In order to stay up with the vast amount of competition for any online business, it is necessary to embrace new forms of online advertising and marketing media with Web 2.0 tools.
Simply optimising your site is not enough to gain new visitors and increase your sales. One of the newest ways to promote your e-commerce business is through the use of Podcasts.
Much the same as online video content for your website, a podcast is a very effective way to market your business in an entertaining medium that will make potential customers stand up and take notice.
What Is A Podcast?
Podcasts are a specific medium developed to be compatible with the iPhone and other electronic gadgets meant to function as more than just cellular phones. It is estimated that more than 40 million Apple iPhones have been sold since they were first offered in 2004. These days, there are any number of manufacturers continually coming out with new products meant to compete with the extraordinarily popular iPhone.
With a Blackberry or an iPhone, consumers are able to download content from your website straight to their small screens and view it at their leisure. This opens up an entirely new way for businesses to market to individuals who have expressed a real interest in particular products or services. After all, they would not download the content if it did not appeal to them.
Podcasts also give you a captive audience. At the very least, most viewers will watch your video through the first minute or so.
Tips For Creating Effective Podcasts
Much the same as creating any other type of content on your website, Podcasts need to be interesting, informative, and entertaining and grab attention. Anything you can produce that provides a real benefit to the viewer is a good form of marketing. Try creating a how-to type of video, or one that educates the viewer.
You may want to start by creating pieces that don’t focus at all on outright marketing of your company and its offerings. The idea is to lure consumers in with an entertaining piece and save your sales pitches for after the relationship has been established. When you do create a podcast for more direct marketing purposes, keep it short and to the point.
Current music is a good adjunct to your message. Be sure that the type of music matches the interest of your target market. If you are trying to reach young adults, classical music is probably not the best choice. But don’t be fooled into thinking only young people are utilising devices that can play podcasts. Many older professionals rely on the various ways that an iPhone or Blackberry can help them save time.
Another idea for using podcasts is to become a sponsoring advertiser. Let another company create the video while your ad helps promote your own brand awareness. For example, if you sell cookbooks, see if your advertisement can be featured on a cooking demonstration podcast. This is not only cheaper than going to the expense of producing the video yourself, it improves your reputation when you partner with a popular entity.
Podcasts present an exciting new opportunity for online businesses to reach their target markets effectively and in an entertaining manner. There is a large number of consumers who will willingly listen to your marketing message via their iPhone.
See you at the top of Google!
Sean Rasmussen
SEO Australia Pacific
AussieSEO.com © 2007 - 2010
Hi Sean,
Podcasts are something I’ve been meaning to look into doing. I definitely want to experiment with new ways of reaching my readers. I really like your idea about becoming a sponsoring advertiser.
Tonight I saw that you can get a wordpress plugin for the iPhone. The plugin makes sure that your blog can easily be read on an iPhone. Okay, you’re probably laughing at me right about now. But, I didn’t know it was out there and now that I do, I’m going to start using it.
There’s something about the iPad that has made me give much more thought to how I can get information and my site in front of people.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Learn and Earn Competition – This is It =-.
Hi Sean.
I am an avid fan of Podcasts as I have a few friends who ‘star’ in them from time to time. I never thought of using them for my online internet marketing business.
Keeping them ‘short and sweet’ for direct marketing purposes also reflects the way we need to present material on our sites when made compatible with iPhones or Blackberry’s, and this is something I definitely am willing to learn. I want to keep up with market trends and be ahead in my field.
I also love the idea of sponsored advertising and will be seeking out this avenue because I can see that the networking possibilities are mind boggling. Thanks for all this great information
.-= Elly´s last blog .. =-.
Podcasting is another technology that I haven’t paid much attention to in the past. I don’t have an iPhone, Blackberry or similar device that would let me listen to podcasts while on the go. I have listened to the odd podcast but normally haven’t been too impressed. Maybe I’ve just listened to the wrong ones. I can definitely see the advantage of “using Podcasts for Internet Marketing” so I guess I’ll have to jump on the bandwagon in an attempt to utilise all the tools available for the potential Internet Marketer.
.-= Don White´s last blog ..I Learn to Play Guitar – Part 1 =-.
Hi Sean,
Using Podcasts For Online Marketing is another marketing tool to consider. I am now aware that this option for advertising is available.
It can not be overlooked if it means that my site can be viewed by people with ease on their iPhone or on a Blackberry.
.-= Jill Brown´s last blog ..Couples Marry at Common Law =-.