Customer Reviews

Podcasting For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers))

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book around 1 month ago because I wanted to set up a Podcast and publish it to the web but had no idea how. The moment I opened the cover this book was helpful, it walks you through everything you need to know to set up and publish your Podcast, choose equipment, do interview over the phone, in the studio, or over Skype/iChat and then recommends other For Dummies books if you want to get really into it (say, Web Design for dummies, or something). It even gives you a simple easy to understand overview of the major technologies involved with Podcasting (RRS, XML, etc.) and shows you what the best hosting options are and how to promote and advertise your show! Truly, this book had me up and running in no time, and is constantly helpful, I haven't come across anything that Podcasting For Dummies hasn't been able to help me with. A great book on Podcasting, I would recommend this to everyone.

As a Podcaster of 3 shows and more than 200 episodes in my first year, I can say that this is *THE* book to have on podcasting. Whether you are thinking about getting started or have been doing this for a while, there is something in here for you and you'll turn to it again and again. Now when someone comes to me and says "I'm thinking of starting a podcast" I have a GREAT resource to give them!

There is little doubt that Evo Terra and Tee Morris are experts in the podcasting field. Both of them were early pioneers in the field, and have literally taught thousands of people how to podcast before this book ever hit the shelves. If you can only buy one Podcasting book, this is the one.

If you are looking for a content and organization guide to start a podcast, then this is the book for you. If you, like me need technical information on the act of podcasting then there are better choices. There is some information on recording and posting, but the book spends the vast majority of it's time on things like structuring your podcast and reaching a wide audience.

.... with podcasting this is the book that you need! It covers all those questions I had as a new podcaster; all the technical things, like hardware, all the software, and all the polishing techniques.
With this in hand I feel much more confident.

If you are curious about podcasting, this is the first book to read. Why? Because Tee Morris and Evo Terra do such a great job of explaining this "new media" phenomenon in simple, easy to understand language, step by step, until you have a solid base of knowledge that you can put to practical use. And they don't steer away from some of the tougher subjects, either -- the section on the usually confounding aspects of RSS feeds, an essential podcasting technology, is one of the most clearly written articles I've ever read on this subject. I've put many of the recommendations in this book into practice on several business podcasts that I've produced over the last few months, and all to very good effect. This book is extremely well organized, with an excellent index and table of contents, annotated references, and many side articles full of useful insights and advice. Highly recommended reading for any aspiring podcaster.

The Dummies series of books take complex subjects and breaks them into easily understandable sections. These books never seem to disappoint and you won't be with "Podcasting For Dummies". With the explosion of internet blogging, people also began to use audio to get their content online. Listeners only need a computer and a broadband connection to hear what you have to say.

This book is for both podcasters and for those who listen to podcasts. If you want to create your own podcasts, the information in the book will take you to that point and beyond. You can record, produce and host your own podcast.

I knew nothing about creating podcasts and that's why I got the book. Besides a little history of podcasting, the book walks you through (and holds your hand) on how to select the right microphone, any needed peripherals and finding a host. I like the icons that highlight special portions of the chapters. There are icons for warnings, technical stuff, tips and things to remember. The book goes through the different types of podcasts and how to make them successful. You are guided through why it is good to have a script, methods of recording, sound checks, pacing, editing, file size compression, and also touches a bit about copyright rules.

Once you have made a podcast, you will need to know how to upload it to a server. Once there, you need to learn how to publicize and draw in listeners. There's also information on how to gain listener feedback, whether it be via your blog, discussion groups at Google or Yahoo or finding other free online forums. If you want to know how to advertise your podcast for free, it is also included in this book.

Even if you only plan to listen to podcasts and not create them, you will gain a better understanding of how to do it more efficiently. The book is an easy read and you learn whether you start at the beginning or go directly to a specific subject. There are also many helpful screenshots sprinkled throughout the book.

Podcasts are exciting in that you can find them on many specific subjects or a niche market if you will. Broadcast radio has to appeal to a large audience and also make money. You can also make money if you obtain advertisers interested in your subject and audience or through subscribers donations or subscriptions. Podcasts can be on any subject you are passionate about. One can entertain or educate. [...]

The co-authors Tee Morris and Evo Terra compliment each other as they have their interest in podcasting in common but their personalities seem so different. [...]

This book provided a detailed overview of all the essentials of podcasting. Although the book made it clear on several occasions that you don't need to spend a fortune to get started with starting your own podcast, it did make me want to go out an buy better equipment nonetheless.

Podcasting is something that just about anyone who has spent a fair amount of time on the internet has at least heard about. I will personally admit to having only listened to perhaps a handful of them myself - at least to this point. I did, though, come into reading Podcasting for Dummies with a basic knowledge of how they were presented thanks to some digging on the internet to educate myself a while back.

Not that it mattered. The book does a great job of outlining all the ins and outs of podcasting. No preliminary knowledge is required. Perhaps more importantly - at least for someone like me - the book isn't so painfully introductory that one with a working understanding of the subject feels like their time and money is wasted.

I picked up Podcasting for Dummies because I've been thinking to start my own podcast and wanted to develop a more complete understanding of it all, and get some hints and tips on ways to make it all more efficient. That's exactly what I got, so I am definitely a satisfied customer.

I picked this up simply because I was curious about podcasts as I hear people talking about them more and more.

As with many dummies books; this is a great initiation for those that ask "What is...." This book takes you through the whole process of setting up and publishing a podcast. It even gives advice with equipment, handling interviews, and setting up sites for distributing your podcast.

If you have never worked with the web, there are a couple chapters that might bore you as they deal with RSS and XML. They are more of an introduction but they might bore if not confuse people if they have never seen html.

The book also gives suggestions about content, finding a niche and basically finding your place in the pod world. It even offers some answers to some legal issues that a person could run into if they are not careful such as publishing music.

There are many links offered for further study

Overall, this is a great book if you find yourself asking what's a podcast? It could answer the question "Is podcasting for you?"

For me it's not something that interests me at the moment. However, I know much more after reading this book.