Dr Robert’s Review of Podia

Image: Podia

Hi everyone,

If you have clicked through to my products in the top menu, you will have seen the design and layout of some of my products/ offerings. Basically, over the last 12 months, I have been using the Podia platform (https://www.podia.com/) to design and deliver my courses/ programs. Let me give you an overview of what I think are the strengths and weaknesses of the platform. Keep in mind that I am not tech-savvy, so I might not use the correct terminology – nevertheless, each action/ feature will be explained in as much detail as is required.

The Learning Process

Again, not being tech-savvy, I really appreciate the straightforward nature of Podia. It is just so easy to learn what you need to in order to develop and deliver a complete suite of online products in a short space of time. In addition, there is an excellent FAQ section as well as an online support system that allows you to talk directly with one of the platform developers in order to get your problems solved. I have used this on a couple of occasions and had VERY quick and straightforward direction. Admittedly, some of my questions are a little basic, let’s say, but at no stage was there any problem with providing me with the advice I needed in a professional and timely manner.

Integrations

The platform provides an entire suite of integrated services ranging from a space to host your course/ program /digital download through to an automated email trail that you can set up to create your sales funnel. There is also a lead-generator tool that provides you with the code to upload onto your own website/ blog. A recently introduced editing tool has really enhanced the design as you can now make your sales and course pages look very attractive with photos, diagrams, and background colours. Payment systems are also integrated into the platform, so PayPal and credit card payments can be taken seamlessly. The platform has everything I need to do what I want; however, if you need extra functionality, Zapier is available which lets you integrate Podia with thousands of apps. As well, ConvertKit is available which allows you to build a complete delivery system, if you should need it. As I said, everything you need is right here on Podia. There is also dedicated space for testimonials, which adds another sales tool to your arsenal.

Price

I am on the Shaker Plan which is just $79 per month. At $20 a week, this is fantastic value and gives you everything you need. There is also a cheaper option at $39 a month known as the Mover Plan. The particular value (for me) of the Shaker Plan is that it allows me to create not only products but also a membership site for my clients. The ability to create products AND memberships is a huge bonus for the delivery of different types of products.

Weaknesses

My only real complaint is that it is only possible to create one membership site. This is somewhat of a disadvantage if you are in my situation where I have traditional education products as well as community building products. But … and this is a significant but … in the 12 months I have been with Podia, I have seen a steady stream of significant improvements to the platform. It seems that an improvement is made to the platform every couple of months, so no doubt, it is only a matter of time before the extra functionality I need will be built into the platform.

Overall, I would highly recommend for you to use Podia if you are developing and delivering your courses / memberships / digital downloads.

How Important is it to Present at Conferences Early in One’s Career? (Part 2)

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BY TSEEN KHOO, The Research Whisperer:  https://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/2018/07/31/present-at-conferences-part-2/#more-8741

Way back when, Julie Gold asked: “How important is it, really, to present papers early in one’s career?” (Research Whisperer’s Facebook page, 3 Feb 2018).

This post is part 2 of the answers received for Julie Gold’s question. If you missed it, here’s part 1!

I must admit my initial response was based around a preference for breaking down the dependence on conferences as THE place to share findings or research ideas. This was, in part, because of the assumptions about researcher mobility and material support that this entails.

However, on reading my trusted colleagues’ views and reflecting on the dynamics of academia more generally, I’ve shifted my opinions.

This post features responses from Kylie ‘Happy Academic’ Ball, Kerstin ‘Postdoc Training’ Fritsches, and urban archeologist Sarah Hayes.

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Kylie Ball (Psychology / School of Exercise and Nutritional Science, Deakin Uni / Happy Academic / @kylieball3)

Early in my career, I regularly attended conferences in my public health / psychology field, and got great value out of them in these ways:

• The chance to share and profile my work with interested others.
• Benchmarking my and my team’s research.
• Making connections that led over time to some great collaborations (and also great friendships).
• Learning new things and coming away inspired and energised by new ideas.
• And – OK, I won’t deny it – the groupie’s thrill of meeting in the flesh those academic heroes whose work had long inspired me. [There’s nothing wrong with Academic Fandom! – Ed.]

