Podcasting - The 21st Century Way to Tell Your Story

Unless you've been stranded on a desert island for the past four years, you've probably heard of the Apple iPod®. It's a hand-held device that stores MP3s and other files for playback or retrieval.

The iPod® has become Apple's main profit center with more than 28 million units sold since the product was first introduced in 2001. As a result, many competing companies have created their own versions of the iPod®.

The popularity of these devices led to what's known as "podcasting." Pod, for iPod®, and casting for broadcasting. Podcasting was coined by former MTV personality Adam Curry, who has now become known as the "father" of podcasting.

Podcasting grew in popularity as a way for young people to play downloaded MP3 music.

Podcasting has now become a way for anyone to play any kind of MP3 file, whether it is music or a voice-only production.

This is important to you because you can record information about your company and its products and services and make that information available online for people to download and listen to.

You can create your own podcasts and cash in on the growing trend to assimilate information audibly instead of or in addition to reading it.

Podcasting can serve to brand you as an expert in your field who is on the cutting edge of technology.

Podcasting opens up the opportunity for you to create information products you can sell for real money.

Podcasting can take several forms:

• Web page messages
• Online seminars, workshops and clinics
• CD and MP3 "how-to" programs
• Internet radio programs
• Downloadable MP3s
  
• Teleseminars
• Professional interviews

Podcasting is relatively new as a business building tool and most of your competitors are probably not taking advantage of this form of communication.

You can get the jump on them by creating podcasts for your business.

Basic podcasting can be done by simply recording into an iPod-type device, transferring the recording to your computer, and then uploading it to your web server for access by visitors to your website.

You can also buy inexpensive software to record directly into your computer using a microphone plugged into your computer's microphone input.

You can buy additional software to process the file to make it louder or softer; remove any mistakes you made; and to add special effects, like music.

You can have someone interview you about your business and record that interview. You can use the recording as a sales tool or, if it's good enough, you can even sell it.

The possibilities are endless.

Like any new technology, podcasting has a learning curve. Once you master the basics, a whole new way of promoting your business will unfold before you.

Experience this exciting new marketing tool right now by listening to the Write Marketing Group Podcast!

For assistance with the latest marketing strategies that can help you grow your business faster and leave your competition in the dust, contact Ben Edwards today at 617-670-1888, ext. 1.