Do you run a business and are wondering how to improve your outreach and scope? Are you an individual with an interest you want to share with the world? Are you and your friends wanting to share your thoughts and experiences with others?

A podcast might be for you.

With Season 4 of CEWT Talk now underway (you can check out the first episode of the new season here), Continuing Education and Workforce Training knows that starting and maintaining a podcast can be a challenge. So in order to provide the motivation you need to get started, here are five reasons your very own podcast can benefit you.

Reason #1: Widen Your Audience

Podcasts have a quickly growing market. Whereas ten years ago, podcasts were a relatively unknown platform, today you’d be hard pressed to find somebody who hadn’t heard of one. As of 2018 there were roughly 550,000 active podcasts. In just a few years, that number has grown to more than a million. 

Likewise, the number of listeners has been growing rapidly. Over the same time period, podcast listeners increased by roughly 30%. While a million podcasts may seem like a lot, it is almost nothing compared to the 600 million blogs out there. With a fast growing market, now is the time to make a name for yourself.

Reason #2: Make Your Knowledge and Interests Easily Accessible

Everyone is busy. Between school, work, family, friends, chores, and more, not everyone has the time to sit down and watch a video or read a blog. However, since podcasts are a primarily auditory medium, they are accessible even to those with hectic schedules. 

Have a long commute? Put on your favorite podcast. Doing household chores? A perfect time to listen. Have a short break? Catch up on that new podcast you heard about. 

This is one of the main reasons why podcasts have become so popular in recent years. With the ability to listen while doing other tasks, podcasts have quickly become one of the most accessible ways to get your thoughts and ideas into the world.

Reason #3: Make Money Doing It

Podcasts can be a great way to increase your revenue, either as an individual or business. Since the platform is growing so fast, many companies are willing and eager to sponsor podcasts.

According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau, the U.S. podcasting industry had a yearly revenue of $314 million in 2017. This number was projected to grow to nearly $700 million by 2020. 

Reason #4: It’s Easy and Cheap to Get Started

While podcasts that have been around for a while typically have higher end gear, all you really need to get started is a computer or phone, recording software, and access to the internet. You don’t even need to film yourself; just audio is perfectly fine. 

Once you’ve recorded yourself, all you have to do is choose where to publish it. There are many sites out there that will help you publish your new podcast to various different platforms.

Reason #5: It’s Fun

Podcasting is fun! Being able to share your interests, knowledge, or ideas with people can help you become a better conversationalist, meet new, engaging people, and express yourself. 

The more you do it, the better you’ll become and the more enjoyment you’ll find. You’ll find your unique voice and style, and reach people with similar interests as you.

So there you have it. Five reasons why you should start a podcast. If you’ve been convinced, let CEWT help get you started with “A Podcast about Podcasting by Podcasters” found here. In this 5-part series, CEWT’s very own Jason Batalden and Paul Dickey will guide you through the process of successfully starting your podcast.

And just remember, the first step–making the decision–is always the hardest.

Happy podcasting!