Changes to top 100 on Podcast Pickle

Now we podcasters have to work for our status in the ranks! From PDilly's blog:

"One of the first things we are changing is we will no longer zero out the My Playlist votes (previously called my favorites) twice a year. Once you add a podcast to your playlist, they will remain on your playlist until you remove them.

The Top 100 will be calculated from several different factors. Among them are the My Playlist Picks, The Reviews, Subscriptions, Episodes Played, and the Podcaster Tree . The new system will also take into account how long it has been since a listner has been to PodcastPickle.com. The longer the time since a listeners last visit, the lower their input counts.

We are going to attempt to build an unbiased ranking system of what the top 100 shows are according to our users."

Although it was nice to see rankings based on how many added your cast to their playlist, I can certainly understand the need to have the more unbiased strategy. Too many people can recruit others to merely join the site only to add their show. That isn't really fair to the other podcasts, when you think about it.

It will be interesting to watch how the ratings change, that's for sure.

Podcast Pickle Resetting the Favorites

Yes friends, it's that time again. July 2nd that fab directory Podcast Pickle is resetting the favorites in everyone's account. Why do they do this? Well, for several reasons. One, to weed out the podcasts that might have faded over the past 6 months, and also to give new podcasts a chance to get themselves on the top 100 list. Basically, it gives everyone a fair shake. It also gives the listener a chance to go through their favorites and see if anything has changed in their listening as well. (It happens, trust me.)

This re-setting happens every January and July. This time it's a little different because the Pickle is retiring its "Hall of Fame" and those shows will once again be eligible to make it into the top 100.

So head to the pickle and write down all your favorites this weekend- so you can easily re-add them again!

Summer Fan Audio on Sonic Society

The Radio Memories feed (they have been generously hosting the Sonic Society for over a year now) alerted me to Sonic Society beginning their Summer Fan Audio series with Broken Sea Audio's Planet of the Apes.

The Society is podcasting the first two chapters, but if you want more, you can catch the rest of Part One of the series right here:

http://www.brokensea.com/pota/pota.htm

This is a special summer series that will be podcast-only. Something tells me they won't lose many listeners over the summer, by Podcast Pickle top 100 stats. Thanks to JC Hutchin's 7 Son Podcast Novel moving into the Hall of Fame, everyone in the top 100 has moved up a notch. The Society has finally achieved the Numero Uno status Jack and Shannon have wanted, and most certainly deserve!

Podcast Pickle Upgrades Good For Audio Cinema

On April 6, the newest upgrade of the Podcast Pickle directory, Pickle 5, was launched, sporting a new look and several new features. The features are designed to make the Podcast Pickle experience even more user-friendly, and a one-stop resource for both the podcaster and the listener alike. The upgrades include:

* A newly-designed podcast player, with the look of an mp3 player, designed to fit in any blog margin. It streams through your podcast feed, so your listeners can listen to any episode directly off of your podcast site, or any website you wish.

* A “tip jar”, in which listeners can opt to leave a few dollars for their favorite shows. (This option can also be removed by the podcaster.)

* A direct link to your Amazon or Ebay store.

* Rss for any blog you wish to feed into your Pickle page.

* For the listener, especially those who listen through their computer, all of your favorite shows can now be played on the “My Pickle” player. This feature is located directly on the Podcast Pickle homepage. It opens up a player containing every one of your chosen favorites.

Pickle 5 is still beta, with many threads and discussions in the Pickle Forums for feedback on glitches that still may be in the system. Site owner Gary Leland and team appreciate and ask for all feedback regarding any portion of the website.

I've tried most of these things out, and have found no kinks thus far.

Now I know, I'm a total cheerleader for this website. However, when you look at these features, and how inclusive and supportive they are to the podcasting community, how can I not be?

With so many audio cinema groups now podcasting, along with collectives like the Sonic Society and the endless array of pod-books out there, the pickle player would be an asset to their websites. It not only has the look of an mp3 player, but also works in the same fashion. People who hit your site do not have to search the archives for your content- it's all right there in the player. An example? Well, none better than mine, since I haven't searched around to see who else is using it yet (yes, you can customize the color).

