Five Reasons Why Speakers Should Podcast

By: Pamela Weir
Market to the Moment

Are you a motivational or keynote speaker in a specialized field? Have you attained a high level of expert knowledge in one field and developed the ability to pass it on to your audience?

Most speakers are experts in finding ways to make audiences see their winning methods in a fresh light. They can convey useful tips on how to make a company more creative and prepare new work objectives that can be achieved by the management team or departmental employees. In the age of Web 2.0, potential clients and event coordinators are looking for speakers that have developed an interactive relationship with their audience. Multimedia Press Kits that include audio clips or podcasts are a great way to showcase your voice and energy. We no longer live in an age where audio needs to be recorded, transferred to CD and mailed to prospects.

Creating free streaming podcasts can help your speaking business in many different ways.

1. Add a Personal Touch to Your Content

Even if you already maintain a blog or E-zine, your voice can connect with people in a way that written text may not. If you are considering becoming an expert speaker in your field, a podcast can demonstrate your ability to speak with clarity about your chosen subject and establish a connection with your audience. People interested in your knowledge may prefer to listen to an audio version of our information, particularly if they are considering you for an upcoming event or meeting. Event coordinators are always looking for new perspectives on both old and new ideas, so showcasing your speaking presence and knowledge in an easily accessible format will ensure that they have immediate access to your voice whenever they need to make a decision.

2. Use an Automatic and Inexpensive Way to Reach Your Audience

Podcast software and equipment is relatively inexpensive and companies, such as Audio Acrobat and BasementVentures, provide inexpensive means to record solo audio sessions or teleconferences. With the growing popularity of RSS feeds, listeners can automatically receive content updates after subscribing to your site. You can host the audio on your own site instead of having another company host the sessions and charge you for storage and extra bandwidth. You can schedule your podcasts for daily, weekly or monthly releases. The more frequently, and widely you broadcast the more recognized your name will become in your chosen field.

3. Grab the Attention of a Focused Audience

You can gain a worldwide focused audience quickly. If you choose the correct keywords, promote your podcasts with a blog, advertising and podcast distribution sites, you can quickly gather an audience who are interested in listening to you based solely on your expertise and knowledge. You can also develop a wider audience by slowly expanding your focus and adding new or hot topics to your list. If you decide to move from podcasts to teleseminars, you can open your format to include your audience members and create a great connection with listeners who would like to participate in the discussion. You can develop a more one-on-one relationship with your audience. If you give listeners a chance to interact and direct the conversation, they are more likely to promote the event for free.

4. Become an Recognized Expert in Your Niche

Today, the internet is all about finding your niche. A niche is a small or large demographic of highly targeted audience members. It could be comprised of small business owners, marketers, publicists, pharmacists, etc. You can even create a niche within a niche like a pharmaceutical company preparing to launch a new product. Depending on your own expertise, you can limit or expand your market depending on your own preferences. If you feel more comfortable working with start-up businesses, sales teams or research and development, there is no limit to your audience size. Once you specialize, develop podcasts that demonstrate your expertise and market within your industry, you will develop a name and reputation for your knowledge and dedication.

5. Easily Customize Your Podcast to Reflect Your Brand

You decide on the topics, length, participation etc. You can even add customized intro music, announcements and sound effects to create a more professional atmosphere. To show yourself in the best light, edit clips together to create a mash-up of different topics. Tracking website hits, downloads and other stats can help you promote yourself to events that you are interested in becoming a speaker. If you podcast enough and grow a large audience, you may find that you become a recognized expert quickly. The demand for your services will certainly increase, as will your audience. You can conduct interviews, record yourself in casual conversation or speaking at events, and gather as much or as little audio as you like. You can also create instructional audios for others who might be considering a career as a speaker.

Nothing gets people more passionate about a subject than an energized speech given by a motivated speaker. If you are a speaker, personal coach or run a mentorship program, podcasts are a great way for people to develop a connection with your voice and personality. People are more mobile than ever, so create a library your audience can download and listen to anywhere they choose. If you would like to guarantee yourself steady work within a speaking field, audio clips and samples are a great way to grow an audience, business and brand.