If you’re looking for an inexpensive and effective way to educate, inspire, and serve more customers, podcasting just might be an excellent choice for you. Even though its been around for at least 15 years, podcasting is still in a state of steady growth. The latest numbers indicate that the number of listeners worldwide has reached almost 100 million. Interestingly, there are only just over 200,000 podcast creators currently active in the content arena. Compared to blogging and video creation, podcasting is still a relatively small competitive field.
I did my first podcast in 2008 on a website that I’d created for home recording beginners. Back then the process of producing and distributing the podcast was cumbersome and time consuming. There were a lot of steps between having an idea and people listening to me telling them the latest in the world of home recording equipment and techniques. Just setting up all the necessary accounts and distribution channels took several days. Luckily, those days are over.
What used to require thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment, and a steep learning curve in technical ability can now be done with a smartphone and a free app called Anchor. With Anchor you can record, edit, interview guests, add music and sound effects, and with one click distribute your podcast to all the channels you need to reach. Anchor also allows you to announce your podcast episode releases to followers on Facebook and Twitter, and it allows you to embed your podcast episodes in html friendly email services and websites.
For those who would still like to attain the highest level of professional quality the news is equally encouraging. High quality recording technology has become available at a price that is affordable, and there is a wealth of free resources to learn how to use it. Services like SoundCloud and Pippa provide reliable audio hosting for a low monthly cost, and with a couple of hours of setup time, you can create a feed for your podcast that will be available alongside those of celebrity hosts like Tim Ferriss and Gary Vaynerchuck.
If you’d like to explore podcasting as an easy way to market and promote your business, Loveland Business Development Center will be hosting a Lunch ‘n Learn, Podcasting Made Easy on Friday, June 15, 2018 at 12PM. I’ll be sharing practical information on necessary equipment, planning, producing, and delivering your podcast with simplicity and ease. I’ll also provide a few templates that you can copy and use to streamline your production and distribution process.
The registration page for this Lunch ‘n Learn may be found HERE. Early registration is encouraged. Admission is FREE!
Franklin Taggart is a business consultant at the LBDC. Franklin’s specialty area is helping independent creative professionals build successful businesses.
