Written on June 11th, 2008 at 05:06 am by Darren Rowse
Win 12 Months of Professional Podcasting for Your Blog [COMPETITION]
Today I’m pleased to announce a giveaway/competition here on ProBlogger where you have the chance to win one of three prizes - a year’s worth of free podcasts for your blog from First Blog Media.
All you have to do to win is answer a question in the comments of this post (see below for the question).
The sponsor of this competition is First Blog Media - a marketing company with the goal of helping bloggers transition from text-only sites to multi-faceted conduits of rich media.
Their medium of choice is the podcast and they offer a twice a month service where radio professionals work to create high quality shows from your blog’s text. Everything — recording, editing, hosting — is managed on their end. They then upload your production to their servers and let your blog’s readers stream the content straight from your site.
Getting started is as simple as installing a widget and letting the team at First Blog Media get working.
$100 Discount Offer
First Blog Media is offering $100 for all ProBlogger readers on this service - all you have to do is to sign up from this link (not an affiliate link).
They are also offering 3 readers 12 months of the service for free as a prize today.
How to Win This Competition
All you have to do put yourself in the running to win is answer this question:
Why would you like to have a podcast on your blog?
Please note - to be included please include the word ‘podcast’ in your entry - this will help us ensure we catch all entries in our comment spam filter.
The team at First Blog Media will choose 3 winners at the end of the week.
85 Responses to “Win 12 Months of Professional Podcasting for Your Blog [COMPETITION]”
Andrew Pryde
June 11th, 2008 6:15 am
I’m going to be doing my own podcast with the rest of the team on my blog but I suppose this could be a good marketing tool…
Andrew
Kirk Warren
June 11th, 2008 6:16 am
Why would you like to have a podcast on your blog?
I’ve never run a podcast before, but it’s on “my list” of things to look into in the future and I’d definitely like to expand into podcasting or video reviews for my graphic novels website. Maybe even just talk shop about events, news, reviews, previews, etc in a weekly feature.
I have no experience with it though, so it’s been a barrier and kind of intimidating aspect of me going out and investing in something like a podcasting package.
Reed
June 11th, 2008 6:22 am
I would like to have a podcast on my blog because it will make me one of the first podcast producing blogs in my topic. I will be able to appeal to a broader base as many of my readers are young, and reading for them is something that is well… not that entertaining. A podcast would definitely take my blog and life to a whole new level.
Andrew
June 11th, 2008 6:32 am
I would love to add a podcast on my blog because my subscribers would get tremendous value from it.
My blog is about public speaking. Text-only media can only go so far in delivering value about an inherently audio-based topic. Podcasts would allow me to provide speaking examples and advice in a form which most effectively achieves the mission of my blog — to help readers communicate their ideas.
Ryan McLean
June 11th, 2008 6:34 am
I am going to win
This will help my financial blog a fair bit
Cool
Charles
June 11th, 2008 6:38 am
As I teach English language learners, being able to podcast my instruction would be a great tool for reinforcing those lessons and helping students to improve their listening skills. Right now, my main blog isn’t oriented to my students, but I have had a student-oriented blog that I haven’t kept up and would like to get it going again.
Claire
June 11th, 2008 6:40 am
Why would I like to have a podcast on my blog?
I can get across so much of my voice with my writing - however as a coach my voice is my main tool I use to work with my clients. I’d love to be able to understand & deliver podcasting on my blog to interact better with my group of readers. Also, as I focus on adding in other niches I am passionate about podcasting as an opportunity to interview other relevant & complementary speakers - I just need to know how to do it and learn from the best!
Claire
The Cheat
June 11th, 2008 6:42 am
I’d like to win the podcast giveaway because I can think faster than I can type. Because my thoughts are fleeting, and my best material is often wasted on only myself.
James Kolacz
June 11th, 2008 6:42 am
I run a gaming site and even thought alot of people in my niche read the articles they seem to get more from videos and podcasts. I think with the Podcasts it would catch alot more people.
Damon
June 11th, 2008 6:44 am
I want to be able to give my audience a different way that I can share information with them.
podcast
Shanel Yang
June 11th, 2008 6:46 am
WHY I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A PODCAST ON MY BLOG
I am starting my mission and lifelong dream to bring the world of self help advice to inner city youths by becoming a substitute teacher. In fact, I originally started my blog with the goal of reaching Teens, Immigrants, and Minorities who are, like I was, in desperate need of guidance on how to succeed in America. I learned it the hard way, but I want to make things easier for them.
Not surprisingly, I had very little traffic to my blog from that target group. So, I quickly changed my blog topics to address the more general middle class adult audience. I thought my dream can wait a little longer. Then, a recent post on The Happiness Project inspired me to start substitute teaching part time to get immediate access to these kids, limited as it is. I believe if I can podcast posts specifically for these inner city kids, I’ll not only help them with my posts, but they’ll be introduced to the wonderful world of self-help blogs on the internet.
If I win, I’ll be sure to let each class where I teach and also network with the principals of those schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District to log on and watch. No one is specifically catering to the poor city youths past the Sesame Street age-group, and that’s a crying shame. I want to be the one to bring similar interesting and fun lessons about life, relationships, work, and finance to the kids at a time when it can really make the most difference in their lives. I believe I can do it, too, because I speak their language. I know I can because, although I went to UCLA Law School and learned to communicate with as many $10 words as the best of them, I can, when the situation calls, for it, speak in the plainest, most direct terms to reach this important audience.
