Students Of Success

Among the many genres or types of podcasts there are some that are have moved beyond the entertainment or plain informational aspect of podcasting (which was very prevalent during its very early years). These new genres have a far more loftier aim – to inform AND help people. There is a whole new wave of podcasts that have adopted this goal and they run the gamut of topics from technology, science, economics, even home improvement. But by far, the podcast type that is seems to be experiencing a massive push in popularity among podcast fans are business podcasts.

Business podcasts are still in its infancy but when it comes to popularity it is considered as one of the most popular on the internet. There may be many reasons why business podcasts have achieved such a high level of popularity in such a short time. One very important reason is that most people (be it “casual” podcast listeners or more experienced businessmen) have a fascination on how to handle a business correctly. Most people have a belief that operating a business is a very hard task and they need all the help they can get in order to make their business run smoothly and successfully. And if they can get that information from business experts then all the better.

Another reason why business podcasts are quite popular is because of the need for self-improvement. There are people who think that since they will be investing some time listening to podcasts then it may as well be about something that will improve themselves personally or professionally.

Business podcasts are also entering the marketing mix of most companies and online businesses. Business owners and marketing professionals have realized that business podcasts are a great way to drum up attention for a business. A podcast about a business’ core market gives the impression that the business is a prime mover in the industry and a source of credible information. This will definitely increase the corporate equity of the business.

Some of the most popular business related podcasts on the internet right now include:

B-EYE-Network - Solution Spotlights – This podcast are all about one on one interviews conducted with some of the top software company executives in different sectors of the industry. The interviews usually revolve around the insights these executives give with regards to products, business and industry trends. The interviewees are considered as some of the most recognized experts and leaders in the industry.

Knowledge@Wharton – this podcast is actually the online research and business analysis journal of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. This program was launched in order to help bring out the knowledge and information that the school possesses to a wider audience.

Manager Tool – this is a very helpful weekly podcast that aims to give listeners the information, tips and advice in order for them to become more effective leaders and managers. Every week, a new tool or technique is discussed in depth so that listeners can be aided in achieving their management objectives.

Podcastblaster.com supplies podcasting software and provides information all about podcasting including video podcasting.

It has been said that in October of 2004 a Google search returned less than 6,000 results for the term “podcasting”. Today, a similar search yields more than 857,000 results. Like the blogging phenomenon, podcasting has come out of nowhere and attracted an enthusiastic following.

While some traditional radio talk shows have begun providing podcasts of their regularly-scheduled broadcasts, the bulk of the podcasts that have cropped up tend to be independent broadcasters who have a fascination with technology. As a result, some podcasts are a little rough around the edges. Nonetheless, it is clear that the technology provides a significant opportunity and potential. Even nay-sayers believe that podcasting is more than a passing fad.

Podcasting is RSS that is used to syndicate and distribute audio files. Podcasting contains an audio file in the RSS feed’s enclosure tag. An enclosure tag is used in RSS feeds to include certain types of files. The file contained in an enclosure tag can be: an image, a data file, a video file, or an audio file. Podcasting specifically refers to RSS feeds that contain audio files in their enclosure tag. The RSS version that currently supports enclosure tags is RSS version 2.0. All podcasts are currently created using this specification.

The benefit to podcasting is the fact that users can sync content with their media player and listen at a time and a place of their choosing: radio on demand. And while this technology is not limited to music, it seems to be the area that has received the most attention.

Podcasting is generally inexpensive to implement. Investment in a good quality microphone will ensure that the recording is audible. Depending on knowledge and experience, some podcasters invest in audio conversion, compression and audio editing software applications. Also, web space bandwith and software to create the feed for the podcast is needed. All in all, the initial expense is relatively small.

Publishing Podcasts
In three simple steps, independent broadcasters can have their voice heard:

1. Publishers create audio content, posting it on a website for listeners.

2. Create or edit an existing RSS feed including a link to the audio file in the “enclosure” field of an RSS 2.0 feed, uploading it to a website.

