Bruce talked about the angst and awe of podcasting as his main topic. Be sure to listen to this great episode in the player below and join us every Friday Night for more Podcaster Training!

We will return with our regular episodes next Friday and our main topic will be on “Casting Your Net For Listeners”.

We began discussing our main topic, Suffering From Digital Burnout. We didn’t get as far into this discussion as I had hoped, so we will pick up this topic again next week.

Our Podcasting News segment article was about Creative Commons Licensing for Twitter. You can read this article here.

WPTavern Business Thinktank – Due to popular demand, I have created a new section on the WordPress Tavern Forum called Business Thinktank. Many people operate businesses either on or around WordPress. Some deal with the GPL while others do not. There are many ways in which to operate a business and this section of the forum is for those currently in business or have an idea about a business they are thinking of starting. Please use this forum to discuss the GPL’s impact on your business, ideas for new businesses, existing business models, etc. – http://www.wptavern.com/wptavern-business-thinktank

Plugin Of The Week – Post Templates – Post Templates is a plugin that enables you to save posts as templates. For example, say every Friday you create a Round Up type of post with numerous headings and sections. Using this plugin, you can save that particular post structure as a template for that post every Friday allowing you to save time from copy and pasting the text every week. You can also create Page templates as well. – http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/post-template/

I will be giving away one Revolution site license courtesy of Brian Garder to one lucky registered member of the forum. In order to win the giveaway, simply register an account on the WordPress Tavern Forum. I will then place all of registered Member IDs into a random number picker. Whichever member ID is chosen will be the winner. The winner will be contacted by means of private message. If an ID is chosen which does not have an account attached to it, I will run the number picker again until a winner is selected. The winner will be announced next week on the Friday the 13th edition of WordPress Weekly.

wordpressreport41

Everyone has a social security number. Even though we are not to use it as identitification, most businesses will require this as a form of ID and some will use it as the only means of verifying who you are.

The main problem with this is, when someone steals your social security number, they can effectively open new accounts at utilities, cable offices, cell phone accounts, and even some financial institutions. The bottom line is, as always, it will be you who gets these bills, not the identity thief.

You should always protect your social security number by not carrying your card in your purse or wallet, keep it secured at home, and when required to verbalize your number or write it down, do so in a manner that others around cannot hear you recite it or see you write it down.

Medical practitioners will normally require your number in order to match your medical records. This is ok, however, keep an eye out to insure that they do not leave your information laying on the desk or counter, thus exposing you to the World. Also, if they are throwing away some written information about you, ask them to shred it in front of you to insure that your information will stay secure.

When writing checks at a retailer, they may ask for your Drivers License Number and Social Security Number to be written down on the check. Take the initiative to refuse to write down this information. Offer to show the clerk your drivers license and ssn, however, let them know that you are uncomfortable letting out that much personal information on one document. With just one check with all of that information, an identity thief will have your name, address, phone number, bank account information, drivers license number and social security number. This is way too much information to allow on one document, especially if that document is misplaced or misappropriated. If the clerk refuses to take your check, ask to speak to the manager and make your concerns known. Otherwise, you may be exposing your personal information to unknown persons and you should really stay away from doing that! Use a debit card for your purchases to stay away from using checks in this manner.

That’s it for today! We will discuss more about Identity Theft next week!

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Podcasting, especially, live, interactive podcasting, like Talkshoe for example, is not for everyone. Now, don’t get me wrong, anyone can be a podcaster, but it takes a little extra to be a great podcaster. So, I have went through and gathered what some believe to be the tips and tricks to be a great podcaster.

Keep in mind that the following list I am about to give you is a compilation that I have put together. I have added my own thoughts in here as well.

Live Podcasts should be short. 60min is actually too long. Unless it’s just jam packed with good content, life is too short and it requires too much attention. Keep it as short as possible without cutting your message down, thus losing what you are trying to convey to your audience. I’m thinking 30 minutes. I may fudge on that one, but honestly, unless you’re interviewing someone or have a topical style podcast, 30 minutes max.

Don’t take yourself too seriously. There are people that will call themselves experts in their niches, but will never talk about the subject they are supposedly an expert in! If you are going to proclaim to your audience that you are an expert, make sure you know the subject matter that you are talking about. Otherwise, be honest with yourself and your audience and you will have a much better time podcasting!

Be whimsical. Maybe this is the same as the last point, but I’ve noticed something about the popular podcasts… they’re having fun, and it shows.

Be Chunky. Make segments short, diverse and put an audio bumper between your segments. It can be music, a sound effect, some whimsical voice trick, whatever. This keeps it interesting. A single droning line of ramble can really make the eyes glaze over. You need variety, we’re an MTV generation, like it or not. We like it fast, varied, and fun.