Why do I care so much about these kids? I taught at Camp David Gonzales, a boys prison school in Calabasas for a mere 10 weeks when I was still in law school. And, what those young men reminded me of was something I had forgotten in my many years trying to pull myself up by own bootstraps, and that is that “there but for the grace of God go I.” They need me, and I want to help them.
Oh, and I definitely am going to substitute teach at any prison school every chance I get! Thanks for considering my application to win this valuable service.
Patrick
June 11th, 2008 6:49 am
I like to have a podcast on my blog so people don’t have to be tied town to reading a computer screen. Podcasting, it’s blogging for those on the go.
Jess Stratton
June 11th, 2008 6:50 am
“Why would you like to have a podcast on your blog?”
My blog is brand new - “momelettes.com - moms are beated and fried. These tech tips will help!” I started the blog to earn some extra income so I can take time off guilt-free while I enjoy my infant. I am a gadget freak, and have lots of timesaving tips to share, as well as mom-friends who are doing amazing things with productivity hacks. Moms have more time to *listen* as opposed to reading; they can download a podcast and listen to it while they walk, or in the car. Moms also need and appreciate hearing another adult voice - a podcast filled with laughter would be a welcome break during the day!
Scott
June 11th, 2008 7:00 am
I’m due to launch a blog soon and, if this competition is open to folk like me, I’d like to enter.
It would be great to have a podcast on my new blog because I believe that, while written words can stimulate thinking, the spoken word can definitely put across subtle emotions, humor and stimulate the imagination. Using music, sound effects, even the tone of voice, can create long-lasting impressions.
It’s like having both the storybook and someone to read the story for you. I want my podcasting to complement my posts, not replace them.
Also, while blogs mostly need to be read at a p.c. or in static positions, podcasts can be taken anywhere. This convenience for the listener leads to great potential to connect with as many people as possible- which every blogger, new or experienced, aims for.
When I hear a podcast which interests me, I gain a different perspective on the blogger. His or her views come to life in ways that add to those that are expressed in the content I simply read.
I would try to use podcasting as a tool to communicate on different levels with my future audience. Giving people the choice of how they want to receive the message can only be of benefit to both the blogger and the reader/ listener.
Keith Erwood
June 11th, 2008 7:11 am
Disaster Preparedness reaches across all cultural and geographic barriers as steps to prepare are similar no matter where one is.
One interesting thing about my blog however is it is lacking in its ability to reach certain members with disabilities, something which the internet and disaster preparedness both have in common.
I would use the podcast prize to be able to reach out to blind, and legally blind and increase awareness for others with disabilities in how to prepare for disasters.
The podcast would also help raise awareness that people with certain disabilities are sometime left out when it comes using the internet.
I hope that I can win so I can use the podcast medium to help in both these much needed areas.
derek
June 11th, 2008 7:12 am
A podcast for my blog? Awesome. I’m a total noob blogger, and need to kick it up a notch. Help!
Melissa A. Dobson
June 11th, 2008 7:13 am
I’m a huge fan of podcasts and love to catch up on them while attending to other things. I would like (love!) to have a podcast available on my blog as a service to my readers, giving them more options to engage with me and my content.
Tyler Ingram
June 11th, 2008 7:14 am
I don’t think I could utilize a podcast for my blog. I talk about whatever so text seems to be alright. Unless someone wants to talk about my blog via a podcast I would be up for that.
Kyle | BroncoTalk
June 11th, 2008 7:18 am
Running a sports blog means that I’m servicing a group of people who are looking for information and entertainment on a hobby. It’s not something that will help improve their careers or family life.
As such, many readers don’t visit every day. Being able to give them a handy podcast for them to take with them via iPod or other MP3 device would really help us reach a new level of sports fans.
Christopher Truman
June 11th, 2008 7:25 am
I can think of so many reasons why my readers could greatly benefit my blog. Only 10 percent of what my reader’s see is remembered for more than a day, but if they received my content audibly I’m sure they would benefit a hundred times more.
My blog is a self improvement blog and I have found that I only truly learn when I read, hear, and see the change that could happen in my life. The articles on motivation, lifehacks, and positivity are so much more effective when you hear these buzzwords that can change your body chemistry and instantly make someone happier, more excited, or completely driven.
I feel that all involved would just have a better day, a better life, and a better world if my blog were chosen. The podcast producers are able to be immersed in my positive content, my readers are exposed to my content in a new way that will change them that much more, and I will get to hear what I wrote in a new way.
I find this as the coolest, most powerful, and most logical next step for the content I am attempting to spread! If i could pose challenges to my readers over the next year, thousands of people will find success in life, love and in themselves.
I wish luck to all involved in the contest and hope for a great result from Darren’s great project here.
