Here’s the question–is podcasting really an effective means of marketing your business?

Let’s look at the advantages:

• podcast listeners are usually fairly affluent
• they choose to listen to your podcast because they are interested in whatever subject matter you bring them
• they can take it with them on their iPhone or iPod
• they can listen at the gym
• they can listen at work
• they can listen at home
• over time, they get to know you because they listen to you regularly
• after a while, you are in their mind whenever the subject you podcast about comes up
• since they think about you, they talk about you to other people

I recently attended the GSATC (Greenville Spartanburg Anderson Technology Council) lunch meeting when Geno Church from Brains on Fire spoke about Word of Mouth Marketing.  His main point at this meeting is that word of mouth marketing is not about an ad campaign here and an ad campaign there.  It’s about creating a movement.  Getting people connected to your organization in such a way that they become willing, happy ambassadors for you.  It’s about creating relationships.

When you think about how a podcast works–audio files that you can subscribe to via iTunes; that you can listen to almost anywhere; that becomes a regular occurrence in the lives of your listeners–it seems that this could be a prime tool to ramp up relationship building with people that may otherwise never even find you.  No one can be everywhere all the time.  Most contact networks do not have the kind of reach that iTunes does.

Here’s the challenge:  Give it some thought–if you were going to start your own podcast, what would it be about?

Here are a few quick ideas:

• A home builder might start a Laying the Foundation podcast and talk all about quality building materials and the new ones that come out all the time for this industry.
• A plumber could start a podcast called Pipes–a podcast that introduces you to the various types of piping material available and the pros and cons of each; how to use each type; how to change out faucets and connect the new faucet to the existing pipes, etc.
• An interior designer might podcast a show called Dreamy Drapes or Coordinated Colors–episodes could feature information about how to match the sofa, easy chair, walls, floor, ceiling; understanding color theory; color clues for the interested homeowner; curtain conundrums–fabric choices, colors, purpose of drapes, etc.

Starting a podcast takes a commitment–you must be disciplined to record your podcast episodes regularly and fill them with good information in order to grow your listening audience. It’s better to not even start a podcast if you can’t commit to making it a regular habit.

Podcasting questions?  Ask us — leave a comment.  If you have a question, other people probably have that same question, too.  Leave us a comment and we will answer your question as best we can.

This morning I had the opportunity to speak to the Golden Strip Business Network of PNC in Simpsonville, SC. I spoke on RSS: Blogging and Podcasting - Distributing your message to the web and beyond. I was prepared with small speaker system for my iPod to demonstrate some podcast and a projector to show my Keynote presentation on the subject but the restaurant was not conducive to using either one.

My presentation however did go very well and those in attendance did ask a lot of questions on the topic which I Iove because it helped me focus on the subject at hand and I know they were interested in learning more. It’s also amazing that I will learn new terms I probably should have know but for some reason I missed hearing about.

It’s not entirely related to blogging and podcasting per se but I was asked by one lady, “Is that what a squeeze page is?” admitted I didn’t know that term but would look it up and blog about it. A squeeze page refers to a web page that is designed to compel visitors to “opt-in” to your web site. This is usually done through asking for e-mail addresses so they can be added to an opt-in e-mail list. I mentioned I had never heard the specific term but was familiar with a “landing page” and a squeeze page is a sort of landing page. I can see where this person was confused however because I did mention one can “subscribe” to a blog however the big difference is if you have newsreader software, use smart bookmarks or online services that read and import updates from blog you don’t have to provide an e-mail address or give personal information. Those are two different means of “subscription.” A squeeze page is “squeezing” something out of you like and e-mail address in exchange for their information.

While squeeze pages are not always a bad thing I think I really need to communicate the idea behind the totally free RSS subscription.

Another person asked if a blog was something someone else used to write on your web site. I explained that while a person can leave a comment on your blog the owner of the blog/website is the one who either does the writing or is responsible for seeing someone within their organization does it. This however did lead to a great conversation on the subject of commenting on blogs. I explained that when I was giving my presentation I was essentially “blogging” in person and when they were asking questions or sharing their thoughts they were “commenting.” Blogging can very much be a like a business network meeting or seminar except it’s online and you don’t have to be their in person all the time.

One final question I was asked was, “Do you build web sites?” I actually mentioned that in my introduction but after talking for so long about blogging and podcasting I guess the idea seemed totally separate and different. Yes, our major product is web site development however all of our site have the build in functionality for our clients to log into their web sites and post updates without touching the web site design itself.

I hope this follow up not only help those who attended the meeting this morning but also others who find the vast terminology confusing. Any other questions?

Episode 002 is an introduction to blogging. What it is, how we discovered it and some of the basics. Future episodes will go into more detail about the finer points of blogging.

I wrote two posts lately expressing frustration when some people don’t “get” what I perceive is basic concepts in the technical realm. I admit I’m human and it’s very easy to think that just because I have figured something out that it should remain that way or others should immediately grasp what I think is needed to know.

