Let’s start from the top here.  Does everyone know what a podcast is?  If you do, skip the next paragraph.  If not, you need to know so keep reading.

“A podcast is simply audio content connected to an RSS feed.  The medium does not specifically require iPods although that’s how the word was derived.  You can listen to a podcast on an iPod (or any other MP3 player) or directly from your computer – no iPod required.”

Simply put, podcasts are another way to reach your audience.  Some people prefer to read information (whitepaper downloaders), some prefer to participate in events and other prefer to have access to information they can consume on their own time at their own pace.

Podcasts have become a viable option in our marketing toolkit.  David includes a few good ideas to help get you thinking about how you might use podcasts as a part of your marketing mix and I threw in a few ideas too.

• Customer service depts. can use podcasts to deliver “how to” information about the products a customer has bought
• Podcasts are great for marketing to a mobile/traveling audience.
• Podcasts can be lead generation offer options - “You’re 5 minutes away from learning…”
• Don’t forget to turn your webcasts into multiple podcasts for niche targeting
• Instead of writing another dreaded customer case study, consider interviewing them live and creating a podcast to post to your website.