After about two years of stagnant growth, podcast audiences are now expected to grow 251% to 65 million by 2012, according to a new eMarketer article.

This news is not that surprising since podcast growth has been on the rise since many mainstream media outlets like CNN, NBC and the BBC have adopted the technology.

What’s really interesting about this is that it’s not the big media guys that are benefiting, financially. It’s the smaller businesses and content producers that are getting the majority of the new dollars being spent on podcast advertising, which is also expected to grow to $435 Million by 2012 (it’s somewhere in the neighborhood of $143 Million right now).

What this means for businesses is that podcasting has reasserted itself as a way to target niche audiences and demonstrate product-area expertise. As a veteran podcaster - and you know I had to mention it at some point - this is a welcome validation of many hours spent convincing executives that the medium was worth it.

Ultimately, I think you’ll see a lot of businesses flock to podcasting as a way to create content in and around their products. I also think that consumers, as the digital music player market grows and becomes even more mobile with the advent of 3G phones, will continue the trend of seeking out more targeted and personal alternatives to traditional radio.

Technorati Tags: emarketer, OwenBloggers, podcast, podcasters, podcasting, podcast growth, strategy

The Web, Take Two (link) - from RevenueToday.com

“Like new confections spilling out of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, the brain trusts at Web companies big and small over the last three years or so have spun out a brand new Web. Like candy, this version of the Web is flashier, full of speed, comes in a cool wrapper, has good stuff inside and is highly addictive.”

This is a great article on Web 2.0 and how smart businesses are tapping younger consumers by appealing to their tech-savvy lifestyle.

You can also sign up to receive a free subscription to Revenue Magazine at the site, which is full of great content.

Courtesy: Apple Inc.

The two reasons for this unabashed strangeness were:

1. It’s a great strategic move for Apple and
2. I love Safari/hate Windows/think Firefox is overrated. You do the math…

To the point that its a great strategic move; web browsers have always been a beachhead for software developers. This move allows Apple to advance its agenda of convincing people that the Mac OS is superior to anything else out there. And let me tell you, it is!

With the exception of the first time I opened the window (it automatically ported my settings) this thing is like lightning! Its faster than Firefox, sleeker in design than IE 8 and its Mac!

Now, I am not a tech blogger nor am I an it nerd but this program really is fantastic and you should try it, if only for the fact it gives you another browser option.

Brian Finkelstein, author and creator of SnakesOnABlog.com (>>), sits down to do some post-snakes analysis on the buzz generated around the recently-released horror flick as we debate the future of fan-generated content and its impact on movie marketing.

Show Notes:
- No, its not just another Web 2.0 discussion
- MBA Spin: GMAT on a Plane
- Interview: Brian Finkelstein – Author/Creator, snakesonablog.com
- Game Plan: Intelligence vs. Intuition

Referenced Links:
- The Most Eloquent Progenitor?: 20SMF Learn Out Loud Review

Podcast:

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Traditionally, internet-based business models have existed through one major source, click-through revenue. Are there new ways of doing things? What’s worked for you in the past? Let’s get some brainstorming going:

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