Podcasting 101

May06
18

Two years ago, the term “podcast” didn’t exist. Today a Google search for the term renders 244,000,000 results. Despite its popularity amongst more active web users, podcasting remains a fairly alien concept for the average casual internet ‘surfer’. Together with blogs, wikis and other social web technologies, podcasts are helping to democratize the World Wide Web as a media publishing platform.

The word podcast is a mash-up of ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcasting’, and is loosely defined as a method of distributing audio (and in some cases video) content over the internet for download and playback on mobile audio devices (such as Apple’s iconic iPod) or personal computers. Note that you don’t need to own an iPod to enjoy the benefits of podcasting. Podcasting is best understood as another kind of radio, as the content remains very radio-like. Everything else is different though…

Podcasts are generally produced by non-professionals (citizens like you and I), and so podcasting is a medium that fulfils many a childhood DJ fantasy! Podcasts are not continuous streams of content, like radio, but rather broken up into programs or shows for piece-by-piece consumption. Podcasts are free for download and distribution. Podcasts very seldom contain ads, so your listening is not interrupted by irritable advertising. With podcasts, YOU dictate which content gets sent to you, and have the option of listening to it where and when you want. Relevant audio content, delivered automatically to your computer, on your terms, for free. It’s quality talk radio the way you want it. Take five minutes to peruse the iTunes podcast preview - I highly recommend the iTunes software.

Podcasting has applications within companies as a fresh, innovative internal communications tool. One of my clients uses podcasting as an alternative to the age-old (and severely neglected) sales representative call report. Reps record their sales call on a digital Dictaphone and upload a podcast for real-time consumption by their corresponding sales manager. CEO’s are recording their ‘thought for the day’ on a Dictaphone while commuting to work, and distributing the file as a podcast for the leisurely consumption of staff.

Want to get started? Need to know more?

If you’re keen to take the next step and delve in to the citizen broadcasting galaxy, www.iTunes.com is the best place to start.

If you want to find out more about the histroy and mechanics of podcasting, the Wikipedia article is very informative.

To find out how to listen to books (I’ve just downloaded Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point and Blink for only $9.99) via audio, visit Audible.com.

For South Africa’s leading expert in the podcasting space, check out Derek Richardson’s Sound Republic.

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