This document provides information on how non-profits can create and promote podcasts. It discusses what podcasts are, benefits for non-profits, necessary tools and equipment, workflow including recording, editing, creating an RSS feed through hosted services or own blog, and promoting the podcast through standard media and social media channels and getting listed on iTunes. The presentation aims to help non-profits deliver their message and tell their stories through engaging podcasts.

1. Podcasts and Non-profits:
Hitting the Internet Airwaves
November 4, 2010
PICnet | Washington, DC Office

2. Goal: Make More Sense Than This

3. Agenda
• Introduction: What is a podcast?
• Why should you consider a podcast for your
non-profit?
• The logistics (tools and tips)
• The workflow (files, feeds, subscribing)
• Promoting your podcast
• Questions and Answers

4. What is a Podcast?
• 1 sentence: a regularly updated feed of
multimedia (audio and/or video) content
• Defining characteristics
o Multimedia content
o Subscribers automatically receive content
o Regularly updated
o Popularized, but not controlled by Apple

5. Podcasts and Non-Profits
• Deliver your message to your supporters
automatically
• Interact with them in new ways
• Tell your story in an engaging, effective
entertaining way
• Make it easy for people to share your stories
with their friends (go viral).
• My Story: The AshokaTECH Podcast

6. The Tools
• Recording your Audio
• Intro Music? Yes.
• Voice Overs? Yes.
• Editing your Audio

7. The Tools: Recording
• PC: Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/)
• Mac: GarageBand / Audacity
• Other options: your phone!
• Skype recorders
• Microphone?

8. Tools: Make it Sound Professional
• Free
voiceover:http://voicepronetwork.com/forums/
o In return, provide a few bucks and recognition
• Purchase royalty-free music: There are lots of
options, but try http://freeplaymusic.com/
o Pay a little bit up front, then have the rights to
the music forever

9. Tools: Edit Your Podcast

10. Recording: Best Practices
• Start with a consistent opening jingle: 5-15 seconds.
• Introduce yourselves and your organization each time for
new listeners
• Tell people what to expect in this episode
• With interviews provide context and introductions
• If your episode has lots of links and detailed information,
include them in an associated blog post.
• Tell listeners what to look for in the next episode
• Close with a consistent closing jingle.

11. The Workflow
• Saving and Exporting your files
• Building a feed
• Sharing and distributing the feed
• Promoting your podcast

12. The Workflow: Saving Your Audio
• Definitely save your files as .mp3
o In audacity you'll need to "Export" to .MP3
• When choosing bitrate and audio quality options, smaller
files are usually better.
• Include metadata
o Artist name, length of recording, etc.

13. The Workflow: Creating a Feed
• In order for people to subscribe to your podcast it must
be in an RSS Feed.
• What is RSS?
o Really Simple Syndication
o Think of Blogs / Google Reader
• How to create a feed?
o Hosted Services
o Do it Yourself

14. Creating A Feed: The Components
• A podcast feed will have:
o The audio file uploaded
o Text to accompany it
o Metadata (important for iTunes)

15. Creating a Feed: Hosted Services
• Libsyn (http://Libsyn.com) will do it all for you...
o For $5-15 per month
o Plug and play: type in blog text, upload the audio, fill
out specially created metadata fields, and you're all
set
• Positives:
o Easiest method
o Get listed among their 15,000 Podcasts
• Negatives:
o Expensive
o Sends people away from your site

16. Creating a Feed: Host Your Own
• Use any blogging platform that allows you to upload
media files (Wordpress, Tumblr, Non-profit Soapbox)
• For each podcast, upload the .mp3 file along with text to
introduce the episode
• DEMO: Podcasting with Nonprofit Soapbox

17. Creating Your Own: Use Feedburner
• Sign up at http://feeds.feedburner.com
• Submit your RSS feed and check "I'm a podcaster."
• This allows you to submit all of the metadata for your
podcast:

18. Promoting your Podcast
• Standard media channels: newsletters, webpage, etc.
• Social media channels: allow people to share on
Facebook, Twitter, Digg, etc.
• Get listed in iTunes
o Testing your feed:
 In the Advanced menu, select Subscribe to
Podcast.
 Enter your feed URL in the text box and click OK.
o Submitting your feed:
 Podcasts Page -> Submit a Podcast

19. Questions? Comments?
Ask away!