Podcasting as a Hobby

Podcasting is a fast growing medium on the Internet. You may share messages by transmitting audio content files through the Internet. All you need is an Internet access, personal computer, microphone, and a voice prompt. In this way, you can easily listen and hear transmitted audio content at your preferred time and place.

Podcasting may be considered a hobby. You may deliver messages or music downloads to your friends. As you develop your skills in making quality audio contents, you can be recognized as a credible podcaster that may specialize in a particular field of podcasting.

In podcasting, you may develop a sense of credibility by making your listeners believe in the messages you transmit. You may gain passionate listeners from your podcast and generate income. It's no surprise that in the near future you will be able to create your own fan based niche market that constantly listens to your podcast.

Start podcasting as a hobby, you can enhance your communication skills and develop self-confidence as well. As you easily grasp the techniques and strategies on how to become an expert podcaster, you will also realize that podcasting is a great tool to promote a product or service. Here are some good reasons why you should start podcasting whether it is for your Internet marketing business or as your hobby.

1. You should try to practice podcasting to a wider audience. You may do this by promoting a web site to more popular web sites where they can advertise your podcasting web site.

2. Find a niche market where you can start delivering information to a targeted customer. In this way, you can build your own reputation as a recognized podcaster in your chosen market.

3. Podcasting is inexpensive and you can start delivering audio contents anytime you want. All you need to start a podcast is Internet access, personal computer, microphone and a voice prompt.

4. Podcasting is an easy and instant way to reach your targeted listeners. Podcasting is so in demand to Internet marketers is because of its automatic access to listeners. Listeners can subscribe to your sound files for free.

Try starting podcasting as your hobby. You may end up one of the most sought out podcasters on the Internet. Unlike the radio, you may need to pay a network to broadcast any kind of audio content. In podcasting, you can deliver messages for free and make an income from what you enjoy doing.

Career and Business Options through Podcasting

Are you the owner of a company looking for better ways to advertise about your product or service? Are you an individual interested in finding a better and more enjoyable career? Or are you looking for a way to simply earn money? Whichever the case, you’re about to realize how podcasting will change your life, career, or business for the better.

New Career Options in the Podcasting Industry

Voiceover – Voices for hire used to find employment only through the radio and TV industry, but now, they can also expect to find job opportunities in the podcasting network. If you’ve got a great CNN or BBC voice, you’re going to be in high demand by podcast providers.

Content Provider – If you have exemplary writing skills, then you’re equipped to make your way in the world. Lots of companies are willing to hire freelancers to work on producing top quality content about their products. Content for podcasts should last from several minutes to an hour or so, and must be cohesive and coherent. Content for podcast ads on the other hand must be delivered short but sweet.

How to Make a Podcast about Your Business

You can improve your career as a sales manager or increase profits of your company simply by creating a podcast about your business. You can also set up a company that provides podcasts for free while generating revenues by sponsoring advertisements.

Choose a Name – While it’s certainly not advisable to judge a book by its cover, or a podcast by its title, the name of your podcast is the first thing they’ll see or hear. If people don’t like how the name sounds, they’re not going to bother downloading it.

Topics and Themes – Your focus shouldn’t focus solely on the product you’re selling. Instead, find topics that are directly related to the product then just mention it in passing. If you’re selling pet feeding bowls, your podcast could be something like “How to Give Your Pet the Luxuries that Paris Hilton’s Tinkerbell Are Used to” then talk a little at the end (as an example of luxury) about the benefits of buying your company or advertiser’s pet feeding bowls.

Podcast Format – All your podcasts must have one common factor, and this factor must be what makes them distinguishable from the rest. It could be simply by always giving an abstract of the podcast prior to the discussion, or providing funny anecdotes at the end of the feed.

Not only are podcasts easy to create and distribute, they’re also cost-efficient compared to other advertising methods. You’re making the right choice by being one of the first in your community to advertise generate income through podcasting!

A Rough Guide to Podcasting Pros and Cons

Podcasting has become a way of life for many people especially in today's highly information-centric world. It gives people the power to download online multimedia content and enjoy them at their leisure. While most people are excited to jump on the podcasting bandwagon, there are also those who are anxious about this newly emerging technology.

This begs the question, what are the merits and disadvantages all podcasting as a technology?

Pros

- Podcasting is convenient especially for those who are very busy. People that are very busy usually miss their favorite shows on television, or on the radio, because their schedules don't permit them to tune in to them as they would wish. Podcasting, on the other hand, allows people to download all their favorite shows and enjoy them at a later, more convenient timeslot.

