The MXL 006 USB Condenser Microphone features a large gold diaphragm that delivers a big, rich sound characteristic of studio and broadcast microphones. Unlike most studio condenser microphones, however, the MXL 006 is a USB instrument that connects directly to a computer without the need for external mic preamps. Now, anyone requiring high quality, professional sound on their computer can record music or dialog by simply connecting to a standard USB port. Featuring support for USB 1.1 and 2.0, this exceptionally easy-to-use microphone even includes gain adjustment settings via the built-in three position attenuation switch. Working with the new MXL.006 is a pleasure. As a plug and play device for both Windows and Macintosh, it requires no special drivers whatsoever. Simply connect the microphone's USB cable to a computer's USB port, and installation is quick and effortless. In addition to recording instruments or voice for home recording applications, the new MXL.006 is the perfect microphone for podcasting or adding dialog to presentations and other multimedia projects. It is also the perfect solution capable of opening new possibilities for radio and news broadcasters and for location recording. Unlike electrets or dynamic microphones typically used for computer work, the MXL 006 has an extremely smooth, natural sound typical of what one would hear on a professionally produced CD or radio show. The analog section of the new MXL 006 microphone features a 20 Hz-20 kHz frequency response, a large gold diaphragm, pressure-gradient condenser capsule, and a 3-position, switchable attenuation pad with settings for Hi (0 dB), Medium (-5 dB), and Lo (-10 dB), making it easy to configure the microphone to virtually any sound source. The digital section features a 16-bit Delta Sigma A/D converter with a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. Protecting the instrument's capsule is a heavy-duty wire mesh grill with an integrated pop filter.

Price: $189.95

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If you are ever wondered what do I need to create a podcast? then Technical Pro has just the answer! Introducing the Podcaster PM21. This all-in-1 podcast kit comes with all the podcast gear you will need to get started podcasting: a mixer, microphone, weighted mic stand and headphones. Start creating podcasts like a pro on your PC, Mac or recording device today!

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One of the most popular ways to make money online is by means of blogging. Good writing skills can open up to a number of work from home ideas to earn money from home without stressful effort but the time it takes to actually see the income flow could be lengthy. You need to be patient as your traffic gradually develops as a result of your efforts and you need to monitor the traffic so you can compare with the sales or opt-ins that you make. If you want to speed up this process, you can tackle other work from home ideas such as podcasting.

About Podcasting

Podcasting is very similar to writing in terms of planning. What differs is the way you deliver and present the content to your audience. While it is good to have consistent articles flowing through your blog, podcasts add some entertainment and persuasion value that could increase conversion rates if you do them correctly. You can browse the net for other blogs that have podcasts just to hear the unique voices that all have their attraction qualities. Podcasts can support the theme and personality of your site. It can also serve as a refreshment to loyal visitors that do not want to read too many articles or one huge article. Listeners can do other things while the podcast is playing in the background. Podcasts are also more accessible as many portable devices and smartphones support audio streaming.

Podcasting Ideas

When it comes to marketing, the objective is quite similar where you need to get as many listeners and subscribers as possible so your advertisements yield more revenue. You can even use these work from home ideas to save some space since you do not have to put as much text. The space can be used for bigger ads or larger amounts of smaller ads for increased income potential. For indexing purposes, you may add a link that contains the transcript.

Since podcasting requires more effort, it may not hurt to add a donation link to your blog or podcast page if you see that the visitors like what you do. This is a great way to gain some income to add to you revenue as long as you do not aggressively charge visitors to access certain content. Many webmasters provide podcasts for free so you should as well. Visitors will keep coming back if they feel that you as the webmaster want to give them the best experience possible.

Even if you have other work from home ideas that are working out for you, try to build on your podcasting features even more by upgrading your hosting package so you have more bandwidth or check out the online services that are dedicated for podcasting. More bandwidth means more listeners which will multiply your income. Spending what you earned from your advertising is the best way to go if you do not want to put your personal money at risk.

Once your blog is thriving, check on it often and make sure your contact information is up to date because you might receive offerings from bigger companies that wish to sponsor your podcast. As long as you do not place too many advertisements and keep thinking of fresh work from home ideas, your blog should remain as an enjoyable experience thanks to the content and podcast and your revenues should be better stabilized as time passes.

I'm a successful caterer of 23 years but building a part time internet marketing business from scratch. I'm currently making regular sales online with a number of systems I'm perfecting. One of these systems is Affiliate marketing and Affiliate Blueprint is what I've used daily. I'm also passes my knowledge on for free on my personal blog Work from Home Ideas.

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So you've decided to create a podcast. You're all set to star in your own show. There's only one problem. You've heard about regular broadcasts and you're wondering what is involved in producing a podcast. After all, regular broadcasts have producers so shouldn't podcasts?

Don't worry. Producing a podcast isn't as difficult as it seems at first glance.

First off let's answer the question of what is producing. And then we'll get into the tasks involved.

So what is producing a podcast? Simply put anything that isn't on air is considered producing. All the technical and management functions are part of the production aspects. Even the selection of talent would be considered production. Although with a podcast of course the talent is sort of a given!

So what are the tasks involved?

There are six basic tasks involved in producing a podcast.

1. You need to start with a target audience in mind. Everything you do has to be done to attract and retain your target audience. In order to do that you need to develop a profile of the audience you want to attract.

2. You need to determine the format of the podcast. There are several possible formats of podcast from interview to columns to a single class. Each of the formats has its advantages and its disadvantages. You need to pick the one that suits your customer best and requires the least amount of effort on your part.

3. You need to write the podcast script. Depending on the format this may in fact involve many different scripts. However, on the other hand it may also involve a level of scripting that is essentially the same as the script design.

