Cindy Turietta of EMarketing Talk Show recently spoke at PubCon 2007 on the subject of optimizing podcasts.

Here are the take-aways from this podcasting pioneer’s presentation:

  • An audio file doesn’t become a podcast until you turn it into an XML feed, so all audio on the web is not a podcast.
  • Use your podcasts to drive people to your website by giving them a strong call to action. Tell them to go to your website and to do something when they get there, like take a poll or download a file.
  • When you create your files and feeds, optimize them by using relevant keywords in the title and description.
  • Label and tag your files and feeds as a “podcast”.
  • Use your guest’s and/or host’s name, where you can in your tags, especially if they are well-known.
  • Use PodPress with WordPress to autogenerate your XML feeds.
  • Provide good, original content.
  • Engage the blogging community with your podcasts.
  • Use only podsafe music. This is music that artists allow you to use in exchange for a credit in the podcast. They get a little advertising and you get original music to enhance your show.

Recommended Podcast Resources

  • DigitalPodcast - Sources of more freely available music for your podcasts.
  • NewMediaExpo - near the bottom of this page you’ll find podcasts of the sessions held at this annual conference of independent online media creators.