Christopher S. Penn – Marketing AI Keynote Speaker

Is C.C. Chapman a Podcaster?

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Christopher S Penn
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Is C.C. Chapman a podcaster? Does he produce podcasts? Recently, I tried out the Songbird browser, which is part iTunes clone, part Firefox. When you browse any web page with MP3 links and/or RSS feeds, Songbird brings up a panel, kind of like iTunes’ mini-store, that lets you listen to the MP3s, download them (or queue them for batch download), and subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s a podcast producer’s dream browser in a way – instant connection for the audience members who want to listen right now, who want to subscribe, or who want to queue up selected shows for later listening. I decided to point it at a couple of web pages – my own, of course, at the Financial Aid Podcast, and I was rewarded with my most recent shows.

Now, before I continue, I should clarify something. C.C. Chapman is not only a good friend and a brilliant guy, he’s also the Podfather of New England. C.C. started the first podcasting group in the area as podcasting was just getting started, and that became the New England Podcasting network. He’s unquestionably not only a podcaster, but a podcasting pioneer.

I decided, let’s check out C.C.’s show, Accident Hash. Since I’ve been a little hard on Podshow recently, I figured I’d show off Songbird pointing to C.C.’s page on Podshow Plus – AccidentHash.Podshow.com, show a little love. Was I surprised. C.C. is not a podcaster. There’s no MP3s to download, no RSS feed to subscribe to, no way to get the show, his show, right then and there.

CC Chapman is not a podcaster

I headed over to AccidentHash.com, and found that on his own site, C.C. is a podcaster. MP3s, RSS, the full deal.

CC Chapman is a podcaster

So, in the tradition of trying to help Podshow Suck Less, I offer this suggestion to the development team at Podshow – on Podshow podcasters’ home pages on Podshow Plus, put links to the MP3s and RSS feeds – use the Auto-Discovery links so that browsers like Mozilla Firefox, Songbird, and Google Desktop-enabled browsers can find and subscribe right then and there. It’s a fast, easy way to quickly get new listeners.

Nothing is more transient than a web site visitor. You’re lucky to get 5 seconds of their attention. If they can’t be rolling with the Podshow podcast they presumably came by to tune into immediately, they’re gone – and that listener may never come back. If you need the syntax for the auto-discovery, use this HTML:

<link rel= "alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title ="RSS 2.0" href ="https://www.accidenthash.com/feed/" />

This goes between the <head></head> section of the page and lets any browser find the RSS feed of choice. Please help C.C. Chapman become a podcaster again.

Comments

16 responses to “Is C.C. Chapman a Podcaster?”

  1. C.C. Chapman Avatar
    C.C. Chapman

    I honestly don’t know if I should laugh or cry at this.

    Instead I’m just going to very humbly say thank you for the second paragraph.

    Now I’m curious about Songbird in general and am off to check it out.

    Reply
  2. C.C. Chapman Avatar
    C.C. Chapman

    I honestly don’t know if I should laugh or cry at this.

    Instead I’m just going to very humbly say thank you for the second paragraph.

    Now I’m curious about Songbird in general and am off to check it out.

    Reply
  3. Ed Roberts Avatar
    Ed Roberts

    Songbird sounds interesting. I agree with the sentiments on the Podshow+ pages. There is NOTHING more important for a podcaster to have on their page than for a prominent link to subscribe, and a working auto discovery tag.

    Reply
  4. Ed Roberts Avatar
    Ed Roberts

    Songbird sounds interesting. I agree with the sentiments on the Podshow+ pages. There is NOTHING more important for a podcaster to have on their page than for a prominent link to subscribe, and a working auto discovery tag.

    Reply
  5. Jason @ Insomnia Radio Avatar
    Jason @ Insomnia Radio

    This is baffling. Readily available mp3’s and rss links – that’s Podcasting 101. (erm…runs off to make sure Songbird works with IR . . .)

    Reply
  6. Jason @ Insomnia Radio Avatar
    Jason @ Insomnia Radio

    This is baffling. Readily available mp3’s and rss links – that’s Podcasting 101. (erm…runs off to make sure Songbird works with IR . . .)

    Reply
  7. Jersey Todd Avatar
    Jersey Todd

    Damn you Penn…now I have another addiction. This Songbird thing is fantastic.

    Reply
  8. Jersey Todd Avatar
    Jersey Todd

    Damn you Penn…now I have another addiction. This Songbird thing is fantastic.

    Reply
  9. Tom Newman (Fogview Podcast) Avatar
    Tom Newman (Fogview Podcast)

    But is Jersey Todd a podcaster? 🙂

    Songbird sounds like a cool browser and I’m going to check it out.

