Here are the two questions I keep asking myself:

1. How can we most effectively bring the content and experience of BlogWorld to people who want to go to New York to attend…but can’t?
2. How can we make an online conference as much like being there in person as possible?

See, BlogWorld is HUGE. There are over 140 speakers, and at the live event, ten sessions will be happening at once…pretty much all the time. Even if it were feasible to live-stream the entire conference to our virtual attendees, we wouldn’t want to.

Why?

Because if we did, then virtual attendees would face the same problem that live attendees face: They’d have to choose one session to watch at a time and would, hence, be physically unable to view 90% of the conference due to most people’s pesky inability to be in ten places at once.

The content in the Virtual Ticket isn’t live. You wouldn’t want it to be live. In fact, a huge number of people who sign up for the Virtual Ticket are people who will be there at the actual event. They get the Virtual Ticket to fill the gaps in their live conference experience, so that after they come home from BlogWorld, they can watch that 90+% of the content that they missed.

(NOTE: If you already signed up to attend BlogWorld in New York and would like to add the Virtual Ticket to your registration, you can do so for only $97. Just email us and ask us to add the VT to your registration. If you haven’t yet signed up for the live event, you can add the VT during the registration process.)

But because the Virtual Ticket’s main content is 100+ hours of non-live video recordings (and the accompanying MP3 downloads), that dilemma comes right back at us. How can we best convey the BlogWorld experience? How can we make it “almost like being there live” for people who can’t be there live if most of our Virtual Ticket content is not live?

And the answer, of course, is that we can’t. But we can come close.

See, there’s nothing like attending a conference. If you’re actually there in person, you’ll get the networking and handshaking and hanging out and the strange “inspiration osmosis” that comes from being in the live atmosphere. We can’t replace that, and it’d be insulting to suggest that we could.

But I asked myself…what would be close? What would help simulate an in-person experience as much as possible?

And the solution came back loud and clear: Provide daily content.

The recordings — which you can play, pause, and replay at will for a full six months on the website (or forever if you download them) — will show up about a week after BlogWorld ends. For the Los Angeles 2011 Virtual Ticket, we did a bunch of video interviews — behind the scenes stuff, intended to give that “at the conference feel” — and we provided those about a week after the event, too. And that was cool.

But this year, in addition to all of that (and with an upgrade in video and audio quality for the bonus interviews), we’re going to give Virtual Ticketholders content every day.

There’s something different about daily updates. If you get daily updates, then you can learn about Day 1 stuff while it’s still Day 1. And if you learn about something on Day 1, then you can see what happens with it on Day 2 and follow along.

In other words, daily content gets you immersed in the experience so you don’t feel like you’re just watching from the sidelines.

So, in addition to the 100+ recorded sessions, in addition to the bonus video interviews that are exclusive to the Virtual Ticket, and in addition to our prolific social media activity and picture-sharing from the conference floor, we’re adding two things to this year’s Virtual Ticket:

1. Every day, we’re going to record a handful of audio interviews and behind-the-scenes segments. And every evening, we’re going to post those files on the Virtual Ticket site for attendees to listen to.
2. Every evening, we’re going to write up a daily recap. We’ll tell VT attendees who we captured on video that they’ll be able to watch later, we’ll tell them about big happenings, and we’ll tell them if we spot The Bloggess eating a burrito for lunch. (Or if she brought her giant metal chicken “Beyonce” with her.)

Will this content make the Virtual Ticket “just like being in New York”? Of course not. But will it bring Virtual Ticketholders into the fold, finally making them a PART of BlogWorld as it unfolds instead of sitting on the sidelines, waiting patiently for the event to end and for the session content to be delivered to the private Virtual Ticket website.

If you can’t make it to New York this year, check out this year’s BlogWorld Virtual Ticket if you haven’t done so already. The price is only $347, and you won’t have to book a flight or a hotel room. Good luck finding this insane amount of content for that price anywhere else.

