Categories
podcast

411- More entrepreneurs are creating Podcasts

In this episode of The Podcast Reporter, we deliver a repurposed episode from another show, The Struggling Biz in episode number 54. And the theme of this episode is the realization that currently more entrepreneurs are now creating podcasts and publishing episodes.

As you will hear in this audio episode, the virus crisis of 2020 has presented many new opportunities for the solo-preneurs and small business owners and startups who wish to enter the podosphere and become podcasters — especially with the mandated isolation and lockdown.

New opportunities for generating income with revenue streams due to including podcasting within the small business are now realities. And this episode will deliver some general thoughts about that. One final thought is that you may want to reference the book by Dave Jackson called More Podcast Money to learn about different ways of making money with podcasts.

We hope that you will also see the opportunities for increasing income for your small business as an entrepreneur with podcasting.

Thank you for your attention.

Copyright (c) 2020, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All rights reserved.

Categories
podcast

410- Podcasters as the next generation of Entrepreneurs

In this repurposed episode of PodcastReporter.com, we narrate a published article from the older Podcast User magazine (now podfaded) with evergreen content about the stage of new podcasters entering the podosphere.

The name of the article is “Are podcasters the next generation of struggling entrepreneurs?” and it was created by myself, Fred Castaneda.

This was originally published in the older Podcast User magazine as hardcopy in issue 21, pages 39-40. Then it was narrated in the podcast show The Struggling Entrepreneur, and more recently in the small business podcast show called The Struggling Biz.  And so it is now repurposed from this latter podcast show, as it was published as the prior episode number 56 in 2020.

As you will hear in this podcast audio episode, the key questions concerning monetization of podcasts within the podosphere for those solo-preneurs and other small business owners.

I hope that this episode will deliver value of asking you to contemplate some key thoughts in your possible quest to monetization.

Thank you for your attention.

Copyright (c) 2020, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All rights reserved.

Categories
podcast

408A- Podcasters for hobby or profit or independence

In this very brief episode of The Podcast Reporter, we discuss the differences between the podcaster for profit or hobby or independence. These are the differences in a couple of episodes from Daniel J Lewis in his The Audacity to Podcast show.

The first of the 4 differences of the types of podcasters were specified by Daniel J Lewis. Here, we go a step beyond the strict classification, as I, myself, have been all four of these types during my career in the podosphere (that is, a hobbyist, a professional, a corporate and an indie podcaster).

As you will hear in this brief audio episode, the details given by Daniel paint a pretty accurate representation of the type of podcaster you may be AT THE TIME you are identified as such (in my opinion).

So perhaps you should consider your journey into the podosphere and maybe update your resume to indicate the stages which you have experienced as a podcaster in one (or more) of these types. This can only be to your benefit, as you will be recognized as a subject matter expert, or a problem solver, or a solution provider, or even a thought leader in the podosphere.

Note: the last 4 were the stages of becoming a new media thought leader, as expressed in The Struggling Entepreneur older podcast show.

We hope that you can augment your skills and your reputation in the podosphere to become the very type of podcaster that will help make you successful.

Thank you for your attention.

Copyright (c) 2020, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Daniel J Lewis. All rights reserved.

Categories
podcast

409- Free ebook about Business Podcasting

In this episode of PodcastReporter.com, we discuss the availability of a free ebook from podcaster Ben Krueger. The topic is creating a business podcast. The title of the ebook is:

“Podcast Principles: How to create the perfect Business Podcast.”

The deliverable comes as a 52-page ebook:

This contains plans and processes that work for a podcaster to create a Business podcast. But Ben declares that you need to have a good mindset for consuming the ebook content and then for implenting the steps, as described in the ebook.

So, if you have the time to learn and implement the plan of the book by yourself, then you are welcomed to do so. However, as Ben charges for his programs, he will be ready to assist you (for a fee) in the implementation of the plans and processes.

