| Audio has become a very popular medium of | | | | industry, do not want to scour the Internet for a |
| communication and marketing online, especially | | | | couple hours each day looking for analysis and |
| through the use of podcasting. | | | | information and top experts. |
| The use of audio is also boosted by the increased | | | | Podcasting brings all of that to them. |
| adoption and use of audio mp3 players, especially | | | | If you are looking to break into the iTunes |
| Apple's iPod. | | | | market through the use of podcast, but are not |
| A check of Apple's second quarter earnings in | | | | sure what to podcast about, this might be the |
| 2006 showed that Apple has sold more than 8.5 | | | | place to start. |
| million iPods. In fact, Apple has cumulatively sold | | | | Don't worry right now about advertising, just look |
| more than 50 million iPods since the company first | | | | for a niche markets to serve. |
| introduce the stylish model to the market. | | | | The farther you drill down into the niche, the |
| It's no suprise then that there's a great demand | | | | better chance you have of getting your podcast |
| for audio based products especially with millions of | | | | heard. So rather than podcasting on cars or |
| iPod owners out there. Most iPod owners use | | | | books, drill down further. |
| iTunes, a free software from Apple that most | | | | Let's say you're a car enthusiast or a book |
| iPod owners use to search, organise and download | | | | enthusiast. |
| music. Every day, millions of iPod owners use | | | | Here are a couple examples of drilling down to |
| iTunes to search for the latest audio products be | | | | become more specific on your area of interest. |
| it music cds, videos or podcasts to download to | | | | From the idea of cars, drill down for specific niche |
| their iPod or other mp3 player device to listen. | | | | market ideas. For example, car to automobil car |
| How then can business owners reach out to the | | | | racing to stock car racing to nascar to nextel car |
| tens of thousands, perhaps even millions of iTunes | | | | series to current year's coverage to coverage of |
| users to gain new subscribers and potential | | | | a specific race team or driver. |
| customers? | | | | In the example above, I started with the broad |
| The answer lies in podcasting.iTunes support the | | | | category of cars and slowly drill down to more |
| use of podcasting and allows anyone who has an | | | | specific markets. |
| iTunes account to submit their podcast to iTunes. | | | | Using this strategy, business owners can take a |
| What this essentially means, is that iTunes has | | | | look at the types of service and products they |
| given you permission to broadcast and advertise | | | | currently offer to come up with their own |
| your message to your the millions of iTunes | | | | podcast to serve their intended target market. |
| users, many of which will become your | | | | Once they've identified their own niche, business |
| subscribers and customers if you provide good | | | | owners can then create their podcasts and |
| valuable content in your podcast. | | | | submit their podcast to iTunes. Starting a podcast |
| Of course not everyone will download and | | | | is easier than what most people think. |
| subsribe to your podcast. Then again, even if you | | | | In fact, using Google's AudioBlogger, you can just |
| only have 0.1% of the total estimated iTune | | | | call a number and record your message. Your |
| users downloading your podcast, we are talking | | | | podcast will be automatically created and stored, |
| easily at least a few thousand new subscribers | | | | ready for use. |
| and customers. | | | | However, for business purpose, it's critical to lay |
| The secret to successful podcasting and serving | | | | the foundation right the first time to ensure |
| your intended target market lies in podcasting's | | | | success when podcasting for business needs. |
| ability to service a niche market. Most people can | | | | Business owners need to consider other |
| find general information readily available quickly. | | | | podcasting issues such as formats of podcasting, |
| What people want is in-depth information, | | | | technical issues like bandwidth, developing the |
| instruction, and entertainment specific to their | | | | content for niche podcasting and more. |
| area of interest. It is easy for them to find a web | | | | Once business owners have mastered the |
| site that will post all the baseball scores in | | | | 'blueprint' for podcasting success, they can repeat |
| theirfavorite division. What they might be looking | | | | the strategy again for other services and |
| for however, is information, instruction, and | | | | products they would like to market. |
| entertainment related to their baseball team, | | | | Now you can unlock the power of your voice and |
| which might not be readily available at the click of | | | | reach out to thousands of potential customers. |
| a mouse. | | | | What are you waiting for? Start podcasting |
| People who want to find out more about the | | | | today!. |