3. Tell the world that a podcast is available.

Listen to Podcasts:

In three simple steps web surfers can listen to podcasts:

1. Download a news aggregator or RSS reader that supports podcasting or sync a wireless device like an iPod with your computer.

2. Enter the URL of the podcast feed into the news aggregator or podcast management software.

3. As new items appear in the aggregator, review the podcast’s description and listen to those that are of interest.

As popularity increases it is likely many voices will be drowned out, but for now, an independent broadcaster with a microphone and unlimited bandwith can make a name, create an image and change the world.

Useful Tools for Podcasting:

Create podcast feed - http://www.feedforall.com

News aggregator supporting podcasts - http://www.feeddemon.com or http://www.primetimepodcast.com

See also Podcasting Tools - http://www.small-business-software.net/podcasting-tools.htm

About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company.

Medical casting or “Medcasting” is the commercial application of podcasting for medical related institutions. Medcasting is the distribution and publishing of audio and video feeds, that offer medical information delivered over the Internet, for on demand listening.

This is a new step in the evolution of on-demand medical information delivery, making it accessible, informative, useful and appealing. This mix presents the medical industry with a very unique opportunity to reach its community through this new medium. Those individuals, who are already seeking medical information actively, will use RSS subscription technology built into each podcast feed, to receive information immediately as it is updated by the medical institution. With one click of a button, a user can subscribe to a feed that may be interesting, and any related information that is ever updated to that feed will be automatically processed to their personal aggregator. An aggregator is able to subscribe to a feed, check for new content at user-determined intervals, and retrieve the content.

To take this process one step further, podcasting publishes each feed with the capability to be transferred to any portable audio or video device. So with the growth of the ipod and all the other portable media devices, you have the ability to grab Medcasts and place them on your portable player for listening or viewing. Most users attach their portable players to their computers daily or weekly, and once the player is attached they automatically receive the new medcast updates.

The flexibility of this medium is what will drive the growth of Medcasting tremendously over the next few years. Currently the most useful application for medical institutions worldwide is to compliment already existing medical information web pages. Most institutions have numerous web pages which deliver medical information in text format, by providing an audio or video link on that page it gives the user a different and potentially more effective format for receiving the information. This is also a great way to teach your existing users how to start utilizing medcasting services.

The popularity of portable on demand information will grow even greater as wireless internet services continue to flourish across the country. These portable devices will no longer have to be connected to the internet; they will receive information wirelessly as it is updated. In addition, as cell phones and portable devices continue to merge together, the market grows larger.

Additional formats that are being used consist of; medical talk shows, where various specialists within each institution will speak or answer questions on a certain topic. Medical lectures and seminars can be recorded and made available for the public or employees to download easily and on-demand. In addition, any information that may need to be delivered to employees can be recorded and made available on an in-house delivery network. For institutions that have thousands of employees, the distribution of company information is very important, and once again this offers each institution a method of on-demand delivery which is convenient to all. Medcasting can also be used as a direct line of communication, by recording video-casts of company messages from executives for company wide distribution.

There are numerous uses for medcasting currently, and over the next few years it will explode in popularity. It is beneficial to institutions as well as the consumer, and it will be seen as a great tool in any medical organizations’ operations.

Ryan Hoback is CEO of What I Want Podcasting.
They specialize in developing podcasts & nanocasts for a wide range of industries. Their development team guides each client through the process of creating podcasts that incorporate brand integration and deliver the target message through a positive visual & listening experience.

http://www.WhatIWantPodcasting.com

info@WhatIWantPodcasting.com

What is podcasting and why should you care?

I have been reading a lot about podcasting. I even attended a teleclass on the subject, Podcasting for Coaches given by Ramon Williamson. I learned so much about podcasting from that one class, that I decided to write an article about it for this week’s ezine. So here goes…

First of all, what is podcasting?

According to wikipedia, podcasting is “the practice of making audio files available online in such a way that allows software to automatically detect new files and download them.” In English that means that you put audio files on the Internet for people to save to their computer or ipod or mp3 player. The way I look at podcasting is that it is the audio equivalent of blogging.

