Free Website Content - How Is Podcasting Used
Although podcasting is new, it is well on
its way to becoming a mainstream communication medium. Podcasting,
simply put, is audio files that are delivered via RSS. Many
people believe that podcasting is solely for the distribution
of music files, but really, nothing could be further from
the truth. This emerging method of audio file distribution
has opened an array of marketing and communication opportunities
to businesses. Currently, most who are familiar with podcasting
are technically savvy, but it is clear that podcasting will
be more than a passing fad as many businesses are adopting
podcasting and employing it in unusual yet powerful ways.
Podcasting can be used for talk shows, tutorials, music
demos, educational training, stories, comedy clips, debates
or even foreign language tutorials.
While RSS has had the capacity to include
audio files for a few years, only recently have entrepreneurs
made the conceptual leap, taking advantage of the new power
held within this communication medium. In reality, podcasters
cover the gamut; some are professional broadcasters, while
others are obvious amateurs.
Podcasts are usually published with associated
meta information that includes descriptive data about each
specific audio file. This allows listeners to make a determination
of which audio items are of interest. If listeners are using
a news aggregator that supports podcasting, they will automatically
receive updates in their feed reader or news aggregation
software when a new podcast exists for a feed that they
have subscribed to.
Why is podcasting so beneficial to the
subscriber?
Unlike traditional radio, with podcasting the subscriber
decides what content he/she receives. Podcasting is extremely
useful to the subscriber because the user can easily receive
information he/she would like, and listen to it when they
want. The material, once downloaded, can be listened to
and viewed on wireless handhelds, allowing subscribers to
utilize time on the road.
Topic-specific radio talk shows with commentaries,
interviews and debates can now be heard at a time and place
of the listener's choosing. Consider the benefit of educational
tutorials and foreign language instruction; lessons could
be listened to during a work commute. Supplementary class
lectures, step by step tutorials or walking guides are all
possible using podcasting. An unlimited collection of books
read aloud for elderly or visually-impaired listeners only
scratch the surface of what is possible in the future of
podcasting.
The fate of podcasting is in the hands of
the subscribers. The subscriber can easily delete podcast
feeds that do not satisfy their needs with the single tap
of a button. Ultimately, the subscriber maintains control
and determines what podcasts are deemed successful. This
intrinsically builds in a quality control level and will
ensure that the more innovative instructional and interesting
podcast feeds survive.
The technology is fresh and, like the Internet,
is opening doors to entrepreneurs. As podcasting evolves,
users will find more creative kinds of audio content to
deliver. The low barrier to entry has forced this new medium
to the forefront, as businesses and individuals have really
little to lose in adding podcasting as a communication channel.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing and publishing RSS feeds
and NotePage, Inc. http://www.notepage.net
a wireless messaging software company.
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This article may be used freely in opt-in
publications and websites, provided that the resource box
is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of
the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly
appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
.
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