What is Podcasting?

What is Podcasting?

Word Count:
403

Summary:
Odds are you've heard the term "podcasting." It was even selected by the editors of the New Oxford American Dictionary as the Word of the Year for 2005.  But what exactly is it?

In its simplest terms, podcasting is a method of publishing audio files to the Internet, which can then be automatically downloaded to a computer, iPod, MP3 player or other portable media device.

Keywords:
podcasting, PodOmatic

Article Body:
Odds are you've heard the term "podcasting." It was even selected by the editors of the New Oxford American Dictionary as the Word of the Year for 2005.  But what exactly is it?

In its simplest terms, podcasting is a method of publishing audio files to the Internet, which can then be automatically downloaded to a computer, iPod, MP3 player or other portable media device.  For anyone who loves listening to the wide variety of internet audio programming, but can't always find the time to listen to their favorite shows when they're scheduled or take the time to download them manually, podcasting is the solution.  It allows you to listen to your favorite content, at your convenience. 

According to research from The Diffusion Group, 11.4 million listeners are expected to download a podcast this year, climbing to almost 75 million by 2010.  Apple's iTunes already offers 15,000 podcasts and listeners have signed up for more than 7 million subscriptions.  So what's the reason for this rapid adoption?  Because podcasting gives people more control over what they listen to, when they want to and the freedom to take their programs out and about with them.

But podcasting is more than just TiVo for Internet Radio.  Individuals are taking an increasingly active role in creating their online lives and, as a result, generate the majority of content found on the Internet.   Combined with human nature to form groups, share information and advance personal agendas through interaction with others, podcasting represents a significant shift in the way we communicate, receive and discover information. 

Anyone can create a podcast and, regardless of the topic, find an online audience that shares the same interest and will subscribe to the feed, or "show," to automatically receive new episodes.  But podcasting is more than having this 15 minutes of fame.  Educators are using podcasts to interact with their students.  Terrestrial radio is using it to regain listeners.  It's even changing the way media covers and distributes news and entertainment, advertisers target pitches at consumers and companies design and sell their products and services. 

For a technology that's been around less than two years, the future certainly looks bright for podcasting.  It has already evolved beyond simple time-shifting of Internet audio into the new medium for creating, finding and sharing content created by individuals for individuals sharing similar interests.  In other words, podcasting is connecting people to people, in the growing content-on-demand World.

 

What Do Boy Scouts and Podcasting Have in Common?

What Do Boy Scouts and Podcasting Have in Common?

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508

Summary:
Always be prepared.  It is the Boy Scout motto but preparation is also critical to the production of a successful podcast. You might want to start by first listening to a variety of podcasts to get a better idea of the variety of formats and styles that exist within the medium.

Keywords:
Podcasting, Viral Marketing, Internet Marketing, Branding, Internet Advertising, Podcast Directories, Site Traffic

Article Body:
Always be prepared.  It is the Boy Scout motto but preparation is also critical to the production of a successful podcast. You might want to start by first listening to a variety of podcasts to get a better idea of the variety of formats and styles that exist within the medium.

Also it's important to brainstorm and come up with several possible topics to cover in your podcasts.  A good source of material could be any kind of new developments or interesting news about your company.  You might want to go over any press releases that you've recently issued for ideas.  Also are there any innovative products or service features that distinguish you from your competition?  This should be the springboard for your outline.  Do some research and try to see if you can tie it into something newsworthy. Keep in mind who your target audience is so that the message is relevant and as well as engaging to them. 
 
Try to keep in mind that you'll want to share just enough information to pique your visitors' curiosity in order to get them to tune to the upcoming installments of podcast series.   You want to make your podcasting engaging without going into to too much or too little detail.  You want to maximize listener retention, and as you can imagine, getting new listeners is a challenge so you surely don't want to loose them once you have them.  
 
How do you Structure your pod cast?
 
To make sure you cover everything you want without being redundant you should develop an outline of just what you'd like to include in each podcast, as well as a basic outline of the series. 
  
