Small Business Podcasting
Podcasting, or Netcasting is an area that many small or home based business owners overlook. Today, it takes very little to create your own radio or television program with little or no outlay. In this article we will discuss the why’s and how-to’s of this subject.
Why:
The biggest and most expensive issue for most small businesses is marketing and advertising. Every small business owner has a message they want to get out to their designated demographics. Creating a Video On Demand (VOD) or Audio On Demand (AOD) program can help in this endeavor. Running an ad on a radio or television station is no longer guaranteed to reach your target audience. This is because, these mediums are not the only way your current and future customers receive their content.
Content:
Once you have made the choice to do it, now you need to decide what to use for content. This of course depends on your business and your target audience. Its a no-brainer for Real Estate or Mortgage Brokers, but for other types of businesses it becomes a little more difficult. Many businesses will do a show that discusses their upcoming sales, discounts, etc., where others will focus on community events or a meet the owner type of program. This is totally up to you. The point for many is that, as your customers start to follow your show, they learn more about your business, the owner and staff. Its all about building relationships.
Software:
The tools that you will need, will of course depend on what type of show you plan on doing. Some start out with just an audio show, then move up to video. Much of this will depend on your audience. Following are some suggestions that we have used to help our clients set up their own shows with:
| Free | Not So Free |
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Hardware:
Hardware again depends on the format of your show. For most shows you will want to have a computer that has a built-in webcam or you will need to purchase a USB Webcam. The other item that we recommend is a microphone headset. You wont need to purchase the most expensive on either of these items, but don’t buy the cheapest either.
Where To Upload:
Making your show easily found is not as difficult as it sounds. Below are some sites that you can upload your finished product to. It is highly recommended that you have a blog to create an RSS feed of your show. This will make it easily found by Google and other search engines. There are many free blogging platforms available such as Blogger, WordPress, and TypePad. It is also possible to add a blog to your current site, this is probably the most desirable.
- Your Website
- iTunes: Desktop Install
- YouTube: http://youtube.com
- Feedburner: http://feedburner.com
Well Thats It…Happy Casting.
Sample Video:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk06RAi5gjU
Categories: All, Business, Featured, WordPress Tags: based business owners, building relationships, Content Once, Happy Casting, netcasting, Sample Video, Skype, small business owner, Software, target audience
My Perfect Mobile Device!
Perfect and Mobile is an Oxymoron!
First off as this is my rant, I want to define my frustration with mobile carriers:
- Early Termination Fees - Why does a company feel that they need to hold me hostage to make sure I stay a customer? Most companies do this with good products and customer service.
- Misleading Programs – The concept of unlimited data as long as you don’t go over a limit, somehow negates the term: Unlimited.
- Locked Down Devices – Devices that are restricted on what they can do, when the manufacturer has built these functionalities into the device.
I know I’m not alone in this, but these items are some of the reasons I am considering Cricket Mobile for my next venture into the mobile world. From my research, they have no contracts and when they say unlimited, there is no limits.
Read more…
Categories: All, Editorial Tags: degree rotation, e book reader, Gizmo5, Google Voice, mini laptop, Mobile, mobile carriers, My Perfect Mobile Device, Skype, voice over ip
1 Number To Rule Them All
Google Voice – One Killer Web App
Does Google have Skype on the menu? Voice Over IP (VoIP) is one of the hottest topics around. There has even been talk of late that the traditional P.O.T. network may be going to transition to VoIP in the future. I have written previously on this subject, but of late there has been some new additions to this service. Google Voice, or Grandcentral, it’s previous name is one of the most simple concepts when it comes to telephony. One Number for all of your other numbers.
The original concept of Grandcentral was to have one number that would ring all of your other numbers or certain numbers at a predetermined time. This in itself is a concept that is so simple it borders on brilliant. Read more…
Categories: All, Google, Tips & Tricks Tags: Gizmo5, google, Google Phone, Google Voice, open source project, Skype, voice over ip voip, voice transcription, voip market, voip service
iPod Touch= PDA, Game Box, or WiFi Phone
I just recently purchased my first Apple product; an iPod Touch 8G. This is not a review but more of a testamony on the platform and How To Use This As A WiFi Phone.
Let me be clear this is the new or 2nd Generation of the iPod Touch. This all started in a research project on how to stop paying my cell phone carrier the unbelivable prices that I pay them on a monthly basis.
Important: Prior to considering this option, it is imprortant for you to consider whether you require always on access to a cell phone. For me, I realized that I dont and that my job as a technology consultant keeps me on the road and their are ample public WiFi hotspots in my community. If you dont have access to public WiFi or you are in a rual area, this might not be a good option.
Categories: All, Articles, Mobile Tags: authenication, Blackberry Curve, Gizmo5, Google Voice, PDA, rual area, Skype, unbelivable prices, wifi hotspots
Cell Phone and Google
Cell Phone Tips and Google Voice.
Here are a few methods to maximize your cell phone minutes. They are not illegal just a little sneaky. I am currently working with Alltel and on a Blackberry Curve. Two of these methods require a smartphone and the third should work on any phone with Alltel My Circle.
My Circle is an alltel specific program that allows you to specifi a number and then any calls to or from that number will not count against your plan min.
Read more…
Categories: All, Android, Tips & Tricks Tags: Blackberry Curve, exchange number, google, Google Voice, ISKOOT, Skype
