At the tail end of 2018, the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) published a blog post predicting that 2019 would be “the year of the podcast“.

The explosion – they said – would be driven by five things; growth in listenership, technology, brands understanding the podcast space, an increase in podcast promotion, and the monetisation of podcast content.

Well, we’re just a few short weeks into the new year, and it’s already shaping up to be a big one in podcast land; kicking off with Spotify’s purchase of podcast production house Gimlet Media, and hosting company Anchor earlier this month.

In the short term, not much will change as a result (both Gimlet and Anchor will continue to function as they were). But the move suggests that longer-term, Spotify will soon be bringing a Netflix-like model of original programmes to the audio world. It’s all very exciting stuff!

There has never been a better time to start podcasting

Inevitably, as the popularity of the podcast continues to rise, brands can no longer ignore it as a mainstream media channel.

Always happy to wax lyrical about the power of podcasting, we were recently asked to share our thoughts with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). Here you can read our take on why now is the perfect time to start podcasting for PR; especially since there’s a very good chance that your competitors aren’t doing it – yet.

If you’re already convinced – and hoping to start podcasting for your own business or brand in the near future – check out our tips for launching a successful podcast, which we recently shared with the PRCA. We covered the basics of getting your podcast off the ground in six easy steps, from nailing the subject matter, to a merciless approach to marketing.

Finally, if you’re really looking to hit the ground running, check out our one-day training course, Podcast 101, held at Rabble Studios in Cardiff Bay. Designed to demystify the podcasting process, our comprehensive crash course will turn you into a polished, published podcaster by the end of the day.

To book your space at Podcast 101 on March 21st, click here: https://bit.ly/2DqmhAW

Find out more about how our podcast agency‘s podcast production services can help.