What Makes Podcasting Different

What Makes Podcasting Different

by: Mahmood Bashaash

When the signs of a new technology for developing web content appeared, nobody was aware about its growth speed. Now, after months, the podcasting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting) is going to be more and more popular and new publishers are developing content, based on this technology. They have found this method intuitive and attractive to clients. But regardless of the fascinating aspects of multimedia content, what other options make the podcasting different than other methods of providing and publishing content? Here, I have listed five major differences. Perhaps, at the time that you read this article, as this technology is going to be more mature day by day, new reasons could be added to my list. I leave it to the readers’ interests to search for new options.

In spite of other known methods of delivering content which are mostly based on Push technology, the podcasting is based on pull technology. In push technology, the content is delivered, directed from the source to the consumer. The consumer has no control over it. For example, when a radio channel starts at a specific time, follows based on a predefined and fixed program and ends at a specific time, the consumer has no chance or permission to alter any part of it. If you lose a part of the program, you won’t be able to relisten to it. You can not rewind it, stop it and think a while about the subject then replay it. This is push technology. But, if you could have control of the flow of the content, it would be pull. The consumer selects the content and controls it. Podcasting is a kind of pull technology. You download selected content and use it based on your own desire and full control over the flow of content.

However there are many notifying and automatic content syndication utilities, but you should always surf different websites for different content. This is your responsibility, as the consumer of the content, to go and visit the source of the content, on a website. But podcasting removes this step. Just one time, for ever, you choose your desire radio channel, news feed, poet channel or else. Then the aggregation software would be responsible to deliver the most recent casts right in your mobile MP3 player. After a while, you would even forget the address of websites and just listening to the downloaded up to date content would be your daily fashion.

Internet connection is not that much easy to be available every time and every where. So, using web contents would be impossible in many cases. When you are driving, climbing, resting and walking in the morning, you would be deprived of having access to web content. No web log, no web surfing, no radio channel and else. But, the downloaded podcasts are available in the MP3 player which could be accessible to you in different occasions and places, making casts ready to use. No laptop and phone line to connect to the Internet is needed. No clean place to sit and use your PC for surfing the web sites is required. Everything is loaded in your tiny MP3 player which is able to play hours without any need to electricity plugged.

The device for using podcasts is a tiny, every time and everywhere available MP3 player. The iPod is a brand which is owned by Apple company. It is why this technology is called Podcasting. The Pod is derived from iPod and cast from Broadcast. The iPod is not the only MP3 device that could be used. There are numerous providers of MP3 player devices that the consumer could use for listening to podcasts. These small devices are mobile. Consume very low energy to work. They are light and small. They are not expensive and are available with different capacities. MP3 players are very popular and you can see many people in the street that have hung them over their neck and are listening to the music. They are now part of the daily life. It makes the penetration ratio of the podcasts deeper than other type of contents that are basically dependant of having a PC, or laptop and Internet connection.

Possibility of developing podcasts is high. It is cheap and easy to develop. From very professional radio channel owners to amateur poets who have little audiences among their school friends would be able to easily develop podcasts. Just a personal computer with very basic multimedia capabilities, like, microphone input, audio output and software to record voice, combine with background music and convert to low quality and small size MP3 format. Then you need just a FTP account for uploading the MP3s. A very basic knowledge about RSS 2.0 standards is also required. For this last option, you can use current available feeds and alter them for your own needs. I just started using this method, as learning RSS 2.0 needs times. I copied an already created RSS file and edited it based on my own needs and it worked without having enough knowledge. To download your podcasts, the consumer should install very basic aggregator software, one like iPodder (http://ipodder.sourceforge.net) which is free. And finally a MP3 player software like iTune (http://www.itune.com) or Microsoft Media Player which is already installed on Windows operating systems.

Podcasting, like web logging, is rapidly growing and every day, new podcasts in different fields, from poetry to technology, from training to radio channels are being created and published on the Internet. There are special directories and websites that index podcasts and podcasting websites. You can start from one of these directories and reach hundreds and thousands available and known podcasts on the Internet. One of these directories is http://www.podcast.net which has categorized podcasts in a directory structure. It could be a good start point for your adventure.

