Online music

With the advent of the Internet, access to music has changed dramatically. Previously, to listen to your favorite songs, you could turn on the radio or buy a cassette or CD. Then came YouTube, which initially mainly inserted music, music videos or funny videos. YouTubers only started their activity later. In addition to YouTube, Wrzuta, MySpace or Deezer were also popular. These portals were mainly aimed at desktop use, as mobile devices such as smartphones were just starting out and were not yet popular.

Over time, YouTube lived to see a smartphone app, which made listening to music easier and accessible outside the home. Nowadays, there are other apps mainly focused on audio files, without accompanying videos, which is actually YT's main domain. The most popular of these are Tidal and Spotify, allowing on-demand music listening in high quality. Songs from all over the world are available - the offer is wide enough to reach everyone.

Spotify and Tidal ... just music?

Spotify is a platform that offers many features. It came to the Polish market in 2013. Users can choose whether to use the paid or free version of the application. The paid version gives more options, including offering unlimited song skipping, allowing users to listen offline as well, and no ads. The free version, on the other hand, allows you to listen to music from selected genres or artists, but ads can get in the way. In both cases, the song library is exactly the same. In addition to music, Spotify also features podcasts hosted by various creators - you can often find YouTubers, for example, who want to take their business to a slightly different level.

Tidal requires a subscription, so there is no free use option here. However, the user gets access not only to music, but also to video content, such as music videos and concert broadcasts.

Podcasts ... a new form of conversation

YouTube promoted video content, but the service often featured videos based on narration - the voice itself, where video was only a certain complement, not a value in itself. Such materials are called a podcast. By definition, a podcast is a form of online audio publication. It can also be a series of audio or video recordings that appear in the form of episodes. Recipients can download episodes to their devices or listen in streaming form, such as on the Spotify app.

Where did the name podcast come from? It comes from a combination of the words iPod, the name of a popular music player from Apple, and "broadcast," which is English for "to broadcast." Originally, they were broadcast primarily on Apple's iTunes platform, which is probably where the name came from.

Podcasts have become popular probably due to the fact that they work somewhat like an enhanced radio. The recipient can decide for themselves what they want to listen to. As a rule, a podcast contains only audio, so you can listen to it while driving or walking - no need to engage your eyesight. What's more, this form of broadcast allows you to create a certain intimacy and build a closer relationship with the recipient. It is a form of conversation between the author and the listener - such a relationship cannot be established. Podcasts can be recorded by anyone. Popular are materials about crime, lifestyle, culture, but you can record about virtually anything. This is a great way to build a personal brand. With the help of podcasts you can also conduct effective marketing activities and even start making money. All you need is a good idea, preparation, a good quality microphone and you can get started. Want to know more about promoting, presenting yourself or creating for the web? A training platform is the place where you will find useful courses and a lot of information. Check out Webinar Universe - a source of reliable knowledge.

Influencers in podcasting

Today there are so many platforms on which to create that everyone finds a medium that is perfect for them. Podcasts are a medium that is perfect for chats or stories on a variety of topics. Many people who record this type of material on YouTube also upload it to Spotify in the form of a podcast. In this way, they reach a larger audience - those who prefer to listen rather than watch. It is not uncommon for podcasters to advertise products or services in their productions. They also often create their personal brand through podcasts.

Podcasts and our business?

Podcasts are a great way to promote your business. It's a good idea to start by building an image as an expert in your industry. Materials of this kind additionally allow you to interact with your audience and create a community around your brand. However, it is good to be careful with advertising and try not to make it pushy. Professional and useful content should be the basis. Ideally, the podcast should be able to answer the audience's biggest problems and include an appropriate answer to their questions. However, for the campaign to be successful, it is best to make podcasts part of a marketing strategy that also includes social media, constant contact with the audience, and a company blog.

Podcasts are a relatively new form of media, most often based on audio alone, but not always. The key here is episodicity and topics that can be talked about. Podcasts attract listeners who can learn about stories in different situations, while walking or driving. This form of creativity also has great marketing potential and can help build a personal brand or promote products - if used skillfully.