Podcasting involves distributing audio files that users can subscribe to and listen to at their convenience. It emerged in 2004 and has grown significantly, with over 100,000 podcasts now available. Podcasts allow users to listen to audio content on their own schedule, from any location. They can be produced with minimal equipment and are used by both individuals and businesses to distribute content on various topics.

1. Podcasting

2. What is podcasting?
Audio file
“Show” format
Time-shifted:
Subscription-enabled through RSS
Detachable
Accompanied by “show notes”

3. Some background
 Introduced in August 2004
 Enabled by two elements:
 RSS enclosures (Dave Winer)
 Podcatching software (Adam Curry)
 Initially one podcast:
“Daily Source Code” with Adam Curry
 Today: Over 100,000 podcasts, millions of listeners
 Mainstream media is podcasting
 July 2005:
Apple adds podcast support to iTunes

4. What makes podcasts desirable?
Listen while doing something else
Time-shifted content
(Think TiVo for audio content)
Narrowcasted audiences
Detached from the computer
Alternative content
Unregulated content

5. Finding and subscribing
to podcasts

11. Producing
Podcasts

12. What businesses are podcasting?
 The Walt Disney
Company
 General Motors
 Purina
 Virgin Atlantic
 Oracle
 TV Guide
 Jupiter Research
 NPR (nat. pub. Radio)
 BMC Software
 iPressRoom
 BBC

13. The technology bit
The bare minimum
A USB microphone (about $10-$50)
Recording / editing software (free)
Audacity (Mac and Windows)
http://audacity.sourcefourge.net
Garage band on Mac
Windows movie maker
Propaganda

15. ID3 tags
 A tagging format for MP3 files
 Metadata includes:
Title
Artist
Album
Track
 View them in players
PC (iTunes, etc.)
Digital devices (iPod, etc.)

18. Upload the file
FTP
Automated processes
LibSyn (Liberated Syndication)

19. Update your RSS feed
Automatic if you use a blog
Simple software to use if you don’t

20. Link to your feed

21. Business
Podcasting

22. The communications role
Strategize the podcast
Audience
Goal(s)
Focus
Find a host or hosts
Develop a format
Draft agendas
Coaching

23. Potential uses
Corporate news updates
Product-focused content
Customer-focused content

24. Podcasts on intranets
Corporate news updates
Content for the sales staff
Speeches and meetings
Marketplace updates
Feature material (interviews, analysis)

25. Read more

26. Hands-on
We’re all going to participate in a
podcast!

27. Shel Holtz, ABC
Holtz Communication + Technology
Web: www.holtz.com
Blog: blog.holtz.com
Podcast: www.forimmediaterelease.biz
E-mail: shel@holtz.com
Phone: 415-367-3820 (US)
020-7171-5582 (UK)