If you’re in the business world, you know how quickly technology influences marketing trends. What used to be strange, unknown or even nonexistent is now the bold new frontier in marketing. And when it comes to staying ahead of the trends, marketers and business professionals have to be willing to take the leap. For example, take the podcast. 

Podcasts are a relatively new form of media, but have significantly grown in popularity over the last decade or so. Today, according to the 2018 Infinite Dial Study, nearly two-thirds of Americans are familiar with podcasts, and 44% of them age 12 and older have listened to one. The podcast audience is growing, so businesses are jumping on board with their marketing. We’ve put together a list of big benefits of launching a business podcast.

Podcasts drive traffic.
Establishing a podcast is the perfect way to add in another stream of traffic generation for the company. Podcasts allow the business to reach out to new and various audience members. The more audience members who listen to your podcast, the more who will subscribe and the more they will recommend it to others around them. These streams of traffic can help drive in new leads for the business to explore later on.

Podcasts build better relationships.
While you can definitely demonstrate voice through media like blog articles or website content, nothing truly exemplifies it like your voice itself. People listen to podcasts because they believe they have something in common with the speaker. Even though a podcast is a one-sided medium, listeners still feel a certain camaraderie with the presenter. This commonality establishes a solid foundation to build a positive relationship on, which generates leads.

Podcasts act as video alternative.
You already know video is a crucial part of any marketing strategy. However, shooting videos can be difficult. You might not have the necessary budget, equipment or even comfortability to shoot a brand video. And what’s worse than not shooting a marketing video? Shooting a bad marketing video. Alternatively, podcasts tend to be more affordable and easier to create than their video counterpart, as they don’t require lighting, equipment or even actors.

Podcasts improve your brand.
Needless to say, with more traffic, better relationships and affordability, podcasts can also significantly improve your brand. If your business struggles to close the gap between presentation and public image, podcasting could be the right move. Thanks to its personal and informative nature, podcasting gives you a foundation to build a brand with people who aren’t familiar with the company, and establish a better bridge with those who already are.

Podcasts can increase revenue.
What’s one of the biggest benefits of a podcast? An additional revenue stream, of course! People don’t go into podcasting just for the fun of it—it’s also an excellent way to make extra money. According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau, the podcasting industry grew 86% between 2016 and 2017, reaching a record $314 million in revenue. Things are only expected to go up from here, with the industry’s revenue projected to reach $659 million by 2020. If you want to make some extra money for the company, podcasts are the place to be. 

If you want to stay on top of the latest marketing trends for your business, consider starting a podcast. Keep these benefits in mind as you explore the world of podcasting and see how your business grows because of it.