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Podcasting is simply a new way to distribute audio and video files to listeners.

Ipod + Broadcasting = Podcasting

The “pod” in podcasting refers to Apple’s iPod digital music player, but an Ipod is not needed to listen to podcasts. A podcast can be listened to on any device capable of downloading and playing media files.

The most common devices used include ipod’s, other MP3 Players, PDA’s, Cell Phones, and PSP’s. Podcasts can also be listen to directly from your computer or streaming off the internet.

Podcasting is not just downloading media files off the web.

There’s more to it. Much more.

Listeners subscribe to a podcast show. Then special software periodically checks to see if any new podcasts are available. If a new show has been created, the software automatically downloads the audio file to the subscribers PC or directly to a portable media player such as an Apple iPod.

In this sense, podcasting is like “Tivo” for internet audio and video. In fact, Tivo now supports Podcasting.

Podcasting is quickly becoming a major media force. With stations like ESPN and Disney now publishing podcasts on a regular basis, it won’t be long before it’s mainstream to the public.
So who started this monster?

Podcasting has evolved to what it is today because of a number of different technologies coming together.

Portable media players, MP3’s, RSS 2.0, podcatcher software and the popularity of high speed internet all play a big part in making podcasting possible.

Podcasting as we know it today can be traced back to two podfathers.

Adam Curry and software developer Dave Winer are credited with developing Podcasting as it’s heard on MP3 players around the world today.

Adam Curry developed a program called ipodder that allowed him to automatically download internet radio broadcasts directly on his portable MP3 Player.

Dave Winer heavily promoted RSS (Really Simple Syndication), mainly used by bloggers and news-like sites to syndicate their content to RSS-aware programs called news aggregators. Curry and Winer then developed a way to send media files through RSS feeds.

So how can you begin podcasting?

It’s easy. In the most basic form you have 3 steps.

1.Record your audio and convert it to an MP3

2.Create a simple text file called an RSS 2.0 feed that describes your file

3.Upload your MP3 and RSS 2.0 text file to the web.

Head over to http://www.podcastalley.com and check out some podcasts and see what others are currently doing in the world of podcasting.

If you think you might have a show in mind don’t hesitate to get started. Podcasting is still in it’s early stages. You can quickly have a worldwide audience for your show.

Keith DeSantis publishes cutting edge newsletter educating business owners on how to use audio and video for the web. He has also developed a comprehensive online course on “Profitable Internet Video Production” http://www.onlinebusinesszone.com

Copywrite 2006 “Online Business Zone”

Can you believe the ultra small new thin Apple iPods? These are very cool personal technology gadgets indeed. Now these tiny thin devices have complete Video Capabilities. Steve Jobs the CEO of Apple announced the creation of a newest additions and improvements to the iPod with a 2.5-inch full color flattest panel display and video-playback capabilities. Are you impressed? Well, you are not alone as the official iPod website has gotten 30 million hits and almost tied the one day hits with Hurricane Katrina.

Ah, but it gets even better as the iPod hosts a 320 X 240 pixel resolution and has bettered all personal tech devices its size. Now even the US Military is hot for iPod video-casting for the troops, yet this off the shelf technology will cost only $299 for a 30 GB or $399 for 60 GB version and well we know that the Military cannot even buy a hammer or toilet seat for that?

Well do you want one yet? I bet you do, but more importantly investors in Apple Stock are betting on it, along with the company. They are talking about selling songs for $ .99 and movies, full length for $1.99 download. One thing for certain is that “Vidcasting” is the next new thing. Think on this

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Although podcasting is trendy, it’s vital to remember that when you use a podcast for Internet marketing, your podcast is really just another delivery mechanism - a way to get your marketing message across.

Because it is a new delivery mechanism, there’s a chance you’ll get so wrapped in the technology that you’ll forget the basics, the AIDA formula. You need to give people something that they want to listen to, and you can’t go wrong with the AIDA formula. AIDA is used in copywriting, and is an acronym: AIDA means Attract/ Attention, Interest, Desire, Action.

You need to get people’s attention, arouse their interest in your product, get them to want it, and finally take action to buy it.

Using AIDA In Your Podcasts

You can use the AIDA formula to market your products via podcasts in several ways.

Firstly, you can use the podcast to attract people to a Web site where you’re selling products related to the podcast theme. The podcast is the attention-getter. You can have ads on your site selling your products, and include mention of them in the podcast too.

