Podcasting is on the rise.
Podcasts are undeniably popular, entertaining, educational and informative. On iTunes, podcast subscriptions top 1 billion. Obviously, podcasts are not exclusive to iTunes. Many other apps and services, so called podcatchers are eager to share the latest and greatest podcast episodes.
When I launched my first podcast episode back in April 2012 I never imagined the amazing impact this marketing weapon podcasting is going to have on education per se. As a marketer, time-efficient educational strategies and methods were always of great importance to me staying on top of trends.
What fascinated me most about podcasting (especially audio podcasts) right from the start was the fact that I could multi-task while listening. Driving the car was no problem. Cooking and listening was great fun. Hitting the gym, training and educating myself at the same time has a lot of benefits.
Why do business people love podcasts?
Here are five reasons why you should reap the benefits of podcasting for your business:
1. Quickly reach out to new markets and gain a worldwide loyal audience.
If you want to be successful in business, you need to know how to gain and more importantly, keep attention. By creating valuable content that is targeted towards your specific customer avatar, you can get listeners fast. Furthermore, once you upload your very first episode, you basically reach out to a worldwide audience.
Podcasting allows you to connect with your audience on a deeper level. And the beauty lies therein, that people have chosen to listen to you because they’re interested in your topic, the way you present it, your standpoint, or even your voice.
In a world where differentiation is key, podcasting gives you the flexibility to explore all the facets of both your persona and the topic you’re sharing with your community.
2. You’re in control of the game.
Few business people have included podcasting into their overall marketing strategy and approach despite their time and cost-efficiency. You can do daily, weekly, or even monthly shows. You can do audio, video, or mix the two formats as you please. You pick the topic and content you’re going to share with your audience.
You can choose to upload your podcast to iTunes and other podcast directories, or give access to your show to a select few within your membership area. The possibilities are endless.
3. Interview experts and thought leaders from different industries. Build joint venture partnerships.
If you want to connect with key influencer in your industry, share different ideas and insights with your audience, podcasting is definitely the right marketing tool to accomplish just that.
You can invite experts to discuss hot business topics on the show and put forth views of people your audience is most likely to trust. Furthermore, you can review books, movies, talks, and all kinds of products and services. You’re only limited by your imagination.
4. Boost credibility and brand awareness.
Podcasting is a powerful marketing tool that enables you to build a strong customer base. If you deliver value to your audience, you will build trust with them. Remember, people do business with aka purchase from people they like and trust.
Becoming a recognized expert in your chosen niche has the positive side-effect of attracting more consumers and experts to your show. This is how your podcast can help you gain credibility and increase brand awareness across multiple channels and platforms.
5. Use podcasting as an additional revenue stream.
Podcasting is a major revenue driver. Once you have built a solid base of subscribers and followers, there are a lot of creative ways to monetize your show.
For example, you could repurpose your content by creating an audio CD that includes your top 10 most popular online marketing interviews. If you have a portfolio of products and services that are relevant to your podcast audience, you could sell these on your show and thus convert loyal listeners into paying customers. If you don’t have products or services of your own, you could offer affiliate products that are relevant to your target market. Obviously, sponsors and advertisers can also generate a solid revenue stream.
There are loads of reasons why you should grab your recorder and start podcasting. It might be one of the smartest decisions you’ll ever make for your business.
Jae Baer and his team at MarketingPodcasts.com have put together a compelling infographic on the power of podcasting for business people.
Here’s why podcasts are leading the way:
Wrapping It Up
Although speaking at live events is my favorite way to onboard customers, podcasting beats it from a time and cost-efficiency perspective.
Why? Because you can target specific individuals and businesses with ease. One of the best ways to do this is by providing quality content that pertains to this audience on a regular basis.
Are you ready to start podcasting now?
THE MARKETING TRIANGLE
This is a book about mastering the marketing fundamentals. It’s designed especially for busy small business owners and entrepreneurs who wish to understand what marketing is really about and how they can choose and deploy certain marketing weapons to get the results they want and beyond.
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