What is podcasting, and how can you use it?

Podcasting is a new way for people to communicate with each other. Podcasting can be used in any type of setting, whether you are looking to communicate with your friends, deliver lectures to an online class, or want to promote your business. Podcasting is really very simple, all that podcasting consists of is a downloadable audio file. This file can be of anything from kids goofing off to a professional podcast with someone giving a speech, but it will have added sound effects or even theme music. Podcasting is a new way to get out any type of message.

One of the best things about podcasting is that making and creating a podcast is really simple. In fact it is just as easy as making and creating secure content for your blog and making it available through an RSS feed. Once you know what you want to convey to your users podcasts can be made using software that will create it for you. This software can be purchased or you can find software online that is free to users. The great thing about a podcast is that once you have created the podcast all your potential users have to do is click on a link to download the podcast. Once clicking on the link the podcast can be downloaded to an MP3 player, iPod, a computer, or they can simply listen to the podcast through your website.

Another great feature about podcasting is that you can use it for numerous purposes. There is no right or wrong way to use a podcast, and since it is a downloadable audio file you can share your podcast with your close friends and relatives or you can share it with the world. Here are some popular ways that podcasts are currently being used.

Have you ever taken an online course? If so your college might have used podcasts to deliver some of your course media. Many colleges are using podcasts on their websites for the students to download lectures to listen to at their convenience. But this does not mean that podcasting can not be used further in the education system. Podcasting can be used for oral reports and teaching children how to work in teams but so far it has not caught on because the funds have not yet been set aside in the budget so if teachers wanted to use podcasting in their classrooms they would have to pay for it out of pocket. Podcasting can also be used in education to teach a foreign language or to give step by step instructions for a project. When you are doing multiple podcasts on the same subject, such as teaching a foreign language

You can use podcasts to send audio letters to friends; this is especially helpful if you don't want to pay long distance charges to talk on the phone. You can also use podcasts to create your own talk show, or fun classes. Podcasts can also be used to tape bedtime stories for your kids if you are out of town or any other thing you can think of. The great thing about podcasts is that you can get as creative as you want or you can keep it short and simple.

Podcasting is not just for education or personal messages; it can also be used in the business world. Many companies are creating podcasts to help with their marketing and advertising. Companies use podcasts to share interviews, testimonials and a variety of other features with their customers in hopes of obtaining their business. Podcasts can also be used as audio books, which can be a mini book about a new product that your company is offering, etc.

Just keep in mind that the items above are only some of the ways that podcasts can be used, the only limit to podcasting is the limit your creative side has. Since the basic podcast is an audio file that is downloadable they can be used by anybody for pretty much anything.