Podcasting - The 10 Minute Traffic Generator And Credibility Builder

By: Nick J Smith

It wasn't until Apple created the iPod that podcasting became prevalent in a big way. Podcasting is simply an audio recording of text - normally a blog - that can be listened to on an mp3 device or on a computer. The term "podcasting" is a mixture of the terms "iPod" and "broadcasting".

With the correct equipment, podcasts are easy to create. If you want to simply improvise, as is often the case, all you need is a decent mic and recording equipment you can also edit audio on. It's also handy to have a way to change the recorded file into mp3 format so as many listeners as possible can access it. Recording is quick, particularly if there isn't a need for precision.

Nevertheless, if someone wants to record some organized text, an autocue can be very helpful in presentng the material to be spoken in such a way as to make the reading process simpler. Professional broadcasters use this kind of machine while their newscasts are being transmitted. Seeing the page in front of you and automatically scrolling as you read and verbalize makes the whole job simpler.

Since podcasting handles sound, be sure to check that your volume level is consistent throughout and the final result is clear and you can hear it OK. Remove of unnecessary sounds before you being, if possible. If you cannot, do not panic as these can be removed from the final recording, if need be. You can also add background, like music, but make sure you are not using something requiring a royalty payment or similar fee. There are probably hundreds of web sites specifically designed to make royalty-free tracks available to podcasters.

Constructing a podcast as an adjunct to a web site is now common practice. Marketing studies have shown that guests to web sites experience more of a connection if there is also a voice along with the text on the page. It gives you a superior connection with your readers. It's also an excellent idea to make sure your podcast is kept up to date and fresh.

Your podcast could reside on your web site or at another location with a hyperlink to it. You should be able to locate companies that can post your podcast to their community. The main benefit to hosting elsewhere is it will slash the necessary bandwidth which podcasts, due to their large filesize, use a lot of.

You will locate podcasts on almost every topic you can think of. Some authors give both the transcripts and spoken word to get their message out. That then gives the reader the choice of using whichever format is most suitable to them. When learning a challenging topic, or one that requires listening to the spoken sounds, such as an unfamiliar dialect, individuals repeatedly find that having both - reading and listening at the same time - offers the easiest method of mastering the material. Getting the audio as well as transcript makes it easier to remember the subject matter.

And as with other products, the podcast is only as good as the person presenting. If the topic isn't sufficiently researched or has inaccurate information, if the subject isn't addressed in a systematic method that's easy to digest, then the podcast has little value. Just as podcasting 'dares' the presenter to be interesting and knowledgeable, it should compel the listener to listen closely. This is a great way to get an idea out there, and it appears the status of podcasting will only increase in the foreseeable future.

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If you are new to podcasting and would like to know more about it, why not take a look at our free podcasting resource center where you can learn how to podcast for fun and profit and other valuable information, including finding Hip-Hop mix podcasts and much more.

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