Podcasts have been around for the last decade or so but in the last couple of years they’ve enjoyed a surge in popularity. This is something that business owners are starting to notice and, for some, podcasts are becoming an essential part of their marketing strategy. We take a look at how you too can use podcasts to benefit your business.

The Stats on Podcasts

If you’re looking at including podcasts in your marketing strategy, here are some stats that could encourage you to do so.

According to Edison Research in their 2017 Infinite Dial Study, podcasts are a medium that is on the rise.

They report that “40% of Americans 12+ say they have listened to a podcast, while 24% say they have listened to one in the past month, up from 21% one year ago. In addition, six in ten Americans are now familiar with the term “podcasting,” a number that has risen 22% in two years.”

Some other interesting trends came to light in the report which indicated an increased consumption of podcasts. These are things such as: more consumers buying home sound system products (like smart speakers or headphones); and signing up to platforms (like Netflix) that don’t have traditional advertising messages.

The upshot is, that if you want to reach your customers in the future, you may well have to look at adapting your advertising model. Podcasts are one option for doing this, as the stats show there is certainly a large enough appetite for them.

Why Make Podcasts Part of Your Marketing Content

 How can podcasts help your business marketing strategy? To put it simply: podcasts can help convey a message quickly, effectively and cheaply without the hard sell. There’s a reason audio has been the chosen medium for storytelling for thousands of years – because it’s a powerful means of communication.

Today people are bombarded by so much written content that listening to a podcast can be a welcome break. Mundane daily tasks, such as waiting at a dentist’s office, driving to work or walking the dog, are made a more entertaining or educational experience if you’re listening to a favorite podcasts or discovering new ones.

With millions of people owning an iPhone you could potentially expose your brand to thousands of listeners for free!

How to Get Started in Podcasts

 This is all very well, you might think, but how do I make a podcast? What should I talk about?

These are two good questions to ask, we’ll cover each of these in more detail below:

How do I make a podcast?

To be a successful podcaster you have to be willing to stick to a schedule and routinely post quality content. This means having the right recording equipment – a good quality microphone and headphones – to make a podcast. But if you’re not sure if podcasting is right for you, then recording on a Smartphone or tablet is ok for your first few episodes but you will also need editing software to produce the content. You can download free editing software from the internet that isn’t too complex to use, even for beginners.

What should I talk about?

Find out what other people are doing in your industry and think about what approach you can take. For instance if you have a successful small business you might:

  • discuss topics that you find important and interesting for small businesses,
  • share your story of your journey from regular guy/girl to businessman/businesswoman,
  • interview successful entrepreneurs,
  • give advice on what not to do,
  • talk about tips to help a business thrive.

Another option to get your name out there is to appear as a guest expert on existing podcast shows. Find out what popular podcasts are related to your industry and reach out to podcast hosts so they think of you when they’re planning out their guest lists.

When pitching say that you’re a big fan of their podcast and outline what you could teach their audience, then list 3 topics that you could talk about. Be polite, friendly and succinct.

Are you ready to give podcasting a go?

 With the podcasting business a-boomin there’s no time like the present to get involved yourself. There’s plenty of people out there ready and waiting to be entertained, educated and enlightened by your stories.

Author : About Matt Ramage,  Founder of Emarketed

Matt Ramage has been marketing websites for over 20 years. He loves helping businesses improve their user experience and searchability on the Internet. Matt now heads Emarketed which is located in Los Angeles, California. They specialize in SEO, social media marketing and web development.