Getting Started on TPN
The Official Guide To Getting Started
Okay, so here’s what you need to host a show on The Podcast Network.
RECORDING A SHOW
Some guides to recording a podcast can be found here:
- Getting started with Windows:
http://www.jakeludington.com/podcasting/20050222_recording_a_podcast.html
- Getting started with a Mac:
http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2005/01/25/podcast.html
If you need more help, just let us know. We’d be happy to step through the process with you.
RECORDING A SKYPE CALL
Most shows on TPN involve either two hosts or interviews. To do this, you need to be able to record both sides of a Skype conversation (Skype is a piece of software that allows you to make telephone calls over your PC).
You will require
1. a USB headset & mic (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000092QUM/ref=br_ce_ts_1//202-7361384-5323866)
2. a broadband internet connection
3. a copy of Skype (www.skype.com) running on your PC
4. FTP software (www.smartftp.com)
There are currently several tools available for Microsoft Windows which will record both side of a Skype conversation.
1. Skylook (www.skylook.biz). Requires Microsoft Outlook. Works well.
2. PowerGramo. (www.powergramo.com). Be careful with this. I’ve had a few instances of it not recording the call.
3. HotRecorder (www.hotrecorder.com). Lots of people use this tool, but personally I’ve never been able to get it to even run on my machines.
POST-PRODUCTION
After you record the show, you will need to post-produce it to insert TPN promos, sponsorship messages, and to balance the audio levels.
There are several tools available to edit audio files. Some of the most popular for Windows are:
• Adobe Audition ($$) - www.adobe.com/products/audition/main.html
• Audacity (free) – http:// audacity.sourceforge.net/
Mac users tend to use Audio Hijack Pro.
You will find the audio files you need inside the TPN Intranet under the DOCUMENTS > TPN FILES > AUDIO folder. The direct URL is http://reilly.webexone.com/r.asp?a=12&id=8110.
There are a range of TPN intro files (which usually say something like “The Podcast Network. Listen. Learn. Evolve.) which goes at the front of your show.
You will also find Ads and Sponsor messages under the folders:
DOCUMENTS > TPN FILES > AUDIO > EXTERNAL ADVERTS
You will also fine promos for other TPN shows. We usually place these inside the shows to cross-promote our audiences. The more people who listen to TPN shows, the better our stats are, and the more sponsorship opportunities we can bring in.
Once you’ve finished post-producing the show, please save them as 48kbps and 22khz mp3s, and with the following naming convention:
tpn_showname_yyyymmdd_shownumber.mp3
For example:
tpn_movie_20050314_001.mp3
Then open up the file in Windows Media Player, right-click on it under “Now Playing List” and select “Advanced Tag Editor”.
Now adjust the following details:
Title: The Movie Show #001 2005-02-14
Genre: Podcast
Track Number: 1
Album: TPN – The Movie Show
Artist: The Podcast Network
Album Artist: Cameron Reilly & Ewan Spence
Web sites: http://www.thepodcastnetwork.com/movie (in all three spots)
Picture: Select attached image as “Cover (front)” – this will be the album art provided to you when your blog site is set up.
.
UPLOADING YOUR FILE
Once you’ve recorded and post-produced the show, you need to upload them to our servers.
First: download an application called Smart FTP (http://www.smartftp.com/)
Next: Login with your FTP details. We will have sent them to you in an accompanying email.
Once you are logged in, drop your file into the upload/showname directory. After it has finished uploading, make sure the file size in the FTP server looks about the same as the filesize on your hard drive. Sometimes uploads don’t finish properly and you’ll only have half a show. So it’s worth checking.
Once the file is up in the server, write up your show notes on the blog.
UPDATING THE BLOG
Each TPN show has a blog attached to it. This is where you can post the shownotes and where you should also post half-a-dozen article each week on your subject domain. This will help listeners find the show if they are looking for something related in Google. Have a look at some of the other TPN blogs to get an idea of what the other hosts are doing.
The first lines of the blog post should be in this format:
The Advaita Show #010 (MP3 - 9.5MB - 27min)
When you’ve written the post, save it as a draft.
FINAL STEP
Once you’ve uploaded the file and written the blog post, shoot Cam an email and we’ll process it ASAP.
MARKETING YOUR SHOW
Building an audience for your podcast can be done in several ways.
Most subjects will have websites, blogs or offline magazines that cover the subject. One proven method of building awareness of podcasts has been to invite the editor of the related site/magazine onto your show as a guest. They will most likely be flattered to appear and then they will also plug the show in their next edition.
Also make sure you subscribe to other blogs and podcasts that cover your area of interest an interact with them often, leaving genuine comments which link back to your show. Please don’t SPAM them though. That’s just skanky.
Getting mainstream press is another way to build awareness. Podcasting is very trendy and hot at the moment, so it isn’t difficult to get picked up by your local TV, radio or papers. We’re happy to issue press releases whenever you have a story which you consider press worthy. Let us know if we can help. You should try to develop a list of publications and journalists who cover your area of interest and develop a relationship with them.
Obviously we are also trying to build the TPN brand which will also bring traffic to everyone’s shows over time.
WHO IS BEHIND TPN?
The CEO of TPN is:
Cameron Reilly
cameron@thepodcastnetwork.com
www.cameronreilly.com
Tel: +61 400 455 334
Skype: cameronreilly
IM: cameronreilly@hotmail.com
If I can answer any questions or help out in any way, just drop us a line!
