Extra Credit Gimme: only good through Monday

Here's what is probably the easiest extra credit yet for then 100K Play Contest: make a suggestion. Tell us what you'd like to see added or changed at http://www.podcastready.com. This one is so easy that we're only leaving it open until 11:59PM CST on Monday, July 30.

• 5 points for every suggestion
• 5 more points if they realistic suggestions

For instance, "have the system email me when someone accepts my friendship offer" is worth 10 points, while "make it so I can share podcasts and program my microwave at the same time" would probably only be worth 5 points.

Because of the points and the ease of this one, each contestant (promo code) is limited to 10 entries each (for a maximum of 100 points) and yes, all 10 can be in one single email. Send entries to 100kplay@podcastready.com and don't forget to include the promo code.

Want more?

Okay - how about the same point system for pointing out bugs?

• 5 points for every bug
• 5 more points if its a real bug

For instance, "when I click to accept a friendship offer but I'm not in the friendship page, nothing happens" is worth 10 points, while "when I click to share podcasts it doesn't set my microwave to defrost" is again probably only worth 5 points. (What is it with you guys and microwaves anyway?)

So that's it.. two little emails could be worth a total of 200 points... have fun, and have a great day!

Promos for Points

Here's an easy one, and its worth either 10 points per, or 20 (or even 25)... your choice. To earn 10 points, pick one of the promos at the bottom and play it in your podcast. For 20 points, do your own promo. Here are the rules:

1. it only counts if its part of your regular podcast - no "special episodes" or shows outside of your normal publishing pattern.


2. it only counts if its in the first 1/2 of your show


3. if you make your own promo, it has to name the same points as the pre-recorded (if you add one additional point about Podcast Ready you will get an additional 5 points)

Every time you run a promo, shoot us a note with the episode number or a link to the file and add the points to your score. Email any questions to 100kplay@podcastready.com or comment here.

Pre-recorded promo choices:

Promo #1
Promo #2
Promo #3

Using Channels

Podcast Ready provides each user with their own channel. A channel is simply a personal feed to which you can add anything you wish. By default, this channel is private and is used to deliver specific episodes of podcasts directly to your player.

But by making your channel public, you can create a mash-up of any content to share with the world - and by adding friends you can allow them to contribute to your channel as well.


Here is a quick video tutorial showing how to set this up.

Contest Entries

Valleywag's been picking on Calacanis and Mahalo lately, particularly with regards to their traffic. A quick check of Alexa though shows that Mahalo is kicking our rears hands down.



The fact is, that's so *not* surprising that no one would even think to compare the two. What is kind of interesting to me though is our contests. We announced our contest within a week or so of each other and today Jason posted that they've had 70 entries already. That's great!

So far we've have 58 videos entered in our 100K Play contest. That's a difference of 11, which is a lot closer than I'd expect when you consider then shear difference in traffic.

A 15 minute point quickie

Here's a quick way to get an extra 15 points in the 100K Play contest: get someone else to enter. For every show that registers and puts your promo code in their registration email, you will get 15 points added to your score.

Media Ready is now "Podcast Ready"

In a press release dated yesterday, mediaREADY announced their new partnership with Podcast Ready. Quoting Jeffrey Harrell the CEO of mediaREADY:

Soon select MediaREADY portable media player products will become Podcast Ready-enabled. The MediaREADY Glider and MediaREADY Aero will be the first models to come pre-installed with Podcast Ready's myPodder™ podcast management software. Weighing just over an ounce and under 4" in length the ultra-portable Aero™ Audio Player/FM Tuner/Recorder is clearly the brightest new star in the MediaREADY™ line. "The partnership with Podcast Ready is yet another exciting development for MediaREADY and is a great revenue sharing opportunity for us

"100k Play" Leader Board

Here are the current standings. There were a lot of great videos sent in this week. If you have not had a chance to check them out, I've created a play list over on YouTube.

Again, don't forget that there is extra credit for putting a Podcast Ready chicklet on your site, inviting '100kplay' to be a friend at podcastready.com, and sending '100kplay' an episode of your favorite podcast. When making friends or sharing shows, please don't forget (or tell your friends not to forget) to put your promo code in the note... it makes it a lot easier for us.

If you have any questions about your current score please don't hesitate to ask.