Next, include valuable information or entertainment in your podcasts to make sure that people subscribe. When they subscribe, you can market to them over and over again. This is the Interest factor.

You arouse Desire by mentioning your products and their benefits in your podcasts.

Finally, you need a call to Action, to ensure that people take action. “Buy before midnight on Thursday, and receive _________”

Making Your First Podcast

Making a podcast (it’s really just making an MP3 file) couldn’t be simpler. Here are the steps:

1. Plug a microphone into your computer;

2. Record your podcast using a program like Audacity at http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ (it’s free);

3. Create an RSS feed - more information on that here http://www.ipodder.org/whatIsPodcasting (don’t let the technical jargon make you nervous, the RSS Feed is just a reference enclosure that lets listeners know when you’ve put a new podcast online);

4. Upload the podcast to your Web site, and then upload the podcast’s RSS Feed to a destination like Podcast Alley at http://www.podcastalley.com/ so that you can start getting a mass of happy subscribers.

Get Interviewed On a Podcast

If you don’t want to make your own podcasts, offer yourself as an interviewee on other people’s podcasts. This saves you the trouble of recording your own material and putting it online, and you can promote your products on someone else’s show as easily as you can on your own.

When you create your own podcasts, you’ll want to ask people to join you for an interview too. You can even ask people to send you MP3 files of questions or tips, that you can include in your podcast.

So there you have it: podcasting, another tool to add to your Internet marketing toolbox. If the idea appeals, give podcasting a try.

Copyright 2005 Michael Murray

Michael Murray is a 22-year old full-time Internet marketer and college student with Cerebral Palsy who lives in sunny Orlando Florida. Need MORE TRAFFIC to your website or affiliate links? “Turn Words Into Traffic” reveals the secrets for driving thousands of NEW visitors to your website or affiliate links… without spending a dime on advertising:
http://www.marketlikeapro.com/words.html

Podcasts are literally ways the ordinary average person can have their own broadcast media. What makes Podcasts different from other types of audio content is the users must use RSS protocol. However, it also allows you to produce and create your own self-published radio-type shows.

Several radio stations use Podcasts either as their entire format or as part of their format. These stations include KYOU Radio in San Francisco, 99.5 The Mountain in Denver, and KFI in Los Angeles. Of course, the Internet provides listings for where Podcasts can be found as well. At www.Podcasts.net, you’ll find a list that is based on any topic you’re interested in. This includes entertainment, politics, arts, science and nature, business, lifestyle and shopping, with many of the categories broken down into more specific categories.

If you don’t have an iPod, you may wonder why you would even want to find Podcasts. The term Podcasts doesn’t mean a person has to use an Apple iPod. Podcast, though, is a term merged from the words iPod and broadcast. Any digital audio player or computer with the proper software can be used to listen to or create Podcasts. But, users must have “Podcatching” software, also known as “aggregator” software, to be able to listen to Podcasts.

Those wanting to either listen to or make their own Podcasts will need something called iPodderx. This is nothing more than a newsreader that can interpret RSS 2.0 feeds. While the iPodderx allows for listening to Podcasts, it is also needed to help with the broadcast side as well. Other Podcasting products available, as shown on www.alesis.com, include the 10/2 2-channel portable audio interface. This is a 24-bit /96k USB product. The Photon X49 is a keyboard controller, as is the Fusion 6HD and 8HD. The MultiMix Mixers are used to mix sounds for the Podcasts. M1 Active 520 and 620 nearfield reference monitors are also available. However, be ready to spend some serious cash if you’re planning on doing any major Podcasts.

Podcasts can be broadcasted world wide, adding an even broader base to the places you can find Podcasts. A couple of the global Podcast sites, according to www.wickmedia.com, are CBC Radio One out of Canada, Triple J Podcast from Australia. Podcast sites in the US can be found at www.podarama.com-dj. To find more podcasting sites, just log on to the Internet and visit locations such as http://www.apodcasting.com/dir/HowToFindPodcastingSites to do a thorough search.

There are no rules or regulations to individual Podcasts and their content, until some specific situations apply. That includes Podcasts that are broadcast over regular radio waves on radio stations across the nation. Those Podcasts are regulated by Federal Communication Commission laws because they are geared toward the masses at large. That means that, for an individual who wants to become a Podcaster, the sky’s the limit.

