Good morning from the world’s largest podcasting convention, Podcast Motion in Washington, DC! From the primary time I attended this nice occasion in Philadelphia six years in the past, I felt an power that at all times excites me about returning.
Nobody ought to debate podcasting’s energy as an audio medium. Like radio, there may be energy within the spoken phrase, within the potential to color psychological footage and inform tales. It’s magically moveable. Straightforward to take heed to on the go, whether or not within the automobile, whereas taking a stroll, or using the subway.
If you concentrate on the methods early podcast customers listened to podcasts, you would possibly visualize this:
Photograph credit score: Mojahid Mottakin / Shutterstock.com
The Apple Podcast brand was primarily the de facto brand for the medium, a real indication of the ability of branding. Apple was the proper platform for podcasting as a result of the app was native to Apple gadgets—no have to go to the App Retailer and obtain it.
However shopper habits change.
Whereas iOS remains to be the main working system over Android in the USA, it’s not by a ton (about 60%-40% in line with TechRepublic), and globally Android dominates iOS (about 70%-30%).
So, it’s now not simply concerning the comfort of the native app in your cellphone. It’s what manufacturers win the thoughts of the buyer. And it’s vital to notice some essential modifications which have taken place.
Whereas Apple is a favourite of many creators, a exceptional factor occurred to 2 different platforms on the buyer aspect.
- Spotify went from 30 million energetic customers in 2013 to 626 million in 2024.
- YouTube went from 532 million energetic customers in 2019 to 868 million in 2023.
Shoppers made a behavioral shift to Spotify and YouTube as a result of their manufacturers grew, they usually provided content material their audiences discovered interesting. In case you’re not placing further power into these platforms, you’re not fishing the place the fish are.
One yr in the past, I introduced the landmark “New Guidelines of Podcasting on YouTube” examine at Podcast Motion in Denver with Steve Goldstein of Amplifi Media. This benchmark analysis venture explored the perceptions and utilization of video amongst American podcast customers. Listed here are three key takeaways.
- 73% of podcast consumption is dominated by three platforms…YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.
Considered one of these platforms is all video. One has publicly said in current months that it’s going all-in on video. On my private Spotify account, I’m now getting video podcast suggestions on my house web page earlier than audio variations.
- Shoppers don’t see podcasting as an audio-only medium.
We had been intentional in our examine to not use the phrase “hear” when referring to a podcast as a result of we felt it was vital to grasp whether or not customers see podcasting as an audio-only medium. They used to, however they don’t anymore.
- Extra podcast customers now say they devour their favourite podcast by way of audio and video than simply audio.
If a fan of your podcast searches for a video model and it’s not there, do you suppose YouTube or Spotify’s algorithms will counsel different reveals that may take your viewers away from yours?
In fact they’ll.
After I introduced this examine, many subsequent conversations adopted with creators and networks. We acknowledged that there is no such thing as a “one dimension matches all” video resolution for each podcast. Not each podcast must, and even ought to, supply full episodes on video. Even when beginning with the utilization of video as a advertising and marketing device, utilizing trailers and clips, it’s a good spot to start the journey.
And but, there have been two phrases I knew I may rely on listening to from all of them.
“Sure, however”.
“Sure, however the views are miniscule relative to the time we spend”.
“Sure, however YouTube’s promoting restrictions are horrible”.
“Sure, however no RSS feed”.
“Sure, however we are able to’t promote it”.
“Sure, however I don’t have the workers”.
“Sure, however it’s a development”.
As my therapist would possibly say, your emotions are legitimate. However they miss the large image.
Many of the analysis I conduct for podcasters at Coleman Insights is perceptual analysis. We might take a deep dive, for instance, into the conduct of followers of Children & Household podcasts or fiction podcasts. Perhaps we’re digging into perceptions of sports activities podcast customers.
One of these analysis may be very totally different than top-line utilization analytics, which don’t dig into model pictures that affect conduct. Perceptions in podcasting are altering, and that’s altering conduct.
In a few hours at 10:15 AM EDT, I’ll be part of a panel for a session known as “Cease Leaving Impressions On The Desk: Vodcasting Is Podcasting” moderated by Carl Weinstein, COO of Locked On Podcast Community. Locked On incorporates a native podcast for each group in each main sport. Weinstein’s community jumped into vodcasting (video podcasting) years in the past, and absolutely resisted “sure, however”. I requested him a number of questions on their expertise.
Q: When did Locked On embrace video? Why was it vital for Locked On to embrace it early, when most podcasters are solely now contemplating it as an integral a part of their technique?
A: We started including the video simulcast of all our podcasts to our total lineup in 2021. It was much less about embracing it early than it was about assembly the viewers the place they had been. The indicators had been already there in 2021, truly earlier than then, that the viewers was already defining a podcast in another way than the trade was at the moment. To succeed in the whole potential viewers, we would have liked to maneuver in the direction of them and couldn’t count on them to maneuver again in the direction of us. We jumped in with each ft and by no means regarded again.
Locked On Podcast Community Chief Working Officer Carl Weinstein
Q: How has it carried out in comparison with audio and what are among the key variations? Why do you suppose it’s been so profitable for you and never as profitable for others?
A: Efficiency has been wonderful. I believe largely as a result of we tapped into a completely new viewers and likewise as a result of discovery on the first video platform, YouTube, is so significantly better than discovery on the standard audio podcast apps. Arduous for me to talk to what others are experiencing, however I believe for us, we’re tailored for the video platforms and expertise. Our podcasts are each day, our podcasts are shorter than most others available in the market (half-hour or much less), and we cowl sports activities, concentrating on one of the crucial passionate, widest-reaching affinity teams in media.
Q: Appears many creators are involved about monitoring and attribution with YouTube. How have you ever dealt with that?
A: We have now a tremendous promoting ops group. We have now developed our personal methods and processes for monitoring and reporting and have labored with our promoting companions to optimize every for his or her wants. We’re additionally on OTT, each VOD (Video On Demand) and FAST TV (Free Promoting-Supported Streaming Tv), so with every platform we should deal with a novel set of necessities and wishes. Not essentially straightforward, and definitely time and resource-consuming, however completely doable and definitely worth the effort.