1)      You need an outline of your potential pod cast ideas
2)      Create an order for the shows starting with a basic introductory show that explains who you are and what your show is about and then schedule your regular shows from there
3)      You'll need to create an outline for each individual pod cast

This should include an:
a) intro
b) 2 or 3 important points
c) Summary with contact info

Remember that the content of your podcast is critical, and the outline it will enable you to be sure you don't lose your audience.  How long your podcast will be is directly related to how much news you have to share and the extent to which you can keep that news fresh and exciting.  Frequency of updates is also an important issue to address.  This will likely depend on your industry, the and the number of new developments, or newsworthy happenings. Keep in mind though that most people are probably listening while in their car. You have a finite amount of time. If you produce a 45 minute podcast it had better be well edited and put together. It probably easier to be brief, and divide a much longer show into shorter more regular 15-30 minute broadcasts.

Whether creating your own podcast or outsourcing it elsewhere it's important to keep in mind that preparation is the first step in creating a successful podcast.

 

What Are Podcasts And How Can They Help Your Business?

What Are Podcasts And How Can They Help Your Business?

Word Count:
820

Summary:
The word Podcast gets thrown around a lot these days but what exactly is a Podcast?  Think of a podcast as a radio show that you can subscribe to or download at any time.  It may help to think of it kind of like TIVO for audio programs.  In fact, a podcast is a web feed of audio or video files placed on the Internet for anyone to subscribe to, or download. Search online and you'll find a range of Podcasts available on nearly every topic imaginable.  They range from entertainment focused to educational to business oriented and everywhere in between.

Keywords:
podcast, marketing, viral marketing, ipod, podcast directory, internet business, site traffic

Article Body:
So what exactly is a Podcast?

The word Podcast gets thrown around a lot these days but what exactly is a Podcast?  Think of a podcast as a radio show that you can subscribe to or download at any time.  It may help to think of it kind of like TIVO for audio programs.  In fact, a podcast is a web feed of audio or video files placed on the Internet for anyone to subscribe to, or download. Search online and you'll find a range of Podcasts available on nearly every topic imaginable.  They range from entertainment focused to educational to business oriented and everywhere in between.   

A podcast differs from a simple download in that new content may be automatically delivered. Users need not click into your website for important specials since all of this information may be automatically downloaded.  A podcast show consists of a series of individual episodes that you can listen to and view on-line or offline whenever and wherever you want. 

While podcasting has been around for about five years now remarkably, the term itself, has only been around since 2004.  It's a contraction of IPod (The most popular MP3 player) and broadcasting.  However, you don't even have to have an MP3 player to listen to programs. You can 'subscribe' to an entire podcast series using software on your PC or listen to a single episode at a time by using a web browser.  Subscribing to a podcast ensures that all new shows are automatically downloaded to your computer as they are published, and even better subscribing is generally free.  

If you do happen to have an MP3 player, the next time you sync your device, your podcasts will be downloaded for listening on the go.  If you don't want to subscribe, but rather just want a copy of a particular episode, you can just click the "Download" button to save to your hard disk. Once downloaded you can then manage it and play it like you would any other audio file.  What distinguishes podcasts from other audio or video media is that the content is accessible to its audience(s) whenever, wherever, and however they want.

What are the business applications of Podcasting?

The podcast is a real advantage for business travelers and salespeople who are constantly on the go.  Since they are frequently in transit they can learn about what a company is offering while they travel.  They're able to stay in the loop about changes that are occurring in the industry or a particular company while on the way to their next meeting. 

Whenever a business wants to change its marketing emphasis, their podcast will change with them.  Podcasts enable potential customers to find out more about a particular company and its range of products and service without feeling pressured by a salesperson.  Rather, a friendly voice explaining what makes the company unique will better serve to convert a potential client into a customer. 

