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Create your own podcast and get even more fans!

Podcasting is another revolution. Cable? On Demand television? Soon to be replaced by the podcast.

How does podcasting work?

1- Download a podcatcher. First download a tool to subscribe to and download podcast's. They call these podcatchers. You can get one here http://ipodder.sourceforge.net/download/index.php

2- Search. Next search for a podcast that covers the topic you are interested in. You can use google to find podcast directories or you can use your new ipodder program and search the directory that comes with it.

3- Copy and paste. When you find a podcast you like copy and paste the url to the feed. This should be able to be obtained right on the website (they should provide that link).

4- Check for feeds. Click the check feed button (in your podcatching software) and you're done!

5- Download. Content downloads to you automatically and the best part of all is that when your information source puts up a new podcast it will start downloading automatically as well.

How can this new technology benefit you and why should you create your own podcast?

1- Podcasting solves the issue of spam. With podcasting there are no email addresses involved. People can subscribe and unsubscribe as they please and that means that people are more likely to give your podcast a try. In this day and age of spam people are very hesitant about giving out their email address. Podcasting eliminates this objection for you.

2- Podcasting solves the problem of spam filters. So you have your newsletter but about half the subscribers never get your email because of spam filters. Podcasting doesn't get a filter. You're either a subscriber or you aren't so in this way the number of podcasting subscribers is a true number. That's going to be more and more important as podcasting continues to grow. Record execs, managers, etc are all going to be interested in your "customer reach". Podcasting can give you an edge.

3- Flexibility of use and content. Podcasting isn't just for audio, it's for video too! Below we've listed lots of ideas for content you can provide your fans. With podcasting you are more than a musical act.. you're an entertainment channel!

• Live bootlegs. Letting the fans tape and distribute live bootlegs of their concerts worked incredibly well for the Grateful Dead. By offering free "lower production" versions of your music you can give away a free sample without giving away the goods. Live bootlegs are also interesting because they give a much more candid and personal snapshot of who and what you really are. Comments over the mic in between songs can be fun and memorable. They go a long way towards getting your personality out there and that means stronger branding.
• Interviews. Fans want to know about their music idols. The more you tell the more interesting you might become. College radio station DJ's can be a great way to get your band interviewed and podcast's will mean every subscriber will get a copy.
• Video. Whether you make a live video of your last show or just decide to have fun with a camera and use your music as the soundtrack, video can be a great type of content for your subscribers. Be funny! Be creative! It doesn't all have to be about the music.. it can be live video coverage of the bassist getting a tattoo, or the singer shaving his head, or of another band doing one of your songs as a cover. Whatever you want to do that others will enjoy watching.
• Special releases. Maybe you've written a song that you like a lot.. but the style is a little different from the rest of your music. You know you're fans would appreciate it, but marketability may not be its best asset so you don't want to spend a lot on production, etc. Why not make a low production but fun version of it and podcast it?

4- Podocasting offers its own set of promotional opportunities. Did you think you had enough to worry about trying to undertsand search engines, newsgroups, newsletters, and all the other (now) traditional methods of promoting your music on the internet? Well now you can add another! Podcasting isn't just a new technology, it comes with it's own means of promotion and promotional networks as well. In our up coming newsletters we'll talk about ways you can promote your new podcasts!

More to come..