Two of the pioneers in podcasting have joined forces to co-author The Business of Podcasting: How to Take Your Podcasting Passion from the Personal to the Professional, which focuses on the business aspects of producing audio programs for the Web.
The authors are Donna Papacosta of Trafalgar Communications, host of the popular "Trafcom News Podcast" and an internationally known trainer and seminar leader; and Steve "@PodcastSteve" Lubetkin, founder of Professional Podcasts, one of the first podcast production companies and now a division of The Lubetkin Media Companies LLC, an award-winning producer of business and organizational podcasts, with more than three quarters of a million downloads.
Unlike other podcasting books that delve into the mechanics of creating a podcast, The Business of Podcasting describes the business side of podcasting: how to position clients' expertise through podcasting, the best business models, how to find clients, contracts, legal reviews, and much more.
Here are some comments from some of our early readers:
“If podcasting is in a resurgence, as quite a number of mainstream media reports have been pointing out in recent months, now is the time for a credible and authoritative publication that helps you see what it takes to plan, start and continue your own business podcast, and guides you on your journey. The Business of Podcasting is such a publication, one that offers powerful insights, knowledge and inspiration from two of the most authoritative people in the podcasting field. Steve Lubetkin and Donna Papacosta, the book’s co-authors, bring a combination of solid experience over a decade with radio, business communication and podcasting, all encapsulated in this essential volume that is a blueprint to being a successful and effective business podcaster.” — Neville Hobson, co-host of The Hobson & Holtz Report podcast since 2005.
“Reading The Business of Podcasting was a pleasure … The book is a great blend of practical business and technical advice about the value, pitfalls and practical realities of producing a podcast series for money, not love (well, okay a bit of love is okay). For seasoned podcasters who have the chops to tell great stories with strong audio, the book will give you insights into turning your passion into at least a part-time paycheque. Professional communicators will find the text a great starting point to enter the podcast business, from a technical point of view. Anyone with an interest in the now re-emerging podcast market will find the book a concise, readable and practical guide to a medium that has been around for over a decade and feels brand new to a market ready (finally) for the pleasures of anywhere audio. Donna and Steve have been doing this since the early days of podcasting, and and it shows in their nicely chosen case studies.”
- Wayne MacPhail, president, w8nc inc
“I have to say I love the book. Too often business books fall into one of two piles. Dry reads with lots of boring information or smarmy tactic books. This book is a fun read with very useful information. This isn’t a get rich-quick scheme; this is how to put in the work and make podcasting work for you. I love it! Doing things the right way is always hard work, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Seriously good read.”
- Paul RJ Muller, host, the Caffination Podcast
“Donna and Steve represent a perfect mix of knowledge - and experience - radio production, corporate communication and podcasting. Reading and using this book is a must whether you come from a professional background in communications or from a non-professional background as a podcaster offering your services to businesses. The book completely lacks ‘snake oil’ talk about podcasting. What a relief. The book is not an attempt to oversell the benefits of audio podcasting. If you know the medium, you already know the pros and cons. The book is, however, the perfect way to guide the person who is going to offer her services and expertise to companies in a professional, safe and convincing manner.”
- Karin Høgh, owner, PodConsult