Ben Krueger

My opinion is that this resource would be a great one for the newer or aspiring podcasters. It takes dedication, time, practice, full-time resources and the attitude to address the objectives outlined in the ebook. And I do recommend this ebook for newer podcasters who want to dedicate themselves in a nearly full-time environment to have good results.

Thank you for your attention.

Copyright (c) 2020, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Ben Krueger. All rights reserved.

Categories
podcast

407- Considerations in starting a podcast network

In this episode of podcastreporter.com, we focus on the question of whether to join or even start your own Podcast Network. This theme came to me from a couple of recent episodes from Evo Terra in his Podcast Pontifications show, as well as Daniel J Lewis in his show, The Audacity to Podcast.

If your passion for podcasting has grown such that you want to join or even create your own podcast network, perhaps you should listen to the questions asked by Evo Terra, as well as listen to the experiences (the good, the bad and the ugly) from Daniel J Lewis (who did shut down his own podcast network that he started years ago).

My own experiences with podcast networks

Now, I have had experiences with the thought of joining a podcast network. In 2006 and 2007, I dipped my toes into the waters of joining what looked like a growing podcast network at Podango (this was the podcast company that had acquired Gigavox, the firm that created the Levelator in 2006). I wanted to be a part of what was called a “podcast station” (which was the category or genres of podcasts) called the Business Station. I wanted to include my flagship podcast at the time, Struggling Entrepreneur. And the sharing, the community and the financial benefits all seemed like a great beginning. However, I did have second thoughts about letting someone else run my show and own my RSS feed and content. So I decided NOT to join and just kept being on my own. And, by the way, I do not regret that decision, as Podango later went out of business in another year or two.

Then, in 2007, the podcast network bug bit me again. This time, I wanted to start a podcast network which I had temporarily called the “Content Creator and podcaster network.” This was going to be basically a membership site with 4 founders — one for the technical side of podcasting; another for the financial side of startups and podcasting; another for the marketing side of podcasting and its promotion; and my contribution, the personal productivity side of creating content and podcasts.

For this membership site, we even had a meeting which I had called. And I used the prior method of getting buy-in and commitment and dialog used by Tim Bourquin when he had founded the Podcast and Portable Media Expo in 2005. That is, I invited everyone to join me personally (at my expense for travel, lodging and meals) for a couple of days in Austin, Texas, so that we could discuss all day the creation of this membership site which would then create the network shortly after launch. In fact, we even had an attorney, who was himself a podcaster, join us via Skype to get the details of the contract which he would create for all of us to agree and sign as a commitment. Well, that meeting gave me an indication of how much CONTROL and OWNERSHIP and FINANCIAL EXPECTATION that podcasters desired. As a result, I saw that this arrangement would not suit all the parties involved — what seemed like an exciting discussion and proposal went down in flames when “the devil is in the details.” So we never gave the green light to create the contract (with legal fees of $1300 in those days), and we disbanded the idea. And the survivors were only two of us who started another podcast based on Finance for Startups (which has since podfaded).

What was obvious to me at that time, after some pre-investment expenses and time, was that podcasters were too much desirous of control and ownership of the direction. And this is only natural, since podcasting at that time was individually run, owned and managed by the solo podcaster. And these people were not used to SHARING any intellectual property or revenue with others, especially under contract.

So the notion of a podcast network or membership site was erased from my mind as a creator — and maybe one day I might join one already in session.

The 2 recent episodes about podcast networks

In a recent episode by Evo Terra in his show called Podcast Pontifications, the title of his script and audio episode was “Should you join or form a podcast network?”

In this audio episode, Evo asks the most important questions: What is it that you want to get out of the network, and what is it that you will be willing to sacrifice to belong in it? He not only goes over what his own backstory was in creating his own network back “in the day” of 2004 and following, but also how a loose confederation of podcasters can be just a social club rather than a really serious podcast network (and he describes what should be in a podcast network from his point of view).

So the benefits vs. the contributions is a matrix that you should put together to evaluate an existing podcast network that you may feel compelled to join. Also, if you wish to start one, you should examine deep in yourself what you really want to get out of managing this type of organization and see if you have the talent and skills to do so effectively, without having the passion of podcasting be lost due to frustrations because of your potential lack of skills.

