What is a podcast?
A podcast is usually a subscription-based audio or video file that appears at regular intervals on a selected medium. The word podcast is made up of the words iPod and broadcast. Podcasts have become increasingly popular in recent years. Prominent guests are often invited to a podcast and can give testimonials on specific topics. Typically, the podcasts are published weekly on a fixed day and at a specific time. This makes listening to the episodes a fixed routine for viewers. Podcasts are available on a variety of topics and each industry has its own distribution channels. Podcast playback is particularly popular, albeit via Spotify. Here, podcasts can be played conveniently on the go and it is also worthwhile in terms of marketing, as examples show. Well-known podcasts in Germany reach hundreds of thousands of users every month via Spotify, and this number is steadily increasing.
How does a podcast work?
A podcast usually appears at communicated intervals. A podcast episode is colloquially referred to as an episode. There are clear advantages over other media such as television or radio. A podcast does not have to be listened to at a specific time, but can be played at any location at a later time. There are also clear advantages over other media when it comes to the playback medium. A podcast can be played on almost any device. Be it a laptop, a computer, a tablet or a cell phone. Free tools such as the RSS feed ensure that subscribers are always informed of a new episode and flexible playback means that the number of views can be generated over a longer period of time.
How can a podcast be produced?
Strictly speaking, anyone can produce a podcast privately and then publish it. Little equipment and no extensive prior knowledge is required. All you need to produce a podcast is a recording device such as a microphone, Internet access and an end device for uploading. Each podcast is aimed at a very specific target group. Users can subscribe to different podcasts and put together their own individual program. For podcast creators, it can make sense to choose a topic in which there is a general interest. Although there is a lot of competition, consumers can also subscribe to several podcasts. Advertising can be carried out via social media platforms after the publication of the individual episodes. Paid contributions are also conceivable, in which the podcast is embedded as a link.
How can you earn money with podcasts?
Podcasts can be financed and monetized in many different ways. First and foremost, there is usually advertising revenue from the respective streaming providers. If a podcast is very popular and many users listen to and download the episodes every week, the advertising revenue can already be very high. However, monetization through product placements should not be underestimated either. Brands now pay a lot of money to get advertising space in podcasts. In most cases, the respective product must then be briefly presented in the podcast. Depending on the number of views a podcast achieves, very high sums can be generated here.
Is there search engine optimization for a podcast?
A valid RSS feed is required for a podcast to be displayed in Google search results. Since 2019, Google has not only displayed entire podcasts, but even individual episodes.
