Category: Podcasting

How Podcasting Can Revolutionize Your Marketing

How Podcasting Can Revolutionize Your Marketing

Posted on | by Alex Engelbert
Marketing, Podcasting

How Podcasting Can Revolutionize Your Marketing? Podcasting is becoming increasingly popular among marketers, and for good reason. As a medium, podcasting can be incredibly powerful in helping you reach your target audience and build relationships with them. Through podcasts, you can create engaging content that drives meaningful conversations and encourages listeners to take action.

In today’s world, there seems to be an unlimited number of platforms that provide entertainment and news.  Some people still rely on print media, and others prefer to watch cable news.  Most people enjoy news and entertainment through a streaming service.  An incredibly popular form of entertainment is podcasting, an industry that continues to see growth year after year.  More than 50% of the United States population listens to at least one podcast weekly. In the modern era of digital storytelling, podcasting has topped the charts as one of the most popular streaming tools on the market.

There are over 3 million podcasts currently available for streaming, and that number continues to increase daily.  Podcasting is a relatively simple method of telling a story or providing entertainment.  With the decline of talk radio, podcasts have served as a replacement for people to listen to on their daily commutes.

While the entertainment value of podcasts are widely known, podcasting is still an underutilized and overlooked marketing tool.  Businesses can utilize podcasts to better promote their brands and create awareness.  Here are several ways to use podcasting as a marketing tool to help your business expand.

1. Podcast Listeners Feel More Productive

Podcasts require far less attention from users to interact with because the idea of a podcast is to be heard. While many people have cut down on their “screen time” such as watching a streaming service or cable TV, they have increased their podcast listening because they view it as passive background noise.  Listeners often tune into a podcast while doing daily life chores and activities. Listener productivity makes podcasts ideal for busy individuals or someone who wants their eyes off the screen.  By utilizing podcasts as a marketing tool, you will increase your brands reach beyond the scope of social media or streaming platform advertising options.

2. Podcasts Build a Loyal Audience

What makes podcasts stand out drastically from other forms of marketing and content creation is that they allows brands to communicate directly to a captive audience. A podcast with a specific niche for their audience can immediately tackle their target audience with their content while creating bonds all in one. Typically, an audience of a podcast is a loyal one; creating that audience for a brand can be seamless if you know your niche and audience, and it is much easier to reach users than other forms of marketing and branding.

3. Originality

Compared to other forms of social media marketing, the competition is far lower in the podcast realm. Facebook has billions of business pages to push out content and drive-up engagement. Instagram is often inundated with content pieces that are hard to discern from one another.  In contrast, Podcasts are much slimmer in terms of quantity, even with over 3 million of them. Apple Podcasts is a highly ranked application on the Apple Store regarding users and content. With the millions of users who stream Spotify, getting a podcast to the public may be easier than creating an Instagram post!  Podcasts excel in finding a targeted niche audience compared to a Facebook Business Page for a brand.

4. Provide Value

Brands are always searching for their USP and what they provide to their customers and followers in marketing. It is the core of a business and what drives high engagement on social media pages. What does a service provide? How do customers benefit from being a part of this service? Podcasting makes this step easy as it always provides value to its audience.

Listeners are constantly engaged with their preferred podcast network, and it creates a sense of community, thus establishing an entire network of individuals for said brand.

Listeners of a podcast are constantly gaining new information and knowledge on topics based on discussion when tuning in to the latest episode of their favorite Podcast. It is a constant source of value to the audience.

5. Shareable

Several podcasting platforms allow for shows to be produced and pushed across streaming media. This makes the content easily sharable among communities and friends. Among other social media platforms where brands and businesses establish a following, podcast communities found within Apple Podcasts and Spotify are the most loyal to their favorite show compared to a business page.

6. SEO-Optimized   

If a business has an established Facebook or Instagram page and then decides to create a podcast to drive traffic to their pages or website, it is both possible and efficient!

Podcasts are community-driven, so creating a loyal following would then, in turn, boost website and page traffic. Podcasts typically have an internal transcript to describe an episode in notes or provide external links to platform pages. If utilized correctly, podcasting can provide remarkable SEO benefits.

