Podcasting: What is it and how can it help your small business?

By: Sandra P. Martini

According to Wikipedia,

"A podcast is a multimedia file that is distributed by subscription (paid or unpaid) over the Internet using syndication feeds, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. Like 'radio', it can mean both the content and the method of broadcast. The latter may also be termed "podcasting". The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster."

And you thought blogs and blogging were a mouthful! Let me try to say the same thing with some English thrown in for good measure:

A podcast is a multimedia file (for example, mp3 or video) that is distributed by subscription (you can sign up through an RSS feed, iTunes, or directly from someone's website) over the Internet using syndication feeds (RSS and Atom are the most popular), for playback on mobile devices (CD players, mp3 players and iPods*) and personal computers.

* For those who are thoroughly confused about what mp3 players and iPods are, here is a very quick explanation:

They are, by and large, the SAME THING. "iPod" is Apple's brand name for their mp3 players. Mp3 players are typically smaller than CD players so they are more easily carried (or strapped to your arm while exercising, walking, etc.) and many allow you to see video as well (television shows, music videos, the podcaster's album art, a picture of the CD cover for the artist you are listening to, etc.). Some CD players are capable of playing both CDs (typically wmv files) and mp3s -- so you can download the mp3 directly to a CD. :)

I hope I didn't lose anyone.

Personally, I'm a visual person. While I love listening to an audiobook on long trips, I prefer to read articles and information than to listen to them. However, given the rise in audio book summaries as well as podcasting, it would appear that I am in the minority.

Our world has gotten increasingly "grab and go" and podcasting allows the customer/client to subscribe to a podcaster (read "entrepreneur") that he likes and automatically get all the latest information from that person via audio files which he can listen to in his car, take to the gym, listen to on a plane, take on a walk. . .you get the idea. As such, it makes sense for the small business owner to jump on the podcasting bandwagon.

Take a look at your business and ask yourself, "How could podcasting make a difference to my clients and my business?"

* trainings

* teleseminars

* "What's New" promotions

* article marketing

I will start offering podcasts in January in addition to my teleclasses. I realize that it's difficult for some people to "meet" at a certain time and have decided that by offering my teleclasses as podcasts, I'll be able to reach more people on their schedule.

What business innovations will you be implementing?