Podcasting For Small Business
Podcasts are referred to as digital audio media files or
associated compilations of digital audio or video data. Such
compilations are stored and distributed over the Internet by
use of Syndication Feeds. These feeds are intended to
promote easy playback on portable media devices and personal
computers.
Podcasters are the hosts or authors of podcasts. The word
podcast is a portmanteau – a fusion of the words iPod and
broadcast. iPod is the brand of a portable media player that
was first introduced into the market by Apple. From this
device, the first known Podcasting scripts were developed -
thus the birth of Podcasting.
Podcasting scripts are a series of commands that allows
podcasts to be automatically transmitted to a mobile device.
Even when websites of podcasters offer direct download or
content streams, a podcast is made different from other
digital media formats such as MP3. This is done by its
ability to accommodate subscriptions, syndicated, and
downloaded automatically when new content is added by using
new technologies such as RSS or Atom. RSS and Atom are
aggregators or feed readers that are capable of reading feed
formats.
Podcasting was initially developed with the purpose of
allowing individuals to create and setup their media devices
using their own radio-style shows. Subsequently, it allows
them to offer maximum enjoyment of their media devices. The
new system and concept spread quickly and was used in a lot
of other ways such as distribution of school notes and
lessons, audio clips of museum tours, conference meeting
minutes or updates, and even public safety messages
distributed by the police.
Podcasting has also made its way into the business and
marketing community. Other businesses have seen Podcasting
as a new cutting-edge tool that can help them reach out to a
wide range of potential clients and customers. Podcasting is
different from other media technologies because customers
and clients can subscribe to programs by automatically
downloading new podcasts as soon as the podcasts are
available. Recently, a report stated that around 6 out of 22
million adults owning an iPod or other MP3 players in the US
alone have downloaded podcasts. This is a remarkable feat
because Podcasting is still a relatively very new
technology.
For new businesses that would like to try their hand at
using the techniques and benefits of Podcasting for their
businesses, they must put in mind to always offer customers
their choice and convenience. Podcasts are not only music
since it can be just about anything that is interesting and
promotes user satisfaction. It can be a lecture, a talk
show, a recorded seminar, a sermon, and audio tour
recordings among others.
There are several ways Podcasting can be applied to the
business depending on the industry populated by the business
establishment. Medical groups can use Podcasting to deliver
topics about the latest medical breakthroughs such as bar
iatric surgery and alternative medicine or medical
information on diseases such as diabetes and glaucoma among
others.
Religious groups and organizations may use podcasts to share
out weekly and daily sermons or eulogize their beliefs and
offerings. Academic institutions such as preschools,
colleges, and universities can offer parenting tips, audio
lectures, student calendars, orientations, and campus tours
just by using the Podcasting technology. Even museums and
historical sites can offer podcasts to show private guided
tours for their facilities.
Podcasting can definitely do a lot for business. The
publication or the plan to publish any type of audio digital
media data for customers such as audio newsletters,
interviews, lectures, teleconference calls and etc, will
definitely make things simpler for both the business and the
customers. Once the customers subscribe to the podcast, they
won’t have to be emailed so as to receive updates each time
new information is added to the podcasts. The updated
podcast is automatically sent to the desktops or devices
with no worries. This means that as soon as the podcasts are
downloaded, the users may view or create a copy of the files
since the podcasts are compatible with almost all media
devices. These media files can be played directly from the
computer, transferred to MP3 players, or burnt to a CD/DVD.
A lot of large businesses such as IBM, General Motors and
PepsiCo are trying and experimenting with delivering
information to their clients and customers by using the
podcast technology. It is due to podcasting’s easy and low
production cost that it is now being embraced by a lot of
businesses in the online community.
|
