Why You Should Consider Podcasting to Grow Your Professional Influence
Starting a podcast is an excellent solution for professionals looking for a cost-effective way to build credibility and trust with your audience.
Podcasting has maintained its popularity for quite a while — and if the pandemic was any indicator, the industry is not looking to slow down anytime soon. As more and more people enter the space, demand continues to rise, with audiences and content creators beginning to recognize the potential that podcasts have in their delivery and ability to reach audiences.
The other perk of being a podcaster is one that is often not spoken about. To start one is fairly inexpensive. I’ve been a guest on podcasts that are literally recorded on cell phones! The only obvious investment is a microphone and a media distributor. So you could technically start a podcast for less than $100!
Develop an authentic voice
Some say the podcasting space is oversaturated and that everyone has a podcast. However, in comparison to YouTube channels and blogs, you could argue that podcasting is in its infancy stages, with just over 2 million podcasts; there are more than 37 million YouTube channels and over 547 million blogs just on Tumblr alone. To add to that, podcasting opens up a door for authenticity and holds space for individuals to be themselves and shines light on one of Dr. Seuss’ best quotes: “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
Build a community through podcasting
Podcasts enable extraordinarily intimate storytelling, a feature that helps build a community. Now, you may not always have an actively participating audience who comment and react to every episode. However, the content you share in the stories you tell and the value you provide is what will connect you to your audience and allow you to build a community.
When you are beginning, it can take time to build up a following. But once you get a solid number of listeners, your audience's loyalty will be unparalleled. Forming a connection with your audience early on will be invaluable to your long-term success.
Podcasting is also an excellent way for you to stay relevant. Keeping up with all of the new social media trends can be challenging. Yes, the technology has improved, but the fact is that most people are still consuming podcasts the same way. It's not a boom-style phenomenon; it is something that has taken hold of society.
Podcasts also reach a highly targeted audience, which is beneficial for people who are starting out. The people you will reach with your podcast will be the people who are interested in your message. When you’re starting out, it’s all about finding your specific target audience, not finding a wide range of people. Once you connect with your core audience, word of mouth will spread naturally, and you will grow organically.
Develop your brand with a podcast
Starting a podcast can help you develop your own personal brand and allow people to find, experience, and hear you. Something about podcasting that is often ignored is its tremendous value as a networking opportunity. In addition to growing your audience, podcasting allows you to connect with other people who are prominent in your field. By having other industry professionals as guests on your podcast or being a guest yourself, you are forming connections that can go a long way. These are associations that make you look even more legitimate and create a network that is invaluable.
Starting a podcast also teaches you valuable skills that will come in handy for the rest of your career. One of the most useful is conversational skills. In a podcast, it is necessary to first listen to your guest and ask good questions to stimulate the conversation. This type of questioning can also be beneficial in the day-to-day operations of your business because it builds confidence and helps you come up with creative solutions to your problems.
The positive effect podcasts can have on your reach is the tip of the iceberg. Starting a podcast can further your career by helping you boost your network. No matter what field you are an expert in, you will create authentic knowledge and visibility on that topic. It’s a matter of finding your voice, channeling it into your show, and being willing to get started!
This expert produced this original thought leadership piece free of charge to SheVentures. This expert values educating female entrepreneurs and the SheVentures community. SheVentures is not receiving affiliate compensation from the author/expert. Questions? Contact social@sheventurespodcast.com.