Thank you Problogger and First Blog Media,
Christopher Truman
http://youareliving.com
Rinaldo Maldera
June 11th, 2008 7:32 am
I think a podcast would be nice for my blog because my audience is already used to Audio Transmissions and since I tend to publish a good variety of guides and analyses along with the news, my readers could definitely benefit from an audio alternative that will give a different depth to the information I’m transmitting thanks to the power that voice has sometimes over text according to the topic and the approach used.
JoLynn Braley
June 11th, 2008 7:45 am
Why would you like to have a podcast on your blog?
To provide another alternative for my readers to access all of the great info I provide for them - they could listen while they’re out for their daily walk, while they’re cooking up healthy meals or when doing strength training. ;)
rob elamb
June 11th, 2008 8:10 am
Why would you like to have a podcast on your blog?
I started a podcast on my blogs as an experiment with the hope of reaching more viewers and giving my current readers much more. Although, my readership is still the same. I found that I really had fun podcasting.
Carleenp
June 11th, 2008 8:11 am
In my blogging niche of beauty product reviews, there are not nearly enough podcasts. Yet, the few regular podcasts available have tended to be quite popular. Yes, there are quite a few video podcasts on beauty tips, but not much on product reviews. As a result, I have wanted to begin a podcast based on my site for awhile now. I think my readers would appreciate it, and it would open up new avenues for growth of the blog as well. Unfortunately I also lack the time and experience to get one started. Thus, it would be wonderful to win this. Thanks for offering it!
Eric Grey
June 11th, 2008 8:11 am
Why would I want to have a podcast on my blog?
Health care is a very human field. It requires warmth and depth to be effective. While my blog attempts to communicate the human element through images and words, adding audio through a podcast could be an excellent next step. I’ve also thought about adding video - but I just haven’t had the resources to do either of these.
I would also love to use a podcast to help people in their pronunciation of Chinese terms and phrases - helping everyone become a little bit multi-lingual! :)
Eric
Trish Ginter
June 11th, 2008 8:15 am
I would like to podcast because I think it gives users another way to receive your content. With a podcast there is more flexibility for the user, giving them more options. People like options so they get to decide. Hard to read a blog when you are running on a treadmill or driving to work.
gina
June 11th, 2008 8:20 am
“Why would you like to have a podcast on your blog?”
I have just set out on a journey to build a community garden in my area and started a blog about it (1st 4 posts will be published tonight). This will be my second personal blog. My original personal blog (www.myskinnygarden.blogspot.com) is a little over a year old and I’ve been successful at steadily increasing traffic by creating fresh new content for my readers, almost every day.
In addition to building a community garden in my area, I decided to start a website and blog that would follow our progress because I think that other people may want to start community gardens but do not know where to begin. I’d like to help them with that. Using a combination of written media and a podcast would draw a lot more readers than written media alone, for obvious reasons.
I think that using this 12 month award to create a podcast that would potentially help many people start a community garden in their own town is very timely with the gas prices causing fresh produce to become so much more expensive. I’d love to take advantage of this great opportunity.
I love the idea of First Blog Media and think it will be a huge success. And of course I hope I win this great prize for my non-profit organization. It’s good karma!
Ryan
June 11th, 2008 8:24 am
The principal I try to follow when updating my blog is to make posts that are interesting and bring value and entertainment to people’s lives. A podcast would be great because my website deals entirely in lists which would translate easily to spoken word and would thus compliment and summarize the original material for those not inclined to read 2000 words about rollercoasters (or what have you). Additionally I like the idea of providing a variety of media to potential users. Text is great but I often wish that I had the ability to do audio/video posts because some people prefer that to reading.
Craig
June 11th, 2008 8:26 am
Because the podcasting world needs a marketing version of TWiT — a roundtable review of the week’s marketing news.
I know plenty of folks who would be great contributors, from the worlds of brand marketing, PR, experiential, and much more … hell, my college radio voice can only carry so much weight!
Let’s get bizzy!
Jeremy Winter
June 11th, 2008 8:29 am
On my blog stateofaffairs.info I could see adding a podcast as very useful for my how-to\DIY blogs. I also like the idea of podcasting reviews because it gives the review a more human touch and isn’t just dry text. One other thing that I am curious about experimenting with would be a weekly news update about all of my new post and and other interesting changes on the site. I think that would be a nice way to keep a blog fresh.
Tiffany
June 11th, 2008 8:30 am
I would like to win this podcast contest because I have been itching to start my own podcast for over a year now. I do want to bring more forms of media and more “hooks” to my site. Starting one can be daunting though and I seem to back off when I see how time I will need to commit to the process though. This would be a lifesaver.
Ramesh | The Geek Stuff
June 11th, 2008 8:41 am
“Why would you like to have a podcast on your blog?”
My blog is focussed towards howto’s and instruction guides on technology. Most specifically Linux and database. I always thought written media will be the great way to communicate to readers on the howto’s and instruction guides.
I would like to have podcase on my blog, because it will be a challenging thing to do for FirstBlogMedia to convert my howto’s, instruction guides etc., to podcast.
If FirstBlogMedica does convert my howto’s and instruction guides successfully to podcast in a way that will be interesting for the blog subscribers to listen will be fantastic.
Ramesh.
The Geek Stuff
Adam McKerlie
June 11th, 2008 8:48 am
My blog is meant for developers. We recently just launched our blog with a high set of goals for it and a podcast would be a great way to reach the community. We have plans down the road to setup a podcast to help our readers with development tasks.
