What’s special about that number? It made me smile. It’s how many Lisacast listeners there are as of today. Wow! Thank you listeners and thank you guests. If you’d like to hear more of a certain topic, have a guest suggestion or want to connect with me, please email lisa@lisa.io. I’ve loved the discussions we’ve had, your emails, your support and your ideas. Lisacast is looking forward to a great 2009!
Monthly Archives: January 2009
BlogTalkRadio is now easier to use
BlogTalkRadio released a redesign today, addressing many dozens of feature requests, bug fixes and overall capability to distribute content on the platform.
BlogTalkRadio is a platform, it’s an audio platform wrapped by a social network. That idea complexes many people. Mashable wrote an article today titled “BlogTalkRadio: Does it Have a Future“, evidently written by someone who hasn’t been following the rise of the company, it’s position in the market and the potential of the platform. Think of BlogTalkRadio like a multi-engine car, it can perform light and smart, or rich and heavy. You can detail it yourself, and drive it, it’s yours — or you can pay BlogTalkRadio to build a custom frame and paint it to your specs. Here’s what the new digs look like:
If you’re an author, or a business owner, of say a media or publishing company, or a non-profit person who wants to spread the word about your cause, or an individual with a particular prowess for prancing your personality by means of pr, then you’ll immediately see the potential from the business side to brand a whole station, not just one show. I do Lisacast, my show on BlogTalkRadio because it brings together a crowd of people I otherwise may not have ever met. (Thank you listeners, by the way!) That’s good for business, because I run a digital marketing agency and it’s one of the way I can show off what I do, who I know, etc. Lisacast has become one of the most popular shows on the BlogTalkRadio network with millions of listeners each month.
Here’s the official feature update:
Inline Listening
User can listen to shows right on the page in search results without leaving the page
All program guide pages Categories, Featured, Popular and Branded Networks
Reminders
Integration of episode reminder with Outlook and Google calendars
Inline Listening Flash based widgetAbility to syndicate any network content to the widget with Inline Listening
Based on Categories or Keywords
ex. http://beta.blogtalkradio.com/widget2.aspx?string=technology&siteid=1Improved Search
Search search is pre-filtered into user experience styles
Shows – hosts that produce the episodes in the results
Episodes – the individual episodes that are results of the search
On Air/Upcoming – currently live or future shows that are results for the search topicEx. a search for “Gaza” – in the new site is a great departure from the ability to find shows and episodes quickly
Users can also perform advanced filtering without having to enter ‘advanced mode’ with the a tabbed navigation above search results
Keywords
We’ve opened our entire network to user choice by integrating keywords into
- RSS feeds: receive episode specific to the keyword topic
- Search
- Internal TaxonomyWe’ll be expanding this in the new year. Organic keyword integration helping BlogTalkRadio to increase our 1 million+ indexed pages at Google.
Learning Center and Community Forum
A renewed focus on engaging and making our platform more user friendlyiTunes
Fully compliant with iTunes podcasting spec and album art
New integrated one-click subscription to show, episode and keyword RSS feeds
Corporate WebsiteDistinguishes business content from listening site
Branded Private Networks
This addition opens BlogTalkRadio for the corporate client seeking a new media presence online with control over the interface, show aggregation and syndication of their media.
Social Network ProfilesIn an effort to increase the sharing of work produced on the network we’ve added into host profiles such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

Those are just a couple of examples. Here’s one in working action too, the Woman’s Day station on BlogTalkRadio.
The new home page looks much more Web 2.0 now, and has simple descriptions and content areas. It’s really easy to listen now. Easier. Really, it was pretty easy before. They’ve even got player buttons running in ads on other networks, so people can play shows directly with 1 click. Advertisers, listening?
Check out the new BlogTalkRadio web site, maybe start your own show. In the meantime, checkout previous Lisacast shows here on Lisacast.com. I have a show coming up today with the FlyLady, you won’t want to miss it. Call-in at 1 (646) 478-4956 to speak your mind about “energy efficiency.” The show airs today from 12 – 1 pm PST.
Energy Efficiency
My next show is on energy efficiency. Joining me are entrepreneurs and world-travelers Stephen and Lynda Kane from the UK, Brighton specifically. Stephen and Lynda are wonderful, energetic people, spreading the word about their energy awareness training and tools and their book, The Hidden Secrets of Real Health. As well, we are graced with Marla Cilley, otherwise known as the FlyLady, she has become a fast household name, leaving me wondering when her own book will replace my copy of All-New Hints from Heloise. Flylady.net, a 24-hour/day streaming show now on BlogTalkRadio (where Lisacast is often recorded), has gathered more members than any other Yahoo! group created, over 500k. Her site gives rise to the argument for community and giving, as her altruistic nature is contagious. I will also discuss my partner at Communicate.io, Fred Davis’ Gadget Night, his event and the more efficient electronics he recommended. Finally, I’ll highlight some of the people involved the ever-growing green sector to talk about what’s coming next.
Tech guru presents gadget chat to Marin group
By Jim Staats
Posted: 12/04/2008 03:44:37 PM PSTIn a freewheeling chat on gadgets that ranged from the best part of the new iPhones to pens that record notes and sound, technology guru Fred Davis apologized for going low-tech.
Davis, editor of many of the world’s leading computer magazines and longtime Silicon Valley insider, told a roomful of “techies” Wednesday he had to scrap his multimedia presentation because his laptop was stolen from his car.
“That’s why I always keep everything on a thumb drive,” he said, noting the valuable stuff was saved. “It’s way more valuable than my computer.”
Are you doing more energy efficient activities this year, or is your company?
Call-in live if you’d like to participate in out discussion between 12 and 1 pm PST: (646) 478-4956 (that’s a U.S. #)
Cinegrid 3rd Annual Workshop
Fred Davis spoke at the 3rd Annual Cinegrid Workshop this year and I captured some pictures.




