"Podcasting" may be a new term for many, but really it's something we're somewhat familiar with, if we've ever listened to talk radio.

Think of it as a radio show where YOU get to star, talk about whatever you want (including, of course, your book), AND have it instantly available to thousands of people who can access it at any time THEY want.

But what does "podcast" actually mean?

According to Wikipedia, "pod" stands for "Portable on Demand." The "cast" part refers to how these "portable on demand" digital media files are distributed: over the Internet, often using syndication feeds.

The term podcast, like "broadcast," can refer either to the series of content itself or to the method by which it is syndicated; the latter is also termed podcasting. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster.

Podcasting expert Paul Colligan says points out several unique things about a podcast:

It can be automated. (That's the syndication part. Once you set it up so that you're listed in the directories, people can find you and download your content automatically.)


It's time-shifted: People can listen to your content whenever they want to.


It's portable: People can listen where they want to. They're not bound by either time or place, in terms of listening to you.


You can deliver content in more than one medium. We usually think of a podcast as an audio, but it can be video or even a print file in a PDF format.

So why would an author want to consider starting a podcast of his or her own?

1. It's free and easy. You can set up a podcast on http://www.mypodcast.com. (They insert ads for you, though.)

Another place to podcast, almost for free, is the Yaktivate network. (There's only a one-time setup fee, which you will assuredly get back through sponsor income.) What's great about Yaktivate is that they get tremendous traffic (averaging 3 million downloads per month), you get at least 30 percent of your sponsor income (70 percent if you get the sponsor yourself), there is good cross-promotion among the channels, and as a podcaster, you have the opportunity for other podcasters to use you as their sponsor. There is also a program whereby if you get other podcasters to sign up, you get a commission.

2. It's a great way to expose people to your book's content - whether you've written it yet or not.

If you have a book already, you have content you can draw from for your podcast postings. Simply talk about a piece of your book. Mention that this comes from your book, and tell people where they can go to find out more about your book (including how to order). You can send them to your sales page or, if you don't have one set up yet, to your listing on amazon.

If you don't yet have your book written, podcasting is a way to test your material. Talk about what you want to write about. Come up with creative titles for your podcasts. Make a note of which ones seem most popular.

This is a very powerful way to test your material ahead of time.

3. A podcast gives you another "presence" on the Web, which means you will get higher ranking in the search engines. Higher ranking means people will find you-and read your book, buy your products, etc.

4. A podcast can be "repurposed" into an article, which you can post on ezine directories. This will also expose your message to more people, allow people to find you, give you higher ranking in the search engines, and allow you to test the interest in your content. (At EzineArticles.com, for instance, you can check how many people view and comment on your articles.)

5. A podcast can create a stream of income for you in a number of ways.

First, of course, if you have a product to sell (such as your book), you can sell it on your podcast. It's as easy as saying something like, "This is just one of the ideas I cover in my book, [title], which you can find at [your website] or at amazon.com."

You can also get sponsors for your podcast. When you do it the right way, as a recommendation much like Paul Harvey does on his show, sponsors will happily pay to sponsor you-especially if you can prove your podcast gets downloaded a lot, as with the Yaktivate podcasts.

(For examples of how to incorporate sponsors into your content, listen to my "Books 'n' Such" podcasts at reviewyak.com)

These are just a couple of ideas on how you can monetize your podcast. If this has piqued your interest, find out how to not only monetize your podcast, but get started on a podcasting network that currently gets 3 million downloads per month. Visit [http://www.podcastsecretsforauthors.com]

And for more tips on how to write, publish, and market books, I invite you to visit wordstoprofit.com To ask a question about writing, publishing, or promoting a book, visit Diane's blog at http://www.yourbookpublishingcoach.com/the-fatal-flaw-in-the-book-publishing-industry

From Diane Eble, "Your Book Publishing Coach"

Are you the kind of person who's got a lot to say? Have you ever wanted to share your talents, thoughts, and opinions with others, but have lacked the broadcasting knowledge and contacts to achieve such a goal?

Well, today it's well within your grasp, thanks to PodcastingÑusing only some simple recording equipment, a computer, and the Internet, you can record and distribute your own audio shows, including anything you wantÑcomedy, debate, news, reviews, interviews, musicÑthe only limit is your imagination.

Of course, you'll need a guide to tell you what you need to know, which is where this indispensable book comes inÑthe 2nd edition of the best selling Podcast Solutions. Inside, influential podcasters Michael Geoghegan and Dan Klass provide a comprehensive guide to receiving, recording, editing, mixing, distributing, and monetizing audio and video podcasts. Also included is a guide to what hardware and software to get, whatever your budget is, and how to make sense of all that technology.

This is the guide to podcasting you're been looking for, and the only one you'll need.

Mac/PC Compatible

Price: $24.99

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In his excellent article "What Podcasting is NOT," Tom Hespos of Underscore Marketing focuses on the difference between podcasting and radio or television. His point, which is a very good one, is that podcasting is far more interactive. Even though podcasters may be the ones to choose the programming, listeners take an active part through audio comments, e-mail, and written comments to podcast blogs, and often shape the content of future shows as a result.

As a Natural Born Pedant and specialist in the treatment of Podcastus Ignoramus, I want to address the question of what podcasting is not from a different angle. My nit-picky hackles go up every time someone claims that X is a podcast when it really isn't.

Podcast and MP3 are not synonyms. MP3s have been around for a good 10 years. Podcasts are new and revolutionary, and without understanding the distinction between podcasting and other kinds of audio on the internet, it's hard to see what the fuss is about.

Podcasting Is Not Streaming Audio

Streaming audio has been around for a long time. When you visit a web page and a player opens up and sound starts coming out of your speakers, that's streaming audio. When you visit a more polite web page and it gives you a play button to click on and listen, that's streaming audio. Web radio stations are streaming audio.

Streaming audio is fine if you want to sit at your computer to listen to it, right then and there. Personally, I usually don't, especially if the audio file is more than a few minutes long. I can't listen and work at the same time. I've gone so far as to record streaming audio so I can listen to it later. (See my "Why I Hate Flash Audio" article if you're curious about the details.)

Podcasting Is Not Downloadable Audio

I became a teleseminar junkie in early 2005, and I still sign up for many free teleseminars on subjects I'm interested in--though I rarely call in. Most conference call hosts will record your call for you, and many teleseminar hosts will send all the participants a link they can click to download the file. Marketing guru Robert Middleton records his teleclasses himself (on a tape recorder!) and converts them into Real Audio format so budding infogurus can download them from his website.

I like downloadable audio files, because they're portable. I can listen to them when and where I want, by putting them onto CDs or my MP3 player. (Proprietary formats like Real Audio have to be re-recorded or otherwise converted to another format in order to play on most portable media players, however.)

Downloadable audio is very good for one-off recordings, and I don't think it's going to go away soon. But before you can download one of these files, you have to know it's there. Either you stumble across it on a search or by returning to a web page to check, or the person posting the audio file has to send out an e-mail message or other notification to let you know something is up there.

The Podcast Difference

A podcast, in contrast, is an ongoing series of digital audio or video recordings which listeners can subscribe to. This is like subscribing to a newspaper: the new audio file shows up on your computer as soon as it's available, without your having to go and get it.

The real difference between podcasts and downloadable audio is the delivery method. The content can be the same: your weekly teleseminar is the same whether people call in live, hear it streamed on your website, download it manually, or have it delivered right to your desktop.

While a single audio file delivered through an RSS feed might technically be a podcast, there wouldn't be much point creating a feed for just one file. Hence creating a podcast has become almost synonymous with starting an ongoing talk radio program which appears on a regular schedule. (Listeners like regular schedules, even when they don't listen to the show at any given time. Producing a show on a regular schedule gives you credibility.)

The fact that tradition radio stations like NPR have jumped on the podcast bandwagon and started making their shows available by RSS subscription is no doubt part of why Hespos felt the need to write his article explaining the difference between traditional radio (even when redistributed over the internet) and podcasts that start out as podcasts.

The way listeners become part of creating the shows is even more revolutionary than the ability to connect your media player to your computer and have your podcatcher add all the new episodes to it so you can listen to them while driving or walking the dog, but the portability of podcasts is one of the things that got me hooked on them. So is knowing that there'll be another episode of my favorite podcast next week.

Now for the Confusing Part

Podcasters want listeners--why else spend all that time recording and editing a show? They know that not everyone owns an MP3 player and not everyone wants to figure out how to use podcatching software. (Not to mention the fact that not everyone will want to subscribe before hearing an episode.) So most podcast blogs include streaming audio players to let you listen to the show online, and links to let you manually download the files.

