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Thanks for waiting so patiently for this episode!  And apologies it took so long to record it. I've been delayed by a major home repair project, and I wanted to provide a how-to video to explain the process I describe in this podcast. YouTube created a template to assist people in creating a customized banner for their YouTube channels.  If you use this template your banner will look good on desktop and mobile platforms.  If you don't, it won't. Here's a link to a copy of the template I uploaded to my website: http://www.carlgitchel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/YouTubeBannerTemplate.jpg To use the template, download and open the Paint.Net image editing program.  To learn about Paint.Net and how to use layers to manipulate the template and your imagry, see this video: http://youtu.be/WT8H7TJBsAQ Finally, here's a link to a video I produced showing exactly how to use the YouTube banner template with Paint.Net to generate and save great looking banners: http://youtu.be/qApNyw2eZGQ I hope this episode was worth the wait!  Until my repair project is done there will be some more gaps in my production schedule.  But I'd rather take the time to make good podcasts than just open the microphone and generate low quality gibberish! Until next time...

(In case you're doing a double take, yes, I changed the name of this podcast from the A/V Academy to the A/V Magazine.  I felt a magazine was a little more "fun" than an academy would be.) It's time to get on board with YouTube.  Seriously.  The online video revolution is underway and the longer you wait to get started the farther behind you'll fall. Yes, it takes some effort to create video.  But it only takes this six minute podcast to claim your YouTube account and set up your YouTube Channel.  Once that's done every video you upload will have a multiplication effect on your overall online marketing. You see, YouTube not only hooks in with Google (its parent company,) it allows you to link your website, contact email, and social media through your Channel page.  You have so many irons in the fire and your YouTube Channel can become the hub which connects them all! This episode is a step-by-step instructional; to follow along as you set up your YouTube account go here: https://www.youtube.com/ Toward the end of this podcast I bring up information on how to make your company's website banner work with the YouTube Banner Template.  Here is a link to that template: http://yourtubetheme.com/2014/02/new-2014-youtube-channel-art-template-size/ Also, to see what I did to make my banner work within this template, here are links to: My banner My banner overlaid on the template The next episode will go over how to create a (or edit an existing) banner for YouTube by using the Open Source (free) Paint.Net graphics program.  Here are links to: Download the program Watch a video to learn how to use it Oh, and start thinking about the content for your first video (or series of videos.)  The sky's the limit!

With this episode we begin a lengthy series devoted to YouTube and how to use it as a marketing tool. There are several advantages to employing YouTube.  First, it's the second largest search engine in the world behind Google.  Establishing a profile on YouTube can greatly enhance your web exposure. Second, the trendy new mobile devices you hear about all the time are much better suited for video viewing than reading text.  And people are watching videos in ever-increasing numbers.  YouTube is almost custom made for mobile video. In addition, you can take content from YouTube and embed it on your website.  Instead of worrying about the storage capacity your website's host allows you the whole load can be shifted to YouTube.  And it's free!  With very few restrictions. In this episode I give a broad overview of how youTube works and a general idea of how you can market your business with it.  This is beginner level stuff you may already know, but I want to set the foundation so we're all talking the same language when we start diving into details. In the coming weeks I'll go over the steps to set up your YouTube presence, take charge of your YouTube channel and start making YouTube work for you. If you haven't spent a lot of time surfing around YouTube I invite you to get a feel for how other people search for videos.  It's a little different than a Google search.  Play with it a bit, but be warned: it's pretty addictive!  But that's the point.  Get videos out there and others may become addicted to you!

This is the final important step to get your podcast "out there!"  Once you know how to submit your podcast's permanent RSS link (which we went over in Episode 010,) to podcast directories or distributors each new episode you upload to your host will be sent automatically to these places. I refer to iTunes here because that's the Number One podcast directory.  Once you know the basic steps to submit your podcast to iTunes you can take your act just about anywhere else and know what you're doing. So, go here to download iTunes to your computer. If you need a refresher on RSS feeds, listen to this. Here are two places to start looking for more podcast directories: http://www.podcast411.com/page2.html http://thepodcastersstudio.com/best-podcasting-directories/ Finally, if you want to get deeper into the world of podcasters to learn more about the craft of podcasting, advanced tutorials or equipment upgrades, I highly recommend Cliff Ravenscraft, The Podcast Answer Man. I hope you've enjoyed the series on podcasting.  I will certainly add more if I find something I think you "oughta" know about. Next, we start getting our hands dirty with what is potentially the most powerful online marketing tool yet: YouTube!

Fact: You want people to always be able to find your podcast. Another Fact: Over time, things change.  People move, phone numbers change, new service providers replace old ones. An RSS feed compensates for that. Through a simple process you can generate a unique web address through which your podcast will always be found by your listeners.  If you change your podcast's host you can route your new host through this stable permanent address. You can also use this address to automate the distribution of your podcast.  Every podcast directory you submit your podcast to (like iTunes) will automatically grab it from your host every time you upload a new episode. For a fast paced video on how to set up an RSS feed, click here. Click here to sign up for the Feedburner RSS tool.  

