by Lee Gibbons, Podango CEO

Wow, what a day! We have been having some major issues that stem from the efforts we have engaged in lately to become much more scalable. I titled this post what I did because we have all three! And, I am sincere when I say that I am grateful for all three, especially the last. The problems we are seeing and solving are ultimately pains we will not have to repeat. The learning is very valuable. With each day like today, and I pray for the opportunity to live to see many more, our team and our solutions truly do become more robust and worthy of people’s trust.

But with that said, I would like to thank all those who continue to believe in what we are creating at Podango. The DB failure, and subsequent rollback and recovery issues have meant that some podcasters had to enter data and upload content twice. Still others were seeing stats that made them pick up the phone and ask if they REALLY got huge numbers today, or if something went wrong on our side. Others, too, just called to let us know that they were seeing speed issues.

We are now mostly out of the woods… still getting load balanced servers back up. Thanks for all your support. We are growing and learning. We remain committed to building the very most reliable and feature rich podcasting infrastructure to be had. Thanks to you, again, for your help and patience.

Lee Gibbons is featured in this interview shot at NAB (Teh National Association of Broadcasters). Dave Gardy interviews Lee on the show floor, and Lee talks about the Podango vision, new product offerings, and POdango’s unique Network/Station model.

by Lee Gibbons, CEO

Or, in nearly the words of Miracle Max (The Princess Bride), “Only MOSTLY complete!”

We still have a ways to go, but the site really is taking shape. The biggest thing lacking, sadly enough, is our new home page. The current placeholder only shows the most recent n posts in media type categories. The vision is much nicer than the manifestation, at this point. I sincerely hope that the new emphasis on getting content right up front where users can get at it will be well received. It will be a couple more weeks until the site is more user action driven to promote content to the front page of Podango.

But, even so, the new site is more than just a face lift. There are significant improvements that I hope you will pound on and give us feedback on. I will list the most significant here, as I feel they not only represent progress, but also a significant step we have been looking forward to in our strategy.

1. First and foremost, we want you to know that we have not abandoned the Station Model, nor do we plan to. We HAVE changed the name of the stations to networks to better match what we see most podcasters creating when they join forces with other podcasters. Then, in addition, to help new, less savvy end-users, we have begun calling podcasts channels. So Podango is now a collection of podcast networks that deliver a blend of audio, video and blog posts via channels. We have also opened up Network enrollment such that anyone can now create a network. They will still participate at the 50/50 revenue split until they reach ten thousand aggregate downloads per month across their network, then the split moves to 60/40 (Podango takes 40%). Then, once a network reaches over fifty thousand aggregate downloads per month, the network qualifies to be considered by Podango for inclusion in our Podango Premier group of media properties. Networks and podcasts in this elite group receive additional considerations and services from Podango. Details on this are still being worked out, but we think this provides naturally attractive levels of services for those who come to Podango to form podcast networks.
2. You will note that we have introduced a new service that caters not only to networks, but also to solo podcasters. We offer podcasters free hosting if they will split revenues with us. Sometime soon, we will also offer a monthly subscription service for those that do not want to have ads placed on their content.
3. You will notice that we have added video support as well as blogging support. Both of these areas of progress are significant, but let me tell you, you aint seen nothin’ yet on this front. Stay tuned for more video delivery capabilities that will rock your socks. Also, look for our first Podango API driven developments of Blog engine plug-ins. This will let you get the full power of Podango in your native blogging tool. We will start with a plug in for WordPress, and then move to others (Stay tuned for details).
4. Behind the scenes, we have made our RSS feed ingestion and advertising stitching more robust. Our metrics are better than ever, and our infrastructure is fully based on dynamically allocated servers using Amazon’s EC2 virtual servers. Storage is Amazon S3. This hasn’t been without some fits and starts, but it presents significant operational costs and opens some scaling possibilities we could simply only dream of without Amazon web services.

5. As for content, you will notice that we have a ton of new, exciting content. We also have ton of exciting old content. Check it out on our Nostalgia Radio Network.

6. We also have implemented Audio, Video, and text Castbacks, our new commenting system that enables conversations as never before.

Well, best wind this post up. Please give us feedback on what you are liking and concerned about with our new site and initiatives.

(You will note that as of this writing, this blog still needs the face lift! Thanks for your patience and support!)

by Lee Gibbons, CEO

Note: to read more about the PodCamp NYC sponsorship and event specifically, please go to my personal blog at LeeGibbons.com.
When approached about sponsoring events, I have to admit, I feel a genuine instinct to run away. The reason? It has been my experience that the vast majority of sponsorships are a waste of money. However, I also must say that the last three events we have sponsored have been different than that for me. So much so, as a matter of fact, that I have done some analysis and come up with the reasons Gear Media Tech and PodCamp NYC have been different. Out of that thinking, I have developed a list of reasons to sponsor and not to sponsor that I will make sponsorship decisions in the future. I believe it is broadly applicable.