4. You need to record the audio. There's two parts to this. The physical recording of the audio is definitely a production task. The actual audio being recorded is typically considered part of the performance rather than the production. The separation is arbitrary really. Both pieces need to come together to produce a podcast.

5. You need to edit and package the audio. This is really two different tasks that are performed at the same time. Editing the audio involves removing errors and dead air in order to give a polished podcast. During that process music and bridge audio is typically added to give the podcast a professional sound.

6. You need to distribute and market the podcast. The final task in the production of a podcast is getting it into the hands of your audience. This consists of two different but related tasks. The second is marketing which is simply making the audience aware of the podcast. The first is distribution which can take many forms. Some of which are indistinguishable from marketing efforts.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

So you've decided to produce your own podcast. Good for you Podcasts are a tool that every information or learning content product marketer should be aware of. And probably should be involved with.

Podcasts can help you build your reputation. They can help you build traffic. They can help you connect with your audience. They can help you get your message out.

And podcasts come in many flavors.

Which is where the problem comes in. How do you decide which format you want to use?

Of course, choosing your format is complicated. Here are five basic questions you need to ask when determining the format for your podcast.

1. What is your audience's favored format?
Everyone has a format that they prefer to have information presented in. Especially when we are discussing the format of an entertainment alternative... which is the way podcasts are used. Determining the preference can be difficult but it can be done. And once you've determined the preference, it is always smart to follow your audience's preferences.

2. What is your favored format?
The reverse of course is also true. Each of us has a format which we are most comfortable working within. Maybe you prefer to teach. Or maybe you prefer to just comment. Or maybe you prefer to have a conversation with someone. Or maybe you prefer to answer questions. Maybe you're most comfortable doing a little of each. Your own preferences will affect the choice of a format. After all, you need to be comfortable with producing the podcast.

3. What formats are available to you?
There are times when you can choose from all the formats. But what happens if you can't find someone to interview? What if there isn't anyone else in your niche? What if no one in your niche is willing to be interviewed? What if you have a very limited niche and free teaching would eliminate too much of the material you are hoping to sell? Sometimes some formats just can't be used.

4. What is the best format to accomplish your objectives?
Podcasting is a tool. And like any other tool it needs to be used with purpose. What are your objectives in producing a podcast? Are you looking to build your reputation as an expert? Teaching might work best for that. Are you looking to build traffic? A column format might do the best job for that. And so on.

5. How long can you maintain that format?
Like any other product, podcasts have a life span. You run out of material. You run out of ideas. You run out of audience interest. The life span of your format needs to be taken into account. After all, you don't want your podcast to exceed the life span of your audience's interest.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

Every once in a while someone will come up to me and say something along the lines of "I want to have a podcast but I don't know where to start."

My response is usually "Great. Who's your audience and what are you going to say?"

And usually the response is something like a blank look and "Well, I figured I'd talk about... since that's what I'm selling." At which point I have to stop them and explain that they are ahead of themselves.

You've got to start with your audience.

You see that's one of the biggest mistakes that new internet marketers (especially information marketers) make -- they start with their product. But information marketing needs to be a niche marketing endeavor. And the word niche refers not to your product but to your customer.

When creating learning content (aka an information product) -- and a podcast is a form of learning content -- you always need to start with the audience.

Why?

Because your audience is going to be buying your podcast. They may not be paying for it with dollars (although that would be nice). But they will be paying with their most valuable asset -- their time. And you need to provide them with value for their time. Or they aren't going to be interested in downloading or listening. And they shouldn't be.

You also need to be able to motivate your audience. You need to convince them not only to download your podcast but also to listen to it. You need to convince them that this is a must have, must listen podcast. You need to convince them that not only is it valuable to them but it's absolutely necessary for them.

The way to motivate your audience to listen is by picking topics based on what motivates them. It sounds simple. And it is. You need to identify what their biggest and most immediate problem is. You need to identify what they are afraid may happen. And you need to identify what they are hoping will happen. And you need to identify what is at the front of their minds at the moment. What has their immediate interest.

But of course, that's not all you need to do.

You also need to solve, avoid or achieve. That's right you need to solve their problem with your topic. Or you need to show them how to avoid the pain that they are afraid of. Or you need to show them how to achieve their dreams.

But to do that means you need to know them.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

Podcasts are a repeating learning content product. They can be very effective for that very reason. After all, the more times a message is heard the more likely it is to be believed.

But that can cause problems for the unwary information product marketer.

The biggest problem from podcasts is that they need to be created at least once a week. Which can become an unwieldy task.

In order to prevent podcasts from overwhelming the learning content product marketer with work, you need to produce a podcast quickly. Fortunately, it can be done without too much effort or specialized knowledge.

Here are seven tips for producing a podcast quickly.

1. Practice, practice, practice.

It might seem counter-intuitive but practice will actually speed up your process. Everyone makes mistakes. Recording your practices helps your editor to replace those mistakes, saving you the need to re-record portions. Practice also helps you to do something that professionals avoid -- winging it.

2. Lose the script.

Professionals use scripts and effectively become readers. However, because you are so involved it really isn't efficient or effective to use a formal script -- unless you make a lot of errors. It is however, a good way to make it easier when you start -- because you'll make a lot of errors. So start off using a formal script but as quickly as you can move to using an outline as your script.

3. Steal a trick from the assembly line.

The theory behind the assembly line is that of the batch. By creating a batch of the same product you become more efficient. With podcasts there are two parts to applying this. First off, you should do all your podcasts together. Doing a month's worth of podcasts at one sitting makes life much easier. Secondly, do all your writing together. Then do all your recording. Then do all your editing. This allows you to create a rhythm to your work.