    Reply
  10. Tom Newman (Fogview Podcast) Avatar
    Tom Newman (Fogview Podcast)

    But is Jersey Todd a podcaster? 🙂

    Songbird sounds like a cool browser and I’m going to check it out.

    Reply
  11. Matthew Ebel Avatar
    Matthew Ebel

    And people wonder why I never even listed High Orbit on PodShow+. They don’t seem to be interested in content, just the servers that content sits on.

    Pax,
    Matthew

    Reply
  12. Matthew Ebel Avatar
    Matthew Ebel

    And people wonder why I never even listed High Orbit on PodShow+. They don’t seem to be interested in content, just the servers that content sits on.

    Pax,
    Matthew

    Reply
  13. Scott Sigler Avatar
    Scott Sigler

    >

    I’d have to say Jason’s comment sums up what’s wrong with Podshow pages – Podcasting 101 indeed.

    Reply
  14. Scott Sigler Avatar
    Scott Sigler

    >

    I’d have to say Jason’s comment sums up what’s wrong with Podshow pages – Podcasting 101 indeed.

    Reply
  15. Franklin McMahon Avatar
    Franklin McMahon

    C.C. Chapman is a content producer..and Podshow enables people to quickly get to his content.

    Most podcasters can’t quite get their head around Podshow. Mainly because Podshow is not built for geeks or podcasters. It’s built for the average audience. Just put a non-iPod non-podcast listener in front of this page. After a few seconds they’ll find the play-current-episode button and they are off and rolling. What they won’t say is “Damn..now where is that XML code???”

    Geeks and podcasters have a lot of preconceived notions on what content delivery should be. I myself am thrilled at the options of RSS!

    My niece however..is not.

    MySpace has a play song button on each myspace page. Because its easy to understand. Click to upload picture. Boom…two clicks and you are uploading. Now MySpace doesn’t have picture search tags, camera info, RAW import, etc. It’s simple, and to the point.

    Podshow is along the same lines as MySpace. It’s evolving and getting there, but if you are hoping for more geek features from Adam Curry and company, you probably won’t be getting them.

    Podcasters need to think of themselves as content producers, and aligning themselves with easy ways to get their content into the eyes, ears (and hearts!) of their new audience in the simpliest way possible.

    Again its a paradigm shift and goes in the opposite direction of everything we’ve known and loved for the past couple years.

    This lesson was learned for me the first year I started doing photography professionally. My whole marketing campaign was I shot digital (this was like 5 years ago). I was so enamored with digital, the features, the cost, the speed, the computer options. I could not wait to explain it all to each and every client.

    Did they care?

    Nope. They just wanted good pictures.

    Same with content..people just want it. Easily.

    And the producers (and content providers) who get content to the audience in a quick, easy and non-technical manner will truly enjoy much success.

    And it’ll make my niece happier too.

    Reply
  16. Franklin McMahon Avatar
    Franklin McMahon

    C.C. Chapman is a content producer..and Podshow enables people to quickly get to his content.

    Most podcasters can’t quite get their head around Podshow. Mainly because Podshow is not built for geeks or podcasters. It’s built for the average audience. Just put a non-iPod non-podcast listener in front of this page. After a few seconds they’ll find the play-current-episode button and they are off and rolling. What they won’t say is “Damn..now where is that XML code???”

    Geeks and podcasters have a lot of preconceived notions on what content delivery should be. I myself am thrilled at the options of RSS!

    My niece however..is not.

    MySpace has a play song button on each myspace page. Because its easy to understand. Click to upload picture. Boom…two clicks and you are uploading. Now MySpace doesn’t have picture search tags, camera info, RAW import, etc. It’s simple, and to the point.

    Podshow is along the same lines as MySpace. It’s evolving and getting there, but if you are hoping for more geek features from Adam Curry and company, you probably won’t be getting them.

    Podcasters need to think of themselves as content producers, and aligning themselves with easy ways to get their content into the eyes, ears (and hearts!) of their new audience in the simpliest way possible.

    Again its a paradigm shift and goes in the opposite direction of everything we’ve known and loved for the past couple years.

    This lesson was learned for me the first year I started doing photography professionally. My whole marketing campaign was I shot digital (this was like 5 years ago). I was so enamored with digital, the features, the cost, the speed, the computer options. I could not wait to explain it all to each and every client.

    Did they care?

    Nope. They just wanted good pictures.

    Same with content..people just want it. Easily.

    And the producers (and content providers) who get content to the audience in a quick, easy and non-technical manner will truly enjoy much success.

    And it’ll make my niece happier too.

    Reply

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