And if you’re attending live in New York, definitely consider adding the Virtual Ticket when you register for BlogWorld so that you can go back after the event and review the huge amount of content you missed while you were there live. It’s only $97, and will be the best conference bang-for-your-buck you ever spend. (NOTE: If you’ve already registered and want to add the VT now, you can’t do that through the website. Please email us and let us know you want to add the VT and we’ll add it for you.)

Tips For Getting The Most From Your Conference Experience
It’s hard to believe, but there are only two and a half weeks until #BWENY. In this week’s episode, I decided that I would share some tips on how to get the most value from your conference experience. I will list the tips below. I talk about each of these items in more detail within the episode.

- Look at the schedule ahead of time to find out what sessions you want to attend.

- Look at the list of speakers – Make a list of all those people you want to meet face to face.

- Take a digital recorder (even a smart phone with recording app) to record interviews for your show.

- Have lunch with someone you don’t already know.

- The person you are talking to is always worth your time. You can learn something from everyone you meet!

- Take people notes. Who did you meet? What intrigued you about them? What did you discuss? How did the topic come up? Initiate next steps?

- Business Cards

- Plan your own meetup! – Wednesday, June 6th

- Talk with the venders on the expo floor. Could be the beginning of a great relationship.

- Enjoy the city! Make a list of things you want to do and see while in NYC! Invite a friend or group to join you!

Travel The World With Your Podcast
Also in this episode, I talk with Chef Mark Tafoya about the session that he’s created for the podcasting track. In the Bon Voyage: Travel the world with your blog or podcast session, Mark and his guest panelists will share with you how they started out taking advantage of “fam trips” (free travel to destinations that were interested in media coverage) for cultural and culinary exploration, and after nearly two dozen of these trips, how they built a whole new type of business model.

Stitcher Radio Podcast Pavilion
I’m very excited to announce that Stitcher Radio is sponsoring the Podcast Pavilion at the NYC event. Because of their generous sponsorship, there is a unique opportunity that exists for any of you that has a company or brand that have products or services that you want to market to the Podcasting community on the Expo Floor. If you are interested in reserving one of these kiosks at the NYC event, please email me at Cliff@PodcastAnswerMan.com and I’ll get you in touch with the right person.

Did you know that you can earn cash while promoting the event?
BlogWorld has an affiliate program that can allow you to potentially earn enough commissions to pay for your entire trip to the conference. If you would like to learn more, please click here to sign up.

Register For BlogWorld Today!
If you are serious about your podcasting efforts, I highly recommend that you attend the leading podcast industry conference. If you haven’t registered yet, click here to get registered today. Use promo code GSPN10 for 10% off!

Subscribe To The Podcast Report

Since starting my first show on an AM radio station in 2008, I’ve been very focused on building community. Podcasting was fairly new back then, but connecting with people and making them feel cared for certainly was not.

As bloggers, we throw the word community around quite a bit, don’t we? For a while, if you wanted a solid business, all you had to do was build community. But what does the word community really mean?

A few months ago I was hanging with a few guys who helped define community as intimate friendship, shared context, and joint mission. Wow, is that even possible to build around a podcast? I think it is, and so do my friends who are joining me for the BlogWorld panel.

One of the most important things I’ve done to build community is to step away from the microphone and meet people in person. As a listener, it’s easy to place a podcaster into celebrity status and think you can’t have a relationship with them. That’s obviously a barrier to community and something that will impede the growth of your show.

So, why not come to out to BlogWorld to get out from behind your microphone and learn what you can do to build more community around your show? I’m leading a session in the afternoon on June 7th about building community. It’s the best thing you can do for your own show if you want to see fast growth.

Jeffrey joins Cliff Ravenscraft, who produces The Podcast Report each week for BlogWorld, and will be providing readers with useful content on a regular basis.

Right now, Jeffrey’s inviting all BlogWorld attendees to shoot a quick video that he’ll use for a future episode of BlogWorld Video. Just say “My name is ________ and I am going to BlogWorld & New Media Expo in New York June 5-7!”. Then send it to Jeff at jeff@blogworldexpo.com!

