Archive for February, 2006
Podcasting: Say What YOU Want!
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the latest buzz in online world is - podcasting. How can you start with podcasting?
What is podcasting
The simplest definition is that podcasting is audio blogging, so podcasts are blogs in audio format. Podcasting refers to distributing recorded voice using RSS. Recorded files are usually in MP3 format. So using podcasts finally everybody can be heard on the Internet. Literally.
The first indicator about popularity of every technology, industry or company is Google and number of search results for certain keywords.
Here are number of search results (as of January, 2006) on Google for:
- podcasting – more than 36 million search results
- podcast – more than 85 million search results
You have to admit that it is quite impressive for a technology which started in 2003.
In their research “The Future of Digital Audio”, Forrester Research predicts that 12.3 million U.S. households will use their MP3 players to listen to podcasts by the end of 2010.
“Consumers want to listen to what they want, when they want, on the device of their choosing. New formats like online radio and podcasting, where downloadable content is sent directly to an MP3 player, give consumers more programming and ultimate flexibility,” said Forrester Research Vice President Ted Schadler.
Jupiter Research conducted a survey on 4,000 Internet users about blogs, RSS/XML and podcasts. They came to the conclusion that blog and podcast users are people with more than 5 years of Internet experience and that have high income. They found out that RSS/XML are most appealing to people in the age range of 35 to 44 while blogs and podcasts are most interesting to people between the ages of 18 and 34.
You can see that blogs & RSS derivate different technologies for communication like podcasts and videoblogs (vlogs). This is excellent for marketers who want to reach their target audience using every available communication technology. Also beside all those new communication channels, we know that email is “killer application” and also IM is used by more and more people for private and business correspondence. So you can see that communicating on the Internet has never been easier and more diverse. More and more individuals start with podcasting – it is easier to talk then to type. You have to use it for your business, as well.
Business podcasting
No matter how cute one technology is, in order to jump from the buzz bandwagon to mainstream bandwagon it has to offer people the way to apply that technology to their business. Podcasts are not mainstream yet, but they will be definitely because they can boost business results for every company. Especially for consulting companies.
Blogs with podcasts are excellent way to give your web site a so called “personal” touch. To show your visitors and clients that there are real people behind your web site.
Companies can place the interview in audio format with their CEO instead of having a press release only. We have also mentioned that podcasts are great for consulting companies and for companies which sell content. This will be even better when video blogs (vlogs) become mainstream. For example, software company won’t need to offer tutorials on how to use their products in plain HTML format with photos. They can offer their tutorials like podcasts and vlogs. The same goes with whitepapers.
The main purpose of podcasts is the same like with blogs – more personal communication and establishing you as an expert in your industry. All those communication channels like blogs, RSS, podcasts and vlogs revolutionize how companies interact with their stakeholders. Podcasts can be also used like a memo for upcoming meetings and conferences.
How to start with podcasting
To start with podcasting you will need a microphone and software. There are many free and fee based software for audio recording. Good free software is Audacity and you can get it from http://audacity.sourceforge.net. If you need specialized podcasting software, the most popular are:
• iPodder – http://ipodder.sourceforge.net
• jPodder – http://www.jpodder.com
• iTunes - http://www.apple.com/itunes
Also, it doesn’t hurt to mention that these great podcasting software are – free.
You will also need an encoder (if your software doesn’t already offer that) to convert your audio files to the most used audio file type on the Net and that is MP3. You can get a Lame MP3 Encoder from http://lame.sourceforge.net or fee-based encoder Blaze Media Pro from http://www.blazemp.com.
Podcasts are audio files so you will need appropriate bandwidth and web space for storage. If that is problem for you – no problem! There are services that will host your podcasts free of charge.
The most popular are:
• OurMedia – http://www.ourmedia.org
• Internet Archive – http://www.archive.org
• BlipMedia – http://www.blipmedia.org
Promote your podcasts
In order to be heard you will need to promote your podcasts. Besides placing your podcasts on your web site there are specialized podcast directories where you can list your podcasts so other people can get them and listen to what you have to say.
Podcast Alley – http://www.podcastalley.com
Podcast.Net – http://www.podcast.net
Podcast Directory – http://www.podcastdirectory.com
Podcast Bunker – http://www.podcastbunker.com
All Podcasts – http://www.allpodcasts.com
Tech Podcasts – http://www.techpodcasts.com
Find great podcasts here:
IT Conversations
TWIT
Yahoo! Podcasts
If you have something useful to say – start with podcasting. You can see that it is very easy to become a podcaster and this is great way to enhance your visibility, maximize your market reach and profit.
Happy podcasting!
Tags: podcast podcasting
Bell Canada’s Case Study
Posted by: | CommentsMarketingSherpa published interesting case study about Bell Canada titled How to Grow Your List to 2 Million Opt-Ins — and Which Tactics Give You Higher Quality Names.
