getting out there to the sites people are already using and are familiar with is what you need to do. Just like in traditional marketing, the more people see your name and your videos, the more they will start to trust and pay attention to you. Now go… create great content, and distribute it everywhere!

Featured 5 Podcasts for the Week of November 2nd

theferf — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:30:42 +0000

Another great collection for you this week featuring great shows from the Mevio Network. These are the featured 5 for the week of November 2, 2009.

1. The C-Realm Podcast
C stands for consciousness. Each week, host KMO interviews knowledgeable folks on topics related to entheogens and the Drug War, the notion of a technological singularity, and small-scale alternative agriculture.

2. The Chronic Rift Podcast
Clinically Proven to Do Nothing

3. The Liverpool Stories Podcast
We cover a wide variety of quality stories in a short documentary style covering music, personal stories, events around the city. New episodes are published 2 – 3 times a month.

4. The Nerd Stalker Podcast
Nerd Stalker covers all things tech with an emphasis on startups, research labs, conferences, meetups, and design houses.

5. Trip on a Deal Podcast
Trip on a Deal is a weekly show featuring unique vacation ideas and hard to beat travel deals across the web. Informative, fun and loaded with bargains, destinations and entertainment … all in just five minutes a week! Whew!

Want to stay up to date on the featured shows on Podcast Alley? Subscribe to the Featured 5 Podcast Alley RSS feed and never miss a show! You can also subscribe to the Podcast Alley Blog to get all the latest and greatest news on podcasting.

Interview: This Week in Combat Sports Podcast Answers the 6.5 Questions

theferf — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:42:40 +0000

Get the latest news and analysis from the worlds of Boxing, Kick Boxing, MMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and other fighting competitions. Hosted by Scott Asnault, it’s a weekly run down of everything that’s going on in and outside the ring and the cage and on and off the mats. Read the interview with Scott now, and subscribe to this weekly show if you have the stomach!

UFC, Strikeforece, WEC, Beach Wrestling, Super Hulk – it’s all here in Scott’s weekly series of video reports. Join Scott for the drama, the controversies, the defeats and the comebacks on This Week In Combat Sports.Inter

About the 6.5 Questions

Featured on the home page of Podcast Alley, the 6.5 questions give you insight into the life of the podcast producer, and a bit of information about their show as well. This is not just a another featured podcast, its a unique interview created just for Podcast Alley. You can always find the latest featured podcaster interviews on the home page of the Podcast Alley site or if you like, subscribe directly to the Podcast Alley Featured Podcaster Interviews feed. Do you have a show that you think is good enough to be featured on Podcast Alley? Submit the show in the comment, or email me: info at podcastalley.com!

Mashable Publishes Their Complete Guide to Video Blogging? Not Quite.

theferf — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:05:54 +0000

Video Blog Green Screen

In a recent post on Mashable, Leah Betancourt (digital community manager at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis) dove head first into what it takes to be a video blogger. With the low cost of entry and the enumerable places to get free hosting (like Mevio), there is no reason why everyone couldn’t produce a video blog if they so chose! I mean seriously, all you really need to do is point the camera in the right direction and hit record!

Ok, so maybe it is a little harder than that. While people are successful at video blogging or podcasting without a plan (essentially just running out and recording things that happen), most people need a plan for compelling content if they really want anyone to pay attention to them. And while there are many free resources out there to help people create, edit, distribute and promote their videos for cheap or free, it can be really hard to find them! Thankfully, Mashable jumped in to create the “Complete Guide to Video Blogging” showing you the following:

How to choose good content
Examples of software and hardware for creation
Where to host your videos
… other tips as well

I don’t agree that this is the complete guide to video blogging, but it does at least cover the fundamentals needed to point you in the right direction. What we need here for the n00bs is a listing of free hosting, free software, cheap hardware, editing tips, audio tips, video tips and more! While the forums here at Podcast Alley cover a lot of these topics, we have never created a field guide for it… hmmmmm.

Stay tuned.

Interview: UC Radio Podcast Answers the 6.5 Questions

theferf — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:07:23 +0000

UC Radio Podcast

UC Radio is a throwback to the Pirate Radio format of the 70s and 80s in Los Angeles. Mike is a musician that knows his music and is always on the look out for anything that is good and that hasn’t been tainted by corporate baggage. Producing twice a week, Mike gives you 10-15 new indie tracks in each episode for you to rock out to. Read the interview now on the home page of the Podcast Alley website, and make sure you subscribe to UC Radio Podcast so you don’t miss an episode! And as always, if you would like to help a fellow podcaster out, check out the UC Radio offers page to find ways to save money from UC Radio.

