Podcasts have been gaining popularity. In the US alone, around 79% of people aged 12 and above say they are familiar with the medium.
You may start podcasting as a hobby discussing business-related topics. Then you realize you can earn a steady stream of income from creating podcasts for starting a business and other relevant themes.
A business startup podcast is an excellent content marketing material. You can transition from the hobby to starting a business podcast by outlining what your platform will discuss and identifying your target audience.
Monetization requires focused effort. You need to adjust your style and tone of voice. Determine the frequency of release, ideal length, and the timing of publishing.
Here are tips on how to start a business podcast that converts and drives sales.
Table of Contents
- Develop and Maximize Your Assets
- Choose a Podcast Name That Represents Your Branding
- Establish a Trusted Brand
- Formulate a Long-term Growth Plan
- Use a Coherent & Reliable Content Development Process
- Decide on Your Monetization Methods.
- Invest in the Right Equipment
- Record Episodes in Bulk
- Putting It All Together: How to Start a Business Podcast
1. Develop and Maximize Your Assets
When you make podcasts as a hobby, you publish episodes without scrutinizing the technical aspects. Starting a business podcast may only be a recreation. And increasing your online presence may not be top of mind.
However, when you professionally create podcasts for starting a business, you should leverage multiple channels to distribute your audio marketing collaterals.
Focus on these four main content advertising assets:
1.1. Your Podcast
Your show is both a marketing avenue and a product.
Optimize the use of your podcast. Take advantage of every opportunity to engage your listeners. Connect with them genuinely on an emotional level and make them feel valued and involved as you speak with them.
Instead of simply delivering a monetized show, educate your audiences in a way that they know you are adding value to their lives.
Here are pointers for you:
- Use prompts.
- Be truly interested in what your viewers have to say and ask their opinion.
- Encourage them to leave a rating and review.
- Aim to inform and not only to sell.
1.2 The Podcasting Website
A business hub for product or service offers and online traffic, your podcasting website can be a powerful asset providing you with limitless possibilities. Depending on how you manage it, you can make the most out of its potential.
Spread clever prompts throughout each episode to redirect your audience to your web pages.
Here are the top ways your podcasting website can be beneficial to you:
- You can utilize your podcasting site to dive deeper into popular, frequently requested topics.
- It is your platform to describe your offers in depth.
- The site’s critical supporting role is to be a reinforcement to your focal channel.
- Your listeners can leave feedback via a questionnaire on your web page.
- You can offer downloadable content for a fee. It can be an informative eBook or an interactive workbook.
1.3 Your Email Marketing List
With an average open rate of 21.33%, emails prove to be an effective communication instrument to reach consumers.
Besides adding details rerouting to your podcast channel, emails can help encourage recipients to write back to you. Their opinion matters, and you want to hear from them.
Moreover, you can offer educational content that will likely influence your readers to purchase your products or avail of your services.
A properly segmented emailing list can help:
- Nurture business relations
- Connect with the right audiences
- Boost engagement
- Increase trust, credibility, and brand integrity
1.4 Paid Merchandise
In addition to paid advertisements, you can monetize your podcast through paid products. Ultimately, profiting from offers and making sales are any online business’s pinnacle.
2. Choose a Podcast Name That Represents Your Branding
Here are pointers for coming up with a podcast name:
- Think of a business podcast title that reflects your brand, values, and goals.
- Make it catchy, succinct, and easily recognizable.
- Pick clarity over uniqueness.
- Check for any existing similar podcast brands.
- Stay beyond four words.
The last pointer is not only for easy recollection but is also a technicality. You do not want to crowd your logo, icon, and other visuals with too many words.
3. Establish a Trusted Brand
The brand reputation and valuable content of podcasts for starting a business set you apart from random shows and spam.
When shaping your branding and messaging, keep these recommendations in mind:
- Work on your brand’s visual identity, i.e., the color palette, logos, icons, and typeface on your web pages, banners, and other marketing pieces.
- Concentrate on audio identity. This covers intros, outros, taglines, mottos, and music.
- While video identity may not be a priority when starting a business podcast, it is something to consider in the future. When you finally use video content to promote your product and reach a wider market, align its look and feel with the visual and audio identity you previously set.
These are the requirements for creating trusted full-time podcasts for starting a business:
- Content quality
- Consistent publishing schedule
- Client engagement strategies
- Social media marketing
4. Formulate a Long-term Growth Plan
Paint a vivid picture of what you intend to achieve from launching podcasts for starting a business. Then find answers to these guide questions:
- When is your regular recording schedule?
- How many episodes do you plan to release weekly or monthly?
- If you do not intend to publish regularly, what are your reasons for seasonal publishing? When are the target dates of publishing? And how many episodes will there be in a year?
- How will you leverage your business startup podcast to market your products or services?
- Do you have an adequate digital presence—social pages, website, and business email address?
5. Use a Coherent & Reliable Content Development Process
Search engines and podcast directories favor regular release of podcasts for starting a business. When these tools notice you, you will be more visible and establish a loyal client base.
Practice time management to enhance productivity. Following the same recording and publishing schedule, especially when starting a business podcast, is critical in finding your groove as you ease into the venture.
Do your due diligence and find time for these tasks:
- Competitor research and review
- Constant evaluation of your target audience’s interests
- Demographic research
- Analysis of search and audio content marketing trends
- Arrangement of your topic catalog
6. Decide on Your Monetization Methods.
These are the two main monetization means for podcasts for starting a business:
6.1 Advertising Route
This monetization strategy focuses mainly on earning from ads and sponsors.
You create outstanding content and continue improving it to increase the popularity of your starting a business podcast. Producing bonus content can significantly contribute to winning a larger audience.
6.2 Product Sales Route
This includes:
- Paid products
- Consultations
- Affiliate marketing
Taking the product sales route means you will use your podcasts for starting a business mainly as a marketing platform to introduce your brand to prospective customers. You also sell on the website associated with your starting a business podcast.
Plus, you can go on Patreon, a paid content creators’ platform. Patreon is a subscription-based tool wherein online users can select their preferred subscriber tier. Each tier will receive different content. The higher the tier is, the costlier the membership fees will be.
With more than 8 million monthly active members or Patrons, Patreon is home to many superb opportunities for your podcasts for starting a business to earn. Consider these suggestions:
- Advertise your business and its offers.
- Solicit sponsors.
- Offer live consultation calls to your listeners.
- Grant early access to loyal subscribers.
- Deliver Patreon-exclusive content, i.e., materials people would not find on Spotify, YouTube, Google, or Apple.
7. Invest in the Right Equipment
Investing in good quality equipment will help you produce good audio and video quality. Superior equipment will also last for years, making the investment more worthwhile and cost-efficient.
These are the essentials for your podcasts for starting a business:
- Podcasting microphone
- Audio interface
- Closed-back monitor headphones
- Audio external line return (XLR) connectors
- Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) for editing
8. Record Episodes in Bulk
Get a month’s lineup of content ready and scheduled for publishing.
While waiting, you can concentrate on marketing every episode, piquing the audience’s curiosity through trailers and short teasers. Try to think long-term—go as far as planning for the next quarter instead of the week to come.
Master your production process. You will enjoy the fulfillment and freedom when you take control over your business startup podcast creation.
You do not have to worry about random, unexpected events interrupting the completion of your episode inventory. Also, you will have more time to strategize your marketing projects.
Putting It All Together: How to Start a Business Podcast
A business startup podcast should create meaningful connections between brands and consumers.
Launching podcasts for starting a business will help advance your engagement metrics. Each episode should have a purpose and be value-adding for listeners.
Your ultimate goal for starting a business podcast is to drive revenue. Podcasting can impact your brand-building initiatives.
Making podcasts for starting a business requires you to work beyond creating and releasing episodes. It is a profession so you should plan ahead and be systematic.