Customer Reviews

The Business Podcasting Bible: Wherever My Market Is... I Am

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I really like Paul Colligan's website and podcasts about podcasting (both very highly recommended -- search on Google to find them), and I eagerly ordered a copy of this book, expecting some great information. Frankly, I am very disappointed. This book is nothing more than a poorly produced extended commercial, full of platitudes both general and inspecific. This book explores a lot of general business philosophy, but provides little practical, applicable advice about how to really make any money in podcasting. There are a *few* good ideas hidden in here -- but you have to wade through a *lot* of prose to find them. Unlike some of the other excellent podcasting advice books in print (see Jason van Orden's "Promoting Your Podcast" and Walch/Lafferty's "Tricks of the Podcasting Masters"), this book just didn't meet my expectations -- which were admittedly high, considering the impressive pedigrees of the two authors. Paul and Alex, you two are acknowledged experts in this field, and you can do a lot better than this book. In addition, I was struck at how poorly organized and produced this book really is -- no titles for chapters (which makes sense, since there is little organization to the subject matter -- many of the chapters read the same), and no index. There is, however, a lot of advertising tucked in here and there for services provided by Paul and Alex. When I buy a book from industry experts, I don't want an infomercial -- I want real information. I even went to the "member site" referred to in the book, and ran into technical problems when trying to access it. Frustrating? You bet. My advice: skip this book, and go to Paul Colligan's excellent blog -- you'll find a LOT more useful information there.

Alex Mandossian is a zealot for podcasting. This book is his self promotion vehicle. It sells the idea of doing podcasts for money, which is the author's business. His company is mentioned by name several times per chapter; the co-authors' various other business enterprises also are heavily hyped.

This is a book about what Mandossian calls "monetization" -- that is, getting people to pay for something or become more loyal as a result of podcasting. It is not about how to write, produce, or promote a business podcast.

"The Business Podcasting Bible" appears hastily written, and unedited: the text is verbose, wandering and repetitive, riddled with typos that should not have made it to press. The few nuggets of somewhat helpful info are sparse in these 285 pages that could (and should) have been 100.

The "Private Member Site" is no better. This book was published three months ago, but much of the bonus online material it promises is not there yet. What is online is basically selected book content in mp3 form.

I hope to find a good book that I can recommend on this subject -- a book that is more useful and less tedious to read.

I was taking the Podcast Training and I kept getting lost in the terminology that Paul and Alex were using. However, I was not alone and I was reminded one class by Paul and/or Alex to use the Podcast Bible to get myself straigthened out with the words. As a member, I was able to download it and really get into what words they had defined.

You see misunderstood words will cause you to fail in a career change and in life. By having the words defined in an easy explanation, I was able to hear more of the information in the following classes. Even during the class, Paul and Alex defined the words for the actions to be taken in that class.

We are speaking another language when we are using Internet-eze terminology. I spent almost a year learning basic terms, where Paul and Alex had all those definitions and the newest ones in one easy book. Yes, it can be used as your online/podcast bible.

Stop fighting learning. Join the flow and get with the learning curve. You deserve all the help you can get. Buying the book will help you get out of the fog and into action.

Patricia Lewis

The Business Podcasting Bible provides a solid baseline for understanding how to use the Podcast medium for expanding and enhancing your business. As a business owner, I was looking for a way to understand how to leverage podcasting to support my business. The examples and discussions used in the book delivered the information I needed to start including podcasting in my marketing plan. The mix of technology and marketing information is presented in a way that most business owners will find extremely consumable. If you are looking to understand this new marketing venue for your business... Start Here!
The Business Podcasting Bible: Wherever My Market Is... I Am

If you want to make the most money today, you need to use this new technology. Paul and Alex hit it right on the head by showing you how to make the money multiple different ways using Podcasting. Since I am brand new to the concept of using podcasts this is a great resource and an answer to prayer. Their focus on helping me make money with this technology is like no other. I have only found their information to be complete and thorough in helping me make the most for my most. It is an investment worth every penny.

Living in Spain I am a bit out of the loop when it comes to up to date info on anything new/ish.
I buy from Amazon when I have been recommended a title or have already seen it.
However I am one of those people who needs to spend several hours in a bookshop checking out all sorts of titles before making my purchases.
I came across the The Business Podcasting Bible recently on a visit to Atlanta.
It was just what I needed at the time as whereas I was aware of podcasts, I did not see how to enjoy making them AND getting paid at the same time.

