Remember when you use to gather the family around the radio? It was the size of a TV and everyone would settle in for a night of audible entertainment. Don’t remember that? Yeah me either.
In fact I can’t remember the last time I listened to radio. These days if it’s not on my iPod I’m just not interested. One of the things I love to listen to, other than music, are Podcasts. I find so many advantages to being able to hear something over reading it. In fact I find myself more mentally engaged. How can your business utilize this tool? Should your business utilize Podcasts?
Are Podcasts Dead? Far From It
Podcasts were a hot topic when they debuted years ago. With the advent of the Apple iPod and iTunes software, nearly anyone could record and launch there own Podcast with little effort. Then as many things do on the Internet the mainstream media moved onto the next big thing. However make no mistake about it, the Podcast audience still continues to increase (read Here and Here). So how can you use Podcasts to help your business?
Tell A Your Story
Start by telling a story and not just A story but YOUR story. The art of storytelling is something you need to master in order to be successful in business. I’m not talking about fiction either. If you want that just look at most corporate brochures. I’m talking about telling your story from the perspective of your customers. Something that is engaging and informational at the same time. Podcasts allow you to elaborate on so many facets of your business and the fact that it is audible allows your passion to be heard, even felt. That’s something that’s really hard to get across with print or online text only.
The Podcast Advantage
I find incredible content for free on Podcasts. I happen to use iTunes and can search and find a show on just about any topic. The thing I like about them is I can take them with me. If I want to learn more on a topic I can put them in my car and listen on the way home. If I’m on a plane I can pop on that interview and here what they had to say. So how could you use it? How about doing a Podcast where you interview some of your customers. Let them tell your story for you. There is nothing like hearing a testimonial from other customers. The passion, context, voice inflections, personality all come out when your able to hear a testimonial as opposed to just reading it.
Couldn’t You Just Use Video?
Videos are nice and I’m a huge fan of using video in your business. But for one thing a Podcast is much easier to create and it’s much more portable. Plus I’ve found that interviewing customers on video can sometimes be a challenge. Videos really need to be done in person and you may not have that kind of access to your customers. Plus I find that most people get nervous in front of a camera and the testimonial is less than affective. Podcasting can avoid both of these issues and allow you to still get that great testimonial story without shooting video.
Consider Podcasting for your business, it can be fun and most of all its a great way to tell your story.
Tell me, do you listen to Podcasts now? Have you ever?