Keyword management is often used with titles of the episodes or in the episode notes, typically in the episode’s transcript to have your episode and podcast show be searchable.

Get Started Today With The AD Leaf Marketing Firm!

Overall, podcasts are a much more creative and effective way of marketing. Podcasting creates a loyal community, produces valuable content for followers, and can drive traffic to a brand’s website or social pages. All while creating one-of-a-kind content that can target a particular niche.

Need help creating and running a successful Podcast while implementing a successful marketing strategy? The AD Leaf Marketing Firm is here to take your business to the next level. Talk to one of our experts to schedule a free consultation with our marketing teams, call us today at 321-255-0900.

Content Writing Strategies

Three Ways to Improve Your Website Content Writing

Posted on | by The AD Leaf Marketing Firm
Content Writing, Marketing, Podcasting

Writing engaging website copy can be a bit difficult for even the most seasoned professionals. However, it does not have to be this way. Here are some great content writing strategies & tips to get you started on writing professional copy that will catch the eye of any client.

  1. Check Out These Content Marketing Podcasts
  2. Review Your Competitor’s Websites and Build a Strategy
  3. Take the Time to Understand Who Your Target Audience Is

One: Check Out These Content Marketing Podcasts

Over the past couple of years, podcasts have taken the world by storm. There are podcasts for virtually every topic and every industry. The content marketing world is no exception, as there are a number of different marketing podcasts on the Internet. Want to begin listening to some content marketing podcasts but do not know where to start? The AD Leaf ® has compiled a list of some of the best podcasts on the market. These podcasts can help you with a number of different content marketing roadblocks, such as breaking out of your creative rut and learning about new industry tools.

  • Marketing Over Coffee
    • If you are interested in listening to a content marketing podcast but prefer a more conversational and relaxed tone, check out Marketing Over Coffee. Hosted by John Wall and Christopher Penn, current topics and events are discussed in simple terms that are easy to understand.
  • The Copyblogger Podcast
    • Copyblogger is one of the best content marketing resources in the industry, so it is no surprise that their podcast is just as informative. Hosted by Tim Stoddart and Darrell Versterfelt, this podcast gives professionals the best tips and tricks to succeed in all forms of marketing.
  • Marketing School – Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Tips
    • Eric Siu and Neil Patel are some of the most well-known names in the content marketing industry, so you do not want to miss this podcast. The two discuss the current trends and tools.
  • Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Portfield
    • Perhaps one of the most knowledgable podcasts currently airing, Amy Portfield’s weekly podcast gives essential information on how to succeed in the content marketing industry. This podcast is one of the best to listen to if you are just entering the industry, as well.

Two: Review Your Competitor’s Websites and Build a Strategy

Who said that imitation was not the highest form of flattery? It should obviously be said that plagiarism is highly frowned upon and can land you and your business in some hot legal trouble. That being said, that does not mean that you cannot do your research.

The marketing industry is extremely flexible and constantly introducing new methods to engage clients. It is important to keep up with these developments because they might significantly help you with potential client outreach and customer engagement. Take notice of the strategies your competitors are utilizing for their own outreach. Do they appear to be working? 

Three: Take the Time to Understand Who Your Target Audience Is

The last tip when it comes to content writing strategies is to understand your target audience by analyzing your client list. Are there any patterns that you see? These simple patterns in age and gender can help you determine a very general understanding of your target audience. 

That being said, it is important to develop your understanding of your target audience further than just the bare minimum of demographics. One way to determine your more specific demographics is to send out a survey to current or prospective customers on your email lists. Once you have collected most if not all of the surveys then you can analyze your target audience in a more analytical way.

Contact Us

We know that it takes a lot to stay on top of the different ways you can improve your website content and content marketing in general. That is why The AD Leaf ® Marketing LLC is here to help. Our team of expert content marketers will help you determine the best course of action for your marketing strategies. Call us at 321-255-0900 for more information.

How to Choose the Best Podcast Microphone for your Podcast

Posted on | by The AD Leaf Marketing Firm
Marketing, Podcasting

If you’re new to podcasting or technical producing in general, you know that there is no shortage of equipment to choose from. You’ve probably noticed that there can be a little bit of a heated debate over what equipment is the best, too. You’re probably overwhelmed and wondering where to even start. That’s why we’re here. Depending on where you’re recording, how many guests you’ll be including on your podcast, and whether or not you plan on integrating it with other soundbytes, your answer to this question may vary. We’ll walk you through some of our top picks and why they’re our favorites!

