Podcasts are revolutionizing the way businesses connect with their consumers. Along with other Web 2.0 options such as blogging, viral marketing and social networking, podcasting puts the customer in direct contact with a businesses product or service. Regardless of your business type there is an effective way to create and utilize podcast.
Talk show style podcast: In a talk show style podcast the host may discuss current events and then interview a guest or several guests. The talk show format can also include round table discussions where several guest and the host discuss hot button issues. Podcast usually take their example from TV style talk shows and news.
Radio style podcast: Music podcast are sure to keep an audience coming back, for the latest in music and news. You can customize a podcast for any genre of music, from newest hits, to unsigned artist to exploring classical music or music history. Radio style podcast can also combine music with talk segments to cover celebrities, politics, environmental issues, literature, history and more.
Educational style podcast: Teachers and those with expert knowledge can use podcast to provide additional information and interview experts to provide additional knowledge. Teachers can even record lectures and discussions to allow students to access information later. For example, a Spanish foreign language teacher could create a podcast to teach students basic numbers, letters and phrases and grammar to increase comprehension of Spanish. Science and technology shows are also being used to inform listeners.
Business style podcast: For entrepreneurial startups and experts a podcast that share business knowledge and teach beginners the ins and outs of running a success business are popular. A podcast could also be used for distributing business conferences and seminars to others in your industry unable to attend in person.
Tour podcast: Run a travel related business. Podcasting could be a way of offering customized features and products useful to your core customer base. Audio tour podcast can be used to offer a guided walking tour of a specific city or tourist destination. A tour podcast can also be used in art galleries and museums when tour guides are unavailable.
Infomercial style: Podcast designed exclusively to sell a business product or service may rely on the infomercial or advertising podcast. Even though you want your podcast to help sell your business, the podcast still needs to be of value to listeners. Infomercial style podcast allows a business to sell to their client but entertain them at the same time.
There are endless choices for your podcasting topic, to help narrow down your choice make a list. For small businesses review industry, the types of product or service offered, demographics about your clientele, even reviewing your competition can help you gain ideas. Podcast can also be used to simply record information and provide to a larger audience. For instance, a preacher could record sermons and offer online to interested parties living in different areas or unable to attend. Regardless of the industry type there is niche that can help make your podcast a success.
Whether the company is a large corporation or a small business, using podcasts to help streamline internal operations can save time, money and help streamline resources. Podcasts can be utilized by most departments and can be tailored so they are relevant to all employees. The following are some ways businesses can implement podcasts to help run a more efficient company by educating its global team.
One of the most beneficial tools for employees, Podcasts can be used by the Human Resources Department to help provide overviews on employee benefits, hiring processes, company training, retirement planning, and other frequently discussed topics. The benefits of having this recorded information allow professionals to address other concerns while providing a podcast that presents the same information to all employees. If implementing this method for your organization, consider using a video podcast. These podcasts can be used during orientation or as part of a benefits and information yearly refresher brief.
Links to company overviews, recruiting processes, benefits and other relevant items for prospective employees can be uploaded to the “Careers” section of the company’s website. This saves the Human Resources Department both time and money from having to interview prospective employees only to find out they are in disagreement with the company’s policies or procedures.
Just like their video counterparts, audio podcasts are also great tools for instructing both new and seasoned employees. Whether it is providing supplemental information to accompany a training manual or functioning as a companion to a new technology update, audio podcasts allow employees to use their hands and eyes to complete a task while listening to important instructions. Another great business use for audio podcasts is for evaluation purposes. Having a uniform recording made that clarifies employee expectations and states how employees’ performance evaluations are calculated allows for all-around communication throughout the entire workforce.
In addition to core workers, vendors, merchandisers and outside contractors can all view company podcasts to understand a business’ policy on vendor relations. Additionally, temporary workers, volunteers and interns can learn about expectations and job requirements by viewing or listening to a podcast. Since many companies also have employees who are shareholders, meetings regarding the company’s performance can be recorded and viewed in a central location; in order to keep employees and other shareholders abreast of any changes, profits or performance issues.
Both audio and video podcasts are effective meeting tools for telecommuting, remote, and multi-branch location workers. Company directives, sales’ goals, policy changes and other important events can be recorded and broadcasted via podcast to help unify all company workers. By utilizing podcasts for remote workers, costly business trips, miscommunication and lack of company objectives can all be avoided.
While podcasts are great tools to help draw customers in and retain them, they work equally as well to help recruit and retain talent. Having essential information available for employees to listen or view not only frees up supervisors to work on another task, but also allows the employee to view the podcast at his/her leisure, thus allowing the workday to remain interrupted.
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