Smart Podcast Marketing

Good news for those of us hoping to explain just how huge an opportunity podcasting presents to businesses and individuals seeking better, deeper, wider exposure for their products and services.

ipod familyApple announced this morning that the 100 millionth iPod has been sold, making the iPod the fastest selling music player in history.

The first iPod was sold five and a half years ago, in November 2001, and since then Apple has introduced more than 10 new iPod models, including five generations of iPod, two generations of iPod mini, two generations of iPod nano and two generations of iPod shuffle.

“We want to thank music lovers everywhere for making iPod such an incredible success,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPod has helped millions of people around the world rekindle their passion for music, and we’re thrilled to be a part of that.”

The iPod has also led to an “iPod economy” of over 4,000 accessories, ranging from cases to speaker systems to iPod vibrators and iPod toilet paper dispensers. More than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles currently offer iPod connectivity.

Apple lined up a collection of celebrity endorsements for the milestone:

* “It’s hard to remember what I did before the iPod,” said Mary J. Blige, GRAMMY Award-winning singer. “iPod is more than just a music player, it’s an extension of your personality and a great way to take your favorite music with you everywhere you go.”
* “Without the iPod, the digital music age would have been defined by files and folders instead of songs and albums,” said John Mayer, GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist. “Though the medium of music has changed, the iPod experience has kept the spirit of what it means to be a music lover alive.”
* “I take my running shoes and my iPod with me everywhere,” said Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France champion. “I listen to music when I run. Having my music with me is really motivating.”

All this gadget-centric hip-hip-hooray-ing aside, podcasting actually does reach a lot more people than the well-heeled celebrities who have plenty of cash to toss at Mr. Jobs. PODDcasting -- Personal On-Demand Digital audio-casting -- reaches a whole lot of people who listen on their computer, either when they're online, or when they're not.

I, myself, download shows and listen to them at my leisure -- usually when I'm not neck-deep in a conundrum at work. In some ways, listening online is even less convenient than just downloading a show and listening whenever it works for me.

Again, the concept of Personal On-Demand Digital audio comes front and center.

But all this aside, it's still a great thing to see the iPod and Apple doing so well. And to think, within recent memory, folks were worried that Apple might go under.

Underdogs, indeed!

Labels: iPod, on-demand audio, podcast, podcasting