Do you like numbers? My son likes numbers. In fact, he loves counting forward and backward from ten, often. Every game of hide-and-seek begins with counting. And the perfect number of strawberries to eat (as far as he is concerned) is five. Always, five.

So, what’s all this talk about numbers? Welllll, just last week Edison Research and Triton Digital released Infinite Dial 2019, their annual statistical report on all things digital media (including social media, smartphones, music streaming, and yes, even podcasting). Why is this important? Well, if you are someone working in the online space or hoping to in the near future, the way people are interacting and using digital media matters and will help you with creating your own digital media strategies for the months to come.

Here’s one quick example: if you are about to ramp up social media efforts but unsure whether to post on Facebook versus Instagram, Facebook usage is down while Instagram usage is on the rise. However, keep in mind that based on the number of users, Facebook still surpasses Instagram. If you are on the fence as to where to post, some of the social media trends could help you determine where to align your best efforts. The report offers food for thought, as well as, encouragement for audio media and consumption.

Here are some other interesting takeaways:

LinkedIn usage remained exactly the same for 2017, 2018, and 2019. Which, based on my interpretation, means it’s a fairly stable platform and worth using to connect and network with professionals in your industry. Hop on the LinkedIn gravy train; stable isn’t a bad thing.

Smart speaker ownership and use is up to 65 million estimated users (with Amazon Alexa beating out all of the other competition, currently). Soooo, if you have a podcast, submit your show to TuneIn or consider creating an Alexa Skill so that users can find and listen to your podcast on their smart speaker. Not sure how to go about doing so? I can help walk you through the steps.

Podcasting familiarity and listening is on the rise with the average monthly listening (age 25-54) up to 39%, compared to 2018 when it was at 32%. According to the report, “Along with the increases in podcast listening, audiobook consumption also surged, indicating a trend towards increased spoken word audio consumption."

If you have a podcast, this means, keep going! If you are thinking about starting a podcast, consider getting it started. Regardless of the Infinite Dial report, podcasting has been around for well over a decade and isn’t going anywhere. If you have a message and want to share it, what are you waiting for?

If you want to geek out on all things digital media trends, read the full Infinite Dial 2019 report here.

Marketing your business takes work. Creating a website and/or hanging out a “We Are Open” sign isn’t going to bring you clients. It’s a start, you’re open. Awesome! You need exposure and must get the word out that you are open for business. Have a marketing plan, be persistent with it and re-evaluate what is and is not working. Don’t be afraid to make a change, if something within your plan is not working. Now, let’s say you’ve gotten your marketing plan and processes down for your business. Sweet! Taking that further, maybe one of the strategies is to create a podcast as a way to connect and engage with current and potential clients. Here’s the rub, sometimes businesses create a podcast for the purpose of marketing and then decide, after some time, the podcast angle is not working. After diving deeper, it seems they suffer the same mind-set as a new business owner. They create a podcast, assuming people will find it, without doing any marketing for the podcast. Adding your podcast to iTunes isn’t necessarily enough.

You should market your podcast a lot like you market your business. The same methods and strategies may be used. Sure, it may seem like a Catch-22 or redundant, especially if the reason for your podcast is to market your business. Sounds like a lot work, huh? It can be, but what’s the point of having a podcast if nobody knows about it? If you are unsure of how to market your podcast, here are some ideas:

Include a link to your podcast in your email signature
Use social media to share podcast episodes, create images with quotes to share.
Include your podcast url on your business card
List your podcast in various podcast directories, especially those in your specific niche(if they exist).
Join groups on social networks where your audience hangs out, connect with them and when appropriate share your podcast (always check groups’ rules first, before promoting your podcast!)
Post your podcast along with show notes on your website, as a blog post. Search engines love new content. If you are podcasting consistently and posting show notes, it gives Google a reason to keep coming back to your site to crawl. This means eventual higher search rankings. Score!
Talk about your podcast, especially at networking events. If you connect with someone and they want to learn more about you… tell them your website and mention you have an online radio show. Don’t be shy! This is also why it’s essential to include your podcast url on business cards.

That’s just scratching the surface. You can also be guest on other podcasts, cross-promote, be a guest blogger, place ads in industry magazines or newsletters (or be featured), or choose to be a sponsor for a specific event.

Eventually, all of your hard work WILL pay off. Choose the options that work best for you. You don't have to do everything on the list above. Get the word out that you have a podcast and remember ALWAYS include a call-to-action in your podcast episodes. A call to action should direct listeners to your website, inviting them to opt into an email list or perform some other measurable action.

If marketing for your podcast sounds like a lot of work and you think you need help implementing some of these ideas… contact me for help. My podcast management services can be of service to you. I am only an email away.

Happy Podcasting!