About The Author

Mahmood Bashaash is the owner of SGNetway (http://www.sgnetway.com) company which is focused on developing web sites and web applications. SGNetway is specialized on managing outsourced projects and uses Microsoft .Net platform with C# to develop complicated web applications and web services. Mahmood Bashaash is the author of www.MahmoodB.com and www.appliedmarketingtips.com websites focused on Internet marketing tips and tricks. To access his articles, visit: http://www.mahmoodb.com. His native language is Persian and his web site is totally in Persian language.

[email protected]

This article was posted on March 14

by Mahmood Bashaash

How Podcasting Works

How Podcasting Works

by: Sharon Housley

It has been said that in October of 2004 a Google search returned less than 6,000 results for the term กpodcastingก. Today, a similar search yields more than 857,000 results. Like the blogging phenomenon, podcasting has come out of nowhere and attracted an enthusiastic following.

While some traditional radio talk shows have begun providing podcasts of their regularlyscheduled broadcasts, the bulk of the podcasts that have cropped up tend to be independent broadcasters who have a fascination with technology. As a result, some podcasts are a little rough around the edges. Nonetheless, it is clear that the technology provides a significant opportunity and potential. Even naysayers believe that podcasting is more than a passing fad.

Podcasting is RSS that is used to syndicate and distribute audio files. Podcasting contains an audio file in the RSS feedกs enclosure tag. An enclosure tag is used in RSS feeds to include certain types of files. The file contained in an enclosure tag can be: an image, a data file, a video file, or an audio file. Podcasting specifically refers to RSS feeds that contain audio files in their enclosure tag. The RSS version that currently supports enclosure tags is RSS version 2.0. All podcasts are currently created using this specification.

The benefit to podcasting is the fact that users can sync content with their media player and listen at a time and a place of their choosing: radio on demand. And while this technology is not limited to music, it seems to be the area that has received the most attention.

Podcasting is generally inexpensive to implement. Investment in a good quality microphone will ensure that the recording is audible. Depending on knowledge and experience, some podcasters invest in audio conversion, compression and audio editing software applications. Also, web space bandwith and software to create the feed for the podcast is needed. All in all, the initial expense is relatively small.

Publishing Podcasts

In three simple steps, independent broadcasters can have their voice heard:

Publishers create audio content, posting it on a website for listeners.

Create or edit an existing RSS feed including a link to the audio file in the กenclosureก field of an RSS 2.0 feed, uploading it to a website.

Tell the world that a podcast is available.

Listen to Podcasts:

In three simple steps web surfers can listen to podcasts:

Download a news aggregator or RSS reader that supports podcasting or sync a wireless device like an iPod with your computer.

Enter the URL of the podcast feed into the news aggregator or podcast management software.

As new items appear in the aggregator, review the podcastกs description and listen to those that are of interest.

As popularity increases it is likely many voices will be drowned out, but for now, an independent broadcaster with a microphone and unlimited bandwith can make a name, create an image and change the world.

Useful Tools for Podcasting:

Create podcast feed http://www.feedforall.com

News aggregator supporting podcasts http://www.feeddemon.com or http://www.primetimepodcast.com

See also Podcasting Tools http://www.smallbusinesssoftware.net/podcastingtools.htm

Copyright 2005 Sharon Housley

About The Author

Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company.

This article was posted on April 13

by Sharon Housley

Broadcasting Mp3 Audio Via Computer, The Looney Tu

Broadcasting Mp3 Audio Via Computer, The Looney Tune World Of Podcasting

by: Sunny Hills

Podcasting Is A New Form Of Fun Stuff

To Do On The Computer.

The Ipod Was Made For Music Downloads,

But The Reality Is That It Has Created

A Launch Of Mini Shows,

That Are Uncut And Cheap To Produce.

Every Event You Can Imagine Is A

Potential Contender As A Reality Radio

Broadcast Show From Rio To Cape Cod,

And From Boston To Broadway.

CB Radio,i.e. Ham Radio, Was Developed

As Radio For The People, But

Now Another Page In The Consumer Notebook

Of Modern History Has Turned.

