Internet radio shows are becoming the next big thing, with no signs of this slowing down anytime soon. Having a radio show is an effective way to get new customers, and grow your relationships with current ones. It is also a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your particular field.

You may think that having a radio show on the internet is hard, or requires special expensive equipment. It is much easier than you think. There are so many advances in this area, that you can get your show going with very little cost upfront. You can also make money off your show if you choose to accept sponsors or by promoting affiliate programs. This will make up for any expenses you might incur by doing the show.

When it comes to recording your internet radio show, you have a few options. Audio Acrobat is a monthly subscription service that makes recording a radio show or podcast very easy. You can use a microphone connected to your computer or you can simply use your telephone. You will be given a special phone number that you can dial into, and this is also a great way to record testimonials and feedback from listeners or quick tips from featured experts.

When it comes to interviewing someone, you have a few options. You can use Audio Acrobat. Or, you can simply reserve a teleconference line. There are free options available, which you can find by doing a search online. Once you have confirmed the teleconference number, you give that number and pass code to the person you are interviewing. You then both call the teleconference line, and also three-way call the Audio Acrobat number and record the conversation you have.

You can also use internet based Skype, which allows you to talk to other Skype users for free (you will be charged a fee when talking to people not registered with Skype). You simply connect a microphone to your computer and log into the Skype program. There is a dialer system that allows you to contact anyone with a phone number. Skype allows you to record the conversation, and you can then upload that audio file into Audacity.

What is Audacity? It is a free mixing and editing program that lets you combine several audio files into one single file. You can take your commentary, your interviews, your ads, etc, and create one audio file. At this point you use the free Lame Recorder to convert your file into an MP3.

Using Audio Acrobat gives you several advantages. You can upload your MP3 into your account and have it hosted free. You will likely want to create a streaming audio player which you will add to your website. Visitors can then listen to it when they’d like. Or, you can also provide a link which will let your visitor download it to their computer or MP3 player. Audio Acrobat also has iTunes registration, which means your listeners can get automated notification about any new recordings you submit.

If you choose not to go with Audio Acrobat, you can still put your audio files on your site. You will have to make sure with your hosting provider that you have enough space to upload it, as audio files certainly take up a lot of space.

As you can see, creating your own internet radio show and publishing it online can be very easy to do. It can be very profitable, as well.

Podcasting has become the new internet marketing trend, much like blogging had the last few years. If you search the internet, you can find podcasts on all subjects- interviews, “how-to” information, and even audio blogs.

The term “podcast” comes from the MP3 player created by Apple, the iPod. A podcast is an audio file that has been made with the intention of communicating information to the public.

Many business podcasts take on the form of a talk radio show. The website owner may interview guests that have knowledge on topics their target market is interested in, or the website owner may do all the talking their self.

You may be wondering about the reasons to start a podcast. First of all, it is a great way to increase traffic to your site. People love podcasts and they search podcast directories and iTunes for new podcasts to listen to. They may stumble upon yours, without ever knowing your site existed. If they enjoy your podcast, they will want to check out your site.

You may wish to use your podcast to promote affiliate links and products. If you sell an particular info product, you can discuss it on your podcast. If you are an affiliate for another company, you can review their product on your podcast, then tell your audience if they want more info they can get it from a page on your site that will redirect them through their affiliate link.

Podcasts will also help you develop relationships with your customer and prospective customers. Your customers will listen to your show, and will feel as though they can get to know you. As they continue to listen to your information, they will start to think of you as an expert in your particular field. You will become that person that they will go to for more information in that subject.

You can further monetize your podcasts by accepting sponsorships and advertising. For example, you could play an ad, similar to what you hear on your local radio stations or you could charge a fee for interviewing someone that wants to promote their product or service on your podcast.

If you’re interested in trying out podcasting, a very easy way to start is to use Audio Acrobat. Audio Acrobat is a monthly fee-based service; you record your message with a computer microphone or with your telephone. Through the audio service, you then create streaming audio players that you post to your website, as well as links for others to download your podcast to their computer or MP3 player.

While podcasts can be a great way to add interest to your website and attract new traffic, it can take some time to build up a steady audience. In this article we will go over some ways to keep your listeners coming back for each new edition of your podcast.

First things first- you heed to have high quality podcast content. Your listeners will come back if your information is helpful and/or entertaining. In order to have fresh content, you should consider ideas like having a co-host, interviewing experts on the topic, answering listeners questions, etc.

Providing a “teaser” is a great way to keep your listeners coming back for more. Most television shows will feature a clip from the next week’s episode after the ending credits roll on each new episode. This gives the audience a little tease about what is yet to come. Once their curiosity is piqued, they will come back to find out more.

You might also think about your local radio station. They typically hold several contests throughout the year - you can apply this principle to your podcast. Try teaming up with other website owners who might be willing to help you promote your contest, or to donate prizes. During each podcast, give out a clue, such as a keyword or phrase- something they can use to help them to win the contest.

If you have your contest set to be discussed on four or more episodes, at the end of the concert, ask listeners to send in an email stating all four clues. The first three correct entries would be eligible to win your prize.

The easiest way to get your listeners to come back, is to involve them in each new show. They will be more dedicated if you can somehow make them feel as if they are a part of the show. Many hosts will give listeners a phone number on which they can call in, or record a promo message.

