Podcasting Is Revolutionizing The Way Communication Works

In 2017, podcasting is revolutionizing the way communication works! There was a time when bloggers were seen as people who never left their basements. Today, bloggers are well respected as a part of society in nearly every niche and industry. That same view was attributed to podcasting for a long time, and now things are changing. Recent studies have shown that 1 in 4 adults downloaded and listened to a podcast last week. The growth potential of this communication medium is astonishing.

In fact, in the past five years, it’s grown upwards of 21%, which is real growth in the minds of every business-minded individual out there. A lot is going on in this arena; the reasons why podcasting is growing deal strictly with how communication works and how much it costs.

The Problem With Marketing

To fully grasp podcasting for business and brand marketing, you must first consider the cost. Costs associated with marketing can be prohibitive. Consider the cost of buying a 30-second radio ad. A 30-second spot is purely fascinating because it’s short—it gets to the point, and it’s only audio. This can cost you upwards of tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the radio station. Now, consider the same radio ad you would run on a podcast. The cost could diminish to less than $100 on a top-rated show.

The problem with traditional advertising and marketing products and services is they can cost a lot of money. The production costs associated with podcasting allow many advertisers to jump in without spending much. Not only that, you can reach your targeted audience fast.

Running Podcasts (The Cost Side)

Another way to look at this is from the production side. Consider the costs of running a radio show. You’d need to pay for the equipment, the air time, and a DJ to host programming. Now, consider a podcast. Anyone with a microphone or a smartphone can record a show and upload it within a few minutes. Thousands of people can search, download, and listen to shows on various topics. The cost breakdown is far less and can reach the exact audience (if not more significant) as terrestrial radio.

You won’t need to spend much money to start your podcast. On the primary side, you could get away with recording a show with your smartphone and uploading the file to free services like Podbean. Distributing your show through other free means like Blogger, among others, is doable. Using completely free resources, you can launch a brand with global potential in a short period. Simply put, it’s easier to communicate in this fashion than any other communication device with the same size audience.

The Difficulty Level

Perhaps the best way to look at podcasting is regarding the difficulty level of starting a show. If you were to go through the process of becoming a DJ to host a radio program, you’d need a degree, and you’d need a license to run the mixer board. Then, you’d need to find a radio station to hire you, and those jobs are scarce. If you did find one, it may not last long. Not everyone can become Don Imus or Howard Stern—it’s just not in the cards for everyone.

Hypothetically, after you spend tens of thousands of dollars on your degree, you could very well be moving from radio station to radio station, trying to get your foot firmly planted in the radio world. Remember: there are no guarantees, which makes this a problematic task overall.

Now, regarding the world of podcasting, you’ll find that the learning curve is relatively low. You don’t need a degree, fancy equipment, or an established personality. It would be best to have an idea, your voice, and a willingness to speak into a microphone to start. Over time, you can learn how to manage free software for editing audio. Not only that, you can build a global audience without leaving the comfort of your home!

The Reality of Making Money

One last thing about podcasting we previously touched on in monetization. Some podcasters pull in six figures in advertising revenue just from speaking their minds. Others are making significant money through partnerships and ads within the confines of their show. They promote products, run 30-second advertising spots, and recommend things through affiliate marketing. You’ll find that some broadcast live across several channels, and even big radio pays for shows that are podcast formatted 100%.

Making money in this fashion may be motivating, which comes from the fact that millions of people listen on the go. Millions of podcasts are downloaded every month. Listeners are patronizing the host’s projects. It feels more like a community to support a podcaster than to tune into a terrestrial radio show.

There is no end in sight to the creative power that comes with this type of communication. Get started, listen, and learn within a matter of minutes. Rest assured, you can find your voice in podcasting more easily than in any other medium. You can rant and share your opinions. Even better, someone will find you, listen to you, and perhaps even pay you for your two cents!

Thank you for your attention!