Podcast Promotion Gold: Email Your Show to Newbies

Even if you have a vibrant promotional plan on the Internet, you could be missing a huge segment of people who may really love your podcast, maybe even an older member of your family. You wouldn't want to do that, right?

How much of the US go online?

According to a Rueters News Story published on November 5th, 2007, a Harris Poll found that 80% of US Adults go online. Now, that's great news if you create a podcast, blog, or other online content, but let's figure in reality into the findings.

Old habits die hard

Even though it seems that the whole world is using the internet, many people don't. Wait, before you point back to 80%, let me prove it. People are creatures of habit. If they like to read books, even though there are digitally recorded audiobooks, or book in text form online, people generally will still purchase a physical book. It all depends on how people are used to getting their entertainment; TV is still a strong draw, Movie Theaters, even traditional radio is still what people rely on. Always remember that even though you put your "digital gold" online, there will be people who don't know its there, because they have other entertainment habits.

Figure in ages, too

Many people born prior to the Stock Market crash, hid money under the carpets of the house for years after 1929. They didn't trust the banks, and those life imprints can still hold today. Similar to habits, age connects people to their life experiences, "I didn't need a computer. When I was growing up, we didn't have computers to read a book, or listen to music, etc". Even though it seems like the entire population of teenagers have pages on every Social Networking site there is, and they are quick to buy an mp3 player, and other flashy gadgets, many people don't, because in their frame of reference, "They don't need it".

Money and Adapting to Electronics

Technology is a wonderful thing, but its expensive. I remember the day and time I used high speed internet searching for the first time- it was great, but expensive. Not everyone has the luxury of; 1. A computer, 2. A high speed internet connection, and 3. The knowledge of finding and downloading digital audio and video. For some people, they'd rather spend money on other things, instead of paying a Tech giant's pension plan.

The Whole World isn't Just You

The final factor, I want to highlight is a trap, we New Media creators fall into, "If I use the internet this way, then everyone should, too". That is not the case. I think this fact alone, leads many podcasters or vidcasters alot of; stress, frustration and headaches. The key is- everyone else is not "just like you," you are different- and so is everyone else. With that in mind, let's move into promoting to people who don't use the internet like you.

Email is the New Key for Newbies

As wide and as vast as the Internet Superhighway is, one internet function has drifted down to just about everyone- email. This alone can be a great way to introduce people to your show, because email is almost a required course to survive these days. So, you can use an email as a digital "letter" to give your show to someone "new" to the internet.

1. Email them links to specific episodes. These links can be placed in the body of an email, or in the signature lines, as a subdomain.
2. Email them a link to Feedblitz.com, in which they can set up a subscription account via email, so the person will get all your future show links in emails.

One final thought is take extra patience in guiding new people onto the Internet. They won't get it at first, maybe they never will at all, but at least try. Maybe you can explain that the Internet is an electronic Mail Box, Movie Theater, Radio Station, Newspaper stand, Library and Record Store all rolled into one. Once you introduce them to your show and the internet, you will have a loyal listener, and someone who will discover the rest of the internet, just like we are.