What is podcasting?
It’s simply a digital recording available for download on the internet.
Who can benefit from a podcast?
Just about anyone who has a website or online business can benefit. The podcast can be an extension of your website and you can record information each week about your topic and even add expert interviews.
A podcast is a nice addition to your online business which can be quite interactive if you invite listeners to contribute and leave their comments. A podcast can also be a mode of fresh, updated content – which the search engines love – for your website.
You can do this by having the audio podcasts transcribed and adding the text to the pages of your website. It’s a great way or repurposing your content.
What equipment do I need to get started?
Getting started with a podcast is fairly straightforward. You need a microphone which you can find on Amazon.com or at your local computer store. You also need some sort of digital recording equipment. This is as easy as using a service like Audacity or Audio Acrobat.
This equipment is easy to use and allows you to record your podcast. To interview guests for your podcasts, the easiest service to use is Skype.com. It’s free to use and allows you to record interviews with one or more people.
To edit your podcast, you can use the tools on your digital recording software. It’s not very difficult to do and you can remove certain parts of the podcast or play around with it a little until you’re happy with the end result.
How long should a podcast be?
There isn’t really an industry average but the length will depend on whether you’re interviewing someone, have a group of hosts or are simply doing a simple one-person style podcast where you do all the talking.
The length should also be dependant on your topic or market. If you’re offering a how-to podcast it needs to be as long as it needs to be for you to show people how to do something.
Use your common sense as to how long it will be, but do realize that people’s attention span online is quite brief. It’s not easy for most to sit through a long podcast unless they are extremely interested in the topic. Keep things interesting and lively, and be succinct.
How do I find people to interview?
Once you start your podcast you’ll be surprised at how many people are open to interviews. When you interview someone they’re gaining publicity for their business too – so it’s a win/win situation for all involved.
To find people, include a section on your website which lets people know that you’re looking for experts to interview. Or simply contact people you’d like to interview directly. As the saying goes – you never know until you ask.
Podcasting is a great addition to any website. It can be a means of attracting a following of loyal visitors who can then become potential customers/clients. You can also use it as a mode of additional content for your website, which will benefit your search engine status.