Don’t Ramble, Be organized. This should seem obvious, but some podcasters just flip on the mic and ramble for 45 min. AARRGGG! If you are interviewing someone, prepare the questions ahead of time. Send them to your guest so they can be coherent. Don’t stick to it slavishly, but let it keep you from ad-hoc preparation on my time during the podcast. If you aren’t interviewing, take the time to prepare exactly what you’ll be talking about. Write down an agenda with talking point notes. Move quickly and coherently through them.

Cram, cram, cram as much good stuff as you can into the time. Our minds move quicker than your mouth, so do you best to pack your podcast full of goodness and move quickly.

Be regular, but only if you’ve got quality. I’d rather listen to an excellent quarterly podcast, than a mediocre one every week. Again: this isn’t so much the case with something like a blog post where I can skim and move on, but with a podcast, you have my trust and full attention, use it wisely.

Get decent audio! Seriously, the tin-can-and-string / Houston-to-Apollo-11 sound really kills things. A little effort and investment in a decent mic not only makes you sound better, but it’s not as hard on the listener. When I listen very long to a poor audio quality podcast it gives me a headache, hurts my ears and wears me out. Make a pop screen, that helps too.

Get a Co-Host. If you can, get someone with whom you can riff, someone who brings another layer of experience and expertise. It helps you be chunky. Two have an easier time that one keeping things moving, plus it’s just usually more interesting.

Make that Co-Host a member of the opposite sex. Not required of course, but there’s something about the dynamic between a man and a woman. The best podcasts I listen to have a man and a woman.

Have show notes on your blog. If you mention something, make a list of links to explore your topics in more depth.

If you’re doing interviews, don’t be Charlie Rose. In other words, shut up and let your guest talk. That doesn’t mean sit there and let them ramble. Provide regular engaging questions and keep things moving, but don’t spend time trying to be smart yourself, be a master facilitator in helping your guest share great stuff.

Don’t interview Jonathon Doe. And I don’t mean Jonathon specifically of course. I’m saying come up with someone fresh to interview. Jonathon has been interviewed by every Tom, Dick and Harry that podcasts. I love listening to this guy and I love listening to him riff as much as the next guy, but at some point we need to be more creative. There are many topics, interview subjects and approaches that have been done to death. You need to have something fresh.

Try to be natural. I guess this is kind of a recurring theme, but don’t try too hard to be stodgy and official. Don’t be lazy and inane, but don’t be stuffy either.

Don’t be scared to throw a show away. It happens. You get a crappy guest, you do a crappy job, your audio blows, whatever. My advice is to use podcasts to put your best foot forward. Because podcasts demand so much attention, they really need to be high caliber. If you write a mediocre blog post (for example: this one) your readers can skim, skip and move on. With a podcast, they’re trusting you with very precious attention for that period of time. Treat it with the utmost respect. If in doubt, toss it out.

Do some editing. Take a note from NPR or other audio documentary style programs. You don’t necessarily need to give us every single utterance made during a period of time. Just like you might prune a copy from a rambling blog post to tighten it up, tighten up your podcast. A little post-production work goes a long way toward making an excellent podcast.

Use music. Music really softens a podcast up. I don’t want an MP3 of your favorite songs, don’t waste my time. But as an intro, a little background and as transition material, music can really polish things up.

Verbally identify your podcast at the start of your podcast. Date, issue number, topic/guest, etc. We need this meta data to give it context. Someone may listen out of sequence or even years or decades later. Take a couple seconds to lay it out at the start.

Put an iTunes (at least) or Feedburner chicklet with appropriate linkage on your blog to make super easy for me to subscribe.

Well, I’ve just set the bar impossibly high for some with these tips. Ok, let me say this: doing a good podcast is hard. It takes equipment, production, planning, and good editing. These things take time, effort and money. So let me add one final one to the mix.

* If you have something important/valuable to say, get something out there. It may not be perfect, but if you’ve got great content, some omissions from the above list are tolerable.

Here are some additional items I found that come into play tonight too.

Exude energy. Be positive. Mitch Joel’s enthusiasm is infectious – you can’t help but enjoy his podcasts. Be excited about what you’re doing and it will show.

Focus on content. “Content is king. It’s what people tune in for. Personality comes into it and celebrity has an impact, but without the content you’re nothing.

Value your audience. You’re dedicating your time to the podcast, but also remember that they’re investing their time in you. Also remember: if you promote a company (yours or a sponsor’s) on your podcast then your behavior reflects on them, be it positively or negatively.

If you’re going to solicit comments, engage in real two-way conversation. Not all shows do include comments, which is fine, but those that do should have a genuine dialogue. One of the reasons I enjoy some podcasts is that the hosts are willing to be wrong. They’re happy to include and genuinely discuss comments from people that disagree with them, and they don’t have to ‘win’ the discussion.

