Podcasting has taken off as a viable (and viral) marketing tool.

What is podcasting you ask? The term is derived from a combination of the Apple iPod and the word “broadcast.” It is essentially an audio blog.

People can subscribe to your podcast and listen to it on their computer, iPod or even their cell phone.

photo credit: Micah Sittig

It combines the benefit of blogging which is easy access to regular posts via RSS with audio which means it can be listened to while driving, cleaning the kitchen, exercise, or even while you’re working.

Adding podcasting to your public domain marketing strategy is a wise initiative because:

1. Podcasts increase your market reach. Everyone has their own preference for obtaining, and retaining, content. Some prefer to read, others prefer to watch, and still others enjoy listening and retain information better when they hear it. When you podcast, you open up your market to a whole new audience.
2. Podcasts can improve sales and conversions. We buy from people we like. Podcasting gives you the ability to communicate your personality and thus the personality of your public domain business much easier than many other forms of content. The one-on-one communication provides the kind of personal touch many customers desire.
3. Podcasts provide a consistent message. It has been proven that regular communication with prospects improves buying frequency.
4. Builds a community. A regularly distributed podcast can strengthen your relationship with your buyers and help to build a community of your customers.
5. SEO. Podcasts can be tagged and optimized for the search engines just like any other online marketing tool. Additionally, podcasts provide valuable content which in turn builds customer loyalty and word of mouth marketing.
6. Added credibility. One of the best ways to get repeat purchases and loyal customers is to become the “expert” in your industry. Once you’re established as the place to go for expert information, your profits and traffic increase.
7. Bonus time! A podcast or an audio file can be used as a giveaway to build your opt-in list. Consider recording an interview with an industry expert or a seminar or workshop and offering the audio file as a free download. In return, you get their email address for future mailings.

Podcasting is a great, and easy, way to connect with your customers and prospects on a regular basis.

Recording and distributing a podcast is also very cost effective. Audacity is a top notch open source recording program and uploading your podcast to iTunes is free and easy.

Like blogging it may take some time to build an audience however in the long run it can be well worth the time and effort. Podcasting can significantly increase public domain profits.

About The Author:

Debra Conrad is an online entrepreneur, information publisher, and author that has been using Public Domain material to create profitable products and businesses since 2007. She is also co-author of "The Public Domain Treasure Hunter's Survival Kit" available here. For more info Debra, click here.

[print_link]

Recommended Reading:

Tagged as: marketing, podcasting, Public Domain