Want to meet Jeffrey and Cliff in person? They’ll both be at BlogWorld New York, so be sure to stop by our podcasting track to say hello!

Today's BlogWorld TV segment includes Five Questions with Daniel Lewis of the Ramen Noodle Podcast.

Are you going to BlogWorld New Media Expo New York? Let everyone know – we will have opportunities for your voice to be heard!

In this first episode of BlogWorld TV, Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine makes the call out to the public. If you are going to BlogWorld New York, feel free to create a 10-second video (send it to jeff@blogworldexpo.com) and he’ll add it to future episodes. All you have to do is get on camera and say:

My name is ________ and I am going to BlogWorld & New Media Expo in New York June 5-7!

Also, in today’s BlogWorld TV segment, Jeffrey talks with Daniel Lewis of the Ramen Noodle Podcast. Daniel will be speaking on two BlogWorld panel sessions in New York, “Podcasting 101, Parts 1 & 2″. Today, we find out what Daniel plans to do in New York in June, if there are any social media rockstars he wants to meet, and which social network he promotes.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Podcasting Your Way To Your Dream Job!
In this episode, I talk with Leslie Samuel who is leading a panel session that will certainly be a source of inspiration to everyone who attends. In today’s world of digital media, podcasting is quickly becoming a method for acquiring and sharing your expertise in the world. It is not just a hobby, but is something that, when done right, can set you on the path to success. In this panel discussion, we will be sharing how we’ve used podcasting and our online efforts to land our dream jobs and how you can do the same. Whether your goal is a dream job, or to leverage your podcasting efforts for other professional opportunities, this is the session for you. – Click here to see this session on the schedule.

Overcoming Your Biggest Obstacle To Successful Podcasting!
Did you think you’d be further along than you are in your podcasting journey by now? Do you feel like you’re just not reaching the full potential you dreamed of? Well then, it’s time you learned more than just the technical steps involved in making a successful podcast.

In Overcoming Your Biggest Obstacle To Successful Podcasting… You!, Tracy J Trost, an award-winning director of three feature films and co-host of The Successful Life Mindset will guide you through the process of discovering what’s been sabotaging your success. Before the session is over, you’ll be on the path to making sure you become your biggest asset instead of your biggest liability in your journey moving forward. – Click here to see this session on the schedule.

Stand up Comedy Invades Podcasting!
Podcasting has changed the face of stand up comedy. It seems that every comic has a podcast. Why is that? Why is it important for comedians to reach out to a new audience once, maybe twice a week? We’ll talk to the biggest stand up broadcaster about why it’s been important to take their act out of the clubs and onto portable media devices.

This session is going to be led by Adam Spiegelmen, host of Proudly Resents and Dream Tweet. – Click here to see this session on the schedule.

Stitcher Radio Podcast Pavilion – Booth for only $1,000
I’m very excited to announce that Stitcher Radio is sponsoring the Podcast Pavilion at the NYC event. Because of their generous sponsorship, there is a unique opportunity that exists for any of you that has a company or brand that have products or services that you want to market to the Podcasting community on the Expo Floor. If you are interested in reserving one of these kiosks at the NYC event, please email me at Cliff@PodcastAnswerMan.com and I’ll get you in touch with the right person.

Did you know that you can earn cash while promoting the event?
BlogWorld has an affiliate program that can allow you to potentially earn enough commissions to pay for your entire trip to the conference. If you would like to learn more, please click here to sign up.

Register For BlogWorld Today!
If you are serious about your podcasting efforts, I highly recommend that you attend the leading podcast industry conference. If you haven’t registered yet, click here to get registered today. Use promo code GSPN10 for 10% off!

