Branding David

I wasn’t able to attend the Podcast and New Media Expo in 2008, but I heard it was an amazing success. I was able to attend the BlogWorld Expo though, and I was even fortunate enough to be asked to speak on two panels. Recently, it was announced that the two events would be combined into one Blogging, Podcasting, and Video Podcasting mega-event.

I am both excited and concerned about this merging of events. I have found the podcasting and blogging communities to not always “get along” and they seem to be at a different place when it comes to making a business from such pursuits and so I wonder how these events will be combined without ruining both experiences.

I am hopeful that I can attend BlogWorld and New Media Expo, as it is now called, and would be very honoured to speak at the event once again, but with it becoming one event, will there be tougher competition with regards to choosing speakers?

The whole community is waiting to see how this new event comes together and what it will mean for speakers, businesses and attendees.

From the Press Release:
“The lines between blogs, podcasts and videos are blurring in that content creators are using all of these tools to communicate and share information online – the message is more important than the medium,” said Tim Bourquin, founder of New Media Expo. “Given that people are mixing podcasts, video and blogs to deliver their message, it became obvious that our two events should come together and provide a single all-encompassing conference where attendees can learn all of the latest and best content creation techniques in one place.”

“As more content is being created and shared online, the market for an event like this is growing at a rapid pace,” said Rick Calvert, founder and CEO of BlogWorld Expo. “Bringing together the world’s largest podcasting event and the world’s largest blogging event creates a unique learning, networking and business environment for everyone involved in new media. Our attendees include individual and corporate content creators, new media as well as tradional media companies, entrepreneurs and enterprise-level marketing professionals.”

BlogWorld & New Media Expo 2009 will feature conference tracks on everything from creating better audio content to using social networking tools to grow your brand, blog audience and nurture the relationship between content creators and their audiences, as well as companies and their customers. As in previous years, after-hours networking receptions, special events and parties will combine to make it the gathering of the year for the new media industry.

There was something that frustrated me a little bit today in a post that someone wrote about the things that shouldn’t be discussed at PodCamp, they listed monetization as one of those points, and that there are already many articles online regarding monetizing podcasts and being able to quit your job to podcast full time.

It really flipped a switch for me because when I went to Podcasters Across Borders, I was basically lynched for wanting to hear about monetization, as it was a bad word at that event.

People were focused on podcasting because they were passionate and they didn’t want anything to get in the way of that, but what they don’t realize is: monetization is just a step in building a business.

No matter how the economy is, people should want to turn their passions into their business. Some of the wealthiest people in the world were able to make that leap, and why shouldn’t podcasters? Also, the tips, tricks and ideas from last year might not be the same today, as things are always changing online.

To say talk of monetization isn’t welcome is odd, and shortsighted to me. Sure, there will always be purists out there, but I say, “build a business from your passions” and as long as monetization isn’t welcome in the conversation stream, maybe ask about “building a business” around your podcast next PodCamp.

I am currently in Toronto, Ontario Canada at nextMedia: Monetizing Digital Media. A conference and event for media companies to look at the future of online media, and better understand the avenues available to monetize their content.

I will be placing links to content I create on a variety of sites in this post over the next two days, as I publish things on Splashpress Media’s group of sites. You’ll see overviews of most of the sessions at the two day conference, and hopefully learn a few tips and tricks that the big companies are learning through their trials in monetizing the digital space.

Day One

First Thoughts at nextMEDIA
Lunch and Networking

The Introduction and First Session Overview
Second Session - Re-Engineering the Broadcast Business Panel
Third Session - Bryan Segal from ComScore
Fourth Session - How to Make Money in Online Video!
Fifth Session - Making Money from Pay-Per-Use Content Services
Seventh Session - How to Make Money and Do It Right
Eighth Session - Bringing Branded Entertainment Online

Day Two

Introduction and Session 1 - Immersive Branded Entertainment
Session 2 - Rock ‘n Roll in the Social Media Revolution
Session 3 - Where to Look Next: Trends for 2009