However, recently, I and others I know have eased off the conference circuit somewhat (family, financial or other reasons) and I don’t think it’s a career deal-breaker. These days, many of these benefits (except maybe the last one) can now be achieved virtually, so if circumstances preclude regular conference attendance I’d just encourage people to be diligent and creative about seeking these outcomes through other avenues.

Kerstin Fritsches (Neuroscience / Director, Postdoc Training / @postdoctraining) 

I think everyone has to work out for themselves how useful conferences are and the only way to find out is by presenting at a few, if you have the opportunity.

I don’t think my actual presentations as an Honours and then PhD student were particularly important for my career. However, the events taught me a lot about communicating my research, meeting and having interesting conversations with junior and senior people in my field (neuroethology), getting excited about new ideas, and learning about progress in my broader field that I wouldn’t have picked up any other way. As students, we were only funded to go to a conference if we presented, which is a good policy – you get to experience it as a full participant, nerves and all!

The best conferences for me were the smaller ones (up to 300 participants) and I found poster presentations (in my field often the only presentation option for pre-PhD researchers) a great way to meet people and get the chance to discuss my work. I was pleasantly surprised by how interested and approachable researchers were (both junior and senior), and that alone gave me a lot of confidence to contact people later on.

The other thing to consider is that you may be more likely to find the funding to go to conferences early in your career (supervisor’s funding or student travel scholarships). Once you rely more on your own funding, post-PhD, finding money and the time to go can be a lot more difficult. By then, though, you are much more embedded in your field and can build on the relationships you created earlier.

Sarah Hayes (Archeology / Alfred Deakin Centre, Deakin Uni / @SarahHResearch) 

An underdeveloped conference paper (or worse, year after year of poor papers) isn’t going to do you any favours in terms of developing esteem within your discipline. This is tricky for when you are starting out, and I’d say get some traction on your ideas by presenting your paper to your department or at a local symposium before going for the big, national conference. Better to give conference papers less often and do them really well. Consider finding a mentor who you think has great skills in presenting, and who can help you prepare.

When you do go for the national conference, be strategic about it, especially if you have limited conference travel funding from your institution. Definitely attend when your conference is in your home town, and keep an eye out for grant or funding opportunities for travel (some of which now have provisions to help you travel with kids).

If you only attend two conferences while you are an emerging researcher, do the first in the final year of your PhD (you’ll be confident talking about your PhD research and you’ll gain contacts for job opportunities), and do the second the year before you go for a big grant (i.e. ARC DECRA) so your potential assessors know who you are.

If it’s really difficult for you to attend, make the most of all the digital networking opportunities available to you in order to build your reputation. Consider other ways of making yourself known to your colleagues and especially the ‘old guard’ within your discipline. Maybe shoot them an email about how great you think their recently published paper is! I’ve had three or four such emails and the positive impression this created of the senders has stayed with me.

Finally, when you do attend a conference, I’d suggest not focusing too much on what you get out of it. See anything you gain as a bonus – think about what you can contribute to other conference attendees and the discipline. In the end, this is far more likely to make you a valued member of your discipline.

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So, there you have it! Two posts full of advice and shared experiences from members of the Research Whisperer brains trust!

While I’m still highly critical – and jaundiced, it must be said – about aspects of conference-going (see Staying still), I know that I speak from a particular position of academic sociocultural privilege (continuing role, relatively established research cred, strong community of advocates). For many emerging scholars, the stakes are higher when it comes to building profile and establishing their professional networks.

If our sector considers conferences as absolutely essential parts of researcher development and academic career-building, and emerging researchers are heavily judged on this, we must work to ensure that these scholars are supported to participate and benefit from them as equitably and consistently as possible.

That said, let’s not just do things ‘the conference way’ just because it’s what we’re used to. As some of the respondents pointed out, there are many ways to connect with your discipline and peers in the area, network broadly and internationally, build relationships to collaborate on research, etc.

Our colleagues who may not make it to conferences for any number of reasons should not be judged as lesser scholars. As we’re working to improve the equity of our gatherings, let’s also raise awareness and consideration of who may not be there and why.