Any Music Concert Can Become An Mp3,

Whether It’s By Players Like Eminem

& 50cent Or Country Music And

Guitar Songs Dedicated To Andy Griffeth.

Mp3 Audio Can Include A Report From

A Reality TV Show To A Las Vegas Show,

To A Looney Tune Review,

And It Can Range From Humor To Commentaries

On The Weather, Oprah Winfrey & American Idol,

The Titanic, The Da Vinci Code,

Or Even A Live Sex Show In Harmony Hall.

They’re All Now Available As A Downloadable

Music Composition, A Video Or Even A Slide Show

On Your Computer,

And I Wouldn’t Be Surprised If

Some Of These Shows Show Up On Sirius Radio,

XM Radio Or Other Satellite Radio Shows,

Conventional Radio Or Even On TV.

The Ipod Is A Creative Way To Download

Digital Music Automatically Via Computer

Around The Clock, By Virtue Of Podcasting.

This Is Not About Downloading Online Music

Onto Your Computer Via Music File Sharing.

This Is About The Bone Thug Across The Street

Writing A Music Lyric On His Computer

Calling It A Skin Tune

By Frankie J & Lil Jon Luny Mas,

And With No Harmony Or Melody,

Having A Ball, Because Some Stranger

In Central Louisville Looking For

Cheap Music Downloads Records It

To His Mp3 Player While Waiting

For A Pizza Delivery.

The Apple Ipod Is Not A Technology

Whose Life Is Limited To A

Trade Show Display.

It’s In The Hands Of The People.

Podcasting Is Way Bigger Than

Two Way Radio Or Any Online Computer Game,

And It’s Not Limited To The

Ipod Mp3 Player Or Even The Rio Sport

Mp3 Player.

Newer Models Are Creating Competition

And Getting Cheaper, Just Like All

Computer Technology Always Does.

Just Look At The DVD Player.

Ipod Is Getting The Credit,

But Adam Curry, Former Music Video DJ

And MTV Host In The 1980’s,

Is The Central Player In RSS

(Real Simple Syndication).

A Music Download To A Mini Portable

Mp3 Player Is Not New, The Ipod Buzz Is.

Podcasting Is Going To Be Big.

I Feel Lucky To Have Gotten In On It

At An Early Stage,

With My Daily Podcast Sunny Thought Of The Day.

It Supplements My Free Affirmations By EMail.

So Now You Have 2 Free Ways To Get

Positive Thinking From Me.

I Was Interviewed Last Month

In The Honolulu Star Bulletin,

Who Told Me I Was The Only Daily Podcaster

In The State Of Hawaii.

Since Then I’ve Found Out I’m One

Of Only A Handful Who Podcast Daily

In The Entire World.

And My Radio Interviews – I Was Interviewed

By Positive Purpose Radio Host Kevin Mcdonald,

On KLAY AM Radio In The Seattle Area,

5 Times – 1 Hour Each – Those Shows

Were All Podcast Internationally, Too.

Welcome To The Future!

It’s Evolving One Day At A Time.

Why Not Hit The Computer Airwaves Yourself?

And Start Podcasting Today!

About The Author

Sunny Hills is The Affirmations Coach (TM). He retired from business and moved to Maui at age 47. His Free Daily Audio Mp3, Streaming Audio and Podcast: กSunny Thought of the Dayก is available at www.SunnyThoughts.com. His Free Daily Positive Thoughts by email are found here > http://www.sunnythoughts.com/newha105signup.htm

This article was posted on April 26

by Sunny Hills

How Podcasting is Used

How Podcasting is Used

by: S. Housley

Although podcasting is new, it is well on its way to becoming a mainstream communication medium. Podcasting, simply put, is audio files that are delivered via RSS. Many people believe that podcasting is solely for the distribution of music files, but really, nothing could be further from the truth. This emerging method of audio file distribution has opened an array of marketing and communication opportunities to businesses. Currently, most who are familiar with podcasting are technically savvy, but it is clear that podcasting will be more than a passing fad as many businesses are adopting podcasting and employing it in unusual yet powerful ways. Podcasting can be used for talk shows, tutorials, music demos, educational training, stories, comedy clips, debates or even foreign language tutorials.