This book helped to widen my perspective on just that. If some reviewers have observed that Alex and Paul promote their own endeavours, they are perhaps justified, but what is much more relevant and shines through, is the enthusiasm that they have for this new medium and that there are definite possibilities to make money with it.

For me a very timely purchase!
And thanks to the authors.
George Kedourie

Unlike the one of the reviewers before me, I really enjoyed The Business Podcasting Bible. This was the content I needed understand how this whole Podcasting thing really fits into my whole business mix.

I won't address his complaints - I'll just explain what my take homes were:

I got the who/what/when/where/why and how of podcasting now. I can see why Alex and Paul are so excited. I didn't want a "what microphone to buy" article - I have sound people who do that. I wanted the things to think of before I have the sound guy hit the record button. Great stuff - took lots of notes - thanks.

And for those of you looking to buy a "what kind of microphone" book - this isn't the book for you.

I was surprised you found so many case studies - there just aren't enough business podcasts out there to . Thanks for being a pioneer in this one and thanks for giving us the "What Happened?" in the free private member site that comes with purchase. I hate emerging tech books that lock me into a place in time. P.s., I registered - when are you going to unlock the site?

And, my biggest beef, "monetizing a podcast" - that's like monetizing your fax machine. Fax should be part of your overall strategy but I'm never going to hire a fax consultant to tell us what to do with the machine. I got a solid idea now.

I should have caught this before but the podcast as channel and medium bit was perfect. That was the missing link for me.

Only complaint is that the private member site ain't open yet. When does that go live?

The Business Podcasting Bible is one of those pivotal books that points towards the future of publishing, by synergizing the on-line and off-line publishing world. I have no doubt in saying it shall be a seminal marketing model and book in years to come, that many of us will point to as an inspiration to fusing on-line and off-line marketing to our income streams.

The first edition has smartly included membership privileges to a web site that will have updates to the book, access to resources and tools that every business podcaster will want to keep abreast of, as part of its marketing funnel, and monetization model.

In fact, if you are savvy, you will see a wonderful opportunity for yourself, should you be in business. Don't re-invent the wheel, do what Paul Colligan and Alex Mandossian are doing here. It is a comprehensive road map to podcasting profitably. This comes as no surprise, as Paul and Alex are experienced and savvy marketers in the live event, teleseminar and internet communities. Extending their extensive knowledge to podcasting is a natural fit.

Podcasting offers a wonderful opportunity to instantly create relationships of substance, find like-minded partners, form business relationships and most importantly, connect with your target market.

You absolutely need this book, if you want to learn how to make money podcasting. It is the future business model, in your hands today.

Danny Guspie - Podcast Guru

[...]
Record - Share - Connect - Monetize Today!

While some may argue that Podcasting is still too young to merit a "business bible", the ambitious early adopters have been known to help explain and define the marketplace so the timing of their books will always be in question. Of greater concern is the accuracy of the facts and the nature of the vision.

Paul and Alex definitely have a good view of the Podcast marketplace and they open The Business Podcasting Bible with a solid discussion on what defines Podcasting. From page one they challenge the reader to think wholistically about any Podcasting strategy, business or otherwise. In fact, I feel that this book has the strongest philosophical discussion on Podcast production and consumption to date -- almost to the point that I questioned if the book's title was accurate.

The Bible is a great introduction to Podcast-based business and marketing strategies, and definitely inspires exploration and innovation. There is discussion on both direct and indirect models of monetization, and the authors set the stage for further analysis of the use of Podcasts to market organizations and thought leadership. I believe that the "Podosphere" is just too oversatured to seduce the kinds of sponsorship and advertising dollars that the early adopters had envisioned.

The authors encourage the reader to question the various elements of the decision to Podcast. The most important of these questions is `why?' and `when?', and the book guides you through the thought process.

If I could change one thing about the book it would be to turn the sidepanel discussions (some of which carry on for several pages thus forcing the reader to backtrack) into full-page panels.

Paul and Alex are clearly knowledgable and excited about the power and flexibility of Podcasting. More importantly, they are very honest about its shortcomings. It is this combination that makes the book a great resource for anyone considering using a Podcast as a business or marketing (business OR personal) tool.

Hobbyists can take much of the credit for bringing podcasting into the mainstream with novelty and special interest shows, but it will be business and commerce that drives the medium to the next level(s). Colligan and Mandossian have provided a glimpse into the future (actually the present for early adopters) with this practical handbook for "monetizing" podcasts. I've read several other books about podcasting, and this book is not in the same category. This book is not about "internet radio" or "user generated content". This book is about building your business through target (audio and video) marketing.