Word And Mouth

Launch a podcast in 7 days

September calendar picture I’m super pumped to tell you that I’ve started work on the Ultimate Guide to Podcasting (name = prototype in case, despite my best efforts at researching, a product of this name already exists. In which case I’ll revert to the original working title of unPoop Podcast: How to be generally quite good at noise).

This course will be available for free if 100 people sign up before I’ve finished creating it. You have about two weeks. Subscribe in the box to the right and you’re on your way.

Here’s a teaser in a list format. No stilettoes or scanties, sadly, but I have to use the word ‘teaser’ because it sounds sufficiently provocative to make your ears prick up and read on:

It’s a seven day course. That’s one thing for each day of the week. Unless you’re a sloth and put every weekend in the ‘leisure’ category.
There’ll be things to watch and listen to. I’d generally take it as read you have eyes and ears, but I fully expect even some folks from Norfolk to be interested in this free life-changing experience.
It’s no walkover. To do this course you’ll have to be at the zenith of your abilities. If not, I’ll command the high priestess of the sea to wreak a big flood on your home office which will result in massive power cuts. Please make sure you have surge protection in case of a momentary lapse of concentration.
You’ll be amazing. As I said, something of this ilk has never been done before but it’ll be dead good.

I might have mentioned lately that if you’re alive, passionate about something and want the world to know – or you simply want to make more money – you need to podcast. There’s an infinite number of reasons why now is the right time to podcast. Here are three:

You have a potential audience of billions. Podcasts are now publicised wide and far via iTunes; RIM’s business smartphones in the form of Blackberries now have a dedicated podcasting store; Microsoft Zune is making a concerted effort to attract more podcasters to the fray; YouTube is now the third biggest website in the world.
There’s money to be made. Consequent to the above facts, more advertisers than ever are looking for podcasts to work with. Sponsorships are ready to be had. If you have a niche, chances are you’ll find someone to help fund your efforts. This is the big time.
This is your chance to be deservedly recognised as the expert. Being an expert means you can charge more; speak at more events; gain ‘leading authority’ expert. All of these things will better your life.

What the hell are you waiting for? Sign up to the right.

Remember – I’m only going to make this course free if 100 people sign up! If I complete the course first, I’m going to sell it.

And I’ll have completed the course in two weeks…

Thanks to the wonderful rashida coleman-hale for this perfectly-timed pic. You’re awesome!

100 wannabe podcasters needed…

Ready to podcast?

I’m on the cusp of launching the most complete guide to podcasting the world has ever seen.

I hesitate to say ‘will launch’ because I need tipping over the edge. By you.

Last weekend I coached a bunch of people on the basics of podcasting. We started, as you would expect, right at the beginning. We covered a few programs you can use, we talked about the reach and incredible power of podcasting to make new customers and build incredible relationships with existing clients. To show you’re an expert, whatever your passion or business.

At the end of the session everyone was bursting with enthusiasm. “I’m going to do this!” was the resounding battlecry.

But at the same time my students were abuzz with questions. “What if I want to do it this way?” asked one. “How do I update my RSS feed with new episodes?” said another. Clearly there’s only so much you can do in a one-hour slot.

I knew how thrilled they were to get on the road to learning a new skill, to start sharing their ideas and incredible minds with other people.

And so I decided I should do something a lot more definitive on the subject.

To create the ultimate guide to podcasting.

But something was nagging at the back of my mind. I could do it, for sure.

It was more to do with the time it would take. And whether enough people would use this guide to make it a benefit to the podcasting community.

I guess there’s one school of thought that says “Dave, if you get even one person to podcast, it’s a success.” And that’s true.

But in the time it would take me to record a course, I could have taught maybe five or six people, face to face.

So I need something more. I need to be sure that what I’m doing is the right thing to do with my time.

Can I get 100 people to sign up to my free podcast 101 course?