-Podcasts are easily distributable and are easily playable on pretty much any mobile audio or video technology. This means of distribution contributes greatly to the popularity of podcasts. In today's day and age, finding anyone without a digital mobile audio device is the exception. More and more people are moving to digital audio for their entertainment and information needs.

-The advantage of the human voice. People enjoy getting their information from a human voice. There are many things that can be conveyed to audio or video formats that wouldn't be easily transmissible via text format. The ability to transmit video and audio makes podcasts more enjoyable than text based syndications.

Cons

- Podcasts aren't easily searchable. Although there are many search engines that provide information regarding podcasts, it is most impossible to find anyone that would allow searching within the audio file itself. This could turn off many people especially when there are those that prefer gleaning their information by scanning through text quickly.

-While many people do indeed have mobile devices, not everyone does. Podcasting may alienate this segment of the market, leading to them looking elsewhere for their entertainment and information needs. There also those who would act negatively to having to download such from the Internet and play them on their digital recorders. They would rather read that have to wait for recommended audio file to finish playing.

They believe that they can absorb more information by reading-being speed readers themselves. They also their belief that podcasting should be relegated to entertainment instead of being the format of future information.

Conclusion

In the end, only time and technology will tell whether these advantages and disadvantages will still hold true. As technology and trends shift to the next generation, the pros and cons of podcasting could either multiply or lessen.

How to Start Your Viral Marketing Campaign Using Podcasting

Viral marketing is one of the newer ways to market the product or a service. Many people ask what the advantage of this kind of marketing is. While it might seem that most mainstream advertising strategies work just fine, viral marketing is proving to be a hot topic among advertising gurus.

In a nutshell, viral marketing is advertising or marketing through the use of word-of-mouth. This means that you create a buzz for your product or service not only by using mainstream public advertisements, but initiating a groundswell of interest in your brought up via some sort of word of mouth, friend to friend advertising.

This can involve releasing an interesting clip on the Internet and providing the framework for which friends would want to share this video with other people. This could involve creating clips that are so interesting that people would truly want to share them. It could also include giving an incentive to those who would share this video.

This scheme has proven so effective that not only smaller scale businesses are latching onto its popularity, even larger corporations and organizations are experimenting with how to use viral marketing for their gain. In fact there have been some movies clips released on the Internet with the sole purpose of stirring up interest in an upcoming movie.

Here are some tips on starting a viable marketing campaign using podcasts.

1. Create a stir. The best way to create an interesting podcast that can make it in the viral marketing world is to make sure that the employ much creativity in creating that podcast. Content is truly important when reading something you would want others to spread.

Sometimes this involves creating content that is surprising, and beyond the expectations of most people. It doesn't have to be too long; it only has to be interesting enough to catch everyone's attention. A short clip of a few minutes should be fine.

2. Make it easy to share. Large files, while still acceptable to share on the Internet, are a little harder to share than smaller ones. Make your podcasts easy enough to share via e-mail, peer-to-peer networks, download sites, and social networking sites.

3. Employ the use of popular sites. There are some sites on the Internet like myspace, and friendster that allow users to post multimedia content for broadcast on a personal page. You could start with a few people's personal pages and expect them to broadcast these podcasts to other people. From here it could spread like wildfire. Also, give incentives possible for people who share these videos.

The Uses of Podcasting

Podcasting is something that was developed at the turn of the 21st century. This was designed to transfer multimedia files in digital format, which is an improvement from analog.

There are many uses for podcasting. To prove the point that anyone can do it, here is a list of those that are into this trend.

1. Some schools that offer distance learning courses can get lectures from the professors just like being on campus in the classroom itself. Those who want to learn another language may also learn the same from podcasting which is much cheaper than buying the CD’s to complete the entire course.

2. Political views of different parties are also used for podcasting. This can make ordinary citizen aware of certain issues and take sides on these matters. Some have also used this as a forum to criticize or praise the government.

3. Religion has also put podcasting to good use. Talks about certain issues such as gay marriages, abortion and euthanasia are topics of issue. This can also be used to amplify the points taken during sermons so that this will instill in the minds of people and not only during Sunday at Church.

4. Some countries have also used podcasting to boost tourism. This will give the visitors the best sights to see and what to expect. This will also help the person plan the trip even before setting foot in that country.

