Should You Use Podcasting for Your Website?

Podcasting, when done for the right audience, can create a powerful two-way bond between host and listener. Unfortunately, podcasting isn’t for every website. Read on to learn more about which websites are most suited for podcasting.

Start with an Audience

Podcasting as a marketing tool is a bit of a misconception. Podcasting is just not great for generating new traffic, especially in the beginning. On the other hand, podcasting is a very effective way of delivering new, regular content to a loyal base of listeners. If you already have a bit of an audience and want to strengthen your bond with them, then podcasting is a great way to go about it. If you are trying to build a new audience from scratch, then you might want to approach it from another angle.

Are They Tech Savvy?

In order for someone to subscribe to your podcast, they first have to know what a podcast actually is, as well as how to subscribe to and download a podcast. It might seem simple to you, but that is actually beyond the technical knowledge of a lot of people. If you’re creating a podcast on the best way to plan for retirement after fifty, you probably shouldn’t use a podcast.

How Much Time Can You Afford?

Podcasting takes a lot of time. First, you have to plan out the podcast. Then you have to record the podcast, which could involve multiple takes and/or coordinating with a co-host. Then you have to edit the podcast, which takes at least twice as long as the actual podcast itself. Finally, you need to upload the podcast, make sure everything went up properly, and then promote the podcast.

Before you start a podcast, realize that it is a long-term time commitment. Assume that you will need to spend at least five hours a week for the next year to keep your podcast up and running smoothly. If and only if you are willing to make that commitment should you start a new podcast.

Blogs Work Best

Podcasts work best on RSS feeds. While it is possible to run a non-blog website and still use a podcast, it becomes a lot more unwieldy. If you run a blog, all you need to do is post a link to your podcast on your blog and the RSS feed will pick up. It will then proceed to send the podcast to all your subscribers. On the other hand, with a non-blog site, you will have to create a separate blog just so you can create an RSS feed.

These are a few considerations before starting your podcast. First determine if it is right for your audience based on existing traffic and whether they are tech savvy, then figure out if it is right for you based on time commitments.

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Author: jm

Joan Mullally has been doing business online for more than 20 years and is a pioneer in the fields of online publishing, marketing, and ecommerce. She is the author of more than 200 guides and courses designed to help beginner and intermediate marketers make the most of the opportunities the Internet offers for running a successful business. A student and later teacher trainee of Frank McCourt’s, she has always appreciated the power of the word, and has used her knowledge for successful SEO and PPC campaigns, and powerful marketing copy. One computer science class at NYU was enough to spark her fascination with all things digital. In her spare time, she works with adult literacy, animal fostering and rescue, and teaching computer skills to women.