Chapter 51

Start a Podcast

Are you featured on the iTunes Music Store?

Although I have always been fascinated with technology, I effectively got my start by creating a podcast series called “Beyond the Rate,” which was about the mortgage business, and posting it on iTunes. That was back in 2006 and at one point “Beyond the Rate” was the third most popular mortgage-related podcast on iTunes. Like so many other websites we've discussed in this book, iTunes is a raging river. It's an online destination with tons of traffic. It's a perfect place to demonstrate your expertise. Millions of people look for things on iTunes. Yes, most of them are searching for music but some are searching for information too.

Similar to the way people can subscribe to your blog, they can also subscribe to your podcast. Once subscribed, they will automatically be notified when you upload your next podcast episode. In fact, if they're subscribed through iTunes, your latest episode will automatically download every time they log in. Most podcasts are in audio format and a significant percentage of people listen to your content on their MP3 player when they're either commuting to work, getting some exercise at the gym, or walking their dog.

It's common knowledge that people give more credence to a statement if it's accompanied by a photo. This is why testimonials commonly include photos of the person along with his or her words. When people can see a photo, the words become real. Readers identify with the ...

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