Podcast promotion?

[bradleclerc]

I've been running a podcast for a little while now, and as we are starting to really pull things together (still a bit rough around the edges at times, but every episode is an improvement from the last), and as we are getting more interesting people on, I'm wondering about how best to promote the podcast each week.

The typical social media sites are great and all, but many don't seem targeted to podcasting very much. Digg has a podcast section (which has yet to accept my podcast, but that's another story), but beyond all the podcast aggregators, does anyone have any tips/tricks/etc for promotion of specific episodes when they come out?

The podcast centers around Newsvine.com and it's users..from issues and discussion about Newsvine itself to using the site as a jumping off point to discuss actual news stories. Today's episode includes the new community moderator for Newsvine as a panelist, and I'd really like to promote it as much as possible. The main show notes and links to the feed are here on newsvine, as well as a built in player and link to the show notes here.

Any diggs, stumbles, reddits, etc are welcome(oh boy are they welcome), but more importantly (I think), any advice for the future would be great.

[jeffc]

Hey Brad, thanks for following Perfcast.

Speaking of Perfcast, David and I are in a similar situation. Although the downloads and the number of people who show up to the live version of the show has increased slightly with every show, we have yet to get to the tipping point where things start rolling on their own. We are only on Episode 6 though so I don't believe that tipping point will arrive anytime soon.

Based on experience, the best thing you could do to get people to tune in and listen to your show is to interview mid-high profile people and hope those people will promote their appearance on your show to their own following. Not only does this build good links to your blog where your podcast calls home, but this also provides good sized bumps in traffic.

Other than interviewing people, I can't pull any other tips off the top of my head for podcast promotion.

[deb_n]

I just started podcasting with BlogTalkRadio. The first week I didn't tell my BTR team what I was doing. I just told a few writing forums and posted at FWJ. There were 54 live listeners are over 300 downloads so far.

The second week (this past Tuesday) I had Peter Bowerman on so I asked for a feature on BTR's main page (you can request a feature if you have something great going on), posted it in the BTR blog's highlights, posted to FWJ, Twittered it, and posted to several writing forums. 65 live and as of now about 200 downloads.

Twitter is the only social site I used though I do use Facebook events and MySpace bulletins to promote BlogTalkRadio shows that have a big guest or something interesting going on. I find there's a lot of pounding the pavement - much as I did when I began my blog. I participate in blogs and forums with like-minded people. I write to writing bloggers and ask them to review the podcast, etc. Now, I've only done two broadcasts so far but I'm pleased with how it's starting out. And if we get an advertiser, that will be even better.

[hart]

The thing about podcasts .. it's not about listening to it live anymore, and "participating" so you don't miss any of the show notes ... // as I see it and listen to podcasts // because you can download the mp3 or usually listen to a broadcast after the fact. Also, good shows and blogs will have great show notes and details in the notes recapping the show and, I'm much more appreciative when I can follow the show notes while I'm listening and it really coincides with what they are talking about (times, mentions, links, etc)

So - given that thought .. I would suggest promoting it like any other post - get the most traffic to the entry/post ... and like any other stumble, digg, reddit, and other promotions .. you pick up regulars, and people will start looking and watching for the next broadcast.

Case In Point: I forgot all about Deb's 2nd podcast - so, I'm going to go listen to it now that she mentioned it!

[deb_n]

I have to say this - the podcast is really bringing in traffic to FWJ. Many people in the blogtalkradio community are finding the podcast and through that visiting the blog. So it's working to my benefit. Plus I find the chat and switchboard for the live broadcasts are really bringing my community together.

But yes, treat promtion as you did your blog's promotion. It takes time to build up a listener base but steady growth is good.

[davidcubed]

You could always spend some coin and advertise in some smart places, or give a call to action so that people have a reason to promote it. There are many small things you can do to get people to promote a podcast, and you are fortunate brad to be part of a community that loves to be vocal.

Run a small contest "mention VineCast on your blog and win one of 5 NewsVine pieces of schwag or something"...etc...

[deb_n]

I know PerfCast uses TalkShoe, what do they do by way of promoting podcasts? BTR does have a team in place (yours truly included) that helps to promote shows in various ways.

You can also run scavenger hunt type contests. Find a certain word or phrase in the broadcast (entrants have to tell at what point in the broadcast) to be entered in a drawing. Not only will they have to download, but they'll have to listen.

[jeffc]

I know PerfCast uses TalkShoe, what do they do by way of promoting podcasts?

Talkshoe does feature shows on the front page of Talkshoe.com when they are not on the air live. I can't remember if you have to pay for this or not. Other than that, podcast promotion is left up to the end user. Obviously, BTR has them beat in that neck of the woods.

[deb_n]

Talkshoe does feature shows on the front page of Talkshoe.com when they are not on the air live. I can't remember if you have to pay for this or not. Other than that, podcast promotion is left up to the end user. Obviously, BTR has them beat in that neck of the woods.

To be honest, at 300 to 500 shows a day it's hard to promote everyone. But if you request a feature you have a good chance and if you have a noteworthy show you have a good chance of promotion. I take a couple of hours each morning to go through all the day's programming to find blogworthy stuff. I like promoting the people who don't get much fanfare.

I'm interested in learning the differences between BlogTalkRadio and TalkShoe though.

[jeffc]

I'm interested in learning the differences between BlogTalkRadio and TalkShoe though.

Well, I have been sitting on reviewing Talkshoe for a Performancing post for awhile now so I guess now would be a good time to do it.