While various people claimed in 2007 that podcasting (or at least the word ‘podcast’) was dead, the truth seems to be that podcasting is just now entering business consciousness for everyone except those who pursue every shiny new toy that comes along.

If you’re wondering about business podcasting—how to start one, where it might fit within your communication planning, or even how to make your current podcast more effective—winning the FIR Listener Contest could be the answer you’re looking for!

To mark the third anniversary of For Immediate Release: The Hobson & Holtz Report on January 3, we decided to run a contest for listeners where the prize is a free copy of How to Do Everything with Podcasting, the book written by Shel Holtz with Neville Hobson (FIR’s co-presenters) and published last June by McGraw-Hill. The book’s list price is $24.99 / £14.99 / C$29.95.

How to Do Everything with Podcasting walks you step by step through the process of creating, publishing and promoting your own podcast. It includes a substantial business focus that will help you see how businesses can use podcasting as an effective and measurable way to communicate with customers and employees.

There are actually three copies of the book up for grabs, depending on where in the world you are.

We’ve arbitrarily divided the world into three segments—The Americas, Europe and the Rest of the World— and we’re looking to award the book to one winner in each of these areas.

The whole FIR team is behind this contest—Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz, together with FIR correspondents Lee Hopkins, Dan York, David Phillips, Eric Schwartzman and Sallie Goetsch—and will judge each entry.

How to Enter

1. Tell us your answer to this simple question:
   “I think a podcast will help my organization/my client because...”
2. You can communicate your answer to Shel & Neville in English in any way you wish—email, recording (audio or video), comments to this post, whatever way you think is the most effective. Look around the FIR blog for your contact options.
3. Submit your answer by the deadline—Friday January 25, 2008 at 6:00pm GMT.

That’s all there is to it.

We’re looking forward to your entries! (Complete Rules Here.)

Neville experienced recording problems yet again, leaving him with only Sallie’s recording to edit (and a dreadful four-hour slog that was). The repeated technical difficulties may mean that it will be quite some time before ‘Professor’ Goetsch repeats her Shel Holtz imitation.

We talked about the difference between an audio file and a podcast; shared tips on publishing your podcast through a blog, including costs; and discussed the steps you need to take before starting a podcast, plus a whole lot more. If you’re a small business, or if you work with small businesses, you might find this interview useful.

‘Professor’ Goetsch’s qualifications as a correspondent for this long-running PR podcast include:

• Not being a podcaster
• Not being a communications or PR professional
• Not having a background in audio production
• Not being anywhere near as funny as Lee Hopkins

We therefore expect the segment to be a smashing success and wish Lee a speedy conclusion to his doctorate and return to his post.

Founding members Lee Hopkins and Sallie Goetsch are delighted to welcome ‘Professor’ Donna Papacosta of Trafalgar Communications in Oakville, Ontario, Canada to the staff of the Podcast Asylum. Donna specializes in syndromes suffered by Macintosh users, and in the production of corporate podcasts and newsletters. Her soothing voice is especially welcome to our traumatised inpatients.

The Podcast Asylum launched its first outpatient services today with the ‘Joining the Conversation’ consulting package from ‘Professor’ Sallie Goetsch (rhymes with ‘sketch’). This package is designed for newcomers to podcasting who want to learn how the medium and the podcasting community can benefit their businesses. ‘Professor’ Goetsch provides assistance in finding and subscribing to relevant podcasts, text and audio comments, and how to get interviewed on a podcasts. For more information contact sallie [at] podcastasylum [dot] com.