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.
