How To Create Podcast For Your Blog?

Posted by Ching Ya | Posted in Blogger Tips, How To, Podcast | Posted on 09-06-2009

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What Is ‘Podcast’?

This is not new, but you NEED to know about Podcasting. The word ‘podcast‘ originated from the combination of ‘ipod’ and ‘broadcast’. Why ‘ipod‘? A thorough explanation could be found in wikipedia in case you’re interested. Basically, it is a form of audio broadcasting on a website. Think of it as a personal radio station, ranges from 3 to 45 minutes, or longer. Reasons to have Podcast within your blog post, are simply to create a personal touch for your content, while given an interesting alternative to connect with your readers.

Here are some readings to help you understand more about podcasting:

12 Ways to Promote Your Podcast
How Long Should A Podcast Be?
What is a Podcast and How Can I Use One?

Now let’s get practical.

How To Podcast?

Today, we are going to try 2 types of podcasting:

1. Text to Speech (TTS) Podcast from RSS feed
- literally from your article. Downloadable / Subscribable for iPod, iPhone etc.

2. Audio Speech from the author to the audiences
- embed within your blog post after edit & personalizing the content.

Text-To-Speech (TTS) Podcast:

We are going to use a very basic, FREE service named Odiogo. Reason?

- Allows podcasting with easy control panels (On/Off at will)
- Provides MP3 download for your podcasts.
- Blog Widgets available: convenient subscription for listeners
- Statistics on podcasts downloads (on a periodical basis)
- Hosting provided for audio files

How to Activate Odiogo Service?

1. Sign up at Odiogo for FREE by providing your blog URL/Feed and email address.

* Odiogo will send you a confirmation email with user ID, although it may take awhile to reach your inbox. I had waited for almost 20 minutes for it. If you have troubles getting your blog URL confirmed, do contact Odiogo using the form provided. *

2. Upon submitting your blog, you will be given the code for Podcast Subscription widget for your blog. Here are the step-by-step setup for different platforms: WordPress, Blogger, TypePad, BlogEngine.NET and Terapad

* Subscription will only be activated after you click on the link as instructed in the confirmation email*

3. Now you’ll find beneath each blog post a podcast marked with ‘Listen Now’.

Audio Recorder/Editor:

This is slightly complicated, but it gives the author flexibility to record and edit the speech content at will. A PC microphone is needed. Be
fore we proceed to the How-To’s, let’s check out the example of self-customized podcasting by yours truly. Forgive my silly tones and me being nervous and spontaneous:

My First Podcasting

So that’s the difference between Odiogo and Audacity. Interested to try your very first?

1. Download the Audacity setup file here. I’m using Audacity 1.3.7 (Beta)

2. Run the setup file and adjust the settings before commencing your first recording.

* Here’s a thorough post about the settings for microphones, volumes and file formats at Create Podcasts Using Your PC by Jake Ludington.*

3. Now, it’s time for the recording. You may need to know some basic control buttons:

a. To Record Audio (only) Clip:
Make sure your microphone is intact; then hit the ‘Record’ button. ‘Stop’ when you’re done > Save Project As raw data so you could modify/edit/combine with other audio files later on.

b. To Save your Recordings in:
- WAV format:
File > Export > Edit Metadata > OK > File Name & Format (.Wav) > Save

- MP3 format:
File > Export > Edit Metadata > OK > File Name & Format (.MP3) > optional: Specify MP3 options > Make sure you’ve downloaded LAME to enable MP3s be created in Audacity.

c. To Include Background Music in your Audio Clip:
- Firstly, import the music file via: File> Import > Audio (or other related files)
- Then proceed as in (a) or (b).

d. Upload your Audio File to Self- or Third Party Hosting Sites:
Audacity does not provide hosting service. Here are some third party audio hosting sites you could choose from: Snapdrive , Archieve, Fileden etc.

* for self-hosting via WP platform, kindly refer to the Podcasting – Wordpress Codex for details on the setup

If you have any difficulties with Audacity, do refer to HELP for further instructions. Also, you could download the complete manual for Audacity and explore the advanced features that were not mentioned here.

To Summarize…
Both Odiogo and Audacity could be summarized as below:

Odiogo provides podcasts hosting, while enables listeners to download and subscribe to web master’s podcasts. Widget could be embedded in blog with player installed. Article reading may sound a bit monotonous and robotic.

Audacity requires self / third party podcasts hosting. Slightly complicated but flexible in adding multiple audio effects; personalized contents and comes in various file formats.

Now It’s Up To You…

Have you tried podcasting before? What type of software/tools do you use? How’s the feedback from your readers? If you haven’t, will you consider trying it? Do share with us in your comments below.

Please Retweet! I’ll be forever grateful.

