It was only a matter of time before people got bored with the static look of websites.
Lately we have been seeing more 3D images, rotating images, and audio to accompany a business website. These new tactics hope to… 
catch a reader’s attention and then keep them on the page long enough to get involved. However, this quick and catchy type of work is not always ideal. Many businesses find that they have more knowledge and more expertise that they want to share with customers, and a long static article just isn’t doing the trick.
While the fast paced life of Americans certainly makes it seem as though a catchy headline is the only answer, businesses have discovered something much more exciting—podcasts.
Generally, people love to use their IPods and let someone do the reading for them (hence the continuing popularity of TV and voip business phones systems). Podcasts allow businesses to get their information out to the public without asking consumers to sit down and read an article. This is becoming extremely popular because Americans are always on the move. A podcast can be played while someone is driving in their car, riding the train, or walking to work, and this is something that a traditional article simply cannot offer. When it comes to podcasts remember the alliteration: podcasts are pleasingly portable. Podcasts can be uploaded directly onto a person’s hard drive so the information is ready to go when the person is on the go.
According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 6 million US adults have downloaded a podcast. If you want to get in on the action, consider a few tips that will help you create your own company podcast:
How Your Company Can Get in on the Podcast Action
• Buy a podcast kit—There are now many kits out there that will supply you with all of the equipment you will need to create your first podcast. If you are not interested in buying an all-in-one setup, the materials are generally not expensive. Be sure you have a microphone for each speaker and an audio editing program, and you should be ready to go.
• Write engaging content—You do not want to write a script that is too long or too short. A podcast is not a commercial and it is not a novel. Usually 20 minutes works well for a podcast, and your content should show off your expertise in the field and aim to teach, not sell.
• Consider the frequency—Some companies put out a regular podcast so that listeners will know exactly when to tune-in. This is usually a best practice once a company gets the hang out creating podcasts and locks in a few regular listeners. Until then, a podcast once every few weeks should be appropriate.• Advertise the podcast—People will need to subscribe to your podcast in order to get your podcast heard. Let people know you have created a podcast by putting a link on your website or in a commercial.
Creating a podcast may sound complicating, but in the end most businesses are pleasantly surprised. With the recent popularity of YouTube, there is no denying that video is the future of marketing. If you can spend the time to create a podcast, there is a good chance your company will look a little bit less static in the eyes of the newest generation.
Amanda DiSilvestro is a writer on topics ranging from social media to employee background checks. She writes for an online resource that gives advice on topics including business credit card applications to small businesses and entrepreneurs for the leading B2B Directory, Business.com.