So now you know what podcasting is. I know you are wondering, so why should I care about podcasting. Simple, podcasting is in its early stages now. It’s where blogging was 4 years ago. If you get in on podcasting now, you will be light years ahead of your competitors in your niche.

You don’t have to be a techie geek to know how to podcast either. If you can talk on the phone then you can record a podcast. Blogger.com has a service that allows you to call a number and record your post instead of typing it. You do have to be registered with them, but it’s free to register with them. Another way to get your podcast set up is to use audioblog.com There is a fee associated with this service, but you can record longer posts with this service. Blogger’s service only allows you to record a 5 minute post. Audioblog’s service allows you to record a 60 minute post. Of course you could always do some digging and find sophisticated equipment, but that is beyond the scope of this article.

Here’s what you need to do next. Go to blogger and sign up for an account. Once you have your blog set up, go to audioblogger.com and follow the directions they give you. The site is very user-friendly. Do it Now.

Copyright 2005 by DeAnna Spencer

This article may be freely reproduced as long as the resource box at the bottom of the article is included.

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If you’ve been online recently, I’m sure you’ve heard about
podcasting. You might be wondering “What’s in it for me?”
Or perhaps “Why should I care about that?” There are many
valid reasons for you to get informed about this hot new
technology.

Think of a podcast as a way to deliver audio content to a
very large worldwide audience. The easiest analogy is to
think of this technology as giving you the power to create
your own online radio program.

First, the name is a little misleading. It comes from ‘iPod’
and “broadcasting”. It doesn’t mean you need an iPod to get
involved. You can listen right on your computer.

Podcasting is made possible by RSS (a type of XML computer
code). But have no fear! You don’t need to know programming
at all. RSS is simply a delivery system that allows people
to subscribe and stay up to date any time you add a new
podcast show.

Having an iPod or similar digital MP3 Audio player is not
required. You can download audio files to your device and
take the audio shows with you. Or you can simply stream the
audio and listen to the podcast show on your computer.

There is a lot of free podcast audio for you to listen to
online. Do a search for “podcast” or “MP3″ and you’ll see
what I mean.

What’s out there? Music, interviews, seminars, educational
shows, technology shows, news, sports…the list of topics
is amazing. Some people say that podcasting it’s going to
replace radio and TV.

Not True. However, podcasting is changing the face of online
audio and traditional radio. Podcasters already number in
the thousands. The number of businesses and individuals
making podcasts is growing at a rapid pace.

So where can you find these podcasts? Check out any of these
sites:

http://www.podblaze.com
http://www.podcastalley.com
http://www.podcastbunker.com

Or search for more of these directories with Google, Yahoo,
and other search engines and directories.

What about making your own podcast for your own business or
website? That’s not exactly rocket science. Get some sound
recording software (Audacity or WavePad, for example) and a
microphone. Then record some MP3 files yourself.

All that’s left is to get them up on the web somewhere and
have them formatted into RSS. Some blogging software and
services allow you to attach audio to a blog post. There’s
even free programs you can use.

For example, you could open a Producer account at:

http://www.podblaze.com

You can start with the free account, which lets you store up
to 40MB of MP3 files on their server. It’s enough for about
four half-hour shows.

That’s an easy and risk-free way to try out podcasting. They
also have paid accounts for people who want to do more than
experiment with this new media.

Now why would you want to podcast? I can think of many good
reasons. Here’s a few: Put some recordings of your band up
and maybe you’ll get a recording contract. Sweet!

If you did a teleseminar, make it available to the world.
Position yourself as an expert and people will take you more
seriously.

Maybe you know about news items that the local and national
media won’t pick up. Podcasting gives your story a chance to
be heard. Maybe you just want to share something personal
with the world.

Whatever your reason for wanting to put your music or voice
on the web, podcasting is an easy and inexpensive way to do
it. So pick up that microphone and record your thoughts. I’m
waiting to hear it.

Steve Humphrey is an author, programmer & Certified Guerilla
Marketer. His new web site makes podcasting technology easy
enough for anyone to use.

Find, create & listen to podcasts:
http://www.podblaze.com