Subscribe To The Podcast Report

This Week’s Topic: Starting a Podcast

Every week, BlogWorld’s fantastic podcast track leader, Cliff Ravenscraft, presents The Podcast Report right here on the BlogWorld blog. He covers tons of different podcasting topics, but today I wanted to do something a little different and give everyone a comprehensive list of links where you can find information about starting a podcast, even if you’ve never done this before. Lots of bloggers can benefit from having a podcast, but it can be daunting to get started. These brilliant bloggers (most of them podcasters themselves) have some great advice to help you join the podcasting ranks.

(I recommend you start with this podcasting beginner’s guide right here on the BlogWorld blog from Daniel Clark!)

Brilliant Blogger of the Week:

Learn How to Podcast by Cliff Ravenscraft

Cliff is a no-brainer as our brilliant blogger of the week. He might be a podcaster first and foremost, but he’s a force to be reckoned with in all forms of content creation, from podcasting to video creation to blogging. On his “learn how to podcast” page, you’ll find an AMAZING seven-part video series, wrapped up with an 8th Q&A video. This series teaches you absolutely everything you need to know about gettings started as a podcaster, even if you have no experience. His videos cover equipment, setting up and RSS feed, and more. You seriously can’t find a better all-in-one guide to getting started than Cliff’s resource, and his entire Podcast Answer Man site is something you’ll want to check out to learn more about podcasting. You can also follow Cliff on Twitter at @GSPN.

Even More Brilliant Advice:

• 5 Steps to Starting Your Own Podcasting Show by Nathan Hangen (@nhangen)
• 7 Tips for Launching a Successful Podcast by Brian Casel (@CasJam)
• 10 Reasons to Start a Podcast by Rebecca Livermore (@rlivermore)
• Everything I Know About Podcasting by Dave Thackeray (@thepodcastguy)
• Five Things to Consider Before Starting a Podcast by Matt Ryan (@mattryan)
• How to Create Community Around Your Podcast by Jason Van Orden (@jasonvo)
• How to Get Your Podcast Listed in iTunes by Ileane Smith (@Ileane)
• How To Start A Podcast: An In-Depth Guide From Planning to Launch Day by David Risley (@davidrisley)
• How to Start a Podcast Quickly, Easily and without Spending a Fortune by Steinar Knutsen (@steinarknutsen)
• Mumpreneurs Online Podcast: Podcast Like a Pro with Dan Lyons by Fiona Lewis (@FionaLewisTweet)
• Podcasting 101: Apple’s Way of Managing Podcasts by Geoffrey Goetz (@ggeoffre)
• Podcasting 101 – Simple Steps to Launching a Podcast by Jeff Rutherford (@jeffrutherford)
• Podcasting Equipment Guide by Dan Benjamin (@danbenjamin)
• Starting A Podcast: The Best Recording Equipment & Platforms You Should Use by James Bruce (@w0lfiesmith)
• Starting a Podcast? Start Here by Scott Monty (@scottmonty)
• Tips for Podcasting by Carmen Shields (@superpc)
• Turning a Podcast into a Business (with Gordon Firemark) by Daniel J. Lewis (@theramennoodle)
• Yes You Do Have the Skills to Podcast by David Jackson (@davejackson)

Ewan Spence has also written some wonderful podcasting tips right here on the BlogWorld blog!

Did I miss your post or a post by someone you know about starting a podcast? Unintentional! Help me out by leaving a comment below with the link.

Next Week’s Topic: Storytelling

I’d love to include a link to your post next week – and if you head to the Brilliant Bloggers Schedule, you can see even more upcoming posts. We all have something to learn from one another, so please don’t be shy! Head to the schedule today to learn how to submit your post so I won’t miss it.

Only Four More Weeks Until Our NYC Event!
Can you believe that there are only four more weeks until BWENY? I’m excited to see the buzz building within the podcasting community! We 24 solid hours of amazing educational content that will be presented by 56 experienced podcasters who know their stuff! I hope you’ll be there and that I’ll get a chance to meet you in NYC!