While RSS has had the capacity to include audio files for a few years, only recently have entrepreneurs made the conceptual leap, taking advantage of the new power held within this communication medium. In reality, podcasters cover the gamut; some are professional broadcasters, while others are obvious amateurs.

Podcasts are usually published with associated meta information that includes descriptive data about each specific audio file. This allows listeners to make a determination of which audio items are of interest. If listeners are using a news aggregator that supports podcasting, they will automatically receive updates in their feed reader or news aggregation software when a new podcast exists for a feed that they have subscribed to.

Why is podcasting so beneficial to the subscriber?

Unlike traditional radio, with podcasting the subscriber decides what content he/she receives. Podcasting is extremely useful to the subscriber because the user can easily receive information he/she would like, and listen to it when they want. The material, once downloaded, can be listened to and viewed on wireless handhelds, allowing subscribers to utilize time on the road.

Topicspecific radio talk shows with commentaries, interviews and debates can now be heard at a time and place of the listenerกs choosing. Consider the benefit of educational tutorials and foreign language instruction; lessons could be listened to during a work commute. Supplementary class lectures, step by step tutorials or walking guides are all possible using podcasting. An unlimited collection of books read aloud for elderly or visuallyimpaired listeners only scratch the surface of what is possible in the future of podcasting.

The fate of podcasting is in the hands of the subscribers. The subscriber can easily delete podcast feeds that do not satisfy their needs with the single tap of a button. Ultimately, the subscriber maintains control and determines what podcasts are deemed successful. This intrinsically builds in a quality control level and will ensure that the more innovative instructional and interesting podcast feeds survive.

The technology is fresh and, like the Internet, is opening doors to entrepreneurs. As podcasting evolves, users will find more creative kinds of audio content to deliver. The low barrier to entry has forced this new medium to the forefront, as businesses and individuals have really little to lose in adding podcasting as a communication channel.

About The Author

Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing and publishing RSS feeds and NotePage, Inc. http://www.notepage.net a wireless messaging software company.

[email protected]

This article was posted on February 28

by S. Housley

How Affiliates Can Have Their Own Radio Show…

How Affiliates Can Have Their Own Radio Show…

by: Anik Singal

Before we start, I want to ask you one simple question. If you knew what you know today about how big blogging would be before it started, would you have started a blog? Well, in that case, you better pay close attention to podcasting!

Pretty much everyone and anyone who knows the slightest bit about Podcasting thinks about the Apple IPod and how IPod users are using Appleกs ITunes software to download their favorite songs over the internet.

But what if I told you that you don’t even need an IPod to podcast? As a matter of fact, to have your own podcast show, an IPod is absolutely unnecessary!

The name กpodcastingก is a combination of the name for Apple’s portable mp3 player, the กIPod,ก and the word ขbroadcasting.ข Using mp3 audio to broadcast a message was formerly known as กaudioblogging.ก It only became known as podcasting after a million IPod users subscribed to Appleกs ITunes directory within two days of when ITunes launched.

So for those of you who don’t know, hereกs the scoop: Podcasting is a way to listen or view the files you want, when you want. Special podcasting software now also allows you to be automatically updated when a specific podcast you subscribe to has been updated.

How it works…

It works by first having someone first make a podcast, which is basically a file sitting on the internet waiting to be downloaded. The next step is for the user to subscribe to that Podcast by using readily available กpodcatchingก software. The software will periodically check for updates and download any new files.

กSo I’m an affiliate, I want to make money from podcasting, but I don’t have an IPod. How can podcasting helping me?ก

Podcasting has been around in one form or another since the year 1991. Before it became known as Podcasting, it was known as audio blogs. In other words, many affiliates may have already been using this technique, just without the title of a กpodcast.ก

How you can start implementing podcasting?

It is not very different from having a newsletter or an Ezine (something we talk about a lot). But from now on, you can start adding audio files to the newsletter and instantly you have an active podcast.