This is something your local radio station may do as well. If you have ever heard them play the recordings of normal people saying “you’re listening to WWXX on 103.1″ or something along those lines, you know what I am talking about. This creates energy and excitement. The people you feature will feel famous if they hear their self on your show.

If you feel your podcast isn’t growing as fast as you would have liked, keep working on marketing it and developing quality content. Eventually, your hard work will pay off and you have a loyal audience.

Internet marketers have been living by the motto “content is king” for some time now. There is good reason for that, as content is what draws search engines to your site and send you traffic. Plus, by providing quality content, your visitors will be more likely to come back to your site when they want to learn about the subject you specialize in.

When we think about “content”, we first think about print content. There is a new and quickly growing type of content on the internet now, and that is audio content. If you give your customers print and audio content, you can take your website to that new level.

Providing content in both print and audio form will add variety and stimulation to your website. When people are surfing the web, they may get lost in a maze of website that seem to blend together. By adding audio to your website, in the form of a welcome greeting or background music, you are helping your website to stand out. Adding audio to your blog posts, can stimulate your readers’ senses in a whole new way. This can also increase the amount of time people spend on your website and turn them into repeat visitors.

Remember that you can’t please everyone. But, if you mix up audio and print content, you can help cater to the different learning styles of website visitors.

Some people enjoy reading and use their “reading time” to relax and unwind. They may sit at their desk in front of their computer or perhaps they print out the pages they want to read and curl up on the couch with them. They may even grab their laptop and head to a local caf where they enjoy a cup of coffee while they surf the web.

There are also those who prefer audio so they can multi-task- such as busy parents doing their housework, or those who want to download the MP3 version and listen to it in the car on the way to work.

If you have both forms of content, it will be very helpful to those you want to teach. We all have different learning styles- some of us absorb info through reading, some prefer hearing the information to take it in. If you can offer your visitors a choice between the two, you will be able to reach more people with your content.

Add some variety to your content, and you will find yourself reaching a whole new customer because you’ve recognized people’s different learning styles.

If you have a podcast, you should really take advantage of adding commercials and sponsorships. This is a great way to add to your income. If featuring advertisements, you have a few options to get your message out. You can record and deliver the advertisement yourself. The drawback is though, that listeners might not be able to tell the difference between the ad and your actual podcast.

You could also choose to have the advertiser deliver the message. There may be situations where having the advertiser deliver the message works out great, but there are times when it won’t. An advertiser may have an accent that makes it hard for the listener to understand what they are saying, or they may be very soft spoken and your listener will have to struggle to hear them. Or the advertiser may simply not want to do it at all.

At these times a voice over is beneficial. By having someone else read the message, it can add great professionalism and credibility to your podcast. Try doing an internet search to find reputable voice over artists. Fees will vary from artist to artist, so you may want to look around before deciding.

Also consider asking other podcasters for voice over artist recommendations. When you determine your pricing for your advertising, be sure to take into account the voice over work, and add that into the advertising fee.

To make things budget-friendly, you could also ask a friend or another podcaster with a voice you like to do the voice over. Keep in mind that a professional voice over artist may add background music and other effects to the message, whereas a friend or fellow podcaster won’t.

Whichever road you take, there are several things you should think about when deciding who will do the voice over. Be sure to keep your target market in mind and try to match the voice to that of your audience.

It is also important to consider the tone of the commercial and the product being advertised. If the commercial is for a product that helps alleviate menopause symptoms, it wouldn’t make sense for a young woman or a man to do the voice over. The person doing the voice over should sound like they know what menopause symptoms feel like.

After you’ve had experience with voice over artists, you will start to recognize what will work- and what won’t- for your commercials. Together you will develop and learn how to make very effective commercials for your advertisers.

When people find your website, they will look at it for about 10 seconds before deciding if they want to stay and browse or click away. Adding audio greetings to your website can help intrigue your new visitor and persuade them to stay and browse your full site.

When you have the opportunity to meet someone in person, you get to meet them face to face- introduce yourself by name, shake their hand, etc. Business on the internet is so much more impersonal, as you aren’t able to meet someone in the same way.

If you add a photo of yourself in the top right corner of your website and add an audio greeting that introduces yourself, you can let them feel as if they are “meeting” you in person. They can put a name to the website- they see who they are doing business with.

Another great way to use an audio message is to provide an auditory tour of your site. Instead of having to click through all your pages or search your sitemap, your voice can offer a guided tour through your website. If you are offering a free report, you could announce that. Whatever your message, it will help show the message that you are there guiding them through the website and are helping them.

You can also use an audio greeting to show your enthusiasm in your products and for your site. Your customers are able to see your products, but they cannot touch them on the internet. All you have to convince them to purchase is the words you put on their screen and some graphics.

An audio message can be the tool you nee to help you get the sale and increase profits. If you show excitement and enthusiasm in your message, you can spread your belief to your prospective customer. They will hear confidence in your products. Share with them why they don’t want to live without your product, and give them reasons. They will begin to share your energy and will want to buy your product.

Your choices for adding audio messages to your site are limitless. You could put a greeting on your “about me” page, your “contact me” page, etc. Even though you are adding audio to your site, it’s still a good idea to keep print content as well.

Print content needs to present on your site for the search engines, so you can get traffic. Your audio message can be the key to keeping visitors on your site.