| It is much easier for search engines to index text | | | | Podscope searches for the spoken words within |
| blogs than podcasts or videoblogs. At present, | | | | the podcasts themselves. Yahoo! Podcasts is very |
| search engines are using link text and the text | | | | user friendly and is one of the more consistent |
| surrounding the links to podcasts and videoblogs | | | | and useful in finding good podcasts. Singing Fish |
| as a means to index their contents. The situation | | | | provides a whole ream of results by just typing in |
| is admittedly a far cry from the ideal but the | | | | podcast or bring back audio results only when |
| great strides being seen in the development of | | | | specified with the use of drop-down menus on |
| technologies towards the indexing of these | | | | the top left. Other worthy research engines |
| mediacasts are very encouraging. | | | | includes Podzinger, Blinkx, BlogDigger and Lycos |
| Podcasting in Relation to Search Engines | | | | Audio Search. |
| Podcasting is the method of distributing | | | | Aside from search engines, podcast directories |
| multi-media files over the Internet using either the | | | | are virtual goldmines for finding good podcasts. |
| RSS or atom-syndication formats, for playback | | | | The Podcast includes the very useful Top Ten |
| on mobile devices and personal computers. This | | | | Podcasts of the Month as voted by listeners. The |
| may include, but is not limited to, audio programs | | | | NPR Podcast Directory contains quality podcasts in |
| and music videos. Podcast can mean both the | | | | a subject directory format. The categorizes |
| content and method of delivery while a podcaster | | | | podcasts of various subjects by tags which are |
| is the host or author of a podcast. | | | | available for free download. Podcast Bunker is |
| The websites of podcasters may offer direct | | | | likewise one of the best places to find quality |
| download or streaming of their files. A podcast | | | | podcasts on the web. |
| usually features a single type of show with new | | | | Search engines have become very useful |
| episodes introduced regularly or sporadically, | | | | especially to those who don't particularly enjoy |
| although there are podcast networks that feature | | | | the search process. allows the user to search |
| multiple shows on the same feed. It can be | | | | podcasts in the same way as searching for |
| downloaded automatically using software capable | | | | anything else in the web. A word or phrase typed |
| of reading RSS or atom feeds. | | | | in will find relevant broadcasts and highlights the |
| The term podcasting is technically a misnomer as | | | | segment of the audio in which they occurred. It is |
| it combines two words: iPod and broadcasting. It | | | | not perfect but it serves the user's need at this |
| does not require an iPod or over-the-air | | | | time. It works with a speech-recognition software |
| broadcasting. The "pod" name association | | | | which transforms audio into words. and Blinkx are |
| stemmed from the popularity of the iPod digital | | | | sites that work in a similar way. |
| audio player during the time that podcasting | | | | Podzinger and Blinkx are search engines that |
| began. A lot of other terms have been suggested | | | | scour audio content for keywords by translating |
| for use but the term stuck and remained as such. | | | | the audio into text and creating an index for quick |
| Like any other regular websites that aim to be | | | | searching. This is a step ahead of traditional |
| found by searchers, search engines have much to | | | | search engines that can only identify keywords in |
| contribute towards this end including podcasts. | | | | a podcast's Meta data such as the headline and |
| Podcast optimization can be achieved by | | | | introductory notes which describes the audio file's |
| promoting only one feed. Many podcasters | | | | general content. |
| commit the mistake of creating a podcast and | | | | Podzinger has officially ended its beta and lets |
| then moving over to a different management | | | | users jump to the spot in a podcast where their |
| system which entails promoting a new RSS feed. | | | | search term appears. This is a welcome option to |
| This usually results to a lot of different feeds for | | | | being forced to scan an entire program for |
| every podcast which may be disadvantageous in | | | | pertinent parts such as with Blinkx. The design |
| the long run. | | | | results to an uncluttered search page similar to |
| Another way to get the most out of podcasts is | | | | those of Google. Podcasters can also link to a |
| by optimizing the audio file. The findability gap | | | | searchable index of their content in order to sell |
| should be closed since a lot of people listen to a | | | | sponsored links to text in the index provided by |
| podcast on their computers as well as their MP3 | | | | Podzinger. |
| players. A landing page can be optimized for each | | | | Both Podzinger and Blinkx include information |
| episode of the show as well as the category | | | | about the source of the podcast as well as |
| page. Subscription information that is very visible | | | | excerpts of text translated from the podcast. |
| on the landing page is highly recommended. | | | | This comes with the added convenience of having |
| Podcasters should also look into building correct | | | | relevant search terms highlighted. In this regard, |
| and valid feeds with feed validation tools. Since | | | | Podzinger's information is more extensive while |
| iTunes do not redistribute, a separate feed must | | | | allowing users to hear excerpts and determine its |
| be built for it. Doing three separate feeds - a 2.0 | | | | relevancy before downloading the entire podcast. |
| feed, a media feed and an iTunes feed is ideal. | | | | Podscope searches podcasts but scans only for |
| The inclusion of a transcript or summary | | | | sounds of syllable rather than full words. It has |
| depending on the podcast's time span is needed. | | | | operated a keyword search engine for video and |
| A landing page usually requires just a summary | | | | radio broadcast since 1999. By far, the Blinkx |
| which is a well optimized page covering the | | | | service is a bit more extensive as it scours |
| podcast's high points. Some search engines use | | | | thousands of podcast and offers search for 1 |
| speech-recognition to determine the relevancy of | | | | million hours of TV news video and the content |
| the podcast. | | | | of academic lectures. |
| Quality podcasts may not be easy to find. This is | | | | The problem at hand for podcast search is the |
| especially true if the desired site is one that has | | | | difficulty in finding what is really needed in |
| already done the lifting for its searchers including | | | | podcasts. Relevant results cannot be attained |
| podcast search engines, directories and round up | | | | without words thus the heavy reliance on speech |
| sites. A huge variety of podcasts are available in a | | | | recognition software that would help the public |
| wide variety of genres. | | | | search for on-line video and radio content. |
| The Podcasting Search Engines | | | | Podcasts are a priority at this time due to |
| Generally, major search engines are not indexing | | | | popularity boom it is currently experiencing. The |
| podcasts in a format that is easy to find. | | | | aim is to make the spoken word as searchable as |
| However, some podcast-specific search engines | | | | the printed word. |
| seem to have solved some of the problems. | | | | |