Stitcher Radio Podcast Pavilion – Booth for only $1,000
I’m very excited to announce that Stitcher Radio is sponsoring the Podcast Pavilion at the NYC event. Because of their generous sponsorship, there is a unique opportunity that exists for any of you that has a company or brand that have products or services that you want to market to the Podcasting community on the Expo Floor. If you are interested in reserving one of these kiosks at the NYC event, please email me at Cliff@PodcastAnswerMan.com and I’ll get you in touch with the right person.

Did you know that you can earn cash while promoting the event?
BlogWorld has an affiliate program that can allow you to potentially earn enough commissions to pay for your entire trip to the conference. If you would like to learn more, please click here to sign up.

Speaker Promo Codes
In this episode, I explain the difference between a speaker promo code and the affiliate program and why speakers should consider using both when promoting the conference. If you are a speaker on the Podcast Track but are not sure what your promo code is, please click here.

Katie Davis talks about the Women In Podcasting
Katie Davis has generously agreed to put together a panel session to cover the topic of Women In Podcasting. The session is titled “Smart as a W.I.P.: Success Secrets, Stupid Pitfalls, & Savvy Tactics of Women In Podcasting.” During this session, you’ll get to learn from the experiences of Katie Davis, Lisa B. Marshall, Mur Lafferty, and Amanda Thomas. This session will happen on Tuesday, June 5th at 3:45pm.

Register For BlogWorld Today!
If you are serious about your podcasting efforts, I highly recommend that you attend the leading podcast industry conference. If you haven’t registered yet, click here to get registered today. Use promo code GSPN10 for 10% off!

Subscribe To The Podcast Report

The Virtual Ticket
I start off this episode with an interview with Johnny B Truant who tells us about the Virtual Ticket option for BlogWorld & New Media Expo. The Virtual Ticket is a perfect standalone option for those who have decided that they will not be able to make it to NYC, this June, to attend the event.

The Virtual Ticket is also perfect, as an add-on option, for those who will be attending #BWENY this year, as there will be so many sessions happening simultaneously and you will only be able to be physically present at one session at a time. The Virtual Ticket allows you to catch all the sessions you missed just one week after the conference.

Five Session Previews With Evo Terra
Next up, I had the pleasure of interviewing Evo Terra from PodioBooks.com. Evo happens to be leading two panel sessions and sitting in as a panelist on three other sessions at #BWENY this year.

Here’s the list of sessions:
- From Book To Podcast & Back Again
- Podcasting For Creatives
- The Real Speil – The Realistic Approach in Monetizing Your Podcast
- Learn The Part of Podcast Narration
- The State of Podcasting for 2012

I hope that you enjoy this podcast, that you will subscribe to it, and that you will tell every podcaster you know about it. Please leave me any comments or feedback that you have in the comments section below! I hope to see you at the event!

Register For BlogWorld Today!
If you are serious about your podcasting efforts, I highly recommend that you attend the leading podcast industry conference. If you haven’t registered yet, click here to get registered today. Use promo code GSPN10 for 10% off!

Subscribe To The Podcast Report

Heading Back To Las Vegas!
In this episode of The Podcast Report, Rick Calvert, CEO & co-founder of BlogWorld & New Media Expo, shares the exciting news that the next West Coast event is going to be held in Las Vegas. Also, the date of the West Coast event is moving to January 6th, 7th, and 8th 2013. This news allows folks to attend BlogWorld & New Media Expo, IAWTV, and CES all in a single trip to Last Vegas.

Also in this episode, Rick and I also talk, at length, about some of exciting this that will be happening at the New York City event that will take place in only six weeks.

I hope that you enjoy this podcast, that you will subscribe to it, and that you will tell every podcaster you know about it. Please leave me any comments or feedback that you have in the comments section below! I hope to see you at the event!

Register For BlogWorld Today!
If you are serious about your podcasting efforts, I highly recommend that you attend the leading podcast industry conference. If you haven’t registered yet, click here to get registered today. Use promo code GSPN10 for 10% off!

Subscribe To The Podcast Report