An estimated 800,000 podcasts are broadcast globally – a number steadily on the rise. Business podcasts are increasing in popularity too, because of their accessibility and the role they can play in brand discovery.
Thinking about starting a podcast but not sure what it would involve? We asked some of our members to share their experiences and top tips for those venturing into the world of podcasting.
Why start a podcast?
Investing time and money into any form of marketing is a big decision for any business. Here were the most common themes from our members about why they took the leap to the audio waves.
A cost-effective way to create effective content
It doesn't cost much to get started with podcasting, says Laura Evans from Let’s Talk Video Production, so the barriers to getting going are low. And like Kerry Watkins from Social Brighton, you probably talk about your business expertise anyway, so capture it and repurpose it in any way you can!
Creating accessible content
Since podcasts are portable, people are more likely to commit their attention to listening than if they were skimming a blog or scrolling through a social media feed. Sam Knowles from Insight Agents said the podcasts page on his website generates even higher traffic than their blog page.
Generating awareness and new business
Matthew Bellringer, from Meaningbit, decided to record People Developing People on a mission to empower others, and finds that podcasting allows him to talk to people who he wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach.
Kerry has enjoyed new business from the reach of her podcasts. A client came in to a meeting, said that she listens to all of the podcasts, loves them and asked to book on four of their training courses!
Building a community and having a wider impact
Not only can you show off your expertise, but you can use the platform to make an impact, whatever that may look like for you. Michael Tingsager started his Hospitality Mavericks podcast because he wanted to get leadership and people on the industry agenda and inspire other leaders to strive for more than a profit.
Podcasts are a great way of building a community and sharing opinions, says Sam Knowles, who started out his podcasting journey by being guests on other people’s podcasts.
What makes a good podcast?
Not all podcasts are created equal. We asked our podcasting aficionados what they thought makes a good podcast.
Though your podcast needs to be well though-out, it mustn’t be stiff. Podcasts should be informal encounters, getting to the heart and truth of a topic in a short space of time.
Opinion, disagreement, contention. On the Small Data Forum, we started out by violently agreeing. When we learned we did have nuanced differences of opinion and weren’t afraid to voice them, we drove up engagement and subscriptions, and more people listened through to the end.
Prepare, prepare, prepare – and then just do it!
Do your preparation and research is the number one bit of advice from our business podcasters. There isn’t a right or wrong approach – what matters is that you’ve done your homework and can lead an engaging conversation.
Richard Freeman does lots of advance prep, but he never pre-prepares questions. This allows him to listen and respond, rather than shoe-horning in specific questions that might not aid the conversation.
Alternatively, Kevin Boyd from Upward Spiral Coaching finds out as much as he can about a guest before interviewing them and based on that research prepares a series of open questions that he’ll use to draw their story out.
Knowing what you want to achieve through the podcast, and then monitoring whether it achieves that is also important. Kerry Watkins advises monitoring your download figures and blog views and then reviewing your content.
Finally, just give it a go.
Don’t strive for perfection – get out there and learn!
Michael Tingsager
Hospitality Mavericks
Don’t go too crazy on equipment
In terms of equipment, all you really need to get started with your business podcast is a decent microphone. You can begin by simply recording into your phone and editing with free software, such as Audacity.
When you want to step up the quality, there are a number of great value options to help you take your podcast to the next level. Laura recommends that you are realistic about your needs – do you need a portable mic to take to events? Or a tabletop mic to set up for interviews? Great options include the Rode USB mics. These cost around £125 but are great quality and reliable.
Don’t be afraid to outsource things like editing if that’s not your strength, or you don’t have the time. Spend your time on what really adds value to the production.
That’s a wrap!
There you have it – a few recommendations from those who have been there and done it. A business podcast could offer you further reach and more meaningful connections with your audience. What are you waiting for?
Happy podcasting!
Thank you to our members for their brilliant contributions to this blog. Here’s a little more information about their podcasts, all well worth a listen:
Matthew Bellringer: People Developing People
People Developing People is about personal development and human potential. It's conversations about what it is to work with other people; experiences, theory and practice.
Kevin Boyd, Midlife Entrepreneurs
Midlife Entrepreneurs is a podcast that inspires and supports people who have reached the middle of their lives and feel ready to give up the day job and branch out on their own.
Laura Evans: Let’s Talk Video Production
Laura often works with clients who are just starting out and want a head start with their production knowledge. She also works with companies who have been podcasting for a while but want to jump to the next level of production quality and boost their confidence.
Richard Freeman: The Possibility Club
The Possibility Club connects big ideas with practical action and explores the decision of people who are making change happen in their sector.
Sam Knowles, Insight Agents
Sam shares 60-90-second nibs of thinking about what insight is and how to be insightful in his micro podcast series. For him, they’re a great way to get thoughts and work in progress out into the world and solicit feedback. It also creates a brilliant resource for sharing on social.
Michael Tingsager: Hospitality Mavericks
The Hospitality Mavericks Podcast is on a mission to inspire leaders and entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry and beyond to create profitable and heart-centred businesses from the inside out; the kind that both employees and customers love and support.
Kerry Watkins: Social Media Simplified
Social Media Simplified is a regular bite-sized audio digest of all the latest social media news, tips and trends.
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If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk