Podcasts are essentially digital files of spoken word on a range of subjects. People can subscribe to them and listen to them at their convenience. Podcasting has been around since the turn of the century and it’s forecasted to be a nearly $95 billion industry by 2028, which means there are a fair few podcasts out there. In fact, thousands are released yearly, and more are coming. But why should we be interested in live podcasts in particular?
What is Live Podcasting?
Live podcasting is also known as podcast streaming. It’s when a podcast is recorded and broadcast live and unedited. However, as these are digital files, they can be edited later. Listeners hear what’s said when it’s said, with no filter. Speaking of listeners, they can also participate by sending real-time messages to you, any guest speaker, as well as one another. The best bit is listeners can tune in from anywhere around the world.
Why go Live?
There are several reasons for podcasters to go live: You might want to tap into an audience that prefers live podcasts (if your podcast series is engaging and interesting, chances are people will want to regularly listen); you might have a major announcement to make (if so, there’ll be loads of listeners who will want to be one of the first to hear it directly from you); or you might want to create an interactive community (the internet enables you to reach far and wide, much more than ever before, meaning you could create a community of worldwide listeners).
Going live adds that extra energy that you don’t normally get when recording a podcast. This is largely down to the unpredictability of participating in a live event. You have to think on your feet, know how to keep the conversation going as well as be listener friendly. There are so many components involved in live podcasting that it’s no wonder there are more recorded podcasts than live at the moment.
What is it about Live Events?
Live events are once-in-a-lifetime occasions that people love to be a part of. OK, a music artist may do a series of concerts, and sing the same songs, but they’ll never be able to replicate the same show 100% night after night. As we touched on in the previous section, unpredictability and being part of a community are something we all enjoy.
This has not gone unrecognized in other industries. For instance, there are virtual book clubs that adults can join to regularly discuss books they’re reading. For people that like playing games, there are themed daily online bingo live events held for people to join in. There are even concerts online, which are great for music lovers around the world to be a part of. Having access to live events online not only has the potential to reach people around the world, but also provides people, who may not attend such events, access to them.
Live podcasting is gaining traction within the podcasting industry. It allows for real-time audience interaction, which can be priceless when gauging reactions to business and innovation. It’s also proving to be an effective way to engage followers and attract potential customers.
Streaming live podcasts means you can continue to create a customer base whilst increasing brand awareness, which can only be a good thing for your business.