Copyright 2005 by D. L. Randolph. All rights reserved.

Looking for information about podcasting? Go to http://www.apodcasting.com. About Podcasting is a Podcast Information Directory and Resource Site which provides a consolidated listing of the best Podcasting sites in one easy to navigate location.

The original audio Podcasting concept was developed by Adam Curry. It was created as a alternative content distribution method that allows people to produce and distribute audio programming. Video is a recently added feature.

Video Podcasting is the combination of video files made available for download, a specialized xml file and software capable of reading the xml file. The xml file is known as Real Simple Syndication.

Each video Podcast publisher creates a unique Real Simple Syndication ( which is more commonly known as RSS ) file. The purpose of the RSS file is to describe the video, distinguish it from other publisher’s material, presenting the most current content available and allowing people to subscribe to individual Podcast “stations”.

Anyone with a Internet connection and access to a web host that allows media file and xml file hosting, is capable of distributing their own video content with Podcasting.

Peer to Peer data transfer can be used to distribute the video Podcast media files and minimize bandwidth requirements. Bittorrent and Dijjer are both open source software applications that can be used for Peer to Peer Podcast distribution.

Creating a video Podcast is very easy. Video can be recorded using free or low cost software. Web cams or digital cameras can be used to capture video imaging. The “raw” video can then be edited using open source or free software. The completed video can then be encoded using open source video codecs, such as VP3, Theora or Dirac, to compress the video and optimize it for Internet distribution. Free software can also be used to create the RSS files.

Video Podcasting does not require special server distribution software such as Internet broadcasting does. There are no technical restrictions on the types of video encoding formats available for video Podcasting.

Dave Childers is a freelance Internet broadcast consultant, writer and webmaster of http://www.scvi.net, The Winamp TV, NullSoft Video information website.

Imagine this: you’re in your room facing your computer. Over the microphone you say, “Good day, listeners. Today’s podcast is on… ” And as you continue to say your piece, the recording continues. This record is what people in your neighborhood, in your city, across the country, and even in other parts of the globe can hear as they tune in from their computers or digital audio players.

What are you doing? You are podcasting! As science turns imaginations into realities, you can become a DJ or to be specific, a podcaster, and have your own radio show, and be heard. Anywhere. Anytime. Anyhow you want it. You think this is cool? This is sub-zero cool!

Just as we’re getting accustomed to terminologies like e-mail, voice-chat, blogs, and so on, we now have PODCASTING. New Oxford Dictionary defines podcasting as “the digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the internet for downloading to a personal audio player”. But really, what is it?

Podcasting is a conjuncture of the words “iPod”, the most popular audio digital player created by Apple Computers, and “broadcast”, which means to put on air; hence, the association of podcasting to iPod or Apple computers. However, any brand of digital audio player is okay and any computer with a built-in or add-on microphone and soundcard will do.

The recording is uploaded into a website and becomes a web feed, aptly termed a podcast. Podcasts can be any music, advertisement, or information in audio or video format that is downloadable. They range from talk radio, comedy shows, news, political views, evangelization messages, language tutorials, business reports, and so on. Any subscriber can podcatch - meaning, download - and listen to podcasts.

But you say you’re not even trained or experienced to be a podcaster? There is no need at all. The charm of podcasting is that you can be your natural YOU!

So gear up! Catch the finest podcasting software offer in the market. Get the Podcast Blaster Package and unlock a whole new
world of podcasting made easy and more!

In its exclusive offer, the Podcast Blaster Package is bundled with Podcast Manual, Podcast Software, Podcast Safe Music and
Podcast Sound Files. The Podcast Manual will teach you how to record your podcast step-by-step, guide you on what equipment
you need or add if you want to expand, and direct you on how to get the audience you want. The Podcast Software is the recording application — intuitive, easy to navigate, and Macintosh or Windows-compatible. It comes with built-in special effects, user-friendly editing features, and proper export modules that will transform recording into podcast, no sweat! Finally, the Podcast Safe Music has over 100 sound files, or over 40MB, such as professionally produced voice-overs, loops, background effects, stingers and Podcast-safe music. The package also includes a guide to the best websites with free music downloads. If you get stuck with a technical problem, turn to the Podcast Blaster Team who will also assist your sales, refund, and other requests or inquiries. Podcast
Blaster is confident you will be satisfied with the package that it offers 100% money-back guarantee! Plus, you get a special bonus software!

