Why you must consider starting a podcast

by Joe Kuzma ( joe_kuzma) on October 2, 2018

Once upon a time I thought to myself: “Who would listen to me talk about X?”

Today, my mentality has totally changed. Now I tell anyone who will listen why they must have a podcast.

If you’re wondering what those reasons are, look no further than the list below which outlines all of the various ways a podcast will help benefit your business.

Long form content

The biggest takeaway from speaking in an audio format is that you can say a lot more, and have people listen to it, versus doing the same with a blog.

If you were to write 3,000 words in a blog post, chances are most people will skim your article or not read all of it. It takes more time and effort for readers to read; on the contrary, podcast listeners will listen to many more minutes of content than readers will ever read.

That sounds wordy, but it’s true. It’s also why audiobooks are huge these days. Putting on a pair of headphones while working or playing a podcast during your daily commute makes the medium much more accessible than reading a blog post.

Building a personal connection

Just like talking on the phone or in person, you can build a better rapport with a podcast. There’s nothing else quite like it.

Another touch point for your audience

I’m a fan of repurposing content where possible. A case in point is this very blog post, which first appeared as one of my early podcast episodes. It may not be as detailed as the audio version, but this blog post will reach those who don’t listen to the show.

Likewise, I often take articles I’ve written and talk about them on the podcast. It’s really that easy and also makes your content accessible to a larger audience who may prefer reading or listening to one or the other.

Position yourself as an expert

If you really do know what you’re talking about, it won’t take long for others to recognize it.

Podcasting is another great way to help set yourself apart and position yourself as an expert in your trade.

Networking

While podcasting is a great way to reach potential clients and customers, you can also leverage the platform to connect with other experts within your industry. This helps all ships rise with the tide by collaborating with others in your field.

You may even be invited as a guest on another podcast, which will only help your own numbers grow.

Less competition

While podcasting is growing, it’s nowhere near the mass saturation of blogging.

With far less competition, your podcast could reach more listeners than a blog. You may also happen upon an untapped niche that’s missing an audio version, further elevating your content marketing campaigns.

SEO and reach

While everyone’s fighting for first page position in Google search rankings, a podcast is just as effective at getting you or your brand noticed. Apple iTunes, YouTube and others have excellent search algorithms which will help increase your SEO and the overall amount of people your brand can reach.

Google will even give priority to videos, especially YouTube videos, in their rankings. That’s something to consider: even if you do not have the ability to produce a video podcast, it only takes a few extra steps to add a graphic to an audio file and have a “video” published on the world’s largest video website that’s also owned by the world’s largest search engine.

Barriers to entry

While I can’t cover how to begin a podcast without making this post too long, I can say that its easier than ever to get started.

Many of the tools you need to get started with a basic podcast may be right in front of you right now. Smartphones have apps which will record audio from its built-in microphone or a set of plugged in earbuds. Microphones which attach to a laptop are relatively inexpensive as well, and free software (downloaded or included with your computer) can assist in the recording process.

Even if you don’t have a lot of technical know-how you can upload your file to any number of pay services that can host your podcast. While I don’t necessarily recommend someone else holding or controlling your content, it’s an inexpensive and easy way to get your voice heard.

Conclusion

If podcasting is something you’re truly interested in, but you need some help, feel free to ask me about better methods of recording, hosting and/or editing your own audio program.