Connect, Engage and Succeed with Podcasting
Content Platform Series
To thrive in today’s competitive landscape, creating compelling content is essential.
Every business needs a central platform for content sharing, a place where growth, audience engagement and web traffic can flourish.
Sure, you may already be creating content across various mediums.
However, what we’re focusing on here is your primary content platform – the one you consistently rely on to nurture your audience, boost your online presence and convert your followers into customers.
Throughout this content platform series, we’ll delve into four popular content platforms: blogs, podcasts, videos and communities.
We’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each, along with essential equipment to begin and startup costs to consider, in order to empower you to choose the best fit for your business.
If you’re just starting out, operating as a solopreneur or have a small team, it’s wise to initially concentrate on a single platform. As your business and team grow, you can expand into additional platforms if desired.
Why you need a content platform
Your content platform serves as the bedrock of your online presence, captivating and connecting with your audience. By consistently delivering valuable content, you cultivate relationships, foster trust and pave the way for future conversations.
Moreover, maintaining a steady stream of content exposes your business to new audiences who may not have discovered you otherwise.
Consistency is key, as it sets expectations, establishes your authority and bolsters your reliability to your audience. According to Hubspot, creating consistent, high-value content influences buying decisions more than any other technique.
As you consider the various content platforms in this series, keep the following in mind:
Assess the time and resources available for content creation and determine what is feasible for you and your business.
Play to your strengths. Choose a platform that aligns with your skills and preferences. If writing isn’t your forte, don’t blog. If the camera isn’t your friend, don’t create a video channel. Picking a platform that doesn’t resonate with you will only breed resentment and hinder your content creation goals.
Podcasting
In this post, we’ll dive into the world of podcasting as a content platform choice.
Did you know that the average attention span of humans is only around 8 seconds? Even goldfish have a longer attention span than us!
In this fast-paced digital era, capturing your audience’s attention has become a daunting task.
And because so much of our time is consumed by the screen, podcasting allows you to capture an audience’s attention in a way the screen doesn’t.
Think about it … while many things can be considered mobile or “portable” with the ability of smartphones and other technology, nothing is quite as flexible as a podcast.
In fact, I do almost all of my podcast listening at times when looking at a screen isn’t feasible. – I listen when commuting, while I’m walking my dog, Butter, and I don’t know if I would be able to cook without simultaneously listening to a podcast or book at this point.
The Pros of Podcasting
Here are some of the benefits of podcasting.
Connect on a deeper level – Unlike written content, podcasting allows you to better connect with your audience on a personal level. The human voice has a unique power to convey emotions, build trust and establish authenticity. By speaking directly to your listeners, you can create a stronger bond and keep them engaged.
Multitasking bliss – As I shared how I listen to podcasts while doing other tasks, so can your audience. Whether it’s driving, cleaning or working out, podcasts can easily be incorporated into your audience’s daily routine.
Repurposing goldmine – Podcasting is a treasure trove of repurposing opportunities. You can transcribe the episodes and post them on your websites as blog content for those audience members that prefer reading. You can overlay audio from a podcast onto social media posts and videos. The possibilities are endless, giving you more mileage from each single piece of content.
Third-party promotion help - Podcast hosting platforms will help you expand your reach by making suggestions on related podcasts.
Website traffic - You can add a podcast player in your show notes so people can listen directly from your website.
The Cons of Podcasting
Here are some of the challenges that can be associated with podcasting.
Time and consistency – Podcasting requires a commitment. Consistently releasing episodes on a schedule is crucial for maintaining your audience’s interest. It involves planning, recording, editing and promoting each episode. But remember, the effort you put into can yield great results!
Technical learning curve – If you’re new to podcasting, there may be a learning curve when it comes to the technical aspects. Understanding audio equipment, editing software and sound quality optimization can be intimidating at first. But, like anything else, with the right resources and a bit of practice, you’ll be a pro in no time.
May need a team – Due to the learning curve and time required for podcasts, you may need additional support to assist with the various technical aspects of podcasting, such as editing, audio overlays, etc. If you plan on having podcast guests, you may need additional assistance to manage the guest support.
Difficulty measuring success – It can often be difficult to track your return on investment.
Keeping your audience captivated – Because podcasting relies solely on audio, you need to keep your audience’s attention with only your voice. Unlike other platforms, you can’t rely on imagery and graphics to keep your audience engaged.
Equipment Suggestions and Related Costs for Beginners
Here are some equipment recommendations and estimated costs to get started with a podcast.
Audio recorder – You may be able to use your smartphone to get you started without incurring any additional cost.
Microphone – A good quality microphone is essential for your podcast setup. Yeti and others are popular brands and costs can range from $100-$150 and up.
Headphones – A good pair of closed-back headphones will help isolate the sound and minimize external disruptions. These can range from $50 and up.
Audio editing software – You can start with free software, like Audacity or GarageBand and upgrade in the future as your podcast grows.
Podcast hosting service – You’ll need a service to store your podcast .mp3 files and create your podcast feed. There are tons of different services out there and prices vary from free basic hosting to $5-$80 a month.
Optional – A mic stand or boom arm to hold your mic starts at around $30 for a basic tabletop stand and more for a boom arm. A pop filter is an accessory you can add to your mic to improve sound quality. A pop filter will cost between $15-$30.
Remember these costs are approximate to get started and can vary greatly depending on the brand, model and your location. It’s always worth researching for quality and doing price comparisons so you can get the best deals for your needs and budget.
By leveraging the power of audio, you can connect with your audience on a deeper level, establish authority and build a vibrant community.
Although podcasting can be more costly to start and requires a bit of technical know-how, the benefits can outweigh the challenges.
So, if you are considering starting a podcast as your content platform, grab the best equipment you can at this time and start recording. Most importantly, be sure to let your passion and expertise shine through your episodes.
And to help make sure you don’t miss a step in your content creation process, be sure to download my free content creation checklist.
Happy podcasting!!