You can stream a podcast. You can download a podcast. But if you can't subscribe to it, it's not a podcast. If you want to put streaming-only audio on your website, great. (It's especially effective for sales and name squeeze pages.) If you have a single recorded presentation and want visitors to your site to be able to download it, wonderful. That's a service to them.

Just don't call it a podcast if I can't subscribe to it and get the latest episode as soon as it comes out.

© 2006 Sallie Goetsch

As co-founder of the Podcast Asylum, Sallie Goetsch (rhymes with "sketch") writes and speaks about podcasting from the listener's perspective. She started "smoking the podcast dope" in April 2005 and immediately began using podcasting to make connections and attract prospects from around the world without recording her own podcast.

She works tirelessly to cure the epidemic of Podcastus Ignoramus among business owners and produces Reports from the Asylum for the popular communications podcast For Immediate Release

If you or someone you know is suffering from a podcast-related mental health syndrome, write to sallie [at] podcastasylum.com

The Podcasting Bundle includes RecordForAll and FeedForAll makes it simple to record audio files, layer audio files, edit audio files and publish podcast feeds. Create iTunes compatible podcast feeds that can be posted to the Apple iTunes library. Create podcasts, create RSS feeds, record new audio files, edit existing audio files, layer sounds and show segments, and add transitions between segments. Includes built in Wizard that walks beginners through the process.

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Podcasting is a relatively new phenomenon that has been spreading the globe from around 2003. Podcasting is simply the act of producing and distributing a Podcast via the World Wide Web. Rather than being a fad or a trend, Podcasting has become a significant communication and marketing tool for many companies.

What is a Podcast?

Podcast is a term derived from Apple's iPod (first introduced in October 2001). In reality, a Podcast is just an mp3 audio file that is distributed on demand via the internet. A Podcast can be listened to straight from the internet or downloaded to any mp3 player - not just an iPod! Possibly the greatest appeal of the Podcast is that it can be listened to at the convenience of the listener with many making use of commuting time.

The subject of a Podcast can be almost anything, however, Podcasts are generally in a series and enable the listener to subscribe using an RSS feed (really simple syndication) This is a real advantage for businesses as not only does your first Podcast mention your business name and its activity but it reminds your audience when a new Podcast is available, hence reinforcing your company message and identity.

Common Podcast subjects can be anything from product information delivery, help files, news reports, sports information, hobbies, comedy, tutorials, debates, interviews, company training, internal company communication, seminar recordings, client testimonials etc.

Content that gets them hooked

The key for using Podcasts effectively as a business tool is to find a subject that your target market will find useful. You are trying to get a group of regular listeners and therefore should avoid making your Podcast a blatant advert for your services.

If you provide your listener with useful content and information that is relevant to them and their industry they will happily subscribe to your Podcast. Furthermore, popular Podcasts spread more readily over the internet giving your company lots of cost effective advertising and PR.

Your Podcasts should ideally be in the form of a themed series with each Podcast episode being in the region of 15-30 minutes in length. Having a planned format will help keep your program flowing and varied.

It is a good idea to consider making your content as timeless as possible; after all, your Podcast will potentially be around forever. Encouraging feedback and suggestions from your audience can help steer the programme into a direction that listeners want. Popular features can be interviews, "how to" guides (without giving your trade secrets away), informational content, mentioning useful industry resources, talk shows, industry news, reviews etc. There are no set rules for Podcast content so don't be afraid to use your imagination. Trying something new or different can make you unique and stand out from others.

Audio Quality

Anyone with a PC and a microphone can record a Podcast, however, creating a professional sounding Podcast production is a different matter. If you want your company to project professionalism then you need to use a recording studio or one of the growing numbers of mobile Podcast producers.

Your company's sonic branding should be taken as seriously as your visual forms of branding. As mentioned previously, your Podcast could be around forever in cyberspace; therefore it is worth investing a little time and money into getting it right.

Remember, your Podcast has the potential to be a powerful PR and marketing channel for your business. Excessive background noise, mobile phone interference, bad microphone placement, ramblings on with long silences should have no place in your company Podcast.

About the Author: Lee Pritchard is the founder of Media Music Now, a high quality Royalty Free Music library that offers a variety of music, voice-over and audio editing services including Podcast Production using professional voice-overs. Lee also has a keen interest in music licensing and is excited about the future of independent music on the internet.

Podcast Production: http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/podcast_production
Blog: http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/blog

1. The first step in promoting your podcast actually comes down to the description of the podcast itself. Your podcast description should be clear and give an accurate representation of the contents of your podcast. Podcast episodes generally have a common theme, such as how to podcasts, podsafe music podcasts etc.

Your description should accurately describe this theme. Remember, not everybody is going to want to listen to your podcast. What you ultimately want is a core following from those that are particularly interested in your genre. This is known as a niche. An example of a niche is all people that want to train their cat to speak. Wacky I know, but my research indicates that this is indeed possible and I'm trying it on my cat.

Now this is a very specific podcast niche.

Another broader example would be unsigned heavy metal band music. This would attract listeners who are perhaps looking for the latest music that has not hit the mainstream and maybe even music agents looking to sign up the next big act. Another good idea is to have an attractive image included in your podcast. This can give a pictorial description of your theme and attract your niche podcast audience.

2. The next step in promoting your podcast is to get it in front of the podcast world. Now there are a plethora of sites that list podcasts. There are podcast directories, there are forums that discuss podcasts and then there is the search engines themselves.

Firstly I would recommend submitting your podcast to as many podcast directories as possible. What this does is get you some traffic, but more importantly it will get you links back to your site, in the the search engines. These are powerful one way links. There are 50 or more podcast directories around ranging from general ones, categorized into many genres, to niche directories, focusing on one topic, such as educational podcasts. Simply find the ones that are appropriate to your podcast and submit.

Forums are also a good place to find listeners and get links. Simply join the forum and participate. Do not spam. You can usually place a link to your podcast in your signature line. If your podcast is interesting to the forum members you will attract listeners. Use a feedburner link to monitor the number of listeners you have.

3. The final step is what I call managing the growth. If you get to this step. This is where you will have an ever increasing number of listeners and may even attain cult status for your podcast. At this point you will be looking for more macro promotion. You may be needing to look for joint venture partners and may receive offers. Consider these wisely.

Now clearly not all podcasts will reach this level, but if you do you should not diverge too widely from your listener base, since this is what has brought you to this level. At this point you can consider getting professional advice, provided your monetization model permits.

If you are a band you may have already have received offers of work by this stage and the podcast should be maintained, in a normal operation, since this is what got you to this level. These are the basic steps to promoting your podcast.

To promote your podcast please visit Graeme's Podcast Directory. This directory already contains a number of resources on podcasting itself. But it is by no means limited to that and lists podcasts in many genres. Any one is welcome to submit their podcast for consideration to www.Podcastdir.net and listing is free.

Whether you're aiming for YouTube videos or Hollywood-style epics, you need what Premiere Elements can't provide: crystal-clear guidance and real world know-how. This Missing Manual delivers. Packed with great ideas on how to spiff up your footage, this book helps you avoid the dreaded Help! I Never Do Anything With My Video syndrome.With this book, you'll learn how to use Premiere's two approaches to filmmaking: The quick-and-easy InstantMovie technique, and the classic, handcrafted approach for frame-by-frame editing with fine-tuned transitions, effects, and more. Premiere expert Chris Grover combines a touch of humor with insights, tips, and tricks culled from years of moviemaking experience to help you release your inner Scorsese.Create movies from start to finish with hands-on, step-by-step instructionsUse InstantMovie to whip up a video ready for prime timeLearn frame-by-frame editing to handcraft your story like the pros doShare your movie by saving it to disc, uploading it, or emailing itAdd video effects that dazzleUse keyframes to precisely control cuts, special effects, and soundTap Premiere's automated tools to analyze, organize, and rate your clips

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The importance of promoting your podcast should never be underestimated. The creation of your podcast is only part of the work involved in being a podcaster. Promoting your podcast is just as important as creating it, and without proper promotion your podcast may just fizzle and die. Many of the tried and true techniques to promoting websites can be converted to promoting your podcast.

I. Podcasts should be submitted to several podcast directories. Podcast directories offer Internet users a wide selection of podcasts all in one place, and will allow more exposure for all podcasts submitted for inclusion. Most directories are separated into several categories, some more detailed than others, and will allow potential listeners to more easily find what they are looking for.

