Podcast

What Is A Podcast ?

Before podcasting, internet radio listeners had to tune in to scheduled programs or search for individual broadcasts to download.

Podcasts offer the unique feature of being delivered automatically to subscribers, right into their media playing device with auto synching to their media player. What does all that mean?

This means...(sorry for the "geek speak") that the content file, which is an mp3 audio file, will get "dropped" right into an ipod (mp3 playing device by Apple), through their itunes (the software developed by Apple to move files into the ipod) synching software.

In case you are wondering, podcasts don't just play on 'ipods', but on ALL 'mp3' media players.

Once a copy is stored on the listener's computer or portable music player, podcasts can be ?time-shifted,? or played at any time.

Where Did Podcasting Come From ?

By 2003, web radio had existed for a decade.

Digital audio players had been on the market for several years, and blogs and broadcasters frequently published MP3 audio online, plus the RSS file format was widely used for summarizing or syndicating content.

Indeed, blogs would become an important factor in the popularization of podcasting.

The term podcasting is meant to rhyme with "broadcasting", and is a derivative of the iPod platform.

While not directly associated with Apple's iPod device, the company did contribute both the desire, and the technology for this capability.

Podcasting is not unlike time-shifted video software and devices like "TiVo", which let you watch what you want, when you want, by recording and storing video, except that podcasting is used for audio and is currently free of charge.

Note, however, that this technology can be used to push any kind of file, including software updates, pictures, and videos.

Podcasting uses an XML-based technology called RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, and links to MP3 files.

This auto-generated file is called an RSS feed.

Before podcasting you could of course record a radio show, and put it on your website, but now people can automatically receive new shows, without having to go to a specific site and download it from there.

Why Is Podcasting Important?

The most important thing from your point of view as a small business entrepeneur, podcasts can be taken on the road as a mobile audio message.

More people than ever are using portable mp3 listening devices now.

If you have a message you want to share with the world, you will want to make it as easy as possible for the listner or consumer, and podcasting does just that.

Rising Popularity of Podcasts

The rising popularity of podcasting also stems from the ease with which podcasters can create and distribute files.

The process requires little more than a computer with an internet connection, a microphone, and software to record, edit and compress the audio.

Once that is done, the next step is to publish your podcast on a website and create a feed your listeners can subscribe to.

Are Podcasts Good For A Home Business?

Absolutely, it is an ideal medium for getting your message across to people on the move.

We are in, an ever busy and fast moving world, where time is short, so what better way to listen to broadcasts, than whilst you are doing something else.

There are innumerable kinds of podcasts, ranging from, audio journals that are very quirky and personal to professional newscasts.

Podcasts can be around any niche topic that people are passionate about.

Examples include, Cooking, Cars, Beer, Finance, Business, Tax Strategies, Wealth Accumulation, Internet Marketing, and on and on it goes.

There is really an audience for every topic.

One indicator of the variety of topics and styles of podcasts can be found on http://www.podcast.net directory.

Why Not Try Out The Latest Podcast Technology ?

There is a way to try out the latest technology, and to use podcasting as part of your business, by going here:-

Podcast

Thanks to this super easy Podcasting "How To Manual", learn all the secrets to learning about Podcasting, and How to do it for "regular people" [meaning non computer geeks], with little or no experience.

You will quickly discover how to publish and listen to your own Podcasts, and you will see it is easy and fun, and may even make you a famous celebrity!

Basically, in a nutshell, this book will really teach you two things:

1. How to listen and subscribe to other podcasts.

2. How to create and upload your own podcasts and get listed.

Plus make money with your podcast, in hours!

Podcast

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