Do You Listen To Any Blogging Podcasts?

34 | Posted In Personal by David

podlogo I have been dabbling with an idea. Not sure yet if I’m going to proceed with it, but the idea is this…

Do a podcast about blogging for a living.

Here are the reasons why I might not proceed with doing this:

  1. Takes time. I’m a busy guy and I’ve got a lot of things going on. I sometimes have a problem with going in multiple directions at once (its something I’m working on) and the last thing I need is yet another thing to do.
  2. Might Be Saturated. Surely there are a lot of podcasts out there already, and most of them don’t get listened to all that much. So it is a natural question to ask on whether me coming into that scene makes much sense.
  3. Concern on whether podcasts matter that much. No doubt, there is a podcast-listening audience out there, however I know full well that most people don’t listen to them. For many, listening to audio is a time suck and we can usually consume information much faster by reading it.

That being said, here is why I might consider doing it anyway:

  1. My unique viewpoint. Perhaps I haven’t looked hard enough (likely) or found the right podcast, but it seems as if there aren’t any decent podcasts out there which hit this topic of blogging right. In my estimation, anyway.
  2. Additional distribution. Obviously, a podcast is another form of media that gets me into other channels (i.e. Itunes) and that can work out very well.
  3. Leverage. I would never consider doing a podcast and having it only operate as a podcast. Anything I record would be utilized in other ways so as to get the maximum leverage for my time. I’d take the audio and put it into Youtube as a video, for instance. I’d take parts of it and have it transcribed for blog posts. Especially if I have a team in place to execute that stuff for me, I can literally just sit down, record a podcast, and get a LOT of play out of it. And that is attractive for me.

So, now that I’ve dumped my “pros and cons” on you, let me ask you this.

Do you listen to any podcasts? And if so, which ones?

Personally, I don’t listen to many although it has increased. I’m now going to the gym, for instance, and I always listen to podcasts while I’m there. I also have a hookup in my car for the Iphone, so I can listen to podcasts there (a much better use of time than stupid music stations). Problem is, I work from home so I’m not in the car all that much. Lately, I’m listening to a few podcasts at my desk while I work. I go back and forth on that one.

I haven’t spent much time looking for decent shows, but I do catch some of Leo Laporte’s tech shows and I also like Internet Business Mastery.

So, what about you?

And while you’re letting me know your podcasting habits, chime in and let me know what you think of me doing a podcast. Are you interested in that? No promises right now. :)

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  • http://evengrounds.com/blog Tom

    You can leverage your podcasts, but there's another way to think about it. You can leverage your blog posts in another way: make a podcast out of it. Some are more difficult because of extra information you have, but others can just be read, recorded, uploaded, good to go. And it doesn't take much of your time, you can hire somebody to read and record it, in an hour you can get several done once you gain practice.

  • http://evengrounds.com/blog Julius

    I listen to the podcasts recommended by Yaro and Remarkablogger. But to me this happens very rarely.

  • http://www.notaproblog.com Jordan Cooper

    As long as you call it the Boring Ass Dave Podcast, I'll listen. :-)

    Seriously though, podcasts are great to listen to throughout the day while you work. I bookmark tons of audio/video that come through my RSS reader and queue them up later… the only times it becomes a distraction is when you're deeply involved in writing something more than just a blog post.

    I would think it's a better way to consume content as you can do another task visually while you listen. Plus I think they're easier to produce from a creator's standpoint – just talking 20-30 mins and publishing. (the quick two-step “raw” way of doing it) Sound much easier than writing to me.

  • http://jimijones.com/ Jimi Jones

    David,
    do them when you can, man. I listen to podcast regularly while driving and would love to add you to the great collection I've built. After all, I only listen to the good stuff. :-)

    Many are missing out on this great opportunity to listen and learn in a distraction-free manner. I think the popularity of these will increase in time.

    I would not buy into the saturation angle. true, there are many out there but it's the content and the quality of the delivery that separates many from the others.

    As a suggestion, I'd keep them in the 30 to 35 minute range, which seems to be just about the right length of time for driving or listening before retiring for the night.

  • Bob Cohen

    “Time suck”

    You described podcasts perfectly for me.

    Any audio or video content I walk away from.

    I don't even bother.

