The times they are a-changing. The abundance of new technologies means that the way a business markets itself has transformed dramatically in the last few years. Livestream video is now everywhere and is one of the top marketing trends of the moment.
But what about podcasts? They may not be new, but they are certainly nothing to be ignored. In fact, podcasts have garnered an immense popularity over recent years and are now being used by businesses as a powerful marketing tool.
Easy to implement, podcasts are the new talk radio on mobile devices. And it makes sense, the increased usage of mobile phones has led to the explosive growth of podcasting. Let’s take at why your business should jump on the podcasting trend.
Why Your Business Should Have a Podcast
1. Podcasts Result in Increased Traffic Generation
Using podcasts can help you reach out to new, wide-ranging audiences for your business and build familiarity. Listeners usually subscribe to the series and regularly listen. As long as the audio series continues, your audience is quite likely to keep listening.
Additionally, your audience may recommend the podcasts to others who may be interested in them, thus increasing your reach considerably. This can lead to improved traffic generation quickly.
2. Podcasts are a Great Alternative to Video
As mentioned above, video marketing is crucial for business. However, not everyone is comfortable in front of a camera. If you are camera shy and don’t come across well onscreen, it can actually hurt you and your business’s reputation considerably.
Additionally, video costs add up: lighting, sound, background, and recording equipment are not cheap. Many small businesses may not be able to afford the high-quality equipment they need shoot videos that will stand out.
Recording podcasts, on the other hand, is not as intrusive. Many people who might be uncomfortable speaking in front of a camera will find it painless to have their voice recorded and for far less cost.
3. Podcasts Help You Build Better Relationships
A podcast may be a one-sided medium, but it helps in building effective relationships with the listeners. It gives the feeling that the listeners know the person speaking on the podcast. People listen to podcasts because they have something in common with the speaker and the brand the speaker is representing.
Such a relationship helps in building trust and encourages listeners to be associated with the brand. This, in turn, leads to improved conversion. People are more likely to buy something from a friend than a stranger.
4. Podcasts Get High Engagement
We are no strangers to information overload. With the internet being filled with an ample amount of written content, audio information that attempts to engage customers can be a welcoming break from the monotony.
In a survey conducted on 300,000 podcast listeners, it was found that 63% of the respondents had bought what the host had promoted. This indicates that podcasts can be used to engage the audience and influence their buying decisions positively.
5. Podcasts Reach Customers When Other Mediums Can’t
Possibly the most definitive reason why your business needs a podcast is that they give you an opportunity to talk to your customers at hard to reach times. Vacuuming the apartment? Going for a run? Stuck in traffic? These are everyday occurrences that take up a lot of time when your audience isn’t able to search the web, read a book or watch a video. Podcasts are popular because they allow your audience to multitask and fit them into their busy lives. Which means they give you new opportunities to reach your target market and generate leads.
Many businesses have already started adding podcasts into their marketing strategies. Now it’s your turn. Start implementing them into your marketing plan for the growth of your company.
This post is an edited version of an original post: https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/01/benefits-of-podcasting.html