II. Think of the RSS feed as an advertisement. Many people fail to realize the full value of their RSS feeds; so many podcasters make the mistake of not using the full potential of the feed. It's sad to think about how often a podcaster has failed to include a full and detailed summary of the podcast, or how often a podcaster fails to provide even a simple image (some people commonly refer to this as "Album Art"). The item description fields for podcasts are many times lacking relevant information about the podcast. Take the time to properly utilize a podcast's RSS feed. Podcasters should consider writing a 100-150 word podcast summary, and spend equal effort on each and every item description.

III. Never underestimate the value of having graphics for a podcast, and podcast website. As stated earlier, many podcasters forget to include an image (Album Art) in their RSS feeds. Images and logos are very important to "brand" recognition and are extremely important for promotional purposes. Some of the best album arts are those, which are bold, yet simple; some of the best album art may only take less than an hours worth of time. Images should be consistent, the same image which is used on a podcast's website should be used for the feed; this can be easily achieved by some simple resizing and cropping.

IV. Create a community forum, or message board for your podcast. Not only will this help people come back repeatedly to your website for discussion, but it will become an important tool for discovering what your listeners want. There are several free message boards / forum scripts available on the Internet that can be easily and freely installed to any website.

Keeping the preceding thoughts in mind, in combination with traditional Internet promotion techniques and any podcaster should be able to achieve a significantly successful podcast promotion. The success of which could be very important to the podcast's survival.

David is a freelance writer and chief editor for PodcastFerret.com podcast directory, where you can find feeds, download, rate, and comment on podcasts. Add your podcast to PodcastFerret.com today.

Over the past decade we have seen the Internet grow by leaps and bounds. In the first-generation of Internet marketing, techniques were very limited and it was thought that banner advertising was the only way to go and search engine ranking and search engine criteria were virtually non-existent!

With the second-generation of Internet marketing, businesses realized that the Internet wasn't a technology but a marketing tool. We began to see more focused and varied techniques which are still very much used today. Things like generating repeat traffic, search engine optimization, permission marketing and viral marketing became important Internet marketing elements.

Third-generation Internet marketing encompasses many or all parts of the second generations plus a whole lot more. With the third-generation came the search explosion where we can now search for videos, images and maps, we can now search locally as well as on a global scale. Search engine optimization for each of these new searches require their own strategy. Third generation Internet marketing includes all the latest techniques - podcasting, videocasting, blogs, mblogs, flogs, wikis, mobile marketing, interactive maps, social marketing, RSS and a whole lot more!

Podcasting - What Is It?

Podcasting is the distribution of audio content via the Internet.

It is distributed for listening on personal computers, MP3 players, iPods or other mobile devices. The term podcasting originally came from the two terms "broadcasting" and "iPod" but as I stated above, they can be listened to on just about any mobile device as well as your PC.

How Does It Work?

Podcasting is a relatively easy process. You need your content and a few pieces of equipment, including your computer, a microphone, audio recording software and an MP3 encoder. You also need a Web site or host for distribution. Once you have those, you're in business!

Once you have finished recording your podcast you can put it on your Web site and make it available as an individual podcast or as a series of podcasts available for download on a subscription basis through RSS feed.

Once searchers download your podcast from your site, or host, they can listen to your content where ever they want, whenever they want!

What to Include in Your Podcast

There are so many topics that are suitable for podcasts. There are podcasts on everything from Internet Marketing to Thai cooking. I have listed a few ideas below, but as I said above, there are podcasts on every topic imaginable!

Just to name a few:

* Training tutorials

* Guided Tours (ie., museum tours, city tours, art gallery tours, etc.)

* Interviews

* Announcements (ie., new CD released, new music video released, etc.)

* Informational content

* TV and Radio shows

* Sportscasts

* And so many more...

Promoting Your Podcast

As with any web site content or published material, you want to get as wide a distribution for your podcast as you can.

The most obvious place to promote your podcast would be right on your Web site. If you are going to put it on your Web site make sure it stands out. You can even have a whole page dedicated to it (or them!).

Remember to make it easy for people to subscribe by way of an RSS feed or give you permission to email them when you have new podcasts available.

Be sure to provide information on your podcast content (sell the sizzle) and also provide the tools they need to be able to access the content.

Include Viral marketing - Tell a friend about this podcast - to enable your Web site visitors to spread the word.

Here are a few other ways you can promote your podcast:

* Promote your podcast in your signature file

* Promote your podcasts on partner sites

* Promote your podcast through popular podcast sites, such as:

* iTunes- http://www.itunes.com

* Submit your podcast to podcast search engines like:

* Podcast Alley- http://www.podcastalley.com

* Podcast Pickle- http://www.podcastpickle.com/

* Promote your podcasts on any sites that are targeting the same target market you are and where your content would be valuable to that site

Benefits Of Having A Podcast

We are seeing podcasting take off because it enables listeners to enjoy the audio content when they want - they can listen to a tour of the community where they are thinking of relocating while on a 10:30 a.m. flight to view a house in that community, they can enjoy a podcast on how to complete a purchase agreement while on the treadmill first thing in the morning, or they can listen to descriptions of new listings while riding the subway to work, or they can listen to your advice on getting their house ready for the market while lazing by the pool.

People no longer have to be in a particular place at a particular time to hear your audio content, they can download it and listen to it anywhere at any time.

They can take your message with them wherever they go!

Susan Sweeney, CA, CSP, HoF

Best-selling author of 8 Internet Marketing Books, including 101 Ways to Promote Your Real Estate Web Site

Check out my site to see how you can take my FREE online Search Engine Optimization Methodology course - [http://www.RealEstateInternetMarketingBook.com]

The Blogging Church offers church leaders a field manual for using the social phenomenon of blogs to connect people and build communities in a whole new way. Inside you will find the why, what, and how of blogging in the local church. Filled with illustrative examples and practical advice, the authors answer key questions learned on the frontlines of ministry: Is blogging a tool or a toy? What problems will blogging solve? How does it benefit ministry? How do I build a great blog? and Who am I blogging for?

The Blogging Church is a handbook that will inspire and equip you to join the conversation.

The book includes contributions from five of the most popular bloggers in the worldâ??Robert Scoble, Dave Winer, Kathy Sierra, Guy Kawasaki, and Merlin Mann, as well as interviews with blogging pastors such as Mark Driscoll, Craig Groeschel, Tony Morgan, Perry Noble, Greg Surratt, Mark Batterson, and many more.

Price: $19.95

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One of the reasons why podcasts became so insanely popular is the fact that many of them are available for free. You don't have to pay a single cent. You don't even get drawn into a "subscription promo" or whatever marketing ploy that tries to get money through the backdoor. This is honest to goodness, no strings attached, free.

Don't believe us? Check the web. Type "free podcasts" and you'll be directed to several sites. Most of them fall under these types--scour them for the best free podcasts or advice on where to go.

Podcast Directories

A podcast directory is a listing of many, sometimes thousands of different podcasts. These podcasts are organized by topic or category. Think of them as the Yellow Pages of the web.

Now, as a warning, not all podcasts in podcast directories are free; some links will lead you to paying sites. But you have great chances of finding free podcasts here, especially if the directory lists the largest and most popular sites.

The advantage of visiting podcast directories is that you can browse through the list and compare the kind of material that's available--sort of like window shopping. Even if you eventually decide to pay for a podcast subscription, you do so as an informed consumer, who's seen the prices and maybe checked out the free stuff and decided that you're ready to pay for more in-depth material. In any case, some of these paying sites will offer free samples, which they'll post on a podcast directory. Do check these out before forking over your hard-earned money!

Related websites

If you're looking for a podcast on say, parenting, you should go to a major parenting site and look for any articles or links on podcasts. Chances are you will get a few great leads, and even suggestions on which websites offer free downloads.

The advantage of checking out related websites for information on free podcasts is that you can get the advice of peers and experts in that topic. Podcast directories are not governing bodies--they just list all sites, regardless of how credible or relevant that podcast material is. But a parenting website would be very careful about which podcasts they'd endorse. And if members in that community tell you that they've used this free podcast, then they can also tell you whether or not it was good. (and that matters as much as whether it was free or not).

Podcast Community Groups

You are one of millions of podcast aficionados. There are a lot of people like you who have scoured the web for the best podcast sources, and they converge at websites dedicated to podcasting fans. Here, they share tips and ideas, and review many other podcasting services. Get their advice, and even ask for their help if you're having problems downloading. You'd also probably enjoy talking about the free podcasts you've found, and what you thought about the content. Your inputs would probably help other podcast aficionados looking for the best free podcasts on the web.

Visit Podcastblaster for more podcasting tips, podcast software and an extensive podcast directory.