5. The entertainment industry has also used this to give reviews of movies and shows on television. This can tell viewers if the film was a hit or was failure. Those who can't get enough of the stars can also stay informed.

6. The recent world cup and the ongoing Tour de France has also made its mark in podcasting. This can give the people the highlights during the event especially for those who can't see it live on television.

7. Those in the corporate scene have also used this to do business in different parts of the globe. A meeting for example done in New York can be broadcasted to those working in Hong Kong so that everyone is on the same page.

Individuals, the government and private organizations have used Podcasting for a variety of reasons. This just goes to show it has benefited many and this number will continue to grow in the foreseeable future.

Promoting Your Podcast: Using Directories

So you've made your first podcast, reviewed its content and found that it truly is the bomb. After sweating it out for a few days or even weeks, you have come up with a podcast that is sure to garner interest or popularity. Then, the next step for you is to post it on the Internet, and wait.

And so you wait, after a month, two months, three months and so on, you find that no one has been visiting your site of all. This is the problem most people encounter when they start a podcasting show on the Internet. No matter how good your podcast is, if people can't find it, and people don't know about it, it's still as good as not having a podcast at all.

Here are some tips to help you find an audience for your podcasts using online podcast directories and other known broadcasting techniques.

1. First of all you will want to study your podcasts content. Before choosing a podcast directory to list your podcast on, you will want to take note of your podcast content. If you know the genre, the potential audience of your podcast, and other valuable information about your content, you are in a better position to find a directory that can give your podcast the best mileage for your type of audience.

You don't want to have a podcast aimed at mothers and post it on a directory that has a large teen audience. That just wouldn't make sense. Remember that podcast directories all cater to different types of people. The secret to marketing success is to focus all your energies upon getting your product into the hands of people who want your product.

2. Choose the right directory. After studying your podcast’s content, look up the list of podcast directories on the Internet and find ones that has a large audience of the market segment you are looking for. Make sure you get your podcast listed on most directories that cater to your type of audience.

Some of the more popular directories may require a certain fee for listing, or for premium advertising space, if this is within your means, and you are truly looking for much online mileage, then you may consider using this technique. However, even if you don't do this, it doesn't mean you can't find good online mileage.

3. Post on multiple directories. Make sure that you post on more than one directory. After focusing on directories that cater to your audience, you can also post on other more popular directories that have a varied audience.

Podcasting NPR in it's Maiden Voyage

Even newspapers are now starting to bank on podcasting in a desperate attempt to reach more readers, or listeners to be more appropriate. Podcasting NPR aims

to produce what used to be in newspapers into more convenient and technology-inclined material that is downloadable for increasing online users.

The audience of today are more mobile and impatient than ever, and newspapers prove to be too bulky for comfort. Radio programs are now being streamed via the internet and usually in mp3 format which you can listen to at any time given that you have the proper media player.

This is a revolutionary move for the newspaper industry, which can hardly catch up with modern technologies due to its rigidity. Despite the abrupt adjustment of media, more and more newspaper companies are embracing the idea of using digital technology to reach more people. RSS Feeds are used to make these

radio programs accessible and in downloadable format at any time listeners choose.

Podcasting NPRs are highly organized and are sorted depending on the topic, type, length and date that it was created. This already fosters easy accessing, and leaves no excuse even to the laziest of online listeners. There are already many available topics online for the online user's listening pleasure. This is most ideal for those who have consistent Internet access.

These podcasting NPRs are said to be still in an experimental state. As such, it is still not able to capture full-length programs and usually can give only snippets of the actual radio programs or articles.

As of today, the NPR podcasts can still be accessed for free, and they are still on the lookout for people who will willingly be part of podcasting NPR participating stations. Not everyone is willing to participate or possess the technology to join the bandwagon.

Much manpower is still required to make this one work. It is a very big investment on the part of newspaper industries that agreed to give it a try. The

organizers of these podcasting NPRs are also very open for feedbacks regarding their operations since this is a new thing and they have no competitor or predecessor to compare it to.

To date, there are over 30 podcasting stations which are available for listening, and looks promising to increase in the next few months. The effect on newspapers on hard print are yet to be discovered.

Just how do you do free podcasting?

What would you do if you have an mp3 file directory and you feel you just have to share it with the rest of the podcasting globe? The answer is easy. See the following basic procedures of podcasting for free.

