Comments on: Podcasting for IT Pros http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/ Marketing Answers for IT Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:10:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 by: My Educated Guess – Technology Marketing Answers – TechTarget.com - Blog Archive - Celebrating One Year of Blog Marketing! http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-193 Thu, 05 Apr 2007 20:00:26 +0000 http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-193 [...] Media Product Performance Comparisons for Lead-Gen Campaigns, by Karen Lefkowitz Podcasting for IT Pros, by Garrett Mann The Making of a Global Brand, by Melissa Marron [...] […] Media Product Performance Comparisons for Lead-Gen Campaigns, by Karen Lefkowitz Podcasting for IT Pros, by Garrett Mann The Making of a Global Brand, by Melissa Marron […]

]]> by: My Educated Guess – Technology Marketing Answers – TechTarget.com - Blog Archive - Podcast Usage Up Tenfold in 2006 http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-192 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 18:53:10 +0000 http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-192 [...] I commented on the original report in this blog back in April. At that time, while there was much skepticism on the adoption of podcasts in the mainstream market, we did not share the same outlook for the IT market where we have seen healthy adoption rates. Now that this skepticism seems to have eroded in the mainstream market, this medium is really poised to take off. And the key driver? According to Mr. Haven, content availability - the more the content becomes available, the more it will be consumed. I agree with this point, especially considering that at this time, podcasts can be produced very affordably with few technological barriers to download. [...] […] I commented on the original report in this blog back in April. At that time, while there was much skepticism on the adoption of podcasts in the mainstream market, we did not share the same outlook for the IT market where we have seen healthy adoption rates. Now that this skepticism seems to have eroded in the mainstream market, this medium is really poised to take off. And the key driver? According to Mr. Haven, content availability - the more the content becomes available, the more it will be consumed. I agree with this point, especially considering that at this time, podcasts can be produced very affordably with few technological barriers to download. […]

]]> by: Antonio http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-191 Wed, 03 May 2006 20:01:54 +0000 http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-191 We have seen a healthy adoption of our podcast. Podcasting is targeted - true. Podcasting is will have broad appeal - true. Podcasting will evolve into a necesity to deliver content - this is true as long as the content stays fresh, dynamic and interesting. This is a fresh route into customers and the podcasting community should conserve the purity that has made podcasting a reliable source of information. It is very easy to deviate and to turn podcasts into "adcasts". Kepp it fresh, uncluttered and free. We have seen a healthy adoption of our podcast. Podcasting is targeted - true.
Podcasting is will have broad appeal - true.
Podcasting will evolve into a necesity to deliver content - this is true as long as the content stays fresh, dynamic and interesting.

This is a fresh route into customers and the podcasting community should conserve the purity that has made podcasting a reliable source of information.

It is very easy to deviate and to turn podcasts into “adcasts”. Kepp it fresh, uncluttered and free.

]]> by: Jeremiah Owyang http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-190 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 01:53:52 +0000 http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-190 If a technology audience is often present in a data center, lab, or other technical environment away from a traditional computer, the subscription model of a podcast would be very ideal to target this audience. Recently, a report has shown there are more podcasts than radio stations --it's quite amazing how targeted content for specific audiences will reap benefits. Let's not forget one of the greatest benefits --podcasts are cheap and have a long reach. If a technology audience is often present in a data center, lab, or other technical environment away from a traditional computer, the subscription model of a podcast would be very ideal to target this audience.

Recently, a report has shown there are more podcasts than radio stations –it’s quite amazing how targeted content for specific audiences will reap benefits.

Let’s not forget one of the greatest benefits –podcasts are cheap and have a long reach.

]]> by: Mark Ehr http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-183 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 15:06:35 +0000 http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-183 I agree that podcasting is at best going to address a niche market--early adopters and innovators at present--but I also feel that it will continue to grow as a medium. One of the reasons that I feel this way, being an avid podcast consumer (and thus fitting quite well into both previous categories), I find that I would oftentimes prefer to fill my "dead time" (on planes, trains, and in automobiles) with something that is educational rather than just simply listening to music. I also agree that the main audience at present is IT folks, and therefore if you're marketing to an IT audience, it's a very good avenue to pursue. The main challenge is in finding the right audience. At present, there are literally thousands of podcasts out there, all vying for the listener's attention, and therefore using podcasting as a lead generation tool is clearly a limited return proposition. That said, podcasting can be a great way to build customer loyalty and to position your company as a thought leader. Again, if you're marketing to the IT market, as we do, this image can be very important. As a seasoned podcast consumer (and a burgeoning podcaster), I have a couple of words of advice to anyone considering creating their own podcasts. First, invest in quality equipment, especially microphones and mixers (the latter is important if you're going to have more than one person speaking). Secondly, make sure to keep things moving along, and choose subjects and participants that are interesting and lively. Lastly, if you're going to create a "panel-style" podcast (a great idea, IMHO), use Skype instead of telephones--much higher voice quality. I've been tuning in to some podcasts that are published by a large three-letter software vendor and while they have some good content, they are often very dry and the audio quality is awful. Those are my two cents/dollars/euros! Mark Ehr www.ehrtech.com/blogs Email: mark_at_ehrtech.com (replace _at_ with @) I agree that podcasting is at best going to address a niche market–early adopters and innovators at present–but I also feel that it will continue to grow as a medium. One of the reasons that I feel this way, being an avid podcast consumer (and thus fitting quite well into both previous categories), I find that I would oftentimes prefer to fill my “dead time” (on planes, trains, and in automobiles) with something that is educational rather than just simply listening to music.