And Evo relates what, in his opinion, is really needed for a good podcast network today.

Now, the other example with some lessons learned comes from Daniel J Lewis of The Audacity to Podcast show. He describes how he put together his network shortly after he joined podcasting in full force — and also the end of his network, along with the reasons why he ended it.

In his recent episode called “Why we retired our podcast network,” Daniel mentions that he had clear-cut goals when he created his podcast network: “My goal was to bring together like-minded podcasters with high-quality shows to grow together through synergy, community, support, crosspromotion, and sponsorship.”

However, what seemed to me to be more or less a society of like-minded individuals with different podcast shows from different genres and possibly some unrelated themes soon grew into a long list of participating shows in the network, like the following:

  • The Ramen Noodle
  • Are You Just Watching
  • The Audacity to Podcast
  • Beyond the To-Do List
  • The Productive Woman
  • Christian Meets World
  • The Sci-Phi Show
  • ONCE
  • Welcome to Level Seven
  • WONDERLAND
  • Under the Dome Radio
  • Resurrection Revealed
  • Podcasting Videos by The Audacity to Podcast
  • Inside the Podcasting Business
  • As you can see, this could appear to be a community of disjointed themes and topics, with possibly the intent to generate sponsorship, financial rewards from downloads and advertising, as well as cross-promotion. And Daniel then explains what things he did well in the network and what things that were done poorly:
  • Audience-relevant common theme
  • Cross-promotion
  • Cross-integration
  • Full and consistent community
  • and you can listen to his audio podcast episode to get the details. Then he states why he retired the network, including the ability for him to focus on fewer things, as well as giving each podcaster more room to expand.

So Daniel’s experiences deliver some lessons learned about starting a podcast network, and I would suggest that you take these into account if you get the passion to go beyond your own podcast shows and want to start your own network.

Considerations for the podcaster about Podcast Network

As a podcaster, what passion can be driving you toward wanting to start a great podcast network? Will you have the time? Will the additional workload and timetables and schedules and management of the network be something you will embrace, as well as have time for? Will you have the necessary skills to manage your network? Will you have the right temperment for being in the network? And will the podcasts in the network be the right ones, or will they be a hodge-podge collection of your favorite podcasters and additional genres and other topics that might not relate well to some audiences? Will the network be governed by contract or by word-of-mouth agreements?

So, whatever your decision may be concerning podcast networks may be (i.e., either joining one or starting one of your own), we hope that these two audio episodes can give you enough food for thought to know what to expect both from the contribution side and the giving side to the network.

So we hope that your podcast show will be successful, whether it be a part of a podcast network or not.

Thank you for your attention

Copyright (c) 2020, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Daniel J Lewis and Evo Terra of Podcastpontifications.com. All rights reserved.

Categories
podcast

406- Podcasting as a beautiful anarchy

In this episode of PodcastReporter.com, we discuss a theme proposed in a podcast episode of Todd Henry’s The Accidental Creative recently.

The experiences of one’s life may be “living in defiance of conventions.” In fact, as you will hear in this audio episode, my own examples of detours from the rules and conventional wisdom seem to be anything but linear.

An example of a non-linear experience of a young podcaster is exemplified in The Savvy Creative — a detour from conventional wisdom and a rush to live the experiences of a “bucket list.”

Now, for myself, the podosphere has presented me the non-linear detours and passion of creativity that can be fulfilling as a “beautiful anarchy.”

We hope that you can learn from Todd and his episode and interview about the non-linear “beautiful anarchy” that perhaps can enrich your life in the area of creativity.

Thank you for your attention.

Copyright (c) 2020, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Todd Henry of the accidental creative. All rights reserved.

Categories
podcast

405- Converting videos to audio podcasts

In this audio episode of The Podcast Reporter, we discuss a medium.com article that expressed the possibility of converting video “chats” into podcast audio episodes. As a matter of fact, anchor now has announced a tool that can turn your video “chat” into an audio podcast episode mp3.

