Historically, making a podcast has been about marketing for services, and the vast majority of producers distribute free podcasts. Other media providers, online radio stations, news sites that offer media to subscribers, or the online music industry general have strong business models. Podcasting differs. Podcasting has not traditionally had a business model.

The free podcast problem is not difficult, and podcasting differs in several key ways from other media areas.

First, making a podcast involves the physical transfer of a file from the host to the user's computer vice providing a streaming sound file that cannot be saved without difficulty and work.

Second, individuals who make podcasts are, for the most part, individuals who are not in the media business per se and thus may not consider it a primary vehicle to their underlying business..

Finally third, and this is an advantage, the underlying cost of making podcasts is very small in comparison to media outlets.

If you think blogging is still the hottest innovation to think technology, then you are missing the impact of the new social media and 4G technology. Why would you settle for writing about something when you can talk and/or show people something. Blogging is a thing of the past, and everyone is now looking forward visual information at their fingertips.

Making a podcast can even be used to make money over the Internet. If you're wondering how some people are able to turn their podcasts into revenue-generating machines, you will be surprised that it isn't as complicated as it sounds.

There are two basic business models: 1) making a podcast to leverage your product/service/website or, more simply to help drive traffic to your website; and 2) as a service provider. Someone who can leverage the podcast technology to help others.

As stated above, 4G technology, the iPhone/Droid, iPad, etc are providing mechanisms to communicate beyond the simple blog into a dynamic interaction where purchases are immediate. Having the ability to provide that service, will put you in demand for companies (store front or e-commerce) who want to leverage the technology but don't have the knowledge or means.

Another advantage of the service model is that, since it can help the store front business, the potential for clients to your service may just be down the street. This is a market in which you may find little competition. After all, a local presence to a local store front is preferable to trying to find a service.

If you are interested in podcasting, checkout our free Podcast Profits CD.

Bill Atteberry is President of Atteberry and Associates, LLC, a consulting company in the software process and e-commerce markets. You can get information about our Local Marketing Institute.

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