Podcasting Your Way To Profits
By Jason Tarasi, Sat Dec 10th

Copyright 2005 Jason Tarasi

Let's take a quick stroll through the world of marketing to seewhat it was, what it became and what it now is...

Era 1 - newspaper, magazines, radio broadcasts, direct mail,telemarketing, cold calling, television, infomercials...

Era 2 - websites, banner ads, reciprocal links, ezinepublishing, search engine optimization, pay-per-click, opt-inemail, blogs...

Enter Era 3 - marketing via podcasts?

Similar to the concept of opt-in email, podcasting takes fulladvantage of technology in reaching a pre-qualified,self-selected audience that craves the information and expertisea podcaster provides. Podcasting gives the strategy ofestablishing yourself as an expert a whole new playground.

Podcasting is the ultimate tool for reaching a fully-qualifiedtarget audience. A podcast is an audio broadcast published tothe internet. The broadcast is delivered to subscribers via afeed, usually in an MP3 file format.

For years consulting and service companies have realized thatthe way to a client's heart is through information sharing. Beit through trade shows, conferences, seminars, newsletters, orfree articles, providing useful information on a topic thatpotential clients are interested in grabs them - hook, line andsinker.

When a prospect first subscribes to a podcast, they likelyaren't ready to buy products or services from the podcaster'scompany. Chances are they are just getting their feet



wet,searching for information. With useful information delivered viaa podcast day after day, weekly or monthly, the receiver willrealize the value of the expertise demonstrated. Thus, when theyare ready to become buyers rather than browsers, the podcasterhas the lead.

As an advertising medium podcasts can be used just like anewsletter or press release. For instance, a tax consulting firmmay publish a monthly newsletter giving updates on tax laws,information about tax shelters, tips for tax deductions andnotification of available services. The newsletters will likelycontain contact information and will encourage readers tocontract the services of the tax consulting firm.

A podcast can be used in the same way. The only difference is,the news and information is delivered via an audio broadcastrather than through an electronic or print newsletter.

There are many advantages to podcasting. In comparison to othertypes of advertising, it is relatively inexpensive. Podcasts aredelivered to a targeted audience, leave a lasting impression onsubscribers and establish the provider as an expert in thefield. Regularly published podcasts keep the provider's name andcontact information fresh in the minds of the recipients andvast amounts of business can be obtained as a result.

About the author:Jason Tarasi publishes the reciprocal links newsletter "EliteLinks" Learn HOW thousands of other Elite Links members generateFREE traffic and increase their search engine rankings byswapping links. Grab your free lifetime subscription now at:http://www.elitelinksnewsletter.com

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