4. Create series not singles.

When writing scripts it's always easier to create a series of podcast columns rather than one whole podcast. For example, you might have a series of seven tips on how to create a podcast quickly (sound familiar). A summary of the seven (or maybe the introduction) might form one column, and then each tip would be a separate column. If you have four columns in your podcast stagger the solution. Effectively you'll have half the writing to do each month.

5. Keep it short and sweet.

One of the tendencies you'll find is to keep expanding the size of your podcast. Why? Because you have too much to say for each. You need to fight that tendency. Pick a time and keep to it. If a column has too much information then cut it back until it has just the right number of points.

6. Do a column format.

It's always faster and easier to write and record short pieces than it is to do long pieces. A column format allows you to keep each piece below two or three minutes. Let's say that you want to do a 15 minute podcast. To do a single column you'll need about fourteen and half minutes of content. That's roughly fourteen points! But let's say you split that into four columns. Each of the columns needs to be only 3 minutes long. That's roughly two points. Much faster and easier to write.

7. Keep an ideas log.

One of the problems with any repeating product such as a podcast or article marketing is coming up with ideas. One of the techniques to use to help with this is to keep an ideas log. This will prevent you wasting time trying to come up with something to talk about.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

Every once in a while, I'll be asked what needs makes a professional podcast professional. Creating a professional sounding podcast is important when trying to build credibility. Amateurish podcasts tend to make you come across as amateurish. However, a strongly professional podcast will make people automatically presume that you are worthy of respect. In essence, a professional podcast will borrow credibility from radio which like television provides an automatic level of credibility.

So how do you make your podcast sound professional?

Here are five characteristics of a professional podcast and what you need to do to produce the same result.

1. The content is relevant and interesting to the audience. Professional broadcasts spend ridiculous amounts of money surveying their audience and working hard to ensure that the content they are providing is relevant and interesting to their audience. The reason they do this is simple. Your audience will judge the quality of your podcast based on the relevance of your material to themselves.

2. The announcer is confident and practiced. Even professional broadcasters make mistakes. They read a sentence out of order. Or their mouths have problems forming the words. Despite this, they persevere and finish the work. Your presentation needs to be just as polished and your ability to overcome issues will be judged.

3. The recording quality is excellent. Most broadcasters invest in high-end recording equipment. Far more expensive equipment than a normal podcaster is capable of ascending. However, the equipment you need is still able to produce high enough quality records that is suitable for impressing your audience.

4. The material is well organized and focused. When just winging it there will always be a tendency to go off into irrelevant discussions. And the argument you are trying make won't be as clear and precisely focused discussion on the topic at hand. A professional broadcast knows what the audience wants to hear and therefore they are specific, focused and clear in the organization of their material.

5. The podcast is finished or packaged. We've become used to packaging in a professional broadcast. What do I mean by packaging? Each podcast needs to begin with a set of introductory credits, and a list of what will be covered in the podcast. Similarly, the podcast needs to end with a set of closing credits. These credits need to include music to help the audience feel connected. Finally, transitions between elements should also include a musical transition.

Do you want to learn how to write a book in 24 hours? Take my brand new free course here: http://www.learningcreators.com/

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

One of the things you always want to do if you are hoping to sell learning content is to appear professional. Everything you do has to be polished. Everything you do has to look like you know what you are doing.

That includes your podcasts.

People are used to listening to professional broadcasters on the radio and on television. This is the standard you need to meet when creating your podcasts. Fortunately, with modern computer technology it is quite possible to make your podcasts polished and professional sounding.

Here are seven tips you can use to help put together a professional podcast.

1. Always edit your podcast if only to remove the dead air. No one is 100% perfect. In fact, you don't want to be perfect with your podcasts. However, you also don't want to be focused on getting it right while you are recording. And everyone leaves dead air at some point or other. So use editing to correct your mistakes and don't worry about it during the recording session.

2. Volume isn't as important as having a consistent volume. Notice that when you listen to the radio only the commercials are at a different volume. People sometimes obsess over getting just the right volume level. But that's why the audience has a volume control on their headsets and computers. The one thing that you need to focus on is not perfection but consistency. All your podcasts recording need to be at the same level so that if you patch them together your audience doesn't always have to adjust the volume control.

3. Plan your podcast first. Every once in a while someone will get it into their head that they can just wing it. Don't bother. You'll just be disappointed with the results and have to spend more time recording it and editing it. Planning doesn't necessarily mean writing a full blown script. It can be as simple as listing all the points you want to raise. If you do the outline method aim for one point for every minute to speak (or one minute of talking per point if you prefer).

4. Practice, Practice, Practice. One of the characteristics of a professional podcast is a polished and professional broadcaster. The only way to become polished is to practice. Either that or be born as a naturally talented public speaker. Which isn't very likely.

5. Use music to your advantage. Have you ever wondered why they use music in movies? Have you ever listed to a movie before they've added the music? Listen to a professional radio news magazine. They use music to transition. They use music to introduce. And sometimes they even use music to set the tone.

6. Find a theme. No I'm not talking about a unifying topic to your podcast -- although that's a good idea too. I'm talking about a musical phrase that will be used for all your podcasts -- especially for the opening and closing credits.

7. Always have opening and closing credits. If you listen to a radio news magazine (the BBC and CBC both produce good ones), you'll find they have an opening and closing segment for each podcast. In the opening segment they introduce what segments they will be providing and who is involved. In the closing segment they provide who worked on each segment (recording, producing and editing). You need to do the same thing.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

Podcasts are an excellent way to drive targeted traffic to your website. They help build credibility and they can turn your customers into your fans. They are a great tool for marketers of learning content products.

