Social media today has become the need of the hour. There were times when we could do without social media and still be informed about what is happening around. But today, one cannot imagine our lives without it. This platform contains almost everything that an individual might need or be thinking.
Any topic or thing can be researched and understood by just one click. Plus, there are memes too and believe it or not, they provide better news than most of the random news channels. The need for this has increased even more since lockdown. Today almost all the elements have been digitalized- from education, work, business, and shopping. One can stay at home and get all their things done comfortably. There are a plethora of social media platforms available these days where one can access to easily.
However, the dilemma arises as to which platform to choose from out of so many options so that one can reap the best benefits out for the individuals and the businessmen. Rational decisions need to be made as to which strategies and marketing tools should be used to create their presence online and connect with a larger audience. One of the choices is whether to start a podcast or YouTube video to reach a large audience. Which of the two would be better to grow the business and gain the trust and confidence of the masses?
While a month or so ago, this wasn’t the case but lately, there have been discussions. In this blog, we will explore which of the two methods- the podcast or the video makes more sense for your business.
Podcasts- A rising instrument for Social Media Marketing
Podcasting had started with the aim of individuals to convey their messages and express their ideas to people and share them with a community of people who have similar interests. But now the concept has expanded quite a lot, and podcasts are being used not only by individuals but big companies, comedians, radio networks, TV channels, storytellers, etc. A podcast is an audio device file available on the internet and can be accessed and downloaded on your computer, laptop, or mobile. It is basically in the form of episodes. It is a series of episodes on a particular topic where episodes are released weekly, and one or two anchors are there to discuss that topic. The show can be subscribed through the app and then can be listened to anytime from the phone.
Podcasts are generally in the audio form. However, video form can also be done through YouTube. These can be of any length and do not require any specific format and can be on any topic.
Podcasting has become quite popular in recent years. This can be analyzed from the statistics showing that 7 million people in the US listen to podcasts every week. These podcasts can be listened to anywhere, and that is why they are gaining popularity. While working in the kitchen, driving a car, or reading a book, they can be listened to anytime, which is bound to keep you entertained. There might be some topics that might inspire you or educate you as well. The podcasts can be distributed and delivered to the audience through multiple distributors like apple podcasts, i- tunes, Spotify, google podcasts, Alexa, tune- IN, etc. Podcasting, in recent years, has become a great opportunity for promoting small businesses.
You name the topic, and you will find various podcasts related to it. It has also been able to engage the audience to a great extent as people can download the episode and watch it as per their convenience. They can listen to side by side doing their other works, thus saving their time in looking at the screen.
The relation between videos and Social Media Marketing
Videos are a thing of the future and will remain so as the estimate says. One billion hours of YouTube video is being watched by the people every day. Videos are undoubtedly a better way to connect to the audience as seeing the person face to face and interacting with them adds a personal touch to the conversation. It also builds more trust and confidence in the person. Videos are a powerful way of communicating your message to the other person.
It can better help convey your message and gain business through various snippets and presentations. The Videos can be of different genres like vlogs, interviews, surveys, presentations, product reviews, etc. choosing the right type completely depends on the business and its level. Apart from this going live on Facebook or Instagram is quite a rage these days and a great choice to promote your company or product.
The reach of the live videos is increasing day by day, with an estimated growth of 10% by the year 2021. It is also a great way of connecting with the audience and provide a better market for the product. According to the web marketing video counseling, 60% of the brands use videos as a part of a social media strategy to promote their products and drive more sales. The social media video feature can help connect with the youth of the country and persuade them to buy and improve the product. We all are well aware of the YouTube video market, where some of the best brands, including skincare, apparel, food, and other stuff, are being promoted and marketed by famous YouTubers and bloggers. They review the product and influence many to try the product once. This leads to the growth of the brand, and sales increases extensively.
Podcasts vs. Videos
The debate on which is a better medium to reach and target the audience is a never-ending one. Both of them have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. That doesn’t make anyone superior to the other. But both hold their importance.
Talking of podcasts, they can be listened to at any time.
They can be downloaded and can be listened to while being engaged in other works comfortably. The camera-shy individuals can also be benefited as they need not show their face in front of the camera; and yet share their knowledge and experiences with others.
The podcast can be uploaded on YouTube also.
At any time, if we wish to convert audio into the video, the option is handy. They need not to sit in front of the phone and spare their time watching videos. With so many pros, it also has some disadvantages attached to it.
Listeners get easily distracted by some of the other sounds in between and may turn out of the podcast. As podcasts are a series of episodes, so the audience to be engaged, they must be delivered at the scheduled time as promised.
Podcasts seems a little overwhelming at times!
For small businesses, podcasts might be a little difficult; as it takes a lot of time and resources to register, research and release a podcast; plus promoting it on the blog and social networks could be another problem.
Talking of videos, we all know that video is the future of the internet; and YouTube is one of the most browsed platforms for creating and publishing video content. It also comes with its pros and cons, making it a question as to whether it is suitable for small businesses.
You can easily find videos on any topic that would be explained quite easily and attract the audience’s attention. No doubt, it is less distracting in comparison to the podcasts. More trust and confidence can be gained through personal interaction than by just listening on the podcasts. Video is more engaging than podcasts as it has more colors and expressions to it.
But it has its own set of cons also. It is very time-consuming as the video requires a lot of editing, which takes time. It also involves a lot of practice. There is cut-throat competition as there are several videos on a single topic.
Conclusion
After reviewing the benefits of both the videos and podcasts; the question remains the same as to which medium is better for promoting business online. The trick that works here is to know what would be more befitting for your business, being aware of the nature of the business, targeted audience, and the industry; and analyzing the pros and cons of both the platforms and choosing the best that would help in the growth and future of the business.
Having said that, do you know that a well created animated video goes a long way into increasing lead generation. Also, it can add an additional avenue of you earning through them too!
Want to know how? Reach out to us.
