I love new developments, new gadgets, and trying out new technology.

So Internet marketing is ideal for me. But researching, reading, going to conferences, lectures and sitting behind a monitor can only get you so far - sometimes you need to get involved.

And I’ve found it can be more challenging than you ever expected!

I’m doing a podcasting course at the moment, and after a half hour podcasting session, I feel like I’ve done a full days work!

I’m fine with editing, publishing and promoting, but presenting is a skill that clearly takes a lot of practice!

(unless you’re happy sounding like an Alvin/Simon/Theador combo)

I’m excited to be going on a Podcasting course next week!

So look forward to further opinions on what’s good and bad in the Podcasting world.

I have a great interest in Podcasts, but due to having an unfortunate ‘voice of a small child’, I think I’ll need to stay on the planning, production and marketing side of things!

I’ve seen this a few times now, I’ve been interested in a website, which has great content or a great blog, they talk about their ‘podcast’, and I’ve had to search around for a link to subscribe.

In some cases you can subscribe after the initial search, but in other cases, it becomes apparent that they mean download an MP3 file…. and for the next edition you would have to check back to the site to download the next one… This is not a podcast.

Podcasting, as defined by Wikipedia is “a portmanteau of Apple’s “iPod” and “broadcasting”, is a method of publishing files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files automatically by subscription, usually at no cost. It first became popular in late 2004, used largely for audio files.”

I’ve been getting into podcasts recently, I find it’s a great way to learn more about a topic without committing a great deal of time to it.

Podcasts are great because you can listen to up-to-date information on niche topics, and you can do it while driving, when you’re in the gym, or doing housework… (OK so the middle example is somewhat hypothetical).

There are some excellent resources available, and publishers range from large organisations such as the BBC and The Times, to small companies and individuals who create podcasts as a hobby or to generate interest in their services.

Generally podcasts have been free - but premium content podcasts, and subscription models are becoming more popular.

The quality I’ve seen has varied widely, excellent examples of podcasts I’ve been listening to include content from the BBC, and Educational institutions, however I’ve encountered some shocking content from some of the more niche interest groups…

Here are some examples of the bad behaviour I’ve experienced in pod format:

• Clearly no script
• Waffle, and excessive ‘off topic’ conversation
• Poorly edited, or obviously not edited
• Produced in one take, and published with no attention to detail
• Long repetitive intro music… or just really bad music
• Background noise
• Phones ringing

When publishing via Podcast, you can pick it up and listen whenever you’re free - often subscribing to multiple podcasts. So when a 10 minute podcast is diluted with 2 minutes of apologies and excuses for why it’s not been as regular as they would like… not good.

I’ve made a brief post on the PushONline Marketing blog with some examples of great Web Design/Online Marketing Podcasts…

But one non work related podcast that I rate highly is the Russell Brand Podcast; it’s pure random genius, and a typical example of the high standards of digital media that the BBC are producing.