Goddess Carlie
June 11th, 2008 9:03 am
I would love a podcast on my blog. My blog is an educational/motivational (plus entertainment!) blog for those who are learning Japanese. I would love to have my motivational and educational posts converted to podcasts so that readers of my blog can also get their motivation on the go, no matter where they are.
Not only that, as an educator (on my blog) I know that many people learn better through audio, rather than reading. By offering audio, I will be appealing and reaching a larger audience.
Thank you for the opportunity, and good luck to everyone entering!
- Carlie
Mary Jo
June 11th, 2008 9:09 am
Words and photos capture a lot of the essence of travel blogging, but with the addition of a podcast, I believe I could instill more of the emotion that comes from traveling and experiencing different places and cultures.
Shanel Yang
June 11th, 2008 9:13 am
Answer to Question for Podcast Contest:
I am starting my mission and lifelong dream to bring the world of self-help advice to inner city youths by becoming a substitute teacher. In fact, I originally started my blog with the goal of reaching Teens, Immigrants, and Minorities who are, like I was, in desperate need of guidance on how to succeed in this great country. I learned it the hard way, but I want to make things easier for them.
Not surprisingly, I had very little traffic to my blog from that target group. So, I quickly changed my blog topics to address the more general middle class adult audience. I thought my dream can wait a little longer. Then, a recent post on The Happiness Project inspired me to start substitute teaching part time to get immediate access to these kids, limited as it is. I believe if I can podcast posts specifically for these inner city kids, I’ll not only help them with my posts, but they’ll be introduced to the wonderful world of self-help blogs on the internet.
If I win, I’ll be sure to let each class where I teach and the principals, teachers, and staff of those schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District know about the podcasts and ask them to tell their kids to listen. No one is specifically catering to the poor city youths past the Sesame Street age-group as far as I know, and that’s a crying shame. I want to be the one to bring similar interesting and fun lessons about life, relationships, work, and finance to the kids at a time when it can really make a big difference in their lives.
I believe I can do it because I speak their language. Although I went to UCLA Law School and learned to use all the $10-words with the best of them, when the situation calls for it, I can talk street English to reach this audience.
Why do I care so much about these kids? I taught at Camp David Gonzales, a boys prison school in Calabasas for 10 weeks while I was still in law school. And, what those young men reminded me of was something I had forgotten in my many years of trying to pull myself up by own bootstraps, and that is that “there but for the grace of God go I!” They need me, and I want to help them.
Philena
June 11th, 2008 9:30 am
I would love to have a podcast on our blog in order to expand our coverage of events in Philadelphia in a more portable manner than additional blog posts. I would also love to have a professional company preparing the podcasts so I can spend more time marketing the podcast. I’ve been researching how to create podcasts, so this contest comes at the right time - I will definitely be looking into First Blog Media as an option!
Jeff McCord
June 11th, 2008 9:54 am
Here’s why I would love to be able to add a podcast to my blog (especially for free)…
For the last 6 months, I’ve been slaving away on my personal blog. I’ve read ProBlogger religiously, I’ve participated in blogging communities, added comments as often as I can, participated in social networking sites and have educated myself as much as possible on blogging.
It’s my passion. So are podcasts. Podcasts are what got me in the blogging industry and for that, I’m forever grateful.
I would love the opportunity to add podcasting to my blog so that I can express my passions in another medium besides just print (blogging). It would allow me the opportunity to reach out to new users as well as reach out to those who may not have had the chance to come to my blog without the podcast.
Blogging is my passion. I’m sure there are hundreds of us worthy of this awesome free gift, but I hope you pick me.
Jeff McCord
Kelvin Kao
June 11th, 2008 10:20 am
I think the service is an interesting idea. I already run a video podcast so I guess I’m not really entering the contest. Please pick other people that’s more interested.
My reason to run a video podcast is very simple. My site is about puppetry and video-making, so having a text-only or audio-only site just doesn’t make any sense. I think it makes a site more interesting, especailly with the short attention-span of internet users nowdays…
While I’m excited about the idea of podcast, I’m not particularly excited about this service. I personally think it’s not for everyone. While the quality and design might come out real professional, it will lack personal touches of the blogger, in my opinion. It will feel more like an audio book than a podcast to me, because it’s not the author him/herself speaking to the audience.
Sorry to be the party pooper, hah.
TarotByArwen
June 11th, 2008 10:20 am
I am a professional tarot consultant. I do a monthly taroscope podcast that is just me on a cheap headset. I’d love to help those who can’t see to hear my blogs. What a fabulous thing that would be. I’m pretty much brand new to blogging but I’ve got nearly thirty years of tarot behind me. I’m also an author of erotic paranormal romances so I have a varied interest in the multitude of ways this could be used for networking.
Rich Hill
June 11th, 2008 10:35 am
A podcast would be very helpful I suspect, because if most people are like me, they download, save and replay podcasts from time to time.
I have every podcast (I think) the Leo Laporte has broadcast on twit.tv. Leo is my go to guy for all things tech.
I listen to dozens of make money online, internet marketing, WordPress podcasts and often play them in a loop even when I sleep, which is not often.
