How Podcasting is Changing Consumer Content & What Can Help You Stay Ahead
According to Forbes, “podcasts will be at the forefront of the future of content consumption.” Everyone has one, everyone listens to them. They’ve taken the place of books and music in the standard American’s coffee break or commute. The 2020 Podcast is what used to be our parents “talk radio.” You can find a podcast on any topic or interest you may have. Podcast are available on streaming apps. They are often audio shows that are recorded weekly or in chapters. They tend to have a following and people come back week after week if they are interested in the topic or theme or they form a bond with the host.
Why are podcasts so popular?
According to Podcast Insights, “50% of American households are Podcast fans and there are 1,500,000 podcast” available to date. Podcast are super accessible. You can listen to them right on your device via Itunes or Spotify. Podcasts are everywhere; everyone is subscribing to them. Many people listen to them for entertainment, education and self help. You can even set up a podcast playlist. Podcasting can help you reach a wider audience, develop yourself as an authority and again, it’s a free way to keep your clients loyal to your brand. The best thing about podcast for our busy generation? They allow people to Multitask. Because you can listen on the go, at work, or while you work out you never have to leave any topic or interest unturned. It’s like reading a book while driving, walking, working.
Is podcasting still relevant?
In 2020, we’re going in a million different directions. Pods are available to everyone, everywhere for free. They connect us, they keep us up to date with what’s going on in our industry, pop culture and the world. Podcasts are more than relevant, they are essential. Especially in this current time, people need to stay involved, connected and educated. We need to stay distracted and keep learning, educating, and growing. Now is the best time to be starting a podcast.
According to Entrepenur.com- “Commuters have traded in their playlists for podcasts, and consumers everywhere are tuning into online talk shows. In fact, some 24 percent of Americans over the age of 12 now listen to podcasts on a monthly basis; and Statista projects that, by 2021, there will be more than 100 million podcast listeners in the United States alone.” Podcasts are what we discuss at dinner parties now…they are recommended for continuing education by upper management. If you’re not listening, it’s like you missed a week at book club.
What is the demographic for podcasts?
Omnicore does a great job of breaking down the stats here. But even based on the stats and demographics, at over 50% of Americans listening there’s no reason not to start one.
Current Trends in Podcasting
These trends from Improve Podcast are sure to set some things into perspective for you!
Listenership podcasting trends 2020 in numbers
Awareness – of podcasts in 2020 is at 75% of the U.S. population. It means that 212 million people had contact with podcasts by 2020. Ten years ago it was 90 million fewer than in 2020 and in 3 years awareness will reach an additional 40 million people.
Monthly listenership – in 2020, over 37% of Americans are listening to podcasts regularly every month, which is 104 million people. Ten years ago, it was 70 million fewer than in 2020, and in 3 years, regular monthly listenership will grow by an additional 46 million people.
Weekly listenership – in 2020, over 24% of Americans have listened to podcasts regularly every week, which is 68 million people. Ten years ago, it was 50 million fewer than in 2020, and in 3 years, regular weekly listenership will grow by an additional 20 million people.
Podcast consumption – regular listeners listen to 6 different shows and listen to 6 hours and 39 minutes of podcasts weekly. This is a high growth since, in 2016, regular listeners listened to only 4 hours of podcasts weekly.
These trends continue to be on the rise and growing every single day.
How do I come up with podcast content?
First, start where you are. You are an expert in your field. Why? What is it that you have that other people want? Find your genre, niche and demographic.
Second, do you research. Is there a topic you think you’d be great at presenting? Find out if there are other pods out there who offer the same content. See what their listenership is like.
Third, Poll your demographic. See if there’s interest. Then find your host team, schedule a day/time for the show and get on air. Don’t overthink a content schedule. Just talk about what you know.
“Content has always been king, but the abundance of available media content today is nothing short of overwhelming. Consumers in the U.S., however, have yet to reach a breaking point, and continue to grow their media diets as new options become available. Given the abundance of options, content creators, marketers and advertisers are tasked with delivering content that truly resonates. If it doesn’t, there are plenty of other options to choose from, and consumers are more than willing to engage with it.” – Neilson.com
How do I build a podcast community/keep engagement from my audience?
Once your podcast is out in the world, you can start to build your community. Most podcasters choose to do this by keeping up with a weekly or monthly email newsletter. Or starting a Facebook group where their listeners can interact and get involved. Then eventually most start doing “live” events and selling merch. Podcast can have followings just like a tv show or a band.
They make you more relatable- Once you build your community, people will be Dm’ing you and referring to you by first name. They want your opinions. They’ve welcomed you into their business and their home and you’ve become a part of their day to day life. So even if your podcast showcases you as a leader in your industry, people won’t be afraid to speak to you like they would a friend or collage. Podcasting extends your reach and your content creation to more people every day.
