What To Look for in a Podcast Solution

With podcast consumption on the rise, there is no better time than the present to leverage the burgeoning channel to grow your listening audience and generate incredmental revenue. 

If you're in the market for a solution to help jumpstart your podcasting or to streamline your current workflow, there are a few capabilities that you'll want to keep in mind as you consider your options.

A Complete Solution

Working with multiple vendors can be a hassle.  Look for a podcast solution that has all of the functionality you need in and effort ot keep

The Knight Foundation also urges stations to consider developing new talent and concepts for podcast content to help attract and appeal to listeners outside of your current audience.

Once you have a strategy that works for you, test new topics and techniques, build a strong following, and replicate it with another strong brand.

The Importance of Storytelling

If your podcast strategy is a direct extension of your on-air brand, it's important to remember the differences between the two formats. Podcasts are a time-shifted medium built for longer listening with a distinct beginning, middle, and end, where broadcasts are always-on with listeners dropping in and out throughout the day.

When you are developing your format, be sure to consider the inherent differences and work with your talent to draw up a story structure and formula that is unique to your podcast show.

Understanding the Podcast Audience

According to the "Podcast Consumer Report" by Edison Research, roughly 24% of Americans with a college degree listen to podcasts monthly, as do 26% of Americans earning more than $100,000 annually. Pew Research's associate director of research, Jesse Holcomb, reports, “They’re more likely to be male, young, have higher incomes, be college graduates, and live in an urban area.”

Source: Knight Foundation

The Edison Research "Infinite Dial 2017" study provided new audience engagement insights reporting that 40% of podcast listeners complete the entire podcast and 45% listen to most of it.  With an 85% completion rate, this level of engagement opens new doors for mid-roll and post-roll advertising.
 

Finding New Listeners Through Social Media

You already have the best vehicle for promoting your on-demand audio, but it's important to reach new listeners through alternate means. Promote your podcast on social media and facilitate social sharing of audio snippets to encourage discovery.

In a recent Inside Radio article, Jacobs Media’s digital expert Seth Resler suggests that stations follow a “4-1-1” plan for social media. That starts with four posts from “influencers” such as local personalities or associated musicians, one post about their content, and one “call to action” to plug a contest, promotion or advertiser. A host can post a picture at a local business, or a station could call on followers to submit photos for a new contest or sweepstakes. “There is a lot that stations can do to involve and interact with local businesses on social media,” notes Borrell.

Measuring Performance

Monitor your podcast performance in addition to downloads or streams. By having a complete picture of who your audience is, how they are discovering you, and what they respond too in real-time, you can deliver higher value to your audience, and effective marketing opportunities for your advertisers.