A few years ago, I attended a new media event as a fairly new blogger. I was raring to go and excited about my part in the New Evangelization.
It was a sore disappointment to me that, among the folks in attendance, the attitude was almost one of “so, when are you going to start to podcast?” It was as though podcasting was something you graduated into from blogging.
Blogging, in other words, was a stepping stone to podcasting.
Recently, I was emailing a writing friend and I told her she should share audio of some of her talks. The conversation then led to a mention of podcasting.
Which brought me back to the question at hand: does blogging lead to podcasting?
Short answer: no.
Long answer: maybe. Sometimes. It might.
The answer is no different than the discernment that needs to happen when you decide whether or not you’re going to blog.
Podcasting, generally, takes a different kind of effort than blogging, but it also reaches a sometimes much wider audience. One well-known Catholic media professional told me recently that, when she was at her height with podcasting she reached FAR more people than she does with all of her writing efforts combined.
But wait…if you’re wondering what a podcast is, here goes: it’s (often free) downloadable audio content. I use iTunes primarily, but there are other outlets for podcasts as well, including PodcastAlley. You subscribe to a show and it’s updated on your computer or mp3 device whenever a new show is released. (Want to learn more? Start here and follow the rabbit trail.)
Last week, in the comments to my post about being comfortable with “small blogging,” Jen Fitz said of blogging,
If you love it and are good at it, it’s a lot of punch for little or no financial outlay. Because you can set the pace and the topics, you can choose the amount of time and energy you put into it. And anyone can start a blog, whereas not just anyone can book speaking engagements, open up a rolodex of client contacts, get a great newspaper gig, etc etc.
She makes a point that’s valid to a discussion of podcasting as well: anyone can do it. It can be a “lot of punch” for the amount you invest.
But…I think it’s important to be good at it. (I think the same about blogging.)
I have discerned, over many years, that I am NOT going to start a podcast anytime soon. That said, I do dabble in some audio stuff, which I call podsquatting.
Podsquatting, in my world, is where someone else has the show and the production, and I provide segments. If you want examples, you can listen to my latest Mary Moment over at iPadre or my latest Mary in the Kitchen at Catholic Foodie.
So when someone asks me (and I’m sure they will) whether I plan to start podcasting anytime soon, rest assured that I’ll be saying a polite “No,” just like I always have.
YOUR TURN: Have you considered podcasting? What’s your idea for a show?
Sarah Reinhard
When Sarah Reinhard's not writing online at SnoringScholar.com, she can be found on Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, Facebook, or Google +. She's the author of a number of books, including her latest title, Catholic Family Fun: A Guide for the Adventurous, Overwhelmed, Creative, or Clueless.
I did a blog for two years to promote a book and quite some (but not a lot) of feedback. I turned it into a podcast and got a voicemail from Germany (I’m in Ohio) within a few weeks. It’s the tone of voice – it makes you human. Pay Flyn has a very successful blog (smartpassiveincome.com) hwere he is making a NICE living. He had no need to start a podcast. He did, and his audience grew by 19%.
http://powerofpodcasting.com/2011/11/pat-flynn-increased-his-audience-by-19-percent/
It is a natural progression. When you boil it down, a podcast is just audio/video/pdf that’s linked to a blog post.
Sarah, thank you so much for the thoughts here. Podcasting and blogging fit together nicely, if one can manage it.
It’s not always easy to find the time to podcast (preparation and post-production can be time-consuming), and podcasting does tend to present a few more technological hurdles than blogging. But they’re not insurmountable.
I am VERY happy (and humbled!) that you have graciously “podsquatted” with me at the Catholic Foodie since March 14, 2010 (almost two years!!!). Mary in the Kitchen debuted on episode 64, and I am getting ready to produce episode 130! Crazy!
Thank YOU, Sarah, for being such an excellent podsquatter and blogger!
Jeff, thanks for your comment. I agree that they fit together nicely (and even better when I don’t have the burden of production, mwahaha).
Thanks for letting me goof around with my Mary in the Kitchen reflections. Two years! MY GOODNESS!
Hi Sarah:
I am doing very little podcasting or blogging lately, but my preference always returns to podcasting. Reason: There is something very human and powerful about hearing another person speaking in their own voice. Written words don’t have the same intimacy. There is a separation between the author and the reader. Also, nuance and tone often don’t translate as well in writing.
People often listen to podcasts with headphones as they go about their daily tasks. The voices of podcasters are right in the listeners heads. You can’t get much closer to the audience than that.
Having said that, whether written or spoken, you remain one of the favorite voices in my head.
As someone who has my OWN voices in my heads (and they’re named, thankyouverymuch), I hear you on this. There’s an intimacy to podcasting…but I would argue that there’s an intimacy to blogging, too. There’s a distance to both, too, as there must be when we’re not face-to-face.
Maybe it’s my overthinking of things, but I think that this intimacy gets right to the heart of what makes the New Evangelization the “secret sauce” for our current day and age. We’re personal now, baby!
And awww, how sweet–*I* am one of your favorite voices in your head! Hugs and kisses to you and the family, Sean, and thanks for taking the time to chime in here.
“The Idiot’s Guide to Podcasting Catastrophe”, perhaps?
I love being a guest on podcasts, but the thought of actually running one intimidates me. That being said, I belong to a group, Broad Universe, that has a group podcast, and each month, a member hosts and other members are guests, and someone (not sure who) puts it together and posts it. They pick a monthly topic for the year and people sign up to be hosts and guests. I’ve often thought it’d be a fun idea for the Guild, with the possibility of offering it to local Catholic Radio stations, but we’d need someone who would truly dedicate to it in the long term.
Karina! It would be a great idea for the Guild, and I’d love to help AS A GUEST. (If I take anything else on, my family will kick me out.)
There’s not as much to it, really, and there’s all sorts of support online.
Oh dear. Do I see a whole new CATEGORY of posts here???
Thanks, guys. I had no shortage of topics with blogging, but I opened a real can of opportunity here, huh? 🙂
I love it when I already know the right word, even before I know that I know the right word :-).
And yes, I’m always happy to tell people what to write about. Plus it’s a chance for you to rant and rave about your podcast-listening peeves, and pass it off as an educational article. [Which is what I need — 10 Things To Avoid So You Don’t Sound Like A Complete Idiot On Your First Podcast And Make People Never Ever Want To Listen To You Again. I’m sure you’ll come up with a shorter, catchier title.]
Sarah, this was very helpful for sorting out my ideas.
What is the word for just recording some audio segments, but not part of a regular show?
I’ve done some speaking, but for people who already know me and have seen me teach, and therefore know what they’re getting into. I think I need to record some short audio segments that are both useful, and that give my would-be audience an idea of what I bring to a conference.
–> Which means you are going to give us a post on what makes a good podcast and what traps to avoid, right? Or make this a part of your blogging workshop at the online conference, maybe? If I might beg a little?
My word for those segments is, um, segments. 🙂 I use the verb “podsquatting” for what I do. 🙂
I can add this as an idea for a future blog post, Jen. Had not, in fact, considered writing more about it, but now I guess I will. Popular demand and all. 🙂