A podcast, in case you're not entirely sure, is little more than an audio file posted on either a website or a blog. In some ways, it's like a radio program on a topic of your choice, except that it's ready to be listened to whenever you are. In other ways, it may be more comparable to downloading music, except that it's usually free and offers businesses a unique resource. Another comparison still might be a book on tape, except there's no cassette or trip to the bookstore. However you want to look at it, what a podcast can do for your business is present relative information for customers and employees in any number of audio forms, including lectures, interviews, talk shows, meetings, sermons - anything that works for your business.

Explore a podcasting directory such as iBizRadio for a short amount of time and you will find that there are innumerable ways businesses and individuals are already utilizing this young technology. Some companies offer tours, others offer training via podcast. Schools provide news and parenting tips while hospitals showcase health programs.

In addition to the variety of formats possible for your particular niche, podcasting also offers a new dimension of information diffusion that can make it easier for your business to establish a deeper connection to its customers than ever before. Teleconference calls, audio newsletters, and lectures delivered via podcast are only a few of the ways businesses are already managing to use podcasting to strengthen and simplify their relationships with their customers. Because the podcast is available at any time, customers are able to listen as they wish on their computer or MP3 player, or even burn it to a CD to listen to in their car or while on a jog. In this form, your message becomes both portable and time-shifted. Even better, customers can subscribe and get your podcast updates downloaded to their computer automatically, with no additional work from you. While podcasting is a powerful and fresh tool for business, it is also very easy to understand and use, and the software is almost always free. Many podcasters work with nothing more than their computer and a microphone. Low-cost delivery audio messages can be targeted to and tailored for your audience at little or no cost to your business. With the growth of podcasting technology (keep in mind the more than 50 million ipods sold and counting), the potential pool of customers is already enormous, and expanding.

Though the technology as it applies to business is in its infancy, some businesses are already beginning to share and compare what is and isn't working for business podcasting. If podcasting is something you're considering for your business, you may want to think about a few things: Depending on the format, keep the audio length and your customer's attention span in mind. Even as much as 15 minutes might be too long for some podcast formats or topics (or customers). As always in business, being concise and targeted is likely to pay off best.
Advertising over a podcast may or may not work - the jury's still out. One thing most in the podcasting industry agree on is that the technology is still new enough that businesses should remain cautious about inserting ads into podcasts. In radio an ad is acceptable, but for a download it's usually not. A re-invention or new form of advertising to suit podcasting may take place at some point, but it hasn't happened yet.
One way to make sure your podcast is easy to find is to make sure you're using the keywords or categories your customers will use, so give your podcast's tagging some thought.
Make sure your podcasts are easy to subscribe to and listen to by offering customers links to listen right away and to subscribe. Apple itunes 4.9 allows podcast listings in a directory almost tailored for marketers, as well as a customer-friendly subscription service.
For more topic ideas and tips on podcasting, TMA E-Marketing specializes in helping businesses podcast along with promoting, crafting, and marketing your message.
Though podcasting has only been around a short time, more than 6 million people have downloaded a podcast. Don't kid yourself: this technology is applicable to much more than leisurely interests and music. Podcasting is just waiting to be discovered and explored by business. But don't let time-shifted radio pass you by, the time to get on board with podcasting is now.

Christian Del Monte: Director of Operations for TMA E-Marketing has a B.S. degree in Marketing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition, Christian has over 10 years in personal sales experience and has directed the operations for TMA for the last 4 years.

He has directed and worked on Internet marketing projects for mid to large-scale clients including several fortune 500 companies. Christian continues to head up the operations for TMA as well as lead research and development on vertical search markets and business blogging.

A podcast is a collection of digital media distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players (such as iPods) and personal computers. Believe it or not, you can make a successful internet business out of podcasting. In order to do so, your podcast has to be innovative and informative in order to rise above the competition. You may also be able to get sponsorship for your podcast.

One of the newest forms of internet business is podcasting. Podcasting for profit involves making and distributing podcasts in order to generate revenue. Podcast profits can be made through actually selling the podcast, but they are more likely to be generated through donations, sponsorship and networking.

It is possible to make money through podcasts, but you need to think about how it will generate revenue. Podcasts that cost money to download usually only do well if they contain information that is popular, relevant, and insightful. Podcasts that people have to pay for face serious competition from all the free podcasts available. This doesn't mean that podcasting isn't a good way to make money; you just usually need to find other ways of generating revenue besides just selling the podcast.

One popular way of making money through podcasts is by providing a way of allowing people to make donations. Although many may not be willing to pay for a podcast, they may be willing to make a donation in order to keep your podcast alive. In order to receive money from donations, you will need to provide a link on your website where people can easily make a donation. Paypal is a reputable service that offers a donation button you can put on your site.

People are not going to donate money to a service that does not provide a quality podcast. In order to make money from donations, you will need to provide a podcast that people think is worth contributing to. Donations are a great way to generate revenue for newer podcasts that have not yet built up a steady listening base.

Commercial sponsorship is another good way for your podcast to generate revenue. It is not unknown for sponsors to approach podcasters that have a large base of listeners, but usually you have to approach the sponsors. Before approaching companies to try and persuade them to sponsor your podcast, you should have a good idea of the type of sponsors you want and the type of sponsors that would benefit from sponsoring your podcast. You should also have accrued a good listening base and show a good understanding of the business.

You can also profit from your podcast through the revenue generated by your website. Your podcast can direct people to your website, which will have its own ways of generating revenue. In order to generate revenue through the website, it is essential to have a quality website that provides pertinent and engaging information.

The information on the website should tie in with the subject of the podcast and provide information about it. A blog is one way to keep people coming back to your website on a frequent basis, in order to see any new updates. A newsletter can also direct people to specific items on the website and inform them of any new happenings regarding the podcast.

Another good way to get the word out about your podcast and attract listeners is to create an Apple iTunes account and submit your podcast to the iTunes directory. This is a very simple process that will allow a large number of people to find and listen to your podcast.

You don't even have to be listed in the Apple iTunes directory to make money from your podcast, as there are other podcast directories that can direct people to your podcast. Your website alone may be enough to gain listeners to the podcast, but the iTunes directory will net you more listeners and subscribers, and is worth considering if you really want to make money podcasting.

Podcast profits don't just happen, they need to be planned. You can't create a podcast and expect the profits to just start rolling in. If you want to profit from your podcast, you need to spend some time thinking about how it will generate revenue. Proper planning and marketing strategy will provide a positive image of your podcast that people will want to experience. As a result, they will pay to watch it and you will profit from your internet business ideas!

For more information on Podcasting and creating a successful internet business, visit http://TheInternetBusinessAuthority.com.

Audio recording and editing software designed specifically for podcasters. Easy to use. Includes: - Drag and drop audio editing. Edit out sound distortions or remove entire clips. - Easily create a timeline, layer sounds and create background transitions for professional quality recordings. - Easily adjust the volume of specific audio clips which will result in a continuous production at the same volume. - Sample your audio creations and sound effect transitions with a single click. - Remove any audio recordings that are not deemed appropriate with a single click. - Label segments and arrange in any order. - Easily synchronize and sequence clips using drag and drop. - Effortlessly add music, jingles or intros and outros to shows. - Use cross fade effects for smooth transitions between clips. - Quickly and easily edit ID3 tags of audio files. - Seamless integration with FeedForAll desktop software for creating podcast feeds. One click will transfer audio files along with the feed! - Export audio files as MP3, WAV or Midi.

Price: $59.95

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Interested in podcasting but overwhelmed as to what software to use to help you? Here's a list of some of the top podcasting software programs you can find on the Internet:

1. iPodder - subscribe to and receive podcasts on your PC

2. Radio Blog Club - creates a playlist of audio files for a web site

3. Doppler Radio - podcast aggregator that downloads podcasts to your computer

4. iPodderX - another popular podcast aggragator

5. PodFeeder - tool to manage your podcast subscriptions also let's you search for podcast feeds to subscribe to.

6. Blog Matrix Sparks - you can record streaming Internet radio programs and download podcasts with this program.

7. jPodder - another popular tool to subscribe to podcasts.

8. podOmatic - service to create podcasts and host them online.

9. EasyPodcast.com - tool to create podcasts

10. Propaganda - a software program to create your own podcasts

11.Poderator - online tool that creates the podcast RSS feeds.

12. Podcast Teleprompter - tool to make your recordings sound like a professional news anchor when you do your podcasts.

Well those are the 12 podcasting programs I can think of at the moment and I'm sure over the years more and more podcasting software programs will be developed.