  • http://www.DonnyGamble.com Donny Gamble

    I don't currently listen to any right now, but I am definitely going to start listening to a couple

  • http://getwritecommunications.com Dean

    I've recently begun listening to podcasts (over the last 3 or so months). I mostly listen when I'm either jogging or in the gym working out. I listen to Automate my small business, Start up Daddy, and The Struggling Entrepreneur to name a few. I would ABSOLUTELY recommend you go the podcast route, for the reasons you mentioned and by sheer virtue of the fact that I know you would instantly become THE go to guy in your market. Like Jimi said, the content makes all the difference. Just my $.02…

  • http://zemalf.com/ Antti Kokkonen

    Not sure which counts as blogging podcast, but I listen to these (to name a few, I listen to many):

    WordPress Community Podcast (ex-Press This by Joost de Valk), Mixergy (Andrew Warner), SEO 101, 37signals podcast, Mac Power Users, Internet business mastery, Internet Marketing This Week, Nathan Hangen's cast and a whole bunch of ones that don't update that often or anymore.

    For WordPress bloggers (interested in WordPress, tech, plugins, etc.), the WordPress Community Podcast is the one I'd pick if I'd only need one (http://wp-community.org/). Internet business mastery or Internet Marketing This Week, if I'd need to pick one for marketing/business.

  • http://zemalf.com/ Antti Kokkonen

    Not sure which counts as blogging podcast, but I listen to these (to name a few, I listen to many):

    WordPress Community Podcast (ex-Press This by Joost de Valk), Mixergy (Andrew Warner), SEO 101, 37signals podcast, Mac Power Users, Internet business mastery, Internet Marketing This Week, Nathan Hangen's cast and a whole bunch of ones that don't update that often or anymore.

    For WordPress bloggers (interested in WordPress, tech, plugins, etc.), the WordPress Community Podcast is the one I'd pick if I'd only need one (http://wp-community.org/). Internet business mastery or Internet Marketing This Week, if I'd need to pick one for marketing/business.

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    I'm not the greatest podcaster, and I only do it once a week for 10-15 minutes, but I get around 1k listens/downloads per month.

    I get a lot of feedback, people love hearing “me,” and it's a great way for people to see a different side of you.

  • http://zemalf.com/ Antti Kokkonen

    Boring Ass Dave Podcast <<< yup, that's a winner. @davidrisley, take a note :)

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    Sweet, glad I made the cut!

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    Why? What about when driving or working out?

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    Really really hard to do 35 minutes unless you have a partner, but stay tuned…we've got an idea.

  • http://instantinfluencer.com Billy Sticker

    I definitely like the podcast idea. (Some of) Your concerns are valid, but here's my two cents worth (and that might really be all it's worth):

    The first penny: I only listen to 2-3 podcast (Internet Business Mastery and a few ministry related podcasts). Being *online* is the “Time suck,” not listening to a podcast. I listen to IBM all the time in the gym, driving, grilling, working in the yard… during the times I can't read but want to learn something while doing other tasks.

    And for cent # 2: Podcast saturation? You're missing the point. Yeah, you will probably pick up a follower or two from the itunes library, but the real purpose is the relationship with your current followers.
    You have two (that we know of) successful blogs. Both with a loyal following. A podcast every 2 weeks… or even monthly, is simply another way to deliver your content, build relationships, and eventually sell us stuff.

    If we like you (really it's your content we're after;-)), we want to be able to download your “message of the week” on our ipods and taking you jogging.

    DO THE PODCAST.

    - Thanks

  • http://zemalf.com/ Antti Kokkonen

    Not sure about the “cut” with so many on my list :) …but your podcast is good, so it would make a shorter list too… I like the fact it's 10-15 minutes, instead of an 45 minutes or an hour. Easy to always find time for it :)

  • http://www.mikeslife.org Mike CJ

    I used to think I was in a very small minority in not liking Podcasts – I find them distracting and too slow when I'm working, and I prefer music in the car or at the gym. But I'm beginning to wonder if there are more people out there who think the same way than I originally thought.

    But that doesn't matter – there is an audience that prefers audio (and video) and it makes perfect sense to cater to them, especially if you are going to repurpose the content.

    I like Mixergy's model – they provide the audio / video for people, but also a transcript for others.

  • http://www.marsdorian.com/ Mars Dorian

    I only listen to a couple.
    Nathan Hangen and Srini from blogcast FM are my favorites: they are authentic, real and have interesting things to say. Besides that, its just couple here and there.

    Time is precious, so I spend it only on my favorites.

  • http://hotblogtips.com/ Keith Bloemendaal

    I listen to Nathan's podcasts, but not too many others, I just don't have that much time anymore to consume like I used to, so I do it in blocks….

