Podcasting vs Audio Blogging: what’s better?
Thanks to streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, or Soundcloud, we are witnessing a renaissance of sound as a medium of communication, just at a time when radio was thought to be dying. Undeniably, the warmth of a well-toned voice is appreciated by listeners around the world, and both the consumption and production of audio content have grown exponentially in recent times. This has meant a huge workload for companies like Enhanced Media. It is at this point that we need to start classifying the types of audio content because they are often lumped together and are clearly different. Let’s look at the differences between podcasting and audio blogging, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
Podcasting
A podcast is a series of multimedia files, either audio or video, usually consumed on a subscription basis. About five years ago, podcasts were usually listened to on smartphones thanks to the massive use of these devices, but every year they become more popular and can be listened to on personal assistants, tablets, or laptops. The concept was born in 2000. Famed publicist Tristan Louis coined the term and Dave Winer, a software developer, and entrepreneur, implemented it on a massive scale, and it is now simply understood as an acronym for “play on demand.”
Most often, podcasts are private broadcasts, similar to radio shows, with a specific topic. More and more professionally produced podcasts are also offered, for instance, for news and special interest topics. Podcasts use existing techniques. It makes it much easier to provide and receive audio and video content. This creates a broader base of producers and consumers.
Individual contributions to a podcast are often called “episodes,” even though the term “podcast” is sometimes also applied to just one of these widely used files. Sometimes the media content linked in the newsfeed is incorrectly referred to as a podcast.
Anyone can create a podcast on the Internet with little effort, for example, a PC with a sound card, microphone, Internet connection, and webspace. There is no need for expensive hardware or software, nor are there any public fees to pay, as is the case with operating a web radio, although people should pick the right equipment and software, as well as knowing the basic audio problems. Also, podcasters, like radio station operators (e.g. also web radios) must respect the rights of third parties to media content and possibly pay them or their licensors.
Audio Blogging
An audio blog is, in essence, a weblog that includes sound files, but, unlike a podcast, these can be recordings, a spoken journal, or music. In an audio blog, there can be text, video, and sound. Hence a sound file can be recorded and uploaded to the blog. The advantage of this format is that it gives the visitor a close relationship with the content creator. It is a closer relationship than the one you could have with a writer or a journalist who only writes. Today, unlike podcasts, audio bloggers often use live broadcasts to interact with listeners, who ask questions and comment, usually in chats. Another advantage of this format is its flexibility. Content can be developed by uploading sound files or by phone calls, and the audio is then stored on audio blog servers.
The fundamental difference when it comes to podcasts is that the listener has less freedom to choose what to listen to, and is at the mercy of what the content creator is broadcasting at the time. On the other hand, the author usually authorizes other users to add comments or other audio files in the same gallery to complement the content initially published. Finally, an audio blog may include a series of podcasts, while podcasting does not include audio blogging.
Which one is better?
It is impossible to say. Some will answer that question by claiming that podcasting is superior because of its simplicity and because all smart speakers can play a podcast whereas they cannot “play blogs”. Now, users might prefer to read in some cases, and, depending on the content, in particular, sometimes they will need images or video (e.g., a recipe blog). Others will say that audio blogs may have certain advantages in terms of SEO but automatic audio transcription technology currently allows search engines to identify sound (or video) files concerning searches. Podcasting allows multitasking but sometimes users want to read or watch certain content (literature or photography blogs, for example).
The answer may depend on two factors. The first one is your strengths. If you consider that you have a good voice and a great ability to convey information solely through audio, podcasts are your thing. If, on the other hand, you are a more visual person and like to complement images with text and audio, audio blogging may be a better option. The second factor is your audience and their needs, what are they looking for, what is the best way to provide the content they are looking for?
So, think it through, and start to define the way you create your audio content better!