If I have enough folks who want to do this – to learn how to create, launch and promote the living bejesus out of their podcast – I’m going to do it. My mind’s made up.

So there you have it.

When 100 people sign up to this site, I’m going to launch the Ultimate Guide to Podcasting. Video, audio, workshops, you name it.

No backing out. Everything to gain.

And did I mention it’ll be free? Sign up now by entering your email into the subscribe box to the right!

Once I’ve got 100 people who want to do this, doors close. End of – no more free!

So whaddya think? Ready for a challenge – the chance to build your own online radio show?

Let’s get ready to rock this party!

Thanks to El Tekolote for the mic pic.

Hug change

I’ve lived in Southport 35 years. And it’s coming up to 36. When I’ve been out of town – fooling around in the Midlands, deciphering India or briefly emigrating to Oz (another time, ok?) – it was only my body aloof.

One-third of a century is a long time in life, but a short time to the earth. So to see the changes that have seized Southport in my lifetime are nothing short of staggering.

Of course, the man-made machinations come and go – we know that; we call it progress (substitute pro for re if, like me, you get a little sentimental about the good times when there were more places than the Spar car park and more fun to be had than smashing shop windows for kids of this fair conurbation).

But take a look at this video:

Sure, it’s beautiful. Unless you just took the job as Southport’s head groundsman and it’s your responsibility to keep our new shore lawn trim.

I don’t want to lie to you here: This video tells you exactly what happens when you’re conceited about your business. It’s ticking, you know? You have enough.

But enough doesn’t cut it. Because enough is being eroded, day by day. By competition, by changing preferences.

Enough is decay. Enough is being blindsided by everything that’s happening around you.

Listen. Monitor your brand, find out what your customers are saying about you.
Engage. Talk to your staff, talk to your competition. Go to networking events, industry conferences. Take a look around.
Be inspired. Wherever there’s a synergy, there’s an opportunity. Everyone has an idea that can totally transform your business.
Act. Make small changes, every day. Keep your staff motivated – nothing worse than being stuck doing the same thing every day. Promote, motivate, excite.
Succeed.

Nature tells us everything we need to know. It was here before us, will survive long after us. It evolves.

Are you ready to change?

Cash for content: Introducing Flattr.com

From tip jar to tech we go today, announcing the launch of a fantastic – and, yay, European-driven – website offering a neat way for your audience to show you monetary love for your creative endeavours.

Here’s how Flattr works:

Members pay a monthly stipend – upwards of €2 (it doesn’t matter where you live, since they use fancy pants payments systems – so it truly is global)
Content creators display the Flattr button on their site
When members discover content they love, they hit that magic Flattr button
At the end of the month, that member’s payment is distributed equally among creators whose buttons have been fondled.

It doesn’t get simpler than that.

Will it take off? I sincerely hope so.

There’s a huge hitch that I believe needs to be, um, unhitched before Flattr is widely accepted.

People expect content for free.

In my experience, it’s the older audience that is more prone to donations. @leolaporte has (among other things) a flexible payments tip jar. @GSPN has a Plus membership. Libsyn and Blubrry media storage services offer sponsorship opportunities from advertisers. And predictably – by and large – it’s the advertising that steers monetisation for any ‘live’ media on the web, right now (figures bandied about suggest Laporte and TWiT are mainlining about $2m annually from sponsors such as GoToMeeting and Audible.com).

I truly hope Flattr.com prevails in the battle for content reciprocity.

Do you think it will?

Smashing Business Tip #1: Be Agile

In the first of an intoxicating (or was that sickening?) series on how to take your business to the next level, I’m looking at the massive benefits of not being massive.

You move like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Or so it should ‘bee’. But do you? Do you harness the power of size? For it is no longer powerful to be the size of a mountain to reap the biggest rewards.

The business in the best shape and position to grow is… yours.*

See:

* We don’t have Bill Gates or Donald Trump on the subscriber list. Mittal might. Robert Kiyosaki’s far too gentile to be offended.