Take some time to play around with all these features, you will definitely find they will work for you, whether a listener or a podcaster. :-)

On Money and Podcasting

I've had some thoughts banging around in my head lately concerning podcasting and money. I think it all started with the debate that went on concerning the new Tip Jar that is now a feature on the Podcast Pickle podcast pages. A few select people, out of dozens, asked that they have an option to not show the tip jar button. (For an idea of how completely obscene* it looks, take a gander at mine.) The reason for wanting the option was basically that it ruins the "image" that the podcaster has. The image that content is provided for free, with no profit whatsoever.

Um, ok. I found this argument rather confusing, because by no means would giving someone the option of throwing a few dollars your way for job well done be considered profit. At least not to me. Not to mention the fact that we are all using space generously provided to us for free by a man who just wants to help promote podcasting, and watch this genre grow. Besides, other than those who stumble across the pickle page randomly, you'd pretty much have to ask your listeners to go over and give you a tip for anyone to know it's even there. And out of all your listeners, realistically how many actually would?

Bless Gary Leland's dear heart, he made the tip jar a removable option. I hope those three podcasters are happy, because I never would have catered to their request. I tell you, I respect Gary more now for his expertise in dealing with this, and have a little less respect for those who caused such a ruckus over nothing. In my eyes, their image has all ready changed.

Image. I completely understand the image that podcasters would like to keep. It's free. It's independent. It bucks the system, sticks it to the man. (Insert your own cliche' here). Yet, even in the midst of keeping the medium free, there are those who have their very own podcasts and blogs geared towards helping you profit from your podcasts. Leesa Barnes and Paul Colligan come instantly to mind. I subscribe to both of these blogs, as they provide a plethora of information on how to make your podcast better.

Is this a bad thing? Of course not. Everyone podcasts for their own reasons, and wants to put forth their own content. If you want to profit, and people pay you, great. If you want to remain independent and never see a nickel, go for it. Me? I just wouldn't mind offsetting my costs a bit. My show would be a horrible thing to try and profit from anyway, considering the content. I look at my show like any news/talk show... once you profit, your content can easily be dictated to you. I refuse to let myself do that.

This issue will be debated forever, and that's fine to debate. What bothers me is the harsh judgment of those who might want or need to make some money doing what they love to do. If you love what you do, AND get paid for it, isn't that the best of everything? It only makes the quality of your work better, in this case, it would be your podcast.

Do I dare add that Podcast Pickle is now offering an option for your Amazon and Ebay store, linked directly to your account page? ;-)



*not.

One really big podcaster contest!

The Podcast Pickle Directory is about to upgrade to their new Pickle 5 site. To celebrate, they are holding a contest, and want everyone in the pod-universe involved. Beginning in February, they are holding an egg hunt!

Hints will be played on all your favorite podcasts. The winner not only will have their promo played on shows that have volunteered to do so, but will also be awarded many other prizes as well, including $500 cash.

For all the details, as well as a list of podcasts who will be playing promos and a list of the prizes, click the link below.

Podiobooks named Best of the Web

A little something I wrote for the Podcast Pickle News:

Podcasting continues to gain validity. Reader’s Digest Canada has listed Podiobooks.com in it’s Best of the Web for January.

Podiobooks was founded by Evo Terra, Tee Morris, and Chris Miller. Over the summer it reached one million episode downloads of over 80 book titles. They have also recently decided to do away with the subscription and membership-only portions of their website, thereby making it easier to listen to podiobooks.

Visit their site at http://www.podiobooks.com/.

Want to advertise on the cheap?

Want to let people know about your audio business, or your theatre company? Well, the podcast pickle can help! Get a 125x125 ad placed in their right side bar for a mere $25 for a month. You are guaranteed 25,000 clicks (meaning it will be in the rotation 25,000 times) in that month.

Since the pickle has been named one of the coolest sites in 2006 by Time magazine, I think it's worth trying it out for a month and seeing what happens! I know just in the forums alone, there are always about 50+ guest in there at any given time that I'm there. And I'm there a lot. (No, I'm not ashamed to admit that.)

And no, you don't have to have a podcast to have an ad... ;-)

I bought one for my podcast, and there was a slight surge in traffic to the site, so I got one for this blog too! For me however, it's my way of saying thanks to such a great site and directory.

Tell 'em Dani sent ya....