But recording them scares many people!

Does it scare you? There really is no reason for it. Making podcasts is actually quite easy and inexpensive. It doesn't take much in the way of hardware. And it takes only the barest of skills to record and produce a quality podcast.

In this article I'm going to give you an overview of what is needed for recording your podcasts.

Recording a podcast requires three tools:

1. A computer
2. Editing and recording software
3. A headset.

The computer you use doesn't have to be anything special. In fact, you can use a computer that is barely able to function with modern tools. Netbooks work well, as do laptops. Both of those have built-in speakers which makes editing slightly easier. However, you will find that the built-in microphone won't do the job. A desktop computer will also do the job as well.

Technically there are only three things that you need from the computer. First, that it runs the software you have. Second that it has the ability to connect a headset microphone. For that you will need either a USB or a micro-jack set. Almost all modern computers have at least one of those. Finally, the ability to store the podcasts on a CD or DVD would be beneficial. Strictly speaking the computer doesn't need to have this capability. A portable unit will do the job quite nicely.

Most editing software is also capable of doing double duty as recording software. You don't need a professional or expensive piece of software. In fact, one of the best is Audacity. It is also open source software and free. Which makes it a triple threat.

Finally you will need a headset microphone. Why a headset microphone? Microphones installed in laptops and netbooks are similar to the typical desktop microphone. They are omnidirectional. This means they pick up sound from all directions. A headset microphone is unidirectional and will pick up only your voice. The result will be a much cleaner recording that doesn't need much in the way of editing.

When recording the podcast there are a number of things you can do to create a great podcast. For example, you can start by realizing that you don't have to be perfect. Editing can clean up major mistakes. Minor mistakes are best left in since they make you seem more human. However, to do this requires that the editor have enough material to patch together a corrected recording.

Having said that, practice makes perfect. Making multiple recordings allows you to practice the podcast. It also allows you to polish your presentation and the information you are presenting. Finally, by recording the practice sessions you can generate more material for the editor to work with.

When actually recording, the best position is standing. This gives the body room to breathe. A stool can be used to give some relief to tired legs. You should also try gesturing and walking. Gesturing helps you to express your passion for your subject. That passion will show up in your voice and be recognized by the audience. This helps your presentation to avoid the boring drone label.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

This article is a quick and simple introduction to school radio and the internet. The set-up and running of a school radio station can be exciting and fun!

It is a great way to bring together school curriculum and technology and to encourage young enterprise.

Radio broadcasting allows children and young people the chance to engage with and participate in their school and the wider community - helping to bolster confidence, language skills, and awareness of current affairs at both local and national level.

Starting out

One of the quickest and easiest ways for a school to have their radio shows broadcast is via podcast.

You can get your first school radio show online by recording your broadcast to computer by using a microphone. You will need audio recording/editing software - this way you can record your radio show and include music and sound effects before saving the finished show as a MP3 file and uploading it to your school website.

To help cut costs in the initial stages of setting up your station, there are a number of open source (free) recording/editing software downloads available online for both PC and Mac applications.

If your school does not have an official website, there are free and commercial school podcasting sites where you can upload your radio broadcasts for download by your audience.

Cost

The cost of your school radio station will, of course, depend upon your budget and your school's individual requirements.

There are a number of school radio installation companies who can supply and set up anything from Radio 1 style studios to portable studios which can be transferred between classes. Prices for supply, installation and set-up for radio equipment range from between £1,500 - £15,000.

However, if you have a couple of media savvy teachers/parents/pupils on board, a simple setup like the one described above can be achieved for as little as £600.

Broadcasting License

At the present time, you do not require a broadcasting licence for school podcasts. However, OFCOM will be looking at licensing web broadcasters at some point in the future. Please bear in mind that if you intend to broadcast on FM or AM, you will need to look into obtaining the relevant broadcasting licence.

Music License & Copyright

If your school radio intends to broadcast anything other than its own written, produced or recorded material then the appropriate music licenses must be applied for from both PPL and the MCPS - PRS Alliance.

In the case of online and mobile broadcasts you should contact the PPL Broadcasting Team and MCPS for the appropriate advice in relation to music licensing and copyright.

Gordon Campbell

View the original article here

The Podcasting Bundle includes RecordForAll and FeedForAll makes it simple to record audio files, layer audio files, edit audio files and publish podcast feeds. Create iTunes compatible podcast feeds that can be posted to the Apple iTunes library. Create podcasts, create RSS feeds, record new audio files, edit existing audio files, layer sounds and show segments, and add transitions between segments. Includes built in Wizard that walks beginners through the process.

Price: $89.95

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As a business owner or professional, you'll be looking for ways for effective and cost-effective ways to expand your business. Podcasting is an excellent way to promote your business or provide added value for your clients. They can help you build your list of actively interested followers and enhance your professional reputation and authority within your field.

In this article, I'll be showing you how you can make a professional level podcast in ten simple steps without needing to be a computer wizard.

Let's begin with a brief explanation of a podcast.

A podcast is simply a digital media audio file (called an MP3 file) or video file that is available on the internet for downloading and playback on a mobile device such as an iPod or other MP3 player, laptop, tablet or desktop computer. This flexibility allows the listener to listen to a podcast wherever they choose - at home, whilst travelling, or at work. Knowing this, you can create content that's appropriate to the different environments or aspects of a listener's life-style.

There are many programs available that will help you create a podcast but for our example we are going to use the most popular, that is soundcard.com. Once you've gained familiarity with the process, look around at other options that appeal to you.

So let's get started!