You're almost ready to release your podcast to Planet Earth! But you can't do it on your own.  You need a hosting service which will store your audio files for you and absorb the bandwidth hit when people start downloading your podcast. You can do a web search to find several good hosting services which have free beginners plans.  I use Pod-O-Matic.  When I did my own search for a hosting service I found them to less obnoxious about prompting you to upgrade than others I looked at. I would advise against using a service which is absolutely free.  They have so many drawbacks it becomes more of a headache than it's worth.  The ones I looked at were difficult to navigate and so limited in service I felt it was best to start out on a free plan with a paid-for provider. We're getting close to putting your podcast "out there!"  Next time I'll take you through setting up an RSS feed—maybe iTunes as well! Also...feel free to download a free copy of my new ebook Online Video: 8 Reasons Why You Need to Get On Board.  You'll find it at www.carlgitchel.com.

Learn two easy skills and make an average sound file seem like it was recorded at a real studio! Use the equalization tool in Audacity to add depth to what your microphone picked up.  The first time you do this you'll need to spend time experimenting with settings.  Once you've done this you can save your layout and apply it to future recordings. Here are the settings I use.  Click here to see how you can save your customized settings. You may need to amplify your sound file so it plays at a consistent level with other audio files your listeners play for themselves.  Again, this is a process which becomes almost automated once you've done it a couple of times. When you convert your file to mp3 you need to adjust the quality level to save storage space.  If a stereo file sounds good to you at 128 kbps you should be able to save a mono recording at 64 kbps with no dropoff. This episode was recorded with no script.  I did this so you can see how much more personality you can inject when you're speaking directly to your audience.  You'll notice the drawback is there are some awkward pauses and verbal stumbling.  This is the difference between a talk show and a newscast...or a speech.  Speaking off the cuff also tends to make the presentation longer, because a script regiments your delivery and keeps it more concise. I'm not preaching one method over the other, they each have their place.  Do what feels right for the effect you're trying to achieve!

Which of the following statements is true: A. A $600 microphone can sound like crap. B. A $10 microphone can capture really good voice recordings. C. Artifical "announcer voice" is annoying. D. All of the above.   The answer: D   You don't need a fancy microphone to get a decent recording of a speaker.  Unless you plan to sing or play the trombone on your podcast you can do fine with a budget mic. BUT...poor positioning and bad habits can wreck your efforts no matter how much you spend on recording equipment.  Follow a few good practices—and avoid a couple of bad ones—and you'll be sounding like a champ in no time!

It is vital you manage the pace of your delivery and to make it as conversational as you can if you're reading it off a script.  Learn some old school broadcasting tricks to help you do both of these things. If you need a stopwatch to time your speech, www.free-stopwatch.com is a great basic option. To set your font and margins make your typing area 4-3/4" wide (simply drag the margin arrows at the top of your word processor program,) and set your font to Arial 11-pt. To change fonts and size, just type a few lines in the settings I gave you.  Then, open a new typing window.  Copy-'n-paste the text from the first window and change the font and size to your liking. Then adjust the width of the margin until the text in the new window lines up like the text in the first window. Note these settings and save them for future use. Thanks for listening!

Let the creative process begin! This podcast helps erect the framework around which you'll create your individual episodes.  Before you start cranking out shows you should determine in advance some of the following guidelines: What's my overall topic going to be? If my topic is vast (like cars or automotive repair) in what niche do I want to establish myself as the "go-to" person? Who is my target audience and how should I focus my delivery?  Pro to pro? Pro to amateur? What's my "hook"?  How do I separate myself from others in my field? I also go over the pros and cons of scripting word-by-word and extemporizing like a radio talk show host. Next time I'll share some scripting and delivery secrets to make you sound like a pro! Thanks for listening!

We start by using the Audacity sound recorder/editor to convert your sound files to mp3.  (Note: The first time you convert a file to mp3 you may be asked to direct Audacity to the LAME Encoder.  Navigate to the folder where you installed LAME and point Audacity to the .dll file.  This was not covered in the podcast, but you can see it in the Audacity video.) Next, we'll tag the file with text and an image using the free Mp3tag program. For video podcasting you will find a screen capture program very useful.  CamStudio is a good basic program which is free and easy to use! To edit and produce all types of video filoes you need a video editor.  Lightworks is a heavy hitter but is very challenging to master.  I invite you to take a look to see some of the possibilities it presents. But I strongly recommend you start out with something a lot easier to use, like Microsoft's Movie Maker.  It may not be the best program out there, but the tutorials available make it the best option to get a quick start in video production.  And along the way you'll develop a feel for what to look for in other editing programs and how to use them.

This episode introduces Audacity, the free powerhouse sound recorder and editor.  With Audacity you can: Record your podcast. Edit for length and content. Enhance sound quality. Convert to mp3 format. Download Audacity and the LAME Encoder here. Watch the Audacity instructional video here.

All you need to start a basic podcast is a computer and an external microphone.  With software (which I'll talk about  in the next episode) the computer will record your audio, you can edit for content and quality, and convert the file to mp3 for uploading. The external mic is crucial for sound quality.  But you don't need a recording studio mic—an el cheapo from Newegg.com (or Radio Shack, maybe even Walmart) will do.  Here's a listing from Newegg.com for several in the $10 range: http://www.newegg.com/Microphones/SubCategory/ID-122?Order=PRICE

This episode is the first in a series of how to set up your own podcasts.  There are four basic elements to address; Hardware Software Production Distribution Helpful Links   Audacity sound recorder and editor.   Feedburner, a free RSS service. Right-click to download this episode.

This was a trial episode I used to demonstrate how to set up hosting and an RSS feed for podcasts. It is not officially a part of the A/V Academy feed but there's good stuff here and I invite you to give it a listen.