Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:45 — 21.0MB)

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What is going to happen to podcasting in 2020? Who knows, but i make some predictions and ramble about podcast topics at random in this informal Podcast Help Desk episode.

Catch me on Evo’s Podcast Pontifications as the Guest-host.

Use my promo code at Blubrry.com for a free month.

Catch you next year!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:11 — 30.5MB)

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This is typed into the Post Content box in WordPress ***

Please let me know what you see above this line in the “show notes”, “Episode notes” or “Description” on your app and what app you are listening on.  mike@mikedell.com.

This should be a live link 

Today I talk about Anchor, Spotify and if they are “bad” or good, and if it’s good to have one dominant platform that people listen on.   You should promote your own website for your podcast and give everyone links to the platforms you are on from there. Do not send people to a particular platform.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:05 — 18.5MB)

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Every part of my studio, other than the mic boom and cable is new.  The Rodecaster Pro has replaced a whole rack of stuff.  I gush about how much Love this thing.  It may not be perfect but man-o-man does it make things a bunch easier for most average podcasters.

I also talk about the other podcasts I’m doing including the new (ish) one I’m doing for Blubrry Podcasting called “Podcast Insider” (www.podcastinsider.com) with Todd Cochrane and sometimes Barry Kantz or MacKenzie Bennett.  It’s the Official Blubrry Podcast.

I talked about Podcast Movement 2019 in the Sauna that is Orlando in August (Lucky there was no Hurricanes coming).

Also much more!

** Note: the intro was inspired by Brett Butt (http://thebuttpod.com/).  Check out his occasional podcast 🙂   Also “Corner Gas” now available in the US on Amazon Prime Video.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:18 — 8.6MB)

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A quick update of what is going on with Podcast Help Desk and Blubrry.

• Will be at Podcast Movement with “Podcast Help Desk” office hours.  Stop by the booth if you need some help with your show’s tech.
• Win a Rodecaster Pro by entering Blubrry’s record a promo contest at the Blubrry booth.
• Podcast Help Desk News RIP.    I killed it.  It was fun while it lasted on Alexa.

Check out Blubrry’s new official podcast at PodcastInsider.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:51 — 19.2MB)

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Today I go through what I’m using currently for podcast production.   Here is the list:

Mackie 1202VLZ4 Mixer
Behringer Composter PRO XL 2 channel Compressor, Limiter, Gate
Denon DN-300R Rack Mount Digital Recorder
Heil PL-2T Boom
Heil Shock Mount (normally for a PR40 Mic)
Electrovoice RE-20 Mic  and/or Audio-techincia BPHS1 Headset Mic
Zoom H5 Handi Recorder
Behringer XM8500 Hand-held Mics for extras or portable

Software:
Auphonic Leveler (desktop version)
Adobe Audition

Do you need all this stuff?    NO!   This is just what I use currently.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:19 — 6.8MB)

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The single best way to make sure your Title is what you want it to be EVERYWHERE is to use it as the blog title (assuming you are using WordPress to publish your podcast) or the TITLE box in whatever podcast service you are using.   The Best way to make sure your “shownotes” are the same everywhere is to use it in the main post content box.

There are, in Theory, ways to specify for different places different titles, post content and whatnot, but Apps do not have to follow those extra tags.  RSS is a standard and apps and directories can choose what they want to use and what they don’t.

Apple, for instance, does not USE the Apple Title tag in “iTunes” desktop or the web preview of Apple Podcast listings.  Only in the IOS App.  (weird I know).  They also do not use the “iTunes Image” tag ANYWHERE in their system other than maybe search preview.  No way to force it.

Sorry for the mini-rant.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:31 — 2.4MB)

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This is Wednesday’s episode of my Alexa News Breif Podcast Help Desk news.

In addition to killing off “iTunes” on the Mac Desktop, Apple is also changing up the categories.  (Later this summer)

Also adding some search and photo settings.

Your podcast companies did not know about this ahead of time and will (the good ones anyway) be up to speed by the time this gets implmented at Apple.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:49 — 7.3MB)

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One of the questions I get a lot is how to change your podcast’s title.

In this short episode, I explain how to do it and why you might want to.  Also some of the things that won’t change because you change your title.

As some of you might remember, this podcast used to be called “Podcasting Tech Coach” Back in Episode 13, I changed it to Podcast Help Desk

Here is a link to that episode PHD013 – Rebranding

This podcast is Sponsored by Blubrry.com – Hosting – Stats – Web and More! 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:39 — 19.9MB)

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For those that do not know me, I’ve been podcasting since 2005 and made every single mistake in the book. I’ve also worked in support for a podcast company for 10 years (as of next month).  I think I might know what I’m talking about, at least about these topics.

1. Know that Podcasting is  PULL technology. All apps, subscribers, and directories PULL your RSS feed from wherever it lives. That means when you publish your podcast, there will be a delay between publishing and when that episode makes it to the directories. Your subscribers (in *most* apps) will get it as soon as their local app PULLS your feed.
2. Know what your RSS feed address is and know how to check it.  CastFeedValidator.com and Podba.se/validate are the only 2 validators that are podcast specific. Any other validator is not meant for podcasting and will tell you something is wrong when it’s not.
3. Know that RSS is important and if you generate it via your website, you can not move to another website without redirecting the feed to the new feed. I’ve spent a lot of time explaining to podcasters why they lost all their listeners because they decided to move their feed without letting anyone know.  A 301 redirect is needed no matter what anyone else tells you. If you want to move to a different website or a different podcast host, please contact your current host to let you know what steps are needed to not lose your listeners. Your only link to them in the RSS feed.
4. Know that Ratings and Reviews in Apple Podcasts (NO IT’S NOT CALLED iTunes ANYMORE) do NOTHING for your ranking in Apple Podcasts. They are great to have and are great social proof, but your ranking or findability have nothing to do with them.
5. Trying to game the system by stuffing keywords everywhere in Titles, Author tags and other places will get you delisted from Apple.  Believe it or not.
6. What hosting company you put your MP3’s on will do nothing to improve your success. As long as the host can deliver the files fast and reliably, you are good to go.

There are a lot of other things I could write here, but these are the top 6 I wish people would learn.  IF you are going to podcast, you REALLY need to spend a little time learning the basics.

Here is a little form you should print out and fill out for your podcast for your information: PodcastInfo.pdf