Podcasting for the dumb or have no microphone

Testing. It don't seem to be working now but come back a day or two later and I think you should be able to hear a message

Podcasting Trend

By Matt Bacak

Podcasting has all the ingredients to become a major technology trend. Podcasting has started with little fanfare but has the potential to become a giant wave due to a number of factors going for it. The word Podcast might have been roughly derived from iPod and broadcast (it sure sounds like that to me so don’t hit me if I am wrong!).

The process works pretty much like radio except that the broadcast is done via mobile devices and the power of content delivery via the internet. This new form of broadcasting of information opens up tremendous opportunities for dispersion of information, entertainment and news.

Podcasting is a fairly new technology and people are building up refined applications to use this medium effectively. Advantages of Podcasting are making the proposition attractive enough for major companies to consider it a serious communication mode. RSS 2.0 is the chosen form for podcasts and newer versions of this feed system are expected soon.

Inherent advantages of podcasts are:

No need to invest in a new piece of hardware: Podcasts are easily available to all users of iPod and similar mobile .The sheer size of the iPod cult if I can call it that, is increasing at a scorching pace. All a user needs to do is choose the subscriptions which he or she would like to subscribe to and download the programmes.

New lease of live to radio programmes:

Radio programmes have been revived by the new generation of podcasters. A number of old radio programmes which have had a mass following in their hey days are now being evaluated to be cast via podcasts. A huge chunk of high quality content becomes available thanks to this revival.

Can advertisers be far away? Advertisers have the ability to identify new advertising opportunities at the slightest whiff and Podcasting forums are already working hard to get the advertising industry hand in glove with the Podcasting community. Influx of advertising dollars will lend more credibility to Podcasting and this medium will be taken more seriously as well.

On demand broadcast:

Podcasters and listeners rule this medium by offering a high level on-demand listening. You can use this service at the time when you want to, pretty much like video on demand but has greater success due to the low demand of bandwidth. This is probably one of the biggest advantage of Podcasting and might be the core reason for it to success phenomenally.

Your own Podcast studio and very little investment:

So who are podcasters? A podcaster can be anyone who has access to the internet, a decent computer and some software knowledge. Podcasting requires very little investment by way of hardware and software. This advantage of Podcasting can thus be done by almost anyone who has an interest in it and has some content to share with the rest of the world,

Creativity is highly rewarded in the podcaster’s world:

Content is king and high quality creative content is instantaneously rewarded by the Podcasting community which can be measured by the number of subscribers. Thus it is quite easy to gain overnight success if the content of the broadcast is unique and exciting.

Podcasting thus has number of benefits both the for the community within and without. A unique mass media which does not cost a lot to distribute and develop content for. Like all new technologies, the technology will have some teething issues but the force promoting it should be good enough to get the technology roaring with success in the very near future.

About the Author: Matt Bacak, The Powerful Promoter and Entrepreneur Magazine e-Biz
radio show host, became a "#1 Best Selling Author" in just a few short
hours. He has helped a number of clients target his specialty, opt-in
email direct marketing systems. The Powerful Promoter is not only a
sought-after internet marketer but has also marketed for some of the
world's top experts whose reputations would shrivel if their followers
ever found out someone else coached them on their online marketing
strategies. For more information, visit Bacak's site at
http://www.powerfulpromoter.com or sign up for his Powerful Promoting Tips at http://www.promotingtips.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Record Your Own Radio Show From Anywhere!

By Colin Arthur

You're On The Air! Have you ever wanted to be on the radio? Produce your own radio talkshow? Ever since I was a kid I have been recording my voice, or my music on to various formats of tape recorders and most recently computers. (Check my music website at www.colinarthur.com) I am excited about some brand new recording devices (especially the iRiver, which records crystal clear to MP3 format), and a new forum called "podcasting" to get your message or music out to the world.

Podcast is a term coined for Internet broadcasting by combining the words "iPod" and "broadcast." Podcasts are created and posted to the Internet as an MP3 file that you can download to your computer and listen to.

Using mp3 audio to broadcast a message was formerly known as “audio-blogging” but with millions of iPod owners out there, the name became associated with Apple's, iTunes.

Here's How Podcasting Works…

A Podcast, or your "Radio Show" is basically an MP3 file that you've recorded, sitting ona website waiting to be downloaded. When someone subscribes to the Podcast, by using readily available freeware, the program will check for updates and download any new files to your playlist. To automatically sync files to your iPod, you'll need to use a program like iPodder which is a free, open-source client that is available for Mac OS X, Windows & Linux.

The cool thing about podcasts is that anyone can create them. It's easy to get started and there is very little start-up cost. All you basically need is some recording software, a microphone, an idea for a show and a page on the Web to make your podcast available.

Choose a topic you like and are familiar with. It could be about music, health and wellness, sports or politics. Plan and record your podcast to your computer, edit and add music or sound effects. Podcasts are typically large files so I use FTP to upload large files.

Let's Get started

A: Record your Podcast to MP3 format (remember: the longer the podcast the larger the file). I recommend the portable Edirol R-1, or the iRiver for recording directly to MP3 remotely. I use Apple's Garage Band for editing and recording at home, however there are many programs available for all formats. Just do a Google search for "recording software".

B: Upload your MP3 to a website

C: Create an RSS feed of your podcast
I am using WebJay an online html generator http://www.smoothouse.org/smoothouse/webjay.asp

To find other people's podcasts, just type "new podcasts" into a search engine like Google or MSN. One of the easiest ways, is to go to www.apple.com/itunes and get the new iTunes 4.9. They have channel dedicated to Podcasts There are also communities such as: ipodder.org, PodcastAlley, and Digital Podcast.

Who knows! You could have the next hit Internet Radio Show! GoodLuck

© Colin Arthur - All Rights reserved

About the Author: Colin Arthur is a professional singer/songwriter and the co-founder of The Universal Advertising Group an online advertising company. "Finally! You can have a money generating website up in 5 minutes. Follow the step by step tutorials and join our advertising group that will drive traffic to your sites!" universaladvertisinggroup.com - For more detailed instructions on Podcasting you may want to purchase the e-book Podcast Secrets Revealed http://colinw.podcasting.hop.clickbank.net

Source: www.isnare.com

Home Business Exposure On Yahoo!

By Ron LeBlanc

Everyone who has ever been on the internet has heard of Yahoo! If you haven’t, then quit reading and go visit now. Yahoo is such a popular site that my website ranking toolbar from Alexa shows a number “1” under website ranking…that’s popular. So it would probably be a good idea to get some exposure on Yahoo! for your home business.

Here is a great way to get in at the beginning of a trend. If you’ve never heard of a podcast, then you should definitely get up to speed on what they are. In brief, they are archived audio files usually in mp3 format that you can download into your player such as an iPod. Hosting those files is called podcasting. People can listen to you whenever it is convenient for them.

Podcasting is in its infancy as of late 2005. Yes, there are a lot of podcasts, but users are very few compared to the total number of internet and iPod users. So how does Yahoo! fit in? Well, one of the things about podcasts is that they have usually been hard to find or search for. None of the major search engines had done much with them as of this writing.

Enter Yahoo! You can now go to http://podcasts.yahoo.com and search for whatever you want. Many of the podcasts are vocal in nature such as instruction or the old teaching tapes. Here is your opportunity – home business is a very frequently searched topic on any search engine, so it is only a matter of time until it is frequently searched on the Yahoo! podcast site as well. You can get traffic to your site by making your own podcasts and submitting them to a site that Yahoo! searches such as iPodder.

There probably won’t be an incredible amount of competition for your home business for some time. Meanwhile, you have the opportunity to be a step ahead and be seen as an expert. You will be an expert by the time everyone else figures out that they should get into podcasting too. There is a great article on how to get started in podcasting at the website http://www.MCPromotionsPress.com

This time in podcasting is like the times in the mid 90’s when you could easily get great search engine ranking with just a little effort. Your home business can get some great exposure - Don’t miss the ride!

About the Author: Ron LeBlanc, PE spent 20+ years in science and engineering when woke up to his true potential and began working from home. He lives in Boulder, CO and works out of his home. He enjoys helping other people learn to do home based businesses. Get his tip-filled newsletter and some special offers at http://www.be-do-have.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Home Business Exposure On Yahoo!

By Ron LeBlanc

Everyone who has ever been on the internet has heard of Yahoo! If you haven’t, then quit reading and go visit now. Yahoo is such a popular site that my website ranking toolbar from Alexa shows a number “1” under website ranking…that’s popular. So it would probably be a good idea to get some exposure on Yahoo! for your home business.

Here is a great way to get in at the beginning of a trend. If you’ve never heard of a podcast, then you should definitely get up to speed on what they are. In brief, they are archived audio files usually in mp3 format that you can download into your player such as an iPod. Hosting those files is called podcasting. People can listen to you whenever it is convenient for them.

Podcasting is in its infancy as of late 2005. Yes, there are a lot of podcasts, but users are very few compared to the total number of internet and iPod users. So how does Yahoo! fit in? Well, one of the things about podcasts is that they have usually been hard to find or search for. None of the major search engines had done much with them as of this writing.

