Silly Podcasters - What are
you thinking?
I was introduced to a podcast
recently. I visited to the website - and found that I
can't listen to the show on the site at all. Instead the
site tells me to 'click on this link' to listen.
So I click that link and I go
to a different website. It is a radio network site.
I look around to try to figure out how to listen to the show I
want to listen to.
I looked for a long time - and
finally spotted a very small image about the show I am
interested in. I click on that - and it takes me back to
the website I was on originally.
Ok... well that didn't work.
So I go back to the radio
network site again and look harder. I spot a broadcast
schedule and look there. The show I want to listen to is
listed, but when I click on it - it took me back to the original
site again.
Hmm.
Back to the radio network
site... find a link that says podcasts. Click that.
Hurray! A link to a podcast feed. Now we're getting
somewhere.
Um.. well.. maybe not.
The RSS button sent me back to the original website.
Now, I'm not a complete nutbar
and I can't figure out how to listen to this show. I think
it's safe to say that nobody else can either :(
Finally, some good news... I
found her in iTunes! Hurray!
But what the heck is going on
with that website?
Ok... now I've noticed a little
'My Podcast' sliver ad on the site - and that would have
directed me to iTunes if I had noticed it. It's not the
usual iTunes image that I've learned to recognize and that's
probably why I missed it.
In any event, it is not enough
to just direct your users to iTunes. There are huge
numbers of people who don't have iTunes and won't download it
because they believe it's for Macs only.
You must provide a way for
listeners to listen on your website or download an mp3 from the
site. If you don't have this functionality for your
visitors - get it done soonest!
More Silly Podcasters - What
did you say that your show was about?
Don't label your podcast
'Chocolate Chip Mint' and then deliver 'Cherry Ripple'.
I've said it before and I've
got to say it again. You have to pick a theme and stick to
it. You're going to confuse and lose listeners if you
start rambling all over the place.
Don't pick guests just because
they're your friend. I have a lot of friends who will
never ever appear on WAHM Talk Radio because their appearance
would be just plain weird.
I'm watching this happen on
several new podcasts that I had high hopes for. Some of
these podcasters should know better and some of them are
probably clueless - but one thing I know for sure - failure to
deliver consistent content will kill your show PDQ.
A New Show By a Mom :)
Barbara Winters just launched
The Reproductive Challenged Woman. She is really
enthusiastic about bring hope to women who are dealing with long
term infertility issues.
