Looking for a way to both level up your marketing and chill out with your fellow marketers after work? Join us for the first installment in the AMA After Hours series on Tuesday, October 1 at the downtown Madison coworking space 100State, where we’ll be diving into the world of podcasts with podcasting experts:

Podcasting Panel:

• Bennie Johnson, Marketing And
• Meaghan Ziemba, Mavens of Manufacturing
• Bianca Martin, City Cast Madison
• Wesley Morgan, Screw It, Let’s Do This

These speakers will share their experiences, offering valuable tips, tricks, and secrets to their success, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, too. Whether you’re new to podcasting or a seasoned creator, you’re sure to leave with invaluable insights.

Register now to get this powerhouse of a panel’s insights. In the meantime, get a preview of what to expect at the event in the Q&A conversation below with three of our speakers, Meaghan Ziemba, Wesley Morgan, and Bianca Martin:

What to expect: Q&A with Meaghan Ziemba, Wesley Morgan, and Bianca Martin

1. AMA: Tell us a little about yourselves.

Meaghan: I am an industrial tech writer and have been writing for the sector since 2008. I started in the media publication industry and then worked for various manufacturing companies in their marketing departments. In 2020, I started Z-Ink Solutions, a writing service company. I help companies with their content strategy and marketing.

I also started Mavens of Manufacturing, a live broadcast focusing on women in engineering, manufacturing, and the trades. I started the broadcast because there were many podcasts on LinkedIn focusing on the major issues in the sector, but they were all missing the perspectives of women in the industry. So, I decided to develop a platform where they could share their stories and experiences, inspiring the next generation of women leaders in the space.

Wesley: I’m Wesley Morgan, Founder & Creative Director of the video production company Spoken Frame Media. We started our collaboration with “Screw It, Let’s Do This” because we were interested in learning about the podcasting workflow.

Bianca: I’m a longtime radio and podcast producer recently turned podcast host who’s worked professionally in D.C., Chicago, and Madison. My core interest after eating well is knowledge generation for the common good and conversations that spark positive impacts in people’s lives. The company I work for, City Cast, started up a few years ago under the idea that cities could really benefit from having a daily news talk podcast focused on residents’ stories and connecting people across the city. And when they were launching City Cast Madison, I was thrilled to be recruited as the inaugural host because I cherish storytelling, believe in the power of local change, and enjoy deeply engaging with my neighbors on issues and ideas that matter to them.

2. AMA: What are some common mistakes new podcasters make, and how can they avoid them?

Meaghan: Not knowing their audience, goals for the podcast, or having a strategy for execution.

Wesley: I think a common mistake is burnout. One statistic shows only about 25% of podcasts make it past 10 episodes. I would recommend going in with a plan for a realistic publishing schedule.

Bianca: One big mistake is not identifying who your ideal target audience is in advance of launching and then also not keeping them in mind as you build. Not knowing your audience is often a recipe for a confused show concept that aims to please and appeal to everyone. It’s hard to focus your production when you’re planning for everything under the sun. I don’t recommend trying to do it all, also because you lose the opportunity to build a distinctive identity, which is a useful thing to have in a saturated market. Another common mistake is not outlining in advance what success looks like for your podcast. This is in a similar vein, but not defining that clearly and succinctly can lead to shooting at every production target. Once you identify what success is you can better allocate the appropriate resources you need to achieve your specific goals.

3. AMA: How do you see the future of podcasting evolving over the next few years?

Meaghan: The future of podcasting is poised for significant evolution over the next few years, driven by technological advancements, audience preferences, and changes in content creation. I see a few key trends shaping the industry:

• Personalization and Niche Focus: As the podcasting landscape grows, audiences will demand more personalized content tailored to their interests. Niche podcasts that dive deep into specific industries, like manufacturing or tech, will continue to gain traction, offering listeners unique insights and expertise.
• Enhanced Interactivity: Podcasts will become more interactive, integrating live components, audience Q&A, and real-time feedback. Features like voice-activated engagement (through smart speakers or AI assistants) and integrated polls could enhance listener participation.
• Multimedia Integration: The line between audio, video, and social media content will blur. We’ll see more podcasts incorporating visual elements, clips for social platforms, and live streaming to engage audiences across multiple channels. Creators will need to produce content that can be easily repurposed and adapted.
• AI-Driven Content Creation: AI will play a larger role in content generation, editing, and distribution. This will enable podcasters to streamline their production process, from automating transcription and editing to generating data-driven content ideas.
• Monetization and Subscription Models: Monetization options will expand, with more platforms offering subscription services, exclusive content, and microtransactions. Creators will have the opportunity to build deeper relationships with loyal listeners while exploring diverse revenue streams.
• Diversity and Inclusivity: As more voices enter the space, the diversity of perspectives, particularly from underrepresented communities, will enrich the podcasting world. More focus on inclusivity will result in fresh, compelling content that resonates with a broader audience.
• Podcasting is set to become even more dynamic and interactive, offering new ways for creators to engage with their audiences while providing specialized, high-quality content.

Wesley: The barrier to entry for podcasting is lower than ever. While this is great news for people interested in starting, it also makes it more difficult to grow a following. People have so many options to choose from and only so many hours in a week to listen. I think new podcasters will find success in focusing on a niche topic and determining a metric of success other than number of downloads.

Bianca: I think the outlook for the world of podcasting is pretty solid and I expect it to continue to flourish over the next several years with more growth and creativity. There’s relatively new data that shows that podcast listeners are very engaged ad listeners, which bodes well for the market. What I’m paying attention to: if and how AI will impact the industry. I’m also curious to see if Hollywood will lose its interest in the form and what impacts that would bring, because the explosion of celebrity podcasts brought a huge wave of listeners

4. AMA: Can you give us a preview of the big takeaway people can expect if they attend the event?

Meaghan: How to develop and execute a successful, authentic and genuine podcast.

Wesley: People should walk away from this event knowing if podcasting could be a useful marketing tool for their organization, and if so, more clarity on what their podcast strategy would be.

Bianca: I’m only one panelist, so it’s hard to say. But if I were to narrow down my advice for anyone considering launching a podcast to one thing it’s that it’s more time consuming than it looks. If you want to make a strong product, plan to put real people power behind it, and if that’s not possible, I’d reconsider the project altogether. The NYT The Daily podcast has a team of at least 47 people. They all make it look easy.

See You October 1!

If you haven’t yet, register here. We can’t wait to learn and network with you.

 

Thank you to our sponsor(s)