I started where I always do...surfing the web!

Internet Research

In investigating audio blogging platforms, I found http://www.blogtalkradio.com/, and I immediately got excited about doing a podcast. I bookmarked the site after creating a rudimentary profile. I may not use them because they put ads in your podcast, which I absolutely do not want. But they were the first platform I found, and they got me excited about the possibilities. I also found http://www.podomatic.com/, which whetted my appetite further. My research has since revealed plenty of other choices.

To get the lowdown on how to make the most of podcasting for business, I read "How to Say It: Marketing with New Media" by Lena Claxton and Alison Woo. One part of their 4-part Social Media Strategy is podcasting, so it was very helpful.  I got more advice from "The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur" by Mike Michalowicz and Duct Tape Marketing by John Jantsch.  Awesome books, all!

Then I did a search on "how to do a podcast" and found (among many others) these most helpful articles:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11293_7-6246557-1.html?tag=rb_mtx;wp_body

This one recommended a good headset and the software Audacity for editing. I've used Audacity before, to record stories I've written onto CD for customers in another little side business I have, and my partner uses it to do her online French assignments for school, so I was familiar with it and glad to see it rec'd. It's free and relatively easy to learn and use.

It also recommended this site: http://www.flashkit.com/loops/ to get music loops to add to your podcast to jazz it up. I also know another source, http://www.royaltyfreemusiclibrary.com/. I think that would be really fun and I plan to use it.

Through following various other links, I was led to this software:

http://download.cnet.com/Propaganda/3000-2170_4-10381207.html?tag=rb_content;rb_mtx

Having researched other podcasting software, I realized $50 for a full-service solution was a good deal. I'll happily pay for convenience, as long as it's reliable and the price reasonable. I've already made several hundred dollars with my audio stories, and I could make more if it was easier to do, so it would pay for itself immediately! So I bookmarked it to come back to once I get my new laptop, since my computer just crashed a few days ago.

I followed some more links and found this:

http://www.voices.com/specials/small-business-podcasting-kit.html?_kk=podcasts&_kt=a28178a9-3e13-4dce-94a1-4c950d203965&gclid=COTv-ML9uqACFQ2lagodfHne0Q

I downloaded the free report in pdf, which had all kinds of great info, especially a TON of places to submit your podcast to. I found it a very helpful primer on getting started.

After this, I felt I had a good handle on how to create a podcast, so I sat down and brainstormed a list of things I could podcast on that would be at least somewhat relevant to my business website...