For some reason I forgot to post about our last episode of The New Mediology about online video. We talked about everything from the new Netflix set top box and Hulu to infamous YouTube videos like the one that put the band OK Go on the map.

Today our most recent episode of The New Mediology is available about Twitter. Nathan and I covered a lot of ground in this episode. We disagreed a bit about whether Twitter is a social network or social media. I also said Adam Curry a Twitter Spammer. In all the tweets I’ve seen from him he’s only talking about the a new podcast and ads nothing else of value to Twitter…and in my book that’s spam.

The next episode of The New Mediology is now online (or in iTunes if that’s how you like to listen to it).

In this episode, Nathan and I discuss social networking and how (and even if) new media marketers can use it well. This was a different sort of podcast for us because we’re usually on the same page but we have some different views when it comes to social networking. Personally, I struggle with social networking platforms as a helpful means of promotion. I think they’re great to connect people together but most people don’t want to be sold or promoted to in the same space. I know I don’t. I think a better thing to do is create a more focused social network in Ning, though Nathan made a great point that you don’t want to miss an easy opportunity to gain awareness through the use of a Facebook group. I think I’ve just seen a lot of Facebook and MySpace groups that were started because it was easy to do but then there’s virtually no upkeep to it. It’s easy to create one but should you do it just because you can? I question whether that’s a good enough reason to do so. Without a plan and intention to maintain it I don’t think it’s the right move.

In the latest episode of The New Mediology, Nathan and I talked about banner ads and the prevailing attitudes from consumers about them. We cited some stats about the types of banner ads that are considered better than others, but in the end there are actually very few circumstances when a banner ad is going to be a good use of your marketing money.

I have actually changed my view on banner ads a little bit over the last year. I used to be completely against banner ads but have actually found there are a few cases when it’s worth the money. The only times I’ve seen banner ads bring positive results for my clients (both in brand recognition and direct sales) is in the cases where a blogger reviewed the client’s product positively and then we went back and advertised on the same blog a few weeks later…so that has become the exception to my previous ban on banner ads.

As always, you can download The New Mediology in iTunes or listen online.

A few weeks ago I was blessed and honored to sit down for a few minutes with Dan Miller, the author of No More Mondays and 48 Days to the Work You Love for his podcast. We talked specifically about why you should care about blogging and other social media, how a person can use new media tools to promote what they do, some examples where I’ve seen this work, and how to get started.

Here’s a link to listen to the interview on Dan’s website or subscribe to Dan’s podcast and listen to it there.

If you want to know a bit about what Dan’s specialty is, check out this video of him on a recent Dave Ramsey Show and his blog. Dan’s principles have a lot to do with where I am today professionally and I’m grateful for the time and wisdom he’s provided. He’s also a great person to work for because he knows what he wants to know, he knows what he doesn’t know, and he finds the people to help him know what he needs to know.

The latest episode of The New Mediology is now live. Listen to it online or subscribe in iTunes to give it a listen. If you listen, see if you can find this awkward exchange between Nathan and me…

Nathan: Lyrics is cool.
Bill: I’m not familiar with that.
[long pause]
Nathan: Song lyrics?
Bill: Oh, I thought that was a program.

When you listen you’ll get the context of that…but it was funny (at least to us.)

Tomorrow night Nathan and I will be recording the next episode of The New Mediology podcast. If you haven’t heard the first episode I would encourage you to listen now or subscribe in iTunes. If you have questions or comments that you would like us to consider including in the next episode leave a comment on either this blog, the podcast blog, or email me.

Myriad items for you today…

I wrote about Joost recently and today I got an email from them that says I can invite anyone who wants a Joost invitation (it’s still invitation only to download the player). If you want one just let me know in the comments or email me.

My friend Tom at Community Christian Church sent word that there are two more of their Mac vs. PC parody videos online now. You may recall that I interviewed Tom in December while there was some online controversy about their original Mac vs PC videos.

Greg Atkinson of the ChurchVideoIdeas blog told me a few days ago that he and Anthony Coppedge have released a podcast on churches and copyright laws. It’s worth a listen if you’re on a church staff or volunteer in a ministry at your church that deals with any media.

Frank from StrategicDigitalOutreach just let me know about a new website he was part of creating called MissionEquip. MissionEquip was built to provide productivity tools to equip Christian missionaries worldwide in evangelism and discipleship.

MySliceofPi is now selling it’s 100th slice! For longtime readers, you’ll recall that I launched this site with a friend two months ago. It’s been interesting to see it go. We’re always looking for feedback if you have suggestions.

PodPoint.net relaunched its website today with a great new look and some cool new functions. It looks like they’ve retooled their focus a bit to not just help churches and ministries develop and launch their podcasts but also to serve as an aggregator for other Christian podcasts.

It will be interesting to see how PodPoint progresses because it now has an entirely different (and broader) appeal. Not only can a church or ministry get help with the development of their podcast, but now anyone looking for Christian oriented podcasts has a one-stop-shop for the top Christian podcasts available today. I think this was a smart move for PodPoint. Also, while you’re there, check out their “learning center” has some good general information about podcasting.

I saw on Micro Persuasion that Apple is beginning to take legal action against organizations, websites and products that use the word “pod” in regard to podcasting. It appears that Apple wants to reign in the podcasting name and any unsanctioned use of “pod” that could be related to iPods or podcasting.

I must say I don’t really get this and am disappointed in Apple. Isn’t it the goal of any company to get their brand to a point that it is so ingrained into the culture that its product name becomes synonymous with the use of the product? Look at Xerox, Frisbee and Kleenex. For many people xerox is a verb for making copies, a frisbee is any recreational flying disc, and a kleenex is your best friend during cold and flu season. These brand names have transcended the actual products they originally represented and as such own the mindshare of their respective markets. We already know iPods are the leading MP3 players. In fact the word iPod has even begun to represent all MP3 players…and how could Apple not be pleased with that?

So let’s say Apple sufficiently cracks down on all this pod-speak. That means everyone will have to use another term to discuss the technology formerly known as podcasting except in the actual cases when you’re referring to the Apple products/technology. As this new word emerges it will undoubtedly push the “pod” to the background and the “casting” to the foreground. I don’t see how that helps Apple at all. They already have the “pod” product with the family of iPods, so by default they win every time someone uses the word “podcast” whether it’s intended to represent something specifically for iPods or not. In fact, this depodification may only clarify for some people that podcasting is not exclusive to iPods. While that’s a nice clarification for the uninitiated consumer, it doesn’t help Apple extend the reach of their brand.

In the end I think Apple may regret this course of action because it’s going to muddy the waters that they have clearly owned up to this point. It’s also going to be a PR problem because they have been the anti-corporation for so long and this is very corporate…it’s fearful and controlling and just very un-Apple of them.

Jon Haarstad sent me a link to check out a podcast giving further explanation about web 2.0 on Business Week’s website. The guy interviewed on this podcast (Tim O’Reilly) was one of the people who had a hand in coining the term “web 2.0″ so he’s certainly got a good perspective on it and provides some valuable insight.

If you’re still trying to figure out what this is (and like I was asked again yesterday when a church pastor said, “so what the heck is web 2.0 anyway”) this is worth a listen. So is this.