Record your message

Convert into MP3 file

Create an RSS feed of your podcast

Upload MP3 to your website

Listeners can now subscribe to be notified when you make updates using podcatch software

The only part here where it gets a bit technical is the process of creating an RSS feed of your podcast. However, even that step will only take a few minutes to learn completely.

Using podcasting, you can immediately differentiate yourself as an affiliate and begin building a unique list of loyal subscribers! Congratulations, you are just a few steps away from having your own radio show!

About The Author

This article has been authored by Anik Singal, the founder of The Affiliate Classroom. If you want to learn his system that helped him make over $10,466 in 60 days please visit the following link to enroll into a free course:

http://www.AffiliateClassroom.com

This article was posted on August 06

by Anik Singal

What is Podcasting?

What is Podcasting?

by: S. Housley

Podcasting is quickly becoming a buzz word among the techie crowd. So what is podcasting, anyway? Podcasting is online audio content that is delivered via an RSS feed. Many people liken podcasting to radio on demand. However, in reality, podcasting gives far more options in terms of content and programming than radio does. In addition, with Podcasting, listeners can determine the time and the place, meaning they decide what programming they want to receive and when they want to listen to it.

Listeners can retain audio archives to listen to at their leisure. While blogs have turned many bloggers into journalists, podcasting has the potential to turn podcasters into radio personalities.

Podcasting can be used for:

SelfGuided Walking Tours Informational content.

Music Band promotional clips and interviews.

Talk Shows Industry or organizational news, investor news, sportscasts, news coverage and commentaries.

Training Instructional informational materials.

Story Story telling for children or the visuallyimpaired.

Podcasting is the syndication of audio files using RSS. Podcasting works the same as a standard RSS feed reader or news aggregator, the only difference is that the feed you subscribe to contains an audio file in it. Instead of reading content in your RSS feed reader or aggregator, you can listen to the contents of your feed using a reader or aggregator that supports podcasting, or you can listen to them on an iPod or similar device. While podcasting was named for the iPod, you do not have to have an iPod to listen to a podcast. Podcasts can be displayed on websites with clickable links to audio files and many of the standard RSS readers, like FeedDemonกs latest beta, have begun supporting audio enclosures.

The audio file that makes the feed a podcast rather than a standard RSS feed is contained in the กenclosureก tag. The easiest way to think of this is as an email attachment.

Although the กenclosureก tag is not new to RSS feeds and has been included in the RSS v2.0 specification for about four years, podcasting has only really been around since August of 2004.

Webmasters are finding creative ways to provide mediarich content. The syndication aspect and potential increase in audience size are an attractive lure. Listeners benefit from podcasting because, like RSS, podcasting is a means to publish content that ultimately gives the recipient the control over the information they want to see or hear.

Podcasting Resources

Podcasting Tools http://www.podcastingtools.com

Podcast Alley http://www.podcastalley.com

PodcastBunker http://www.podcastbunker.com

Podcasting News http://www.podcastingnews.com

It will be interesting to see how this publishing medium develops. Currently, only the technical crowd has endorsed podcasting as a new audio medium, but the potential is real and the process is not overly complex. With a little time I think this field will develop and prosper.

About The Author

Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company.

This article was posted on January 19

by S. Housley

How Podcasting Works

How Podcasting Works

by: S. Housley

It has been said that in October of 2004 a Google search returned less than 6,000 results for the term กpodcastingก. Today, a similar search yields more than 857,000 results. Like the blogging phenomenon, podcasting has come out of nowhere and attracted an enthusiastic following.

While some traditional radio talk shows have begun providing podcasts of their regularlyscheduled broadcasts, the bulk of the podcasts that have cropped up tend to be independent broadcasters who have a fascination with technology. As a result, some podcasts are a little rough around the edges. Nonetheless, it is clear that the technology provides a significant opportunity and potential. Even naysayers believe that podcasting is more than a passing fad.

Podcasting is RSS that is used to syndicate and distribute audio files. Podcasting contains an audio file in the RSS feedกs enclosure tag. An enclosure tag is used in RSS feeds to include certain types of files. The file contained in an enclosure tag can be: an image, a data file, a video file, or an audio file. Podcasting specifically refers to RSS feeds that contain audio files in their enclosure tag. The RSS version that currently supports enclosure tags is RSS version 2.0. All podcasts are currently created using this specification.