Podcasts also save on manpower. An extensive sales force is typically required to detail a company's newest offers and innovations. With a podcast, visitors click in and are directed to any new information the company wants to present.
The other really great thing about podcasts is that they have an incredibly wide reach.  Clients from across the world can access information on companies or products and learn about them in a simple, direct manner at any time, and without having to be tied to a computer.

Especially important is the utilization of pod cast directories which list podcast shows along with the links to their original websites.  These directories publicize the available podcasts.  Among the more popular of the podcast directories are Yahoo Podcasts, Odeo, Podcast Alley and Podcasting News.   When using directories it's important to select genre and content categories that make it easier for listeners to find your podcast.  Once you are listed with a directory, you will begin to get visitors from these directories to your website. 
In order to encourage visitors to listen your podcast you'll need to start by creating an enticing title that tells them just enough about your product to intrigue them.
 
More important than having a great title though is having even better content.  An outline for your podcast will enable you to be sure you don't lose your audience, and cover all the points you want to hit.  How long your podcast will be is directly related to how much news you have to share and the extent to which you can keep that news fresh and exciting.  Frequency of updates is also an important issue to address.  This will likely depend on the nature of what you're discussing and how quickly things change in that industry.

So to sum up:  Podcasts are basically like online radio shows that can be downloaded, or subscribed to.  When used effectively they can be a powerful marketing tool for any sort of business.

 

Vox Populi: Popular podcasts on the net

Vox Populi: Popular podcasts on the net

Word Count:
523

Summary:
The overwhelming popularity of portable MP3 players has brought with it all new innovations in using this new technology. The most popular application that has come out recently are podcasts.

Keywords:
podcasting software, podcasting

Article Body:
The overwhelming popularity of portable MP3 players has brought with it all new innovations in using this new technology. The most popular application that has come out recently are podcasts.

Podcasts are the automatic distribution of MP3 files via RSS or XML. With podcasts, a user downloads software and installs it in order to receive their favorite podcasts automatically from the podcast's website. Apple iTunes is an example of a podcast software that can deliver podcasts to your personal computer. The files that are downloaded come in an mp3 format and you can then listen to them in your personal computer or better yet, on your portable MP3 player so you can bring your podcast episodes wherever you go.

Podcasts are like radio programs with one big difference. Anyone can make and distribute their podcasts. This makes it a true populist initiative. Podcasters can rant about their favorite political issue, talk about their CD collections, discuss plot twists in their favorite comic book titles or even advise people about how to make podcasts. The subjects and topics that can be discussed in podcasts are only limited by your imagination.

Just like popular TV or radio shows, there are already podcasts that can be considered as widely popular. Below are some popular podcasts that you should try:

The Onion Radio News – This is a daily podcast that features short news clips from The Onion's 24 hour radio news network. For those who still don't know The Onion, it is an online "news network" that puts a satirical spin on the latest news and political issues.

New York Times Front Page – This is a daily summary of the top headlines of every weekday morning.

X-Play Daily Videogame Podcast – This is another daily podcast that offers gamers the latest gaming news, tips, tricks as well as previews of upcoming games.

Meditation Station – This podcast is aimed at people who are stressed and are seeking to achieve a little focus on their hectic lives. The regular meditations can help you de-stress.

This Week in Tech – This award-winning podcast finds Leo Laporte and other well-known tech luminaries discussing the latest tech trends.

Science Friday – Making Science Radioactive – this weekly podcast discusses the latest news and trends in science, technology, health and the environment.

Ebert & Roeper – Popular film critics Ebert & Roeper review and discuss the merits (or demerits) of the latest movies showing in Hollywood.

Indiefeed: Alternative/Modern Rock – This is a great way of getting great songs from the alternative/modern rock genre. Everyday the podcast features one song that includes information about the artist as well as where to buy the album. This podcast is redefining how music is being delivered to people.

The Catalyst Podcast – This is a community that aims to raise the next generation of leaders and teaches them about the church and culture.