Before we dive into the options to choose from, let’s talk about why a good microphone is important. The reality is, you could have the most amazing content, story, or guest on your show, but if it’s hard to hear or difficult to understand because of poor sound quality, all of your hard work is wasted. It’s the mic that captures your voice, your emotions, and your story. There are 3 different categories we’re going to focus on in order to cater to all levels of podcasters: Beginner, Intermediate, and Pro. If you’re just starting out and need something quick and easy, we’ve got a recommendation for you. If you’ve been producing content for a while and you’re looking to take your content to the next level, we’ve got a recommendation for that too. 

 

  • Beginner Level Microphones

 

Just because we’re calling these“beginner” microphones doesn’t mean it’s a low quality piece of equipment. We’re calling these good for beginners due to their low cost and easy set up. 

 

  • Samson Q2U

 

This bad boy is incredibly versatile because it has both an XLR (External Line Return) output and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) output. This means you can plug it directly into your computer and record via GarageBand (or a similar program) or use the mic to conduct an interview on Skype or Zoom. Then, when you’re ready to get your feet when with a mixer or a digital recorder, you can use the XLR output. An XLR cable is required for most audio equipment. 

PRO TIP: When recording a session, run both cables at the same time so you can record two copies at once just in case a device crashes or malfunctions. That way, you don’t lose all of your hard work.

 

  • ATR2100

 

This is an alternative to the Samson Q2U but there’s not too much of a difference. Ultimately, the Samson Q2U is typically cheaper. What makes this model stand out is that it’s great for capturing live interviews due to being extremely lightweight and small, making it easy to pack and carry with you if needed. 

 

  • Intermediate

 

When you’re ready to take your podcast to the next level, upgrading your microphone is the first step. If your subscriber count is crossing the 100,000 threshold, then you need to start thinking about upgrading your equipment so you can continue to entice new listeners with high-quality content. 

 

  • The Rode Procaster

 

This is an extremely dynamic podcast mic. Most mid-level (and even some high-level) podcast producers use this microphone. It’s certainly up there in price compared to the previous models we recommended, but you’ll be able to see a significant difference in the quality of sound when you compare the two. 

The Procaster is an XLR microphone (like the Samson Q2U we mentioned earlier). The biggest selling point about this microphone is that it’s a dynamic mic. Dynamic microphones are a better choice if you’re not typically recording within a studio. They pick up less background noise and tend to be more forgiving in large, open spaces (like your office or study). Another pro to dynamic mics is that they don’t need phantom power, so you can plug it into a ¼” jack just like an XLR. If you’ve been in the podcasting game long enough, you probably know what phantom power is, but in case you don’t, it means that you can provide power directly to the microphone via an internal battery. Not all microphones need phantom power (like the dynamic mic we’re talking about right now). 

What’s great about this mic is that it has a version called the Rode Podcaster that doesn’t require a mixer or a digital recorder. It’s very, very similar to the Procaster kit but it’s a high-quality USB microphone instead. 

 

  • The Blue Yeti

 

The next in this group is a USB condenser microphone, one of the most popular podcast microphones in the world! From a price perspective, it’s not hard to understand why, given that it’s only $100. 

This mic offers a great quality audio thanks to its condenser capsules and its amazingly easy-to-use plug and play USB connection. One of its biggest advantages is its range of recording patterns. It offers settings for solo recording, face-to-face recording, and group recording. It’s flexible and able to adapt to just about any situation. The only downside (and it’s barely a real downside), is that you’ll need to be close to the mic to pick up a thorough sound so group recordings can get a little cozy. 

One thing to note is that this mic comes with its own stand, so it’s a great first step if you want to jump in at the high-end and not have to worry about accessories. When it comes to quality though, it might not hold a candle to the MXL990 or the Rode but the ease of use and the fact that it’s standalone makes it a serious contender. 