Try podcasting and be among those who will dramatically transform the ever-changing landscape of this digital world.

Philip Nicosia is the webmaster of Podcastblaster.com, suppliers of the exclusive
Podcast Blaster Package.

Fitnesscasting is the commercial application of podcasting for the personal fitness industry. Fitnesscasting is the distribution and publishing of audio and video feeds, that offer personal health and fitness training and information delivered over the Internet, for on demand listening.

This is a new step in the evolution of on-demand health and fitness information delivery, making it accessible, informative, useful and appealing. This mix presents the health and fitness industry with a very unique opportunity to reach its audience through this new medium. Those individuals, who are already seeking health and fitness information actively, will use RSS subscription technology built into each podcast feed, to receive information immediately as it is updated by each organization. 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 fitnesscasts 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 Fitnesscast updates.

The flexibility of this medium is what will drive the growth of Fitnesscasting tremendously over the next few years. There are numerous formats that can be used in developing a fitnesscast. Audio and video workouts give the power to the listener or viewer to receive on-demand health and fitness training. In addition, podcasts are being placed on portable video devices to offer exclusive training workouts for those clients who may travel a lot, or want to workout in the comfort of their home or on their own schedule.

The best thing about fitnesscasting is that the opportunities are endless. Here are some examples of how podcasting will benefit the fitness industry. Most Americans have heard of 6 minute abs or the home jazzercise videos, in fact, these have sold extremely well in our society. With as busy as people are in today’s society, some individuals do not have the opportunity to make it to a gym as much as they would like. However, these same individuals are not looking to give up their workout routine, they just need it custom fitted to their likings. With fitnesscasting, you have the ability to utilize this medium on-demand at the convenience. In addition, with audio and video ipods you can take these fitnesscasts with you when traveling.

Another example of its use could be in large scale gyms. All gyms have trainers who help their patrons’ workout and develop their bodies, yet, sometimes there are either not enough trainers or time schedules do not match up. With fitnesscasting, you have an audio or video of a trainer giving you instruction, at the touch of your fingers and on your time schedule.

The options are wide open for the development of fitness programs that are cutting edge, and highly opportunistic in terms of converting listeners and users into consumers and revenues.

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.

For organizations that have members worldwide, 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.

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

Ryan Hoback Chairman, and co-founder of What I Want Podcasting. A business podcasting firm specializing in developing the commercial application of podcasting, by integrating corporate branding and using nanocasting models.

He can be reached at 305-670-0998, or Rhoback@MotivatedEntrepreneur.com, Rhoback@WhatIWantPodcasting.com

Ryan Hoback is Founder of the Motivated Entrepreneur, a Business Incubation & Consulting firm, specializing in helping entrepreneurs achieve success starting and growing their business.

What can happen if you don’t play podsafe music on your podcast? That’s one riddle facing podcasters who want to play music: the cost of licensing.

Or, short of that, the fear that if you DON’T have proper licensing in place you’ll get snared by the RIAA or the Music Police or some such Big Brother entity and you’ll spend the rest of your life in jail or paying huge fines.

Hmm. Not fun! So I was elated when GarageBand.com came along offering thousands of podsafe songs for free!

In fact, the fun folks at GarageBand.com market themselves as a place for podsafe music - some 40,000 tunes.

If you are a member of a band, you can join GarageBand.com and upload your own songs. There are a couple of ways: either review 30 songs and upload for free, or pay a reasonable fee of about $20 to upload songs, which will then get reviewed by other GarageBand.com members.

As a podcaster, though, this is where the concept really works. You can pick a genre (acoustic, alternative, rock, world, etc.) and download to your heart’s content. Each band that uploads music under one of three arrangements: either they give it away to anyone for podcasting under any circumstance, or they offer it available once you contact them and ask for permission, or they offer it as streaming audio only. Whatever way, you get podsafe music for your podcast - and lots of it.

And of course the band gets free publicity, and GarageBand.com also gets a boost because you’ll undoubtedly want to mention them on your podcast.

I won’t go into all the great benefits that musicians and working bands get out of GarageBand.com, but if you are in a band and haven’t heard of this website, you’ll want to check it our post-haste.

I’ve been looking to spice up my show with some music for awhile, and other than playing my OWN music, this looks to be a great source of podsafe music.