Maybe someday…
Laura
June 11th, 2008 11:29 am
I would love to have the podcast for my site because it will benefit my readers. My audience consists of young college students and new graduates who are on the go. A podcast would help them to listen to the blog while they are going to class or work.
I’ve enjoyed blogging and I’m excited to learn another way of communication. I’m passionate about finance and I sincerely feel it can help others to try and reach dreams.
I lack the talent to do a podcast effectively, so a team of professionals would be a real blessing for my audience and myself. Please select me!
Jess Gordon
June 11th, 2008 11:33 am
I would love to have a podcast on my blog because I like to share lots of tips, techniques and tutorials, but I end up cutting out a lot of content, because the post gets too long. It would be sooooo much faster and easier for my readers to take in all of this information if it were in podcast form, instead of having to read tons of text! I am also always trying to think of ways to take my blogging to the next level, and podcasts would really be huge a step up!!!!
Geeks are Sexy
June 11th, 2008 11:36 am
Why would you like to have a podcast on your blog?
First and foremost, we’d like to have a podcast on our blog to put a voice on our content and improve the stickiness and loyalty of our readership.
A podcast, which would likely include conversations between the podcast author and our various contributors, would allow our visitors to get t know more about the many people that work for us.
Our site is growing extremely rapidly and podcasting, along with vlogging, would be the next logical step to success!
Todd
June 11th, 2008 12:41 pm
I’d love to win the free podcast for a couple of reasons.
1. My blog is focused on the home improvement industry and from what I can see it is a very under represented market among blogs. I’ve actually had many readers tell me that podcasts would be very appealing to them.
2. My blog has been growing really fast lately (fast for me!) and I think the podcast would potentially be a tipping point for me.
I hope I win and thanks again Darren for helping all of us become better bloggers.
SciFi Dad
June 11th, 2008 12:50 pm
I would like to add a podcast to my blog because I feel it’s the next logical step. I already try to set a different tone with each post by including an embedded flash audio player with a “soundtrack”, if you will, for the topic. I think offering some content in audio format would increase the entertainment value, and potentially allow the readers to feel more connected to the content (especially if I can convince my kid to co-host).
Melanie Nelson
June 11th, 2008 12:58 pm
I am the author Blogging Basics 101, a question-and-answer site for beginning bloggers. I draw on my technical writing background to keep the posts clear, concise and user-friendly. I know that podcasts would make using Blogging Basics 101 even easier for my readers—they would allow them to listen to the instructions while they are actually performing the actions in their blog editor. Additionally, BB101 readers would benefit from accessing information on an as-needed basis, via podcasts (information such as etiquette, definitions, and other general ideas that don’t necessarily require step-by-step instructions.)
I would love to be able to provide this service to my readers, and help equip more people with the tools they need to find their spot in the blogosphere.
SusanAtLifeskate
June 11th, 2008 1:10 pm
I would like to have a podcast on Lifeskate.com because I am creating the first multi-media figure skating blog, and am sorely missing a podcast. Video pieces has been a very popular feature on my blog and having podcasts would allow me to create further connections with the ardent worldwide readership of Lifeskate.com.
Lyn Leckie-Matassa
June 11th, 2008 1:22 pm
Why would you like to have a podcast on your blog?
I have been toying with the idea of running a podcast on my site, I have installed the podcast plugin and I am all set up ready to go. But I don’t really know how to go about it and how I would sound on a podcast.
I believe podcasts are becoming a necessity to make your blog more sticky. I want to have the best blog and to do this I need to do podcasts.
I also believe that having a great company like First Blog Media actually run these podcasts for my site would be an extreme asset. I would love to win the free 12 months of professional podcasts. My website would love me for it too as it would increase blog traffic as well.
Tim L. Walker
June 11th, 2008 1:57 pm
Most of my sites are in the photography niche, and my main photography-related blog needs something to spice it up, and a podcast would do just that. It’s one thing for professional photographers/amateur photographers to read through posts and tips and tricks, etc, but a whole other story to be able to “listen” to them. A professionally produced podcast isn’t in the budget for me right now, but it’s something I’d love to try. Other competing sites have podcasts, but the quality of both the information & the production end is less than desirable. I don’t want to have “just another” photography podcast. If I’m going to do one, it needs to kick ass. And from what I’ve read, FBM would provide that.
AtlasRider
June 11th, 2008 2:26 pm
I would love to have a podcast on my blog to expand the ways in which I distribute my videos beyond embedding YouTube videos. I am a motorcycle blogger that travels around the country and recording video of my experiences along the way. Podcasting would give my audience another way to keep up with my travels and would also make it easier to publish videos while I am on the road. This isn’t something I would just “try out.” I have been video blogging for over a year (about 150 videos published) already and Podcasting is the next step I want to take to distribute my content.