Step 1: First you'll need to check that your audio and/or video file is in MP3 format. If the file isn't in MP3 format then use a file converter. All you need to do is use specific software which allows you to convert and encode sound files on PC and Mac. It's very quick and easy to do so don't be put off if this is what you need to do.

Use your search engine to run a search on something like "file converting mp3" and a list of free or commercial software providers will lead you to the right choice for you. Within a few minutes of starting, you'll be able to turn your content into an appropriate file type.

If your audio/video file is all ready to go then move onto step 2.

Step 2: Set up a FREE account at soundcloud.com

Soundcloud's free account has storage limits, but once you reach your limit, you can upgrade for a small fee. Setting up an account is a quick and simple process with clear instructions to take you through each step. It took less than 5 minutes to set up my account and complete my profile.

As you're creating podcasts for professional and business reasons, create a username which reflects your brand correctly and include your photo or company logo image for your profile. It's best as with all things social media, to up a different account for more personal material...

Once your account is active, upload your MP3 (that is, follow instructions that allow the file to be copied from the computer onto their server). Once the MP3 is uploaded make certain that you make the file public, downloadable, and that you adjusted the settings so that you have activated it for widgets.

So far, so good... now for step three

Step 3: If you don't have a blog already you can go to a site like blogger.com and setup a free blog/podcast account. Once you have activated your account you're ready to start posting. Now we need to link your audio file to your blog so that it appears as a new post.

Step 4: If you're using blogger, to start posting click on "Start Posting", then click "Settings", and then click "Formatting". Once under the formatting tab look for the "Show Link Field" make sure this field is set to "Yes" and save the settings.

Step 5: Now click on the "Posting" tab to return to the blog, and then click on "Add a new post". Once under "Add a new post" give the post a title and then paste in the URL link for the podcast from soundcloud in the "Link" box.

Here you can also write a description of the podcast in the main body of your post - don't forget to use strong keywords to make the most of your search engine optimisation (SEO) potential. When you're finished, click "Publish".

For wordpress, depending on your template, you should be able to see icons by the box where you would type in a new entry. By the icons you should see "upload/insert". Select either audio or video depending on the file you want to add to your blog.

For the final stages, we need to set up the feed for your podcast so that people can subscribe to it. Again, it's a simple process and I've chosen a popular service called feedburner.com to do this.

Step 6: Go to feedburner.com and either setup a new account (if you've Google account use it to log in).

Step 7: Once you've logged in, paste the URL from your blog post into the "Burn A Feed Right This Instant" section, then click "I'm a podcaster", and then click "Next".

Step 8: Now you want to give your feed a title and address, then click "Next". Again, to make the most of this SEO opportunity, ensure you've used the strong and relevant keywords. Once you've submitted this information, it can't be changed so do spend a few minutes thinking about what you type.

Step 9: That's it; your podcast feed is now live and ready for downloading. Well done! But before you're completely finished, there's just one last important step to complete.

Step 10: By ensuring your podcast process is iTunes friendly, you'll allow your audience to select your content from one of the world's largest resources. Indeed, there is an expectation that your podcast will be available through this outlet.

To make that happen, just click "Next" on the Congratulations page. This screen will allow you to choose several options that will make your podcast iTunes friendly - click "Next" when done. This screen will also let you track different stats from your podcast and is worth setting.

Well done, you've set up your podcast in ten steps!

In around half an hour, you provided yourself with the tools you need to share your podcast with a global audience. To add more episodes just simply follow the above steps again, but as there's no need to set up another account, just log in. Don't forget your feed address is the address set in Step 8

Sumi Olson is a sales & marketing professional with over 20 years' experience. If you want to satisfy your publishing or writing aspirations, meet your sales, marketing & management objectives, or achieve your social media & online marketing targets, then Sumi Olson can give you the hands-on tools and knowledge you need.

To get in touch or read more on how she can help you, just connect with her on LinkedIn http://uk.linkedin.com/in/sumiolson or visit http://www.olsonservices.co.uk/.

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Podcasting has taken the world by storm. It's one of the most frequently downloaded mediums and with the abundance of podcasting directories including but not limited to iTunes a Yahoo, reaching your audience through this unique format is easier than ever.

This book is designed not only to introduce you to the power of podcasting as an integral tool in your marketing strategy, but to also show you how to catch the right fish.

Discover the tools you need to make a podcast and the tools you need to capture your audiences' attention.

Price: $7.00

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Audio recording and editing software designed specifically for podcasters. Easy to use. Includes: - Drag and drop audio editing. Edit out sound distortions or remove entire clips. - Easily create a timeline, layer sounds and create background transitions for professional quality recordings. - Easily adjust the volume of specific audio clips which will result in a continuous production at the same volume. - Sample your audio creations and sound effect transitions with a single click. - Remove any audio recordings that are not deemed appropriate with a single click. - Label segments and arrange in any order. - Easily synchronize and sequence clips using drag and drop. - Effortlessly add music, jingles or intros and outros to shows. - Use cross fade effects for smooth transitions between clips. - Quickly and easily edit ID3 tags of audio files. - Seamless integration with FeedForAll desktop software for creating podcast feeds. One click will transfer audio files along with the feed! - Export audio files as MP3, WAV or Midi.

Price: $59.95

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Like a lot of things podcasting is a mix of art and science. That's one reason the broadcasting field of which podcasting is one part is known both as Communications Technology and Media Arts -- at the same time. On one hand there are definite, determinable answers. On the other guesses and judgment calls. On the one side technology. On the other the human equation.

So what is the art of podcasting?

What parts of podcasting qualify as art?

