Strange that a copywriting blog should be pushing the concept of podcasting …
I mean, think about it — unless you want your show to tank on the first episode, you’re not going to script out every word. Podcasting is all about freeform conversation. It should sound natural to the outsider, even if yours is a single-host show. The messaging needs to be directed toward the proper recipient.
In a single-host show, the direct recipient is the audience. With two or more hosts, the emphasis shifts to one of listening in on the conversation. The audience is there, but listening in from the next table, as it were.
Now, to answer the above question, this is a fitting subject for a copywriting blog because successful shows keep a steady flow of high-quality podcast support content flowing. In podcasting terms, that means:
- • Plenty of E-Mails
- • Blog Posts
- • Show Notes
- • Transcripts
- • Time Stamps
… and a plethora of social media posts to keep your audience excited and engaged.
At Beez, we’re here to help with all of the above, and we’re glad to offer you some good advice on how to approach your audience and keep gaining loyal listeners. Whatever it is that you’re attempting to market, there’s a podcast niche where it will fit in well. If you’re here because you’re thinking about just starting a podcast, all of the above still applies. A podcast is a great central element of a potentially explosive marketing strategy, no matter what.
With that, here are several reasons you should be thinking about starting a podcast, whether you’re using it to sell something else or just want to make sure you create and maintain a vibrant listener base.
Easy to Produce and Distribute
Some of the best podcasts out there are produced with nothing more than a smartphone. It’s true of both audio and video podcasts. Your show’s potential is not gauged as much against how polished it sounds as it is in how engaging and entertaining the conversation ultimately is.
In other words, if you don’t have a huge launch budget, you can still get your show off the ground and get it picked up by platforms like Apple and Google. There are, of course, many other options out there.
Freeform Conversation
The best thing, I think, about a podcast is the opportunity you get to show the audience the “real you.” If you’re marketing something through your podcast, a genuine posturing in your behind-the-mic presence is an easy way to build trust. Just want to put on a good show? Just be you. Podcasts typically have a very casual vibe, so don’t take your subject or the way you present it too seriously.
Remember, you’re a show host, not a salesperson. Even if you can create very engaging commercial and ad content, you don’t want your show revolving around or becoming that. When the time comes to live-read sponsor ads or plug your product, service, Patreon account, etc., that’s the time to put your best sales foot forward.
The remainder of the time it’s all about letting the audience in on a conversation that makes them wish they were there to engage with you in real time. The more fun it sounds like you’re having doing the show, the more fun it will be for people to listen to it.
Podcasting Is Engaging
For decades, America’s most prevalent entertainment medium was radio. Listening to engaging content and applying the right amount of attention/imagination is practically in our DNA. This is why podcasts are still popular in a world overrun with tiny screens that can deliver every episode of your favorite TV shows in real time.
At the end of the day, most people still like to apply a little imagination to their entertainment. They also like entertainment options that don’t require rapt attention to get the most out of it. If you want to know how to frame and pace your show better, start by listening to a few “competing” shows, see what they’re doing, and take note of how they do it.
HINT: There are a few distinct formulas to successful podcasts, and they’re easy to spot. Take the time to note common devices and other similarities and apply the dynamics the pros use to your own show. Keep in mind that you’re going for the approach that will most appeal to your audience, not you.
Podcasting Shows the Audience Your Realest Face
There’s a kind of raw honesty in podcasting that other types of shows never really capture. Even most allegedly freeform TV programming is heavily scripted behind the scenes, including most shows that call themselves “reality TV.”
My Shameless Closing Plug
There is an element of actual reality that podcasting brings to the table that is sorely missing in much of today’s marketing content. Is it your dream to create the ultimate show in your niche, or are you using your show to build your customer base? Either way, we’re here to help with all the content strategies listed above. Contact BeezContent today to get more info about our podcast copywriting services and get help planning out all the support content needed to make your show a success.
