The Company Podcast Push

What do Duke University, IBM, Capital One, Newsweek and Barenaked Ladies all have
In widespread? Answer: they're all reaching out to workers, college students, and clients with
A new and highly effective software - podcasting. You may have heard about podcasting from
Your kids or on the information, however podcasting is far more than some phenomenon
Started by the rock and roll or techy crowd. Podcasting is a powerful communication
Device being used to reach global and cell audiences, save people time and, most
Importantly, actually join with their audiences in news ways - in right this moment's
Communication/message glut. However let's take a look at what podcasting is, who's
Utilizing and why it is so efficient for both business and individuals.

First, we'll take a look at the size and scale of the podcasting phenomenon...

-- A recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Mission discovered that more than 22 million American adults personal IPods or and MP3 player and 29% of them have
Downloaded podcasts or listened to podcast which have been "pushed" to them. That
Equates to six million people listening to podcasts. Market researchers and analysts
Proceed to buoy up podcasting's future with newest figures suggesting a US
Audience alone of 56 million by 2010.

-- Jupiter Research not too long ago predicted that US digital music participant sales would
Develop to 56 million by 2010, up from 16.2 million in 2004 and by 2010, three-
Quarters of all individuals who own transportable digital music gamers will hearken to podcasts,
A growth from lower than 15% final year.

What is podcasting?

Whether or not you describe it as the best communication software since email, or as an
RSS feed for audio, podcasting is an approach to "push" audio content to subscribers for
Virtually zero cost. Podcasting allows anybody (me, you, IBM, or NBC) to post audio
Content material that will get pushed to any subscriber's desktop and then directly to their iPod
Or MP3 player. That is global. Anybody, anywhere can "tune in" to your podcast and
Study what you must offer or say. You do not have to be NBC with a global
Distribution infrastructure. Now folks can "subscribe" to a podcast and have new
Content "pushed" out to them without them having to surf the net, download MP3s
Or burn CD's.

Ideas/Stories/Voices ? Audio/MP3 ? Web ? PC ? MP3
Player

All the arrows go in a single direction. Once someone has subscribe to your podcast,
Your content get "pushed" out to them. There is no such thing as a handing over to stations with
Podcasting. You don't have to visit an internet site to search out streaming podcasting. Podcasts
Show up (pushed) when new content material is produced. If you are a subscriber, you get
The podcast right then. All you need is an IPod or MP3 participant of any variety for
Listening, thus the phrase podcasting.

The time period "Podcasting" is derived from the iPod (Apple Computer's widespread system
For playing compressed audio records data) and "broadcasting." Podcasting permits for audio
Records data that will have been previously downloaded and performed on a personal
Laptop to be automatically downloaded and listened to on moveable music enjoying
Units (such as the iPod and other MP3 gamers).

Having originated on the earth of running a blog, some have even referred to podcasting
As "audio blogging." For many, podcasting is a logical subsequent step from blogging. As
Business Week Senior Author Stephen Baker observes, "The guts of the podcasting
Movement is in the world of blogs, these thousands and thousands of private Net pages that have
Turn out to be a global sensation. In a blogosphere that has grown largely on the written
Word, podcasts add a soundtrack."

Now that you realize what a podcast is, let's take a look at where they come from: who is
Producing the "pushed audio content."

Who's producing podcasts?

The reply is extensive ranging. Teenagers, techies and rock musicians were early
Adopters. At present you see the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Business Week, ESPN and information
Programs of every type producing, distribution and advertising podcasts. The quantity
Of podcasts available is rising at a really fast pace. In late 2004, there were close
To 500 podcasts available. Right now there are over 10,000 totally different podcasts to decide on
From.

Now that podcasting has becoming more mainstream, corporate and non-company
Organizations are stepping into the act, utilizing podcasting to connect with customers,
College students, employees and partners. Here are some examples:

-- Duke College handed out iPods to their complete 2005 freshman class so they
Might obtain podcasts that included college information, class work and social content.

-- Capital One University has handed out over 3000 iPods to support corporate
Coaching and communications. This includes, leadership coaching, sales, buyer
Service and different topics.

-- IBM has created podcasts to point out their thought management to customers
Investors and prospects.

-- Keane Inc. has handed out over a hundred iPods to their international gross sales pressure to share
Training, prospects' tales and organizational content.

Why have these and other organizations gotten into podcasting? They have gotten
Into it as a result of they know their audience (whether inner or external) is inundated
With textual content-based mostly content: emails, articles, the online portals, and advertising messages.
Podcasting permits them a novel medium to succeed in and connect with their audience.

IPods shall be part of Duke University's new Duke Digital Initiative (DDI). "We've been
Focusing on iPods and other cellular computing, however our wider objective is to integrate
Expertise broadly into the educating and learning course of," said Peter Lange, Peter
Lange, the university's provost and senior tutorial officer. "The iPods have helped
Jump-begin this process, and we plan to maintain pushing ahead."

Listeners love podcasting as a result of it delivers rich content material directly to them, in a type
That enables them to save time, control what they hear and listen to whereas
Commuting, working or every time it really works for them. Now not is learning tied to a
Book, PC display screen or internet portal.

Content material is still king in any communication, especially recorded podcasts. Podcasting
Is the supply tool. Compelling content ensures steady listening and never a flip
Of the ability swap or turn of the dial.

Should you podcast?

Podcasting is not reply to all of your learning and communication problems. As great
As audio is, like every medium, it has its limits. Whereas audio allows customers to multi job,
It isn't easily scanned - which suggests you contemplate the listeners needs very
Carefully. You could provide value.

Corporate podcasting is different that individuals or media podcasting. The
Customary for a company podcast is way greater than for particular person or media. Your
Employees and prospects anticipate certain out of your communication with them. You'll be able tot
Simply provide lengthy-winded rants, self-serving commercials or cute content. It's all about
Value. When producing that worth, ask yourself; who and how will you produce your
Podcast? Who will evaluate it and how? Will you get it transcribed? There are legal
Issues to consider as well.

Regardless of these issues podcasting will be simple. After getting determined your
Format and established a course of the entire process will get a lot easier. Nonetheless
Podcasting takes a proactive effort, a planned strategy, artistic improvement and
The braveness to attempt new things. But in case you have the braveness, and are keen to put the
Front-finish work into it podcasting and cellular audio can present large benefits. If
You would like to:

-- Reach a world audience

-- Join with that viewers in a brand new and effective ways

-- Save your viewers time

-- Share the fervor, experience and stories of what you are promoting

...attempt podcasting - it really works!