As you can see there are a lot of different podcasting software programs to check out ranging from programs to download podcasts to your computer, to places to host your own podcast to podcast teleprompters to make you sound more professional.

Reed Floren is the author of How to Podcast for Fun and Profit [http://www.howtopodcastforfunandprofit.com] the book that teaches you how to profit from your own podcasts and creator of Podcast Teleprompter Software [http://www.podcasttelepromptersoftware.com] the software that makes you sound like a professional news anchor every time you do a podcast.

Sennheiser's USB PC Headset improves the clarity of your communication, and gives you more comfort and flexibility. The volume control/Microphone mute switch lets you decide how intense you want your gaming or listening to be -- and allows you to "remove" someone from a three-way conversation. It also keeps your neck and chin free from distracting cables so that you can concentrate on your game. Frequency Response - 18Hz - 22,000Hz Mic Freq. Response - 80Hz - 15,000Hz Sensitivity - 114 dB SPL Cord length - 9.8 ft

Price: $140.00

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A completely revised and updated edition of the BusinessWeek bestseller on effective, modern marketing and PR best practices

The New Rules of Marketing and PR shows you how to leverage the potential that Web-based communication offers your business. Finally, you can speak directly to customers and buyers, establishing a personal link with the people who make your business work.

This new second edition paperback keeps you up-to-date on the latest trends.

• New case studies and current examples are included to illustrate the very latest in marketing and PR trends.
  
• Completely updated to reflect the latest marketing and PR techniques using social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube
  
• Includes a step-by-step action plan for harnessing the power of the Internet to communicate directly with buyers, increase sales, and raise online visibility
  
• David Meerman Scott is a renowned online marketing strategist, keynote speaker and the author of World Wide Rave, from Wiley

The New Rules of Marketing and PR, Second Edition gives you all the information you need to craft powerful and effective marketing messages and get them to the right people at the right moment-at a fraction of the price of a traditional marketing campaign.

Social Media Marketing Top Seven
Amazon-exclusive content from author David Meerman Scott

Establishing a social media marketing strategy and creating effective Web content that is indexed by search engines is critical for any business. When people are looking for answers to problems, they go online first!

People and organizations that participate in social media (creating YouTube videos, participating on sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, starting a blog and the like) become part of a vibrant online community and show that market that they are worthy of doing business with.

Unlike non-targeted, in-your-face, interruption-based advertising, social media is content that people actually want to see. How cool is that? Rather than forcing you to convince people to pay attention to your products and services by dreaming up messages and ad campaigns, search engines deliver interested buyers right to your companyâ??s virtual doorstep. This is a marketerâ??s dream-come-true.

However, most marketers donâ??t know how to harness this exciting form of marketing. Their most common mistake is to spend way too much time talking about your companyâ??s products and services and worrying too much about being â??on message.â? In addition, many companies are fearful of jumping into the social media waters because it seems scary to put yourself out there.

Top Seven Ways to Get the Most Out of Social Networking Sites:
1. Target a specific audience. Create a page that reaches an audience that is important to your organization. It is usually better to reach a small niche market than try to go large.

2. Be a thought leader. Provide valuable and interesting information that people want to check out. It is better to show your expertise in a market or at solving a buyerâ??s problems than to blather on about your product.

3. Create lots of links. Link to your own sites and blog, and those of others in your industry and network. Everybody loves linksâ??it makes the Web what it is. You should certainly link to your own stuff from a social networking site (like your blog), but also link to other peopleâ??s sites and content in your own market.

4. Encourage people to contact you. Make it easy for people to reach you online, and be sure to follow up personally on your fan mail.

5. Participate. Create groups and participate in online discussions. Become an online leader and organizer.

6. Make it easy to find you. Tag your page and add your page into the subject directories. Encourage others to bookmark your page with del.icio.us and DIGG.

7. Experiment. These sites are great because you can try new things. If it isnâ??t working, tweak it. Or abandon the effort and try something new. There is no such thing as an expert in social networkingâ??weâ??re all learning as we go!

Price: $19.95

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Real Estate Podcasting is slowly trickling into construction builders & real estate companies business models. As the revelation of practical uses for this new medium become more and more apparent to business owners, a new form of online real estate sales begins.

Podcasting has gained popularity over the last year at an intense growth rate. The reason for this success, is due large in part to the success of the Apple's iPod. A name in which no way offers ownership of podcasting to Apple, but it does however give the computer giant, a fantastic product association whenever the word is uttered.

Podcasts are now able to be played on a plethora of devices, iPods, Psp's, Video Cellphones, PDA's, Pocket PC's, Ultra Moblie PC's, Tivo 2, and more. This explosion in accessibility is what is directly making podcasting a viable business tool; directly enhancing and affecting the way internet marketing, sales, and promotions are being used, as well as customizing its uses to any specific business brand or industry.

With Real Estate podcasting, the return on investment begins as soon as the first podcast is downloaded. In today's modern world time is a luxury, traveling is not always convenient, and efficiency is always top priority. Real estate podcasts merge accessibility with efficiency, and convenience with the comfort of buying.

When an interested party is shopping for a potential home or investment, they want to make sure they see and know as much as possible about the property before making a decision. Unfortunately, property purchasers are routinely disparaged by the lack of available pictures, data and information on a website. In addition, the inconvenience of scheduling a viewing of the potential property can be a deterrent as well. Real estate video podcasts allow the user to view a full video tour of the property along with an audio voice over of the broker's listing information. These podcasts features high quality sales information scripts with beautiful pictures and live motion video, giving you a feel for the environment from any geographic location.

Real estate podcasts are meant to serve as a teaser to your buying audience. Especially for those who may have never inquired further, until they were tantalized by the visual satisfaction they were able to receive immediately.

Real estate podcasting really becomes advantageous when the subscription model is attached. All podcasts can be subscribed to, with one click of a button, through your local aggregator, like iTunes, My Yahoo!, Goole reader, etc...

Once a podcast is subscribed to, the user will receive every new podcast that is published to the file immediately as it is distributed. With home builders and realtors, this becomes highly advantageous for residual marketing and sales efforts. Having a direct link to an interested party allows the business to implement more highly targeted sales campaigns, geared towards specific individual & group needs. Investors can receive up to date video listings of new investment opportunities on the market. Home buyers who are looking over an extended period of time, can remain interactive with your company by receiving all the new updates of new properties in the area as they are available.

Podcasts are not only used in conjunction with a company's website, but they are also listed in podcast directories, such as iTunes, Odeo, Yahoo Podcasts!, Google Base, etc. These directories are visual catalogues of podcast content. They organize the podcasts into segmented categories and then rank the most popular ones accordingly. The higher a podcast is ranked in its particular category, the more visibility that podcast receives. The great thing about podcast directories is that it separates the users into targeted demographics, by segmenting the location of the podcasts listed on the directory by category and information. This presents incredible potential for the business to create multi level marketing campaigns, aimed at their ideal demographic using this targeted method of consumer reach.

For the first time ever, the commercial industry has control on a direct avenue for multimedia distribution and penetration to the market based upon consumer demand and needs on a global scale. This control not only integrates seamlessly with internet technology, but it merges the traditional elements of sale, publicity and marketing with modern points of access and distribution.

Real Estate podcasting allows home builders, brokers, buyers, sellers, investors and any interested party the chance to preview a product anywhere, anytime, and on any device they choose. The use of podcasting in the real estate industry will not only increase technological confidence among home buyers, but it will directly affect corporation's turnover times, thereby increasing revenue and ultimately the bottom line.

Ryan Hoback is founder and Chairman of What I Want Podcasting, a leading business podcast development firm. Specializing in the commercial application of podcasting for society.

If you wish to reach Ryan, Please contact info@whatiwantpodcasting.com.

For anyone who isn't aware what Podcasting is, be advised that you are missing out on one of the biggest technology trends since this little thing we like to call "The Internet" first got started!

Yes, despite all the nay-sayers the popularity of Podcasting is increasing at an astronomical rate. The question is no longer whether Podcasting is a fad, but on how large an audience this new media can sustain!

If you peek back in time, it was around 1994/1995 when the National Science Foundation opened its main backbone to the Internet, giving way to the flood of popularity that followed.

Similar to Podcasting now, people in the mid 90's claimed the Internet was just a fad and would never amount to more than a fancy means of research. Of course, with advances in software and technology, we began seeing pictures, graphics and yes, even streaming video crop up and it was only a matter of time before it was adopted by tens of millions, and eventually hundreds of millions of people.

Podcasting Is Not The Internet!

