Thanks for taking things in the spirit given, CJ and Gonzo.
As to the branding issue, Gonzo, I admit I could be partly in error there. There is obviously YNOT Radio and Netpond Show and all. But the part I said about keeping others away along WITH the name holds true. If you don't promote outside this board AND you have a branded name, then you are branding a cliqueishness, whether you realize it or not. The reason other branded shows don't have that stigma is they actually post outside their own world, inviting others to come by. Again, I think this is the biggest mistake.
I think one of the best ways to promote -- this worked in the olden days and I see it still works today as well -- is if Oprano is open to having other radio shows post theirs, then in turn other resources won't mind you posting your radio show announcements on their places. I've seen YNOT Radio promoting on XNations, NetpondRadio promoting on GFY, etc etc.
Radio shows have always been given a "free ticket" compared to other things that might be considered spam as they tend to be educational in nature. And various radio shows each announcing on other boards ends up being a cooperative where everyone gets greater market share and a picks up a new listener here and there.
It also tends to encourage a healthy competiion I've found as well. When so-and-so comes over one week and says they have these great guests, you usually find the following week that a competing show ends up having other great guests. It's a win-win situation. So if Oprano is open (?) to letting others post in return for posting elsewhere, this could work well for all. Again, it's done everywhere else but here.
Also, the greatest mistake I see constantly (in ALL radio shows everywhere) is not announcing guests or the show until an hour before it starts. If you have things lined up at least a day ahead, you can get the forum promo notices up earlier (and get your guests listed, aheam, in both the AOE radio page and the daily newsletter). The problem with the six hours or two hours notice is if people aren't around, they find it after the show is over.
Similiarly, if you can get a guest or topic line-up for a few weeks ahead, not only do you get to promote those future shows at the end of your show, but you get a "future shows" listing on your website. These all help to create a recurring listener base and a sense of continuity. It also helps convey the impression of a professional operation. I know when I see a show saying in two weeks that so-and-so is the guest or such-and-such is the topic and I run across that over and over, and the topic or guest interests me, I do end up marking it on my calendar.
Gonzo, I'll turn on my dreaded ICQ in a little while, bro.