Podcasts are a very popular content format nowadays and it is a tool to conquer followers in social networks, expand the marketing strategy and convince audiences not to lose sight of us.

How to make a podcast, how traditional media are currently doing it, and what is the present of the podcast industry in the region are some of the questions that will be answered during the event. As it is an emerging industry, it is possible that the word podcast is not so clear in the collective imagination. Therefore, here we clarify two important points: what are podcasts and why they are important today.

What is a podcast?

Podcasts are a series of contents recorded in audio and transmitted online. They can be recorded in different formats, such as interviews or discussions on a specific topic.

The word podcast is becoming more and more known, and is a product of the union between the words Pod (Personal on demand) and broadcast (transmission). Its origin, according to the knowledge hosted on the Internet, is around 2004, when an engineer used a specification of the RSS format to include attachments.

It facilitates the connection with digital devices. Its ease of consumption has driven it: from an application or from our favorite multiplatform (such as Spotify, Deezer, etc) we can download them. It no longer implies a permanent connection to wifi, for example, or as was the case with radio that you should always be able to access some frequency.

The temporality is also a factor that has played in favor, because it does not require a specific schedule but can be heard at any time since it is downloaded.

Types of Podcast

As podcasts are audio content, the imagination is the limit when it comes to making them. However, there are some types that can serve as a reference to work on an idea or to innovate with products.

Many of them are similar to traditional radio programs, such as conversation formats between podcast presenters and guests, or they can also be interviews.

In the same way they can be daily programs that offer every day some kind of specific information about a particular topic, or for example about news in a specific field of interest, such as astrology.

It can also be done the old-fashioned lone wolf way, where the podcaster faces only the audience and talks for a certain amount of time about a topic related to the interests of his audience. Recently, we have also seen very simple podcasts that focus on telling the life of a single person in his or her day-to-day life.

Others are known for being referents to solve questions that arise all the time google search engine style or enigma solver in virtual forums. Others tell stories and others are used to support teachers’ classes. Thebroadswords for example is a mix of all of these, we like to include anything that can be entertaining, informative and useful for our audience.

In short, imagination is the limit.

Why are podcasts important today?

They are important because they have democratized the production of audio content, in addition to the fact that they have expanded and developed new formats. Anyone with a digital device, a recorder, or almost anything at hand can produce them, of course with some technical knowledge but nothing so specialized.

According to Mario, a friend of ours, who produces several podcasts, these have also allowed large and small companies, and even individuals, to find in these contents a simple and efficient way to promote their products. It has become a powerful marketing tool.

You can make money with podcasts

Podcasts can be a way to make money directly or indirectly.

Indirectly implies that the podcast is a tool through which a podcaster is positioned as an expert in some field and this positioning makes him known and therefore consulted, to the point of being called as a lecturer or paid as a consultant in his area of expertise.

But there is also the possibility that a voice and a style become so popular that brands that are looking for positioning want to seek the podcaster to help them in that mission through the creation of their audio content. “Sponsorship” is one such way to make money here.

Monetizing an audio channel is another way to profit from podcasters’ skills. It is like the “Youtubers” model but with podcasts. In this sense, it can also be done through donations from the public who, in appreciation of the good time generated by one of these contents, voluntarily decide to help podcast producers.