Have you Considered Creating a Podcast?

Blogs are great traffic drivers, both for links and acquiring new visitors. But after awhile, they can get stale. Maybe those who post aren’t enjoying the writing process. Or they would rather use another medium for expressing their thoughts. Enter: podcasting.

So, what is a podcast? It is essentially an Internet radio show. You record the show using a microphone and audio recording software. Despite the name, you don’t need an iPod to listen to them – they are usually exported as MP3 files so any portable audio player (or computer) can play them back. Many podcasters, who routinely create weekly shows, use higher end equipment that can incorporate music, drown out background noise, and improve vocal quality. Some of the most popular shows include This Week In Tech and This American Life from Chicago Public Radio.

Topics to discuss on a podcast are a bit different than what you typically find in a blog. The better podcasts usually include multiple people, who are able to take their notes or topic ideas and have an intelligent, yet entertaining, discussion. Humor is always welcome, as long as the jokes are universal and cater to the audience. Inside jokes, while funny to those doing the podcast, will most likely not be understood by your listeners and can bore them.

Once you start to receive traffic, you’ll also begin to get feedback. Not only will you get reviews on sites like iTunes and Podcast Alley, but you’ll also want to receive emails directly. Make sure you supply contact information so this feedback can be easily received.

Once you’ve decided to begin podcasting, here are a few items that you’ll need to start:

1. A USB headset – You can use a microphone that plugs into your sound card, but going USB provides better audio quality since it is a digital connection. Check out Plantronics or Logitech for quality units.
2. Audacity – This free recording/editing software works quite well and supports both Windows and Macintosh.
3. LibSyn – Once you’ve recorded your podcast, LibSyn is a great place to store it. It starts at only $5/month, but is used by many podcasters as a hosting service.

Provided you have employees (or friends) who have a got a good personality, can take part in interesting conversations, and speak well, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t try creating a podcast or two. They are an excellent addition to any sites social media mix and if they are done well, you’ll find a new method of entertaining your site visitors, which will ideally increase the frequency these visitors return to your site.