What to call my podcast?

[mich181189]

Hi, I currently produce ham tips podcast. It is a ham radio related video podcast. -
http://www.cullen-online.com/podcasts/shows/hamtips/
Since it has been listed on iTunes, however, the last episode, episode 9, has received 33 unique visitors downloading 136 times instead of the usual 19 unique visitors downloading 24 times. As a result, I think I need to start advertising to pay for bandwidth (I don't know how long my current free arrangement will last) and as a result, I have started thinking about the name.

I think it may be worth changing it's name to something more catchy, like wavestick, hamtek, antham, beamstack or something else. Any ideas? Please vote or give any other ideas.

[EndGamePR]

Hi, I currently produce ham tips podcast. It is a ham radio related video podcast. -
http://www.cullen-online.com/podcasts/shows/hamtips/
Since it has been listed on iTunes, however, the last episode, episode 9, has received 33 unique visitors downloading 136 times instead of the usual 19 unique visitors downloading 24 times. As a result, I think I need to start advertising to pay for bandwidth (I don't know how long my current free arrangement will last) and as a result, I have started thinking about the name.

I think it may be worth changing it's name to something more catchy, like wavestick, hamtek, antham, beamstack or something else. Any ideas? Please vote or give any other ideas.
Personally, I would wait to see if this leap in downloads is an anomaly or a real trend. Give it another episode or two and see if it continues. That 33 visitors downloading 136 times is awfully skewed. You're going to always see more downloads than visitors because the "visitors" stat isn't usually correct. But, since it's so lopsided, it could be an indication of a bot hitting your show. It happened to me once, and really threw off my download stats.

Have you looked to see where the new downloads are coming from? If they're coming from the web, they could be a bot. If they're coming through iTunes, then congrats -- you're definitely building an audience!

To get to your original post, though...

1) Good luck finding enough advertising to pay for your hosting. It's hard work getting your own sponsor. Don't bother with the bulk ad buys that pay CPM. You might make enough per show to pay for a cup of coffee, and that's it.

2) Ham Tips is a pretty good name. It's easy to remember and it's easy to figure out what the show is about. I'd keep it.

ETA: I just noticed you're using Podtrac, and thus you can't look to see where the downloads are coming from. You should check into Blubrry's stats service. You can see a lot more information using them.

[WyethDigital]

What size of files are you serving where you can't handle a jump from 24 downloads to 136? That just doesn't sound like you've got a lot of headroom.

Also, as Steve pointed out, whatever way you're arriving at your stats seems to be a little weird. Instead of relying on the "unique visitors" at this point, you're better off calculating your average show file size and comparing it to the bandwidth you burned.

As for changing the name of your show... Don't ask us, ask your audience. Turn it into a contest of sorts. It might help attract attention, and get people invested in your show.

Eric

[Rasheed]

As for changing the name of your show... Don't ask us, ask your audience. Turn it into a contest of sorts. It might help attract attention, and get people invested in your show.

Perhaps he is soliciting for more listeners through this thread. Hadn't that occurred to you, Eric?

@mich181189: I'm not interested in HAM radio, so I'm not going to listen, nor applying any voting powers on the name.

However, I think if such a low number of listeners already puts you in trouble, you obviously haven't selected the correct podcast hosting provider. I would put some research in a better arrangement, like, well, hosting your media files elsewhere, before you're looking for advertisers.

I wouldn't consider putting ads in your podcast before you have at least 1000 listeners, and only after a lengthy discussion with your listeners. They make your show possible, so they should back you up in your decision, otherwise, they turn their back on you, and leave as swiftly as they came.

My 2 friendly cents.

[mich181189]

The problem is many fold. Firstly, I don't like the name, because it is too general. The other names would rank much higher on a google search of the name. The question was really one of which sounds most catchy and makes you want to look into it more.

The second problem is the viewers seem very reluctant to complete the podtrac survey.

The third problem is that this is a video podcast, and file sizes usually run at about 100mb for the mp4 version. The total transfer was 20GB for one month, nearly all that was from the 9th episode

The podcast is currently hosted on a server I maintain for a small hosting company.

If you can think of a bettwe way of hosting these files, I'd like to hear it.


Advertising isn't really necessary at this point, but I'm thinking ahead, and want to make any name change now rather than when it becomes really popular.

