Formats: To blog, or not to blog

[ronaldl79]

At a recent BrainJam session here in Colorado, I talked about my new show of interviews to a crowd bloggers, entrepreneurs, and a VC investor. One person suggested that I transform my site into a blog-like structure. And, it seems that most podcasts are doing this.

Since I am a blogger as well, I have considered this for the show -- but, I have reservations. While blogging is great for podcasts, who will click back to last year's archives to listen to an episode? Or last month's?

With my current format, everything is "right there." I am still undecided on what I'll do going forward, but I am evaluating what would be best for the show overall.

What are your thoughts?

[roadrageradio]

At a recent BrainJam session here in Colorado, I talked about my new show of interviews to a crowd bloggers, entrepreneurs, and a VC investor. One person suggested that I transform my site into a blog-like structure. And, it seems that most podcasts are doing this.

Since I am a blogger as well, I have considered this for the show -- but, I have reservations. While blogging is great for podcasts, who will click back to last year's archives to listen to an episode? Or last month's?

With my current format, everything is "right there." I am still undecided on what I'll do going forward, but I am evaluating what would be best for the show overall.

What are your thoughts?

I track downloads on all my old shows. Most of them (6 months old or more) average at least 20 downloads a month. Two of my older "best of" shows are in my top 10 most downloaded shows.

I'm sure it depends on the type of material, but if a show is finding new listeners every week, at least some of them will want to go back to catch up.

[TheBiblePodClass]

With my current format, everything is "right there." I am still undecided on what I'll do going forward, but I am evaluating what would be best for the show overall.



My 2 cents.

You should do what is best for your show. Many podcasts are audio blogs so a blogger site is perfect for them. Also if your content is time/current events-sensitive then a blogging format is excellent too.

A lot of people are beginning to realize that podcasting is as much of a medium as it is a format. So each podcast can be radically different ranging from the ranting/blogging casts to professionally polished and or scripted casts. Which means our sites can be radically different too. The doors are wide open.


Blogging software is great for the podcaster, because it is easy for us to update our site. But one nice thing about it is that it does give your listeners a semi-familiar interface.

Most importantly, always stay true to the concept of your show, but always try to serve your listeners' needs.

[Honda Guru]

My underlying reason to start podcasting was to drive more traffic over to my discussion forum website. I therefore put my podcast support right in the forums. I have tried to include most of the features that a blog would provide.

My Honda Tech News Podcast is "sitting" right in the middle of my forums.

For an example of discussion forum based podcast support, take a look at this link:

httP://autotech-elearning.com/hondatechnews/

Later...

[WyethDigital]

My Honda Tech News Podcast is "sitting" right in the middle of my forums.

For an example of discussion forum based podcast support, take a look at this link:

httP://autotech-elearning.com/hondatechnews/

I like your concept, but it's very busy. Now, I'm a voracious reader, and I know your cast is nested in a forum, but the whole set up looks a little "wordy." Not meant as a negative. If I was into your subject matter, I would still visit. Maybe it's my graphics background, but I really think you need a touch of blank space in there, to allow the reader a break. It's possible that the forum environment limits your design.

I also think the same thing of some of the blogs I visit. Most (but not all) blogs are pretty **** ugly, and a mess to navigate. But, as mentioned elsewhere, you should build your podcast's site to suit your listeners (or the one's you want to attract). I set up our site (http://www.howtogirl.com) as more of a "magazine" layout, because my partner and I feel that our target audience is more apt to read those than they are your basic blog. Of course, we're so new at this that once we start getting meaningful feedback, our perceptions may change.

Eric