Learn Internet Marketing > Weekly Tips > SSWT 1/15/08

What Is Podcasting?

What it is, and why people are doing it...

Have you considered Podcasting as a way to boost your online business and drive traffic to your websites? I have. But I didnt really know that much about it. One of my goals for 2008 was to learn more about it and see if it's something I should start doing this year.

My first question, and you may be wondering this too, was how podcasting is different from any other type of audio you might put together. For example, whats the difference in creating an MP3 file and creating a Podcast?

I got my answer from Wikipedia (which is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to learn new things). According to the Wikipedia page about Podcasting:

"A podcast is distinguished from other digital media formats by its ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added, using an aggregator or feed reader capable of reading feed formats such as RSS or Atom." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting

So basically, a Podcast is to an MP3 File what
a Blog is to a traditional website...

(Yay, Lynn's light bulb finally goes off, right? :)

I know firsthand what blogging has done for my online business in the last year or so, and so I am getting very excited about the idea of podcasting!

Interestingly, I ran a few polls during this morning's Webinar and found that very few of those participants have started their own podcast. I first asked how many had their own website. The majority said that they did. I then asked how many had their own blog. The majority said that they did. And finally I asked how many of them were podcasting... and the majority said that they were not.

So I didnt feel so bad about having no clue about it myself LOL. I figured we could just learn this together - and I'll share any tips and resources with you as I figure them out myself.

My first step is to read a brand new guide by Alan Peterson. This guide, which is titled "Niche Podcasting" is not publicly available (yet) but will be released later this month for $47. I have a copy, and I will be posting a full review on my site once I complete it, but I also have a cool offer for you from Alan himself...

Alan has agreed to let my readers (that includes you) download a copy of Niche Podcasting for less than half price (only $22):

http://www.nichepodcasting.com/lynn_terry/

Keep in mind that Niche Podcasting is not available anywhere else online (not even as a WSO) and this exclusive special offer will only last a couple of days.

So whether you want to explore podcasting yourself, or you want to review this guide so that you can promote it as an affiliate, you have the unique opportunity to get in early ;)

I'll leave you with 7 reasons you should consider starting your own Podcast in your niche:

1. It's easy and inexpensive - so why not!
2. To brand yourself as an expert in your niche.
3. To gain even more exposure online.
4. To reach your target market through a new medium.
5. To funnel those listeners to your blog or website.
6. To add a personal and personable connection which equals loyalty and higher conversions.
7. Because it's fun!

Basically if you want to broaden your reach online and engage your target market in what you're doing or what you offer, you should put some serious consideration into Podcasting this year!

I am :-)

Best,

p.s. Be sure to take advantage of Alan's generous offer to grab a copy of Niche Podcasting before its even publicly available, and at less than half price. To get the details and see the video, go to: http://www.nichepodcasting.com/lynn_terry/