Candace Robinson
June 11th, 2008 4:37 pm
Why wouldn’t I want to have a podcast on my blog, should be the question? One, I don’t know how to do them, would like to know! Two, Apple iPod being the portable media player for which the first podcasting scripts were developed only makes sense that I should be the winner! The fact that I want to expand Real Estate sales and improve my blog and become the first real estate professional in the Valley of the Sun in Arizona makes me even want to have it more! I have heard that podcasts can be automatically transferred to a mobile device after they are downloaded and what a great tool for me to become a podcaster to help my clients in a market that needs lots of creative ways to help them get their home sold! What another great tool to help my buyers find the perfect home to bring their family home too! I want to be a podcaster and want to show others how effective this fantastic tool can be for real estate and business! Help me figure out how to be a ‘podcaster’…I am in!
Whitey
June 11th, 2008 5:53 pm
I already do a podcast on my blog, but it’s low-budget and infrequent, just a way to keep in touch with supporters. Would love to have a pro take a crack at it, though. If they could help encourage people to listen and subscribe, that would be all the better. Thanks.
Stephanie Quilao
June 11th, 2008 5:53 pm
I’d like to have a podcast on my blog because food is multi-sensory, and I’d like my blog to be multi-sensory as well. Besides beautiful food pictures and video, podcasts would provide a well-rounded media choice for my readers to enjoy the sensations of food for eating wellness.
Mariah@Playful Learning
June 11th, 2008 9:56 pm
The purpose of Playful Learning is to document and share my knowledge of education and human development with other families. Playful Learning is a homegrown website/blog that was created to get useful and interesting information to families regarding the growth and development of their children.
I have already made a couple of home-made videos for my site (http://www.youtube.com/user/playfulearning) and part of my plan is to convert them into podcasts. I already have lots of ideas for content that I would like to make into podcasts and being able to work with a team like First Blog Media would really help me to focus on the material I know best rather than the huge learning curve related to the production of podcasts.
Green & Clean Mom
June 11th, 2008 10:16 pm
Green & Clean Mom is a blog dedicated to moms going green without the sacrifices. If I had a podcast there would be no sacrifice. They wouldn’t have to go the computer to read about how going green is sexy, sassy and fun! It would be hands free listening for the busy mama and what mom can’t appreciate that? I get requests all the time so this would put me over the edge!
Keith
June 11th, 2008 11:26 pm
I want to have a podcast on my blog because I have a successful niche sports blog which at present is entirely text and image-based. A podcast would make my content more portable and accessible to a much wider range of people.
Nate Desmond
June 11th, 2008 11:46 pm
I would like a podcast on my blog because then my readers are business people and if I had a podcast they could listen to my podcast while doing something else.
Jennifer Mannion
June 12th, 2008 12:09 am
I would want a podcast on my Heal Pain Naturally blog because I have readers in chronic pain. Having healed myself from chronic pain I know how grueling it can be to look at a screen with a migraine or to try and sit in a desk chair when your limbs or muscles ache. I would be able to reach more people with my message of ways to heal pain naturally, inspiration and empowerment. Many people have told me my words have helped them but I have also had people tell me “they wish they could sit at the computer longer to read more”. I have almost 100 posts now and am passionate about my blog and my message that people can in fact heal from within. I write about the mind/body connection and JUST how powerful the mind is as well as provide resources that I believe would help others in their healing journey. A podcast would enable people to download my posts to an IPOD and listen comfortably so that the message can sink in even deeper. I remember clearly how distracting pain was - I was ill for over 6 years! Thank you for this competition and it would be wonderful if I could have a podcast associated with Heal Pain Naturally. Gratefully, Jenny
Gleb Reys
June 12th, 2008 2:22 am
Professional podcasts would be something I’m really interested in because they will not only help my message reach the readers and visitors in yet another way, but also help me see how my vision and posts can be interpreted by a company specialized in podcasting.
Every text, every thought expressed in a written form, brings a lot of the original feelings of the author. Presenting them in a different way is an excellent opportunity for blog author to take a different (probably closer) look at the messages given by his posts.
I’ve never done a podcast and think my blog on personal development will greatly benefit from it - I will help me once again thank the visitors by making it even easier for them to get the knowledge I have to share.
I’d love to have podcasts for my blog, and would really prefer real podcasts rather than automated recordings of computer-generated readings of my posts. I’m sure podcasts for PersonalDevelopment.ie will be a success, and hope they will kickstart the podcasting for other blogs of mine, which are more technical.
Darren, THANKS to both you and First Blog Media for a chance to participate - if nothing else, this post is a great collection of podcasting hopefuls - will definitely be checking their blogs in the next few days.
katy
June 12th, 2008 2:31 am
I already have a podcast on my blog! But it crashes my site every time I put up a new video — so their service of hosting the video would REALLY help me a lot!
Scott Hepburn
June 12th, 2008 2:38 am
Thanks, Darren. I helped PRstore take the first steps into podcasting earlier this spring. For us, it’s about introducing business leaders who are successful in another industry to the advantages of owning your own marketing agency by joining the PRstore franchise.
A professionally produced podcast (versus my hack-job that I record via voicemail, essentially.) would allow us to educate thousands of small business owners about how effective podcasting can be for educating consumers, energizing customers and building community.
Here’s my Big Audacious Goal: I want every business owner in America to discover that podcasting is easier than they imagined…and to become a podcaster!
Single Mom Seeking
June 12th, 2008 3:37 am
Why would you like to have a podcast on your blog?
Here’s why single moms are the ideal audience for podcasts.
