Getting More Subscribers

[cybercooler]

Working with new podcasters, I always get that "you're kidding me" look when I describe what it takes to subscribe to a podcast. Clicking on that RSS feed button only gets a page of code. So in the same way that I made www.podcastclicks.com (http://www.podcastclicks.com) to help podcasters promote their pdocast, I have set up a new website to help podcasters explain to their audience how to subscribe to their show.

Put this code on your blog and teach your listeners how to subscribe to a podcast
<a href="http://www.learntosubscribe.com" target="_blank"><img width=120 height=120 border=0
alt="Learn To Subscribe To This Podcast - Free Tutorial"
src="http://www.learntosubscribe.com/images/lts120x120.gif"></a>

it looks like this
http://www.learntosubscribe.com/images/lts120x120.gif

Or you can send them to www.learntosubscribe.com (http://www.learntosubscribe.com)

[WyethDigital]

Not to diminish your tutorial, because it's a great idea for some people, but there are other ways. Especially for those using iTunes. For one thing, if you're listed in iTunes, all you need is the iTunes URL, or if you aren't in iTunes, the one-click "itpc" feed formatting will handle adding a podcast to a users iTunes automatically.

Eric

[cybercooler]

This is true for people setting up their site. However, it doesn't answer the question "How do I subscibe to a podcast" . To that point this tutorial assumes that the person watching has iTunes installed (or Juice).

There are other people who don't like using the one click method as (or so I've heard) iTunes doesn't count that as a subscriber (so if you're trying to get to the top of the iTunes chart...)

Good point for all podcasters to set it up as easy as it can be...

[WyethDigital]

Yeah, the one-click method skips the iTunes store (and it's stats), so it's not for everybody. But for podcasts that can't get into iTunes' directory for whatever reason (adult content, too commercial, music issues), it allows an easy way for someone with iTunes to subscribe.

But you're right. That is something maybe better directed at the site owner. Actually, after having watched your tutorial, it's become clear to me that there really ought to be a "best practices" kind of guide for podcasters when it comes to locating icons on websites (actually, there probably already is). I don't care what icon a podcaster uses, or what side of the page it's on, but they're an idiot if they don't put it in the top 1/4 of their podcast or blog page.

Eric

[Allen Milller]

The one thing that I run into with many of the people that I have met in marketing is, "How do I subscribe to your videos? I don't have iTunes.", or what the hell is a pod-cast anyway?". For most of the "non-pods" out there something is needed to help users understand this process. I try to market to people that normally wouldn't be pod-cast gurus. I find that it is important to educate the public on how this technology works, and how to use it accordingly if we wish to expand our exposure. It can only help this industry. I will consider placing your link on my site (www.smidgits.com). I think its a great idea.

Allen