An Introduction To Podcasting
Barb Anderson

Defined Tag: Podcasting.

Suppose you're a marketer who wants to reach as many people as possible, but the email medium has shown its limitations. Is there another way by which you could effectively convey your business message?

On the other hand, even if you're just an ordinary Joe who merely wants to share your thoughts to each and every corner of the World Wide Web, you'd also be on the lookout for the next breed of technological wonder that would allow you to that.

Podcasting has quickly become a venerable alternative in content distribution. As can be seen from its name, it is an amalgam of two words: "iPod" and "broadcasting." This is because studies have shown that 29% of the 22 million people who own and use mp3 players have, at some point, downloaded and listened to a podcast. We're talking about a very big percentage that represents an exponentially bigger segment of society. Thus, podcasting became the content distribution force that it currently is.

The term has in fact been voted as Word of the Year for 2005 by the prestigious and authoritative New Oxford American Dictionary, a testament to the growing reputation of the medium as a broadcasting option in this, the digital age.

Indeed, podcasting is fast emerging an industry standard in message conveyance. The possible applications for this medium are quite limitless, and the execution would only get better in due time. Let's take a look at the many uses that can be had with this alternative:

* Market your products. Create downloadable audio shows that would recommend the usage of your own goods. Naturally, you'd want to make your content informative to give credence to the recommendations you will make.

* Entertain. Your words may be witty, but not everyone loves to read. Podcasting can give you a venue where you could share your thoughts in a channel that would be convenient for everyone, despite their varying preferences and literacy levels.

* Educate. People respond better to what they hear compared to what they read. Make sure that your patrons would get the message by delivering the same in an audio format they could listen to anytime they want.

* Impress. The fact that your website, or your service, can deliver content in audio format immediately jacks up its credibility as a reputable enterprise on the Internet. This is amazing for branding purposes.

* Enjoy. You could subscribe to several podcasts yourself, and savor the many joys and benefits they could provide.

Podcasts are the wave of the future, and they're already knocking at our digital doors. Hop aboard this new medium as early as today, and secure for yourself an advantageous position in the years to come.

Barb Anderson has edited or written numerous articles for family-oriented ezines and sites on the worldwide web. Barb is Editor of the Power Learning Tips and Tricks newsletter, which is available at:
http://MastermindLearningSystem.com.