A Quiz: Test Your Podcasting Knowledge
By Sharon Housley

How much do you know about podcasting? Take the podcast quiz and test your knowledge.

Question: Are there any size limitations to podcasts?

Answer: There are no maximums or minimums when it comes to podcast size. Obviously, the larger files might intimidate listeners with a slow connection. Podcasts can be successful at any size, generally wise podcasters balance the file size and the quality of their show.

Question: What are ID3 Tags?

Answer: ID3 tags consist of meta data that describe the contents of the audio file (typically ID3 tags relate to MP3 files). ID3 tags generally contain information related to the audio file, including things like title of the audio file, the artist, album, or other relevant information. There is speculation that podcasting search engines and directories will use the information contained in the ID3 tags to categorize, search, and group podcasts in the future.

Question: Are Podcasts are always in the RSS 2.0 format?

Answer: No, while RSS 2.0 was the first version to support enclosures, RSS version 1 also now includes an enclosure tag for podcasting. While the current RSS 1.0 supports podcasting, RSS 2.0 is by far the more popular format for those podcasting. This is not only because RSS 2.0 was the first standard to support enclosures, but also due to the fact that Apple iTunes uses RSS 2.0 for it’s podcasts.

Question: Can podcasts be restricted to a specific group of listeners?

Answer: Yes, while there are no provisions in the RSS 2.0 specification for passwords or protecting files, as with any web documents, podcasts can be password protected by placing it in a subdirectory. You can use any security mechanism available on the http server to protect the entire feed or the actual audio file.

Question: Are there any fee based podcasts?

Answer: Yes, while the model has not yet been widely adopted, some publishers have experimented with providing fee based "commercial-free" podcasts. Rather than charging advertisers to advertise in the podcasts, the publishers have monetized the podcasts by charging listeners for the contents of the podcast. Typically the audio file is password protected and only subscribers are able to download or listen to the file. The model is similar to that which the cable shows HBO/Showtime use, where they charge a fee for premium content. It is likely that educational podcasts, or language lessons will adopt this model.

Question: What file formats are acceptable in a podcast?

Answer: It really depends on what your definition of a podcast is. Initially the term podcast referred to any RSS feed that contained an audio file as an enclosure. The usage of the term podcast has expanded and now many people consider any RSS feed that includes a file in the enclosure field to be a podcast. In other words, many people use the term podcast to refer to an RSS feed that has a video file, or power point presentation or other enclosure.

Technically you can put just about any type of file in the enclosure field. If you are referring to a traditional audio podcast, for the sake of compatibility, most podcasters use either MP3 or M4a. The added benefit of using an MP3 or M4a file is that both formats are also supported by iTunes, which allow people to expand their podcast with iTunes tags and include it in the iTunes Music Store.

Interested in additional RSS FAQs visit the RSS Knowledgebase http://www.feedforall.com/podcasting-knowledgebase.htm or subscribe to the RSS knowledgebase feed http://www.feedforall.com/podcasting-knowledgebase.php

About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com podcast software for audio recording and editing.

Rss In A Nutshell: What It Is And What It Does

By By Chris Malta & Robin Cowie

You’ve probably heard the term “RSS feeds” before, but if you’re like most people, it doesn’t mean much to you. However, if you sell online, it’s high time you discover this powerful marketing tool and what it can do for your eBiz. According to Jeff Molander (http://www.ThoughtShapers.com), CEO of performance-marketing consulting practice, Molander and Associates, the potential of RSS as a promotional vehicle for online retailers is tremendous.

Really Simple Syndication—

That’s what the letters stand for, but RSS is actually just a web feed format, or a means of transporting data across the web. It’s often specified in XML (extensible markup language), which is simply the way the data inside a feed is structured. Says Molander, “Think of RSS as an internet plumbing system and XML as a standard way to transmit and receive data through those pipes.”

You may already be using RSS feeds and not even realize it. If you get news updates through an information portal like Yahoo, Google, or BlogLines, those updates are powered by RSS behind the scenes. Like your plumbing system, it’s in the background doing its job— you aren’t supposed to see it.

A Multi-tasking Medium

Currently, RSS feeds are mostly used for syndicated data, like news or sports stats, made available by publishers. But e-marketers are starting to catch on to the possibilities this technology poses:

• With RSS feeds, you can alert your customers whenever you’re running a special or adding a new product to your line-up. They can opt-in to receive updates and discussions about the products, in real time, so they’re not relying on receiving numerous emails.

• You can attach almost any kind of information to an RSS feed—podcasts, internet radio transmissions, blogs, etc. Some blogging services have made it as effortless as clicking a button to generate a URL that notifies users whenever you publish something new.

• For your customers who prefer to consume their news the old-fashioned way, you can use feed blitzes to turn your feeds into emails. They receive the same Instant Information Access; it’s just delivered in a different form.

Straight from the Source

There are a number of companies that can help you publish feeds, and advertise through those channels. Right now, it’s possible to monitor how many people are signing up for feeds, but it’s hard to obtain any relevant statistics about them.

Here are some great resources for educating yourself about, and utilizing, feeds:

• http://www.SyndicationGumption.com helps you assess and understand RSS audiences.

• http://www.TechCrunch.com gives you the latest news on who’s adopting RSS feeds and how they’re using them to innovate.

• http://www.MarketingStudies.net provides marketers with tips for capitalizing on RSS, as well as the latest developments surrounding it.

Hitting the Mark—Every Time

You can offer your customers RSS feeds as an alternative to traditional emails. Molander explains, “It’s a deliverability issue… [We’re] in a time where distributing desired or valuable information on the web is actually somewhat difficult, specifically for advertisers.” Unlike emails, which are often lost, or picked off by spam blockers, RSS brings news directly to your users. It’s 100% opt-in, so you know your users are not only getting it, but that they really want it as well. Once they subscribe to your feed, literally nothing stands in the way of your delivering it to them.

About the Author: Chris Malta and Robin Cowie of WorldwideBrands.com are the Writers and Hosts of The Entrepreneur Magazine EBiz and Product Sourcing Radio Shows. Click Here for more FREE eBiz info from Entrepreneur Magazine Radio!