Get 5 free tips to increase your podcasting audience.
Corporate consolidation has forced traditional broadcasters to transmit
generic music
and tawdry talk. A new breed of audio
producer – the
podcaster –
has sprung up to fill the gaping voids in audio programming.
A podcast is an audio (or video) feed. That can be fed to your computer
or to a mobile device. These feeds can be subscribed to by people who
are interested in receiving regular podcasts.
Unlike radio broadcasts, which must reach large audiences to remain
viable, podcasters can narrowcast audio content to small groups of
highly targeted listeners around the world. Listeners can use Powerbooks and iPods to enjoy exotic and rare music, discussions of art and literature, and even audio tours of cities and parks.
Using simple software like iTunes or Juicer, listeners can refresh their libraries with new podcasts every time they update their iPods.
Effortless distribution, combined with the portability of MP3 players,
encourages more listeners to enjoy fresh podcasts every day.
Podcasters use software like PodShow or GarageBand to mix voice and music into MP3 files. Services like AudioBlog
let you add voicemail-style messages to your podcasts. You can manage
your podcast with weblog tools like Moveable Type or Wordpress. Or,
companies like FeedBurner or Odeo can spread your podcast for you for free.
Professional songwriting organizations and large
record labels charge license fees to transmit music online. When a
podcaster uses a familiar song without a license, they risk a fine of
$10,000 or more.
Many of these expensive arrangements failed to
anticipate the ability for fans to share music with each other.
Forward-thinking musicians and record labels have designated some music
as "podsafe". By waiving some or all of their statutory royalties, they
reach millions of new listeners through innovative podcasts.
Tony Fadell's idea of a hard-disk music player
found few fans until Steve Jobs brought Fadell to Apple. Working with
acclaimed designer Jonathan Ive, Fadell and his team developed their
runaway hit device. No other digital music player matches the
commercial success and the hip factor of the ipod.
With
the availability of efficient tools and inexpensive distribution,
you’re running out of excuses. You can create your first podcast simply
by dialing a phone number at AudioBlog or Odeo. Or, you can invest in
elaborate studio equipment to produce a podcast that wouldn’t sound out
of place on NPR. Either way, a few simple steps can get you off the
fence and onto the iPods of your eager audience.
In the early days of online radio, webcasters paid
huge amounts of money to secure servers and bandwidth to offer up
watery-sounding streamed versions of their over-the-air programming.
Today, podcasters benefit from the major advances in technology,
storage, and bandwidth that have slashed costs and opened up
opportunities to reach millions of listeners.
Once you have the right equipment for your podcast,
and you have set up your hosting and distribution, it's time to find an
audience. Follow these five simple steps to grow your podcast from a
hobby into a serious audio operation.