The benefit to podcasting is the fact that users can sync content with their media player and listen at a time and a place of their choosing: radio on demand. And while this technology is not limited to music, it seems to be the area that has received the most attention.

Podcasting is generally inexpensive to implement. Investment in a good quality microphone will ensure that the recording is audible. Depending on knowledge and experience, some podcasters invest in audio conversion, compression and audio editing software applications. Also, web space bandwith and software to create the feed for the podcast is needed. All in all, the initial expense is relatively small.

Publishing Podcasts

In three simple steps, independent broadcasters can have their voice heard:

Publishers create audio content, posting it on a website for listeners.

Create or edit an existing RSS feed including a link to the audio file in the กenclosureก field of an RSS 2.0 feed, uploading it to a website.

Tell the world that a podcast is available.

Listen to Podcasts:

In three simple steps web surfers can listen to podcasts:

Download a news aggregator or RSS reader that supports podcasting or sync a wireless device like an iPod with your computer.

Enter the URL of the podcast feed into the news aggregator or podcast management software.

As new items appear in the aggregator, review the podcastกs description and listen to those that are of interest.

As popularity increases it is likely many voices will be drowned out, but for now, an independent broadcaster with a microphone and unlimited bandwith can make a name, create an image and change the world.

Useful Tools for Podcasting:

Create podcast feed http://www.feedforall.com

News aggregator supporting podcasts http://www.feeddemon.com or http://www.primetimepodcast.com

See also Podcasting Tools http://www.smallbusinesssoftware.net/podcastingtools.htm

About The Author

Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company.

This article was posted on April 19

by S. Housley

Fed Up With FM Podcasting

Fed Up With FM Podcasting

by: Colin Maddocks

If you are fed up with listening to your local FM station and the mass of inane adverts that punctuate each show, or, if you crave interesting spoken word programmes that are written and presented by excited, knowledgeable enthusiasts, then Adam Curryกs กDaily Source Codeก podcast may just be just what your a looking for.

Adam is one of a rapidly increasing group known as กpodcastersก, whose shows are created to be heard on iPods or other MP3 players. Formerly an MTV videojock, he is the man who created the กiPodderก program. Downloadable from www.iPodder.org, this easy to use software allows you to decide which audio feed you wish to subscribe to. This is then automatically added to your iPod or MP3 player to listen to when you decide.

The great thing about Podcasting is that it allows listeners to download their favorite shows automatically. There are now tons of กadvertisementfreeก radio channels for listeners to subscribe to, with more emerging every day.

Once setup with a program like iPodder your favorite program downloads automatically whilst you sleep, so that you can listen to it on the journey into work the next day, or whenever it suits you. You are not tied to any schedule. It is true ขradioondemandข.

When you visit ipodder.org you will see details of the latest podcasts and you will be able to easily subscribe to shows such as กCovervilleก, a music show consisting purely of really interesting cover versions as well as the truly original, if not a little whacky, กWhole Wheat Radioก from Talkeetna, Alaska. (Where!!).

There are, of course, lots of shows created and presented by true Podcast enthusiasts and knowledgable techies, such as ‘the Engadget Podcastก and กIT Conversationsก. However, by mixing all of these topic areas you can end up with a true, custommade radio experience that meets all of your listening requirements.

Podcasting is still in it’sก infancy and over the next 12 months you will see more and more growth in this unique field. Podcasting is a real example of a technology that simply could not have existed even 2 years ago and with just a little effort on your part over the coming months you could play a significant part in the development of this exciting and creative medium.

About The Author

Colin Maddocks is a webbased travel agent and marketer running several, successful web businesses, including www.rssfeeds4u.com and www.ipodaccessories4u.com amongst others. He is particularly excited by new web developments in RSS Feeds and Podcasting. Colin has written articles on web selling and new technology.

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 08

by Colin Maddocks

Podcasting: Internet Radio On Demand… and MORE!

