Don't Podcast Yet - Read This Article

Many online marketers have heard the buzz about podcasting, and it's only natural that they want to find out what it's all about and start their own podcast. What better way to promote your own product by producing the show? It does seem like a reasonable assumption, until the hosts experience burnout.

Hosting a podcast takes a lot of work. Each episode you need to come up with a topic, schedule the interviews and work around the schedule of others to get them done. You have to assemble the show into something that sounds professional. To gain listenership, you need to promote and market the show. Finally, you have to release the show on time and consistently. The more often your show is produced, the tighter your schedule is.

Many business podcasters don't take all these into consideration. After a few episodes, they lack vision on the content and lose the desire to keep the show.

Does that mean businesses shouldn't use podcasts? Not at all. There are other ways you can leverage podcasts. The key is to take advantage of the large number of podcasts already out there and to view them as mini internet radio stations.

Try advertising on podcasts to promote your products. Instead of starting one in your target niche, seek out podcasts that are already started and having loyal listener ships. There is a podcast out there for just about every topic, from babies, to college, to home based business. Head over to iTunes or any podcast directory and do a search for podcasts that are directly related to the topic you'd like to reach listeners in. Some podcasts may not have an advertising plan already in place, so contact the host and pitch them an offer.

Be a guest. Some podcasts are very influential. To listeners, guests seem important and by virtue of association, you and your company is viewed in a positive light - assuming of course the interview is a positive one. By appearing as a guest on a show, you also get a much longer time to present your product. In addition, guests come across as experts in their field. So this is a great advantage to build recognition.

Be a contributor. Podcasters are always on the look out for good content to help them fill up the time. Contact a podcaster in your niche and offer to be a contributor to their show. Let them know you will be sending them over short, concise segments that will be of real value to their listeners. Advertise your product by mentioning your website URL in those segments. They would probably give you a chance since you help make their work easier, for free.

Though this means you will still need to produce your own segment and spend a little time doing so, it's nowhere near like doing your own show. Also, you can dig up your old articles or email newsletters and create audio versions of them. This helps you quickly generate segments.

Syndicate it. While you're already creating segments, why not distribute your segment to other interested podcasters. That way, you get more use out of your hard work and you reach a larger group of people.

Remember, when you think of podcasting don't do it all yourself. Find others who are already podcasting and think of ways that you can help them. You'll often be able to get yourself some great exposure for little to no money while building yourself as an expert and having people become familiar with your name.

Lynette Chandler helps small businesses utilize technology in their marketing and every day business. Discover how you can use technology to your business's advantage at TechBasedMarketing.com.