About UC Radio

A Los Angeles native and survivor of the 80’s & 90’s Hollywood rock scene, Mike Yusi brings a unique approach to finding and delivering new music to the masses through his new media shows UC Radio and Sonic Wallpaper. In the 4 years since starting UC Radio, Mike has played over 2,000 songs by unsigned, and indie bands, helping many find a larger audience. It’s the understanding that Mike has of the industry, how it works, and the amount of time and effort a band has to put into being successful that gives him the edge on finding bands that actually matter and getting them into his shows for you to hear.

About the 6.5 Questions

Featured 5 Podcasts for the Week of October 12th

theferf — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:12:37 +0000

Another great collection for you this week featuring shows about music, pediatric health, living naturally and much, much more. These are the featured 5 for the week of October 12, 2009!

1. Pediatrics for Parents
Learn the latest on childrens health and hear interviews with childrens health experts.

2. TechVi Show
Your source for timely, accurate, informative and entertaining interviews, TechVi talks to technology newsmakers and reporters to get to the bottom of today’s headlines.

3. Burrito Electrico TV
This is the weekly companion to the Burrito Electrico Audio Show where each week your host THE SnyderMan will bring you NEW and Classic Videos from several Genres of the Music World. Including Punk, Rock N Roll, Ska, HardCore, Street punk, Oi!, Power Pop, Horror punk, PsychoBilly and every thing in between.

4. 2Soon Radio
We believe no topic, person, crime, catastrophe or tragedy is above being mocked. As The Joker said, “This town needs an enema.” We are that enema.

5. Healthy Inner Beauty
In this show Marianne Bridgeman, Holistic Health Coach and Natural Food Chef, will help people understand what they are truly eating and doing to their bodies. Marianne packs in 15 minutes (or less) the health benefits of different foods plus helps educate people on the actual contents of packaged foods. For some inspiration, she includes a new affirmation each podcast along with a tip of the week.

College Crunch Gives you 15 Podcasts That Will Make You Smarter

theferf — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:00:26 +0000

College Crunch

You know I LOVE to feature podcasts, and I love it even more when people are passionate enough to create their own lists of categorized shows they love and send them to me! If you remember 2 weeks ago, I featured a list of 31 podcasts for freelancers that was put together by Freelance Switch. Following in the same spirit, here is another great group of podcasts for you…

From College Crunch

“Here are 15 podcasts in particular that will make you a smarter, more well rounded, and better informed person. Enjoy, and let us know what we missed in the comments!”.

A few of My Favorites

This really is a great list of shows that help people become more intellectual. I even love how they threw in the Keith and the Girl show to mix up the bag a bit. They can be a really smart show if you don’t mind the shock value they try to pile on top. Some of my other favorite shows from their list include Dan Carlins Hardcore History and This American Life.

Read the rest of their blog post and see all 15 of the podcasts that will make you smarter on CollegeCrunch.org.

BlogWorld & New Media Expo: October 15-17, 2009

theferf — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:50:16 +0000

What was the leading podcasting event for the last 4 years, the New Media Expo, has now become part of the premier expo on blogging… the BlogWorld & New Media Expo. This year the event will be hosted at the Las Vegas convention center from October 15th to the 17th and will features all the heavy hitters from the worlds of blogging, podcasting and social media. For as little as $75 (and up to $1200) you can start to be a part of the event that is sure to be a smash hit.

Why Should You Attend?

If you are into podcasting and blogging, this is the leading even for many reasons. Not only do they have killer tracks focusing on audio and video podcasting, focused community building, and the fundamentals of social media… they also have a huge exhibition floor, panels and discussions from leaders in blogging and podcasting (including Robert Scoble, CC Chapman, Chris Pirillo and dozens more) and the opportunity to connect with some of the greatest minds in social media from around the world.

Will Podcast Alley Be There?

Regretfully, no. I was asked to sit a few panels but had to decline. You know I love podcasting and blogging as much as (or even more than) every other nerd out there, but unfortunately the timing did not work out. I am sad, but while you suckers are listening to Guy Kawasaki, Leo Laporte, Cali Lewis and Chris Brogan, I will be on vacation with the people I love and admire most… my family.

Now wipe your tears and go register for your ticket to the BlogWorld Expo… and if you do, use code RICKNDAVE20 for an extra 20% off your pass to BlogWorld & New Media Expo or any Partner Program.