Tools, tips and techniques to help you create and profit from web video

Podcasting is such an exciting phenomenon because it utilizes the internet to bring content creators and content consumers directly together in a revolutionary way...

Video podcasting is going to have an even bigger impact on content distribution, marketing, and business in general.

Content creators love it because from almost anywhere in the world, we can easily create and distribute audio and/or video programming (free or fee-based) to the hundreds of millions of people worldwide who are looking for interesting and unique content. And our audience loves it because they can watch and listen whenever, wherever and however they they want.

So... what exactly is Podcasting, anyway?

Podcasting is simply a method of distributing multimedia files online (e.g., internet "radio" shows, web videos). These presentations are then played by the user on personal computers or mobile devices such as Apple's iPod. But you don't actually need an iPod to to create or enjoy a podcast.

The term "podcasting" was first introduced in 2004, and is a combination of two words: "iPod" and "broadcasting." A "podcast" (for video, "videocast" or "video podcast") can mean two things: the content; or, the actual method of delivery itself. The host or creator of a podcast is often referred to as a "podcaster."

A podcast is often made up of individual shows or presentations, with new episodes being made available on a regular basis (e.g., daily or weekly). As a podcaster, you can allow your web site visitors the ability to directly download, or stream and play your presentations online at your web site.

Most podcasts are usually distributed using online syndication formats such as RSS or Atom. This feature is what makes podcasting so powerful: its ability to allow users to automatically download programs using software capable of reading the syndication feeds.

With Apple recently introducing iPods that can play video, podcasting is no longer limited to just audio shows. Just last year, audio podcasting was in its infancy. Now, it's an accepted (if not preferred) form of audio distribution.

And guess what? Video podcasting is going to have an even bigger impact on content distribution, marketing, and business in general.

So if you're ready to join the exciting new video podcasting revolution, here's everything you need to know if you want to learn how to create a video podcast...