Tags: email marketing emarketing blog case study marketingsherpa bell canada
Campfire - Latest Product From 37Signals
Posted by: | Comments
37Signals, creators of award-winning BaseCamp have announced that they have launched new product called Campfire. Campfire is simple group chat service for businesses who want to chat with their partners, visitors and clients in real time. With Campfire you won’t need any special chat software or network, every chat has permament URL, chat is done using Web browser.
“Once you start using Campfire you won’t remember how you got by without it. There’s no better tool for business instant messaging. It’s dead simple too.”
-Dick Costolo, President, FeedBurner
Tags: 37Signals group chat Campfire
Top Blogging Clichés
Posted by: | CommentsWe`all know how many hypé is related to blogging. These two interesting posts list funny clichés that have to stop. One is Brian Clark’s post Top 5 Blogging Clichés That Need To Die
Even more interesting blogging clichés can be found on Blog Herald.
Visit Blog Herald, it is very interesting site about blogging, there were some news that they have been bought. Here is the list of clichés (it is some kind of Part II of Brian Clark’s list) from Blog Herald:
6. Referring to TechChrunch every day
7. Linking to Scoble every day
8. Saying there isn’t an A-List or that it’s not important when you are an A-Lister and you only ever link to other A-Listers excluding everyone else
9. Saying there is 27 million blogs (or sometimes less) in the blogosphere because that’s how many blogs Technorati tracks
10. Writing about the blogosphere as though it only exists in the United States
More Than 100 Million Photos on Flickr!
Posted by: | CommentsSeveral days ago Flickr, world’s most popular photo community, announced that there are more than 100 million uploaded photos! Wow, that is really great! Yahoo! made a great deal with buying them and Flickr investors made even better.
BTW. I have also photos on Flickr so if you are interested check them out.
How to Get 18m Euros After 90 Days?
Posted by: | CommentsIf you think that it isn’t possible, it is - at least on the Internet. FON, global community of people who share WiFi bandwidth raised 18m Euros from companies like Sequoia Capital, Index Ventures, Google and Skype. They started 90 days ago. FON is led by serial entrepreneur Martin Varsavsky. Congratulations, Martin!
More info on FON blog.
Amazon And Contextual Ads
Posted by: | Comments
The contextual advertising market is seeing some interesting developments lately! Amazon contacted some of its affiliates (like Chris Beasley at SitePoint) in order to take part in a beta testing campain of their new, adsense-like contextual ads program (showing third party sponsored links, not only their products).
Since Google is not allowing adsense publishers to take part in another similar program on the pages with AdSense ads, Amazon offers 100$ to their new affiliates.
After Google Adsense, Yahoo Publisher Network and Microsoft’s AdCenter, web publishers are getting a fourth choice
Google And Adsense Limit
Posted by: | Comments
Do you have a referral button for Google Adsense on your web site? Then read further. If you tought that you will earn $100 every time you send Google one more Adsense partner and when they earn $100 you are wrong!
You saw this in your referral code:
“When a publisher that signed up for AdSense through your referral earns their initial $100.00 and is eligible for payout, we’ll credit your account with $100.00. *”
However, did you see this:
“* An AdSense referral is counted when a publisher, who has never previously enrolled in AdSense, creates an account and earns at least $100.00 within 90 days of sign-up. The referred publisher must be eligible for payment to qualify as a successful referral.”
With this new Google policy not many people will get their well deserved $100. Let’s face it. How many web sites earn $100 for 90 days via AdSense? Even some of high-profiled bloggers claim that they earn $100 per year!?
Jupitermedia Really Into Stock Photos
Posted by: | Comments
Jupitermedia Corporation (Nasdaq: JUPM) yesterday announced that its Jupiterimages division has acquired France-based Stock Image S.A.S for around U.S. $11.1 million in cash. Stock Image is a leading resource for rights-managed images through its Stock Image brand and royalty-free images through its Pixland brand.
“With the addition of these high-end French and European styled rights-managed and royalty-free images from Stock Image and Pixland, Jupiterimages has further expanded its diverse range of image offerings. Combined with our recent acquisitions of Agence Images, a leading distributor of rights-managed images in France, PR Direct, a leading distributor of royalty-free images in France, and Goodshoot, a leading resource of royalty-free images located in France, Jupiterimages is now one of the largest organizations in the important French image market,” stated Alan M. Meckler, Chairman and CEO of Jupitermedia Corporation. “We are pleased that Michel Rawicki, founder of Stock Image, will continue to provide world-class imagery for Stock Image and Jupiterimages through an ongoing production agreement. We anticipate significant marketing and business synergies between Stock Image and our Jupiterimages division. We expect that this acquisition will be accretive to our earnings and cash flows,” added Meckler.
Recently, Jupitermedia Corporation invested in a very popular free stock photo web site located in Hungary called Stock.xchng. They bought a stake in a little bit more than 49% of the company.
Jupitermedia Corporation is owner of several high-profile web sites like internet.com and their new strategy is to focus on stock photo business. They already have a large network of royalty free photo services.
Does this mean that they are going to be the next Microsoft, only for photos?