Penn Jillette – The popular and edgy magician airs excerpts of his popular satellite radio show to his fans.

Travel with Rick Steves – This is a weekly hour-long conversation with experts and callers about travel, culture, people and the kind of stories that you only get when you travel.

 

To See is to Believe: The rise of video Podcasts

To See is to Believe: The rise of video Podcasts

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501

Summary:
With a user base of well over 20 million listeners, Podcasting may very well continue to gain popularity as video podcasting latches on.

Keywords:
podcast software , podcasting, Podcast Blaster

Article Body:
With a user base of well over 20 million listeners, Podcasting may very well continue to gain popularity as video podcasting latches on. Video podcasting is like being on television, only your podcast is available through the Internet, at any convenient time to just about everyone who goes online. Just as audio podcasts cover a vast assortment of topics, video podcasting presents many possibilities to its user, for both sender and receiver of the message.

Even those experienced podcasters only need to incorporate the corresponding visuals to their audio script and use a camera to record it instead of an audio recording device, to start making their own video podcasts. Video podcasting is made even easier, as this type of broadcasting does not involve any particular software for server distribution, nor does it have technical limitations as to the format of video encoding.

Resources available online for a low price or for free have made the creation of video podcasts quite simple. Anyone who seeks to promote his or her business or simply make his or her own face famous through podcasting will only need a digital camera or web camera to record the video, plus some free downloadable software for recording and editing the actual video. Also needed are free video codecs for encoding and compression of the final video, and free software for generating the necessary RSS files.

Some topics that audio podcasts were previously made about may effectively benefit from a video upgrade, such as travel, video game tips, technology updates, and even relaxation trends. A how-to video podcast also seems logical and possibly much easier to follow than an audio-only version. Meanwhile, budding filmmakers can start making a name for themselves, as they find an audience by making independent movie podcast projects. As the technology becomes even more and more available, a greater possibility for podcasting as a commercial venue lies ahead. Businesses looking to advertise to a greater audience are sure to find ways.

Now, with the rise of mobile video players, it has become much easier for the message to reach the audience even while they're on the go, queued up at a store register, or waiting for a friend. The technology has allowed an optimised take on video viewing on-demand. In addition to that, if you're accustomed to viewing your shows on a typical television screen or want to show your latest download to a group of friends, you can easily connect your mobile media player to your TV and just sit back down.

For more professional audio and video podcasts, you can use Podcasting packages available online, such as the Podcast Blaster. The package includes the professional recording software, over a hundred sound files that may be used for embellishing your podcast, and a podcast manual that will not only guide you in making that worthy podcast, but will also give you tips on effectively promoting your podcast. To know more on how to make your own Podcasts,

 

The Power of Podcasting: What Exhibitors Need To Know

The Power of Podcasting: What Exhibitors Need To Know

Word Count:
715

Summary:
What's the most precious commodity in the world? The most precious commodity in the world is not something you can mine, or harvest, or hoard in safety deposit boxes. The most precious commodity is something you have an almost endless supply of.

Keywords:
trade show marketing, trade show planning, podcasting, business podcast, business communication, trade show books, booth staff training, boothmanship, meetings, events

Article Body:
What's the most precious commodity in the world? Nope. Not gold. Not platinum. Not uranium. Not diamonds. The most precious commodity in the world is not something you can mine, or harvest, or hoard in safety deposit boxes.
 
The most precious commodity is something you have an almost endless supply of. Major industries go out of their way to get it from you. Entire trades have sprung up for the sole purpose of enticing you to part with yours.
 
What is this precious thing?
 
Why, it's your attention. I'm hoping by this point that I have yours. Capturing the attention of today's mass-media savvy consumer is quite a trick. Consider the competition: streaming video on the desktop computer, television shows on your cell phone, video game consoles that allow you to play with competitors halfway around the world. How in the world are you going to get a consumer who has all of these entertaining options available to pay attention to your products and services?
 
