There’s some amazing podcast content out there – much of it available for free. Dramas, documentaries, educational, comedy… whatever you’re in the mood for, it’s there. And you know what? The amount of competition out there means it’s all pretty darn good.
Podcasts are a brilliant way of keeping yourself informed and updated across a multitude of topics and are often curated by knowledgeable and entertaining hosts. Once you have a subject in mind, a quick internet or app search will undoubtedly reveal a wealth of options with their own angles and insights on the matter. There are so many aspects that make podcasts not only unique, but will see them soon become an essential part of our media consuming rituals.
No other form of media can combine entertainment, information and portability with such a breadth of subject matters and global availability. Podcasts can be tailored to suit any mood too – if you need something light hearted for your commute home, pick a comedy. If you’d prefer something challenging while going about your weekend chores, perhaps opt for politics or something related to your career. Multi-tasking is a skill we’ve all had to develop in order to get the most out of modern life. Podcasts are a great way of keeping you up to date with the latest info while you carry out day to day life tasks.
On the opposite end of the spectrum to polished, perfected Audiobooks, an average podcast with be rough round the edges, with minimal editing and quite often comedic mistakes. The ‘raw’ feel of an unedited podcast appeals to listeners by giving them a genuine host. Podcasters will usually speak the first thing that pops into their mind, which makes for great content and an honest viewpoint.
Another huge benefit of listening to podcasts is to help stimulate your personal development. If there’s a subject you’re keenly interested in and feel like you’ve got to the point where you know everything there is to know, reach for a podcast. All sorts of professional fields have dedicated podcasts where experts discuss the subject and can provide points of view that you perhaps have not thought of previously. Similarly, if you’re completely brand new to something and want to learn from the ground up, a podcast is the ideal place to start. Hearing someone talk passionately about their favourite topic is a great way to inspire you into following in their footsteps and exploring a subject in real depth.
Sometimes, however, there’s an argument for a more polished and produced podcast; by this I mean time has been spent creating and recording sound effects, there are multiple voices and music is used for dramatic effect. Have a listen to what we did for our client MSD Animal Health, about their campaign about the dangers of dog ticks here.
While you’re here, why not try one of our own podcasts: We have a whole series about broadcast PR and a further series which is made up of audio from our Big Talks, host to some fantastic speakers from the world of broadcast news and programming. Both of these series are available to download or listen to from our website.
If you’ve got a broadcast PR campaign coming up and you’d like to discuss how to create the perfect PR podcast, you can book a place on one of our upcoming courses here, or simply email hello@shoutcommunications.co.uk or call 02072407373.
