Streaming audio is a must for any business that wants to provide interactive features or portable podcasts via its website. A feature that almost always goes hand in hand with streaming video, streaming audio enables your customers to listen live or download music, podcasts and more to their iPod or mp3 player.

Streaming audio is a great tool to enhance your business' website or a way to offer your customers portable tutorials and other customized information. Here are some things to consider when researching streaming audio information or looking for streaming audio providers:

1. Some streaming audio providers will help you actually create the file, which can help save you time.
2. Ensure your streaming audio files can be heard in a wide range of players and formats.
3. Choose a streaming audio hosing method: either web-based or from your own streaming audio server.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find streaming audio providers that help you create your media

If you're just starting to hunt for streaming audio information and you're not experienced with the technology, look into a streaming audio provider that can also help create the audio file for you. With the right streaming audio provider support behind you, the process won't be as difficult the first time out.

I recommend: StreamGuys offers both live and on-demand audio and video streaming with no experience from you required. This streaming audio hosting company provides you with top-notch support that walks you through the process. Abacast also offers full customer support with their audio streaming services that helps you hit the ground running even with little or no experience.

Get streaming audio that is supported by multiple formats

It's best to provide audio and video players that are universally downloadable and accepted by a wide range of computer operating systems. If you want to attract more traffic to your website by offering an audio broadcast, the more people that can access it, the better! Your streaming media provider should be able to guide the way.

I recommend: Windows Media Player is almost universally accepted on both PCs and Macs, as is the Mac-based QuickTime.

Choose either a streaming media server or HTTP method to deliver your sound files

Delivering audio via a streaming media server or a web server both have advantages. Web servers give you access to pre-existing infrastructure, while streaming media servers are better for live audio and video.

I recommend: iTuner sells audio/video servers, while Web Hosting Choice lists numerous streaming audio hosting and video hosting plans and their features, including disk space required, operating system and host ratings. Primcast offers plans from an array of streaming audio and video servers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to enhance your streaming audio software even further, look into upgrading your computer's audio card. Your audio card should at least be able to produce CD quality sound, but others on the market have surround-sound capabilities.