Enter the podcast. Podcasts are audio or video files distributed over the internet. Listeners download the files, and either play them on the computer or a listening device, such as an I-Pod. Podcasts can be on any topic -- there are regular podcasts devoted to life in Iceland!-- and any length. Some are a few minutes, others go for over an hour.
 
Podcasts have two distinct traits that will appeal to exhibitors:
 
1. They allow the listener to multi-task: Many of our clients are busy, busy people.</b> They may not have the time to sit down and read a magazine article, much less the new book you've just authored. Yet they can listen to your podcast while driving to work, going for the morning jog, even while working on some less-vital aspects of the day's paperwork. 
 
2. The feed the societal need for self improvement: </b>Podcasting offers listeners the experience of attending a one-on-one lecture with some of today's most foremost experts. Listeners who want to advance their careers, improve their health, or do a better job raising their kids are natural audiences for podcasting.
 
Podcasting can play an integral role in your development as an Expert. Regular podcasts that share industry information, insights, advice, and guidance will create the impression that you're someone the public can turn to. This is an ideal time to display your expertise and speak directly to the topics that are relevant to your market and target audience. Considering the low cost of podcasting -- you can get up and running for a few hundred dollars -- can you afford to forgo this opportunity?
 
To be an effective podcaster, remember the four C's. Your broadcasts must be Concise, Chatty, Clear and Consistent.
 
Concise: Each podcast should have a clear focus. Pick one point you want to concentrate on and select your material to support and illustrate that point. It is better to offer several short, clearly focused podcasts than one, long, rambling, self-indulgent diatribe.
 
Chatty: Make your material engaging. That might be difficult, especially if you're talking about estate planning or tax avoidance strategies, but it's necessary. Use real life examples and simple language to communicate your points. Listeners will tune out jargon, dry statistics, and 'academic-speak'.
 
Clear: Once upon a time, politicians and thespians used to train by speaking with a mouth full of pebbles. The thought was that if one could make oneself understood even under those circumstances, clear speech would present no problem if one were unimpeded. I'm not recommending you start putting rocks in your mouth. However, make an effort to speak clearly. Listeners won't value what they can't understand.
 
Consistent: You can podcast monthly. You can podcast weekly. You can even -- if you're brave and have the time -- podcast daily. It doesn't really matter, as long as you pick a schedule and stick to it. Blow off your listeners at your peril. If there's no material when they expect it, they won't come looking twice.
 
Once you have your podcast up and running, remember that you have to promote it. Link to it from your website, add info about your podcast to your signature files, and include a mention in your print advertising. People won't listen if they don't know the podcast exists!

 

The History Of Podcasting

The History Of Podcasting

Word Count:
418

Summary:
What we know as a podcast had its beginnings in the creation of MP3 files that could be downloaded and played on the iPod device developed by Apple Computer. The release of the iPod encouraged people to share their music with others. They then realized that they could create, upload, and download information other than music. Some iPod users reverse engineered the device and loaded various types of firmware or operating system software. Other users decided that they would sha...

Keywords:
communication,telecommunication,technology,podcasting,iPods

Article Body:
What we know as a podcast had its beginnings in the creation of MP3 files that could be downloaded and played on the iPod device developed by Apple Computer. The release of the iPod encouraged people to share their music with others. They then realized that they could create, upload, and download information other than music. Some iPod users reverse engineered the device and loaded various types of firmware or operating system software. Other users decided that they would share sound files to be played on the iPod, since the technology for distributing such files already existed. RSS feeds provide a way to generate machine-readable files, which could then share data between servers and users. Many blogs used RSS to keep their readers up to date on blog posts. Some visionary podcasters realized that they could enclose links to sound files inside the RSS feed and download these files to a computer.

The iPod podcast became increasingly popular as this change in RSS feeds was implemented. Podcasting became a common way to share files, and users began to view podcasting as a way to become, essentially, radio-show hosts or DJs. Then software was developed that would automatically check the RSS feeds, extract links to podcast episodes, and download the files. This software is called a podcast client.

