Digital marketing is an area that is constantly changing, and it is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Whether its SEO or content, with the constant changes and innovation happening in this industry, business owners need to stay well informed to take advantage of the new opportunities. Today, people can get information in so many different ways. One of them is via podcasts.
Podcasting, formerly known as “audio blogging”, first showed up in the 80s, but it wasn’t until 2004 that podcasting started garnering popularity. Simply put, a podcast is a series of digital audio files that can be easily downloaded from the internet. Once you subscribe as a user to the podcast, you will be notified each time new episodes are available to download.
Is podcast a conventional form of marketing? Most certainly not, but in today’s Digital Age, it is as effective as the print ads in magazines in the ’70s. With the rise in demand for audio content, businesses are taking advantage of podcasts to promote their business and turn their audience into clients. There are so many reasons why you should start a podcast to elevate your business. Here we talk about the top 7 benefits of podcasting for business in 2021.
Podcasts are easily accessible and on-demand
Nowadays, people expect multilayered content to cater for their needs, whether it’s a blog, video, infographics, webinars, e-books, audio or other digital resources. However, what may be considered easily accessible for some, may be the complete opposite for others. Not everyone has the time to sit down and read a 5,000-word blog, but everyone can put their headphones on and listen to people talking. You can easily listen to podcasts while riding the tube, in the gym, or being out and about. And they are on-demand which has become the go-to choice for people all over the world.
Podcasts can create a personal Connection
Are you creating killer content which builds trust with your clients? This is one of the most important roles for a successful business. People listen to podcasts because they feel connected with the speaker, similar to the connection they feel to the protagonist when reading a book or watching a movie. The listener will hear your voice every day or every week, maybe laugh at your jokes or agree with a lot of your topics. Also, listening is one of the best ways to absorb information with little effort. This speaker-listener relationship helps build trust, so in time listeners start feeling closer to the brand and the speaker.
A Great Alternative to Video
While practical multimedia such as video content is excellent marketing for any business, podcasts are ideal for introverts who hate being on camera. They are a great alternative if you are a start-up and can’t afford good quality videos that involve sound, lighting and background just yet. Even if you did have the necessary means to create awesome quality videos, if you are not comfortable behind the camera, your videos will show that, which may result in hurting your image and reputation. That’s why podcasts’ popularity is growing immensely. A good way to create cost effective voice content is through an app called Clubhouse – allowing you to create rooms and discuss your brand live with your audience.
Increases Traffic Generation
If you have regular podcasts with original brand content and featured guests with a massive social media following, they can quickly spread the word and increase your reach. It’s also easy to connect your podcasts to social media, your website, SoundCloud, or turn an excerpt transcript into a blog and drive traffic to the full podcast. If you are comfortable being on camera, record your podcast session and upload the video on YouTube. The better the audio content, the bigger the audience. Hence, a quick increase in traffic generation.
Builds Brand
Podcasts are becoming a valuable part of small business marketing strategy. It’s a great way to communicate to an audience that can listen to your original brand storytelling on the go. If you are consistent and post episodes on a regular timetable, your listeners will keep coming back. This is because you have already incorporated your brand story into their daily/weekly routine.
Time-saving
If your approach was one-to-one consultations with clients every day, that could be really time-consuming. Especially when you have hundreds of clients that need your attention. With a podcast, you can reach an even larger audience in a timeframe that suits them the best. They can listen to the podcast when they can, where they want, whether it be once or twenty times. But the audience is not the only one gaining in time here. As a business owner, you will have more time to address tasks that require immediate attention. Or work on more important jobs.
Affordable and Easy to Create
Starting a podcast will not break your marketing budget. It may cost as low as £9 a month or as high as £500. The essential podcast recording equipment includes:
- A laptop
- A reliable microphone
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Audio software (some are free)
Building your brand and growing your business requires a smart marketing strategy. A podcast is an excellent move. Many companies have already started using them. So to be ahead of the game, you need to implement podcasts for an even more successful business.
If you want to find out what other strategies you can implement for business growth and building your brand, with the legal aspects in mind don’t hesitate to contact us