10/20/2008: "Here's a Quick and Fun Way To Beef Up Your Marketing."

The Internet offers an unlimited number of ways for a marketer to make money and to build brand. It offers you the opportunity to become an expert in the eyes of others. Are you taking advantage of those opportunities?

In future posts, I'll attempt to discuss one or two of these methods. But for now, I want to briefly discuss podcasting.

Podcasting is a program (as of music or talk) made available in digital format for automatic download over the Internet. It is an audio experience. It allows the listener to get new and valuable information or entertainment, anytime, anywhere. He can get it on his Ipod or other MP3 player while he's jogging, walking or whatever. Or, she can listen to the shows she likes on her computer.

According to Steve Jobs of Apple Computer, "Podcasting is the next generation of radio."

What's in it for the marketer? A great opportunity to show off your expertise and give the listeners valuable information. At the same time, you're building your brand, getting people to know you and look forward to your next show.

Moreover, you can get sponsors to pay for advertising on your show. As it becomes more popular, you can charge more money. By the way, you the marketer, can sponsor a popular show and get lots of new business too!

There are a number of resources that will help you learn how to podcast. You certainly want to get off on the right foot. If you'd like to start with an excellent ebook on how to start a podcast and be successful at it, check out this site. You'll also want to check out the software you'll need. Fortunately, much if not all of it, is free. Of course, you'll want to invest in a good microphone, perhaps a headset and be sure to have a good sound card. But, I'll leave all that technical stuff to people much more knowledgeable than me. The above book will be of great value to you in this area, among other things. I highly recommend it to you.

I will, however, share some other links with you. These are software products that are free and make getting started a snap.

To start, you'll need a podcatcher. That's simply software to listen to podcasts on. You may already have one. But it's good to listen to all kinds of shows, especially the popular ones. You need something successful to model. Itunes is perhaps the most popular one.

For recording and mixing, download Podproducer. The amount of mixing you do, if any, depends on the type of show you'll have. If you use music or several mp3's, you'll need to do at least a minimum of mixing.

You'll definitely need a program to allow you to easily create, edit and publish RSS feeds. RSS is the standard for content distribution and syndication. This program will create the feeds to keep visitors informed. It also validates your feed.

You can download the program I use and recommend here. You'll get a free download and a trial.

You'll need a good host and, preferably, you'll want one that makes podcasting easy for you, one that has all the tools you need. Quick Podcast from GoDaddy.com is the one I recommend. Check them out.

There are many ways to market your product or service. You're not limited to the ones that come to mind when you think of advertising or marketing. I write podcasts for numerous Fortune 500 clients and they find it an excellent way to keep their brand strong and to get new customers.

You will too.

----------------------------------

Put video on your Web site quickly and easily.

------------------------------------