Podcasting Your Way To Profits
Jason Tarasi
Copyright 2005 Jason Tarasi
Let's take a quick stroll through the world of marketing to see
what it was, what it became and what it now is...
Era 1 - newspaper, magazines, radio broadcasts, direct mail,
telemarketing, cold calling, television, infomercials...
Era 2 - websites, banner ads, reciprocal links, ezine
publishing, search engine optimization, pay-per-click, opt-in
email, blogs...
Enter Era 3 - marketing via podcasts?
Similar to the concept of opt-in email, podcasting takes full
advantage of technology in reaching a pre-qualified,
self-selected audience that craves the information and expertise
a podcaster provides. Podcasting gives the strategy of
establishing yourself as an expert a whole new playground.
Podcasting is the ultimate tool for reaching a fully-qualified
target audience. A podcast is an audio broadcast published to
the internet. The broadcast is delivered to subscribers via a
feed, usually in an MP3 file format.
For years consulting and service companies have realized that
the way to a client's heart is through information sharing. Be
it through trade shows, conferences, seminars, newsletters, or
free articles, providing useful information on a topic that
potential clients are interested in grabs them - hook, line and
sinker.
When a prospect first subscribes to a podcast, they likely
aren't ready to buy products or services from the podcaster's
company. Chances are they are just getting their feet wet,
searching for information. With useful information delivered via
a podcast day after day, weekly or monthly, the receiver will
realize the value of the expertise demonstrated. Thus, when they
are ready to become buyers rather than browsers, the podcaster
has the lead.
As an advertising medium podcasts can be used just like a
newsletter or press release. For instance, a tax consulting firm
may publish a monthly newsletter giving updates on tax laws,
information about tax shelters, tips for tax deductions and
notification of available services. The newsletters will likely
contain contact information and will encourage readers to
contract the services of the tax consulting firm.
A podcast can be used in the same way. The only difference is,
the news and information is delivered via an audio broadcast
rather than through an electronic or print newsletter.
There are many advantages to podcasting. In comparison to other
types of advertising, it is relatively inexpensive. Podcasts are
delivered to a targeted audience, leave a lasting impression on
subscribers and establish the provider as an expert in the
field. Regularly published podcasts keep the provider's name and
contact information fresh in the minds of the recipients and
vast amounts of business can be obtained as a result.
About the author:
Jason Tarasi publishes the reciprocal links newsletter "Elite
Links" Learn HOW thousands of other Elite Links members generate
FREE traffic and increase their search engine rankings by
swapping links. Grab your free lifetime subscription now at:
http://www.elitelinksnewsletter.com
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