Aug 29, 2020
Setting up a Podcast in 2020 with some TOP tips!
Is it worth starting a podcast or is it a waste of time?
Podcast marketing is most certainly on a roll in 2020 with many companies releasing audio content to build trust, connect with their audience on a personal level, and boost their companies brand awareness globally.
Although, podcasting isn’t really all that new.
It does have its roots set in the 1960s when radio shows like ‘Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar’, ABC Radio’s and others were broadcast in the U.S.
Many of these radio programs were cancelled by the end of the 1980s, but the digital audio revolution had made its mark and was here to stay.
By the 1990s, digital audio in CDs and DVDs gradually replaced analogue cassettes and vinyl records.
After a decade, the popularity of mp3 files further disrupted the audio industry.
Podcasts then emerged in 2003, in the form of audio stories that were delivered directly to iPods, hence the name, ‘podcast’ = iPod + Broadcast.
Podcast Statistics You Should Know
In 2006, only 22% of US citizens knew what podcasts were. Today about 70% of them are aware of podcasts and their benefits.
According to TechCrunch, there will be a 27% increase in podcast production, equivalent to 29 million episodes, in 2020.
Further, Spotify is likely to outdo its competitor, Apple, in the popularity game, as only 20% of the millennials and Gen Z population listen to Apple music, while 46% of them listen to Spotify, according to a study by The Podcast Host.
But, many new platforms will be distributing audio content this year, so you can expect competition to increase for sure.
So, if you’re planning to make money with podcasting, there’s no better time to start one than right now!
So, What Is A Podcast?
Podcasts are audio programs or spoken word broadcasts delivered through podcast networks, channels or platforms.
There main aim to provide the audience with useful and actionable information in an engaging and conversational format!
Podcasts are both effective and convenient, as the listener can multitask and play them in the background while commuting, doing chores at home, or relaxing in bed, going to the gym, riding public transport.
Podcasts can be delivered individually, or as a series, depending on the topic, and the needs of the audience you are talking too.
A Brief History of Podcasting.
Podcasting was, in fact, developed in 2004, when Adam Curry, former MTV video jockey, and software developer Dave Winer, coded a program known as iPodder, which enabled them to download Internet radio broadcasts to their iPods.
Curry now hosts The Daily Source Code, one of the most popular podcasts on the Internet.
The first Five Great Reasons For Starting A Podcast In 2020.
With a Great Ease of production
Creating a podcast is easier than producing a video.
All you need to do is speak on a certain topic and record it with the help of podcasting software to minimise noise and enhance the audio quality.
Podcast editing is also much easier than editing videos. You’ll need an intro and outro to start and end your podcast.
There are a number of podcasting tools that will make it easy to do this.
Very Low entry costs
Another advantage of podcasting is the low entry cost, as compared to video production. All you need to do is download a free podcasting app and you can start recording your first show straightaway, it's that easy!
You don’t even need expensive audio equipment as Smartphone audio recorders will give you good enough audio quality that you can clean up with the help of the podcasting app, to start with.
Once you become a professional podcaster, you can create a high-end podcast studio, with all the bells and whistles, but by no means do you need it to get started with your first podcast.
Language is no barrier
You don’t need to learn English to start a podcast. It’s easy to create a podcast in any language, so go ahead and record your podcast in your native language.
According to a KPMG study, Indian language internet users are set to reach 536 million people by 2021.
As of June 2019, PWC estimates Indian podcast listener base was at 40 million by end of 2018, a 58% rise from the year before.
India is now the third-largest market for spoken-word audio such as podcasts and most Indians who listen to podcasts do so on their phone.
A vernacular podcast has more chance of success as it has much less competition than English language podcasts.
Repurpose your blog and video content as audio
If you have a blog and YouTube channel, you can repurpose your existing blog and video content into audio to create a podcast.
This will allow you to use your existing content to reach listeners who prefer audio over video and text.
Less competition than blogging and YouTube
Blogging and YouTube marketing are both reaching saturation with over 10 million blog posts published every day and more than 500 hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute.
Podcasting is still relatively new as compared to blogging or video marketing, so the competition is not as fierce and it’s still possible to get found by your listeners.
So what you waiting for let's get started!
Thats exactly what we have done with The Entertainment Engine podcast dedicated to the Music, Film, and TV industry!
We will look in the next blog, the next TOP tips on starting a podcast in 2020. But from the statistics and general information on podcasting, its a great medium and good time to start yours!
By Peter Moore
