Due to fierce competition, small business owners often face challenges when it comes to branding and marketing these days, entrepreneurs have access to thousands of resources and online tools that weren’t around ten to fifteen years ago. And while this is a good thing, it also makes it difficult to stand out. The good news is, there are many ways you can take advantage of those same resources, and podcasts are one of the best tools at your disposal. When you’re ready to create a podcast, take these tips into consideration.
Make sure it’s high-quality
With so much content to choose from, audiences will expect a high-quality podcast that’s on par with what they’re used to hearing, so it’s important to make good sound and editing choices. Record your podcast in a quiet space without distractions, and look for services that will help you edit the content to create a polished and professional finished product.
Share your brand
One reason why it’s so important to make sure your podcast is high-quality is because it’s a platform that will help you reach millions of listeners, thereby boosting brand awareness. While a stellar website and social media presence are important for small businesses, it can be a challenge to reach new customers through those avenues alone. With a podcast–which is free to listen to and doesn’t require any special software–customers will have access to your business in a whole new way. That’s why it’s important to use your voice to bring attention to your products or services, and to make sure the content is engaging, accessible, and brand-specific.
Become an authority
Once you begin to create meaningful, helpful content on your podcast that strengthens your brand, you’ll be seen as an authority in your field. By being choosy with your promotions and doing research before each recording, you can build trust with your listeners as they come to value your expertise. Think about a powerful identity design–such as a logo, mascot, or avatar–that will help your customers associate the podcast with your company immediately, as visual elements can truly boost a brand to new levels.
Learn to promote
As with any aspect of business, promotion is especially important. Look for guests who are relevant to your brand and make it easy for them to share their episode of your podcast by creating pull-quotes, images that contain info on how to find the episode, easy-to-share links, and short soundbites or snippets that can be shared on social media.
You can also utilize the benefits of a video by converting your podcast audio and setting it to visuals, which will create one more item to share that includes branding opportunities and will benefit your SEO. Check out job platforms to get an idea of available video-editing experts, and take note of the written reviews on each candidate, as well as their typical timeline for completing work and how much they charge (freelance video editor rates typically range from $15 to $30 per hour). Think about submitting your podcast for streaming on various apps, as well, and listen to some established small business podcasts to get an idea of your competition.
Creating a podcast for your business can help you expand while giving you a creative outlet and partnership opportunities, so it’s a move that makes sense in this digital age. Consider recording a few episodes before you launch so you’ll have plenty of content to pull from and promote, as listeners who enjoy what you have to say will be eager to hear more.
