There’s no denying 2019 was a banner year for podcasting, with TechCrunch reporting a massive 27% surge in podcast creation compared to the year prior. This brought the total number of podcast episodes to 29 million (across 700, 000 podcasts).
Back in 2006, only 22% of Americans are familiar with podcasting. Today, a staggering 70% of Americans are already familiar with the medium. This year, the industry is expected to grow even quicker with a flurry of technological changes and advertising activities, to the delight of podcasters and listeners alike.
2020 Podcasting Trends: What Have You Implemented So Far?
It’s evident the new era of podcasting is here and the medium is finally reaching the level many experts have predicted in its early years. To help ensure you thrive in this increasingly competitive space, take the following 2020 podcasting trends to heart:
Trend No. 1: More platform competition
For many years now, Apple and Spotify have been battling it neck-and-neck in the podcasting space, fighting for the top spot. However, latest data reveals that 46% of 12 to 34-year-olds have been listening to Spotify, whereas only 20% listened to Apple Music.
While Apple and Spotify will be working on winning the hearts of millennials and Gen Z, emerging platforms will also be finding ways to innovate and attract more people. Below are top platforms you should look out for this 2020:
Audio streaming services you can check out include:
Trend No. 2: Podcasters will make listener experience a priority
A whopping 80% of listeners will listen to a podcast in its entirety if they find the content engaging enough. In some genres however, there’s still plenty of room for improvement. This 2020, the need for content creators and podcasters to produce shows that can keep their audience hooked has become increasingly important.
They now even have a term for it: listener experience (LX).
To warrant you give your listeners nothing but the best experience possible, keep the following in mind:
Create meaty and interesting content that’s devoid of long pauses, unnecessary chit chats, and off-topic tangents.
Tackle only one topic per episode so you don’t end up confusing or overwhelming your listeners.
Be concise and consider summarizing key points for your listeners.
Make listening to your podcast effortless. In other words, get rid of sign-ups, downloads, or other hoops to jump through just to listen to your show.
Trend No. 3: New niches will emerge
The past year, hot new niches were introduced. These interesting niches include tiny homes, plant-based diets, climate change, and zero-waste living. Over the years, there’s been a growing focus on becoming more environmentally conscious and embracing sustainable living. These new trends have also made their way to the podcasting space.
Many predict that lots of undiscovered niches and untapped markets will likely emerge as the podcasting industry continues to grow and evolve. It is also likely that there will be more experimentation in terms of show formats. Undoubtedly, it’s an exciting time for the podcasting industry.
Time to Make Your Move!
If you haven’t implemented any new changes to your podcast to adapt to the ever evolving trends, now is the best time to do it. Otherwise, you might end up getting left in the dust.
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