No, you're right. Podcasting is NOT the Internet... technology-wise. They're like apples and oranges. However, they're cut from the same mold and if you were to draw comparisons between their lifecycles, you will see that Podcasting has already surpassed the Internet in its meteoric rise in popularity.

The technology that makes Podcast deliverability possible was first developed back around 2000, but the first real Podcasters didn't surface until the fall of 2004. Yes, 2004! The format was developed and pushed by two notable Podcasters, Adam Curry and David Wiener before it was quickly picked up by hundreds of others and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now, barely a year after Podcasting exploded onto the scene and was embraced by Podcasters, Bloggers, and Marketers alike, you can find over 10,000 Podcasts and over 100,000 episodes at popular online Podcast Directories like PodcastEmpire.com.

In Fact, the adoption of Podcasting has been overwhelming. The allure of the People's Radio becomes quickly obvious when you listen to Podcasts such as 'Dawn and Drew' or '5 Minutes with Witchita' - a real entertainer!

Listeners around the world are speaking out and clearly DO prefer the frank conversations, great information and raw emotions that are delivered via Podcast MP3's!

There Be Pirates In Them There Waters!

Maybe it has something to do with a generation who is still longing to have their own pirate radio station, like Christian Slater in "Pump Up The Volume"... Perhaps it's just that more people have something to say, desperate to climb above the masses and make their voices heard...

Either way the 'Waters of the Podverse' are filling up with self-proclaimed pirates, and why not? There is no policing of the Podcast airwaves, it costs very little to get started and anyone with something to say can find an audience!

The reason so many of these Podcasting rebels succeed is the same reason why so many traditional radio stations are beginning to fail. With no FCC regulators knocking at their doors, Podcasters don't need to hold anything back. You can say anything you want, whenever you want, as loudly as you want. And listeners are flocking to the raw, honest format.

X Marks The Spot! Arg!

After a solid year (Podcasting was even named Word Of The Year in 2005!) and a drastic increase in popularity, advertisers are slowly beginning to come out of the woodworks, enabling some Podcasters to see a return on their efforts.

Unfortunately though, Podcasting is not yet a medium where you should expect to become rich overnight and this may be one area where terrestrial radio stations have an advantage over the Podcast Upstarts. With gold in the coffers already and more advertisers lining up each day, it doesn't really matter what they do in the medium, traditional radio stations have all the money they need to keep their Podcasts in the game indefinitely!

Also, the entire concept of commercializing Podcasting has become a heated debate, splitting the Podverse in two ever since advertisers began trickling in last year. The same issues that we saw in the '90's around commercialization Online are starting to crop up. Podcasters and Podcast listeners alike are refusing to conform, and many are refusing advertisers outright.

We are slowly starting to see changes in this mentality though as more and more Podcast Creators are adding commercials and name drops to their shows to help keep costs down and keep their content online. And the pervasive fear, that listeners will go so far as to stop listening if they hear any advertisements, have so far, proved unfounded.

Walk The Plank, Ya Filthy Skallywag!

Where does Podcasting go from here? Can it survive? Well it was back in May of 2005 when Bill Gates commented in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung:

"As good as Apple may be, I don't believe the success of the iPod is sustainable in the long run. You can make parallels with computers: Apple was very strong in this field, with its Macintosh and graphic interface -- like the iPod today -- and then lost its position,"

The comment was realistic, but does it also offer some insight into Microsoft's own plans?

Microsoft has a proven track history of moving into an existing and established arena and quickly slaying the dominant forces! So was Gates simply foreshadowing his own companies venture into this industry? With the success of Windows Captaining their ship, Microsoft could be the ultimate pirate, sailing the seas looking, not for simple treasures, but for entire colonies to conquer.

So far Microsoft has not made any moves although Yahoo!, one of Microsoft's leading competitors in the Online Search world has jumped into the fray with their own solution for Podcasting and in typical fashion has released their own directory.

Meanwhile, Apple remains unphased and continues to roll out new incarnations of their wildly popular iPod players.

You Have The Power!!!

At the end of the day the emerging Podcast Industry will evolve as it does, without ever consulting any of us, but the continuing appeal of Podcasts and Podcasting is that, for possibly the first time ever, you and I have a very real opportunity to influence mainstream media, or at least, bypass traditional media and influence the masses; which really amounts to the same thing anyway.

Overall, you should expect to see sustained growth in Podcasting in 2006. So, if you have something to say, anything at all, pull out your eye-patch, slap a parrot on your shoulder and dive into the world of Online Pirate Radio while the Booty is still good!

Brent Paine is a writer and partner at PodcastEmpire.com [http://www.podcastempire.com], Canada’s leading Podcast Directory who also offers services designed to help Podcast Creators increase their listenership and capitalize on their efforts.

"Podcast" was 2005's word of the year, but in 2006 you likely heard a variety of podcast related words - vidcasts, vodcast, voicecasts, phonecasts, punchcasts, mobilecasts, learncasts...new types of podcasts are continually emerging.

If you are a podcasting late bloomer, here's a little heads up on podcasting lingo.

First of all, what is a podcast?

A podcast is simply a media file, distributed either by subscription, automatically or selectively downloaded from a website; it is not however streaming content. Podcasts download quickly and can be placed onto a mobile device like an iPod.

What kind of podcasts are there?

Audio

Some podcasts are simply audio files. These types of podcasts include music, radio-type shows, interview shows, news commentary and more. Generally, these are simply referred to as podcasts.

Video

Podcasts can include video and audio together. As mentioned above, podcasts can be quickly downloaded and are not streaming, so you could download the video podcast to your portable or watch it from your desktop. Popular uses include instruction, music videos, adult videos, tv shows, newscasts and so on. These types of podcasts are often referred to as vidcasts or vodcasts, educational video casts are sometimes labeled learncasts.

Mobile

Not quite as common, but available, are podcasts designed to be downloaded to a mobile phone. As cell phone abilities increase, more memory, more format compatibility and so on, this will likely become more popular. Sometimes, these types of podcasts are called mobilecasts. A podcast that is directly sent to a mobile device may be called a punchcast.

Telephone

Podcasts can be directly launched from a cellphone, traditional phone or a VoIP connection. Some podcasters like to be able to post new podcasts from wherever they are through a phone, often referred to as phonecasting or sometimes voicecasting.

More podcasting lingo:

Posting podcasts to your blog is called blogcasting. Those that create podcasts are called podcasters. The program you use to subscribe to and organize podcasts is called an aggregator, or simply a podcatcher or podcast receiver. If you use Skype and record a session for a podcast, this is called Skypecasting. An automatically generated podcast created from a text source is an audiocast. Podcast fans comprise the podosphere. If you create podcasts for red-haired, left-handed macramé artists you are narrowcasting, because your potential audience is infinitesimal. Religious pontificators godcast. Unsigned musicians distribute their music free and without compromising copyright as podsafe music.

Pamela Stevens

Pamela Stevens writes for TopTenREVIEWS.com, a review site that publishes technology and entertainment reviews.

About 25 million people own MP3 players in the United States -- and that number grows every day. (Apple, the leading provider of portable MP3 players, sold 14 million iPods in one quarter last year!) While the cool kids mostly use MP3 players to play music, an increasing number of people use them to learn, get the news, be entertained -- and even do business.

Regardless of the message, the medium du jour is podcasting -- audio and/or video files downloaded from the Internet and enjoyed on an MP3 player or computer. In some cases, podcasts can even be subscribed to so updated shows will download automatically. Part of the beauty of podcasting is that almost anyone can produce one and gain an audience. All you need is a computer, a microphone, and a little tech-knowledge or a how-to book. Throw in interesting content, tell a few people, bake at 365 degrees, and voila! Podcast is served.

Okay, you say, but can podcasting really bolster business -- is it a viable marketing tool? Absolutely. First, podcasts are similar to radio broadcasts -- with similar advertising potential. Whether you produce your own podcast or scout out and approach those reaching your target audiences, one option is to insert commercials into a podcast. Another option is to leverage the marketing power of sponsoring a podcast -- like sponsoring public radio or public television programs, but potentially better in that you reach a more sharply targeted audience. Besides commercials and sponsorships, you can also create a podcast just to promote your company or a particular product, or to increase the impact and memorability of communications with customers, employees, suppliers, and contractors.

Business-to-consumer companies are already prolific users of podcasts to market their products, particularly to consumers in the 18 to 28 demographic. A quick search through any podcast directory turns up countless podcasts promoting myriad consumer goods, as well as TV shows, movies, bands, and so on.

