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How Is Podcasting Used
Although podcasting is new, it is well
on its way to becoming a mainstream communication medium.
Podcasting, simply put, is audio files that are delivered
via RSS. Many people believe that podcasting is solely
for the distribution of music files, but really, nothing
could be further from the truth. This emerging method
of audio file distribution has opened an array of marketing
and communication opportunities to businesses. Currently,
most who are familiar with podcasting are technically
savvy, but it is clear that podcasting will be more
than a passing fad as many businesses are adopting podcasting
and employing it in unusual yet powerful ways. Podcasting
can be used for talk shows, tutorials, music demos,
educational training, stories, comedy clips, debates
or even foreign language tutorials.
While RSS has had the capacity to include
audio files for a few years, only recently have entrepreneurs
made the conceptual leap, taking advantage of the new
power held within this communication medium. In reality,
podcasters cover the gamut; some are professional broadcasters,
while others are obvious amateurs.
Podcasts are usually published with associated
meta information that includes descriptive data about
each specific audio file. This allows listeners to make
a determination of which audio items are of interest.
If listeners are using a news aggregator that supports
podcasting, they will automatically receive updates
in their feed reader or news aggregation software when
a new podcast exists for a feed that they have subscribed
to.
Why is podcasting so beneficial
to the subscriber?
Unlike traditional radio, with podcasting the subscriber
decides what content he/she receives. Podcasting is
extremely useful to the subscriber because the user
can easily receive information he/she would like, and
listen to it when they want. The material, once downloaded,
can be listened to and viewed on wireless handhelds,
allowing subscribers to utilize time on the road.
Topic-specific radio talk shows with
commentaries, interviews and debates can now be heard
at a time and place of the listener's choosing. Consider
the benefit of educational tutorials and foreign language
instruction; lessons could be listened to during a work
commute. Supplementary class lectures, step by step
tutorials or walking guides are all possible using podcasting.
An unlimited collection of books read aloud for elderly
or visually-impaired listeners only scratch the surface
of what is possible in the future of podcasting.
The fate of podcasting is in the hands
of the subscribers. The subscriber can easily delete
podcast feeds that do not satisfy their needs with the
single tap of a button. Ultimately, the subscriber maintains
control and determines what podcasts are deemed successful.
This intrinsically builds in a quality control level
and will ensure that the more innovative instructional
and interesting podcast feeds survive.
The technology is fresh and, like the
Internet, is opening doors to entrepreneurs. As podcasting
evolves, users will find more creative kinds of audio
content to deliver. The low barrier to entry has forced
this new medium to the forefront, as businesses and
individuals have really little to lose in adding podcasting
as a communication channel.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing and publishing RSS feeds
and NotePage, Inc. http://www.notepage.net
a wireless messaging software company.
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