Promoting your Podcasts 535
Making a podcast is the not so easy part. You need both the creative muscle and the technical tools which include some hardware investment for microphones, recorders and video cams on the side. But that’s just half the work. Next you need to let the world know about it. Your podcast would be useless if your audience do not know it exists.
The internet is such a global delivery medium that it really matters little if you only have a specific geographic audience in mind. And as with any product or service, you have to undertake some traditional modes of announcement to create awareness about your podcast. Here are some of the things you can do to promote your podcast.
1. Press Release.
A Press release is a traditional way to announce what you have, a simple print ad in a highly circulated newspaper or magazine detailing your website and the podcasts available can give the needed public exposure. Depending on the nature of the subject in your podcast, other methods of print releases can add awareness to it. Newsletters, flyers and handouts during special events help. Placing advertorials in specialty journals do it better for select audiences. There are also free online press release directories available.
2. Web Graphics
Add a graphic banner to you web pages to let your visitors know that a podcast is available for your content. Alert them using catchy graphics that podcasts and RSS feeds are available. The podcast flags were traditional bright orange rectangles but these days, creativity and originality is the rule. Ensure that your RSS feed contents describe the podcast adequately using keywords that can be linked to the audio file so the audience can sample the podcast.
A free online RSS graphic tool is available enabling webmasters quickly customize buttons to coordinate their podcast flag to match their website color scheme.
3. Podcast Directories
Submit your podcasts to the podcast directories. They are everywhere on the net. Podcast directories list podcasts covering a wide variety of subjects. You may want to add iTunes tags and list your podcast in the iTunes directory. Podcast search engines and directories are sure to capture a wider audience reach.
4. Join a Forum
It pays to be registered forum member. There are numerous forums on just about any persuasion. Home Theater, entertainment, console gaming, celebrities, sports, stereophiles, gardening, politics, you name it. You can post your website and available podcasts and solicit member feedback and dialogue with your audience. Get their suggestions and you’d be the richer for it. Bear in mind that podcasting is really for your audience and not you.
You sometimes have to be just as creative in promoting your podcasts as making one. There are other ways to promote it. Telling your family members, relatives, friends and office colleagues is perhaps the simplest and easiest to do. And if you’re a rotary club, sports or some elite club member, then you have another avenue to extend awareness of your podcast. Just remember that much like any product that needs promotion, you need to make your audience aware about your podcast. Making a podcast brings you just halfway. Promoting it completes the process.