Business-to-business companies have been slower to adapt podcasting, and most B-to-B podcasts produced so far have focused on reporting stockholder information. Not surprisingly, technology companies like Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, and Hewlett Packard are leading the way in showing that regular podcasts can serve a broader range of business objectives. Such companies are using podcasts for everything from employee recruiting to promotional or informational interviews with top managers, designers, and other key staff.

KnowledgeStorm and Universal McCann have conducted research to examine how B-to-B buyers interact with new media like podcasts, blogs, and social network sites. Surveying IT and business professionals in a wide variety of fields, they announced in July 2006 that 32% of those polled said their usage of podcasts had "increased" or "significantly increased" in the past six months. 41% said they had listened to podcasts more than once, and 13% said they "frequently" downloaded podcasts. On the other end of the spectrum, 32% said they had never heard a podcast -- so clearly you're not going to reach everyone via this medium. Of course, the same can be said for almost any marketing tactic -- there is no magic wand you can wave and reach everyone at once. In most cases, good marketing and sales employ multiple forms of communication -- podcasting is one more valuable tool to have in that toolkit.

Another interesting finding in the survey was that 69% said they usually listened to podcasts at their computer. This should help correct the perception that podcast audiences are limited to young people wearing headphones. It also greatly expands the market you can expect to reach via podcasts -- we're no longer talking about the 25 million people who can listen to podcasts through portable MP3 players; we're now looking at the 200 million people who use the Internet in the United States and can take in podcasts via computer.

It's still early in the evolution of podcasting for B-to-B purposes -- companies and marketers have just begun to explore the most beneficial uses of podcasts, and there are still questions to be answered when it comes to influencing buyer decisions, namely "who" will really be influenced, and "how" and "when" podcasting best fits into a larger sales cycle. It must also be acknowledged that downloading podcasts represents a larger shift in people's behaviors than, say, blogging -- it will take time for people to become comfortable with the technology to the point where podcasting can be described as mainstream.

Then again, you may recall similar points being made a few years back when those odd tech-tools called Web sites first started appearing. Skeptics and slow adapters who waited to see how that "fad" panned out tended to regret the decision. Podcasting presents another opportunity to be a leader in new media -- or to be one of the wait-and-see competitors who will eventually have to scramble to catch up with those leaders. Our advice? Podcasting is not an all-or-nothing play. There are plenty of cost-effective ways to explore the potential power of this technology -- adding a low-cost podcast to your Web site, for example, or combining a podcast with an existing blog to create a unique two-way communication with your audience. In short, it's not necessary to be the first one in your industry to use podcasting or the one who uses it most extensively -- but you don't want to be the last one to use it either.

Kolbrener branding agency is an agency for fast growth companies and organizations seeking a more evolved brand that engages customers, realizes value, and keeps its promise

Podcasting has come a long way from its birth in 2003. In a little less than a year after that, Podcasting had become very popular around the world, with more and more information available to everyone. Now, you can hardly find a single person who hasn't at least heard of the word podcast.

More than just looking for podcasts and listening to them, the interesting thing to do for many is to create their own podcasts. There is definitely no lack for information on how to make your own podcast. Podcasting is really quite simple - all you need is you and your material and the right podcasting software. There is a plethora of podcasting software to be found on the internet. Here are some important tips to remember when choosing the one for you.

First you have to get an audio recorder. There are a lot of audio recorders out there. What you need to look for is software that records quality audio. Of course, you have to make sure it runs with your operating system.

Then find a good audio editor. Recordings always need to be edited in order to present the best quality podcast. Some software combine recording and editing features. These kinds of software will make it easier for you.

In choosing your recording and editing software, take note of its output format. Generally, the MP3 format gives you the best compatibility for audio while MPEG is best for video. If the software you choose does not create these types of files, you can make use of conversion software. It is important for your conversion software to be able to compress your file to a manageable size. Smaller file sizes are easier to upload and download.

Before you publish your podcast, make use of playback software. You will be able to listen to your podcast just as subscribers will. This will ensure the quality of your final product.

In choosing podcasting software, you should also check if it creates RSS feeds. Podcasts are found and downloaded by users through RSS feeds. Without this capability, you would have to find your own RSS feed creator.

Perhaps one of the best ways to promote your podcast would be through iTunes. Thus it would be a great plus if your podcasting software created valid iTunes feeds. This way, your podcast would have maximum exposure. More listeners will be able to access your podcast. More potential listeners will find out about your podcast.

In order to upload your podcast, you need a file transfer program. There are certain podcasting software that automatically include this feature. It is beneficial for you to use software offering such functionality.

Without promotion, you might as well publish your podcast. Software that allows listing in podcast directories gives you an edge. Most podcast listeners look for new podcasts in the numerous directories online. Do not allow your podcast to remain unnoticed by missing out on the directories.

The idea of podcasts is to create a series. Updates to your series are part of podcasting. Choose software that will alert multiple directories for updates. This way, you won't have to manually alert each directory you are listed in.

Podcastblaster.com supplies podcasting software and provides information all about podcasting including tips on creating podcasts.

"Want to learn to speak Japanese? Try a podcast."

The Internet has truly revolutionized the distribution of learning materials. In the last couple of years, podcasts as learning aids have become increasingly popular, either as a stand-alone mini-course or as an enhancement to courses and programs delivered through more traditional sources. Spend a few moments Googling "podcasts for learning," and soon you will be downloading podcasts to help you learn to speak Chinese, Japanese, Italian and other languages; or podcasts offering instruction on Plato's philosophy, current scientific issues, environmental concerns, and almost anything else you might want.

A podcast, according to Wikipedia, is a digital media file or files that the broadcaster (or podcaster) distributes over the Internet using syndication feeds, for playback on digital media devices and personal computers. The term is coined from a blend of "iPod" and

"broadcast." Unlike streaming audio, podcasts allow you to control when you listen to your favorite shows.

Learn Out Loud

Learn Out Loud purports to be a one-stop destination for audio and video learning. It includes approximately 136 podcasts among its 10,000 titles. And, as you would expect nowadays, members rate the titles using the familiar five-star method.

Learn Out Loud offers podcasts in eight categories: careers, study aids, journalism, exam preparation, medical, law, teaching and writing. On the day of this visit, the site was promoting three featured podcasts: one on how to write a podcast, one from Monster.com offering career tips, and another called Career Opportunities (geared toward individuals working in the high-tech industry). And--oh my goodness!--I just noticed that "This podcast is a companion to the print column of the same name that appears in ComputorEdge Magazine in San Diego, California. Written and hosted by Douglas E. Welch."

Another podcast that caught my eye is The Naked Scientists Radio Show Science Podcast. And no, don't confuse it with the Naked News. These scientists merely "strip down science and lay the facts bare." Other interesting titles include the Media Artist's Secrets Podcast. Intended for the creative professional, the blurb says that this podcast is semi-daily, fast-paced, info-packed and fun

As near as I can gather, podcasts are free, although the site does sell other learning products. Teach Out Loud is the site's service for those who want to publish a podcast or other learning aid. Teach Out Loud is a free and simple tool, the site says, and publishers may earn royalties if applicable.

Digital Podcast

The Digital Podcast directory site lists podcasts in miscellaneous categories--ranging alphabetically from art to video products and everything in between. The directory contains 15,525 podcasts in 95 categories and has 17,305 registered users. To help us choose from its many offerings, Digital Podcast provides lists of the highest-rated podcasts, podcasts with the most voting points, and podcasts with the most subscribers.

Not all of Digital Podcast's podcasts are learning-related, although many are. Its featured podcast during my visit was Insta Spanish, providing instant Spanish lessons. Other learning podcasts include Bootcamp: A Report on Computers and Technology, InvestorIdeas.com's Investor Educational Podcast, Learn Japanese, English as a Second Language (for those wanting to improve their English), Manager Tools (helping people develop managerial and leadership skills), Learn Mandarin Chinese Direct From Shanghai, Sales Strategy Radio (developing sales skills), and many others.

Podcasts for Continuing Education

Podcasts also show up as delivery vehicles for content providing continuing education and skill development to professionals of all sorts. Here are a few of the offerings I found.

The Business English Pod helps business professionals everywhere improve their command of business English. Let's face it: Even some of us whose first language is English struggle with business English. We can only imagine how people who speak English as a second language must struggle with some of the jargon.

Teachers and educators find learning and skill-related podcasts at various sources, including Fordham University's Center for Professional Development and The Educational Podcast Network , with its many offerings.

Podcast.net , another huge podcast directory, lists podcasts specific to many other professions--including law and politics, science podcasts representing various disciplines and topics, podcasts for the IT professional, podcasts for visual and performance professionals, and podcasts for professionals in business and finance. Medical professionals will find a directory of medical broadcasts at the Arizona Health Science's Library .