5 Non-negotiable Sponsorship Criteria

1. It’s On Target: The event serves your customers/prospects directly; not as a tengential means of reaching them.
2. It’s About Learning: The event is built around knowledge exchange first, and creating a marketing opportunity second.
3. It Fits Your Focused: The event enables knowledge exchange directly applicable to your core value proposition.
4. It Lets You Be Remarkable: You have an opportunity to stand out as the event’s biggest financial supporter. Like they say, Come Big, or Stay Home.
5. It Contributes You Domain Expertise: You get on-stage face to face time to teach what you know that can help deliver the mission of the event.

5 Reasons to Run Away from a Sponsorship

1. Friendship Pressure: If the event is organized by friends and that is the strongest pull you feel.
2. Indirect Benefit: If the event has only indirect benefit to you, perhaps only reaching your target customer’s customer. (This does work for Large Companies who OEM their products as part of a larger product, but not for startups)
3. Marketing Fair: If the event is primarily built around a marketing opportunity, not an opportunity to support substantive learning. Chances are you will be seen on the same plane as time share sales operations.
4. Competitive Pressure Only: If your competitors always do the event and you feel like that is the primary reason you have to be there.
5. Weak Messaging: If you don’t have something important to say or news to which you can tie your presence at the event.

Networking side note: I promised in my Presentation at PodCamp NYC to post Steve Eisenberg’s contact information on this blog (steve AT steveeisenberg.com - be sure to replace the AT with the @ sign).

by Lee Gibbons, CEO

I have chosen this spotlight because it talks about what I care a bunch about: Incorporating audio and video into blogs. In this Big Seminar 9 preview call recording, Armand Morin talks to Mike Stewart about how this is done. Mike is a really open, friendly guy, who has a sincere love for what web 2.0 has enabled. You will find his enthusiasm catching and his folksy southern style inviting and honest.

I especially appreciate what he has to say about building niche communities around your content.

Give it a listen here on Podango as part of Paul Colligan’s Internet Marketing Podcast Network, or check out the Big Seminar Live site.

by Lee Gibbons, CEO

Today’s spotlight is on For Immediate Release, a long-standing (200+) episodes PR-related podcast produced by two PR industry practicioiners, Shel Holtz from Concord, California, and Neville Hobson from Amterdam, The Netherlands. They just do a number of things really right:

• They release regularly: Their shows are released every Monday & Thursday.
• These guys do a great job of involving their audience, which makes their podcast fresh and interesting.
• They mix up the format: A “One-minute News” segment that gives them current awareness appeal
• They have good, useful show notes with links to people, places and things mentioned in their casts.
• They have joined a network, Blubrry in this case, but they benefit from that the same way Podango podcasters benefit from being part of networks.

Check them out at http://www.forimmediaterelease.biz/.

by Lee Gibbons, CEO

Derrick Story and Scott Bourne teamed up to teach Aperture classes at Macworld 2007, and I had a chance to meet Derrick there. He is a super nice guy and a well respected digital photographer. Derrick also appears on the iLifeZone (now hosted on Podango) , but I had never listened to his The Digital Story podcast on digital photography, music, video, etc. As with many podcasts produced by people whose first ability is not broadcasting but expertise in niche markets, Derrick’s delivery is folksy and pragmatic. He really knows his stuff and THAT makes up for any lack of broadcast polish. (I am not suggesting that he is not great to listen to, just that you will notice a difference between a Derrick Storey and a Leo Laporte, who has a rich broadcasting background.)

The thing I like is that he really truly teaches. He gives assignments and has his audience submit work for critique and coaching.
If you are a digital creativity enthusiast like I am you will get your time’s woth from Derrick.
Go to The Digital Story site. Download and listen to the latest edition of his podcast (22 min.).

Learn! Enjoy!

by Lee Gibbons, CEO

Okay, okay, okay. I have had serveral people, who know that I am combing the web daily for podcasts to invite to use the Podango Podcasting Platform, tell me that I should post my findings on the Podango blog. So, I have decided to do just that. I will also be clear that the network I am spotlighting today is not affiliated with Podango, besides being worthy of you giving them a look, and I said so.
This morning I was hunting around for some new tech podcasts, and I was excited to come across a network of technology podcasts called, originally enough TechPodcasts.com. The thing that I love about this is that they have seen the value of forming a network, or what we at Podango call a Podcast Station… essentially the same thing. There are several podcasts grouped together into a single website, serving a niche market. They have done a nice job with a Moveable Type blog-based site. They have attracted some great podcasts, IMHO.
Here are the podcasts affiliated with TechPodcasts.com (This list is found on their site):

