What is a podcast and how does it work?

Introduction

Podcasts have become enormously popular in recent years; there are now 18,000 podcasts in the Netherlands. This is not surprising, because according to research by Markteffect, 6.9 million people in the Netherlands have listened to a podcast. But what is a podcast, how does it work, how do you create one and what are good podcasts for entrepreneurs?

What is a podcast: meaning/definition

A podcast is an audio broadcast that is available on the Internet and can be downloaded or streamed. It is similar to a radio program, but can be listened to and paused at any time. Podcasts can range from informative and educational shows to entertainment and storytelling.

How a podcast works (how to listen to a podcast).

There are several ways to listen to a podcast, we list the five ways for you:

1. Podcast app on your smartphone:
   You can download a podcast app such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or Pocket Casts. Search for the podcast you want to listen to and click play.
2. Website of the podcast:
   Some podcasts have their own website where you can listen to episodes. Click on the episode you want to listen to and you can start listening.
3. Smart speakers:
   If you have a smart speaker at home, such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home, you can start a podcast by saying, "Hey Google, play the podcast [name of podcast]" or "Alexa, play the latest episode of [name of podcast]."
4. Social media:
   Some podcasts post their episodes on social media such as Facebook and Twitter. You can click on the link to listen to the episode.
5. YouTube:
   Some podcasts are also uploaded to YouTube. Search for the podcast you want to listen to and click play.

How to make a podcast: roadmap (10 steps)

Do you have the idea of starting a podcast yourself, but don't know how yet? We've laid out a step-by-step plan for you on how to create a podcast:

1. Determine the topic and format:
   Choose a topic you are passionate about and come up with a format that suits your target audience.
2. Create a schedule:
   Plan ahead and determine how often you want to publish an episode. Make a realistic schedule for shooting and editing.
3. Get the right equipment:
   Invest in good microphones, a sound mixer and recording tools such as a computer and recording software.
4. Recording:
   Choose a quiet room to record and make sure you have all equipment set up properly.
5. Edit the podcast:
   Trim the recordings and add music, sound effects or other audio to make the podcast more interesting.
6. Publish the podcast:
   Choose a platform to publish the podcast on, such as iTunes, Spotify or SoundCloud. Make sure you have an attractive title, description and image.
7. Promote the podcast:
   Share the podcast on social media and ask people in your network to share the episode with their network. In doing so, also come up with a marketing strategy for your podcast.
8. Engage listeners:
   Ask listeners for feedback and suggestions for new episodes and provide interaction by asking questions via social media, for example.
9. Learn from feedback:
   Use feedback from listeners to improve and grow the podcast.
10. Stay consistent:
    Make sure you publish new episodes regularly and keep working to improve the podcast.

Strengthen your brand

Creating a podcast is a great way to build brand awareness. It also attracts people who may be interested in your products and/or services. One of the biggest advantages of a podcast is that you can use it so easily. All you have to do is download or stream it. Of course, this also applies to listeners of your own podcast. Someone can play your audio broadcast while running, on public transportation or anywhere else. However, you have to make sure that someone subscribes to your podcast feed. Then all interesting podcasts will be downloaded automatically.

Listening tip (podcasts) for entrepreneurs

• Masters of scale: learn all about scaling your business
• Pioneering business models: Are you still new to entrepreneurship? This podcast will teach you all the ways to build your business.
• Falling and rising: Success stories & low points; every entrepreneur has to deal with them.
• The Growth Feed podcast: Each week they share an inspiring story about entrepreneurship and personal growth.
• The brief: This podcast is about brands, marketing and content; discussing the latest trends and development with people in the industry.
• How to fail: Entrepreneurs stop by to share what mistakes they have made in entrepreneurship, as well as what lessons they have learned from this to do better.
• 100% Inspiration podcast: This podcast explores the "secret" behind happiness and success: what makes some people reach the top?