There is no denying the power of podcasting.
The relatively new audio medium debuted shortly after the dawn of the new millennium and has since grown to encompass more than 850,000 active podcasts and a total of 30 million individual episodes.
With the ascendence of podcast culture into the mainstream, more and more creators are looking to get into the game. Podcasters must continually innovate and refine their content to maintain and grow audiences. That’s why it is more important than ever to stay atop of the latest trends if you hope to be the next podcasting impresario.
Here are a few things that are shaping up to be the biggest trends in podcasting for 2020:
Intensifying Platform Wars
Apple has been the dominant platform for podcasters since the beginning.
After all, the name comes from the company’s iPod music player. But after Spotify added podcasts to their streaming music service in 2015, the “podcast wars” have been raging ever since. In 2020, Spotify could gain up to 25% of market share in the podcasting space. Other platforms like Pandora and Luminary continue to try and wedge their way in as well.
The expansion of listening platforms means podcast creators will have to decide whether to upload their pods to a single platform or publish to multiple platforms. With each platform having their own rules and processes, creators may benefit from enlisting the help of podcasting marketing experts to upload and promote their shows so they can spend more time in the booth.
SEO for Podcasts
Last year Google started embedding playable podcasts into search results. Part of the algorithm actually involves scanning the audio for relevant keywords. That’s created an opportunity for podcasters who can figure how to optimize their shows so that they appear in the results.
As Google continues to iterate on how it surfaces podcasts in search, podcasters would be wise to also make sure their traditional SEO is up to par. That means having a dedicated show page with keyword-optimized show notes for every episode.
Getting Out of the Booth More
More and more, live events are becoming an important part of the podcasting business.
In 2019, podcast events generated more than $55 million worldwide. That number is only expected to grow as more podcasters look to get in on the action. Consider planning a live taping event for your podcast this year to cash in on the trend.
More Money For Ads
Advertising revenue for podcasts is expected to surpass $1 billion in 2020.
That is due in part to the effectiveness of podcast advertising—one recent survey found that 63% of podcast listeners made a purchase after hearing ads. At the same time, the rise of ad-blocking software is making web-based ads less effective, leaving companies looking for new ways to reach consumers.
So if you haven’t landed a sponsor for your podcast yet, just be patient and keep trying.
Bring in the Experts
Putting together a podcast is a lot of work, and it can be frustrating if you don’t find much success in the beginning.
You might have a great concept and engaging content, but if your production isn’t up to par you will struggle to keep listeners. The good news is that Fiverr freelancers can help with editing, post-production, bumper music and more. Bringing in some expert help will not only increase the production value of your podcast, but also allow to spend more time where you want to be—behind the mic.
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