Podcasts have been the talk of the town lately.

Commuters are trading in their playlists and morning radio shows for podcasts. And the options are endless—as of 2018, there are over 525,000 active podcasts, with over 18.5 million episodes produced.

73 million Americans, or 26% of the US population, listen to podcasts monthly, and 17%, or 48 million people, listen weekly. With these stats, it’s safe to say podcasts are amongst the most prominent cultural phenomenon in the United States as of late.

The question is, why?

Well for one, podcasts don’t require much attention. 

Sure, there’s going to be some details that might miss if you pay zero attention, but they’re super easy to listen to while you’re multitasking. For many, listening to podcasts during work is a great way to escape and knock out any roadblocks on the way to productivity or creativity.

Podcasts are great for providing inspiration and just a bit of fun to get you through your workday.  

They can also be extremely informational. And, while you’re sitting at work or taking the kids to soccer practice, you don’t exactly have time to sit down and watch the news or pick up a new television show. Instead, you can tune into your favorite podcast and hear an entirely new story while you work or get your responsibilities done.

Another great aspect of podcasts is how personal they are. Listeners can get intimate with some of their favorite celebrities and personalities and hear the ins and outs of their daily life. Plus, there’s no barrier like TV where you are flooded with commercials and everything feels scripted. Podcasts have a truly authentic feel and provide loads of entertainment.

So, what does that mean for us as marketers?

Podcasts present a unique opportunity to capitalize on a new demographic of listeners and truly get a spot inside their living room.

Ads on podcasts come across as much more conversational than they do on other mediums. And, podcasts hosts do a great job of explaining to their audience how they use the products in their daily life and how those products can benefit others.  

Finally, there is such a wide variety of podcasts that tap into niche audiences that you are truly able to target your ads in a way like never before.

Looking to appeal to an audience that loves humor? There’s plenty of podcasts for that.

Maybe you’re looking for horror film lovers? Once again, podcasts got you covered.

Whatever the target audience maybe you’ll be able to find a podcast that speaks directly to them and has unbelievable listening numbers.

Need help with starting a podcast or creating ads? Contact Socialfly for more information today.