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u won’t miss the next post. Thanks for reading. ^^

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Comments (20)

Maria@Conversations with Moms said on 09-06-2009
	Very detailed and easy to follow directions. Thanks. Reply

Ching Ya said on 09-06-2009
	Welcome, Maria. I'm glad you find the post useful. Looking forward to seeing you again sometimes. ^^ Reply

miscbytes said on 09-06-2009
	What an excellent guide to podcasting! I'd been curious about it but had never seen any how-tos before. Listening to blogs on podcast will surely be more and more in demand since everyone is always on the go. Reply

Ching Ya said on 09-06-2009
	Hi Miscbytes, Podcasting and blogging are indeed going hand in hand. I was never too focus about anything other than writing, until I really feel there's an urge to know more alternatives to communicate with our readers. Thank you Miscbytes for your visit. Hope you're fine and well. Reply

Podcast Coach said on 10-06-2009
	The Speech to text services work, but I can't listen to podcast read to me by a robot. Reply

Ching Ya said on 10-06-2009
	Podcast Coach, There are definitely rooms to improve for Speech-Text service. I wonder if one day people will be hired to read instead of robots: a job provider? Or A.I. instead? =P Personalized podcasting is much favourable, since we're talking about connecting to readers. It requires more practice and some skills though. Thanks for your comment. Appreciate it. Reply

Mukund said on 10-06-2009

Hey ching…
I have a doubt.. again
Is it podcasting only for audio files or it can be used for videos as well and Is it only done for personal messages or if I by any chance add a video of something or audio of some clip can I podcast that as well?

btw… great little audio clip this makes the blog a more personal thing and the users can actually hear you. This might be the next big thing…

Tina said on 10-06-2009
	i had no idea what podcasting was till i read! good info Reply

Ching Ya said on 11-06-2009

Hi Tina,
Thank you for your kind words. ^^ Hopefully will get to listen to your podcasting one day on your site too.

Hi Mukund,
Thank you for bringing up a good question here.

Podcasting is all about audio broadcasting. To have your personal message delivered via video broadcasting, that's called vodcast. It could be done by:

1. Recording via webcam.
2. Upload to video hosting sites like Youtube etc.

Or optional:
Upload via Blogger 'insert video' option (but bigger file size may affect your page loading)

3. Copy & Paste the HTML codes generated on hosting site to your blog post.

So, by any chance you'd like to share a music/video clip from YouTube, it could be done the same way as Step 3.

If you'd like to mix personal message with some clips in the middle, either you can edit it in videomaker, or using some other softwares as well.—- think you've just triggered me a new posting idea, Mukund. ^^

Hope this helps for the time being.

wongsk said on 11-06-2009
	I used to listen podcast using Juice (http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/index.php). you also can find some podcast software in here. http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=108 Hope can help who interest in podcast. Reply

Ching Ya said on 11-06-2009
	Thanks a bunch wongsk. Looks like some useful resources to check out. Will head over for a look. ^^ Reply

kenwooi.com said on 12-06-2009
	i saw some podcast blog before.. kinda cool.. but i dont think i'll try that.. lol.. my voice sucks.. =P Reply

Ching Ya said on 12-06-2009
	Kenwooi, That's very humble of you. I'm sure it's not bad at all, think of it as a type of personal branding. ^^ Besides, I'm not confident with my voice either–sounded silly, but I thought what the heck, nobody's perfect. =P Think Chris Garrette would agree on this subject as well ~ http://bit.ly/mVffN (The Art of Getting Things Wrong). Thanks alot for your comment. See you again. Reply

Jannie Funster said on 15-06-2009
	That sounds very interesting. I always thought podcasts had to be live-streaming ones. A lot of information here, thorough as usual. Reply

Salute said on 15-06-2009
	Great info, but I haven't tried podcasting before. Reply

Charles - Big Idea Blogger said on 15-06-2009

Thanks for the detailed step-by-step guide again! It's a great first podcast you did. You have a beautiful voice that is great for podcasting. I'd definitely come to your blog for reference if I want to do a podcast.

Having said that, the next big trend is actually VIDEO. It has a higher perceived value. All the big time marketers and bloggers are starting to do it, following the lead by Gary Vaynerchuck.

It'll be great if you could do a tutorial on Video.

Ching Ya said on 15-06-2009

Jannie,
Glad to have you. Indeed, I didn't know much about podcast before this either. Still got lots to learn though.

Salute,
How've you been? Thanks for your visit and comment. I'm sure there'll be chance to use it one day.

Charles,
Thanks so much for your suggestion and kind words. I'm still very far of making it right though.

It's true, vodcast is more common nowadays, may thought of doing a vodcast tutorial if I could. Will be in my To-Do list for sure. =)

Mitch said on 02-09-2009

Hi Ching Ya,

I have a new one that I just debuted on one of my blogs, that I’m probably moving all of my blogs to. It’s called Readspeaker.com, and it works a lot like Odiogo, with one major difference. With Odiogo, it only goes back so many months before you can’t listen to it anymore. With Read Speaker, it goes back and will create sound files for any post you have, even years before you added it. I tested it on my newest blog, which only goes back to the beginning of last December, and it created the file and played it just fine.

So, just another sample to try.
Mitch´s last blog ..My Top 10 Favorite TV Shows

Ching Ya said on 03-09-2009
	Mitch, Wow, that’s a brilliant find! I would love to try that surely! Thanks so much for the tip. I always wanted to do a part.2, or maybe another podcast about other subjects.. this could be another option I could go for. Great to know about the sound files too! Thanks a lot Mitch, you’ve been a great help. Reply