10 Podcast Tips To A Great Sound

What defines a good podcast? Make no mistake — there is a difference between a good podcast and a not-so-good podcast. A high-caliber podcast is much more than just decent content. The sound quality, and the way a podcast is recorded, will impact the value of the podcast as well. Podcast structure and pre-planning are also important; do not skimp on the production, as it too can make or break a podcast.

Podcast production takes effort, but anything worth doing is worth doing right. Use these tips to help produce a quality podcast that will be distinguished above other related podcasts…

1. Invest In A Good Microphone

A gritty sounding podcast is tantamount to a radio station that can’t be tuned in completely. Poor quality podcasts are not going to be tolerated, and listeners will simply unsubscribe rather than being subjected to a poor quality recording. There are a variety of microphones available, and different types are designed for different situations. Find a microphone that suits your recording environment. Sound quality really does matter.

2. Distance Matters

Maintain a consistent distance from the microphone while recording — this will ensure the recording volume is consistent throughout. If you find this challenging, you may wish to consider a microphone that is on a headset, as that will help insure a consistent distance during the recording.

3. Inflections

Use voice inflections to show emotion and to emphasize points and opinions. The inflections can add character and humor to broadcasts. Listeners will catch on to any enthusiasm, but will often tune-out monotones.

4. Polish It

Add an image and background music to your podcast to make it stand out. Those small additions will help distinguish your podcast from competing podcast listings in the podcast directories.

5. Use Editing Software

Use audio editing software to remove any recording defects or errors. Remove any long pauses or sound artifacts that might occur during the recording.

6. Minimize Background Noise

Find a secluded spot to record your show; this will help minimize background noises. Use the same spot to record each show, which will result in continuity in recordings.

7. Test

Prior to recording, conduct an audio test to make sure that the sound quality is acceptable and background noise is minimal.

8. Break It Up

Record longer shows in short segments; this will make the final editing process easier.

9. Add Transitions

Use software to add transitional sound effects between show segments. Additionally, add background music, theme music, or overlays between the show segments to spice up the podcast.

10. Format

Each show in a podcast series should follow a prescribed format. All shows in a series should be similar in length. Try not to stray too far from the preplanned format, as listeners will come to expect it.

Podcasting is becoming more and more popular. In order to differentiate your podcast and make it stand out from others in the same sector, use these top 10 tips.

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What is Credit and Financial Identity Theft?

When an ID Thief steals your bank account information, credit card information, savings account information or other types of financial data, they can not only access your existing accounts, however, they can also use this information to open new accounts in your name.

In most cases, an ID Thief will only access existing accounts and drain your accounts, thus stealing your money. At the same time, they will also sign up for credit cards, usually lots of them, and will use these new cards to further steal money from you. Remember, all of these credit cards are in your name with your address and information. The bills go to you!

What can you do to prevent this type of identity theft?

Not much, except to monitor your credit reports and financial statements for unauthorized withdrawals, etc. The first thing you need to do to begin your road to being safe with your accounts, is to check your credit reports. Not just one, but from all three of the major credit reporting agencies.

You are allowed by law, to get a free copy of your credit reports from all three agencies once a year! Visit http://www.annualcreditreport.com to pickup your free copies.

By the way, stay away from places that claim to give you free credit reports. They only do this when you purchase a monthly monitoring service from them! We’ll talk more about these types of services in future episodes.

That’s it for tonight! Next week, we will discuss the next type of Identity Theft, Social Security Number Identity Theft.

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First, let me start by saying that I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas yesterday! I had a chance to spend some time with most all of my grandkids and had a blast watching them open their gifts. I especially had fun watching my wife learn how to use the new digital camera I got her. I don’t want to say she is technically challenged…I’ll just leave it at that!

And with that said, over the past few weeks, we have been cruising through the Phases of Podcasting. We’ve learned about the history, the basics, going live, prepping for the show, the after show, and getting sponsors and monetizing your podcasts. Tonight, we dive into the final phase of this series of training, Phase 6: Going To The Next Level. Many of you are already asking yourselves, so what is the next level anyway? The next level for many podcasters is video.

There are a number of formats for video in today’s New Media World, including live streaming, video sharing and screencasting, just to name a few. Going video for some, means live streaming. Taking your podcast, possibly one that you are already producing live audio for, and adding a new dimension to it…live video. Now, I have been producing a live video stream for Podcaster Training for almost a year now. I have missed a week here or there, mainly due to technical glitches on the live streaming service, however, for the most part, I’ve been there.

