Day 1

Subject: [firstname]: Thanks for signing up

Dear [firstname],

Thanks for signing up to this short podcasting e-course.  Over the coming days I'm going to be sending you a LOT of information – be sure to check your inbox every day and mark my messages as “important”.  You might also want to set some time aside every day to read my messages and act on the information they contain.

Specifically, we're going to cover:

* The reasons you might want to start podcasting
* The technical stuff you'll need to know to “hit the ground running”
* Why preparation is crucial
* How to get the word out to potential listeners about your podcast
* And a whole lot more besides!

Of course, if you want to get a head start on all this I've put together a no-holes-barred podcasting success guide that explains everything in detail.  You can find out all about it here [link to sales page].

The big question is… 

What is podcasting and why should you care? 

The term “podcasting” takes its name from the Apple iPod (TM).  It's basically an amalgam of “iPod” and “broadcasting”. People would record short audio productions and distribute them via the internet so others could download them and listen to them on their iPods.

Nowadays, most podcasts are distributed in MP3 format, so you don't have to have an iPod to listen to them; in fact, you can listen to them on your smartphone, your laptop, tablet computer, even some car radios let you play MP3 files directly from a USB memory stick.

Making a podcast is a bit like having your own personal news/talk radio station – except YOU'RE the program controller and producer; you set the agenda and choose the topics.  Ultimately, YOU reap the benefits.

Pretty cool, eh?

I'll go into more detail in the coming days.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

PS. Tomorrow I'll cover the most important thing you need to do BEFORE you start putting together your podcasts.  Get this part wrong and you might as well be talking to yourself in a darkened room!  I'll explain more tomorrow; be sure to check your inbox then.