Podcasting: Internet Radio On Demand… and MORE!

by: Jim Edwards

If you haven’t heard the term กpodcastก yet, you will.

Itกs about to blow the world of online audio through the roof as every Tom, Dick and Shirley can now operate a high powered Internet Radio station providing ondemand audio (and shortly, video) with nothing more than a microphone, simple software, and a little imagination.

Just like cable TV in the 1980กs gave smaller networks and individuals a voice on television, podcasting gives individuals a voice (literally) through online audio.

Podcasting is actually the audio form of กblogging,ก where individuals share their thoughts in writing over time on a dynamic webpage known as a กblog.ก

With blogging, subscribers and other blog publishers subscribe to and cross promote each otherกs content by linking to and writing about each other.

With podcasting, the author shares his or her thoughts in audio form (MP3) and subscribers download and listen to the audio either on their computers, burn the files to CD, or transfer the files to one of the increasingly popular portable MP3 players.

In fact, the term กpodcastingก draws its name from the iPod, created by Apple Computers.

Initially you might think the only people podcasting are geeks and computer nerds, but thatกs not the case.

If you imagine ‘talk radioก meets กfree cable accessก then you have and idea of what pocasting is now and how it could evolve in the future.

Right now, any idiot (like me) with a microphone and something to say can create an online radio show.

This type of access to media that reaches a worldwide market enables smaller, niche publishers to develop a worldwide following that just isn’t monetarily feasible in traditional massmedia.

That means talk shows like กChihuahua Breedingก or กMotorcycle Fashion Weeklyก that could never hope to afford air time in a local market, can now develop an audience on the Internet.

Log on to PodCastAlley.com to peruse a wide range of available shows on everything from dog training to wine selection and tasting tips (one of the most popular).

Despite all this potential power, podcasting remains in an infancy stage right now.

But, the Internet has always proven in the past that a powerful but simple technology will always find a way to make itself felt quickly.

All it needs to explode is a few people to lead the way and show exactly how to use the technology to entertain and educate subscribers.

I also think two worlds will evolve for podcasting program publishers, just like cable vs. network television.

Some content will remain free (network TV), while some subscribers will gladly pay for more specific กnicheก or payperview content (cable TV).

As the quality of the programming increases along with more widespread acceptance of the tools necessary to consume the content (MP3 players and portable video players), podcasting will grow to stand beside other mainstream media.

It won’t happen overnight, and it won’t penetrate every market, but as members of the กglobal villageก seek to find and feel a connection with likeminded individuals, regardless of their physical location, podcasting provides a cheap, powerful, and innovative solution for that basic human need.

© Jim Edwards All Rights reserved

http://www.thenetreporter.com

About The Author

Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the coauthor of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to use fr^e articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate links…

Simple ‘traffic Machineก brings Thousands of NEW visitors to your website for weeks, even months… without spending a dime on advertising! ==> http://www.turnwordsintotraffic.com.

This article was posted on September 14

by Jim Edwards

How Affiliates Can Have Their Own Radio Show…

How Affiliates Can Have Their Own Radio Show…

by: Anik Singal

Before we start, I want to ask you one simple question. If you knew what you know today about how big blogging would be before it started, would you have started a blog? Well, in that case, you better pay close attention to podcasting!

Pretty much everyone and anyone who knows the slightest bit about Podcasting thinks about the Apple IPod and how IPod users are using Appleกs ITunes software to download their favorite songs over the internet.

But what if I told you that you don’t even need an IPod to podcast? As a matter of fact, to have your own podcast show, an IPod is absolutely unnecessary!

The name กpodcastingก is a combination of the name for Apple’s portable mp3 player, the กIPod,ก and the word ขbroadcasting.ข Using mp3 audio to broadcast a message was formerly known as กaudioblogging.ก It only became known as podcasting after a million IPod users subscribed to Appleกs ITunes directory within two days of when ITunes launched.

So for those of you who don’t know, hereกs the scoop: Podcasting is a way to listen or view the files you want, when you want. Special podcasting software now also allows you to be automatically updated when a specific podcast you subscribe to has been updated.

