Madison Who’s Who Blog

Effective global networking has expanded the opportunities of particular entrepreneurial fields exponentially. The use of social networking sites, the evolution of blogs to include video and Podcasts, all have greatly amplified the exposure of those professionals in consulting and education. Also benefitting are life coaches, personal trainers, and thought leaders in various fields.

Podcasting has proven to be an excellent instrument for disseminating your expertise. But how do you go about implementing podcasts as a marketing tool?

“..unlike radio shows, which are transferred through the air in radio waves, and regulated and controlled by the FCC, there are no regulations or rules for podcasting, as long as you don’t use copy protected property.

A podcast is an audio file stored on the Internet that customers can download to their computers or MP3 players and listen to whenever they want.”

Why is podcasting worth the time and effort? Here is an excerpt from a post that will give you food for thought.

• More than 22 million US adults own an iPod or other MP3 player – 13% of men and 9% of women
• 20% of the lucrative 18- to 28-year-old market owns an iPod or other MP3 player
• 29% of the people who own an iPod or MP3 player have downloaded a podcast
• This translates to 6 million U.S. adults who have downloaded Podcasts – a truly impressive figure considering podcasting is still a relatively new technology.
• The keys to the early success of podcasting is that it offers great choice and convenience, plus ANYONE can do it with the right tools.

(Source)

One reviewer says of new start-up, Free IQ; “Keep your eyes on this one. Very important, very disruptive, very cool. And put together by some very smart people who know what they’re doing.”

A Marketplace of Ideas

Are you an expert? A consultant, teacher, guru, or mentor? How have you marketed yourself? Would you like for it to be as easy as making a video, podcast or e-book, uploading it and then waiting for customers and engagements to come to you. How about a literal “marketplace of ideas” ala eBay?

That is what the founders of Free IQ have created.

“Free IQ, launched in 2007, is an online community where streaming video is used to share knowledge and information with others…at no cost.

“At Free IQ, the emphasis is placed on exchanging valuable information not frivolous entertainment. We believe that everyone knows something that is of value to someone else. We let people share that knowledge through video.”

No teasers, Just Valuable Content

Effective global networking tools have made the world your marketplace. And that marketplace has opened up a treasure chest of knowledge for the consumer as well. Both benefit from FreeIQ. You will not be treated to teaser clips with entreaties to buy the entire presentation.

“And we’re not just talking about free “sample clips” of a course or seminar that’s for sale. We’re talking about entire presentations and seminars with very valuable content, some of them that last hours – and all for free!”

As the man, said, this is one to keep an eye on.

You are in your London office and your daughter is shopping in New York for her first prom dress. You absolutely had wanted to be a part of this poignant time but you have been held over by business. Thanks to today’s global network and emerging technology,you can shop with her virtually from London.

With the advent of social retailing you can view her favorite choices from your office as she models live from the dressing room in Manhattan. So, for that matter, can her friends.

“A New York-based designer has come up with a mirror equipped with infrared technology that sends a live video feed to any cell phone, e-mail account or personal digital assistant device selected by a shopper.
[…]
“She could be in Paris, your mom, watching you try on your wedding dress (while you are in New York),” Enright told Reuters on Tuesday as he unveiled the interactive mirror at a retail trade show. (link)

You are an expat living in Germany with your husband and young daughter.Your heart, however, is in your native LA. Your daughter is just of the age for you to introduce her to your love of opera and you long to be able to whisk her backstage to the LA opera where you yourself have spent so much time volunteering. The L.A. Opera’s podcasting production will take you both there.

“Extending the reach of the oldest form of musical theater to the iPod generation, the LA Opera has committed to producing an additional fourteen episodes of its “Behind the Curtain at the LA Opera” podcast series available at http://www.behindthecurtainpodcast.com. Enthusiastic listeners to the first 4 episodes…, outnumbered actual seats at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion by more than 5 to one in the first 4 weeks the shows were available online. “The Behind the Curtain at the LA Opera podcast is a great opportunity for us to leverage new media marketing to build anticipation for our operas with young audiences, technophiles and opera fans around the world,” said Phil Koester, director of marketing, LA Opera. “We’re providing a rare and exciting look at how our productions come together, which whether you’re a lifelong patron or an aspiring aficionado, is a company first,” continued Koester.”

And so it goes, the multiple uses of global networking and the diverse means of communication enabled by podcast, RSS and blogging are becoming apparent in almost every field of endeavor, in every city, around the globe.