Enter Yahoo! You can now go to http://podcasts.yahoo.com and search for whatever you want. Many of the podcasts are vocal in nature such as instruction or the old teaching tapes. Here is your opportunity – home business is a very frequently searched topic on any search engine, so it is only a matter of time until it is frequently searched on the Yahoo! podcast site as well. You can get traffic to your site by making your own podcasts and submitting them to a site that Yahoo! searches such as iPodder.

There probably won’t be an incredible amount of competition for your home business for some time. Meanwhile, you have the opportunity to be a step ahead and be seen as an expert. You will be an expert by the time everyone else figures out that they should get into podcasting too. There is a great article on how to get started in podcasting at the website http://www.MCPromotionsPress.com

This time in podcasting is like the times in the mid 90’s when you could easily get great search engine ranking with just a little effort. Your home business can get some great exposure - Don’t miss the ride!

About the Author: Ron LeBlanc, PE spent 20+ years in science and engineering when woke up to his true potential and began working from home. He lives in Boulder, CO and works out of his home. He enjoys helping other people learn to do home based businesses. Get his tip-filled newsletter and some special offers at http://www.be-do-have.com



Source: www.isnare.com

The Power Of Marketing Podcasts

By Robert Moment

If you've used the Internet at all this year, you've probably heard of podcasting. It's the one word that's almost guaranteed to come up in discussions of small business marketing, and with good reason too. Podcasting has become more and more popular over the past 12 months and is set to become the most powerful marketing tool of the future. But what exactly is it?

What are Marketing Podcasts?

In simple terms, podcasts are like radio transmissions which are broadcast over the Internet. Listeners subscribe to an RSS or Atom feed and can listen via their computer or hand-held devices such as iPods. They're a little like a blog and a little like radio - and they're starting to take off in a big way. In marketing terms, podcasting presents a new and very powerful method of communicating directly with your clients, both current and prospective.

What are Marketing Podcasts About?

The simple answer to this question is that a marketing podcast can be about anything and everything you think will be of interest to your listeners. You may want to talk about a new innovation you're using in your business, interview some of your industry leaders or discuss some of the big issues in your area of the business world. The choices are endless and it's up to you to use your imagination to come up with something people will be interested in hearing.

Why use Marketing Podcasts?

There are many different ways in which marketing podcasts can help benefit your business . Here are just a few of them.

1. Marketing podcasts help build tangibility

By creating a podcast you let your listeners/customers see the real you - the people behind the business. This helps give your business some kind of tangibility and personality. Rather than just being a faceless corporation your business becomes something your customers/listeners can relate to and understand.

2. Marketing Podcasts Increase Your Credibility

By offering a podcast on a particular subject, you're establishing yourself as an expert in that subject. People like to buy from experts - podcasting helps build trust and, by extension, grows sales.

3. Marketing Podcasts Add Value to Your Business

By offering a podcast, you're giving visitors to your website something free - and something which they'll hopefully enjoy enough to want to hear more of. This means that they'll become repeat visitors and may even turn into customers.

4. Podcasts Build Loyalty

Marketing podcasts work in much the same way that email newsletters build loyalty towards your business by providing free information to subscribers. As you start to build up a listener base for your podcasts you'll be creating your own form of word-of-mouth advertising as your listeners tell other people about your podcasts and your business.

5. Getting Started in Marketing Podcasting

Creating a podcast is surprising simple. In terms of hardware all you need is a computer, mic and broadband connection. Simple, free pieces of software such as audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) allow you to record it, then it's a matter of saving the file as .MP3 and uploading it to your server.

Once uploaded, your podcast is ready to be distributed, and this can be done through aggregators such as iPodder (www.ipodder.org ) and FeedDemon (www.feeddemon.com ) or via web-based directories such as Podcast Alley (www.podcastalley.com) and BlastPodcast (www.blastpodcast.com) .

Some Podcasts for you to Start off With:

"The Marketing Moment" - http://www.digitalpodcast.com/detail.php?id=3024

"Win Federal Contracts" - http://www.podfeed.net/category_item.asp?id=2515

©2005 Robert Moment

About the Author: Robert Moment is a business strategist and author of "It Only Takes a Moment to Score" found on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. Robert shows entrepreneurs how to turn ideas into wealth, how to avoid becoming a statistic - and have FUN! Download the FREE Special Report, "17 Ways to Turn Your Content into Money" at http://www.sellintegrity.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Podcasting 101: A Step-by-step Guide To Making And Promoting Your Own Podcast

By Sonia Winters

If there's one thing the Internet is fabulous for, it's giving virtually everyone the ability to be heard. Long gone are the days of controlled media messages sent out by the powerful few, information available only by way of the Tom Brokaw and Time Magazine. Thanks to the World Wide Web and an influx of user-friendly software, now even old Mr. Jones down the street can project his voice across oceans.