In this article I'm going to identify five different elements of podcasting that are more art than science. That are more judgment call than determination. Five elements where you can be wrong and you can be right -- at the same time.

1. Picking a format for the podcast

There are a number of different formats that you can choose for your podcast. To make matters worse you can even change formats for every podcast. Yes, you can ask your audience what they think. You can even get smart and ask your non-audience members. But ultimately, it comes down to making a decision. To picking the format that you like best.

2. Determining the length of the podcast

Podcasts do have a perfect length. It's called short. But what that means is anyone's guess. Some podcasts run 5 minutes. Some run 15 minutes. Some a half hour. A few last for an hour. Some go longer. The truth is the proper length is whatever makes your audience happiest. And while you can ask them -- and the people who've left you, the ultimate decision is going to be yours. And it's going to be arbitrary and based on your best guess.

3. Picking topics for your podcast

Each week you're going to need to pick a topic for your podcast. Or you may need to pick a theme and a number of related topics. Yes, you can -- and should -- ask your customers what topics would interest them. But ultimately you're going to have to guess at what topics they will be interested in. Guess right and you're a hero. Guess wrong and you're the goat. But either way, it's going to be a guess.

4. Picking guests for your podcast

One of the neat things about podcasts is that you don't always have to do the work. One of the most powerful formats is the interview. While you don't have to write the interview, you will have to pick the theme, topic and the person you will interview. And picking one that your audience will appreciate can be tricky.

5. Performance (Recording your podcast).

The final piece of art in your podcast (at least in this list), is your performance itself. The way you talk. The words you use. The attitude you project. Ultimately you need to be honest to yourself because that is the only thing you can be certain of.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

So you're thinking about starting a podcast, are you? Good for you! You really won't go wrong by starting podcasting. You'll find that you'll be very happy with that decision and probably sooner that you think. But why?

What are the benefits of starting a podcast? Why should you start one?

In this article I'm going to share just four of the reasons - four of the benefits. But there are a lot more than just this.

1. You can sell your podcasts as a product. Most podcasts aren't sold. And there are a number of reasons why you might not want to. However, you can still make money from your podcasts. For example, there is no reason that they can't be combined into a set of CDs (or MP3s if you want the online equivalent) and sold as a collection of podcasts. Or even edited together into a short course on a common topic.

2. Podcasts help you to build a reputation. Because they are focused on you presenting knowledge, the content itself is an excellent way to build your recognition as an expert. But there's more than that. Podcasts are repeating media. Each week there is a new chance for you to show off your knowledge. A new chance for you to establish yourself as an expert. Because of this repeating over and over and over podcasts are an excellent tool to help you establish yourself as an expert. In fact, unless you are singularly incompetent it's almost inevitable that you'll be perceived as an expert in your field.

3. Podcasts help you to build traffic. One of the advantages of a podcast is that it is repeating. Every week people will return searching for your podcast. Why? Because they know that there is new, useful content that they want to experience. So rather than a single visit you are constantly adding new listeners to your existing listeners.

4. Podcasts take up less time and effort than other marketing tools. Videos are complex. Not only do you need to get the content and the audio correct but you also need to get the video correct. Producing a single 10 minute video can take up to two days. Writing articles is simple. But you need lots of them. In fact, you need so many of them that you really can't afford to do them yourself. But podcasts are simple. A complete month's worth of podcasts can be taken from concept to recorded podcast in less than two days of work.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

Podcasting is an extremely powerful tool that should be in every information marketer's toolkit. It can help build your reputation while it attracts traffic to your site. It can provide information to your customers while it helps to position your products.

But it can be frightening. And every once in a while I'll get questions from people who want to run a podcast but are afraid.

One of the most common questions is "What's the best advice for podcasting?" And I must admit to being hard pressed to pick a single piece of advice as the best. There is so much advice possible and so much of it is good and important. However, here are the top five in my opinion from bottom to top.

5. Fix it in the edit room. All too often new podcasters think they have to be perfect. But it just isn't so. In fact, the audience will relate to you better if you make the occasional flub. In fact, the hardest job for the editor isn't fixing your mistakes. It's deciding what mistakes to leave in. As for the rest of your mistakes, remember that your podcast isn't live. It's recorded. That means the audio editor (remember him?) can correct your mistakes. The result could be (but shouldn't be) a perfect podcast. No matter how many mistakes you made!

4. Record podcasts in a batch. Podcasts are a repeating product. You are going to need many of them. It's far more efficient to record them in a batch than it is to record them one at a time. For example if you are producing a podcast once per week, recording one podcast per week is inefficient. You would be better off recording a month's worth of podcasts on one day.

3. Stand up and walk around when you are recording. It sounds odd but there is a good reason for it. Standing up changes your lungs. Simply put you get more air and therefore you can speak better. Walking helps you to put more energy into your speaking. And that passion and energy will be heard by your audience.

2. Smile. If stand up and walk sounded odd, this advice will sound downright silly. But it's true. Your audience can hear you smile. And a smile changes your attitude as well. So always smile when recording your podcast.

And the best advice of all is... (drum roll please!)

1. Be prepared. If you were ever a Scout you heard this phrase time and time again. But it applies to podcasters every bit as much as it does to campers in bear country. But rather than bringing coffee cups and can openers (ever tried to open a can with a sharp stick?) instead you need to plan. You need to plan the audience you want to attract. You need to plan your format to meet their needs. You need to design (aka script) your podcast's columns.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

What's so wonderful about podcasts? And why are they any different than any other website audio that you put up?

What makes them special?

Not too long ago I was asked the above questions. At the time, I just answered the question but since then I've been thinking about my answers and realized that they didn't really answer the question behind the question. So what was the question behind the question?

