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Podcasts
By:
Thomas Young, MBA
You
may have seen or heard the term "podcast"
recently. Podcasts are audio segments that you can listen
to on your computer or easily transfer to your iPod
for listening in your car or burning to CD. Think of
it as a newscast with a funny name because of the popularity
of Apple's iPod audio and video players. Podcasts are
dynamic. Plug your iPod into your computer and if a
new "episode" is available, it will automatically
be downloaded to your portable listening device.
Podcasts
are important because it is an efficient and convenient
way to add value to your customers and help them with
their problems. They can listen in the car or at their
computer as they multitask and keep busy. How do you
develop a good podcast? Here are a few ideas on making
podcasts work for you as a part of your Web marketing
efforts.
Plan
it Out First
Give
your podcast a title that is specific to one of the
needs in your target market. Think about what makes
their job easier or enhances the quality of their lives.
Decide on a length of time for the podcast and remember
that a shorter time span will hold people's attention
more effectively, but not too short. Keep it over ten
minutes in length at a minimum. Get to the key issues
quickly. Write your script or outline in advance and
do not sound like you are reading when presenting.
How
is it Recorded?
A
professional recording studio can produce a digital
audio file of your podcast that can be uploaded to your
Website. The audio file can be recorded in a variety
of formats and easily adapted for your particular listening
device. Another option is to do it yourself on your
computer, using a basic digital recording software program,
which often comes with the computer. For better results,
use a decent recording microphone and not the microphone
on your computer. If this is confusing or difficult
for you, get help from someone with experience recording
live audio onto a computer.
Hire
an Interviewer
An
interview format is very effective. Plan your questions
in advance and bring in someone with a convincing voice
to be your podcast moderator or announcer. They will
introduce the podcast, the guest (you) and ask the questions.
They function as the host of the program and keep the
interest level up.
Share
Your Secrets
Do
not hold back. Share every thing you can think of in
the short amount of time that will bring value to the
listener. You will gain customers because you are adding
value to them through this podcast. Also, keep the podcast
current and relevant.
Get
Inside the Head of the Listener
Walk
in the shoes of the listener. What would you want to
hear? The better you can understand the listener, the
better your podcast. Remember that the podcast is about
the listener and not you or your business. If your listener
is listening to your podcast they are intelligent and
computer savvy, so keep the content at a high level
and interesting. Give them something concrete to add
to their action plan.
Video
Versus Audio
Video
is growing as a communications medium on the Web and
should be considered when it is important to actually
see what you are talking about. However, podcasts have
three big advantages over video, first they are cheaper
to produce, second they take less bandwidth and third
people can multitask while they listen to a podcast.
Make it a podcast, unless you must use video.
Podcasts
work because people go to the Web first for information,
and great audio presentations can help you better meet
the needs of your customers and grow your business.
Check out two of our most recent podcasts on our Website
and look for more coming soon.
>Search
Engine Marketing | A Podcast by Tom Young for TEC
International
>Driving
Sales with Your Website | A Podcast by Tom Young
for TEC International
Thomas
Young is CEO of Intuitive Websites. He is an Internet
Marketing consultant and speaker. If you are interested
in having Tom speak at your business meeting please
contact him directly at 719-481-4040 or tom@intuitivewebsites.com.
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