In today’s digital world, there are many ways to reach your audience. You can create a website, write articles and ebooks, or even share videos on YouTube. But what if there was another way? What if you could talk directly to your customers or potential clients in a way that was personal and engaging? Now you can! Podcasting has become an increasingly popular medium for entrepreneurs looking for new ways to connect with their audience. Whether it’s listening to other people’s stories or sharing your own, podcasting is a great way to build relationships with others who share common interests.
Starting a podcast has a lot more advantages that you could ever imagine. It is no longer reserved to superstar radio hosts only to get their voices heard by the masses. In this day and age, you can build your own broadcasting network around a loyal community nurtured across several social media platforms. And the best part of it all is; it is absolutely free of charge.
Here are ten reasons why starting a podcast will accelerate your success as an entrepreneur by enhancing your personal brand:
10. You can be heard, seen or both
The greatest benefit of starting a podcast in this era is the fact that you no longer have to choose between a traditional radio setting and a traditional television type of format. Your podcast can be both audio or video at the same time. All you would need to get started is a smartphone and a quiet location to record yourself speak on a topic you are very knowledgeable about.
There are two main ways to go about it. For the audio format, you can leverage huge streaming platforms such as Spotify or Apple podcast. And for the video format, I highly recommend youtube because you can now segment the whole video into clips that can be re-uploaded to Youtube Shorts. The best thing about video podcasts is that they can be repurposed on various platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
9. Podcasting is now accessible to introverts too
One of the most dreadful aspects of starting a podcast for some founders, especially in video format, still remains the fear of facing an audience while addressing them. Well, the good news is, you can set up your podcast wherever you are and most importantly, it does not have to include interviews with guest speakers, nor does it have to have a live audience on set. This is your platform and you can choose to design it whichever way you want.
Practically speaking, if you are a shy founder or if you are simply not comfortable speaking in front of the camera, there are a few ways you can still get your message across. To do this, you must carefully choose amongst the four types of formats; conversational, narrative nonfiction, scripted fiction and repurposed content. If you are an introvert, you should definitely explore the scripted fiction format because it will enable you to structure your content while exploring your own imagination without much pressure.
8. It is much easier to produce a successful podcast than you think
You don’t need to be an audiophile to start a podcast. In fact, it’s easier than you think! All you need is a computer or laptop with recording software and a good microphone.
You can even start by using free versions of recording software such as Audacity or GarageBand on your phone or tablet if you don’t have access to a laptop. It is that easy.
7. Podcasting is a cost effective digital marketing tool
Podcasting is an effective way to market your business, but it doesn’t require a large investment. In fact, with just a microphone and computer, you can get started for less than $100. For example, Blue Snowball’s Microphones ($79) have been recommended by podcasters as being affordable and easy to use.
Additionally, there are many free resources for hosting podcasts that do not require any initial investment beyond time spent learning how to use them. You can record your podcast using Audacity or Garageband on your Mac or PC, upload it directly from the app onto YouTube or SoundCloud (or both), then share the link with others through social media channels like Twitter and Facebook.
6. Releasing a podcast can be a steady source of passive income
In the long term, podcasting is a great way to make money, and it can be done in many different ways. The most obvious way to make money from podcasting is through sponsorships. A sponsor could be a company that provides you with free or discounted products or services, as long as they get mentioned on your show. Another way of making money from podcasting is through ads, which are usually short snippets from companies hoping to get their name out there.
A third option for monetising your podcast is by selling courses or coaching packages either online or through workshops in person (or both). This can be done through platforms like Udemy, Skillshare and others.
5. Podcasting is an opportunity to build a relationship with an audience made of prospective clients and various business stakeholders
Podcasting is an amazing way to connect with your audience. It’s a great way to build a relationship with your target audience, building trust and loyalty at the same time. And this genuine relationship often leads to repeated sales from a loyal customer base. Typically, such audiences do not only buy because the product is useful but also, because they connect with its mission on a much deeper level, as a result of listening to the story behind it via a founder’s podcast. A podcast gives you the opportunity to connect on a different level than just being a business owner or marketer selling products and services.