From the article mentioned, the steps to perform to accomplish this conversion is given.

However, the file formats that are not supported in this tool are the YouTube links that are from a video “chat.”

Now, for this podcast reporter, I agree with Daniel J Lewis of the Audacity to Podcast show that converting from video to audio (or vice-versa) with a tool may not be a generally good idea, because each medium has its features specific to that original medium.

As you will hear in this audio episode, my experience was not good in trying to make such a conversion with a prior client when I was a podcast consultant. And so I would agree with the “purist” train of thought to keep each medium emphasizing its great features within such medium and not to convert to another (which may backfire).

I hope that your medium features will highlight your podcast in the best way to make your show a success and to extend its reach to more audiences.

Thank you for your attention.

Copyright (c) 2020, Matrix Solutions Corporation and medium.com. All rights reserved.

Categories
podcast

404- Podcasting with a co-host

In this episode of The Podcast Reporter, we focus on podcasting with a co-host. We also refer to an article in themedium.com that was written by Joseph Anderson and deals with issues of co-host podcast recording.

Several points refer to respect for, and planning with, your co-host for best success — especially if both of your are employed or if distance keeps you quite distant from each other.

For this podcast reporter, I do record remotely several episodes of my podcast show called 2030podcast.com with my co-host, Matt Cox (who is a podcaster in his own right with his show, Brunch with the Brits). As a matter of fact, we propose this as a case in point to which you can examine in a casual and unrehearsed manner.

And finally, the topic of co-host issues was addressed very successfully by podcaster Daniel J Lewis of The Audacity to Podcast in his back catalog of episodes. I heartily recommend that you may wish to review this content, for his detail is great in trying to cover all the angles that you may examine.

We hope that you can have a great working relationship with any potential co-host and have a successful podcast with great content and a great following.

Thank you for your attention.

Copyright (c) 2020, Matrix Solutions Corporation and themedium.com and 2030podcast.com and Joseph Anderson. All rights reserved.

Categories
podcast

403- Podcast episode scripts

In this episode of The Podcast Reporter, we describe the types of scripts in podcasting — from show notes, outlines, questions, formats, different styles, etc. This theme was proposed by an article in themedium.com by Frank Gracciope.

Spontaneity, as well as exciting reading of a script, is essential — as you will NOT want to be boring in your audio recording and have your listener not want to consume your content.

As you will hear in this audio episode, we mention Daniel J Lewis and his delay to entering podcasting because he was such a perfectionist — including the creation and editing and re-editing of the SCRIPT verbatim.

In the article, Frank mentions that you can also use a casual script, if your podcast and your personality can support excitement of being natural and conversational. He also gives hints and tips in different segments of the article.

In my own experience, I use the example of Jack Welch (RIP), the former CEO of General Electric. In my opinion, it was obvious that he was reading a script in a near-boring manner (this was in addition to his screeching voice that was very unpleasant to listen).

So, we hope that you understand your own communication style. And if you will be using scripts for your podcast, we hope that you can find the right balance of voice, audio, excitement, lively, educational, entertaining and informational qualities to make the content INTERESTING to the listener.

Thank you for your attention.

Copyright (c) 2020, Matrix Solutions Corporation and themedium.com and Frank Gracciope. All rights reserved.

Categories
podcast

402- Podcast success metrics — a discussion

Here at PodcastReporter.com, we discuss the age-old question of: what are the vital podcast metrics and factors for success in podcasting?

We address this theme by turning to discussions by a couple of advanced podcasters who have had many years of experience in the podosphere with their own podcasts. This theme is covered by these podcasters in recent episodes:

I feel that you will find the discussions, examples, motivators and results of great interest to you, as you determine how you will measure your success factors and metrics for your show.

We wish you the best in getting the results you desire for a great show.

Thank you for your attention.

Copyright (c) 2020, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Daniel J Lewis and Evo Terra. All rights reserved.