‘Time is of the essence.’ How many times have you heard that? You could even say that it is a cliché. Still, you can’t deny the fact that time is a precious commodity (especially in these fast-paced times). One of the main reasons podcasts are becoming so popular these days is because they are an efficient way to get a message across to an audience.

Recent research revealed that most people listen to podcasts while doing other activities, such as driving or exercising. This makes them quite easy to consume. For most people, a podcast provides something to do, while they do something else; for example, washing, cooking or babysitting. Someone could learn something new while taking out the trash or catching up on the latest celebrity gossip while going for a run!

Compared to television, which takes up a lot of your time and doesn’t leave much room for multitasking, podcasts are flexible. Ideally, podcasting can serve as a distraction from mundane activities like traveling or waiting at the doctor’s office. People are no longer slaves to radio or television schedules. Listeners now make the decisions and can listen to what they want, where they want and when they want. And that’s amazing!

Many people, like you, have created new careers and income streams by entering the world of podcasting. Research also shows that 50% of people have listened to at least one podcast. In this article, you’ll discover three reasons why podcasting is the Block’s hot new kid.

Versatility

Now it’s easier than ever to share your ideas, thoughts, or visions with the world through podcasting. After all, it is arguably the number one media outlet on the planet right now. All the listener has to do is download your podcast to their phone and then listen to it whenever they want. They can fast forward, rewind or play episodes as many times as they want.

While there are different types of podcasts, generally the goal is the same: communicate with an audience. Goals or end results may vary slightly. They can be any of the following:

· Motivate or inspire.

· Educate, for example: Explain how to do a specific task, such as how to bake a cake.

Tell a story, which can be fictional or real.

· Promote or sell a product.

· Share an idea or perspective.

· Provide advice.

· Raise awareness about a cause or issue.

Entertain or make people laugh.

The variety of topics that can be discussed allows everyone to find something that interests them. It is up to you to find a niche and build your content around that niche.

It requires very little to get started.

You literally only need a cell phone to get started. So, no, you don’t need to hire a fancy producer, or have a state-of-the-art recording studio. People don’t listen to a podcast because the sound is of the highest quality. However, they will listen to whether the content is good and speaks to their hearts or provokes some kind of emotion. Therefore, one of your main objectives as a podcaster should be to focus on preparing good quality content. Pay attention to details such as: title, structure, schedule, and edition.

Although it is not required, most likely editing your podcast will be a chore that you will do. This will allow you to clean up your recordings, making them sound more professional. You don’t have to be a tech savvy or a professional to edit your podcasts. There are quite a few free editing software programs available for your use that will help you accomplish this feat quickly and easily.

Once you’ve recorded a couple of episodes, be sure you want to continue podcasting, you may want to invest in some higher quality gear. For podcasters, there is now technology available that allows a newbie to produce high-quality podcast episodes on a very low budget. If you surveyed most podcasters and asked the question, “How did you get started?” Most would probably tell you that they started in your garage, basement, bedroom, or living room talking on a computer or smartphone!

It can be profitable

Research has shown that 45% of podcast listeners have a monthly income of $ 75,000 or more. Done right, a podcast can be very profitable as it is inexpensive to start. Once you have started, there is a chance to attract sponsors within your niche through promoting the products and services of others. The host may read short commercials during the show. This approach is considered authentic and intimate because it is not perceived as a disruption to regular programming. Rather, it is viewed as information from a familiar and reliable source. This is the most common way to monetize your podcast.

As a host, you can also create your own products that can be offered to your listeners. You have loyal subscribers who trust you. If you develop a product that meets a need for your listeners, some will want access to this type of additional resource. This is a great way to grow a coaching or consulting business.

Additionally, you can offer premium episodes of your show for sale. Perhaps a lighthearted conversation you had with an interviewee or videos of yourself while filming an episode. You can also repurpose your content by transcribing your audio, formatting it into a book, and offering it for sale on Amazon and other retailers.

You can also repurpose your content and create a YouTube version of your show. This is pretty easy to do. You can simply use a tripod to record videos of yourself during recording sessions, use Zoom, or any other video recording application. Basically record once and reuse multiple times!

The possibilities are limitless when it comes to podcasting, as more people than ever are listening to podcasts. Subsequently, there are numerous advantages to having your own podcast.

1. It is time efficient.

2. They are easy to create.

3. They can be profitable.

4. End users can consume them quite easily.

These are just a few of the reasons podcasting has grown in popularity over the past decade.

While there are many reasons why podcasts are popular these days, don’t assume you’ll jump into the mix and have loyal listeners or subscribers instantly. It will take time to build your audience. But if you never start, you will never have an audience.

Yes, you can make money from podcasting, but first you will need to do your due diligence and create quality content that is of value to a growing group of listeners. Once you’ve done that, the sky is the limit!