I was flipping through the pages of my book, Podcasting for Profit recently and I was amazed at how many similarities there are between producing a podcast and producing a virtual event.

Looking through the pages of Podcasting for Profit made me more aware that the planning and producing that goes into a podcast are the same techniques you’d use to plan a virtual event.

Here’s what I discovered:

Whether you’re producing a podcast or a virtual event, you need to choose a titillating title. As I stated in my book, the title of your podcast can either create intrigue and interest or it can bore the person to tears. Your virtual event is no different. You need to choose the right name so that people feel compelled to attend.

A podcast and a virtual event both need to have compelling content. As a podcast or virtual event producer, taking some time to plan your podcast episodes or your virtual event sessions will help you identify the right experts to provide that content. By planning the content, you’ll be able to give your audience exactly what they’ve been asking for.

Both a podcast and a virtual event require intelligent, brilliant guests. Expert interviews are the fastest and most inexpensive way for you to build content for your podcast and virtual event. That’s why you need to decide which guests will give you the best information. You not only have to invite that person to participate in your podcast or virtual event, but you also have to ask engaging questions so that you get the desired content that will help your target market.

The outcome of a podcast and a virtual event results in multiple streams of income. Recording your content is essential to helping you leverage it for other uses. You can use a podcast to market your virtual event and then you can use the recordings from your virtual event as a podcast episode.

In my book Podcasting for Profit, I listed a dozen ways you can develop several income sources from your podcast recordings. Membership websites, training programs, e-books, CDs, DVDs, paid syndication and downloadable transcripts are just some of the ways you can leverage the recordings created from your podcast into many sources of income. Of course, this same model can be used for virtual events as well.

You can use a podcast and a virtual event to position yourself as an expert in your industry. People get to hear your voice, they get to witness you rubbing shoulders with some of the top names in your field, and they become familiar with your personality. All these are recipes for building your own following of fans, friends, and foes in way that text alone can’t do. Your podcast and virtual event helps you to connect with people in a dynamic way which then makes it easier for you to attract customers to your business.

If you’re writing articles, blog posts, and relying on text alone to market your business online, you’re missing out on a rich and lucrative way to build rapport with people. If your business has slowed down quite a bit, it may not be due to the economy. Instead, it may be a result of you not allowing people see and hear your unique personality.

Over the next 90 days, I encourage you to either launch a podcast or produce a virtual event to give your target market another way to experience you and your brand.

• If you need help launching a podcast, get my book Podcasting for Profit at Amazon or any other online bookseller. It contains exercises and activities that will help you launch a podcast with confidence.
• If you need help producing a virtual event, click here to join the Association of Virtual Event Managers, Organizers & Hosts. You’ll get access to many resources, including forums, where you can ask anything about producing a virtual event.