How it works…

It works by first having someone first make a podcast, which is basically a file sitting on the internet waiting to be downloaded. The next step is for the user to subscribe to that Podcast by using readily available กpodcatchingก software. The software will periodically check for updates and download any new files.

กSo I’m an affiliate, I want to make money from podcasting, but I don’t have an IPod. How can podcasting helping me?ก

Podcasting has been around in one form or another since the year 1991. Before it became known as Podcasting, it was known as audio blogs. In other words, many affiliates may have already been using this technique, just without the title of a กpodcast.ก

How you can start implementing podcasting?

It is not very different from having a newsletter or an Ezine (something we talk about a lot). But from now on, you can start adding audio files to the newsletter and instantly you have an active podcast.

Record your message

Convert into MP3 file

Create an RSS feed of your podcast

Upload MP3 to your website

Listeners can now subscribe to be notified when you make updates using podcatch software

The only part here where it gets a bit technical is the process of creating an RSS feed of your podcast. However, even that step will only take a few minutes to learn completely.

Using podcasting, you can immediately differentiate yourself as an affiliate and begin building a unique list of loyal subscribers! Congratulations, you are just a few steps away from having your own radio show!

About The Author

Anik Singal is a 22 year old successful internet marketer who has developed his own affiliate marketing system which helped him earn over $10,466 in just 60 days. Join his FREE Course at:

http://www.AffiliateClassroom.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 05

by Anik Singal

How Podcasting is Used

How Podcasting is Used

by: Sharon Housley

Although podcasting is new, it is well on its way to becoming a mainstream communication medium. Podcasting, simply put, is audio files that are delivered via RSS. Many people believe that podcasting is solely for the distribution of music files, but really, nothing could be further from the truth. This emerging method of audio file distribution has opened an array of marketing and communication opportunities to businesses. Currently, most who are familiar with podcasting are technically savvy, but it is clear that podcasting will be more than a passing fad as many businesses are adopting podcasting and employing it in unusual yet powerful ways. Podcasting can be used for talk shows, tutorials, music demos, educational training, stories, comedy clips, debates or even foreign language tutorials.

While RSS has had the capacity to include audio files for a few years, only recently have entrepreneurs made the conceptual leap, taking advantage of the new power held within this communication medium. In reality, podcasters cover the gamut; some are professional broadcasters, while others are obvious amateurs.

Podcasts are usually published with associated meta information that includes descriptive data about each specific audio file. This allows listeners to make a determination of which audio items are of interest. If listeners are using a news aggregator that supports podcasting, they will automatically receive updates in their feed reader or news aggregation software when a new podcast exists for a feed that they have subscribed to.

Why is podcasting so beneficial to the subscriber?

Unlike traditional radio, with podcasting the subscriber decides what content he/she receives. Podcasting is extremely useful to the subscriber because the user can easily receive information he/she would like, and listen to it when they want. The material, once downloaded, can be listened to and viewed on wireless handhelds, allowing subscribers to utilize time on the road.

Topicspecific radio talk shows with commentaries, interviews and debates can now be heard at a time and place of the listenerกs choosing. Consider the benefit of educational tutorials and foreign language instruction; lessons could be listened to during a work commute. Supplementary class lectures, step by step tutorials or walking guides are all possible using podcasting. An unlimited collection of books read aloud for elderly or visuallyimpaired listeners only scratch the surface of what is possible in the future of podcasting.

The fate of podcasting is in the hands of the subscribers. The subscriber can easily delete podcast feeds that do not satisfy their needs with the single tap of a button. Ultimately, the subscriber maintains control and determines what podcasts are deemed successful. This intrinsically builds in a quality control level and will ensure that the more innovative instructional and interesting podcast feeds survive.

The technology is fresh and, like the Internet, is opening doors to entrepreneurs. As podcasting evolves, users will find more creative kinds of audio content to deliver. The low barrier to entry has forced this new medium to the forefront, as businesses and individuals have really little to lose in adding podcasting as a communication channel.

Copyright 2005 Sharon Housley

About The Author

Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing and publishing RSS feeds and NotePage, Inc. http://www.notepage.net a wireless messaging software company.

This article was posted on March 02

by Sharon Housley