| Interested in a new, cutting-edge tool that can | | | | control, glaucoma, alternative medicine, and more. |
| reach millions of potential customers? Then you | | | | - Religious organizations can use podcasts to |
| are looking for PODCASTING! | | | | distribute weekly sermons, missionary updates, |
| And unlike radio shows, which are transfered | | | | extol their beliefs and offerings, and otherwise |
| through the air in radio waves, and regulated and | | | | share their message, globally, as long as listeners |
| controlled by the FCC, there are no regulations or | | | | have an internet connection. |
| rules for podcasting, as long as you don't use | | | | - Preschools and Day Care Centers can offer |
| copyprotected property. | | | | parenting tips. |
| A podcast is an audio file stored on the Internet | | | | - Universities can offer audio lectures, student |
| that customers can download to their computers | | | | calendars and orientation, and campus tours. |
| or MP3 players and listen to whenever they want. | | | | - Travel agents can offer audio tours of popular |
| Now, you may be thinking, "So what - MP3 files | | | | cities. |
| have been available for download from the | | | | - Chambers of Commerce can introduce potential |
| internet for years!" Well, what makes podcasting | | | | tourists, conventions, and businesses to their |
| different and truly useful as business tool is that | | | | cities. |
| customers can subscribe to programs they are | | | | - Museums and historic sites can offer private |
| interested in. This means that free and | | | | guided tours of their facilities. |
| easy-to-use podcasting software automatically | | | | - Conference presenters can offer podcasts of |
| downloads new podcasts to your customers' | | | | their sessions for people who were unable to |
| computers as soon as they are available. | | | | attend the live events and save on postage and |
| Just how big is the potential reach of podcasting? | | | | fulfillment costs. |
| Consider these numbers from the Pew Internet | | | | - Companies and non-profit organizations can |
| & American Life Project. According to their | | | | offer training to their employees and volunteers.o |
| research: | | | | Offer Your Customers Convenience |
| [o] More than 22 million US adults own an iPod or | | | | If you publish or plan to publish any type of audio |
| other MP3 player - 13% of men and 9% of | | | | file for your customers - whether audio |
| women | | | | newsletters, teleconference calls, interviews, |
| [o] 20% of the lucrative 18- to 28-year-old | | | | lectures, etc. - podcasting simplifies everything for |
| market owns an iPod or other MP3 player | | | | both you and your customers. |
| [o] 29% of the people who own an iPod or MP3 | | | | Once customers subscribe to your podcast, you |
| player have downloaded a podcast | | | | won't have to worry about sending them an email |
| This translates to 6 million U.S. adults who have | | | | to download a new MP3. |
| downloaded podcasts - a truly impressive figure | | | | Instead, your message will land directly on your |
| considering podcasting is still a relatively new | | | | customers' desktops every time you create a |
| technology. | | | | new podcast. |
| The keys to the early success of podcasting is | | | | The convenience continues even after the |
| that it offers great choice and convenience, plus | | | | download. Once the podcasts are downloaded to |
| ANYONE can do it with the right tools.o Offer | | | | your customers' computers, they can synch them |
| Your Customers Choice | | | | to your MP3 player, burn them to a CD, or simply |
| Podcasts can be about any topic you can think of. | | | | listen to them through their computer speakers. |
| They might be music, a talk show, a lecture, a | | | | In other words, customers can subscribe to your |
| recorded tele-seminar, a sermon, etc. Possible | | | | podcast, download it, and take it with them as |
| applications for podcasting include: | | | | they go out jogging or commute to the office. |
| - Interviewing authors and leaders in your | | | | Best of all, not only are podcasts themselves |
| industry, then offering the interviews through a | | | | generally free, but so is most of the podcasting |
| podcast on your website. | | | | software your customers will need to listen to |
| - Offering late-breaking industry news. | | | | podcasts! |
| - Offering in-depth information to niche customers. | | | | Both podcasts and podcasting software are easy |
| - Medical organizations can offer podcasts on such | | | | to find on the internet and are easy to use. |
| topics as bariatric (weight loss) surgery, diabetes | | | | |