Listening to podcasts is not something I take pleasure in or take time for, quite frankly. I am a visual learner and like to read one thing quite than take heed to it, as I discover studying a lot faster way to collect the data that I need. Nonetheless, with the proliferation of audio listening units, like the whole iPod household and other mp3 players, I have to acknowledge that I'm within the minority, I believe. The world is listening to a wide variety of audio information, rather more so than ever before in history, and I must get on the bandwagon or be lost in the dust.

What is a podcast, anyway? A podcast is an audio file that you just create in .mp3 format that is uploaded with an RSS (Really Easy Syndication) file to your server in your goal market to download on any variety of applications created to receive or subscribe to your audio file in order that they can listen to it at their leisure on their computer or a private mp3 device.

Why must you create a podcast? I feel it serves as advertising software for the solo service professional, who would possibly wish to do one of many following:

--create an Internet radio present or speak show in which you create content material-rich broadcasts to your goal market

--conduct a telecasts collection by which you interview experts who have solutions to problems confronted by your goal market

--promote a printed book, e book, or CD/DVD collection by releasing promotional snippets to a wider audience

--provide brief and precious expert tricks to your target market (my Get Extra Shoppers On-line podcast consists of the weekly article I write for my publication)

Many podcasts are about an hour in length, particularly once they encompass recordings of radio shows or telecasts. However, I believe that the listening threshold for most people is about 10 minutes. So, that implies that your podcast needs to be 10 minutes or less in length. If it's longer, you actually must grab their consideration in the first 10 minutes to keep them listening for the complete quantity of time.

Good content material and a great speaking voice are key to sustaining interest. Do not make your podcast one long advertisement to your providers or merchandise -- share some helpful info with your goal market to help them clear up their problems. And, you want to have a superb speaking voice. Nothing is worse than listening to somebody learn a speech with a monotone delivery. So, for optimum affect when you record your podcast (especially in case you're just recording yourself), stand up and walk around, smile, gesture, or do no matter you usually do if you ship a speech. Modulate your voice, a lot in the identical way that you'd when you will have a 1:1 dialog with somebody -- put feeling and emotion into your words. I pretend like I am speaking to my finest buddy, and that helps me with a full of life delivery.

What are the steps to making a podcast?

1. Hear to a couple podcasts to get a feel for what others are doing. To hear, you'll want a pod catcher (podcast reader), which permits you to subscribe to podcasts in the same means you subscribe to blogs. I favor iTunes as my pod catcher of choice, which is a free on-line download. You will additionally want to seek out podcasts, and the quickest way to try this is via podcast directories, which embrace the iTunes store. Podcast Alley, one of the most widespread podcasting websites, has a big podcast directory, and Yahoo Podcasts has a podcast search. To find others, simply search online for "podcast directory."

2. Plan your podcast. Who's your target market? What do they want to take heed to? How will your podcast be distinctive from others in your industry? What's your format (interview others, host a teleclass, or document yourself)? How long will your podcast be? How regularly will you deliver your podcasts?

3. File your podcast. Many individuals select to document their podcast with a free piece of software known as Audacity. It has a simple learning curve and advanced options for extra skilled podcasters. Mac users would possibly need to take a look at Storage Band. For best recording sound, don't use the microphone that came along with your laptop or that's built into your laptop. You may need to get an extra skilled one, such as the ones supplied at Plantronics or Radio Shack.

4. Save and upload your podcast to your server. As soon as you've got created your podcast in an mp3 file, now you must put it aside and upload it to a server by way of an FTP program (like CuteFTP) so that it is readily available. You possibly can add it to your website, or use one of the many podcasting hosting providers available. The issue with importing it to your website is that audio information are area hogs, and you can quickly exhaust all of the storage capacity of your internet hosting account, to not mention your month-to-month bandwidth capacity in case your podcast is common and is downloaded frequently. That's why I take advantage of a fee-based mostly audio service internet hosting firm, Audio Acrobat, which offers me beneficent storage and bandwidth capacity for a semi-annual fee. One other common podcast hosting firm is Hipcast.com.

5. Create your podcast feed. You may create your podcast feed from scratch; however I recommend you use a feed service to do so. Should you use a podcasting hosting service, this feature is included in your service package. For everyone else, the quickest approach to create your podcast feed is thru Feedburner.com. This is similar service that creates RSS feeds for blogs. The advantage of making your podcast feed from this site is which you could create a browser-pleasant feed, tracks your circulation, and improves your feed with its SmartCast technology.

6. Publish and promote your podcast. When you use a podcasting internet hosting service, the service will publish your podcast and notify various podcast directories concerning the availability of your new podcast. Or, you'll be able to enter the info straight into the key podcast directories. You'll additionally wish to promote the podcast on your web site, blog, and in your e mail newsletter. One of the easiest methods to do that is so as to add feed subscription buttons (called Chiclets) to your sites. You will have to chop and paste the HTML code into your templates to create the Chiclets. You can get instructions on how one can publish subscription buttons from the varied podcasters you want to feature. Lastly, you may need to create "album art" to your podcast, or a graphic illustration that many pod catchers adds with the mp3 file. Album art could also be from 170x170 to 300x300 pixels sq. at 72 dpi. Any graphic designer may also help you create this graphics file.

7. Make cash out of your podcast. Advertising on podcasts is still pretty new, however some firms like Fruitcast.com or PodcasterAds.com are places to start. Another option is to put Google AdSense listings on your whole websites itemizing your podcast, or search sponsors on your podcasts, identical to you'll for a radio show.

Do not let the audio world cross you by! Podcasting is a really cheap approach of helping you get the phrase out about what you do and what you provide to the world.