Space limits the listings I can describe, but I'm optimistic that almost every professional will find a podcast with career-related information.

Podcasting in Curricula Delivery

Many schools are implementing podcasts as a vehicle for delivering course materials, with educational podcasts showing up at universities, community colleges, trade schools and institutions providing distance learning. This delivery method is said to appeal to today's technology-savvy youths.

Even young kids are getting in on the act. According to an article published by the Dallas Daily News , fourth graders at one of the city's elementary schools are podcasting to global audiences, sharing works created in class and discussing their projects. Fans of the podcast, which are sure to include proud grandparents and other relatives, can download the files for free through Apple's iTunes Music Store.

The Government Is Doing It

Podcasting also provides a way to keep current with your government and its weekly activities. Free Government Info has links to multiple government podcasts, including the president's weekly radio address; podcasts from the Senate; podcasts from several states (including California); and podcasts from various government agencies, such as Agriculture, Department of Defense, the Census Bureau, Health and Human Services, NASA and more.

You Can Do It Too

Want to broadcast your own podcast? If you want to podcast from scratch, you will need a microphone, a recording device, and a Web server or Web host with enough space to store many megabytes of data and the capability of handling a lot of bandwidth. You will also need special software.

If this seems too daunting for a beginner or for a hobbyist, Web sites like My Podcast.com make it easy for you. My Podcast.com provides free podcast recording and hosting--and, since it serves advertisements with your podcast, you stand to earn cash each time someone downloads your product.

An apple for the podcaster!

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In a thick British accent, the travel podcast hosts' disembodied voices discuss camping and ‘caravanning’ in the UK, ‘how not to make yourself smell of grease for a complete weekend,’ and the Cocktail of the Week (the Mosquito – a Mojito with a bite!).

The two hosts, who sound a bit like Sean Connery and Julie Andrews, are bantering about camping spots in the UK and the best kind of cocktails to mix up once you’ve arrived at your prime spot at one of the gorgeous ‘lochs’ on their list.

Welcome to the world of the travel podcast.

Podcasting has come of age in a flash. Less than two years ago, the term wasn’t even invented. A year ago, there were perhaps 5000 individuals podcasting out of their basements, or from a laptop at a local pancake house.

This year, with major companies joining the podcasting passion and tens of millions of online listeners latching on, podcasting has come of age. So much so, that ‘podcasting’ is the Oxford English Dictionary’s Word of the Year.

When you dip your toe in the podcasting waters, you’ll come up with audio programs that range from exquisitely amateurish and poorly produced, to professionally produced shows with music, sound effects, high-profile guests and thousands of listeners.

Choosing which podcast is worth listening to is a bit like groping for the light switch in a pitch-black room. You have to knock over a few water glasses and stub your toe before finding one that is helpful to your travel itinerary.

In the past few days, I've listened to travel podcasts on the best roller coasters in the world, camping and caravanning in the UK [http://www.campsitepodcast.com/], life in Japan for those who aren’t Japanese [http://www.joshinjapan.com], life in rural Australia, budget travel [http://redeyeradioshow.com] (exploring the world one dollar at a time!), amateur travel, South African travel and tourism information.

And not only are individuals and small businesses jumping in the travel podcast stew, several travel companies are offering podcasts of their own.

Virgin Travel publishes several travel podcasts at virginatlantic.loudish.com, [http://virginatlantic.loudish.com] focusing on the specific locations of Cuba, Capetown, Johannesburg, Las Vegas, New York and Shanghai.

iToors.com is home to a gathering of some of the most professional sounding and most informative travel podcasts. Recently I took a travel podcast ‘toor’ of Prague, Czechoslovakia, where Wolfgang Mozart was loved and revered, his music ‘blowing down a storm.’ When Mozart died in 1791 at the age of 35, only a handful of friends and family showed up in his hometown of Vienna, Austria, and he was buried in an unmarked grave.

In Prague, though (as I learned from the podcast), 4000 people showed up for a funeral mass in St. Nicholas Cathedral, where the Mozart fans were overflowing into the street.

So not only do you pick up history and travelogues in a convenient podcast, you latch on to travel directions, listen to recordings of local bands or musical talents, and eavesdrop on chats with local shopkeepers or politicos.

The best way to find a travel podcast that suits your desire, whether its for a destination you’re traveling to, or to surreptitiously partake in a local culture, is to navigate online to any podcast directory and do a search for ‘travel’ or directly for your destination.

Since ‘travel’ is a specific genre, by pulling up everything in that category you should be able to easily sift through the myriad of travel podcasts, and find something that suits you.

My favorite podcast directories include:

• Podcastalley.com

• Podcast.net [http://Podcast.net]

• Podcasts.Yahoo.com [http://Podcasts.Yahoo.com]

• Podfeed.net

• Podcast411.com

• PodcastPickle.com

• DigitalPodcast.com

• And of course, iTunes music software

You don’t need a portable MP3 player such as an iPod to listen to podcasts, think of the freedom you’d have while strolling the Champs D'Elysee, listening to the history of the famous Arc D'Triomph on your headphones. You may get a few goofy looks, but only from the tourists who just wish they had downloaded a few travel podcasts to carry along with them on their travels!

Listening to and subscribing to podcasts: a podcast is nothing more than an audio file (generally an MP3 file) that is distributed or published via an RSS file. RSS (which stands for Really Simple Syndication) is an online distribution tool that allows content to be delivered to your computer without the need for navigating to a website or downloading your email.

As the development of RSS technology progressed, it became possible to include ‘enclosures’ in the RSS feed, such as audio files.

With this technology, MTV pioneer Adam Curry helped pioneer the burgeoning phenomenon of podcasting in late 2004. By summer of 2005, Apple had incorporated the ability to subscribe to podcasts in its popular iTunes music software, which literally turned podcasting into a mainstream medium overnight (within 48 hours of the release of the podcast subscription capability, Apple announced that over a million of its users had subscribed to podcasts).

The easiest way to subscribe to a podcast is to use your iTunes software, although there are other podcast ‘aggregators’ (as they’re referred to in geektown), such as Juice [http://www.juicereceiver.com] and PodSpider.

Tim 'Gonzo' Gordon shows you how to create professional, high-quality audio on your home computer. With 25+ years of radio production, writing and voice talent, Tim can show you how to set up a small pro studio and create audio for fun and profit. Subscribe to his free newsletter Digital Audio Bits at http://www.digitalaudioworld.com Learn how to podcast with http://www.podcastingadventuresonline.com

The Zoom H2 is a must-have for anybody doing podcasting to almost any type of mobile recording situation.Anaffordable2-track recorder using a 4-mic capsule configuration and digital signal processing, the H2 allows a variety of polar patterns and even supports 5.1 surround sound. Record at 96kHz, 48kHz, 44.1kHz or MP3. Archive files to your computer using the USB port. Use as a USB mic to record your guitar or vocals directly to computer. ATime stampfeature facilitates production. The H2 has an approximate 4-hour running time on 2 AA alkaline batteries. It includes earbuds, stereo adapter cable, mic clip adapter, tripod stand, USB cable, AC adapter and a 512MB SD card. Now the Zoom H2 can accept up to a 16 GB SD cards with the latest firmware installed. Have an older version? Update easily and for free at Zoom's website, www.zoom.co.jp.Click here for listing of compatible SD cards!Who Needs the H2 Handy Recorder from Zoom? Everyone who craves brilliant stereo recordings.It's a simple idea: provide brilliant stereo recording in an easy-to-use, ultra-portable device. Now everyone can record pristine audio in an infinite variety of applications. From seminars and conferences, to electronic news gathering (ENG) and podcasting, to musical performances, songwriting sessions and rehearsals, the H2 provides amazing recording quality. And no matter what kind of music you perform or the instrument you play, the H2 can effortlessly record it in high-quality stereo.Zoom H2 FeaturesW-XY mic patterns with 4 mic capsules and signal processing allows Front 90° cardioid, Rear 120° cardioid and 360° polar patternsFinally record 360° sound as 2ch data or 4ch data simultaneouslyBuilt-in USB 2.

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A podcast is similar to a radio show that you can subscribe to or download at any time. In fact, it may help to think of it as a sort of TIVO for audio programs. 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. To learn more about the basics of podcasting check out our informational podcast at www.itsontarget.com/podcast [http://www.itsontarget.com/podcast] and get ahead of the marketing curve.

Jennifer Kothe is the talented marketing coordinator at Internet Traffic Solutions (http://www.itsontarget.com) which is a full service marketing agency that offers clients a profitable way to get the attention of their target audience online.