Changing the name of your podcast...

[Marilynfan]

Anyone ever done this? I guess it really would be a pain to go through the directories and get the name changed. I'm not sure if listeners would really care either way though. Should I just leave well enough alone? I am really liking Marilyncast as opposed to My Marilyn. I don't know it seems to sound more professional. Any thoughts?

[waynealanharold]

I changed mine from one show to "The Lurid Podcasting System" and lost quite a few subscribers--they haven't seemed to find their way back yet.

At the very least, you should try to keep the feed the same, 'natch! My mistake was in changing that as well.

[Hittman]

Personally, I've never liked "My" in everything. My Simon, My Space, My Banking, My my my.

If Norma Jean can change her name, why not you? Leave what you have in place, announce a name change in your next show, and just call the new podcasts by the new name. As long has your feed URL stays the same, it shouldn't cost you any listeners. Changing it in all the directories will be annoying, but you can do that at your leisure.

[bazookajoeshow]

I think you should keep the name of your show as is. There are already too many shows with the name "Pod" and "Cast" in them. It's like when the iMac and iPod first came out, everyone had to have an "i" in the name somewhere.

Bazooka Joe

[kevdo]

My Marilyn Podcast doesn't work? If you're gonna change, now would be the time to do it, but agree don't change the feed location unless you really have to.

[Marilynfan]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I guess changing the actual feed would be the death of me so I will leave that alone. The name change was going to be more of a marketing thing really. I was looking to get a separate domain name for the show. I have a friend who is doing an iPod looking T-shirt with the Marilyn silouette for me. I want to make sure and put the url on it but it is too long as is. MyMarilyn.com is taken but MarilynCast.com is available.

Also, calling something "My" implies it belongs to me which she certainly doesn't :) But on the other hand you are right that there are lots and lots of "casts" out there.

[owyn]

Keep your feed URL and <channel><title> constant.

Everything else can be changed almost at will. However, there is a big value in consistency.

Switching to a new domain for your site or your media hosting can be made transparent to your listeners.

[jeffoest]

If you want to change your domain, Change it. And change it now. If you need to change your feed. Change it. And Change it now.

Better today than tomorrow.

Consider this very realistic possibility. Today, you have x subscribers and x downloads. Tomorrow you may very well have 1000x subscribers and 1000x downloads. How important is the fact that you inconvenienced x subscribers? I would suggest not too awfully important when looking beyond the immediate short-term. Today you have been podcasting for two months (i don't know actually - an example), tomorrow you will have been podcasting for two years. Get the URL you want for have for the next two years.

Just - if you do change it, make sure to really try to do a good job of communicating the change to as many people as you can.

[sheridan]

If you want to change your domain, Change it. And change it now. If you need to change your feed. Change it. And Change it now.

Better today than tomorrow.

How do you change your feed? I mean, I know how to change it on my end but how do I communicate that with podcast alley?

I was actually about to ask this question :-)

[jeffoest]

There is no automated way to do that today. Send Chris (Ferf) and email and he will do it for you on his side.

[Craig]

I am really liking Marilyncast as opposed to My Marilyn. I don't know it seems to sound more professional. Any thoughts?
Personally I like "My Marilyn" better...it has a much more professional ring to it and it's more inviting. "Marilyncast" sounds too "me too" and static at the same time. "Cast" also has other show biz meanings that might be confusing. Have you explored other possibilities?

Craig

[tdkyo]

Just for outside info, the current popular Podcast "This Week in Tech" had its name changed from "The Return of the *bleep*" due to a cease and decease letter from G4.

[Marilynfan]

Thanks for all the responses. I started a poll in the podcaster discussion section with several name options. If you could take a minute and submit your vote I would really appreciate it.