I also agree that the main audience at present is IT folks, and therefore if you’re marketing to an IT audience, it’s a very good avenue to pursue. The main challenge is in finding the right audience. At present, there are literally thousands of podcasts out there, all vying for the listener’s attention, and therefore using podcasting as a lead generation tool is clearly a limited return proposition.

That said, podcasting can be a great way to build customer loyalty and to position your company as a thought leader. Again, if you’re marketing to the IT market, as we do, this image can be very important.

As a seasoned podcast consumer (and a burgeoning podcaster), I have a couple of words of advice to anyone considering creating their own podcasts. First, invest in quality equipment, especially microphones and mixers (the latter is important if you’re going to have more than one person speaking). Secondly, make sure to keep things moving along, and choose subjects and participants that are interesting and lively. Lastly, if you’re going to create a “panel-style” podcast (a great idea, IMHO), use Skype instead of telephones–much higher voice quality.

I’ve been tuning in to some podcasts that are published by a large three-letter software vendor and while they have some good content, they are often very dry and the audio quality is awful.

Those are my two cents/dollars/euros!

Mark Ehr

www.ehrtech.com/blogs
Email: mark_at_ehrtech.com (replace _at_ with @)

]]> by: Mike Pregler http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-189 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 13:07:24 +0000 http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-189 I've used MP3s stored on my PDA (Treo 650) to listen to analyst briefings from Gartner Group. I found this relatively easy to do. However, I find it very easy to be distracted because the pace of the speakers is fairly slow. In the office I can speed up the pace by using Windows Media player (~1.4 to 2x speed) but I can't do this on my PDA. So from this single data point, my recommendation is to find ways to use Podcast/MP3s etc... that are produced so the content is delivered concisely and in a compelling way. Recording inexperienced marketeers reading text or speaking to PowerPoints may produce a lot of dry content that may be missed by our multi-tasking, Starbucks drinking, overworked audiences. I’ve used MP3s stored on my PDA (Treo 650) to listen to analyst briefings from Gartner Group. I found this relatively easy to do. However, I find it very easy to be distracted because the pace of the speakers is fairly slow. In the office I can speed up the pace by using Windows Media player (~1.4 to 2x speed) but I can’t do this on my PDA. So from this single data point, my recommendation is to find ways to use Podcast/MP3s etc… that are produced so the content is delivered concisely and in a compelling way. Recording inexperienced marketeers reading text or speaking to PowerPoints may produce a lot of dry content that may be missed by our multi-tasking, Starbucks drinking, overworked audiences.

]]> by: Robert Mendez http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-188 Thu, 20 Apr 2006 22:02:38 +0000 http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-188 Podcasts for the IT sector won't mature until content matures and is appropriately produced for this channel. In nature, podcasts, promoted and ported through the RSS channel, tend to build audience when episodic and unique to other IT media. As long as it remains an afterthought, they won't increase revenue. Don't ever forget that podcasting is not an audio medium but the first real transition to network broadcasting. Podcasts for the IT sector won’t mature until content matures and is appropriately produced for this channel. In nature, podcasts, promoted and ported through the RSS channel, tend to build audience when episodic and unique to other IT media. As long as it remains an afterthought, they won’t increase revenue. Don’t ever forget that podcasting is not an audio medium but the first real transition to network broadcasting.

]]> by: Brian Dayton http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-187 Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:09:10 +0000 http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-187 Our organization has embraced podcasting for both internal and external communications. While the medium is still in its early days we are seeing increased uptake on both sides. Interestingly enough, while webcasts and iSeminars benefit from having both an audio and video component we tend to limit the length of our podcasts. Users seem to appreciate it and are learning that they'll get the "just the facts" version of the subject matter. It's more digestible this way and they can download and listen to a number of different podcasts in a 30 minute commute. Our organization has embraced podcasting for both internal and external communications. While the medium is still in its early days we are seeing increased uptake on both sides.

Interestingly enough, while webcasts and iSeminars benefit from having both an audio and video component we tend to limit the length of our podcasts. Users seem to appreciate it and are learning that they’ll get the “just the facts” version of the subject matter. It’s more digestible this way and they can download and listen to a number of different podcasts in a 30 minute commute.

]]> by: Jonathan Trenn http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-186 Thu, 20 Apr 2006 19:43:49 +0000 http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-186 Podcasts are overhyped by not overrated. For those who have a specific interest in certain subject matters, they'll be a very key way of communicating. But it's extremely targeted, so the appeal may be limited in number. That means they're here to stay but not in a broadbased manner. Podcasts are overhyped by not overrated. For those who have a specific interest in certain subject matters, they’ll be a very key way of communicating. But it’s extremely targeted, so the appeal may be limited in number. That means they’re here to stay but not in a broadbased manner.

]]> by: Paul Berthiaume http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-185 Thu, 20 Apr 2006 19:24:13 +0000 http://myeducatedguess.blogs.techtarget.com/2006/04/12/podcasting-for-it-pros/#comment-185 Interesting take. I am finding in the health care field, almost zero penetration through Podcasting. A lot of people are talking about it but no one's actually doing it. We seem to be on the fringes of this effort, as the more traditional media channels in health care IT are actually now starting to get Podcasting efforts off the ground. Interesting take. I am finding in the health care field, almost zero penetration through Podcasting. A lot of people are talking about it but no one’s actually doing it. We seem to be on the fringes of this effort, as the more traditional media channels in health care IT are actually now starting to get Podcasting efforts off the ground.

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