Podonomics

Here are some of my lessons learned from PodCamp:

• It’s all about the content. This is the general theme that came from just about every session I attended. No matter what you want to podcast about, it’s about the content. On top of that, be authentic. Don’t read from a script, don’t try to be what you’re not. Most memorable quote? It came from Mitch Joel: “Be you because someone else is already taken.”

• Always take a road map with you. Never rely solely on Google Maps, Yahoo Maps or handwritten notes. Otherwise, a 10-hour drive becomes a 14-hour trip through 7 states (New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Mass, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont), and 2 provinces (Quebec & Ontario). Thankfully, Jay, Char & Tera kept me entertained with quotes from the Simpsons. They even put my name to song - I just wish I had my recorder turned on.

• Unconferences are great because you get to learn from those in the trenches - the actual people who are coding and making things happen. Most conferences invite people to speak who don’t even touch a lick of code and instead, give you their 5000-ft viewpoint. On the flip side, some of these very people at these unconferences are the ones that will never be invited to speak at conferences because they haven’t learned how to present in front of crowds. My suggestion? Join Toastmasters.

• Make a list of everyone you want to connect with before you get there. Check out the registrants’ list (if available), google their name, visit their website and make it a point to meet them. I listed all the people I wanted to meet and I can happily say that I did it.

• Find your country folk and make some noise. I immediately found Bob, Mark, Julien and Mitch, who staked their claim in 1 area of the conference room. It was nice to go to the same area and find them to complain about the lack of Tim Horton’s and end everything with “eh” without someone laughing and saying, “You ended your sentence with ‘eh’.” We ended up handing out honourary citizenships to C.C., Bryan and Chris.

• Focus less on the technology of podcasting and more on creating your platform. Suzanne Falter-Barns really drove this part home in her session on Sunday morning. Too many of us focus on the intricate details of our craft, instead of marketing our expertise to a wide audience. The Knitting Guy is a great example of someone who is using podcasting as a tool to market his expertise.

Here’s a summary by Beth of my session on Saturday and here’s a slide show of some pictures I took on Day 1. And here’s a picture of Julien, me and The Knitting Guy that Mark Blevis took.

Technorati Tags: podcasting, podcamp

Suzanne Falter-Barns opened Day 2 with a session on how to build a platform to attract the media & publishers to your blog or podcast. Here are some points she made:

• We still need the media a big publishers even though YouTube and other sites generate millions of page views a day.
• In order to attract media attention or interest from a publisher about our book proposal, we need to develop our platform.
• A survey by Columbia University found that 79% of media get their experts for interviews from blogs. Most journalists have only 20-minutes to find an expert from a sea of strangers, so they just use google, read a few blogs, then interview the one who’s the most opiniated. So launch a blog, take a position and update often.
• Pinpoint about 40 media outlets that target your market. Research past issues, then start a quarterly postcard campaign that provides tips.

Technorati Tags: podcamp, suzanne falter barns, podcasting

I was going to sum up every session I attended in separate posts, but instead, I’ll provide a Day One summary. Here’s a summary of the sessions I attended:

• Podcast Format - I sat on this panel discussion along with Chris Brogan, Christopher Penn and a few others, with Bryan Person moderating. I spoke at length about the results of the Canadian Podcast Listeners Survey and all the panelists agreed that content is the most important factor that one should consider when thinking about podcast formats.

• Knowing Your Audience - Andrew Baron led this session looking at how to determine what your audience is looking for. He said that there are 3 things your audience is looking for in your podcast - information, entertainment and belonging (actually, the last was offered by someone in the audience).

• Podcast Consulting - Jason Van Orden led a panel which also had John C. Havens and another gentleman on it. They focused on how to build a business offering podcast consulting. The general consensus is that consultants shouldn’t price themselves too low since thye’re offering a very specialized service.

• Plan A Killer Podcast - Led by me, I focused on the 3 things to consider before you start recording your podcast - Content (what people hear or see), Image (how people perceive your podcast) & Promotion (methods you use to prompt people to subscribe to and dialogue with your podcast).

• Pricing Your Podcasting Services - John Havens led this session looking at how to price the podcasting services you may offer to others. One thing that stuck out is that if you make money off of podcasting, don’t forget to charge clients for the project management of the podcasting project by adding 15% to 20% on top of the fees quoted.

Mitch Joel and C.C. Chapman are presenting on how to extend your brand through your podcast.

Some interesting points from Mitch:

• “You need to start listening to conversations to be able to improve the brand, and your story.”
• “We tell children not to talk to strangers. However your podcast allows you to talk to strangers. So don’t be afraid to create conversations and create a community.”

Some interesting points from C.C.:

• “Stop saying that you have a podcast. Instead tell people your compelling story and how you channel that through your podcast.”
• “You don’t have to change just because you got the feedback. Instead, use the feedback to continue creating relationships.”

Podcamp is 8 registrants away from hitting 300. I leave Friday afternoon with Jay and the rest of the Uncle Seth crew and I’m looking forward to finally putting voices to faces.

Here’s a list of individuals I’m looking forward to meeting or catching up with at Podcamp.

