A podcast is an audio or video file that users can access either through streaming directly from a website, or download from a server. Users can subscribe to a file that will allow them to download the latest podcast when it is uploaded to the server. They can do this through numerous “podcatchers”, software programs that allow users to locate and download podcasts. Popular podcatchers include iTunes and iPodderX.
Many users download podcasts onto their iPod (thus the origin of the name “podcast”) or other MP3 player. Different MP3 players allow podcasts to be viewed in different ways. For example, an iPod mini will allow users to listen to an audio podcast, but not a video podcast. But users of the video iPod can view video as well as audio podcasts.
Podcasts can be enhanced, so that along with the audio or video, a user can “skip” to different chapters in the podcasts. This feature is currently only available for users of the iPod MP3 player.
Podcasts can be used for your business in many different ways, from viral marketing tools, recruitment for your business, to attract viewers to your site, or for revenue from advertisement/subscription models. It all depends on how you target your podcast.