Building Business Through Podcasting

How Bonnie Dillabough and Denise Bach Are Using Social Networking to Make YOU an Internet Star

I’ve always considered myself to be rather advanced when it comes to computer knowledge. I spent many years as an Excel and Word expert, I’ve trained high-level executives, and one of my Excel books can still be found on Amazon. I’ve even been known to tweak the Windows Registry without a single change to my pulse rate. But my interview with Denise Bach and Bonnie Dillabough of Podstar Network sure put me in my place! I was definitely knocked down a peg, realizing how very little I really do know about the world of today’s Internet.

I am pleased to report that I am now thoroughly trained on the concepts of podcasting, blogging, and RSS feed readers (ooo, don’t I sound fancy?). I want to share with you how this up-and-coming form of cyber-networking can help build your business in enormously powerful ways.

Podcasting - The Web's New Phenomenon

For those unfamiliar, a podcast is often likened to an online radio show. It comes in the form of an audio file (MP3) that you download and listen to whenever you like. Like radio, there are advertisements, and each show is about a particular topic. But unlike radio, a podcast can be played on many different devices (computers, iPods, MP3 players), you can listen to it whenever and as often as you like, and a podcaster has the potential of reaching a worldwide online audience.

This cool concept is catching on big time. Bonnie and Denise saw this coming early on, and are building an entire business around it.

When these two amazing entrepreneurs first met, Bonnie was an Internet marketing instructor. Like any good marketing guru, she knew the power of networking, and created an online forum for her members. When Bonnie and her partner Gunther began to build a new venture focusing on podcasting, she announced it to her network. Denise, working as a protégé under Robert Allen and Mark Victor Hansen, quickly volunteered and the three went into business together.

Three-and-a-half years later, Podstar Network is now a major force in the exploding world of podcasting. By forming a network of podcast "channels" based on content, they are distinguishing themselves in the industry. Anyone with a message to promote can create a podcast, be positioned in one of their 64 different channels, and preach to a global audience.

Adding Social NetWorking to the Mix

The magic behind the business model that Bonnie and Denise have developed is the way in which they’re using social networking to escalate their business at super-speed. Here’s an example of what a typical client might expect:

Let’s say that Ferd Funkelflange signs on as a podcaster. He’s a computer entrepreneur wanting to build his business, and plans to offer computer tips in his weekly show, "Ferd the Nerd." Podstar Network assigns him to the Techie channel. Right off the bat the channel master records an interview with Ferd. That podcast is posted on the Podcast Debut channel, and a press release goes out to their whole media network announcing that there’s a new show. Bang, that’s one whole network that immediately learns about Ferd.

But the press isn’t the only group to hear about it. Podstar Network also sends notifications of Ferd’s arrival to all of the other podcasters, all of the channel masters, and all of their sponsors. Bang, that’s three more networks who know about Ferd, and he hasn’t even done his first show yet.

The Techie channel already has a built-in network of listeners for its existing podcasts. All of those listeners now automatically hear that the channel is adding “Ferd the Nerd” to its lineup. Bang, a fifth network of people is added to the mix, almost guaranteeing that Mr. Funkelflange will have no trouble attracting his first audience.

In the meantime, Ferd is the member of a large computer club that meets regularly at their favorite hangout, Coffee and a Byte. Once his fellow club members tune in to Ferd’s show, they then hear about all the other podcasts in the Techie channel, and about all the other channels on Podstar Network. Double-bang, you’ve now got two huge networks whirled and blended.

When you realize that this same scenario happens with every new podcast and podcaster, and that each instance grows the network exponentially, it becomes remarkably apparent how Denise and Bonnie’s use of social networking is building their business — and the businesses of their podcasters — faster than Scotty can beam you up.

Meet a Real-Life Podcaster

Now let’s look at an example of a real entrepreneur. Parks Holt signed up with Podstar Network on July 26, 2006. His show Can We Talk About It? centers on relationships and bringing families back together. In a mere three months of doing weekly podcasts, he has gotten as many as 865 downloads for a single show, and is currently being listened to in 16 different countries. Parks’ goal was to build a listener base to whom he can sell product and inspirational speaking gigs. Think that three months was a good investment of his time?

Just imagine how Parks’ audience will grow even further once Podstar Network debuts its public forums, a soon-to-arrive online network where listeners from around the world can chat about podcasts and share what they’ve learned. And since search engines have been proven to give much better results to social networking sites, Parks then inches his way that much closer to first place on Google.

Hosting a podcast gives you, the entrepreneur, the perfect platform to appear as an expert to your audience. And Podstar Network is utilizing networking to the hilt to expose your podcast to the biggest audience possible. Are you thinking that this all sounds great, but you may not be able to afford it?

Well, think again.

The company is currently in "public beta," meaning that while they’re not officially launched, they are allowing certain segments of the public to participate, test, and give feedback. During public beta, new podcasters can join for free. Want to share your expertise to anyone with an Internet connection? This is the time to do so.

Go to www.PodStarNetwork.com, and keep in mind that during public beta, the site you see is not their final, polished version. Top-notch designers are working on it as we speak. When you contact them, let them know that you’re a part of The National NetWorker audience and you have been invited to participate in the public beta.

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to read me on The National NetWorker! Please let us know if an article that you've read here today has helped you in any way. And let me know when I can listen to your podcast on Podstar Network!

Contact Jan at JanA@TheNationalNetworker.com or via TNNW Blog.
 

Sign up for our newsleter;
Email a friend.

Go to: Site Map