What
Are Podcasts And How Can They Help Your Business?
By:Jennifer
Kothe
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.
About
The Author:
Potential
customers are looking for you through search engines, directories
and forums. We help them find yourwebsite. How? Check out our marketing
techniques at www.itsontarget.com
and sign up for our podcast and we'll let you in on some interesting
internet traffic solutions.
