How Podcasting Can Expand Your Newsvine Traffic

Podcasting is a reletively new phenomenon, and there are a lot of downright BAD podcasts out there. Users sign up with one of the many services available, and a great number of these folks have no idea what they're going to say, or how to make a podcast that works. However, podcasts are beginning to pick up in popularity, and if you are consistent with your content, you are going to get regular subscribers.

My own podcast, which I am not linking to this article, has nothing to do with Newsvine. It is a sci-fi podcast where we read books and stories over the internet. But pretty soon I'm going to create a podcast that has EVERYTHING to do with Newsvine, one that broadcasts the best articles from my column. In this article, I want to drop a few hints on how you can do the same, and avoid making the usual amateur mistakes.

In some ways, podcasting has many of the features of Newsvine, including adding pictures, video, and even live or recorded comments from people who see your show.

The Basics:

Generally, you are going to record something through a microphone for thirty minutes or less in MP3 format, and then upload it just like an article to your podcast site page, kind of like posting an article at Newsvine. I've checked out a few of the free podcast hosts and I settled on PodOMatic for a couple of reasons. They allow 500mb of free file storage (your recordings), and 15gb of free bandwidth a month. The AB of Seattle 'cast gets about 20-40 new subscribers a day, and yet we've never come close to using our bandwidth. When your file storage space nears its limit, you can delete old shows to make space. Other reasons I like PodoMatic is because they are easy to use, have detailed stats, provide email support, and most importantly - they don't add commercials to your audio files. Some providers offer 'free', only to insert their own dumb commercials into your program when they sense a few seconds of dead air. Oh..and they're based in San Francisco - my home town before Seattle. (laughs)

This is how you use a podcast to increase traffic to your column at Newsvine: You always mention the name and web address of your column at Newsvine at the beginning and end of any show.

Like this: 'Hi...and welcome to 'Straight Talk'. Tonight, we present 'Why Hillary Clinton Should Drop Out of the Democratic Race Now'. I'm your host, Robert Blevins. You can also find us at (insert your Newsvine column web address here).'

This stuff is called 'patter' and you can ad-lib it if you wish, but trust me...it's better to run up a quick script to enter and exit each show, and then read from it. Otherwise, you end up making mistakes and sounding really crappy.

You'll need a good program to both record, make adjustments, and convert your computer-recorded audio to MP3 format. By far, I think the best free program for this is Audacity. They have no hidden funny stuff in the program and are easy to use. You open the Audacity program, plug in a microphone, lay your script in front of you, and hit the Record button. You can also pause it to take a break or add music. The 'Pause' function is undetectable, that is, no one will know if you paused and there is no time limit on how long you can leave it on pause. When you finish the recording, just hit 'Export as MP3'. You should have a folder already set up on your computer to store the finished MP3 file, such as 'Podcasts' in 'My Music' for Windows. Audacity will ask you at the end if you want to save changes. Say 'no'. Audacity exports, but only reads its own files, so you don't need that file. Just the MP3 you saved from it.

One cute trick is the box that opens up when you export. It asks 'Title', 'Album', etc. You can fill in the title of your article in the first box, then the web address for your column at Newsvine. Then...when people see your podcast, that address is always appearing during the recording. Over and over. You see the advantage. Pretty soon, subscribers are going to start dropping by your Newsvine column.

Setting up a quick script: Generally, it's going to sound better and go smoother if you type up the introduction for an episode, as well as the exit patter. I use Notepad. I type a few lines just as I am going to speak them on the air. Then I do this below it= ______________— This reminds me to pause here for a moment while I grab the actual stuff I am going to read. In your case, it would be the text of your Newsvine article you're broadcasting today.

Then, I type in the closing patter. 'I hope you enjoyed 'Why Hillary Clinton Should Drop Out of ...' etc. Tune in to 'Straight Talk' next time for (insert name of another article here).' Then a few lines of whatever you want to say...and this is a good time to REPEAT the address of your Newsvine column. Always say 'good night' or something.

I also use a few pre-recorded sound effects for entrance and exit, but this isn't necessary. As you get better, you may want to try it.

Now, I can't say FOR SURE whether having a podcast where you do your articles will drive traffic to your column at Newsvine...but here's what it did for Adventure Books of Seattle:

Within a month, sales of our magazine increased dramatically. We always mention Escape Velocity. Usually like this: 'Welcome to the AB podcast. Adventure Books of Seattle is the 'Small Press from the Great Northwest' and home for the Escape Velocity Magazine. You can find us at (web address for EV).

In the case of a Newsvine podcaster, this would be the name of your column and your NV address for your column. Good luck.

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Newsvine Column As a Regular Podcast

Robert Blevins - AB of Seattle

Sun May 11

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