A Simple Approach: Blogcasting

First, create sign up and create a new blog at www.blogger.com. Once you have one created, go into the configuration section of the blog and click on the “Template” tab. In the box where you can edit code, clear out all text found there, then paste the following code into the box:

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<rss version="2.0" dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">

<channel>

<title><$BlogPageTitle$></title>

<link><$BlogURL$></link>

<description><$BlogDescription$></description>

<language>en-us</language>

<copyright></copyright>

<lastbuilddate></lastbuilddate>

<blogger>

<item>

<blogitemtitle><title><$BlogItemTitle$></title></blogitemtitle>

<blogitemurl><link><$BlogItemUrl$></link></blogitemurl>

<description><$BlogItemBody$></description>

<pubdate><blogdateheader><$BlogDateHeaderDate$></blogdateheader></pubdate>

<blogitemurl><enclosure url="<$BlogItemUrl$>" length="666" type="audio/mpeg"/> </blogitemurl>

<guid><$BlogItemPermalinkURL$></guid>

</item>

</blogger>

</channel>

</rss>

Click on “Save Template Changes.” You will then be asked to republish your blog in order to see the changes you’ve made. Select the option to do so.

Next, click on the “Settings” tab and select “Site Feed.” Make sure that the option “Publish Site Feed" is set to OFF. Then select “Formatting” and make sure the “Title” and “Link” sections are set to ON.

Viewing your blog at this point will reveal little more than the blogger.com banner at the top of the page. This is because the code we have used in the template is not meant for normal blog use. Most Podcasts have an accompanying website that describes the content as well as the creators, but the method we have chosen here is designed strictly for use by Podcast aggregators, so there will be little reason to visit your blog on the web.

Now you are ready to begin Podcasting. Record your program using your microphone and audio recorder, then upload the resulting mp3 to your webspace. On your blogger page, create a new post. Fill out the fields as you wish, but remember that the “Link” field is where the mp3 file resides. You must copy the full file path (http:// and all) into this field to make the Podcast work. Click on “Publish Post” and your Podcast will be ready for listening.