Edit: just saw EndGamePR (http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/member.php?u=174310)'s post. I have one advantage there that because I host the files, I can see the stats from the server. There were 104 hits on the mp4 file, 1548 hits on the rss feed, and 811 hits came from itunes, and very little of the traffic came from bots. (AWstats used for this)

[Yotto]

You can ignore the hits on anything but the mp4 file with prejudice. Some people check feeds every 5 minutes, others whenever they sit at their computer. The number of downloads of the SHOW is the only mildly important number.

You want a host that offers unlimited download bandwidth. If 20 gig is scaring you, what will happen when you hit 200 gig? Hosts like LIbsyn (I use them and love them. I don't use anybody else so am not comfortable recommending them) charge you for how much you UPLOAD a month, which is a beautiful business model if you ask me.

And for the name, I have nothing. I know what a HAM radio is, but other than that I'm lost. Maybe a play on words? HAM Tips is almost there, but unlike beef, I don't think that edible ham actually has tips.

[EndGamePR]

The problem is many fold. Firstly, I don't like the name, because it is too general. The other names would rank much higher on a google search of the name. The question was really one of which sounds most catchy and makes you want to look into it more.

If you're looking to build audience through Google, I would think you'd want something that includes "ham radio" and is instantly recognizable as a ham radio podcast. People aren't going to search for names like "wavestick" unless they already know the name of your podcast. You see nonsequitor names like that in the dot-come world, but they have a lot of marketing money behind them.

What about...

Ham Radio Sandwich?
Ham Radio Salad?
HamCast?
Hamhocks?

I dunno. I think Ham Tips, while not thrilling, is descriptive and makes sense.

[Metaphore]

You need to host your files at Blip.tv if your doing a video podcast. Libsyn isn't really an option if your dealing with really large video files. I put out two 250-300 meg episodes a month when I was with libsyn and it cost me 50 bucks a month and the upload restrictions where a hindrance.

Blip has free hosting, great stats, and tons of other options for video that Libsyn doesn't.

Libsyn is a great host for audio podcasts and very small video podcasts, but if your working larger I'd go with blip. And no I don't work for blip.tv they just rock.

As far as a name goes, Eric is right. Ask your audience not us, but your best bet is to have Ham Radio in the title, trust me the cuter your name is and less direct, the harder it is for people to find it.

[WyethDigital]

If you can think of a bettwe way of hosting these files, I'd like to hear it.
Yes, I can think of a better way. A little homework on your part. You've taken the first step by asking here. You were just asking the wrong question (name vs where you should host). Now that you've heard some responses, go check them out and find the best fit for you.

Ours is a video podcast, too, and we tried the same thing as you did when we started out; using an existing e-commerce server that was underpowered for the job. I can tell you right now that 20 GB of transfer in a month is nothing. Nothing. We once had 4 TB of transfer in a month (we were featured prominently on the iTunes front page). Like the Reverand, we've been where you are.

In fact, the good Reverand helped me out when we were was just getting started. His advice about Blip.TV is worth listening to. But if you like having access to all of your webstats, you should also look at Deamhost (http://www.dreamhost.com/). They're not free, but they are cheap, have a huge amount of storage, and limited (but still plentiful) bandwidth.

As far as a name goes, you'll be better off finding a name that says what your podcast is about. If you can find a snappy, zingy name that fits your content, then go for it. But if it's between finding an accurate name or a cutesy name, go with accurate. It will help people find you.

Eric

[mich181189]

Ok, Thanks for that. I've uploaded the latest episode to blip.tv and I am still thinking about the name. Thanks for your suggestions though.

[WyethDigital]

Of your list up there, I'd say "TotalHam" is your best alternate bet. But I might put the "Ham" in all caps, so people don't think it's about, you know, ham (http://www.honeybaked.com/). Something like "TotalHAM" or "Total HAM." (I think separating the two words will allow for better searches).

Eric

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[markwright]

Hi,
I think it's hard work getting your own sponsor. Don't bother with the bulk ad buys that pay CPM.

[podcastcoach]

Make it ot obvious. I thought it was a food show (about pork). Some of the best podcast names

Sex with Emily.
Music News Podcast
Weekly Web Tools
Power of Podcasting

You now what the topic is of these show by the name. Remember this will be the first thing that new viewers will see. Don't make them have to pull out their secret decoder ring to figure out what the title is about.