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You might have come across many individuals that are fans of podcasts or create podcasts themselves. But why are podcasts so popular?
To answer this question simply, it’s the convenience related to the entire operation of making a podcast. You can use it to earn money, promote your business, or just get your thoughts out.
This is why, in this post, we’ll discuss various reasons why you should start your own podcast.
Quick Summary
By the end of this post, we’ll discuss the following points:
- 6 unique reasons to start a podcast
- Platform to use for podcast hosting
- Things to keep in mind
Let’s dive right into it.
6 Distinctive Reasons to Start Your Podcast
As you already know, podcasts are a form of audio media that are usually presented as a discussion. It needs at least 2 people to be categorized as a podcast.
The discussion topics can span various fields.
Now, let’s check 6 reasons why you should start a podcast:
1. Easy to Consume
The main reason behind the popularity of podcasts in the past few years is convenience. You don’t have to actively participate or attentively watch something like on YouTube.
This makes it quite easier for your audience to consume your media. They can listen to it while exercising, driving to work, cooking in the kitchen, or just as background noise.
How is that beneficial to my audience?
Since podcasts are always in audio form, it enables them to multi-task. It’s like being a part of a conversation but not actively participating in it.
Moreover, your audience doesn’t need extra equipment to access this media. They can just plug in a pair of headphones and listen to it.
2. Community Development
Unlike other community development methods, podcasts are quite straightforward with quick results. All you need is a discussion topic and it will help you attract new listeners.
Once you develop your own style, it is quite easy to turn new listeners into loyal listeners. This goes a long way in terms of community development.
Do I have to advertise my podcast?
Well, it depends on your personal preference. However, in most cases, you can just get new listeners by using the right platform.
For example, SoundCloud and Libsyn are two well-known platforms for podcasts. Both platforms have their own eco-system that you can use to boost your reach.
Here’s our detailed review of SoundCloud vs Libsyn which you can check for various benefits.
3. Marketing and Promotion
Many people often use podcasts as a side hustle to promote their main business or product. Online course creators often use it to promote their exclusive courses.
Mainly because it takes lesser resources and effort to market. You can just invite an expert and have a discussion focused on your business.
How is it better than other forms of advertisement or promotion?
Well, to put it simply, it is organic. Unlike conventional advertisements, people prefer to believe the word of mouth. That is exactly what a podcast does.
According to various surveys, podcasts tend to yield a 60% turnout rate for any product or service.
This can help you grow and increase the sales of your other business ventures.
4. Operational Costs
Another reason why you should start your podcast is the upfront cost required to develop your setup. All you need is a couple of microphones and a recording device.
You can record on your laptop or your PC. The low startup costs enable you to explore and innovate your podcast in various ways.
What is the average startup cost for podcasts?
At this point in time, you can buy all the required podcast equipment for 300-500 dollars. It includes microphones, recording devices, headphones, and an audio stabilizer.
You can increase the quality of your podcast by using better equipment. For example, you can get Shure microphones or AudioTechnica audio stabilizer.
5. Means to Earn Money
Podcasts can act as a source of active and passive income if you play your cards right. You can get sponsors, promote your main/side business, or use referral links.
Either way, your podcast has the potential to generate thousands of dollars per month. This sort of income can enable you to support your personal finances easily.
Can I earn from just views or the number of downloads?
Yes, you can. Your platform also pays you a certain amount of money each month based on the number of downloads. It can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
To put it simply, you can use a single podcast to earn money in various ways. This sort of versatility can help you improve your financial condition drastically.
6. Maintenance Costs
Just like the operational costs, maintenance costs for a podcast are quite low. Except for the upkeep of the technical equipment, there isn’t much to it.
The only thing that requires proper maintenance is the quality of your podcast. Even that only demands a fraction of your time.
How can I efficiently maintain the quality of my podcast?
One way to keep the quality of your podcasts at a certain level is through the frequency of uploads. You can develop a weekly upload plan.
This will help you utilize the downtime to record, edit, and upload your new podcast easily.
Platforms to Use for Podcasts
There are many platforms you can use to upload your podcasts. Each platform has its own purpose and an associated community.
For example, podcasts uploaded on SoundCloud are generally projected toward upcoming artists.
Following is a list of platforms you can choose:
- Podbean
- Buzzsprout
- SoundCloud
- MixCloud
We have also explored and compared Podbean vs Buzzsprout, Podbean vs SoundCloud, and SoundCloud vs MixCloud in detail.
These reviews contain all you need to know about these platforms.
Important Things to Keep in Mind
Even though the process of developing a podcast might seem easy, there are certain things you need to keep in check. Let’s check them out:
- Keep the flow of your conversations organic. This will help you grow and attract new listeners easily.
- Consistency is the key. Rather than going for frequent uploads, try to develop a consistent upload plan. It will help your listeners to connect with you.
- Develop a loyal listener base and then find sponsors. It’s easier to get sponsors if you have a number to show for.
- Listen to other famous podcasts and take inspiration. This can help you grow your podcast rather quickly.
Wrapping Things Up…
With this, we come to the end of our post on why you should start a podcast. We hope this information proves to be beneficial for you.
Podcasts are quite popular across every demographic. You can use it to earn money and promote your other businesses. Moreover, podcasts are just fun to create.
Let us know why you think one should start a podcast in the comments below.