Having and maintaining a constant flow of communication with our clients and customers is essential in this day and age of technology and increased competition. Often we find that there is information that we know will benefit them, but simply due to pressing demands on our time, we sometimes don’t get around to talking to our customers as much as we would like. What if there was a way to do this that our customers could access our message as often as they liked, and at times of their choosing? Well, there is and this is what I am covering today.

Podcasting (a term coined by the popularity of the Apple iPod music player) is a growing type of communication used by both business and individuals to reach out to a larger, often international audience. Podcasts are often in MP3 format (an audio file - although video is now becoming popular too), and they can be subscribed to so that you never miss an episode, or simply downloaded so that you can listen to a program that interests you. Now you can choose the content that you want, to listen to when you want, where you want.

There are many programs that can subscribe to, and play Podcasts, but the best known would be Apple’s iTunes. This program works on both Windows computers and also Apple computers, and will allow you to listen to Podcasts on your computer or transfer them to your iPod if you like. One thing I would like to stress here is that you DO NOT need to have an Apple iPod to use iTunes or listen to podcasts. To download the iTunes Software (it’s free), go to http://www.apple.com.au/itunes and follow the prompts.

With broadband in Australia increasing, some people are now also using Podcasts to put video commercials and printed information onto consumer’s computers. These people are ideal to promote yourself to, as they have essentially given their permission to receive your material by having subscribed to the Podcast, thereby indicating that they have an interest in what you have to offer.

Podcasting can open the world up to your business, the results can be absolutley amazing! If you want to hear an example of a podcast, you can find our show on the website at http://www.think2design.com and simply follow the Podcast link.

Who would Podcasting benefit? Almost anyone with a service or product to sell it would seem. Podcasts range from variety shows, music programs, through to your traditional Podcasts about business, marketing, your choices are endless. Great for the end user and an absolutely fantastic business resource for the producer. Everyone wins, which after all, is what it’s all about.

PS: Further to this article, if you believe you have a story or profession of interest and would like to be interviewed for the show please do not hesitate to contact me. I am more than capable of recording the show regardless of where in the world you live so please do not let distance put you off. Our show is aimed at entertaining and educating business people so interviewees should be aware of this.

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