Before we go any further, let’s look at live streaming services. There are a few live streaming services available, such as uStream, Stickam and Justin.TV, again, just to name a few. Tonight, we will look at uStream.TV and go over some of the basics for producing a live streaming video.

Obviously, before you can produce a video, a very important piece of equipment you need is a camera. A webcam, digital video camera or sometimes even a digital camera can be used for this purpose. Some home video cameras have the capability to be hooked up to your PC nowadays and they can be used for this purpose as well. If you already have a camera, check it’s capabilities first to insure that it can be used.

Now, once the camera is in place, you can visit http://www.ustream.tv and signup for a free account. Once you have logged into your account, you will want to setup your profile and show page and this will prepare you for going live soon. I won’t take the time tonight to go through these steps with you. They are fairly self explanatory and if you have questions, just let me know.

Once your show page is setup, you can go live at any time by clicking on the Broadcast Now button, found at the top of the page. This will open a second window, commonly called a Broadcast Window, and the first prompt you should get is to allow or deny access to your camera and sound source. Oh, you will want a microphone hooked up to your PC at this point or else no audio will be heard by your viewers. Click allow and you will be presented with a preview image showing you what your camera is seeing. No preview image? You may need to select your camera from the drop down options for your video. Same goes for sound, if you have multiple sources to choose from.

Next, you have two buttons on the right hand side of the Broadcast Window, Broadcast and Record. Click Broadcast to begin sending your images to uStream for others to see and when you are ready, click Record to save your live video. Once completed, you can click on Stop Record and you will be prompted to save your movie file.

Ok, that’s all there is to live streaming. Let’s move on to video sharing. The most popular video sharing site right now is YouTube. Most everyone has heard of YouTube, but many will not have an idea of how to post a video. This will be an entire different lesson altogether as it requires some specific software and a little know how to insure your video is posted properly.

The last type of video for tonight is called Screencasting. This is a method used for creating tutorials and making them into a video for others to learn by. Again, this will be an entire lesson on it’s own. TechSmith makes a piece of software called Camtasia which allows you to record your screen movements, add transitions, credits, etc. and then create your screencast into the most widely used format technology called Flash. uStream, Stickam, YouTube and most video sharing and streaming sites will use this technology as Flash is a smaller, more compact way of streaming video across the Internet.

I know I’ve skimmed over a lot of this training, however, with video streaming, a lot is just either by doing or by having someone step you through it. Unfortunately, we don’t have that kind of time on this show, unless I devote an entire lesson on just that. Not saying that can’t happen!

Now, when you plan to stream live video, you want to make sure that your viewers will be able to find you easily. Let’s go back to uStream for a minute. With uStream, like most services, gives you an embed code that allows you to show your live video on your web site or blog, while you are streaming live! There is even an embed code for the chatroom and you can setup a separate page for your live streaming. For example, I have setup a separate domain name, newmediapro.tv, along with a separate site so that I can include my advertising, chatroom, and embed codes for Twitter, Stickam and uStream, all on one page. This way, no matter which service I’m on, I can direct viewers to the one site. Makes life easier for everyone that way.

Alternately, for your blog, you could setup a page marked LIVE and put your embed codes there. Same result and you have a way that your viewers can easily view and read your blog too!

I went the extra mile for the .TV domain name. They are a little salty for some, at $19.99 a year, but I felt it was worth it for the branding. Keep in mind that if you are on Blogger or Wordpress.com, you may not be able to embed the video and chatroom codes. Since I run the self hosted Wordpress, I can do this with my blog. So this is where I’m coming from, in case you’re wondering why I might be telling you to try something that you may not be able to do.

The same applies for video sharing sites like YouTube. You can upload a video or screencast and then get the embed code and show it on your blog or web site. This way, when you’ve got a tutorial video or screencast that you want everyone to see, it’s easy to show it off quickly!

Ok, one last item to cover on this topic tonight. If you want to add a little flare to your live presentation, there are some software packages available for PC users called SuperWebCam and ManyCam, that will allow you to put graphics on the screen, scroll messages, show your desktop and more. Mac users have some options as well, such as CamTwist, that does the same as the PC software packages.

Adding flare to your video will help you to present a more professional production. Even if you have a live video show about nothing in particular, this flare will help you to liven up your videos and maybe attract some more viewers.

This concludes our series of The Phases of Podcasting. Next week, we will be talking about adding audio to your web site or blog. There is one exciting note here. Thanks to a suggestion by Jeff Chandler, our resident Wordpress Segment Host, I will be putting together a series about combining the three main mediums, Blogging, Podcasting and Video. Bridging the gap to bring your listeners to your blog, your readers to your podcasts and live videos and vice versa. It should be a really great series to produce. I’ll tell you more as the time draws near. I can tell you this much, it won’t be until next year now!!

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