Podcasting is an easy way to get your message out.
background with binary data image by Pedro Nogueira from Fotolia.com
Podcasting takes your blog or website to another level, making it a multimedia experience. In years past, it took training in broadcasting and many years of hard work and paying your dues to get your own talk show. Now all it requires are the proper podcasting tools to sound and broadcast like a professional.
Recording and Editing
Propaganda is a podcast creation and editing tool from the people who created the MixMeister DJ tool. Propaganda is perfect for the podcaster making a music podcast because it allows you to queue up songs (or any other audio file for that matter) and add in any commentary or banter you would like after placing the songs. If you have an Apple computer, it should come free with GarageBand, which is a powerful recording tool for music and podcasts. Propaganda has the advantage of publishing your podcast for you and costs $49.95 after a 30-day trial as of 2010.
Promotion
Getting your podcast out into the world is just as important as the actual recording. Podcasting Tools has an extensive list of podcast distribution sites where you can distribute your podcast (see Resources).
Revenue
Much like a website or blog, there are advertising revenues to be had from podcasting. Volomedia (http://www.podbridge.com/) not only offers advertising revenue opportunities, it also offers information and statistics about how many people are listening to your podcast and who they are. Podtrac (http://podtrac.com/) is a website that will put you in touch with advertisers looking for podcasts to promote their products and services.
Hosting
A number of options exist for those who do not wish to host their own podcasts. Podbean (http://www.podbean.com) offers a free service with limited bandwidth, however additional bandwidth can be purchased. There are limits on storage space, but these increase every month that you stay with the service. Evoca (http://www.evoca.com/) is a premium service available for a nominal fee that allows you to podcast directly from your phone, perfect for people involved in lifecasting.
Finding
Different options exist for those interested in listening to podcasts as well as creating them. Podcast Receiver (http://www.primetimepodcast.com/) is a free program that will automatically download all podcasts to which you subscribe. Podcast Alley (http://www.podcastalley.com/) is a massive (30,000+) podcast directory that also has a monthly list of the top podcasts. For the podcast fan who also creates content, Podfeed (http://www.podfeed.net/) hosts podcasts and also allows members to write text reviews of their favorite podcasts.
References
Photo Credits
- background with binary data image by Pedro Nogueira from Fotolia.com