Podcasting allows you to share information, stories, experiences, etc., in an entertaining way that makes listeners feel like they’re sitting across from you at lunch having coffee or something with your best friend who happens to be giving them advice about their business or life in general.
4. The demand for personalised podcasts exceeds the actual supply on the market
The number of podcasts out there is rapidly growing. As podcasts become more popular, the number of podcasts available for listeners to choose from increases dramatically. In fact, the number of personalised podcasts is rising faster than both blogs and blogs themselves. And the reason for this is that even though most markets are now becoming globalised as a result of e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba, Shopify, Stripe and Estonia’s e-residency program, these same markets are concurrently becoming more and more segmented, which provides producers of podcasts with an opportunity to fulfil an ever growing need for personalised content.
This rapid growth is due to the fact that podcasts are more accessible than ever before. Furthermore, there is also the convenience factor in that sense that podcasts can be instantly downloaded in a matter of seconds from iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify and more. They can also be streamed for free on many websites like YouTube or directly from their website. But what truly matters is to know which message or information directly addresses both the current and future inquiries of a target audience.
3. There are fewer barriers to entry
The barriers to entry are small. You don’t need a studio, fancy equipment, or even to be a great writer. In fact, it’s possible to start with nothing more than your smartphone or laptop.
There are so many amazing show formats out there now that cost next to nothing to produce. They range from interviewing high profile guests on Skype (think Tim Ferriss’ podcast) all the way up to hiring professional editors and sound engineers for higher quality productions like Entrepreneur On Fire (EOF).
The world of podcasting is open to everyone now. The only thing you need to do is create something that people (your target audience) will want to listen to. The main resource for a successful podcast is no longer financial capital but rather the time (or ability) to balance one’s business acumen with business creativity.
2. Starting a podcast will help you turn active listeners into fans
Undoubtedly, podcasts are a great way to build an audience. Whether you’re creating a solo show, or hosting a co-hosted show with someone else, chances are that your audience will be loyal and engaged. Podcast audiences can be made up of just about anyone who wants to learn from the content you provide them (and hopefully talk with you about it). And this means that even if you’ve never done anything like this before, there’s no shortage of people waiting for your next episode of podcasting goodness.
The biggest benefit is that once someone becomes part of your community through listening to your podcast regularly (or even following along on social media), they’re likely going to continue supporting what it is that you do by buying from you or sharing your content online or both. Either way, you have genuine people constantly helping push your business forwards. The best way to make sure people keep coming back is by providing value through consistent content creation and distribution – podcasts are one great way at doing so. However, the key to keep growing your fanbase is consistency (with content production and distribution).
1. Creating a podcast is the most effective means to increase the digital footprint of your personal brand
The best way to get your brand out there is by talking about it. The irony is that if you talk about it with the right people, they too will start talking about your brand to others. This phenomenon is what can be referred to as brand adoption. Podcasting is a great way to build your brand and grow your audience as your listeners start adopting it overtime. This can be done by sharing information about yourself, what you have done in the past, what you are currently working on, and where you see yourself going in the future. In a masterclass where he teaches inclusive leadership, President Bill Clinton said the best way to get others to support your effort or cause is to tell them what you are passionate about and then tell them why they should care about what you offer. In addition to accelerating the adoption of your brand, podcasting also allows you to connect with other entrepreneurs through interviews or guest appearances on other people’s shows. This is a powerful way to consolidate the authority of your personal brand as well. In fact, you can gain trust from listeners who might not know much about you yet but want to learn more because of how well-connected someone else thinks they are in the industry.
Podcasting makes it easier for people who don’t necessarily trust social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter with their personal info – such as credit card numbers – because they don’t have any experience using those platforms yet so they’re less likely than older generations who have been using them since birth.
So, as you can see, there are plenty of reasons to start a podcast. While I’m not saying podcasts will be the next big thing or that they will replace blogging, they do have a lot of potential for entrepreneurs. With the rise of smartphones and the fact that everyone is glued to their devices all day long, podcasts are perfect for people who want to get information while on-the-go. And let’s face it: everyone loves listening to someone talk about their passions! So if you’re looking for more ways to grow your audience and build relationships with customers, consider starting a podcast.