How to create your very own audio file

First things first, there are a lot of free websites out there which you can utilize to podcast. For one, there is blogger.com where anyone could post details about a show or an event. There is also audacity.sourceforge.net where it offers audio recording for free as well as a software for editing.

If you have a computer that has Windows, you could actually start recording sound as it has a built-in software to do such. Begin by clicking the start button, then choose all programs, then accessories, then entertainment, then sound recorder.

When audio has been recorded, you are now ready to do the next step.

How to upload your file to the world wide web

It would be helpful if you have your very own web site wherein you could conveniently transfer file to your site and then start to serve from that site of yours. However if you do not have one, there is a service available on the net for free called archive.org. Creating your own account is free and there is a link in that site which details the steps on how you could upload your own audio file.

There is also a link that would take you to Creative Commons, thereby allowing you to attach your own license and even provide tools for free that lets you upload any files to the archive. After the whole process, a link to the page where your files are listed will appear.

Do wait at least twenty four hours for your audio file to appear. As much as possible, always get the link as you will need this for your own podcast feed.

How to create your own notes on your podcast show

You have to have your own site. But if you don't have one, get one for free. The website blogger.com allows you to create your very own account, your very own blog name as well as the template of your choice.

Publish and create your own feed

Blogger provides its very own format feed called Atom. But what you really and efficiently need is RSS version 2.0. The site feedburner.com allows Atom feeds to be converted to RSS.

Now that you have it, flaunt it

You can now proudly add your podcast site link to directories. You could also start telling your family and friends that you are a legitimate podcaster.

Podcasting as a Form of Internet Marketing

You can earn money from podcasting. You can use podcasting as an Internet marketing tool to make your own profit. The most effective way to generate an income in podcasting is by becoming a podcaster.

By using an audio content using the Internet, any user can download sound files found on your website. Any user can make his podcast. The tools that you may only need to broadcast your website are a computer, microphone, Internet access and a voice editing software.

Aside from promoting products and services using paid advertisements on websites, podcasting is an effective tool where you can promote products and services through your own medium where you transmit information using audio contents. Clients can listen and hear information through podcasting.

Most Internet users have their own mp3 players where they listen to any audio messages. You will build a better relationship with your clients by interacting directly using a voice prompt. This is an effective Internet marketing tool to make an income and start a new podcasting business.

If you want to start an Internet marketing business, you may only need minimal capital in podcasting. There are many options on where you can leverage an income through podcasting. Here are some ways on how you can start and make profit through podcasting.

1. Through podcasting, you can reach out to a niche market easily. You can find new groups where you can introduce your product or service. Make sure that audio content of your podcast promotes and endorse the efficiency and quality of your product.

2. You have to share your knowledge in podcasting. Share it to others who want to learn the strategies and new Internet marketing techniques to promote and sell a product or service through podcasting.

3. List all podcast directories on your search engine. You may promote your podcast and find other web sites where you can trade links.

4. You may ask other podcasters to trade promos and ads. They will listen to your podcast and you will listen to their podcast.

5. Try to penetrate other podcasting web sites where you can promote and sell. In this way, you can show that you are credible and reputable podcaster.

It is also important to consider approaching potential advertisers on the Internet. You may extremely promote that you have an active selling podcasting Internet market. Using podcasting as an Internet marketing tool will help you generate income by advertising a product or service.

Your Guide to Mobile Podcasts

Podcasting is all the rage nowadays. More and more people are subscribing to podcasts for their information needs. While reading blogs, and tuning in to radio shows are still the undisputed champions of information, podcasting is proving to be a more convenient and handy medium for information.

Usually, to download the podcast, you would have to log on to a web site and download the latest podcasts depending on their availability. You would then have to move these files from your computer to your mobile audio device.

This is proven to be a handy way to collect syndicated shows on your mobile device and listen to them at your own leisure. However, people have begun to look for easier ways to download these podcasts. After all, today's technology allows for a more efficient and handy way to download and listen to these podcasts.

People would like to skip the part where they have to sit in front of the computer, browse the Internet, and download the podcasts. Is it possible for them to directly download these podcasts to their mobile devices? Fortunately, the answer is yes. Downloading podcasts directly to a mobile device isn't only revolutionary, it's practical-not to mention it makes perfect sense.

Podcasts straight to your phone

If your mobile device has Internet connectivity-either through GPRS, edge, WiFi, 3G, or other wireless networking technology, then it is possible for you to download podcasts straight to your mobile device.