Mitch Joel - In an earlier post, I called Mitch the Canadian version of Seth Godin. I’ve never met Seth, but I’m guessing he’s just like Mitch - sarcastic, witty and has a mind that’s always working on the next big marketing idea. Mitch will be co-presenting with C.C. Chapman on how to extend your brand in your podcast. Thankfully, his session is the most interesting to me in that timeslot, so I’ll be attending.

Andrew Baron - The brains behind Rocketboom, I met Andrew at iSummit and at CaseCamp. He’s the most humble person I’ve ever met, so I’m anxious to catch up with him again. He will present a session on how to know your audience.
Joanne Colan - The new host of Rocketboom, she’s clearly shown that she can live up to the hype and skeptics.

Suzanne Falter-Barns - The Get Known Now coach, who recently had me on a teleclass on podcasting, will be there. She asked me to text her when I arrive. How cool is that? She’s presenting a session on how to attract the media to your blog or podcast.
John C. Havens - The About.com Guide for Podcasting, he and I have had a few chats over email about podcasting and why I didn’t like him at first. Now, he’s at the top of my “Really Very Likable Person” list. He’ll explore corporate podcasting in one of the Podcamp sessions.
Andrew Rosen - He interviewed me a while back for his podcast called The Working Podcast. He recently celebrated the 50th episode, so I shall catch up with him to find out how he keeps doing it.

C.C. Chapman - If Adam Curry is the sizzle in podcasting, C.C. is the steak. I’ve heard so much about him and I can’t wait to finally sit down for a chat. As I metioned earlier, he’s co-presenting a session with Mitch on how to extend your brand in your podcast.

Eric Olson - Feedburner’s techie guy, I chatted with him at the April International Podcasting Expo. I thought he was Canadian due to his accent, but he assured me that while he found my compliment a compliment, he was raised in the American north-east. I guess that’s Canadian enough. Of course, he’ll focus on how to use a feed to promote your podcast.
Jason Van Orden - Pretty smart guy when it comes to podcasting, he recently released a book called Promoting Your Podcast, a book I fully endorse and recommend to my clients.

Robert Allen - Someone I met at the April International Podcasting Expo, I distinctly remember that he has an awesome podcasting voice. I’m anxious to find out how his wedding podcasting strategy has panned out over the past several months.

Of course, this list doesn’t include Chris, Jay, Mark & Bob, Julien, Bryan, but I’ve mentioned them several times before. I’ll take lots of pictures and will update my blog throughout the weekend.

I’m heading down to Podcamp next weekend with the ever so popular Jay Moonah and his band, Uncle Seth. One day, I’ll be able to say, “I shared a 10-hr car ride with that band.”

We won’t be the only Canadians down there as I found out by way of Mark Blevis’ blog that he’s heading down with Bob and Julien.

Podcamp is taking place in Boston the weekend of September 9th & 10th and I just can’t wait to see the city. I’ve heard so much about it and I’m going to take the opportunity to do some sightseeing while I’m there.

Chris and Bryan, just 2 of the many who have organized Podcamp, have been so gracious with their time, helping me to prepare my presentations and just generally being so nice. It’s no wonder they say that Bostonians are so much like Canadians because their geniality is quite similiar to our own. I’m looking forward to chatting about Battlestar Galactica with Chris and finally speaking in person with Bryan.

Now, why is Podcamp important? I explain it on Bryan’s podcast, but just to sum up, you get the practical advice, tips from the trenches instead of a pie-in-the-sky theory. If you want to podcast, Podcamp will give you a Google-like view of how to get started, how to plan, how to publish and how to promote in just 2-days.

Plus, you’ll get to talk to the very people who are doing podcasting themselves. You’ll not only learn the how, but you’ll also learn what to avoid. Oh yeah and admission is free. You just pay to get there, to stay there and drinks later on.

I’ll be presenting on 2 topics - Limited Edition Podcasts & Planning a Killer Podcast. Actually, they’ll be more like conversations as I enjoy interactivity rather than me droning on and on for 30-minutes.

I may will do a 5-minute lightning talk on why you can’t use podPress with Wordpress if you’re using multiple feeds. I know I’ll be in a mood to geek-out.

At first, I was going to fly down to Boston. May actually work out to be cheaper than spending the money on gas. But then my sister reminded me that September 11th - the day I return - is the 5-year anniversary of that tragic day when so many lost their lives.

My sister reminded me that all 4 planes left Boston that fateful morning and it’d be just my luck that some wacko may choose the very plane that I’m on to pay homage to the 19 hijackers. She went on to chastise me for wanting to put her though such grief when everything in her life is going so well.

(**sigh**) Siblings… Can I send them back? Yes, both of them?

At the end of the day, my sister’s emotional state won out. And because I’m having way too much fun with podcasting, I shall drive down to Boston instead and listen to Jay sing and talk the whole way.

I’ll update the blog with pictures, tales and stories from Podcamp. If you can make it down, please do so as I’d love to meet you and share ideas on podcasting.

Technorati Tags: PodCamp, podcasting, uncle seth, battlestar galactica, bryan person, chris brogan