	Apple News Log | URL | RSS Feed
	Apple News Now | URL | RSS Feed
	b•o | radio | URL | RSS Feed
	Digital Experience Podcast | URL | RSS Feed
	Geek News Central | URL | RSS Feed
	Home Network and Computer Help | URL | RSS Feed
	Linux News Log | URL | RSS Feed
	Microsoft News Log | URL | RSS Feed
	Mike Tech Show | URL | RSS Feed
	One Minute Tip | URL | RSS Feed
	Peter’s Mac Tips | URL | RSS Feed
	Portable Gaming Podcast | URL | RSS Feed
	Secrets of Digital Imaging | URL | RSS Feed
	Slashdot Review | URL | RSS Feed
	Tech Cast Weekly | URL | RSS Feed
	Tech Podcast Network | URL | RSS Feed
	The Girl On Tech | URL | RSS Feed
	The MacReviewCast | URL | RSS Feed
	WebTalk Radio | URL | RSS Feed

You will probably recognize some of these. I did. For example, Todd Cochrane, a true veteran podcaster, and founder of the Blubrry Podcast Network and RawVoice.com is found here with his Geek News Central podcast.
The key point here, is that successful podcasters tend to league together. Take for example Jason Van Ordon’s new Podcast Mastery Station. He formed in on Podango, invited some great podcasters to participate with him and had it launched within a few weeks of beginning. Here is that link:

Podcast Mastery | Learn How to Podcast with Tips and Tutorials from Podcasting Experts

Anyway. I hope I have succeeded in pointing you toward some helpful podcasts with this post.

Use comments to let me know what you are looking for, or contact me here, and I will be happy to post some recommendations and give you some link love in this Blog.

by Lee Gibbons, CEO

My Father used to tell a stories of young people who would come in to his office at the university complaining of the high cost of their tuition. He loved to share the quote with them, “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!”

At the end of this month, March 28-30, podcasters and vidcasters will have a unique opportunity to learn from three masters. Leo Laporte, Scott Bourne, and Alex Lindsay are putting on training they have called Gear Media Tech. It will be held at the Zeum Theatre (Moscone Center), San Francisco. It will cost just $299.00 but I assure you that you will be thousands of dollars smarter for having attended and learned from these guys.

Here is something you might not have noticed, and I know you won’t have heard it from them, since they don’t tend to toot their own horn very loudly. Last time I checked, the TWiT network, which was founded by Leo and on which Scott and Alex also have shows, has 20 of the top 100 tech podcasts on iTunes!

In other words, if you miss this training you are missing out on learning from three of the very best joinly offering first hand knowleldge of how to do podcasting and vidcasting right. As a matter of fact, I was so excited when Scott Bourne first talked to me about this training six months ago that I committed on the spot to a sponsorship. Why? I know that the room will be filled with people who are serious about podcasting, and I know they will come away from this event appreciative of the knowledge they get there. I wanted Podango’s name associated with this level of expertise, quality and professionalism.

You can learn more about the event by going to the site, or go and register now. I am very confident it will be the best money you have spent on podcasting and vidcasting this year.

by Lee (Podango CEO)

Sometimes the stars align such that they become bright enough that I actually see them! So it is with these articles on new media and podcast advertising that caught my constant, wondering gaze at new media news. Or perhaps they are just amplified by one of my favorite echo chambers (ugly thought, but probably true)! Never the less, here are some recent articles that point up some relatively new numbers around new media advertising.
Podvertising To Grow Fivefold, But Remain Niche (by Gavin O’Malley, Monday, Feb 26, 2007 6:00 AM ET)

The Next Big Ad Medium: Podcasts - Advertisers will spend more than $400 million on podcasting by 2011, but they’re still not sure who will be listening to them (by Catherine Holahan)

The things that stand out for me are the relatively few internet users who are using podcasts regularly and the number of dollars projected and aligning those numbers with the numbers I know are being garnered by certain podcasters, which if included in the numbers sited here point up a power distribution of ad revenues among podcasters that is much fatter at the head than the distribution of listeners (if that makes sense). And what that tells me is that there is an opportunity to spread some of those dollars down the tail. What will it require? Here is my list:

1. “Podvertisers” will have to be given a reason to trust the long tail of podcasters.
2. Podcasters need help reaching up the tail for some of those dollars.
3. A long-tail advertising mechanism that spreads podcast advertising dollars down the tail can work (am I cheering Google on here?) if it can tie the content and ads close enough together.
4. Everyone will need to apply healthy measures of patience and hard work. This is a very young market, and will continue to behave like one for the next several years.