Sometimes it’s not even a matter of being technical but simply remembering to be courteous. For some reason during our last web site update I left our address and phone # off our contact page where we have a contact form. A new client pointed this out when he had a hard time trying to contact us while on the road. This goes totally against what we are about and we sincerely apologize for leaving this critical information off! It’s there now by the way.

Usually when we think of anything “technical” we tend to thing of added complexity to our life. If this is the case then the whole point of technical advances have failed. While innovation can involve technology, the point of innovation should be to make our lives easier instead of more difficult. An innovation on the Internet was the domain name system that made it so we didn’t have to remember a long string of numbers but rather an easy to remember name. Granted some names are easier to remember than others but you get the point, I hope.

At SpinningSilk Multimedia We call ourselves, New Media Developers because we don’t want to “put ourselves in a box” with the web designer or web developer title. Yes, web design and development comprises about 80% of what we currently do for our customers but we are also working on other new media projects like web optimized photography, podcasting, text messaging and as GPS or related location based tech become more popular in mobile devices we are certainly aware of the need of location based tech as a tool for clients to use.

There is a lot of tech I love but i will admit I’m not totally happy with current forms. The web browser certainly needs further innovation in terms of the “address bar.” Personally I’m fine with it but they are a lot of people out there who are tripped up by the address bar in which they think the Google search box on the Google home page is the address bar. As much as I love RSS readers I’m not exactly happy that they work as a stand alone program or service. Yes, I know RSS reading is built into some e-mail clients and web browsers but it’s not quite the same. RSS itself was an innovation but the user experience for the masses needs to be innovated in that area. E-mail it’s not innovative in terms of being mastered and used well. By default it’s not secure, it’s not suited for sending large attachments (which a lot of people use it for) and junk mail is a major problem too many of us tolerate. Finally as much as I love podcasting and the iPods or iPhone I listen to them on I wish it their was an easier way for people to access them through other services than iTunes or have to use an iPod (As much as I like and use those products).

As I look around my office I appreciate the following innovations that are innovations because while technical have made my life and enjoyment of it easier;

1.) My laptop computer with wireless built in
2.) My wireless router
3.) My digital camera - I take a lot more photos now than I did with my old film camera that required me to get the images “developed”
4.) Rechargeable Batteries - So Thankful I don’t have to go out and buy new batteries every time they run out of energy!
5.) My Optical Mouse - So glad I have to deal with those nasty rubber track balls anymore
6.) My iPhone - I love the touch screen and simple controls. This is the first phone I felt I could really use and access all the features
7.) Air Conditioning - I’m humbled and happy that I can sit in a room at 75 degrees when it’s closer to 95 degrees outside.
8.) High Speed Internet - It wasn’t too long ago that dial up or even no Internet at all was the norm.
9.) Software - As complex and technical as it is it is truly a blessing to be able edit photos, sound files, keep a database, write article and other documents and well as communicate with other people on the same machine.
10.) A chair with wheels - this one sounds really simple and old school but when someone put wheels on a chair that was an innovation!

What innovations have made life simpler for you? It can be something as advanced as an advanced material, medical device or electronic gear or as basic as an organizing shelf or method. What innovations would you like to see in terms of web sites, photography, podcasting, etc?

A topic I don’t see addressed near enough is where do you draw the line between dumbing down or simplifying technical concepts to the typical “non-techie.”

Of course I believe anything technical should be as “user-friendly” as possible. I hate most TV remote controls and despise a web service that requires a complicated login procedure. Their is however a difference between making something easy to use and the attitude of not wanting to use something in the first place because it’s “technical.”

In the course of history we have seen many technological advances and during those times we have seen resistance. This is not specific to the “information age” or “computers.” As many seem to say they know nothing about.

At one time radio and television were new and strange. We still for the most part have to deal with “tuning to a frequency” or channel or station which uses a number or call letters. With that which now seems more “geeky?” tuning an FM radio to 90.1 (my local NPR station) or going to a web browser and remember to type in npr.org?

I remember in high school taking a class called, Typing on an ancient and unwieldy device known as a “typewriter.” To this day having to remember “picas”, manual carriage returns, and the madness of figuring out how to center a headline or paragraph still makes me scratch my head but I’m still glad I took the class because even know the principles I learned help me with the software equivalents I use.

I suppose this is an area I struggle with because I crave learning new things, especially in the areas of technology and multimedia be it new devices, software, techniques, etc. It almost pains me when I get blank stares when I mention podcasts, blogs, RSS etc. Those are things I love and have experienced great value using. I have often been “warned” by the leadership of groups I was going to speak to on those subjects to “not get too technical” at the risk of “speaking over their heads.” Are you a business person who desires to learn the value of new technologies but are often lost in your understanding? Have you been to computer user groups where they seem to constantly rehash the “beginner stuff?” What topics in the technical field do you think business people need to be better educated about? If I could focus on just one topic on this blog for the next week or so which topic would you like to see addressed and explained how it could benefit your business, organization or personal productivity?

• Business Blogging?
• Social Networking (Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Forums, etc.)
• New Media
• Podcasting
• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• Digital Photography
• Video
• Online Virtual Office

Can you think of anything else?