How to Start a Podcast for Your E-commerce Business

According to a 2019 Edison Research, Americans who listen to a podcast every week increased to 175% since 2014. As someone who runs an e-commerce business, the data shows that you might start a podcast. Doing so allows you to reach an untapped audience. This can also mean bringing in a new set of prospects to your online store.

Luckily, you do not have to invest in fancy gear from the get-go. Instead, you can start recording using your smartphone and work your way from there.

However, you might be wondering: How can my e-commerce business generate sales from a podcast?

Generating E-commerce Sales From a Podcast

In case you do not know, there are various ways to earn from a podcast. One of the common examples is affiliate marketing.

But how can you turn your audience into paying customers? Here are two examples:

Physical Products

Often, a podcast becomes so popular that they end starting an e-commerce business to sell shirts, mugs, and caps. They use their revenue to produce a better episode.

The best part? This is something that you can emulate.

You can remind your listeners that you have an online store and sell products. You can also choose to run a discount promo to turn your audience into customers.

Of course, you should promote your e-commerce website on your podcast channel and episode descriptions.

Sponsorship and Advertising

If you have the budget, you can sponsor an episode or advertise on your platforms.

Sponsorship is when you agree to pay a podcaster for mentioning your products in their episode. You can do the same on your podcast. What’s important is that the episode is relevant to what you are selling.

On the other hand, advertising is much like running ads on Facebook. Someone might be listening to music on Spotify, and they will hear your ads after three songs.

Regardless of the tactic, it would be best to promote your product instead of your online store. You can also combine sponsorship and advertising with promoting physical products on your podcast. That way, you can build awareness around your brand.

5 Steps to Start a Podcast for Your E-commerce Business

Now that you know how you can sell your products and generate revenue using your podcast, it is time to know how you can start your channel.

Step 1: Develop a Concept

Podcasts vary depending on the people who create them. And we are not just talking about topics that you cover on your website. This also includes your goals and what you want to achieve from your podcast.

Here are some factors you need to consider when developing a podcast concept:

• Podcast Goals. This can include generating leads, being recognized as an industry leader, and getting your message across.
• Theme or Topic. This will depend on the kind of online business you have. Still, your podcast topic can be as broad as leadership and entrepreneurship or as niche as becoming a mindful entrepreneur.
• Podcast. Choose a podcast name that is catchy and easy to remember. That’s because listeners would look for a podcast based on their name and not an episode title.

Step 2: Podcast Format

You can opt to start a solo podcast, interview a guest, or have a co-host. To give you an idea, here are some podcast formats that you can follow:

• Interview Podcast. This is when a host interviews people from within an industry. An excellent example of an interview podcast is The Joe Rogan Show.
• Scripted Non-fiction. These are serialized podcasts that cover a single theme. A great example of a scripted non-fiction podcast is Hardcore History.
• Educational Podcast. These are scripted non-fiction podcasts that focus on educating their listeners. An excellent example of an education podcast is Stuff You Should Know.

Other factors you need to consider when it comes to podcast format are podcast length and publishing schedule.

When it comes to podcast length, there is no cut-out rule for that. What’s important is that it is as long as it needs to be. As for your publishing schedule, all you need is to ensure that it is manageable for you.

Step 3: Choose Your Podcast Equipment

Your limited budget should not hinder you from starting a podcast. As mentioned earlier, you can start recording using your smartphone and edit them using free tools like Audacity. From there, you can upload your file on a free podcast platform like Anchor.

Regardless, Transcribe has a succinct post about their recommended podcast tools and recording and editing software.

Step 4: Record and Upload an Episode

Once you have your podcast tools, you are now ready to record.

Again, there is no cut-out rule for this one. However, record your podcast in a room with less noise as possible such as your closet. That way, you do not have to spend too much time editing your episode.

In addition, you need to ensure that your podcast has an intro and a theme song for a complete experience. It can also help if you have a script on how you will mention your products on the episode without sounding salesy.

Once done, you are ready to upload your first episode.

Step 5: Make Your Podcast Look Great

Here’s the thing: Uploading your podcast episode on a distribution platform doesn’t mean you’re all done. You have to ensure that your podcast looks good on every platform.

Hence, you will need to have the following:

• Podcast Artwork. It is like an album cover that communicates what your podcast is all about.
• Description. This is where search engine optimization comes into play. In three to five sentences, explain what your show is all about. You also need to incorporate your target keyword in the most natural way possible.
• Category. Picking the correct category for your podcast is another excellent way to optimize your podcast.

Once these are taken care of, you can now list your podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, and other distribution platforms. Et voila! You can now launch your podcast.

Over to You

Hosting a podcast is just one way to generate sales for your e-commerce business. However, you need to change how you approach sales to protect your bottom line and increase revenue.

That said, we recommend taking the Certified Professional Sales Person program to fuel your success in today’s sales environment.