The lives of the hundreds of single parents who visit my blog, http://www.singlemomseeking.com/blog, can be described with in one word: “multitasking.”
They answer a business call — with a headset — as they pack school lunches.
They respond to a Blackberry message as they search for a Band-Aid for a boo-boo.
Single parents are the perfect subscribers because they can listen to informative, insightful, and entertaining podcasts while they’re washing dishes and making baked potatoes. Podcasts will inspire them.
I would LOVE to record podcasts about parenting, dating, self-care, time management, friends. Let’s see:
“Single Mom Seeks Date,” “Surviving and Thriving as a Single Mom,” “Play Dates and Blind Dates”…
Thank you!
Barbara Ling (aka Owlbert)
June 12th, 2008 4:26 am
I would like to have a podcast on my blog because as everyone knows, podcasts make:
Coffee taste fresher (because one can close their eyes and relax while listening and learning)
Children misbehave less (because they know Mom will make a podcast of unruly behavior and send it to their teachers)
Spouses compose epic poetry about romance (as podcasts free up blogging time)
and the most important reason:
Podcast techology rocks! Sharing that with audiences is a great thing indeed.
Enjoy, Barbara
David Schrader
June 12th, 2008 6:24 am
Why would you like to have a podcast on your blog?
I just launched and I figure it would help get things moving. The future of the internet IMO is going to be fully interactive and this is a stepping stone to acclimating myself, my website, and my future readers toward that result.
Desiree Scales
June 12th, 2008 7:09 am
Because I need to practice what I preach. I tell clients all the time to start a podcast. We have over 250 clients and I need to lead the way in this arena. This would be a perfect opportunity for us to partner with a company and bring them a lot of new business while leading the way ourselves. Thanks!
Panzer
June 12th, 2008 10:08 am
I would like to do a podcast to widen the reach of my blog on personal finance and my journey towards financial freedom because it can reach out to a wider audience and touch lives for the better.
The more I write about my own journey towards financial freedom, the more I realise financial literacy is something solely lacking even in my own life when I just started working and I’m trained as a accountant! We are trained to take care of other people’s monies but not our own.
A podcast would allow those who absolutely abhor to read my posts a chance to listen to luscious voices speaking out to them just like radio!
Be well and prosper (through podcasting!) ;-)
Kathleen
June 12th, 2008 10:15 am
I love to read, but not everybody does. Having a professional podcast would reach the audience that doesn’t want to read, or doesn’t have time. Also with learning, people often need the audio dimension.
I have wanted to do podcasting, but have these setbacks: quality of equipment, understanding the technical part, and though I have a decent sounding voice, I get nervous, and have a lot of ums… ,when I try to record something,
Real Estate investors are very busy at this time, and need something that can be listened to while on the Go.
isabella mori
June 12th, 2008 12:10 pm
here, ladies and gentlemen, is why i would very very very very much like to win this:
- because it’s the first competition of this sort that i want to win not just for the sake of competition but also because i really want to win the prize!
- because i’m so pleased with what happened when i added images to my blog. sound will make it even richer!
- twice a month sounds absolutely ideal. it will add just enough spice without overwhelming my readers with too much novelty
- one of the reasons why i haven’t podcasted yet (i know, i’m SO behind the times) is because i’d like to have something that’s high quality and i just haven’t gotten around to looking into how to do that yet. so winning this with you will just make this fall into my lap!
- you said getting started is SIMPLE? oh, i LIKE simple! click, click, click, and it’s done. yes, i can get on board with that.
- some of my material lends itself perfectly to podcasting already. a lot of my posts are very conversational already.
- i’ve been wanting to do something auditory-oriented (e.g. some relaxation material) for years. how would you like THAT as a challenge?
- i’ll twitter about it like crazy. actually, i’ll go and do that right now!
Ian
June 12th, 2008 2:23 pm
Like many others, creating a podcast is on my “to-do” list for our store’s blog. We have been blogging about running religious stores like businesses for two years and have also been posting about products but we really want to start interviewing authors and adding more information to our blog that is best communicated through audio posts.
Simon
June 12th, 2008 8:48 pm
Why would you like to have a podcast on your blog?
I would like to have a podcast on my blog because the content of newslite.tv (odd news stories) seems to lend itself well to an audio format and has wide appeal.
I guess the question should be why am I not already doing one?
Because I come from Birmingham in England where the accent is regarded as the worst sounding in the UK. Who wants to listen to a monotone Ozzy Osbourne sound-a-like podcast?
ckoehler
June 13th, 2008 1:16 am
This service is a great idea. I am an experienced blogger/podcaster and I think it would be fun to work with bloggers from different backgrounds and niches.
If anyone from FirtsBlogMedia is reading this, please contact me. I’d love to find out more and see if there is a chance to work with you.
Corey
Don Giovanni
June 13th, 2008 2:01 am
To educate people about the 101’s of wine…like my http://www.wine101.TV does…
Dan Illouz
June 13th, 2008 2:44 am
I would love to have a podcast because it would allow for more diversity offered to my readers (or listeners). To be honest, I often prefer listening to things rather than reading them, so I don’t see why my readers would be different. It would be quite cool to offer it to them.
