Podcasts

The Internet Jungle gets bigger, badder and wilder by the day! Podcasts are the latest marketing vehicle to arrive on the scene, and some businesses are using them to create all kinds of new sales opportunities.

Simply put, a podcast is a recorded presentation that people download from the Web and play on their iPod, their MP3 audio player, or their computer. Or, they just listen to podcasts on the Web site. These presentations can be in the form of shows similar to "how-to" programs on TV or the radio, or they can be purely entertaining. You can listen to podcasts about caring for infants, fixing a flat tire, running a nonprofit organization, acupuncture, and even the Bible. The topics are practically limitless.

Thousands of companies offer free podcasts as a way of attracting new customers or giving existing customers a reason to return to the site each week. We recently went to a podcast directory called www.podcastingnews.com and found thousands of business podcasts.

We even found job postings for podcast hosts!

Grammar Girl has hit it big in the podcast world. Each week, hundreds, if not thousands, of faithful listeners hear a brief yet insightful podcast about grammar do's and don'ts. Grammar Girl was able to quit her day job and now makes a handsome living doing just podcasts because of the sponsors that pay for her podcasts.

Podcasts may be a great vehicle for you, too. You could establish yourself as an expert on your business topic, or offer helpful tips to your target prospects or solve their most pressing or difficult problems. You could host a program and interview your customers who have success stories thanks to your business.

There are all kinds of possibilities. Of course, you would need to make sure your podcast ultimately drives traffic that will become profitable for you.

Next week we will talk about the benefits of an E-newsletter. Until then have a fun week, C S Wurzberger