With your mobile device, you can directly log on to a podcast site, and download audio files directly on to your storage space. From here you can now listen to your favorite podcasts even while you travel. The great thing about this is that you don't have to go back to your home or look for an Internet enabled desktop and download your favorite podcasts.

You can be traveling around, or be at work, or be at any location, and still be able to download online podcast content effortlessly. And of course, you can still enjoy them at your leisure.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage here is that podcasting for you will truly become something you can do at your leisure. You can podcast were ever you go as long as you have Internet connectivity. And even if you don't have Internet connectivity, you can still listen to previously downloaded files.

The disadvantage is that some mobile Internet technologies aren't that well defined-meaning you receive decreased bandwidth. This makes downloading podcasts slow. It may also necessitate the proliferation of podcasts that are smaller in size, making them inferior in audio quality.

Online Trend: Podcasting Jobs

The technology that is ipod has already become such a house hold name that it already hatched a new industry for online job seekers: that of being podcasters or part of podcasting jobs available for hiring! Here are a handful of the more popular hits when you search for podcasting jobs and what it basically requires of its applicants.

Voice Talents are obviously the most popular of all podcast jobs. They constitute that wonderful voice which will market most of the productions, lure potential customers and keep people coming back for more. An obvious requirement is for a person to have that enigmatic and pleasant voice, proper articulation of words and excellent diction. A lethal combination of all three will make you the podcasting world's most sought after employee in no time!

Writers are also needed in every podcast job. You can't expect the voice talents to have it all! Writers basically make what the voice talents have to say. As such, the write ups must be tailored to suit the one who will be saying it. Writers must be flexible and able to adapt to whatever the situation calls for.

Producer (Audio)- The whole audio setup would definitely require an audio producer. This requires an expert who has background in media applications and all that nifty production work. An assistant producer might also be handy to help the audio producer in his or her work.

Producer (Web)- Producing the audio is exhausting in itself so there is also a need for a separate producer for the web activities of the said podcast.

Book Reviewers are also sometimes hired separately. These podcast jobs are quite compartmentalized and for ease of working, all jobs are made as specific as possible.

Marketing Manager is the one in charge of all marketing affairs of the podcast. You can have an excellent voice over production, a good web and audio production, but without proper marketing, it will all be useless and inaccessible for public appraisal. This also requires expertise in networking and possible training of marketing strategies especially in the online world.

Digital Audio Editors are also needed for final polishing of the entire production. Proper background such as experience in being a sound engineer is required for this sort of job. The more high technology the instruments used to digitize the production, the better.

Interested? With the wide variety of jobs available, it wouldn't be hard to find the one for you. Try looking for it now!

Will Podcast, Need Podcasting Microphone

Sound. Podcasting is all about sound and quality. To be able to produce high quality sound and effects means having the power to reach more people and may mean more revenues, if you’re doing podcasting for business.

So naturally, the first thing to take into consideration is how to make this sound. And with that, you need to select a microphone that suits your needs and purposes.

Before you buy a microphone, however, you need to know what’s available out there, and what features need be looked for.

Generally, podcasting microphones, or any microphone for that matter, collect sound waves and convert these waves to a signal that can be used by electronic devices.

So saying, there is a dynamic and condenser microphone. A dynamic mic uses a magnet and a coil of wire to make signals. They are great to use, especially if you want an all-around mic. And because they have few parts and pieces, they are durable and hardy. They make their own current, so there is no need for a power source.

Condenser mics on the other hand, uses disparity of voltage generated by its plates to create signals. It needs a source of power, usually in the form of a battery or external sources. These kinds of mics easily respond to sound and create a signal that’s stronger than the dynamic mics.

Next, you need to look at the pattern how the mic picks up sound waves. Some mics pick up sound from all directions, some from two and some from a single direction.

* All directions – these types collect sound from all directions evenly. They are most often used at group recording sessions, since they can record voices of all present. They also pick up many extra sounds, so they might not be the best type to use in a studio recording.

* Two directions – there aren’t a lot of this type out on the market. They collect sound waves from opposite directions, making it ideal for a recording between two people.

* Single direction – this type of mic isolates sound more efficiently than the two previously discussed. These are ideal for a single person recording in a studio because movement doesn't affect the recording.

Now, knowing the different kinds, it’s time to select your microphone. It might be best to use an all-directions microphone when you’re roving outside and talking to people. A single direction mic on the other hand, is best for a studio recording, since it excludes any extraneous sounds.