  • http://virginbloggernotes.com/ virginbloggernotes

    I don't often listen to podcasts. It has to be something that sounds incredibly juicy/helpful and is coming from someone who is already interesting to me. You're interesting to me, Dave :)

  • aaronmielke

    I don't listen to podcasts much…I've been really enjoying Nate Hangen's Blogger Beats and his podcasts. I really connect with his message and ideas. My commute is 20-25 minutes and these fit perfectly in that timeframe.

    Any other time of the day, I'll choose music over podcasting as it borders on consuming too much info.

    That said, since learning from and following you for some time, I would probably have to find a way to fit in the Boring Ass Dave Podcast ;-)

  • http://www.gurls-asylum.us Gurl

    David,
    Nathan hit it squarely here, as usual. One big advantage of doing the podcasts would be people being able to hear you that might not otherwise do so. You've got the personal branding to make it work for you, but the time constraints sound pretty formidable.

    I think that a once week, fairly short (10 to 15 mins max) would be awesome, and I am not one to listen to podcasts often. I hope to being listening to yours soon.

  • http://darrenlcarter.com/blog/ Darren L Carter

    Hey David,

    I think it could definitely have appeal as a sort of extra for the rest of your content. Not everyone would listen of course, but those that do listen would really be pretty supportive of whatever you do the podcast about. I think it would be a pretty good addition.

    Peace,
    Darren L Carter

  • darrenlcarter

    Hey David,

    I think it could definitely have appeal as a sort of extra for the rest of your content. Not everyone would listen of course, but those that do listen would really be pretty supportive of whatever you do the podcast about. I think it would be a pretty good addition.

    Peace,
    Darren L Carter

  • Sally_Neill

    Hey David, I will be honest I never even knew they existed! I would probably listen to them though as I am big fan off loading audio onto my ipod and soaking up the information that way, Sally :)

  • http://www.websitebegin.com Joe Boyle

    I don't find any value in listening to podcasts. There can be mis-understandings that lead to arguments that waste MORE of your time. If I wanted to listen to a ton of people's views, I'd go over to their blog and read it for myself.

  • http://fungeezer.com Steve

    I listen to blogcast FM. It's a good podcast to listen to for those starting out in the blogging world, like me! They have guests, life some guy named David Risley, that are doing well from the blogging world and talk about what they do or did to get there. Great information for us newbies!

  • Kelly Mccausey

    I've been podcasting longer than I've known to call it that – my show launched as 'internet radio' in 2003. It's been a huge part of my success as a marketer.

    I do listen to several really good podcasts, some faithfully, some fitfully. They are the soundtrack of long drives and time at the gym. I would definitely listen to yours :)

  • http://www.eogn.com Dick Eastman

    Most podcasts are boring. There must be an exception someplace, but I haven't found it yet. Then again, I admit I gave up looking.

    Podcasts are also slow. Most people can read much faster than you can talk. ;)

    Go ahead… experiment. But I bet you'll drop podcasts and return to writing.

  • http://www.brandonburgh.com BrandonBurgh

    Hey David,
    I don't listen to podcasts, but I also tinkered with the idea of making them available for people.
    After some research I decided to dump the whole idea.
    Head over to Google Trends and search “podcasts” and “download podcasts”….you'll they peaked in like 2005 if I remember and have been on the downhill slope since.

    My vote: pass and find something else you can get more leverage from. But like i said, I don't listen to them…and I've never made them. Just some research I did.

    Brandon Yeager

  • http://ForexTradingSystemCentral.com Steve

    The affiliate thing with Shawn Collins is ok over at geekcast.fm. But a lot of podcasts are just a couple of people BSs and not presenting any real information. I like the webinars at subscription sites a lot better.

  • http://twitter.com/DonnaFontenot Donna Fontenot

    I can never seem to make it beyond about 2 minutes in any podcast, no matter how interesting it is, before my mind starts wandering. I just can't keep focused on the words – they end up just fading out as my thoughts take over. I always feel bad later, thinking that the poor podcaster put so much time and effort into something that I got nothing out of. Not sure if others have the same issue of mind-wandering as I do, but it's something to consider.

  • http://www.memorybits.co.uk/ usb flash drive

    In any podcast I never think beyond about 2 minutes, no matter how interesting it is, before my mind starts wandering. I just can not concentrate on words – as they take on my ideas just end up fading out. I always feel bad afterwards, thinking that the poor podcaster out something that I did not get anything put so much time and effort. Not sure if others mind wandering as I do not have the same issue, but it is something to consider.

  • Givingbacksmiles

    I am a podcaster and in audio entertainment! Look up Giving Back Smiles Radio there are a number of different podcasts there but if you have a team and all you have to do is record… whats holding you back? I would say go for it! Good luck!