Greg Scown, a podcast sponsor with a long history and influenced by portable devices, discusses his experiences with podcast sponsorship, the impact of Apple Watch and AirPods on portability, and the value of independent developers in the tech industry. The topics covered include the success of podcast advertising through coupon codes, the role of algorithms in content consumption, and the power of podcasts to build communities and support charity.
Sponsorship in podcasts can effectively reach niche audiences, demonstrating the power of targeted advertising.
Listening to podcasts on portable devices like Apple Watch and AirPods has revolutionized the way people consume podcasts, leading to increased engagement and discovery of new shows.
Deep dives
Getting into Podcasts through Sponsorship
Greg got into podcasts through podcast sponsorship, starting with the show 'Your Mac Life with Sean King'. He was initially surprised by the passionate niche audience that podcasts could reach. Their first sponsorship performed well beyond expectations, demonstrating the power of targeted advertising in podcasting.
Engaging Different Audiences with Multiple Podcasts
Greg's company, Smile, went on to sponsor multiple podcasts with Backbeat Media, each reaching different audiences. They sponsored 'Mac GeekGab' for a hardcore tech audience, 'MacCast' for a general Mac-friendly audience, and 'Your Mac Life' for a general Mac audience. By sponsoring various podcasts, they were able to engage with specific communities within the Mac nerd community.
Personal Listening Habits and Game-changing Moments
Greg became a dedicated podcast listener when he could listen on the go with an Apple Watch and AirPods. This game-changing moment allowed him to conveniently consume podcasts while running. Prior to that, his podcast listening was limited to segments and reads relevant to sponsorship. He has since discovered and enjoyed podcasts like 'Core Intuition' and 'Rocket'.
Engagement and Effectiveness of Host Read Ads
Greg emphasizes the importance of building relationships with hosts and engaging in authentic sponsorship. Host-read ads within the show, or even as interruptions, aligning with the host's voice, yield higher engagement and effectiveness compared to algorithmic insertions. Greg has seen these performance differences in his own podcast sponsorships.
Greg Scown is COO and co-founder of TextExpander, which is referenced in his story as a podcast listener and supporter; no sponsorship or payments were given for the mention of this product on Really Specific Stories.
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