The chairman of GarageBand.com’s Advisory Board is Sir George Martin, the man who signed The Beatles and produced all of their records (except for the Phil-Spector produced ‘Let It Be’). Jerry Harrison, ex-Talking Head and professional producer, is a co-founders.

Take a listen to GarageBand.com and no doubt you’ll find some great ‘podsafe’ music for your podcast.

Tim ‘Gonzo’ Gordon shows you how to create professional, high-quality audio on your home computer. With 25+ years of radio production, writing and voice talent, Tim can show you how to set up a small pro studio and create audio for fun and profit. Subscribe to his free newsletter Digital Audio Bits at Digital Audio World. Learn how to podcast with Podcasting Adventures Online.

Have you been searching for the best podcasts to listen to? Well here’s a list of the 22 most popular podcast directories for your listening pleasure.

You can find the links to these podcast directories by doing a search for them on your favorite search engine.

1. Podcast Alley - podcasts by topic, name or ranking
2. Audio.Weblogs.com - last 100 podcasts made/updated
3. Podcast.net - podcast directory (organized like Yahoo.com)
4. Odeo - a place to find new podcasts or create your own
5. iPodder.org Podcast Directory - categorized directory of podcasts
6. Podcast Central - Podcast RSS feeds
7. Potkast - Podcast search engine
8. The New, New Podcast Review - reviews of podcasts
9. DownloadRadio.org - peer to peer (P2P) network of podcasts
10. PodcastDirectory.com - international podcasts
11. New Time Radio - Podcasts and radio shows
12. Podcast SA - Podcasting in South Africa
13. Loomia - podcast/videocast search engine
14. Podcasting Station - podcast directory arranged like Yahoo.com
15. Podsafe Music Network - Music podcasts
16. Podcast Shuffle - a podcast shuffle & directory
17. My Podcast Center - directory of podcasts and podcasting web sites
18. Podscope - podcast search engine
19. Yahoo! Podcasts - find & subscribe to podcasts
20. Teen Podcaster’s Network - Podcasts created by teenagers
21. Podfeed.net - find or share your own podcasts
22. Women in Podcasting: The List - list of podcasts hosted/cohosted by women

As you can see there are quite a few podcasting directories and we haven’t even scratched the surface. The next time you’re looking for a podcast try one of the above mentioned podcasting directories.

Reed Floren is the author of How to Podcast for Fun and Profit the book that teaches you how to profit from your own podcasts and creator of Podcast Teleprompter Software the software that makes you sound like a professional news anchor every time you do a podcast.

What I Want Podcasting Introduces Travel Podcasting Services to the Tourism Industry

What I want Podcasting develops customized approaches towards turning company messages into professional podcast productions. Travelcasting is the commercial application of podcasting for the travel industry. Travelcasting is the distribution and publishing of audio and video feeds, that offer travel information delivered over the Internet, for on demand listening.

This is a new step in the evolution of on-demand travel information delivery, making it accessible, informative, useful and appealing. This mix presents the travel industry with a very unique opportunity to reach its audience through this new medium.

The best sales associates for most resorts are travel agents and agencies. Travel agents and agencies rely on each resort to constantly update them with new deals and promotions, as well as supply them with the tools they need to promote the resorts, in order to keep clients satisfied. With podcasting and its subscription based technology, you can put out audio or video updates of information that you would like the travel agencies to use, and they will receive them as soon as it is posted on your server.

“Every destination has a use for travelcasting; it allows resorts and hotels to give a sneak peek into the wonderful luxuries and amenities it has to offer its guests.” Ryan Hoback says, Chairman of What I Want Podcasting.

“It also serves as a great on-site tour guide for large resorts and casinos. You could give audio and video self-guided tours of your entire property with this service.” Hoback adds.

Most resorts have web pages which deliver travel information in text format. By providing an audio or video link on that page it enhances the experience, and leads to overall better online marketing. These audio and video feeds be placed on web pages where “one-click” lets you listen or view a travelcast, or it can be sent to portable devices as well.

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.

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

About What I Want Podcasting

What I Want Podcasting is a full service podcast development firm that specializes in developing podcasts that implement brand integration. For more information please visit http://www.WhatIWantPodcasting.com

Contact: Ryan M. Hoback
What I want Podcasting, LLC

c/o Motivated Entrepreneur, LLC
305-670-0998
rhoback@whatiwantpodcasting.com