Tag Archives: Podcast

Mobile Podcast Web Apps

Posted by on May 10, 2012 Comments Off on Mobile Podcast Web Apps

Quite a few years ago I created the mobile version of the Fat 2 Fit Radio site.  I took the main functionality from the main WordPress site and translated it using some neat tools, iWebKit and Simple Pie. The main thing that I wanted listeners to do was listen to the podcast on their iPhones. This combination of technology did exactly that. It worked so well that when it came time to create an actual iPhone app for the podcast, this same mobile interface was used as part of that app as well.  Additionally, this interface also powers the Fat 2 Fit Android application.

How about an example, you say?

Visit the following sites on your smartphone to see the interface in action.

You can use these tools for other projects as well.  Visit the links above for more information on how to use them.  For the podcaster out there that wants a simple interface for listeners to hear their shows, download Your Own Mobile Podcast Web App and see how it works for you.

If you’d like help creating a more complex web app for your podcast or business, contact me and let’s talk.

Keeping Monetization in Your Hands

Posted by on December 29, 2010 Comments Off on Keeping Monetization in Your Hands

I read an interesting article today. And by interesting, I mean terrifying, especially if you use Google Adsense in an attempt to monetize your podcast/blog. They article can be found at Duck Works Magazine. It’s the story of a cameraman/boat enthusiast that produced content and put it on YouTube. He was making a good bit of money from the videos by using Adsense to display ads with the videos. Apparently he was making too much money, because Google decided to close his account.  Closed his account, took away any money they owed him and canceled a check!  I’ll let you read the article and get all the details for yourself, but there is one huge thing that you should take away from this article.

Putting the monetization of your blog or podcast in someone elses hands is folly. It’s the easy way to go, especially if you have decent traffic on your site, but in then end someone else is in control. Google didn’t get to be one of the biggest companies around because they’re giving away money. They keep the lion’s share of the ad revenue and you get a tiny sliver of it. Get any more and you’ll get banned. And if you think that you are the exception, here’s another thing to think about. The chips are stacked against you. One of the customers/readers/viewers of the film maker in the article is a lawyer. They examined the Adsense contract and had this to say.

The contract is designed so that it is almost impossible not to break the Google rules.

So there it is. It’s “almost impossible” to play by the rules that Google sets forth. My advice: don’t play.

If you’re looking for ways to monetize your podcast or other online venture, be sure to read my article on monetization or better yet, pick up my ebook, The Virtual Podcast Seminar, to learn about all things podcasting.

New eBook!

Posted by on February 4, 2010 Comments Off on New eBook!

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Virtual Podcast Seminar eBook

For almost 5 years I’ve been blogging about podcasting.  One of the series of posts that I did in the past was something I called the Podcast Seminar.  It was a virtual podcast seminar that would show the beginning to intermediate podcast the basics of podcasting.  The posts have been very popular and are still available on the site.  However, it was in need of some updating and expanding.  Rather than put all that effort into more posts, I went ahead and rolled it up into an eBook.  That way  you can download and consume it in either print form or on your computer or other PDF compatible device.

Here are the topics covered in the eBook:

  • Choosing a topic for your podcast.
  • What length should your podcast be?
  • What type of podcast do you want to produce?
  • What equipment/software do you need?
  • Should your podcast be daily, weekly, monthly?
  • Creating your podcast with a blog.
  • Marketing your podcast.
  • Show notes and SEO: Why are they important?
  • Podcast metrics: Who’s listening?
  • Monetizing your podcast
  • Spreading the word through social networks.
  • The Wrap-Up

Thanks for visiting the site and for considering purchasing my ebook.  Good luck with your podcasting endeavors.

Virtual Podcast Seminar Ebook – Only $5

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Podcast Seminar: Monetizing Your Podcast

Posted by on June 9, 2008 5 comments

This post continues the Podcast Seminar series. This week we discuss a popular topic, monetizing your podcast.

If you talk to 10 different podcasters and ask them how to monetize your podcast, you’ll get 10 different answers. A few of the popular models that I’ll discuss in this post are donations, “premium” subscription, promoting products, pay per episode, advertising, sponsorship, and affiliate links.

First off, let’s get this ugly fact out of the way; unless your podcast is a standout in the thousands of podcasts in iTunes, there’s a good chance you’re not going to make a dime on your podcast. If you’re getting into podcasting to make money, you’re going to be sadly disappointed. At least for right now. There are opportunities to make a few bucks, but basically the monetization model for podcasting is far from fleshed out. Even though that’s the case, let’s take a look at the models listed above.

Donations – The donation model of monetizing is very much like a PBS television station or NPR radio station. The hosts solicit money from listeners or viewers. There is usually a button on their website that says donation or tip jar. The donations can be one time or setup as monthly. Paypal is the usual suspect here in setting up a donation scheme. For an example of this model, check out any of the TWiT podcasts. Leo Laporte has a donation button on the twit.tv site where you can sign up to give a one time amount, or give monthly. You could also call this a benefactor model.

Premium Subscription – When you subscribe to a podcast, it’s not like subscribing to cable. No money changes hands. You simply add the podcaster’s RSS feed to your aggregator of choice. In the premium subscription model, you still subscribe to the podcaster’s feed, however this time you have a username and password and you pay the podcster to subscribe to the feed. This model is much like the premium channels like HBO. You pay an agreed upon amount each month. There are a few services that can provide this type of service, but the one that’s getting a lot of use is Premium Cast. Check out The Bitterest Pill for an example of this type of podcast monetization.

Product Promotion – If you sell a product as part of your business, then this is the monetization model for you. I made a reference to Gary Vaynerchuk of WinelibraryTV in a previous Podcast Seminar post. The Winelibrary is Gary V’s business. Each episode of the show he uses some of the product available in his store. He doesn’t push the product, but instead gives an honest review of the wines. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. I don’t doubt the the number of bottles flying out the Winelibrary has gone up by a large amount due to the show. Take a look at the show and see how to sell products without making each episode of your podcast an infomercial.

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