Starting a podcast is one of the smartest decisions you can make to help it grow especially if you run your business from home. Podcasting is a creative way to share your voice to the world and entertain potential audiences who would prefer to listen rather than read articles online.
The podcast audience has grown in numbers over the years. According to a study, the podcast audience is 57 million Americans. Podcast listeners consume an average of 5 shows in a week. Here’s another mind-blowing fact: Podcast subscriptions on iTunes have skyrocketed to over 1 billion.
If you’re not so sure about whether to start your own podcast, here are some of the best reasons why you should. This article is for you.
Podcasting allows you connect with people at a deeper level.
For a lot of podcasters out there, this is the ultimate reason for creating a podcast show. It’s a very different experience listening to someone’s voice than simply reading an article written by the same person. Your voice alone can say much about your mood and personality. People can tell if you’re kind, funny, knowledgeable, sexy, or serious. By starting a podcast, you become more authentic. Authenticity attracts customers.
Podcasts outperform text and video.
One of the reasons why a lot of people love podcasts is that they can bring it with them wherever they go. Blog posts and video content demand a person’s full attention. People have to sit down and focus on an article or video for them to understand the message. Podcasts, on the other hand, can be listened to while commuting to the office, cooking, or exercising on your elliptical.
Podcasting helps increase your website traffic (and grow your email list).
Are you seeking to reach out to new audiences? Through running a podcast, you’ll be able to create familiarity with existing podcast listeners on iTunes and Spotify. In your podcast episodes, make sure to mention your website so listeners can visit it anytime. Some podcasters offer a free checklist or ebook which they encourage their listeners to download on their site after they signup for their mailing list.
Podcasting is a great way to make money online.
John Lee Dumas of Entrepreneur On Fire (EO Fire) makes multiple 5 figures a month from running his show. Because he has gained popularity over the years which is evidenced by EO Fire’s massive number of downloads, sponsors started approaching Dumas and he charged them for getting mentioned on his show. Another way to earn income through podcasting is by simply telling your listeners about your product or service.
Podcasting builds your authority in your niche.
If you’re struggling to build authority, you have more chances of positioning yourself as an expert in your niche through podcasting. There are definitely more websites than podcasts and this gives you the advantage of being easily recognized. Also, you can interview a renowned expert on a subject which is a great way to establish credibility.
Podcasting is another way to repurpose the existing content that’s on your site.
Do you have old but highly relevant “evergreen” blog posts piling up on your site? Aside from promoting them again on social media, you definitely repurpose those posts into podcast episodes. That way, you’ll be able to provide massive value especially to people who would love to listen to a discussion on a topic which you’ve previously written about on your site. Conversely, you can also have your new podcast episodes transcribed into blog posts, slideshows, or chapters of an ebook (which you can sell in the future).
Podcasting opens you up for speaking opportunities.
Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income had his first opportunity to speak at a conference (in 2011) two years after he launched his podcast. He spoke at several events after that. This experience gave him a lot of exposure. Through podcasting, he was able to position himself in the minds of wider audiences. Flynn says, “They are looking for people who not only can write, but also can go on book tours, and who can speak on the radio, and the podcast is proof of that.”
Final Thoughts
Podcasting is an engaging and productive strategy to impact your target audiences. You can be more personal while sharing your passion, earn money, build authority, gain more opportunities, and more. Get a break from writing by podcasting and still reap tremendous benefits.
If you have more ideas to share, leave a comment below.