How does the difference affect me?

Let me first organize the response into three general areas, the physical differences, the purpose and use, and the creation.

Physically, the difference between website audio and podcasts has to begin with the number of formats. Podcasts are typically in one of three formats. MP3 is the most common and flexible. AAC is used by iTunes and the original iPod. And WMA is used even less frequently. Of the three only MP3 is really important. Website audio on the other hand can be in any number of formats ranging from AU to RA to WAV.

Similarly podcasts tend to be in only a few time lengths. Short podcasts tend to be less than 15 minutes. Full length podcasts tend to cluster at the half hour, and hour marks. Website audio however varies depending on its use from only a few minutes to roughly one and half hours. And they don't show the clustering pattern of times that podcasts do.

The reason for this variation is most easily explained by examining the use of the audio file. Website audio generally has a player associated with it. Podcasts on the other hand are generally downloaded and played outside of the website for example on an MP3 play or iPod.

From a purpose point of view, the primary use for podcasts is to develop targeted traffic and to establish credibility through repeated exposure. Website audio has many reasons from being a digital product for sale to initial credibility to attention getting.

Podcasts are also a repeating product. That is they are split into regularly repeating shows or audio files which are released on a regular basis. Website audios tend to be singles. That is each audio file stands on its own and isn't really meant to be listened to in a group. Some exceptions to this exist but that's the basic concept.

For the individual who is creating podcasts and website audio there is a great deal of difference. Podcasts are meant to be released on a repeating or rotating basis. Each of them needs to be stand-a-lone. And they are short. So scripting needs to be tight and produce the most information in the shortest time frame. The focus should also be on creating a series and recording them in a group for efficiency reasons. Time to create is a major factor since any inefficiency will be multiplied.

Website audio -- depending on its purpose -- tends to be longer. More time needs to be spent designing the content if only because of the increased length of the audio. And the focus is on record a single audio at a time. Very seldom will you find advantage in recording multiple sessions at the same time. If an individual audio takes more time to develop that's okay. It is unlikely that other audios will also be affected.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

There isn't much literature on the history of podcasting but you should know that this new technology hasn't been around for a long time. Podcasting is a relatively new concept and this form of marketing is still relatively new to marketers. I first got my introduction to podcasts when I was making a blog for my website.

When I made my blog, I had no idea about podcasts. I didn't even bother trying to figure out the history of podcasting because I was convinced that it was a passing internet marketing fad that would soon dissipate away - but I was wrong. Podcasting is still strong and is still an excellent way to get your message across to people.

In fact, podcasting is so huge, that even financial expert Suze Orman uses it to promote her business. For every episode that she has, she extracts the audio and places it on iTunes for people to download for free. This is what I love about podcasts. I can load them into my MP3 player and get awesome content for free.

There are all kinds of podcasts out there on the market today, but most of them share the same premise. Podcasts are all about giving out good information to people in a niche, and having them subscribe to your podcast's RSS feed to receive updates when new podcasts are created.

You can get a podcast RSS feed from a free service such as Feedburner.com. When you first sign up to Feedburner, it will ask you if you're using your feed as part of a podcast. You will want to check the box for this field to indicate that you are. This is the easiest way to get started with a podcast RSS feed. After you got your feed, it's time to start promoting it to the world.

One thing that you will want to do is to submit your feed and content to iTunes. iTunes is the largest podcast directory on the net today. This is how I know about Suze Orman's podcast - it's listed in iTunes and it's listed there for free. I highly recommend that you start listing your podcast here for free now.

Another way to promote your podcasts is to include a short blurb about it on every page of your website. This will be a new technique to do since not a lot of people know about the history of podcasting, but for those that do, they will have instant access to your materials all for free.

Another way to get the word out about your podcast is via referrals. Start within your own email list and let them know that they can download your content for free from iTunes. Offer them a gift or incentive of some kind for referring others to your podcast. The free gift could be a complimentary MP3 that isn't available on iTunes.

I can remember when I first got started out online, I offered ebooks for sale and my bonus product was 36 more ebooks. This isn't exactly an awesome bonus, but it worked effectively for getting me sales.

The history of podcasting is a history that doesn't have much past, but you should know that you can take advantage of this growing trend. A lot of people listen to podcasts on a daily basis, and you can capitalize on this growing opportunity by offering podcasts of your own.

Be sure to start incorporating podcasting into your daily marketing routine today.

Good luck with using podcasts to market your internet business.

FOR MORE INFO: Learn more about the history of podcasting and how you can use it to earn more money online. To learn more, visit the following website for more details: http://www.instant-downloadz.com/podcastingfun.html

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Creating a podcast might seem like smoke and mirrors or some form of mystic art. But there is a great deal of science involved. A basic process that anyone can follow to be successful. A repeatable process with a guaranteed result.

So what is the science of podcasting?

Well, actually there are four separate elements that form the science portion of podcasting.

1. The tools you require.

You could if you wish, trick out a complete audio recording studio in which to record your podcast. Or rent one if you prefer that alternative. But it really isn't necessary. All you require is a headset, a computer and audio editing software. The former can be obtained for less than $10. And Audacity is one of the best versions of the latter -- and it's free. As for the computer literally anything will do from a basic netbook to an ultra powerful desktop gaming system.

2. The process you need to follow.

One of the cornerstones of science is a repeatable process. Producing a quality podcast also requires a repeatable process. Generally there is a four step process involved in producing podcasts. This is just a subset of the standard learning content process. Since podcasts are marketing products, we will use the same target audience, solution and system as every other product in the product line. As a result the process begins with the planning of the podcasts (part of the product line planning).