CindyM
June 13th, 2008 4:03 am
Why Would You Like to Have a Podcast on Your Blog?
After years of sharing my expertise in the field of hairstyling (I am a former professional hairstylist) in the form of articles for online companies and magazines I finally took the plunge and started my own hairstyling blog.
While there are many hair related blogs in the blogosphere mine is one of the few that is actually written by a professional in the industry. There are so many hair care and hairstyling myths out there that I would love the opportunity to use any medium available to provide my readers with solid information.
I created my first ever podcast a few weeks ago and love the experience. Being able to do this on a regular basis with a professionally created podcast would be like a dream come true.
Ramble Redhead
June 13th, 2008 6:50 am
I have a podcast that goes along with my blog since it is an awesome interview show with members of the GLBT community and our allies. I have been honored to have guests talk about their lives, the coming out process, dealing with the family and partners etc. I would like to reach a bigger audience to show the world that we should all be able to live and love who we want no matter who they are.
Alex Shalman
June 13th, 2008 8:40 am
This podcast service is an amazing idea. Many bloggers are focused on writing and may not necessarily have a speaking voice or the know-how to run a successful podcast on their own.
Since my blog is about supporting people to make a difference in their own life I think a practical personal development podcast would be an invaluable way for people to get the most out of the content and out of their lives.
I personally listen to podcast all the time and I take them on the road with me when I’m driving. This has been a great way to virtually eliminate commutes while utilizing my university on wheels.
Jess
June 13th, 2008 12:47 pm
I would love 12months of professional help with podcasting for my blog.
Firstly, because I don’t even know what a podcast is, so as you can see I need all the help I can get.
Secondly, because even though I don’t know what a podcast is…I instinctively know it must be something very cool…because the name is indeed quite catchy
Thirdly, because I have never won anything –except a jellybean in grade three for giving a good ’show and tell’…which by the way went for a record 33 minutes– in my life.
And fourthly, because even though I have no idea what a podcast is, I’ve somewhat gathered, (through reading everyone else’s comments on this page), it has something to do with sound, radio and video…and as you can tell (see reason three for proof) I have an extraordinarily strange ability to speak rubbish for long periods of time which for some reason or other (I can’t for the life of me figure out) seems to keep people entertained.
Cheers
jess
ps: I’m off to search your website because I’m going to find out exactly what a podcast is once and for all, and while I’m at it I might as well work out what a widget is too…
Ben
June 13th, 2008 1:39 pm
Personal finance isn’t the most exciting topic in the world. Putting a voice behind the content may help make it more digestable and make is seem more “personal”.
Not only that, financial concepts can take a while to sink in, people may not have the time or desire to read a blog post about taxes or IRA’s multiple times but if it was in the format of a podcast they could listen to it as many times as they needed until it made sense to them.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Michael
June 13th, 2008 9:01 pm
I’m not convinced that podcasts are worth the trouble or all that effective. This free offer would be a great way to test the validity of podcasting.
Brian, First Blog Media
June 14th, 2008 12:47 am
Wow, these responses have been fantastic.
As Darren mentioned in the post, the contest is open through the end of day (EST) so you still have time to sneak in your last minute responses. Soon after we’ll set to task shuffling through each and determining our 3 lucky winners.
Warm thanks to Darren, and to all who’ve replied. I wish we could take everyone!
Linda F
June 14th, 2008 6:38 am
I run a blog focusing on technology applications & hardware for teachers. I would like to include podcasts, because I’ve found podcasting to be a useful resource for busy people (which most teachers are). It also lets teachers get away from paper - most of them are buried in paperwork.
When I listen to podcasts is when I relax or exercise. At that time, I am quite receptive to thoughtful podcasts.
I’d also like to be able to set up podcasts for my students, to assist them with vocabulary and content of the Physical Science class. I envision it as a study technique for audio learners - most of them have either IPods or mp3 players.
Samantha
June 14th, 2008 10:07 pm
My blog, http://www.noveleats.com, is a vegan blog, with posts of recipes that I make. While there are many blogs out there in this niche, there are not very many that are able to stand out from one another. I do have my favorites, but they all pretty much follow the same model I do. Write posts with recipes and pictures, and hope that the writing and picture-taking is good enough to garner decent traffic. Rarely is there any audio or video.
I considered creating my own podcast a few months ago (and even attempted to record one), but rarely have enough time (and quiet) to focus on it. I enjoy having this blog, and have managed to increase my traffic to a certain extent, but I think that having a regular podcast would make this one stand out among other vegan blogs. I love the idea of having this done for me, and if it proves to be popular, I think that I would absolutely pay for it or take over and start producing my own.
Lewis
June 15th, 2008 4:38 pm
Having a podcast on my blog will provide a higher quality of different content to help my readers.
I believe the purpose of my blog is to help those who read it, and improve the quality of their life. Having a podcast to compliment my blog will allow my readers to download podcasts to their ipod and listen to the helpful information when they have the time.
It just creates that much more quality to my blog, and in return makes the product more accessable to help my readers and improve their lives.
Thanks for your consideration.
Lewis
Darren Rowse
June 17th, 2008 1:41 pm
winners will be picked and announced in the coming day or two. thanks to everyone for participating
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