By the time all this was happening, podcasting had expanded far beyond Apple's iPod device. Developers had even discovered ways to use PlayStation Portable gaming systems as a podcast player. While this was more difficult than downloading a podcast to an iPod because of PSP's different file format, more PSP podcasts began appearing on the Internet. Podcasting also expanded into use by individuals who didn't have iPods, but who viewed podcasting as a very convenient technology for receiving news, music, and entertainment over the Internet.

Now, iPod podcasting remains in use, but fewer people subscribe to podcasts in order to get portable media files. This still represents an attractive feature of podcasting, but it is overshadowed by the use of podcasting as a content delivery system. Podcasting is currently associated with a large and growing number of audio and video blogs, for example. With these offerings, content is not delivered via posting, but through media files that are uploaded to the blog. These types of blogs, and podcasting in general, benefit from the constantly decreasing cost of broadband Internet connections and the growing number of people who have high-speed access to rich online content that includes multimedia files.

 

Preparing for a Successful Podcast

Preparing for a Successful Podcast

Word Count:
567

Summary:
For those of you who have already launched your initial podcast, it may take a while before you begin to see an increase in traffic to your site.  But it may be a good idea to start considering how you'll respond when you do. Before you figure out how to spend your new revenue, it's necessary to train your staff to cope with the increased amount of interest and additional consumer inquiries, so that they can become satisfied and loyal customers.

Keywords:
Marketing, Podcasting, Business

Article Body:
For those of you who have already launched your initial podcast, it may take a while before you begin to see an increase in traffic to your site.  But it may be a good idea to start considering how you'll respond when you do.  Before you figure out how to spend your new revenue, it's necessary to train your staff to cope with the increased amount of interest and additional consumer inquiries, so that they can become satisfied and loyal customers. 

First of all, it is important to remember that your podcast is only one part of the marketing mix.  So anything that you mention or highlight in your podcast should be reflected elsewhere.  There's no point in directing people to check out a new range of products online if they aren't featured on your site.  And even if the product is listed on the site, you need to make sure that it has prominent placement and is not hidden in some dusty corner of your site that's harder to access than Fort Knox.  It seems obvious, but it's usually the seemingly simple things that get overlooked.  It's also important to note that your sales force or customer representatives will require training so that they too are equally knowledgeable about new developments and ready to answer any questions that may arise.  This is critical because members of the sales force are the ambassadors of your company: if they don't know about the product, no one else will either.  To make things easier, it may be worthwhile to prepare a list of Frequently Asked Questions and their appropriate answers, so that everyone is informed and consistent in their replies to inquiries.
 
More importantly, when those inquiries prompt sales (your ultimate goal), you certainly want to be equipped to satisfy increased customer demand.   Be sure that your product or service is readily available and that distribution channels are in place for customers to quickly receive what you have to offer.  After all, it doesn't matter how many customers you attract if the infrastructure to serve and retain customers isn't in place.  
 
More frequent visits to your website and increased purchases help develop and solidify the relationship with your customers and enables you to build a closer relationship with them.  An effective podcast also helps to build brand loyalty by encouraging listeners to subscribe to the podcast news feed and creating a relationship between your brand and the customer.  By encouraging customers to download the most recent shows or having them automatically delivered to the client's pc, the likelihood of regular contact and interaction with your target audience is significantly increased. 
So, what exactly do you need to do to prepare for the influx of customers? 
1.) Keep track of all the news and highlights featured in your podcasts.
2.) Create an FAQ sheet for all Customer Service and Sales personnel so that they can answer questions about the changes or new services.
3.) Remember to update your website, print ads or other marketing materials so that they also reflect the changes and present a cohesive brand image.
4.) Make sure that you have the products/services readily available and that the distribution channels are able to effectively bring them to the marketplace.
By following these steps you can ensure that when that additional traffic does hit, you'll be able to convert visitors to customers.