If you are looking for new and different ways to market your services and your company, I have an interesting suggestion for you: Podcasting.

What it is

For those that do not know, podcasting is a bit like recorded internet radio. Podcasters record shows either on audio equipment or directly to their computers, then post those shows for the world to download and listen to. Podcasts can be downloaded to most mp3 players or smart phones and listened to anytime. Many podcasts encourage listener participation by reading emails, playing voicemails, or taking calls during their shows.

As a freelancer, this is a great way to market your brand and build a following at the same time. It is similar to the early days of radio and television, when corporations would commission and sponsor shows, allowing them to be the primary advertiser. By creating your own podcast, you can announce to the world that the show is sponsored by you, and tell the audience a little about your brand.

Why you should do it

As a business person you are already very busy, and have to plan what you do with your time wisely. Why should you take time to create and record a podcast? here are just some of the reasons:

Strut your stuff. As a paid expert, people want to know if you are knowledgable enough to be worth hiring. A podcast lets you share information with your audience, letting them hear some of the things you know.
Create a connection with your audience. Writing a blog is great, but people respond even more to a person’s voice then they do their written words. Hearing your tone, listening to you have a conversation, creates a closer bond then writing alone.
Personality. People buy from people they like. Podcasting lets you show off more of your personality, which also creates further bonding. If people feel they know you, they feel better about “giving” their business to you. When people know your personality, doing business with you is like giving a friend a gift.
It fun! Many podcasters start out trying podcasting as a hobby and become hooked, enjoying talking to people who become their new friends.

Topics:
“Okay, all this sounds good, but what should I podcast about?” The simple answer is anything you feel passionate about. You may want to create a podcast about what you do. If you are a writer, a writing podcast with tips and encouragement. If you are a tech consultant, you could take questions from listeners and give answers on the show.

You could also podcast about your favorite hobby, or tell funny stories about your life or record Skype chats with your friends. In these cases make sure your audience knows that your podcast is sponsored by you and your company. Tell them a little about who you are and what you do in each show, then get on with your content.

What if I do not want to set up my own podcast?
If podcasting does not sound like something you would do, but you are still interested in it, you could find some podcasts you are interested in, listen to them, then call or email in to participate. You can tell people who you are and what you do, then make a comment on the show. This will help people get to know you and let them know where to find you to do business with you.

Resources for further information:
Since this post was about podcasts as a marketing tool, I purposely left out information on how to actually accomplish it. However, for information on how to start your own podcast, I recommend this blog article,  and this podcast. To find good podcasts to listen to, you can do searches in iTunes, or checkout Podcast Pickle.

Would you use Podcasting as a marketing tool? What do you think of the medium? What podcasts do you already listen to?

photo credit: PabloBD