14 years ago, just 22% of the US population knew what a podcast was. Now, 75% of Americans have heard of podcasts. The total podcast audience in the US is growing by 20% each year, according to PR Daily.

Here are some reasons why now is the perfect time to start a podcast.

Podcast Audiences Are More Invested

In a study by Nielsen, it was found that 80% of listeners complete most or all of each episode, which are an average of 43 minutes long. This is a surefire way to break through that often-taught statistic that the human attention span is only 8 seconds.

This means that creating content for your business or brand has more power on a podcast, especially if you want to delve into deep or time-consuming topics. Social media platforms may encourage longer videos, posts, or other content, but podcast audiences are already in it for the long haul, and you can tap into that existing fan base with your own exciting brand and content.

You Don’t Have to Already Be Famous or Have a Huge Following

Another unique thing about the podcast audience – they don’t discriminate in their listening preferences based on big names. This means you can hop into the industry fairly easily. So long as your podcast’s genre and topics are well defined and featured in your descriptions and bios, people who are interested in your type of content will listen whether you are an A-list celebrity or a hustler from Harlem looking to boost your brand and create some momentum for your business.

Relatively Low Startup Costs

With most other social media or brand marketing, you need good equipment – cameras, editing software, a dedicated space to record videos and take photos.

But starting a podcast is much easier. You can buy the equipment you need from Amazon or your favorite retailer for less than $100.

It’s also a lot easier to create and edit audio content than it is to make videos.

You Can Record from Anywhere

Do you travel a lot for your 9-5 gig? Are you on the road a lot visiting family, friends, or going on your next adventure? It’s easy to record a podcast from anywhere in the world.

Since you need so little equipment, your podcast creation schedule can be as flexible as your life demands. You can also record podcasts in bulk and then schedule them out weeks or months in advance.

Podcasting Boosts Your Personal Brand

If you already have a small business but are looking for more ways to promote your personal and professional brands, podcasting is a great way to do that.

Your podcast and your business don’t have to be identical. You can create content within a similar industry as a simultaneous effort to position yourself as an expert or valuable voice on a certain topic, or you can create something vastly different from your professional business in an effort to create a better-rounded personal brand or to grow your entrepreneurial endeavors to new audiences and heights.

Podcast Ad Revenue is Growing

In-podcast advertising revenue is expected to hit $1 billion in 2021. This is a huge jump from the $480 million spent in 2018.

You can partner with brands and businesses that create mutually beneficial outcomes – interview some of the business leaders or industry experts you look up to and would love to work with, share products and services you love with your audience, and generate passive income through affiliate programs.

Also, unlike Facebook and other video-friendly platforms, where many audience members stop watching when they see the first ad, most podcast listeners resume their consumption of your content as soon as they skip the ad, so you aren’t driving people away with this method.

Repurposing Is Easy

Do you have older video content that you want to draw attention to again? You can create audio recordings of older videos and repurpose them as podcast material. Podcasts (unless they’re news or current-events-based) are less susceptible to becoming outdated as quickly as other forms of entertainment. A podcast with a good topic or discussion is just as good today as it was 5 years ago.

HarlemAmerica Can Help You Start Your Podcast Now

Are you a Black entertainer or business owner? Start hosting your podcast with a full HarlemAmerica Digital Network production team at your service. Check out our website to learn more about our small business membership packages.