1	Mikeypod	1114
2	Britney's Mason PopCast	1106
3	Tech Talk for Families	1078
4	Typical Mac User Podcast	1067
5	Crescent	1033
6	100 Word Stories	1019
7	808Talk Hawaii	1017
8	Audio Gumshoe	1016
9	Audio Courses	1012
10	Mike's Hotdish	1012
11	Taylor Marek Podcast	1011
12	Bucket	1006
13	Sturgeon's Law	1006
14	Startup BizCast	1005
15	Looking Out The Window	1003
16	Clever Little Pod	1000
17	Kiva Podcast	1000
18	Podshack Radio	1000
19	The Jazz Show	1000
20	Kansas City Weather Podcast	1000
21	The Wicked Good Podcast	1000
22	Zaldor's World Podcast	1000
23	Impact Players Podcast	1
24	UsedWigs Radio	0

Thanks... and good luck!

Dennis Miller is "podcast ready"

Podcast Ready is one of two directories listed on his web site. 3 guesses who the other one is...

4th of July Leader Board Report

The friends and the videos are rolling in (check them out here), and the top three spots have shifted:

1. MikeyPod	1066
2. Typical Mac User Podcast	1036
3. Crescent	1023

Keeping in mind that the first 1000 points are awarded for chicklet placement, the field is still wide open for someone to take the top spot with a few videos and friends. Here is the rest of the standings:

4. Mike's Hotdish	1012
5. 100 Word Stories	1011
6. 808Talk Hawaii	1006
7. Audio Courses	1005
8. Looking Out The Window	1002
9. Audio Gumshoe	1001
10. Taylor Marek Podcast	1001
11. Startup BizCast	1000
12. Bucket	1000
13. Kiva Podcast	1000
14. Podshack Radio	1000
15. The Jazz Show	1000
16. Kansas City Weather Podcast	1000
17. The Wicked Good Podcast	1000
18. Zaldor's World Podcast	1000
19. Impact Players Podcast	1
20. UsedWigs Radio	0

Thank you to all that have entered so far. As always, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them here or email them to 100kplay@podcastready.com. Just by entering you could win placement that'll drive 10,000 downloads but the top spot is going for 100,000 - and one of your listeners could win a free iPod just for registering.

Happy Fourth all.... I hope your skies are a lot clearer than they are here today.

Extra Extra Credit Credit

In the contest to win massive exposure of your podcast on millions of MP3 devices there is a new way to earn extra credit: make friends.

Specifically, log into pocastready.com, find the user '100kplay' and make him (me) a friend. When doing so, type in your promo code into the note so I know who gets the credit. Once thats done, send 100kplay an episode of your podcast. That's all there is to it.

• Make 100kplay a friend = 5 points
• Send 100kplay an epsiode of your podcast = 5 points

You can only get credit for sending one episode, but others can earn points for you by doing this on your behalf.

If you are not sure how to make friends or share podcasts at podcastready.com here is a quick little video explaining how:


Its pretty straight forward but if you have any questions or comments please don't hesitate to send them on - either comment here or email them to 100kplay@podcastready.com.

There's 100,000 potential new listeners at stake, so good luck!

A little clarification

A few questions have come in about the video clip extra credit so I thought I'd try to clarify things a bit. As originally posted, the rules are simple:

1. Shoot a video clip that includes someone saying "I love Podcast Ready"
2. Upload your clip to YouTube and tag it with "100kplay" and "podcasting"
3. Email the URL of your clip along with your registered promo code to 100kplay@podcastready.com to claim your bonus points

• The "I love Podcast Ready" line can be in any context - it can be a simple web cam shot or part of a conversation.
• Anyone can record and submit this on your behalf. If you are worried about claiming the points for the video, tell your friends or listeners to use your promo code as one of the tags - the required tags are '100kplay' and 'podcasting' but there can be other tags as well.
• The same person cannot be delivering the line in more than one video.
• The same reason (see the original post) cannot be used in more than one video.

Leader Board for 07/02/07

We're almost two weeks into the 100k Play contest and the leader board is heating up. Holding the top three spots:

1. Typical Mac User Podcast
2. Crescent
3. 100 Word Stories

To date there has been no extra credit given for any video clips, and at potentially 15 points per video this option could sling almost anyone in the contest to the top with just 2 or 3 entries.

Currently we have 20 shows participating in the contest so if you're afraid that you might be getting in too late rest assured, there's still plenty of time.

And don't forget, if you are a winner one of your listeners that uses your code will win an iPod.