3. How to record a podcast.

While the performance of the podcast content is part of the art of podcasting, the actual recording is part of the science. You could record it using high quality microphones and a mixing board. But really all you require is the headset and software mentioned above. Making the actual recording is simply a matter of putting on the headset, setting the recording levels and making the recording. However, you should record the level settings and how you adjusted your microphone. Why? Because by doing so you can ensure that the recording level of your podcast is uniform for all your podcasts.

4. How to edit a podcast.

The editing process consists of using Audacity or a similar audio editing tool. Errors should be removed -- within reason -- and the entire podcast brought within the required time length. Once the errors and dead air have been removed, you can begin to correct any sound quality issues. The frequency can be adjusted for example to provide depth to the individual's voice. Once the podcast content is acceptable, you need to add the packaging. This is the added musical content during the opening and closing credits and between columns.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

There are many companies and businesses, including health and wellness practitioners, that use the strategy of teleseminars very successfully. But, that's just the point. So many companies are already using this solid strategy, how can you make your company stand out among the rest? Updating the traditional teleseminar format to become a podcast allows you to make use of many modern technological advances. In today's tough business market, you really must do anything you can to gain an advantage!

Podcasting is simply the use of the Internet to transmit your teleseminar, rather than the old fashioned standard use of the telephone. Adding in the visual component will make your teleseminar far more meaningful and memorable. Participants love to "put a face with the name." People who conduct most of their business over the Internet often find themselves craving any kind of personal connection. And, believe it or not, seeing your face on a screen often is enough! Keep in mind that podcasting doesn't have to be just a video image of you sitting there presenting your information. This type of presentation allows you to incorporate screen shots, video clips, photos and any other type of visual support you can dream of. It can be a very dynamic way to project your message and promote your product or service! For the best success with your podcast teleseminar, consider the following important tips:

Remember that image does count, especially for health and wellness practitioners-you want your audience to believe that what you tell them will get them on the right path toward health and wellness! Using podcasting for a teleseminar adds a visual component to your image that wasn't an issue with the audio-only type of presentation. Be professional, and be sure that the environment that is around you and visible to others is also professional-appearing. This means that if you conduct your successful Internet business while sitting in your boxers on your living room couch, you will need to spruce things up a bit for this occasion.Prepare what you are going to say ahead of time. Nobody wants to hear you ramble on and on. Have an outline, and follow it, but don't simply read from a script. If your podcast or teleseminar does not allow for direct user interaction, encourage your listeners to email you with questions or comments, and develop a regular "series" for your site! Answer last week's questions today.Keep it short, and stick to the designated time frame. Be respectful of your listeners' time-they have set aside a certain time to pay attention to you and have other things to do, too!Use good equipment, like a good quality video camera and a good quality microphone. Make it easy for people to listen!Include frequent references, both verbal and visual, to your site's URL. Make this piece of information one of the most important "take home" messages from your teleseminar, podcast or presentation.

Using the Internet to promote your health and wellness products and services is getting easier by the day-if you know the right techniques and strategies to use!

Cheryl Heppard is a business and marketing coach/consultant to health, nutrition, and practitioners. Visit her website to claim your free marketing tips, resources and tools designed specifically for health and wellness practitioners w at http://www.cherylheppard.com/

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One of the things you always want to do when creating content is to make it look professional. Or, in the case of a podcast, make it sound professional. After all, a professional podcast is the measuring stick your audience is going to use when they grade you. And they will.

But how do you make your podcasts sound professional?

In this article I'm going to share seven tips to making a professional podcast. Now let's get something clear from the beginning. Hiring a sound studio is not in the budget. In fact, none of these tips require much money. Sounding professional can now be done with the barest of budgets.

1. Always start with a plan!

Podcasts are usually a simple form of learning content. Like any learning content they don't just appear. At least not if they're good. Always plan your podcast for what content and format you'll use. Organization needs to be built. It doesn't just appear. In other words, write an outline before you script the show!

2. Don't make it up as you go!

It may sound like professionals make it up as they go. But that's what makes them professionals. Practice! Specifically practice at making it sound like the script being read is really an off the cuff speech. Even if you only work from an outline, always have a script. And then practice it.

3. Get a head start!

How many times have you heard people on a voice chat where you hear their kids playing in the next room? Usually better than you hear them! That's the result of using the wrong microphone. Don't use a desktop microphone. Desktop microphone bad! Headset microphone cheap. Headset microphone good. Yes, there is a technical explanation. But bottom line use a headset -- even a five dollar one is better than a twenty dollar desktop!

4. Take it on the chin!

Want that deep rumbly voice that all good radio broadcasters have? The voice of doom... even if you aren't planning a career on a ranch! Move the microphone to just below your jaw line. Say half an inch below your closed jaw or at the bottom of a stretched open jaw. Well out of the way of your mouth and the pops and sputters.

5. A different view of the bar stool!

How many bar stools have you seen the underside of? Too many? Okay this one's easy. When you record you should always stand up. If it's going to be a long recording session, use a bar stool. Just perch on the edge of it. That'll take the weight off your feet. But you'll still get the lung expansion that standing gives you.

6. Smile -- the audience will wonder what you're up to!

Sorry, this one is a little obvious. Smile when you are recording. It sounds silly but your audience can hear if you like them. So smile! You do like having an audience don't you? Tell them with your smile.

7. Spit shine and boot black.

What makes a professional sound like a professional? A good editor. Don't worry about mistakes. Just record enough material to give the editor something to work with. Record all your practice sessions. Then edit your podcast. Clean up the mistakes. Add music. Add audio packaging. You'll be surprised how good a little editing will make you sound.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here