Some thoughts on podcasting from Jason Van Orden

It's been a while since I've put a new show up, but I've got some great ones in the works so don't delete the feed just yet!

But for right now, I've got some questions that Jason Van Orden answered for me by email. Jason has been podcasting for quite a while now. He's got a few podcasts including the Gothamcast. He recently wrote a book for podcasters called Promoting Your Podcast. I met him briefly at the last Portable Media Expo, and since then he's been really willing to help me out with my research. Please go check out his stuff at www.jasonvanorden.com.

The following are some questions I asked him about podcasting its audiences as compared to traditional media.

How did you first hear about and get involved with podcasting?

As an internet entrepreneur, I subscribe to several e-newsletters. After reading the word a couple times, I could tell I needed to know more. I turned to Google and spent the next week reading everything I could on the topic.

What podcasts you are doing now?

Internet Business Mastery - The art of online marketing and internet entrepreneurship

Podcasting Underground - News and tips to help you succeed in podcasting

GothamCast - A slice of New York City culture & life

How is building an audience for a podcast different from building an audience for more traditional media (radio, TV, etc.)?

Traditional media is about broadcasting to the least common denominator. Podcasting is a very niche medium. The topic and target audience tend to be much more narrowly defines. It's easier to determine who your target market is, find them and get your message in front of them. This makes for a tighter relationship between the content publisher and the consumer.

What are some of the best ways you have found to build and keep an audience?

The first thing a podcaster needs to do is to get their show into the major podcast directories such as iTunes. But to get the best results you need to have a great title, a good description and create quality content.

Then start cross-promoting your content with other podcasters and bloggers in the same niche. Cooperation tends to prevail over competition in this medium.

Thirdly, understand and use all types of social media to your advantage. Use your blog to the fullest. Make it easy for people to find and consume your content. Encourage others to link to your content. Tag your content appropriately. Use social media sites and networks creatively and to your advantage (e.g. YouTube, delicious, Digg, Reddit, etc.)

I've noticed that a community feeling is a big part of podcasting. Does this community feeling make podcast audiences more loyal than audiences of traditional media?

There is no middle man between a podcaster and his audience. In traditional media there is a network in the middle. Podcasting also tends to be more participatory. There is usually a sense of belonging and even ownership that the audience gets when listening to a podcast and offering their feedback directly to the content creator.

Where do you think the future of podcasting lies?

It will only continue to grow and get bigger. In the mid-90s every was asking whether they needed a web site. Now it is a no-brainer. Then it was blogs. Not its podcasting. You can jump on board or be left behind scratching your head.

What is the biggest obstacle podcasting and podcasters need to overcome in order to realize that future?

Finding and subscribing to podcasts needs to be easier. It is still too hard to find and manage podcast subscriptions. The easiest way is with iTunes and an iPod. We need more options. It needs to be as easy as using your TV or Radio.

Thanks again to Jason, this stuff is great info for anyone interested in podcasting or new media in general.

Pod Researcher - Episode 02

Episode 02 - Steve Friess Interview

When Apple released version 4.9 of its popular iTunes the ability to subscribe to podcasts was added to the software, as well as a podcast directory. This feature proved to be monumental in the podcasting community. Shows that previously had a few hundred listeners at best suddenly found thousands of new listeners subscribing to thier feeds. All within days of the iTunes 4.9 release. But even though iTunes made it easier to find and subscribe to podcasts, it is still hard for some podcasters to find and build an audience. "Podfading" is a term that has been coined to explain the phenominon of disappearing podcasts.

Steve Friess is a podcaster and journalist. He is the host of several podcasts and his bylines are found in tons of magazines and newspapers around the nation. He was kind enough to let me interview him and pick his brain on the topics of iTunes 4.9 and podfading.

Check out Steve's work here.
And his podcasts:
The Strip
The Pet Cast

Listen to Episode 02 now.

Portable Media Expo

Just got back from the Portable Media Expo. It was great! Met some of my favorite podcasters and made lots of great contacts for the research.

I spent most of my time at the Podango booth for the "Unconference". Check them out, they are doing great things for podcasting.

Listen to Pod Researcher on the Page

Now you can listen to the Pod Researcher Podcast right from the web page. Just take a look to the right and you'll see the Flash based player in the side bar.

Choose an episode, click play, and enjoy!

Pod Researcher - Episode 01

Episode 01 - Scott Sigler Interview
Finally Episode 01 is up! I apologize for the delay, but I promise it will be well worth the wait. We've got a great interview with podcaster and author Scott Sigler.

Scott was kind enough to sit down and talk with me about the future of podcasting as well as some of its effect on publishing and other media.

Check out Scott's work here.

The music in the podcast comes from Alexander Blu, and featured on the Podsafe Music Network

Thanks for listening and be sure to leave any comments you have!

- Scott Sigler on the effect of podcasting on exsisting media:

...it's setting up a picture where you can see literally the destruction of television networks in five to ten years because they seriously can not compete...

Listen to Episode 01 now.

Pod Researcher - Episode 00

Episode 00 - Introduction
This Episode will be a quick introduction to me and my research project.

Show Notes

• Introduction to Jason Wadsworth
• Explanation of research
• Preview of Episode 01: Interview with Scott Sigler
• Contact info
• Web: Pod Researcher Website
• Phone: 206-350-podz (7639)
• Email: podresearcher@gmail.com
• Music by Alexander Blu featured on Podsafe Music Network

...I hope you stick with me as I conduct my research and post new shows...

Listen to Episode 00 now.