 

  • The MXL990

 

Now that you’re experimenting and getting your feet wet with condenser microphones, this microphone is the next step. It’s a great value and worth every penny at the time. Even though it’s a condenser, it’s fairly decent in a normal office-sized room and doesn’t pick up too much of the background noise. If you have a reasonably quiet space and are looking for a rich sound, this puppy is perfect for you! 

Before you run off to buy this microphone, keep in mind that you’ll need a nixer and/or a top-end digital recorder. You’re probably wondering where to start with mixers, but we’ll cross that bridge together another day.

 

  • Shure SM58

 

If you’re in need of a microphone that is that is high-quality mic that is more mobile. This mic is typically spotted at music festivals or events because it’s a durable handheld mic. They can withstand some tough conditions like being dropped, stepped on, splash, and so much more. If you need technology that can be out and about more than it’s in a recording space, this is it. 

This is a very versatile microphone because of its ease of transportation so if you’re planning on taking your show on the road, but still want to be able to record voice overs or commentary, this mic will work well for both aspects of your show. It’ll work just as well in the studio, mounted on a stand.

 

  • AKG Lyra

 

Released later in 2019, this microphone is a strong competitor to the rest but has very similar features, from polar patterns to a built-in stand. Some people say it sounds a little better than the Yeti, but that’s entirely up to each individual listener. If you’re willing to shell out a couple extra dollars, this might be a good choice for you. 

 

  • Professional 

 

At this level, you’re looking at some serious cash. These fancy pieces of equipment wouldn’t look out of place in a professional recording studio at all. The microphones we discussed at the intermediate level can provide everything you truly need. There’s nothing that says you’re not a pro until you’re recording with one of these babies. That’s certainly not the case. If you can get the job done for a fraction of the cost without sacrificing quality, do it. 

Ultimately, jumping to this level depends on your voice. These microphones are each designed with specific styles and pitches of voice in mind. If you’re ready to treat yourself, keep on reading. 

 

  • Rode NT1-A

 

This is a super low-noise XLR microphone with a surprisingly rich sound. You’re getting a great bang for your buck at $220 because it comes with a shock mount and a pop filter, so you just need a mic stand and a recording system to get started! If you’re ready to really go pro and you’ve got a mixer/interface to hook it up to, this an awesome starting point. 

 

  • Electro-Voice R20

 

There’s a saying among the podcast community, “if you know an Electro-Voice fan- you’ll know!”. This microphone has a very loyal following, and for a good reason! They’re certainly among the contenders for best microphones in podcasting and the audio industry in general. We imagine the following is due to the rich tones, depth, and resonance this gorgeous piece of technology produces. There’s just something about it that produces a memorable recording. Now, these microphones aren’t cheap by any means but they’re world class and you’ll be able to justify the cost in no time. 

 

Dynamic Microphones vs Condenser Microphones for Podcasting

So we’ve talked a lot about dynamic microphones and condenser microphones versus so what’s the difference? 

If you want the extra level of depth to your podcast, it’s definitely worth focusing on a condenser microphone. There are certain situations where a condenser microphone is appropriate and some situations where it’s more trouble than it’s worth. They introduce a higher level of quality to your recordings, but you have to use them in the right context. Because of their sensitivity, condenser microphones tend to pick up a lot of background noise, meaning that you need a quiet recording environment. Typically, they tend to be more on the fragile side, so transporting them in a bag on a regular basis isn’t the best option. Condenser microphones need external power, too. This normally comes through a phantom power supply like a mixing desk, a digital recorder, or a battery in the microphone. Investing in a mixing desk or digital recorder is definitely the right move if you’re trying to take your podcast set up to the next level, but it’s not necessary for when you’re at the beginner or intermediate level.

The alternative is a Dynamic Microphone. They are essentially the opposite of a condenser microphone. They record a narrower range of frequencies, so sometimes they can sound a little less rich. They pick up less surrounding noise so you have to be close to the mic. Because of these features, they’re great in not-so-great recording environments like live events or noisy areas. 

The two factors that determine what microphone you should go for are: your recording environment and your budget. If you’re trying to take your podcast to the next level but you’re not sure where to start, give us a call at The AD Leaf ® at 321-255-0900. We’re here to help you grow.