Podcasting is one of the newest, freshest ways for him to do that.

Think of it like an audio blog; a podcast is a recorded program similar to radio (sans commercials, of course) made available via mp3 files on websites or RSS feeds. But unlike radio, users can download these programs onto an iPod or any other mp3 device and listen at their own convenience. Also unlike radio, there are no FCC standards to regulate the content; a podcast can say anything about any topic at any time. It's revolutionary, really.

And by following a few fairly simple steps, anyone can make them.

1. Get a Niche.

Maybe you already know precisely what your podcast will cover: you want to host your own music countdown, promote your friend's newest invention or discuss the nitty-gritty political issues of your home state. That's great, get to it! But for those who aren't so sure, who know only that they want to give podcasting a shot, it's a good idea to check out what other hosts are up to. iPodder.org and Podcast.net are home to tons of podcasts on a variety of topics; download several shows on issues that interest you and see what's being done and how you might do it differently. Don't be afraid of creativity; try putting a new spin on an old issue or blowing the doors off a topic that's only rarely, if ever, covered. Listeners will continually come to your podcast if you offer something fresh and vivid.

2. Get a Plan.

Once you've discovered your niche, get down to details. Though the beauty of podcasting is the ability to buck the rules of traditional audio broadcasts, it sometimes helps to consider what made those rules so traditional in the first place; this will help you map your show much more effectively.

First, consider format: how long will the podcast be? Will you have guests or take phone calls? Will you play music of any sort? Think about how other shows similar to yours function, remember all the radio programs you've heard before. Keep in mind that while you can certainly forget all the rules, you want to keep your listeners listening; a you-only six-hour program about cheese might not be the easiest thing to digest.

Once you've figured out the format, divide and plan the show accordingly. If you're hosting a talk show, for instance, decide how many (and which) topics you'll cover and how long each topic will get. And don't forget to break it up; since podcasts have no commercials, you'll need a way to give listeners a breather between issues -- consider using some sort of music or audio clip. Also, make sure to prepare opening and closing remarks for the entire thing, maybe even give listeners a sneak peek at the next program; identifying yourself, as well as referring to future episodes, is a great way to remind listeners to come back for more.

3. Get Tech. You've got the idea in theory, now get it into practice.

You don't need to be a tech genius to record your podcast, but you definitely need some basic recording equipment and software. First and foremost, you'll need a microphone. While it's entirely possible to use your computer's built-in mic to record your voice, it's a much better idea to invest in an external mic; the sound will be that much cleaner and professional. Shure makes several microphones perfect for voice recording (try an SM57 or SM58), and you can find these at very affordable prices on eBay or any music shop that sells pre-owned instruments. And while you're scoping out microphones, grab a pair of headphones to track the sound; you'll want some unidirectional that covers your entire ear. Again, eBay and used music shops are the best way to go for these.

Now you just need the software. Mac owners tend to use GarageBand, as it comes with the newest operating systems, but PC users or those with no recording software already on their computer tend to use Audacity, a free audio recording/editing program that can be downloaded online (audacity.sourceforge.net); it's a fairly simple program, but tons of tutorials are available to walk you through its functions. Just remember to also download the free mp3 encoder as well; you'll need that to turn your podcast into the most easily consumable file type.

Once you've recorded your podcast and edited out any mistakes (and added music or audio samples), you'll need to minimize the file size (by either lowering the sample or bit rate), convert it to mp3 and upload it onto your website. Don't have a website? No worries! Our media (www.ourmedia.org) has recently begun providing users with completely free bandwidth and storage for podcasts and other sorts of media. It's a great way to get your podcast online while avoiding fees (if the podcast starts to gain a following, however, you'll definitely want to consider creating a website for it specifically).

4. Get Heard.

So you've got the first episode of your podcast recorded, edited, uploaded and ready to go. Now you just need some listeners -- but how do you find them? The most obvious and widely used way of attracting listeners to your podcast is by submitting it to podcast directories and search engines, of which there are hundreds (run a Google search to find them). And while directories and search engines are a definite means to getting your voice out there, it's sometimes worth looking into alternate methods of promotion if you really want to take your podcast to the next level. Get involved in online forums and blogs that are similar to your topic and trade links with like-minded people; there's a whole community of podcasters out there eager to check out your program. And if your podcast has a regional slant, try getting some publicity in local papers or magazines. Though it may seem difficult, it's often entirely possible to get mentioned in print media simply by asking. Create a press release and personal bio for your podcast and send it off to as many media sources as possible; you'll be surprised at what may transpire.

About the Author: Sonia Winters enjoys podcasting and writes for Andy Hagans Link Building ( http://www.andyhagans.com ), a link building service.

Source: www.isnare.com